bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CD7– T cells in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Lazarovits Andrew I. , White Martin J. , Karsh Jacob 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by decreased expression of CD7 in the peripheral blood and in the synovium. The present study was designed to identify the basis for and functional consequences of this decreased expression.Methods. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal controls and from patients with RA or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and T cell lines derived from rheumatoid synovium, were evaluated using 3‐color fluorescence‐activated cell sorter analysis.Results. Normal subjects and most SLE patients expressed homogeneous, bright CD7 on CD4+, CD45RA+ cells, whereas RA patients demonstrated a significantly increased proportion of CD7– cells. T cell lines derived from rheumatoid synovium demonstrated a striking deficiency of CD7 on CD4+, CD45RA– cells. CD4+, CD45RA+ cells from RA patients changed phenotype after in vitro activation to CD45RA negativity, with up‐regulation of CD7. CD7–, CD4+, CD45RA– cells were assessed for their ability to induce pokeweed mitogen‐driven IgM and IgM‐rheumatoid factor synthesis, and they were found to be potent helper/inducer cells. An increased population of CD7‐, CD4+ cells in peripheral blood was found to predict a low response to recall antigens.Conclusion. The low expression of CD7 in RA may explain some of the immune abnormalities which may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease.
Derivation of the sledai. A disease activity index for lupus patients
Authors: Bombardier Claire , Gladman Dafna D. , Urowitz Murray B. , Caron Dominique , Chang Chi Hsing , Austin A. , Bell A. , Bloch Daniel A. , Corey Paul N. , Decker John L. , Esdaile John , Fries James F. , Ginzler Ellen M. , Goldsmith Charles H. , Hochberg Marc C. , Jones John V. , Riche Nicole G. H. Le , Liang Matthew H. , Lockshin Michael D. , Muenz Larry R. , Sackett David L. , Schur Peter H. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. To standardize outcome measures in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Three indices were identified which could adequately describe outcome (disease activity, damage from disease, and health status); we describe here the development of the Disease Activity Index.Methods. Twenty‐four variables were identified as important factors in a disease activity index. These were used to generate 574 patient profiles, which were rated on a disease activity scale of 0–10 by 14 rheumatologists. A second rating of 10 of the profiles yielded scores that were not significantly different from the first, indicating that experienced clinicians can reliably make global estimates of disease activity. Multiple regression models were used to estimate the relative importance of the 24 clinical variables in the physicians' global rating of disease activity. These were estimated on a ‘training set’ of 75% of physicians' ratings, and then validated on a ‘testing set,’ consisting of the remaining 25% of physicians' ratings.Results. The explanatory power of the models in the training set was high (R2 = 0.93). The models' regression coefficients for the organ systems were simplified for easier use in clinical practice. This generated a ‘weighted’ index of 9 organ systems for disease activity in SLE, the SLEDAI, as follows: 8 for central nervous system and vascular, 4 for renal and musculoskeletal, 2 for serosal, dermal, immunologic, and 1 for constitutional and hematologic. The maximum theoretical score is 105, but in practice, few patients have scores greater than 45. The SLEDAI predicted well the physicians' ratings in the testing set (Pearson's correlation coefficients = 0.64–0.79).Conclusion. The SLEDAI is a validated model of experienced clinicians' global assessments of disease activity in lupus. It represents the consensus of a group of experts in the field of lupus research.
Major histocompatibility complex genes and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in southern chinese
Authors: Doherty Derek G. , Ireland Robin , Demaine Andrew G. , Wang Florence , Veerapan Kiran , Welsh Kenneth I. , Vergani Diego 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. To investigate the predisposing role of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Chinese population.Methods. Polymorphism in the HLA‐DRB, DQB, complement component C4, and 21‐hydroxylase genes was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and oligonucleotide probing of in vitro‐amplified DNA from 88 Chinese patients with SLE and 69 matched control subjects.Results. HLA‐DRw15 and DQw1 were significantly more frequent in patients (corrected P < 0.006, relative risk 5.2), but none of the 9 sequence variants of DQw1 were increased. The C4A gene deletion usually associated with SLE in Caucasoid and black patients was absent from all Chinese subjects, but possession of other C4 deletions and of DRw15 conferred the greatest risk (relative risk = 8.3).Conclusion. Different MHC haplotypes predispose to lupus in Chinese than in other ethnic groups. Our data suggest that the susceptibility lies at, or telomeric to, the DR locus, and that DRw15 and C4 deletions may act synergistically in conferring disease susceptibility.
Restricted epitope recognition by precipitin‐negative anti‐La/SS‐B‐positive sera
Authors: Gordon Tom , Mavrangelos Chris , Mccluskey James 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. To determine whether anti–La/SS‐B–positive sera that are precipitin negative show a distinct B cell epitope pattern.Methods. Serum reactivity was tested with recombinant La/SS‐B fusion proteins.Results. Among the 18 precipitin‐negative anti‐La/SS‐B–positive sera, reactivity was confined to the full‐length recombinant protein (La33.3) in 8 (44%); 5 of 18 (28%) reacted only with La33.3 and with the first 107 N‐terminal amino acids (LaA), and 4 (22%) reacted with La33.3, LaA, and the middle region of the La molecule (LaC; amino acids 111–242). One serum reacted with La33.3 and LaC. None of the 18 precipitin‐negative sera was positive on a carboxy‐terminal fragment (LaL2/3; amino acids 346–408). In contrast, all 26 precipitin‐positive anti–La/SS‐B–positive sera reacted with La33.3, LaA, and LaC, and 92% reacted with LaL2/3. Rheumatoid factor and serum IgG levels were significantly lower in the precipitin‐negative group, providing further evidence of a distinct serologic subset.Conclusion. The restricted epitope recognition by these sera may explain the lack of precipitin formation and may represent an early autoantibody response to La/SS‐B.
Detection and quantification of anti‐ki antibodies by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant ki antigen
Authors: Yamanaka Kenjiro , Takasaki Y. , Nishida Y. , Shimada K. , Shibata M. , Hashimoto H. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. To establish an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting anti‐Ki antibody, using a bovine recombinant Ki antigen, and studying its specificity.Methods. Sera from 220 patients with various connective tissue diseases were screened, and a prospective study of fluctuations in anti‐Ki antibody and clinical course of a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was analyzed, by ELISA.Results. Anti‐Ki antibodies were present in 18.9% of patients with SLE. The titer of anti‐Ki antibody in the woman with SLE rose before the onset of pericarditis and pleuritis in this longitudinal study.Conclusion. ELISA using a recombinant Ki antigen is useful for the diagnosis of SLE, and it might be useful in estimating disease activity in patients with SLE.
Increased levels of circulating intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in kawasaki disease
Authors: Furukawa Susumu , Imai Kohzoh , Matsubara Tomoyo , Yone Kenji , Yachi Akira , Okumura Ko , Yabuta Keijiro 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. We investigated whether levels of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) antigen shed into the circulation increase during acute Kawasaki disease (KD). We also compared ICAM‐1 levels in acute KD with those in anaphylactoid purpura (AP) and in measles.Methods. Serum ICAM‐1 levels were measured by a double‐determinant immunoassay using 2 monoclonal antibodies in the FAST (Falcon assay screening test) system. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) were measured by a specific and sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay.Results. Patients with KD, but not those with AP or measles, had increased levels of shed ICAM‐1 antigen in serum samples obtained during acute stages. Moreover, during the acute stage, KD patients with coronary artery lesions (CAL) had still higher levels of shed ICAM‐1 than did those without CAL. We found a positive correlation between serum levels of shed ICAM‐1 and levels of TNFα during acute KD.Conclusion. Our findings suggest that the serum ICAM‐1 level is an important immunologic parameter for determining the severity of vascular damage during acute KD.
Yersinia–triggered reactive arthritis. use of polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemical staining in the detection of bacterial components from synovial specimens
Authors: Nikkari Simo , Merilahti‐Palo Riitta , Saario Riitta , Söderstrom Karl‐ove , Granfors Kaisa , Skurnik Mikael , Toivanen Paavo 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. To investigate whether microbial DNA is present in synovial specimens from patients with Yersinia‐triggered reactive arthritis.Methods. Synovial specimens from 13 patients with Yersinia enterocolitica O:3‐triggered reactive arthritis and from 16 control patients were studied using polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemical staining techniques.Results. Yersinia chromosomal DNA was not found in any of the synovial specimens from Yersinia‐triggered arthritis patients or controls, whereas with immunocytochemical techniques, Yersinia antigens were observed in synovial specimens from all of the patients with Yersinia‐triggered reactive arthritis.Conclusion. Only stable bacterial degradation products, not whole bacteria, are present at the site of inflammation in Yersinia‐triggered reactive arthritis.
Anticentromere antibody as a predictor of digital ischemic loss in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Wigley Fredrick M. , Wise Robert A. , Miller Robyn , Needleman Barbara W. , Spence Robert J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. To determine the clinical and serologic risk factors for digital ischemic events in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).Methods. Retrospective review of clinical and laboratory data and review of current clinical status of 98 patients with SSc, seen between 1985 and 1990.Results. Amputation of 1 or more digits due to ischemia occurred in 20.4% of the patients; 9.2% had multiple digit loss. Sclerodactyly alone and anticentromere antibody (ACA) were associated with loss of 1 or more digits. Age, smoking status, duration of disease, or duration of Raynaud's phenomenon were not predictive for loss of digits.Conclusion. Patients with limited SSc who are positive for ACA have an increased risk of major peripheral vascular occlusive disease.
Lymphokine‐activated killer cell and natural killer cell activities in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Kantor Thomas V. , Whiteside Theresa L. , Friberg Diana , Buckingham Robert B. , Medsger Thomas A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. To determine the ability of T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) to respond to cytokines and to generate immune effector cells.Methods. The numbers and percentages of peripheral blood T and NK cells were examined by 2‐color flow cytometry, and NK and lymphokine‐activated killer (LAK) cell function were measured in 4‐hour 51Cr‐release assays, in 34 patients with SSc. The patients were categorized into 3 subgroups: 10 had diffuse cutaneous disease of ≤3 years disease duration, 11 had diffuse cutaneous SSc of >3 years duration, and 13 had limited cutaneous disease.Results. Baseline and activated NK and T cell numbers and NK activity were normal in SSc patients. However, mean LAK activity was significantly depressed in all SSc subgroups.Conclusion. Decreased LAK cell function, despite normal numbers of circulating T and NK cells, indicates that SSc patients have poor ability to produce effector cells in response to interleukin‐2.
Primary idiopathic pulmonary hypertension complicated by pulmonary arterial thrombosis. Association with antiphospholipid antibodies
Authors: Luchi Monica E. , Asherson Ronald A. , Lahita Robert G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. We report an unusual case of primary pulmonary hypertension and review the pertinent literature.Methods. A 25‐year‐old Caucasian woman presented with progressive dyspnea and was found to have pulmonary hypertension. Antiphospholipid antibodies were present. The patient had a prolonged hospital course, was unresponsive to therapy, and died suddenly.Results. Postmortem examination revealed a large thrombus affecting the right main pulmonary artery, with plexogenic arteriopathy bilaterally.Conclusion. This appears to be the first reported case of primary pulmonary hypertension complicated by thrombosis of a main pulmonary artery in association with antiphospholipid antibodies.
Production of natural killer cell activity‐augmenting factor (interleukin‐6) by human epiphyseal chondrocytes
Authors: Malejczyk Jacek , Malejczyk Magdalena , Urbanski Agatha , Luger Thomas A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. We sought to determine the capacity of human epiphyseal chondrocytes to modulate the cytotoxic activity of human natural killer (NK) cells by determining whether they release interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), a cytokine recently shown to stimulate NK cell activity.Methods. Conditioned medium from human epiphyseal chondrocyte cultures (Ch‐CM) was tested for IL‐6 activity using the B9 cell hybridoma assay. Its NK cell‐stimulating capacity in the presence of K562 (myelogenous leukemia) cells or human chondrocytes was evaluated in a 4‐hour 51Cr‐release assay. Ch‐CM–derived IL‐6/NK cell–augmenting factor activity was partially purified by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) gel filtration and Western blot.Results. Ch‐CM contained an NK cell‐augmenting factor (NKAF) which was blocked by IL‐2 or IL‐6 antibodies. Ch‐CM did not contain detectable IL‐2 activity, but it stimulated IL‐2 production by human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). This IL‐2–inducing capacity was inhibited by IL‐6 antibodies, indicating that chondrocytes release an IL‐6–like activity. Ch‐CM significantly enhanced the proliferation of IL‐6–dependent B9 hybridoma cells, and Western blot analysis of Ch‐CM revealed specific bands corresponding to those of highly purified IL‐6. Upon HPLC gel filtration, chondrocyte NKAF copurified with chondrocyte IL‐6. Pure IL‐6 and chondrocyte IL‐6 were tested for their ability to stimulate the cytotoxic activity of human PBL against chondrocytes. Both mediators significantly enhanced chondrocyte killing. Lysis of chondrocytes by PBL was mediated by NK cells, since depletion of CD16+ cells resulted in inhibition of the activity.Conclusion. Thus, upon stimulation, chondrocytes produce IL‐6 which, through IL‐2 induction, augments the activity of NK cells against K562 target cells as well as against chondrocytes.
Characterization of a spontaneously occurring arthritis in male DBA/1 mice
Authors: Nordling Cecilia , Karlsson‐Parra Alex , Jansson Liselotte , Holmdahl Rikard , Klareskog Lars 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. We studied the incidence, severity, histopathologic features, and status of infection in a spontaneous polyarthritis which occurs in male DBA/1 mice.Methods. Over a 25‐week period, the arthritis was evaluated macroscopically in naive mice of different strains. The histopathology was evaluated at different phases of the disease. Virologic and bacteriologic investigations were performed.Results. The arthritis occurs in ∼80% of aging male DBA/1 mice. The disease is chronic and destructive, and the affected joints are characterized by synovial lining proliferation and infiltration of inflammatory cells, mainly mononuclear. The susceptibility appears to be dependent on both sex‐linked and non‐sex‐linked genes, since female DBA/1 mice are not affected and since male BALB/c housed in the same colony are only marginally affected.Conclusion. This first description of a spontaneous arthritis in aging male DBA/1 mice should provide new opportunities to study general features of a chronic and intermittent arthritis in a well‐characterized strain, in which no generalized aberrations of the immune system have been described.
Glucocorticoid receptors in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Schlaghecke Reiner , Kornely Elisabeth , Wollenhaupt JÜRgen , Specker Christof 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective.Increasing evidence suggests that there is a close interrelationship between the immune system and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. One way these systems are linked is through specific receptor proteins for glucocorticoid hormones in lymphocytes. We sought to determine whether the levels of these receptors differ in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), compared with levels in healthy subjects.Methods.We determined the density and affinity of lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors, as well as basal cortisol levels, in 90 patients with active RA and in 200 healthy controls, using a whole cell binding assay.Results.The number of glucocorticoid receptors in RA patients was significantly lower than in controls (mean ± SD 2,144 ± 500 per cell versus 5,619 ± 1,373 per cell;P< 0.001), whereas there were no differences in binding affinity or cortisol levels. Glucocorticoid receptor density did not correlate with inflammatory disease activity.Conclusion.Since glucocorticoids are potent immunosuppressive agents, the decrease in their receptors suggests an impairment of the immune–hypothalamic‐pituitary–adrenal axis in patients with RA.
Rheumatoid arthritis in greek and british patients. a comparative clinical, radiologic, and serologic study
Authors: Drosos A. A. , Lanchbury J. S. , Panayi G. S. , Moutsopoulos H. M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. To compare the clinical, radiologic, and serologic expression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2 different populations.Methods. Standard protocols and assessment criteria were used in this study of 108 Greek and 107 British patients with RA.Results. British patients had more severe articular involvement than did Greeks, as judged by the duration of morning stiffness (P < 0.005), grip strength (P < 0.0001), and the numbers of swollen (P < 0.001) and tender (P < 0.0001) joints. The British RA patients also had more severe joint damage on radiologic examination, as evidenced by Steinbrocker stage III (P < 0.005) and IV (P < 0.025) disease and had more extraarticular manifestations (P < 0.0001), including rheumatoid nodules (P < 0.0001) and Raynaud's phenomenon (P < 0.05). Greek RA patients, however, more frequently presented with sicca manifestations (P < 0.001) and serum antibodies to Ro/SS‐A (P < 0.025). Furthermore, Ro/SS‐A antibodies were associated with a high incidence of side effects to D‐penicillamine only in the Greeks.Conclusion. Genetic and environmental factors may be responsible for these striking differences in disease expression between these 2 European populations with RA.
HLA Class ii sequence polymorphisms and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis in greeks. the hla–drβ shared‐epitope hypothesis accounts for the disease in only a minority of greek patients
Authors: Boki Kyriaki A. , Panayi Gabriel S. , Vaughan Robert W. , Drosos Alexandros A. , Moutsopoulos Haralampos M. , Lanchbury Jerry S. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. In Northern Europeans, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is strongly associated with a relatively conserved pentapeptide sequence of HLA–DRβ found notably in the HLA–DR4 subtypes Dw4 and Dw14 and in DR1. A previous serologic study of HLA class II polymorphism in a Greek population with RA failed to show significant associations with any antigen.Methods. We characterized HLA–DRB polymorphisms in Greek patients with RA and in control subjects by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Allelic DRB subtypes were examined by polymerase chain reaction amplification and oligonucleotide hybridization.Results. DNA analysis in the RA patients showed that although individual HLA–DR allelic associations were weak, a relatively conserved HLA–DRβ motif was significantly associated with RA in this population of Greek patients. The third hypervariable region amino acid sequences QRRAA, QKRAA, or RRRAA were found in the HLA–DRβ1 of 43.5% of the RA patients versus 15.5% of the controls (unconnected P = 0.00004).Conclusion. Sequences shown to influence susceptibility to RA in patients in the UK also play a role in patients in Greece. However, 57% of Greek patients lack the putative HLA–DRβ motif, which suggests that considerable immunogenetic heterogeneity underlies disease susceptibility in this population.
Isolated diffusing capacity reduction in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Steen Virginia D. , Graham Galen , Conte Claudia , Owens Gregory , Medsger Thomas A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective. To determine the long‐term outcome of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and an isolated reduction in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) at the time of initial evaluation.Methods. Patients with an isolated reduction in DLco (i.e., normal forced vital capacity [FVC] and normal ratio of the forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1] to the FVC) on initial evaluation were identified from among 815 patients with SSc who were carefully followed up throughout their illness. We requested that patients have repeat pulmonary function testing (PFT), and the outcomes of these tests, as well as cardiopulmonary and survival outcomes, were determined.Results. An isolated reduction in DLco, with a normal FVC was detected in 152 (19%) of the 815 patients. A subset of those with an isolated reduction in DLco (11%) developed isolated pulmonary hypertension and had severely reduced survival rates. Pulmonary hypertension was strongly associated with an initial DLco of < 55% of predicted normal and a FVC (% predicted)/DLco (% predicted) ratio of > 1.4. Among all patients in whom this ratio was > 1.4, 22% developed isolated pulmonary hypertension, compared with only 2% of those whose ratio was <1.4 (P < 0.01). Of the 152 patients with isolated DLco reduction, 73 (48%) underwent PFTs a mean of 5.4 years (range 2.0–13.2) after the initial PFT. Only 6 (8%) of these 73 patients ever had serious pulmonary disease: 5 had isolated pulmonary hypertension, and 1 had severe pulmonary fibrosis. Half of the patients with a low initial DLco demonstrated a significant improvement (>20%) at followup testing that could not be explained by the demographic, clinical, or laboratory findings at the first visit.Conclusion. Isolated reduction in DLco is a frequent abnormality in SSc. Overall, it is associated with a good prognosis for survival and for pulmonary morbidity. A small subset of patients (11%) who have a very low DLco (<55% of predicted) have developed isolated pulmonary hypertension, all of whom had limited scleroderma.