bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exogenous sex hormones and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Hernandez‐Avila Mauricio , Liang Matthew H. , Willett Walter C. , Stampfer Meir J. , Colditz Graham A. , Rosner Bernard , Chang Roland W. , Hennekens Charles H. , Speizer Frank E. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe use of exogenous sex hormones in relaiton to the risk of rheumatoid arthiritis (RA) was examined in a cohort of married nurses 30–55 years of age followed since 1976 in the Nurses' Health Study. Baseline information on the use of oral contraceptives, replacement estrogens, and other potential risk factors was obtianed in 1976 and updated every 2 years. During 8 years of followup, 217 incident cases of polyarthritis were ascertained (115 RA and 102 undifferentiated polyarthritis). When compared with women who had never used oral contraceptives, the age‐adjusted relative risk was 1.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7–1.3) for past users; however, too few women were currently using oral contraceptives for a reliable estimate of its effect. Among postmenopausal women, 123 cases of RA were reported. Compared with postmenopausal women who never used replacement estrogens, current users had an age‐adjusted relative risk of 1.3 (95% CI 0.9–2.0), past users had an age‐adjusted relative risk of 0.7 (95% CI 0.5–1.2), and ever users had a relative risk of 1.0 (95% CI 0.7–1.4). These data do not show a protective effect of past use of oral contraceptives or replacement estrogens for RA; however, a modest protective effect of current oral contraceptive use cannot be excluded.
Histologic and electron microscopic characterization of the antiperinuclear factor antigen
Authors: Vivino Frederick B. , Maul Gerd G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe presence of the antiperinuclear factor, an autoantibody that recognizes cytoplasmic antigens, was detected in sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (59%), seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (36%), systemic lupus erythematosus (46%), systemic sclerosis (26%), and in nonautoimmune controls (10%). The antigenic perinuclear granules were found in the stratum intermedium layer of the buccal mucosa. Granules exhibited histologic features of nucleoproteins, stained for ribonucleoprotein, and showed the ultrastructural characteristics of aggregated rough endoplasmic reticulum. The antiperinuclear factor may recognize a common autoantigen in connective tissue disease.
Contribution of renal biopsy data in predicting outcome in lupus nephritis: analysis of 116 patients
Authors: Nossent Hans C. , Henzen‐Logmans Sonja C. , Vroom Thea M. , Berden Jo H. M. , Swaak Tom J. G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe reassessed renal biopsy specimens from 116 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and clinical manifestations of lupus nephritis to determine the contributions of the World Health Organization classification system, the activity and chronicity indexes of the National Institutes of Health scoring system, and various clinical parameters at the time of biopsy to predicting disease outcome. Multivariate analysis showed that only a chronicity index >3 was predictive for decreased renal survival, while age >31 years at biopsy and a chronicity index >3 were associated with decreased patient survival. Clinical tests of renal function were not reliable in discriminating between active lesions and chronic renal damage.
Hepatitis with bridging fibrosis and reversible hepatic insufficiency in a woman with rheumatoid arthritis taking methotrexate
Authors: Kujala G. A. , Shamma'A J. M. , Chang W. L. , Brick J. E. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA patient with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis developed ascites while taking weekly doses of methotrexate (MTX). Her serum transaminase and albumin levels were normal. A liver biopsy revealed chronic hepatitis with bridging fibrosis and piecemeal necrosis. Upon discontinuation of MTX, her ascites resolved, and her arthritis became more active. This is the third report of reversible hepatic decompensation associated with prolonged MTX therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Evaluation of the 1987 revised criteria for rheumatoid arthritis in a cohort of newly diagnosed female patients
Authors: Dugowson Carin E. , Nelson J. Lee , Koepsell Thomas D. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe revised criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were presented in 1987. We tested these criteria on 135 women from a population‐based study of patients with newly diagnosed RA. None of the 19 women with probable RA and 100 of the 116 women with definite RA met the 1987 criteria. The 1987 criteria appear to be less sensitive or more specific than the criteria formulated in 1956.
Rheumatologic manifestations of human parvovirus B19 infection in adults. Initial Two‐Year Clinical Experience
Authors: Naides Stanley J. , Scharosch Laura L. , Foto Frank , Howard Elizabeth J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractDuring 1987 and 1988, we identified 9 adults at the Medical and Rheumatology Services of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics who had a clinical diagnosis of fifth disease; 8 of the 9 had symptoms of joint involvement. Another 12 adults with serologic positivity for anti‐parvovirus B19 IgM antibody presented with polyarthralgia/polyarthritis. Patients were usually found to be seronegative for rheumatoid factor, and none developed nodules or erosive disease. Many patients with chronic disease met criteria for a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. A diagnosis of parvovirus B19 infection should be considered during the initial visit of patients with polyarthralgia/polyarthritis.
Immunologic parameters of response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with cyclosporin a
Authors: Yocum David E. , Wilder Ronald L. , Dougherty Suanne , Klippel John H. , Pillemer Stanley , Wahl Sharon 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThirty‐one patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis treated with cyclosporin A (CsA) were evaluated for immune function prior to, during, and after 1 year of therapy. Patients whose pretreatment peripheral blood mononuclear cells were hypoproliferative in vitro to soluble recall antigens responded better clinically to CsA treatment than did the other patients. During therapy, proliferative responses became normal and remained so until 1–2 months after CsA was discontinued. At that time, the lymphocyte proliferation defect reappeared. In addition, patients who responded clinically to CsA had a higher percentage of Leu‐7+ natural killer cells in their peripheral blood prior to therapy. All patients exhibited greater frequencies of cells that expressed interleukin‐2 receptors, which decreased with CsA treatment. The clinical response to CsA appears to be associated with distinct immunologic parameters in rheumatoid arthritis.
A clue from a self‐report questionnaire to distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from noninflammatory diffuse musculoskeletal pain
Authors: Callahan Leigh F. , Pincus Theodore 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA clue to distinguishing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from noninflammatory diffuse musculoskeletal pain is described on the basis of 2 self‐report questionnaire scales, one to assess difficulty in activities of daily living (D‐ADL) and a pain visual analog scale (P‐VAS). Patients with RA have significantly higher scores on the D‐ADL scale compared with the P‐VAS scale, while patients with noninflammatory diffuse musculoskeletal pain show the reciprocal pattern. Therefore, the ratio of the P‐VAS:D‐ADL scores differed significantly in the 2 groups. Ratios of <3 were seen in 67% of RA patients versus 28% of patients with noninflammatory diffuse musculoskeletal pain, while ratios >5 were seen in 27% of patients with noninflammatory diffuse musculoskeletal pain, but not in any patients with RA. This simple ratio is clearly not a diagnostic test, but provides an initial approach to diagnosis in rheumatic diseases using a self‐report questionnaire.
Lysis of fibrillar collagen by neutrophils in synovial fluid. A Role for Surface‐Bound Immunoglobulins
Authors: Chatham W. Winn , Heck Louis W. , Blackburn Warren D. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractSynovial fluids (SF) contain inhibitors capable of neutralizing the activity of proteases secreted by inflammatory cells and fibroblasts. To further define a potential role for SF polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in mediating joint destruction, peripheral blood PMN were suspended in SF and incubated with reconstituted collagen fibrils. Incubation of PMN‐SF mixtures with collagen fibrils precoated with monomeric IgG resulted in significant lysis of the underlying fibrils relative to that seen with uncoated fibrils. Augmented fibril lysis by PMN‐SF mixtures in which the PMN were activated with fluid‐phase ligands such as phorbol myristate acetate or heat‐aggregated IgG was not seen. Lysis of IgG‐coated fibrils by PMN‐SF was inhibited in the presence of EDTA or sodium azide. PMN‐mediated resorption of fibrillar collagen occurred despite the presence of protease inhibitors in the SF at a concentration capable of neutralizing human neutrophil collagenase. These results suggest that the focal release and activation of human neutrophil collagenase during PMN stimulation by tissue‐bound immunoglobulins may mediate the resorption of joint tissue collagens in rheumatoid arthritis, even in the presence of protease inhibitors.
In vitro secretion of human IgM rheumatoid factor. Evidence for Distinct Rheumatoid Factor Populations in Health and Disease
Authors: Dalal Niloofer , Roman Sheryl , Levinson Arnold I. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe production of antibodies that react with the Fc fragment of IgG, i.e., rheumatoid factors (RF), is now regarded as a normal host immune response. It is not clear, however, if such putative physiologic RF are different from their counterparts which characterize pathologic states like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Using Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I as an in vitro stimulant of RF production, we now report that the IgM‐RF secreted by blood mononuclear cells obtained from healthy newborn infants and healthy adults can be distinguished not only from classic monoclonal RF and polyclonal RA serum RF, but also from the RF secreted by blood mononuclear cells obtained from RA patients. Whereas the Fc‐binding activity of all RF secreted in vitro was easily inhibited by aggregated human IgG, only the RF produced by the normal umbilical cord cells and the normal adult cells were inhibited by monomeric Fc(IgG). The normal RF were also selectively inhibited by monomeric rabbit and guinea pig Fc(IgG). The RF secreted by umbilical cord blood cells utilized λ and λ light chains, with a disproportionate use of λ light chains relative to the total IgM secreted. Together, these data provide evidence for distinct subsets of RF in health and in disease.
Soluble interleukin‐2 receptors in children with kawasaki syndrome
Authors: Barron Karyl S. , Montalvo Juan F. , Joseph Aaron K. , Hilario Maria O. , Saadeh Constantine , Giannini Edward H. , Orson Frank M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe studied levels of soluble interleukin‐2 receptors (IL‐2R) in serial serum samples obtained from 93 patients with Kawasaki syndrome, using a double‐antibody “sandwich” enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay technique. Concentrations of soluble IL‐2R were significantly increased in Kawasaki syndrome patients in the first 4 weeks of illness when compared with either healthy adult or pediatric controls (P < 0.02), and in the first 2 weeks of illness when compared with a group of children with measles (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, in the second week of illness, levels of soluble IL‐2R were significantly greater in children who subsequently developed coronary artery aneurysms than in patients with normal appearing coronary arteries. Serum concentration of soluble IL‐2R is a useful marker for detecting early Kawasaki syndrome and identifies those patients who are at greater risk of developing coronary artery aneurysms.
Autoantibodies to nonhistone chromosomal proteins HMG‐1 and HMG‐2 in sera of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Wittemann Bettina , Neuer Gunter , Michels Hartmut , Truckenbrodt Hans , Bautz Friedlinde A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIgG antibodies against the high mobility group (HMG) nonhistone chromosomal proteins HMG‐1 and/or HMG‐2 were detected in the sera of 49 (39%) of 126 antinuclear antibody (ANA)‐positive patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), by immunoblotting. Clinical diagnosis classified these patients in 2 major groups, 105 with pauciarticular‐onset JRA and 21 with polyarticular‐onset JRA. Anti‐HMG‐1 and/or anti‐HMG‐2 antibodies were found in 8 (25%) of 32 pauciarticular‐onset JRA patients with uveitis and in 34 (47%) of 73 patients without uveitis, whereas anti‐HMG‐1 and/or anti‐HMG‐2 antibodies were found in 4 (24%) of 17 children with polyarticular‐onset JRA without uveitis. Among 53 sera from ANA‐negative JRA patients, 3 (6%) were positive for anti‐HMG‐1 and/or anti‐HMG‐2 antibodies, whereas no reactivity to HMG‐1 or HMG‐2 proteins was observed in 48 sera from age‐matched children with nonrheumatic diseases.
Gonococcal pericarditis with tamponade in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Coe Marcia D. , Hamer Davidson H. , Levy Charles S. , Milner Mark R. , Nam Myong Ho , Barth Werner F. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPericarditis is one of the most frequent manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus; however, purulent pericarditis and tamponade are rare. We describe a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and culture‐proven gonococcal arthritis who developed purulent pericarditis with intracellular gram‐negative diplococci. Evidence of tamponade was seen on echocardiography. There has not been a reported case of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in pericardial fluid or tissue since the introduction of antibiotics.
Diminished incidence of severe rheumatoid arthritis associated with oral contraceptive use
Authors: Zeben Derkjen Van , Hazes Johanna M. W. , Vandenbroucke Jan P. , Dijkmans Ben A. C. , Cats Arnold 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIt has been suggested that the negative association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and oral contraceptive (OC) use might be limited to the more severe forms of RA. To investigate this further, we studied 121 consecutive female patients with definite RA, 52 female patients with probable RA, and 378 female controls. All patients had RA symptoms of recent onset. After a mean followup period of 6 years, patients with definite RA were classified as having either a severe disease course (n = 76) or a mild disease course (n = 45). The negative association between OC use prior to the onset of RA symptoms and the development of RA was limited to those patients with definite RA who had a severe disease course. We therefore conclude that OC use prior to the onset of RA symptoms is only associated with a reduction in the incidence of severe RA. This may explain the divergent results of previous studies.
Collagen‐collagen versus collagen‐proteoglycan interactions in the determination of cartilage strength
Authors: Broom Neil D. , Silyn‐Roberts Heather 
Published: February 2007

AbstractFor articular cartilage to function as a stress‐reducing layer in the joint, it must both deform to an appropriate level to achieve load‐spreading as well as remain structurally coherent. Combined micromechanical and enzymatic studies of cartilage have demonstrated that the bulk of the extractable proteoglycans, while essential to the maintenance of compressive stiffness, contribute little to its cohesive strength. The study reported here clarifies fundamental aspects of the relationship between matrix components and the biomechanical function of cartilage.
Increased expression of platelet‐derived growth factor type b receptors in the skin of patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Klareskog Lars , Gustafsson Rolf , Scheynius Annika , Hällgren Roger 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe expression of B‐type receptors for platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) was investigated in skin biopsy samples from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibodies specific for the receptor. Whereas skin from healthy individuals lacked expression of PDGF‐B receptors, receptor expression was seen in sclerodermatous skin lesions from 13 of 14 patients. Increased receptor expression was observed in dermal vessels, as well as on many stromal fibroblast‐like cells close to these vessels. PDGF‐B receptor expression was most pronounced within and around dermal vessels in which perivascular infiltrates of Leu‐4‐positive T lymphocytes and HLA‐DR‐positive, RFD7‐positive activated macrophages were present. Both perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrates and PDGF‐B receptor expression were generally also seen in macroscopically normal areas of the skin of the SSc patients, indicating that the observed phenotypic alterations may precede the macroscopically observable features of scleroderma in the skin. The observed induction of PDGF‐B receptors, together with indirect indications of increased synthesis and release of PDGF, would be compatible with altered PDGF‐mediated control of connective tissue cell growth as part of the molecular basis for development of the skin lesions in SSc.
Major histocompatibility complex genes and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Fronek Zdenka , Timmerman Luika A. , Alper Chester A. , Hahn Bevra H. , Kalunian Kenneth , Peterlin B. Matija , Mcdevitt Hugh O. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractSusceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC)‐encoded genes. We have used nucleotide sequence analysis to better define the disease‐associated MHC alleles. HLA‐DR2, DQw1, and especially the rare allele DQβ1.AZH confer high relative risk (RR = 14) for lupus nephritis in a Caucasian population of patients. Pilot studies using historical controls suggest that these genes also confer a high risk in non‐Caucasian ethnic groups (RR = 24–78). We have found that DR4 is significantly decreased in patients with lupus nephritis. Fifty percent of the patients with lupus nephritis had either the DQβ1.1, the DQβ1.AZH, or the DQβ1.9 alleles. These alleles share amino acid residues that have been predicted to be the contact points for antigen and the T cell receptor. These HLA alleles appear to have a direct role in the predisposition to lupus nephritis, whereas DR4 may have a “protective” effect.
The American College of Rheumatology criteria for the classification and reporting of osteoarthritis of the hand
Authors: Altman R. , Alarcon G. , Appelrouth D. , Bloch D. , Borenstein D. , Brandt K. , Brown C. , Cooke T. D. , Daniel W. , Gray R. , Greenwald R. , Hochberg M. , Howell D. , Ike R. , Kapila P. , Kaplan D. , Koopman W. , Longley S. , Mcshane D. J. , Medsger T. , Michel B. , Murphy W. , Osial T. , Ramsey‐Goldman R. , Rothschild B. , Stark K. , Wolfe F. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractClinical criteria for the classification of symptomatic idiopathic (primary) osteoarthritis (OA) of the hands were developed from data collected in a multi‐center study. Patients with OA were compared with a group of patients who had hand symptoms from other causes, such as rheumatoid arthritis and the spondylar‐thropathies. Variables from the medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiographs were analyzed. All patients had pain, aching, or stiffness in the hands. Patients were classified as having clinical OA if on examination there was hard tissue enlargement involving at least 2 of 10 selected joints, swelling of fewer than 3 metacarpophalangeal joints, and hard tissue enlargement of at least 2 distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. If the patient had fewer than 2 enlarged DIP joints, then deformity of at least 1 of the 10 selected joints was necessary in order to classify the symptoms as being due to OA. The 10 selected joints were the second and third DIP, the second and third proximal interphalangeal, and the trapeziometacarpal (base of the thumb) joints of both hands. Criteria derived using the “classification tree” method were 92% sensitive and 98% specific. The “traditional format” classification method required that at least 3 of these 4 criteria be present to classify a patient as having OA of the hand. The latter sensitivity was 94% and the specificity was 87%. Radiography was of less value than clinical examination in the classification of symptomatic OA of the hands.
Polymorphism and expression of the galactosyltransferase‐associated protein kinase gene in normal individuals and galactosylation‐defective rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Delves Peter J. , Lund Torben , Axford John S. , Alavi‐Sadrieh Azita , Lydyard Peter M. , Mackenzie Lorna , Smith Mark D. , Kidd Vincent J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe used restriction endonuclease digestion of leukocyte DNA to assess the structural integrity of an N‐acetylglucosamine β1→4 galactosyltransferase (GalTase)‐associated (GTA) protein kinase gene in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. This analysis provides evidence that the gross structure of the GTA protein kinase gene locus remains intact in patients with defective galactosylation and that this gene locus is polymorphic both in normal individuals and in patients with RA, although no polymorphisms unique to RA patients were observed. Initial data on the expression of this gene indicate that comparable levels of GTA protein kinase messenger RNA are present in the lymphocytes of normal individuals and RA patients, irrespective of whether lymphocytes were obtained from patients with decreased or normal levels of galactosylation.
Dermal mast cell degranulation in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Seibold James R. , Giorno Ralph C. , Claman Henry N. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPaired biopsy samples from involved and uninvolved skin were obtained from 19 patients with generalized scleroderma (11 with early, progressive disease and 8 with late, improving disease). Skin biopsy samples were double stained for mast cell granules and for mast cell membrane. The number of mast cells was increased in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), in both involved and uninvolved skin and in both early and late disease. There was an increase in the number of degranulated mast cells in the involved skin of patients with both early and late disease and in the not‐yet‐involved skin of patients with early disease; however, there was no increase in the number of degranulated mast cells in areas of previously involved but now normal skin of patients with late disease. Increases in mast cell number and degranulation precede clinically apparent dermal fibrosis in SSc. These observations and the absence of mast cell degranulation in regressing skin suggest a participatory role of the mast cell in the clinical progression of skin changes in SSc.
Outbreak of spontaneous staphylococcal arthritis and osteitis in mice
Authors: Bremell Tomas , Lange Stefan , Svensson Lena , Jennische Eva , Gröndahl Kerstin , Carlsten Hans , Tarkowski Andrzej 
Published: February 2007

AbstractStaphylococcus aureus is the most common bacterial species found in association with nongonococcal bacterial arthritis in humans. We present here the first description of spontaneous bacterial arthritis and osteitis in mice. Clinically, the most obvious findings were swelling and/or ankylosis of hindpaws and nodose changes of the tail. The prevalence of arthritis and osteitis ranged from 0% to >50% of the mice studied, depending on the mouse strain. The most prominent histopathologic feature of the arthritis was hypertrophy of the synovial tissue and destruction of cartilage and underlying bone. Most of the S aureus‐infected mice displayed an identical phage type, which was also the only S aureus phage type found in skin isolates from clinically healthy mice. However, a few S aureus isolates were not typeable, indicating that an additional strain(s) might cause bacterial arthritis in mice.