Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Sep 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficacy and safety of milnacipran 100 mg/day in patients with fibromyalgia: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
To assess the efficacy and safety of milnacipran at a dosage of 100 mg/day (50 mg twice daily) for monotherapy treatment of fibromyalgia. ⋯ Milnacipran administered at a dosage of 100 mg/day improved pain, global status, fatigue, and physical and mental function in patients with fibromyalgia.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Sep 2010
Human articular chondrocytes secrete parathyroid hormone-related protein and inhibit hypertrophy of mesenchymal stem cells in coculture during chondrogenesis.
The use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has shown promise in cell-based cartilage regeneration. A yet-unsolved problem, however, is the unwanted up-regulation of markers of hypertrophy, such as alkaline phosphatase (AP) and type X collagen, during in vitro chondrogenesis and the formation of unstable calcifying cartilage at heterotopic sites. In contrast, articular chondrocytes produce stable, nonmineralizing cartilage. The aim of this study was to address whether coculture of MSCs with human articular chondrocytes (HACs) can suppress the undesired hypertrophy in differentiating MSCs. ⋯ HAC-derived soluble factors and direct coculture are potent means of improving chondrogenesis and suppressing the hypertrophic development of MSCs. PTHrP is an important candidate soluble factor involved in this effect.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Aug 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyAdalimumab in severe and acute sciatica: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Based on several experimental results and on a preliminary study, a trial was undertaken to assess the efficacy of adalimumab, a tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor, in patients with radicular pain due to lumbar disc herniation. ⋯ The addition of a short course of adalimumab to the treatment regimen of patients experiencing acute and severe sciatica resulted in a small decrease in leg pain and in significantly fewer surgical procedures.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Aug 2010
Intrinsic brain connectivity in fibromyalgia is associated with chronic pain intensity.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is considered to be the prototypical central chronic pain syndrome and is associated with widespread pain that fluctuates spontaneously. Multiple studies have demonstrated altered brain activity in these patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the degree of connectivity between multiple brain networks in patients with FM, as well as how activity in these networks correlates with the level of spontaneous pain. ⋯ These findings indicate that resting brain activity within multiple networks is associated with spontaneous clinical pain in patients with FM. These findings may also have broader implications for how subjective experiences such as pain arise from a complex interplay among multiple brain networks.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jul 2010
Attenuation of pain and inflammation in adjuvant-induced arthritis by the proteasome inhibitor MG132.
In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pain and joint destruction are initiated and propagated by the production of proinflammatory mediators. Synthesis of these mediators is regulated by the transcription factor NF-kappaB, which is controlled by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). The present study explored the effects of the proteasome inhibitor MG132 on inflammation, pain, joint destruction, and expression of sensory neuropeptides as markers of neuronal response in a rat model of arthritis. ⋯ In arthritic rats, inhibition of proteasome reduced the severity of arthritis and reversed the pain behavior associated with joint inflammation. These effects may be mediated through the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and may possibly involve the peripheral nervous system. New generations of nontoxic proteasome inhibitors may represent a novel pharmacotherapy for RA.