bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of auranofin, gold sodium thiomalate, and placebo in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Ward John R. , James Williams H. , Egger Marlene J. , Reading James C. , Boyce Eric , Altz‐Smith Mary , Samuelson Cecil O. , Willkens Robert F. , Solsky Marilyn A. , Hayes Stanley P. , Blocka Kenneth L. , Weinstein Arthur , Meenan Robert F. , Guttadauria Maria , Kaplan Stanley B. , Klippel John 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA prospective controlled, double‐blind multi‐center trial compared placebo, auranofin (an orally administered gold complex), and parenteral gold sodium thiomalate (GST) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Of 193 patients who received any treatment, the only important improvement identified for either auranofin or GST was for pain/tenderness scores. When 161 patients who completed 20 weeks of treatment were examined, both auranofin and GST treatments were superior to placebo as measured by improvement in number of painful and/or tender joints, joint pain/tenderness scores, physician's assessment of disease activity, and decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate when elevated at entry. GST was superior to placebo in improvement of joint swelling scores, anemia, thrombo‐cytosis, and rheumatoid factor. No drug‐related remissions were observed. The only statistically significant advantages of GST over auranofin for efficacy were an increase in hemoglobin concentration and decrease of thrombocytosis with GST. Withdrawals for adverse effects were 5 times more frequent with GST treatment. Thrombocytopenia, proteinuria, elevated liver enzymes, “nitritoid” reactions, and “gold pneumonitis” were observed only in the GST treatment group. These results confirm that both parenteral and oral gold may be effective for the treatment of RA, that GST tends to show greater efficacy than auranofin, and that auranofin has fewer significant adverse effects than GST. However, long‐term benefits, tolerability, and safety cannot be inferred from this study.
The role of hypertension in the vascular disease and myocardial infarcts associated with murine systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Hang Leming , Stephens‐Larson Patricia , Henry James P. , Dixon Frank J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe several kinds of mice that spontaneously develop acute systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—BXSB males, MRL/I males and females, and (NZB x W)F1 females—have a 15–20% incidence of degenerative vascular disease (DVD) and myocardial infarcts (MI) in which the affected coronaries contain deposits of immunoreactants, presumably in the form of immune complexes. Among the F1 hybrid crosses of SLE mice, only the (NZW x BXSB)F1, (W x B)F1 male has a significantly higher incidence of DVD/MI (80%). Search for possible causes of this high incidence of myocardial infarcts revealed several unique features of this mouse: hypertension, thrombocytosis, and early onset of circulating immune complexes and glomerulonephritis. Our attempts to prevent this DVD/MI focused on: reduction of hypertension, prevention of thrombosis, and immunosuppression. Immunosuppression by Cytoxan resulted in almost complete prevention of both the SLE disease and DVD/MI. Administration of bretylium, an antihy‐pertensive and anti‐arrhythmic agent, resulted in reduction of blood pressure and the severities of glomerulonephritis, DVD, and MI; phritis, DVD, and MI; it also slightly reduced the levels of circulating immune complexes and leukocytosis. Of the 4 antithrombotic agents used, only aspirin showed some reduction in the incidence of DVD/MI and delay of glomerulonephritis‐associated mortality.
Effect of lymphoplasmapheresis on clinical indices and t cell subsets in rheumatoid arthritis a double‐blind controlled study
Authors: Verdickt Wilfried , Dequeker Jan , Ceuppens Jan L. , Stevens Erik , Gautama Koo , Vermylen Carl 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe effects of lymphoplasmapheresis on immunologic indices, including T cell subsets, and on clinical parameters of rheumatoid arthritis were evaluated in a controlled double‐blind trial. Twenty patients were randomized to receive either 6 lymphoplasmapheresis sessions or a seemingly identical control procedure over a 3‐week period. Lymphoplasmapheresis produced significant reduction in serum levels of total lymphocytes, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein, and IgG. These serologic measures returned to baseline 5 weeks after lymphoplasmapheresis. No change in the imbalance of T cell subsets (increased helper/suppressor ratio) was observed. No changes in the serologic measures, except IgA, were observed in the control group. An improvement in some of the clinical parameters was observed in both the lymphoplasmapheresis and control groups. A rebound above baseline values for several parameters was observed in both the lymphoplasmapheresis and the sham apheresis groups.
Association of HLA‐DR4/Dw4 and DR2/Dw2 with radiologic changes in a prospective study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Young Adam , Jaraquemada Dolores , Awad Juliette , Festenstein Hilliard , Corbett Mary , Hay Frank C. , Roitt Ivan M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPatients admitted to a prospective study within a year of onset of suspected rheumatoid arthritis showed a positive correlation between HLA‐Dw4 and the eventual severity of peripheral radiologic changes. Dw4 and DR4 were strongly associated with severity of erosions when analysis was restricted to each of the following: patients with erosions, those under 50 at onset, and all females. Relationships were consistently stronger with Dw4 than with DR4. Another D‐related specificity, MT3, was positively correlated and Dw2/DR2 negatively correlated with erosions.
Clonal heterogeneity in the fibroblast response to mononuclear cell derived mediators
Authors: Korn Joseph H. , Torres Daria , Downie Elaine 
Published: February 2007

AbstractHuman dermal fibroblasts were examined for heterogeneity in proliferation and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthetic response to supernates of mitogen activated mononuclear cell cultures. Eleven substrains from a single neonatal foreskin culture displayed marked clonal heterogeneity in the fibroblast response to mononuclear cell derived mediators. Supernates of mononuclear cell cultures stimulated fibroblast PGE2 synthesis and suppressed proliferation. Substrains displayed tenfold differences in PGE synthesis and the extent of growth suppression. Release of immunologic mediators at sites of inflammatory lesions could lead to alterations in the clonal composition and phenotypic expression of connective tissue cells.
Metalloproteinases and collagenase inhibitors in rheumatoid synovial fluid
Authors: Cawston T. E. , Mercer E. , Silva M. De , Hazleman B. L. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe levels of metalloproteinases and metalloproteinase inhibitors were measured in rheumatoid synovial fluid. Reliable estimates of total enzyme and inhibitor levels in the synovial fluids were obtained only after hyaluronidase treatment and gel filtration. Three latent metalloproteinases were found which, after activation, degraded collagen, proteoglycan, and gelatin. These enzymes closely resembled the metalloproteinases secreted into connective tissue culture medium. In addition to α2 macroglobulin, an Mr 30,000 collagenase inhibitor was detected which closely resembled the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase found in tissue culture medium.
Neutral proteases capable of proteoglycan digesting activity in osteoarthritic and normal human articular cartilage
Authors: Martel‐Pelletier Johanne , Pelletier Jean‐Pierre , Cloutier Jean‐Marie , Howell David S. , Ghandur‐Mnaymneh Latifa , Frederick Jr J. Woessner 
Published: February 2007

AbstractProteases have been postulated to account for the progressive disappearance of matrix proteoglycans in osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage. The digestion of endogenous proteoglycans by neutral proteases in human OA cartilage homogenates has been measured and compared with that of normal age‐matched controls. Cartilage was obtained from 16 patients at the time of knee arthroplasty and from 7 accident victims. Tissue blocks were cut from the tibial plateau; part was used for histologic grading of the severity of OA and part was homogenized for the quantification of neutral metallo‐and serine protease activities, based on the release of digested products from endogenous proteoglycans. Total metalloprotease activity (latent plus active forms) was elevated 3‐ to 10‐fold in all diseased cartilage. This elevation was already significant in mild disease, but was greatest in samples of moderate to severe disease. The active form of the enzyme was highest at the center of erosions and decreased in the margins of the plateau. The digestion of proteoglycans, as distinct from their mere release from the tissue, was demonstrated by chromatography on Sepharose‐CL2B and by large pore electrophoresis. Serine protease activity on proteoglycans was much lower than that of metalloprotease. The mean activity was highest in mild disease and declined in the severe disease samples, but the difference between these 2 groups and the controls was not statistically significant. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that the neutral metalloproteases of cartilage are involved in the degradation of proteoglycans in osteoarthritis.
Does Hyperuricemia Protect from Rheumatoid Inflammation?
Authors: Agudelo Carlos A. , Turner Robert A. , Panetti Marguerite , Pisko Edward 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe negative association between gout and rheumatoid arthritis is well accepted. The reason for this mutual exclusion is not clear; a protective immunosuppressive effect of hyperuricemia has been included among possible explanations. To test this hypothesis, we reviewed the charts of 160 rheumatoid arthritis patients on whom clinical information and followup for at least a year were available. We selected those patients with persistent hyperuricemia as defined by serum urate levels averaging above 7.5 mg% for at least 6 months. We found 12 patients fulfilling such criteria, and 11 of these were judged to have quiescent, minimally active, or inactive disease during hyperuricemic periods. In 2 patients, flares of the rheumatoid process coincided with normalization of serum urate levels. We propose that persistent hyperuricemia may protect against or decrease the expression of rheumatoid inflammation.
Systemic lupus erythematosus with paraproteinemia
Authors: Rubin Laurence , Urowitz Murray B. , Pruzanski Waldemar 
Published: February 2007

AbstractNine patients (2.2%) in a group of 415 who were followed in a longitudinal prospective study of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were found to have various monoclonal (M) proteins in their blood (IgG [6 patients], IgA [2 patients], IgM [1 patient]). No other findings compatible with plasmacytic dyscrasia were found. Bence Jones proteinuria was absent. Bone marrow aspirates and skeletal radiographs did not reveal any associated features of malignancy. Four of the 9 patients were under the age of 50. From the point of view of the M components, 3 groups emerged: transient (2 patients), persistently stable (6 patients), and increasing serum concentrations (1 patient). Using current measures of disease status, no correlation was apparent between the presence, type, and concentration of the M protein and the clinical and laboratory variables of lupus activity. Thus, M proteins were found in 2% of our SLE patients, but their relationship to the polyclonal B cell activation seen in this disorder, or perhaps to therapeutic modalities used in its treatment, remains to be elucidated.
Misuse of statistical methods in arthritis and rheumatism
Authors: Felson David T. , Adrienne Cupples L. , Meenan Robert F. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractArticles published in Arthritis and Rheumatism in 1982 were compared with those from 1967–68 to evaluate trends in statistical methods and in the quantity and character of statistical misuse. Results show that among articles in 1982 using statistics, 66% contained methodologic errors. The percentage was similar in 1967–68, although fewer articles used statistics. In 1967–68 the most common error was failure to identify the statistical method used, whereas in 1982 multiple testing errors predominated, specifically, use of the t‐test to compare 3 or more groups and comparison of 2 groups on multiple variables. The availability of calculators and computers which readily perform complex data analysis may underly the emergence of multiple testing errors. To compare multiple groups, we suggest using analysis of variance instead of the t‐test. To avoid multiple testing errors, we recommend limiting the number of tests performed, lowering the alpha (significance) level, or using multivariate techniques.
Erosive azotemic osteoarthropathy
Authors: Rubin Laurence A. , Fam Adel G. , Rubenstein Joel , Campbell John , Saiphoo Carl 
Published: February 2007

AbstractFifty‐nine patients with end‐stage renal disease undergoing long‐term dialysis were studied prospectively for joint disease. Radiographic assessment allowed division of patients into 3 groups: group 1 included 12 patients with renal osteodystrophy and erosions of the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, distal interphalangeal, shoulder, wrist, and knee joints; group 2 had 11 patients with renal osteodystrophy without articular erosions; group 3 included 36 patients without osteodystrophy or erosions. Clinical manifestations were frequent in patients of group 1 and included episodes of arthralgias of the metacarpophalangeal, wrist, proximal interphalangeal, and knee joints. Patients of groups 1 and 2, particularly those of group 1, had a longer mean duration of dialysis and a higher mean serum alkaline phosphatase level compared with group 3 patients. The study indicates that there is a relatively high incidence (20%) of erosive arthropathy in dialysis patients. Renal osteodystrophy, more specifically, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and duration of dialysis are important factors in the development of this articular disorder.
Anticollagen antibodies and immune response gene products in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Collier David H. , Kerwar S. S. , Garovoy Marvin R. , Fye Kenneth H. , Stobo John D. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractCirculating antibodies to native and denatured types I and II human and bovine collagens were assayed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), patients with other rheumatic diseases, and normal individuals. A subgroup of this population was also assayed for reactivity with typing reagents which detect determinants (MT and HLA‐DR) present in human immune response gene products. The mean titers of antibodies to each collagen tested were not significantly higher in RA patients when compared with patients who had other rheumatic diseases. Although both MT3 and MT4 were significantly associated with RA, there was no significant association between the anticollagen antibodies and any MT type or HLA‐DR4. These studies raise a question concerning the role of collagen antibodies in the pathogenesis of RA and suggest that genes distinct from those coding for HLA‐DR may play a role in the expression of the disease.
Small airways function in nonsmokers with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Sassoon Catherine S. H. , Mcalpine Samuel W. , Tashkin Donald P. , Baydur Ahmet , Quismorio Frank P. , Mongan Edward S. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractTo evaluate the possible relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and airways dysfunction independent of cigarette smoking, we studied 19 lifetime nonsmokers with RA and 47 healthy nonsmokers. Ten tests of small airways function were administered to the subjects. In addition, diffusing capacity and static lung compliance were measured, and upstream airway conductance at mid‐to‐low lung volumes was calculated. Mean values were not significantly lower in the RA group than in the control group in any of the tests of small airways function. Three of the 19 (16%) patients with RA versus 15 of the 47 (32%) control subjects had abnormal findings on >2 tests of small airways function (P > 0.1). Although mean diffusing capacity and static lung compliance were both within normal limits in each group, the former tended to be lower, while the latter was significantly lower, in the RA subjects. We conclude that airways dysfunction in RA, if present, is probably related to factors other than the underlying disease; if an association between RA and small airways abnormality is present in some patients, its prevalence is too small to have been detected in our sample.
IgG and IgM antibody to native type ii collagen in rheumatoid arthritis serum and synovial fluid evidence for the presence of collagen‐anticollagen immune complexes in synovial fluid
Authors: Clague Roy B. , Moore Lindsey J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractLevels of IgG and IgM antibody to native type II collagen, a component of articular cartilage, were measured by a specific solid‐phase radioimmunoassay, in 48 rheumatoid arthritis patients. Good correlations were found between the levels in sera and those in synovial fluids. Collagenase digestion caused a significant rise in specific antibody levels in synovial fluids, indicating the presence of intraarticular collagen‐anticollagen complexes. These immune complexes may be one mechanism for perpetuation of inflammation in some rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Hereditary joint disorder in progressive ankylosis (ank/ank) mice I. association of calcium hydroxyapatite deposition with inflammatory arthropathy
Authors: Hakim Frances T. , Cranley Robert , Brown Kenneth S. , Eanes Edward D. , Harne Leslie , Oppenheim Joost J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractProgressive ankylosis (ank), a murine autosomal recessive mutation, produces an inflammatory joint disorder associated with intraarticular calcium hydroxyapatite deposition and culminates in fusion of the joints. Joints in the feet become stiffened and swollen with milky white fluid containing polymorphonuclear leukocytes, large mononuclear macrophage‐like cells, and calcium hydroxyapatite. The joints develop a proliferative synovitis, sometimes associated with marginal erosions of the articular cartilage and periosteal bone. Subsequently, cartilaginous osteophytes, extending outward from the subchondral bone, bridge the margins of the joint and undergo ossification. The progressive ankylosis mutation provides a useful system for investigating calcium hydroxyapatite‐associated arthropathies.
Quantitative histologic studies on the pathogenesis of periarticular osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Shimizu Shinichi , Shiozawa Shunichi , Shiozawa Kazuko , Imura Shigeaki , Fujita Takuo 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe pathogenesis of periarticular osteopenia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigated by histomorphometry on juxtaarticular bone removed during joint surgery. Twenty areas from 12 RA patients were compared with 14 areas from 6 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. There was no difference between the 2 groups in the percent of total bone volume. However, increased bone formation was suggested by an increase in the percent of active osteoid surface in RA compared with that in OA. Bone resorption was also increased in RA, as evidenced by increases versus OA in percent total resorptive surface, percent active resorptive surface, and number of osteoclasts. These results demonstrate increased turnover of bone in RA, especially in the resorptive phase of the periarticular trabecular bone. It is proposed that soluble factor(s) synthesized in the contiguous rheumatoid synovium may be transferred to the periarticular bone space, stimulating osteoclasts to resorb bone.
Atrophic gastritis in sjögren's syndrome. Morphologic, biochemical, and immunologic findings
Authors: Maury C. P. J. , Törnroth T. , Teppo A‐M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractGastric studies were carried out in 16 patients with well‐documented Sjögren's syndrome (SS), 43 matched rheumatic disease patients without SS, and 7 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis not associated with SS. Chronic atrophic gastritis was a much more common finding in the SS patients than in the rheumatic disease control patients. Significant hypopepsinogenemia was present in 11 of 16 SS patients. In 6 patients this was combined with hypergastrinemia, a combination highly specific for chronic atrophic gastritis. The lowest pepsinogen levels were seen in patients with primary SS associated with high levels of SS‐B antibody. On a histologic and biochemical basis, it was not possible to distinguish the gastric findings in primary SS from those in secondary SS, nor to distinguish chronic atrophic gastritis associated with SS from that not associated with SS. We conclude that chronic atrophic gastritis is a prominent feature in SS and that the severity of the gastritis appears to correlate with some serologic parameters of SS.
A longitudinal study of high and low avidity antibodies to double‐stranded DNA in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: McGrath Hugh , Biundo Joseph J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe role of avidity in the pathogenicity of double‐stranded DNA/anti–double‐stranded DNA immune complexes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been controversial. We used polyethylene glycol to identify low avidity antibodies and the standard Farr assay to detect high avidity antibodies against double‐stranded DNA in a longitudinal study of sera from 19 patients with SLE. We found that high and low avidity antibodies to double‐stranded DNA did not move independently, but instead, rose and fell in a parallel and relatively fixed manner in these patients. The mechanisms responsible for the changes in titer of anti–double‐stranded DNA antibody appeared nondiscriminatory in regard to avidity. In addition, the humoral immune response in SLE depicted by these antibody measurements appeared atypical, lacking maturational features.
Role of synovial membrane inflammation in cartilage matrix breakdown in the Pond‐Nuki dog model of osteoarthritis
Authors: Pelletier Jean‐Pierre , Martel‐Pelletier Johanne , Ghandur‐Mnaymneh Latifa , Howell David S. , Woessner Jr. J. Frederick 
Published: February 2007

AbstractUsing the Pond‐Nuki procedure, osteoarthritis was induced in 26 crossbred dogs. Their right knees were subjected to anterior cruciate ligament sectioning, and their left knees received a sham operation. The unoperated knees of 7 additional dogs served as controls. Cartilage and synovial membranes were excised 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery. Collagenolytic activity, determined by direct tissue assay, was higher at all times tested in osteoarthritic cartilage and synovia than in sham operated and control specimens. The increased collagenolytic activity of the cartilage did not correlate with the collagenolytic activity of the synovium, but it did correlate (r = 0.57) with the degree of synovial inflammation, which was graded histologically. Treatment for 4 weeks with prednisone (0.20–0.25 mg/kg/day) blocked the increased collagenolytic activity of the cartilage. Our results indicate that stimulating factors may, but collagenolytic enzymes probably do not, diffuse from the synovium to the cartilage and modulate tissue breakdown. Prednisone may also suppress cartilage breakdown by either acting at the level of the synthesis or by acting on the release/action of the stimulating factors.