Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · May 2013
Analgesic effect of the neuropeptide cortistatin in murine models of arthritic inflammatory pain.
To investigate the role of the antiinflammatory neuropeptide cortistatin in chronic pain evoked by joint inflammation. ⋯ These findings indicate that cortistatin is an antiinflammatory factor with potent analgesic effects that may offer a new approach to pain therapy in pathologic inflammatory states, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2013
Borderline mean pulmonary artery pressure in patients with systemic sclerosis: transpulmonary gradient predicts risk of developing pulmonary hypertension.
To determine whether patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and borderline mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) at cardiac catheterization are more likely to develop pulmonary hypertension (PH) than those in whom pulmonary pressure is normal. ⋯ Our findings indicate that borderline mean PAP and an elevated TPG in patients with SSc predict progression to PH. These patients should be monitored closely for the development of PH. Our findings indicate that catheterization data are useful in patients considered at risk of PAH.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2013
Joint hypermobility is a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain during adolescence: findings of a prospective cohort study.
To determine whether joint hypermobility (JH) in childhood is a risk factor for the subsequent development of musculoskeletal pain. ⋯ JH represents a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain during adolescence, comprising a specific distribution, namely, the shoulder, knee, and ankle/foot. These relationships were strongest in the presence of obesity, which is consistent with a causal pathway whereby JH leads to pain at sites exposed to the greatest mechanical forces.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2013
Identification of citrullinated hsp90 isoforms as novel autoantigens in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.
Subsets of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) develop extraarticular complications that include interstitial lung disease (ILD). Because standardized algorithms for identification of RA patients at risk of developing clinically significant ILD are lacking, the purpose of this study was to elucidate unique serologic markers of RA-associated ILD (RA-ILD). ⋯ These studies demonstrate the utility of a novel autoantigen discovery method based on differential immunoprecipitation of citrullinated protein extracts. Application of these techniques identified citrullinated versions of Hsp90α and Hsp90β as autoantibody targets distinguishing RA-ILD from RA without ILD, MCTD, and IPF, suggesting that anti-citrullinated Hsp90α/β autoantibodies may serve as effective biomarkers for the potentially devastating pulmonary manifestations of RA-ILD.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2013
AA amyloidosis complicating the hereditary periodic fever syndromes.
AA amyloidosis is a life-threatening complication of the hereditary periodic fever syndromes (HPFS), which are otherwise often compatible with normal life expectancy. This study was undertaken to determine the characteristics, presentation, natural history, and response to treatment in 46 patients who had been referred for evaluation at the UK National Amyloidosis Centre. ⋯ AA amyloidosis remains a challenging and serious late complication of HPFS; however, outcomes are excellent when HPFS is diagnosed early enough to allow effective treatment, thus preventing or retarding further amyloid deposition and organ damage.