bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metalloproteinases and cartilage proteoglycan depletion in chronic arthritis
Authors: Henderson B. , Pettipher E. R. , Murphy G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractChronic monarticular arthritis can be induced in ovalbumin‐sensitized rabbits by intraarticular injection of ovalbumin (antigen‐induced arthritis) or in naive rabbits by injecting hyaluronic acid mixed with the polycation poly‐D‐lysine (polycation‐induced arthritis). Both models show some points of similarity, including joint swelling, the presence of inflammatory leukocytes and the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2, and the kinetics of cartilage proteoglycan loss. However, the assessment of the capacity of synovial lining and articular cartilage to synthesize and secrete neutral metalloproteinases reveals a difference between these models. We found that articular cartilage from the inflamed joints of rabbits with antigen‐induced arthritis did not synthesize neutral metalloproteinases, although the synovial lining did. In contrast, both the synovial lining and the articular cartilage from the inflamed joints of rabbits with polycation‐induced arthritis synthesized neutral metalloproteinases. These findings suggest that in inflammatory synovitis, different mechanisms can operate to produce damage to the matrix of articular cartilage.
The spectrum of atlanto axial facet joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Halla James T. , Hardin Joe G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractSix hundred fifty outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were evaluated and followed up during a 7‐year period. As part of their routine evaluation or because of neck‐shoulder girdle symptoms, 48% of the patients underwent routine cervical spine radiography. Sixty‐one RA patients (9% of the total population) had C1‐C2 involvement. Compared with the 589 patients with no evidence of C1‐C2 involvement, these 61 patients were significantly more likely to be younger, female, and seropositive, and they had significantly more nodules and erosions, as well as a longer disease duration. Based on radiographic evidence of C1‐C2 disease severity, 3 groups emerged. Group 1 (28 patients) had lateral mass collapse, group 2 (27 patients) had lateral facet joint sclerosis, erosion, or loss of joint space with no collapse, and group 3 (6 patients) had lateral subluxation with no bone or cartilage changes. Nine patients in group 1 had severe pain, and 25 had a nonreducible rotational tilt of the head. None of the patients in the other 2 groups had either of these signs or symptoms. Moreover, patients in group 1 were more likely to have other C1‐C2 or subaxial subluxations and were more likely to have myelopathy. C1‐C2 lateral facet joint involvement is common in RA, correlates with disease severity generally and specifically with that in the cervical spine, and, when severe, causes nonreducible rotational tilt of the patient's head.
Low‐dose methotrexate compared with auranofin in adult rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Weinblatt Michael E. , Kaplan Herbert , Germain Bernard F. , Merriman Richard C. , Solomon Sheldon D. , Wall Bruce , Anderson Larry , Block Sidney , Irby Robert , Wolfe Frederick , Gall Eric , Torretti Dennis , Biundo Joseph , Small Ralph , Coblyn Jon , Polisson Richard 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWeekly treatment with low‐dose oral methotrexate (MTX) was compared with daily auranofin (AUR) treatment in a 36‐week double‐blind, randomized, multicenter study of 281 patients with active, adult‐onset rheumatoid arthritis. Both treatment groups showed significant improvement by the usual measures of clinical efficacy. The response with MTX occurred earlier and was consistently greater than that with AUR. An intent‐to‐treat analysis showed significantly greater improvement (P < 0.01) with MTX for painful and swollen joint counts and physician and patient global assessments of disease activity. Adverse reactions were reported more frequently in the AUR group, and more AUR‐treated patients were withdrawn from the study because of toxicity. MTX was thus more effective and better tolerated than AUR in this study.
The role of stromelysin in the cartilage destruction that accompanies inflammatory arthritis
Authors: Hasty Karen A. , Reife Robert A. , Kang Andrew H. , Stuart John M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractArticular cartilage from arthritic joints of rats immunized with type II collagen is severely depleted of proteoglycans. Depletion begins within 48 hours after the onset of inflammation, prior to extensive pannus formation, and may represent a critical first step in cartilage destruction. We have immunolocalized stromelysin, an enzyme that is believed to play a major role in the pathologic degradation of proteoglycans, in the joints of rats with collagen‐induced arthritis. Immunoperoxidase staining of frozen tissue sections demonstrated the presence of stromelysin in both the synovium and chondrocytes. In contrast, collagenase was localized primarily to the pannus‐cartilage junction. Neither enzyme was detectable in joints from normal animals. To test the hypothesis that chondrocytes respond directly to inflammatory mediators by increasing the production of stromelysin, isolated chondrocytes were incubated with various concentrations of interleukin‐1. The culture media were also assayed for the presence of stromelysin by immunoreactivity on Western blots and by analysis of enzymatic activity on casein substrate gels. A 3‐fold increase in a doublet of proteins synthesized in response to 10 units/ml of interleukin‐1 was observed. These proteins also immunoreacted with the stromelysin antibody and degraded casein. Northern blotting results established that the increased levels of stromelysin were accompanied by increases in stromelysin‐specific messenger RNA levels. These results suggest that stromelysin is responsible for proteoglycan degradation in early inflammatory arthritis, and that chondrocytes may play a direct role in the earliest stages of the degradation of their own matrices.
Constitutive production of interleukin‐6 and immunologic features in cardiac myxomas
Authors: Jourdan Michel , Bataille Régis , Seguin Jacques , Zhang Xue Guang , Chaptal Paul André , Klein Bernard 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe constitutive production of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), a potent hepatocyte‐stimulating factor and B cell‐differentiating factor, was demonstrated in 3 patients with cardiac myxomas. Tumor cells from the only patient who presented with immunologic features produced 14–23‐fold higher levels of IL‐6 than those from the 2 patients who lacked such features. A significant serum IL‐6 level (56 pg/ml), greater than that observed in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, was also observed only in this patient, with a subsequent return to an undetectable level after surgical removal of the tumor. This was associated with a regression of the immunologic features. This same patient was observed to have an IL‐6‐dependent, proliferative polyclonal plasmacytosis of the bone marrow. These observations demonstrate that an overproduction of IL‐6 by cardiac myxoma cells, in association with a systemic passage of this IL‐6, may be responsible for the immunologic features similar to those observed in true autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Pediatric onset of behcet's syndrome with myositis: case report and literature review illustrating unusual features
Authors: Lang Bianca A. , Laxer Ronald M. , Thorner Paul , Greenberg Mark , Silverman Earl D. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe report a case of Behcet's syndrome with myositis in a pediatric patient, emphasizing the importance of muscle involvement in the differential diagnosis of calf pain and swelling in Behcet's syndrome. A review of the English‐language literature from 1965 to the present suggests that the clinical picture of Behcet's syndrome in children differs from that in adults, in that there is a lower frequency of ocular disease, and unusual manifestations appear to be more common.
Characteristics of high‐titer igg antiphospholipid antibody in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with and without fetal death
Authors: Qamar Tasneem , Levy Roger A. , Sammaritano Lisa , Gharavi Azzudin E. , Lockshin Michael D. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAlthough high‐titer IgG antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) is a predictor of mid‐pregnancy fetal death in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), some SLE patients with high‐titer aPL carry pregnancies normally, and to term. To determine potential antibody differences between IgG aPL‐positive women with and without fetal death, we studied aPL isotype, subclass, anticoagulant activity, phospholipid specificity, and antibody avidity in selected sera from pregnant SLE patients with high‐titer IgG aPL. For controls, we selected sera from pregnant SLE patients who had negative results on tests for IgG aPL (with and without fetal loss). None of the specified antibody characteristics distinguished between the aPL‐positive patient groups, nor were other specificities defined in IgG aPL‐negative sera from women with fetal death. Although high‐titer aPL is a good predictor of fetal death, currently known characteristics, other than a high titer of aPL, do not identify which women will experience this complication.
Salivary gland echography in patients with sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Kawamura Hajime , Taniguchi Nobuyuki , Itoh Kouichi , Kano Shogo 
Published: February 2007

AbstractUltrasonographic examinations of salivary glands were performed on 24 patients with Sjögren's syndrome. On B‐mode echographic images, the submandibular glands of 21 of the patients (88%) showed a heterogeneous pattern, whereas all of the control subjects had homogeneous patterns. This distinction was further confirmed by the results of the analysis of the histogram patterns of echo intensity and echo frequency of the submandibular glands, which showed that the width of the echo level at 0% and 10% of the maximum normalized frequency was significantly greater in patients with Sjögren's syndrome than in the control subjects. Similar histographic findings were present in the parotid glands, although the heterogeneous ultrasonographic pattern was observed in only 8 of the 24 patients (33%). These results indicate that ultrasonography may be useful in the evaluation of salivary gland involvement in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.
Long‐term immunomodulatory effects of t lymphocyte depletion in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Goronzy Jörg J. , Weyand Cornelia M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe describe 2 patients with rapidly progressing systemic sclerosis that did not respond to conventional therapy, who were treated with a 5‐day regimen of T cell‐specific antilymphocyte globulin. One patient had deteriorating pulmonary involvement, and the second patient had developed disabling skin disease with multiple ulcers and gangrene. Both patients showed improvement concomitant with almost complete elimination of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Regeneration of peripheral T cells required 60–90 days and was followed by a long‐term inversion of the CD4:CD8 ratio. The persistent therapeutic effect in both patients correlated with the lack of CD4+ T cells and the predominance of CD8+ T cells. This suggests a crucial role of T cell immunity in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. In vitro studies of regenerating T cells demonstrated that CD4+ helper/inducer cells were functionally competent. Alterations in the composition of the CD8+ population may explain the prolonged suppression of CD4+ T cells observed during the period of therapeutic benefit.
Effects of tumor necrosis factor α and β on resorption of human articular cartilage and production of plasminogen activator by human articular chondrocytes
Authors: Campbell Ian K. , Piccoli Diana S. , Roberts Michael J. , Muirden Kenneth D. , Hamilton John A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe examined the effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on human articular cartilage and chondrocytes in culture. Both TNF α and TNFβ stimulated cartilage matrix breakdown during prolonged culture and elevated the levels of plasminogen activator (PA) activity in both the supernatants and cell layers of cultured chondrocytes. Characterization of the PA activities by immunochemistry and by zymography following gel electrophoresis indicated that human chondrocytes produce both urokinase‐type PA and tissuetype PA in response to TNF. The addition of both interleukin‐1 and TNFα or TNFβ to chondrocyte cultures demonstrated a synergism between these cytokines in the generation of PA activity in the culture supernatants and cell layers. Our results suggest that both activated lymphocytes and monocytes may contribute to the cartilage destruction of inflammatory arthritis through their stimulation of chondrocytes with TNFβ and TNFα, respectively. Since PA is the only neutral proteinase reported to be elevated in TNF‐stimulated chondrocyte cultures, it could have an important role in TNF‐mediated cartilage destruction.
The relationship of sulfoxidation status to efficacy and toxicity of penicillamine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Madhok R. , Zoma A. , Torley H. I. , Capell H. A. , Waring R. , Hunter J. A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPenicillamine shows some structural similarities to carbocysteine. The ability to oxidize carbocysteine, i.e., the sulfoxidation status, shows a bimodal distribution in the general population. In this study, sulfoxidation status was determined in 50 of 60 rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving penicillamine. We found that poor sulfoxidation status, compared with good sulfoxidation status, was associated with a 3.9 times higher incidence of toxicity.
Sequence of i‐e genes from autoimmune new zealand white mice
Authors: Smith Lawrence R. , Theofilopoulos Argyrios N. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAutoimmune New Zealand white (NZW) mice contribute to (New Zealand black × New Zealand white)F1 mice 1 or more major histocompatibility complex‐linked genes that strongly correlate with susceptibility to murine lupus. The NZW class II major histocompatibility complex genes, I‐Eα and I‐Eβ, were cloned and sequenced and found to differ from normal B10.PL (H‐2u) mice by 3 amino acids in the first domain of the I‐Eβ subunit. Of these differences, the arginine at position 72 of NZW mice could be an important disease determinant since it lies in a predicted antigen‐binding cleft.
Secretion and binding of transforming growth factor β by scleroderma and normal dermal fibroblasts
Authors: Needleman Barbara White , Choi Jung , Burrows‐Mezu Alicia , Fontana Joseph A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe production and binding of transforming growth factor β (TGF/β) were compared in dermal fibroblast lines derived from scleroderma patients and normal control donors. The mean ± SEM 24‐hour level of secretion of TGFβ by fibroblast lines derived from the involved skin of scleroderma patients was 30.8 ± 5.5 pmoles/106 cells, and it was 29.7 ± 5.8 pmoles/106 cells for fibroblast lines derived from the normal skin of the healthy donors. Thus, we found that the fibroblasts themselves produced TGFβ. TGFβ production was equivalent in fibroblast lines derived from clinically involved and uninvolved skin of scleroderma patients. The mean ± SEM number of TGFβ receptors per cell on scleroderma fibroblasts was 9,736 ± 1,375, with a mean ± SEM Kd of 25.2 ± 3.9 pM. This value was similar in control fibroblasts, at 12,431 ± 2,425 TGFβ receptors per cell, with a mean ± SEM Kd of 27.1 ± 5.2 pM.
Immunogenetic associations of scleroderma‐related antinuclear antibodies
Authors: Genth Ekkehard , Mierau Rudolf , Genetzky Petra , Von Mühlen Carlos A. , Kaufmann Sidonie , Wilmowsky Hubertus Von , Meurer Michael , Krieg Thomas , Pollmann Hans‐Joachim , Hartl Paul Walter 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPatients selected for the presence of sclerodermarelated antibodies (anti‐DNA‐topoisomerase I [antitopo I; n = 43], anticentromere antibody [ACA; n = 63], or anti‐Pm‐Scl [n = 12]) were studied for class I and class II major histocompatibility complex antigens, as well as for Gm and Km allotypes. Anti‐topo I was associated with HLA‐DR5 (70% of patients versus 30.6% of controls; Pcorr = 0.0018, relative risk [RR] = 5.3). All patients with anti‐Pm‐Scl were positive for HLA‐DR3 (versus 23.5% of controls; Pcorr < 0.001); 6 of these patients were DR3/4 heterozygous (50% versus 3.5% of controls; Pcorr < 0.001, RR = 27.3). Patients with ACA were frequently positive for HLA‐DR1, DR4, or DRw8, with 73.7% demonstrating at least 1 of these alleles (versus 41.2% of controls; Pcorr = 0.0152, RR = 4.0). This group of ACA‐positive patients who had DR1, DR4, and/or DRw8 consisted mainly of a subgroup of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We conclude that different class II major histocompatibility complex antigens influence the formation of anti‐topo I and anti‐Pm‐Scl. Important clinical differences between these patient groups and the immunogenetic heterogeneity support the notion of different antibody‐defined scleroderma subsets.
Human autoantibodies against the 70‐kd polypeptide of u1 small nuclear rnp are associated with hla‐dr4 among connective tissue disease patients
Authors: Hoffman Robert W. , Rettenmaier Lawrence J. , Takeda Yoshihiko , Hewett John E. , Pettersson Ingvar , Nyman Ulf , Luger Alan M. , Sharp Gordon C. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractSerum samples from patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) were characterize using a recently developed enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for reactivity with individual specific polypeptides of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, including the U1‐70‐kd protein. The distribution of HLA antigens was compared in CTD patients with and in those without anti‐U1‐70‐kd autoantibodies and in normal controls. The frequencies of HLA‐DR4 and HLA‐DRw53 were increased among the anti‐U1‐70‐kd autoantibody positive CTD group compared with the frequencies in anti‐U1‐70‐kd autoantibody negative systemic lupus erythematosus patients and compared with normal controls. We conclude that the presence of autoantibodies reactive with the anti‐U1‐70‐kd protein antigen is associated with HLA‐DR4 and HLA‐DRw53.
The pill, parity, and rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Spector Tim D. , Roman Eve , Silman Alan J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe report on a case‐control study investigating the relationship of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use and parity to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Women with RA were compared with 2 separate control groups, women with osteoarthritis (OA) and women randomly selected from a population‐based electoral register. Nulliparity was found to be a risk factor for the development of RA, with age‐adjusted odds ratios of 1.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09‐3.03) versus the OA control group and 1.83 (95% CI 1.03–3.06) versus the population control group. Use of OCPs before the age of 35 was negatively associated with RA (odds ratio 0.56, 95% CI 0.29–1.12 versus the OA control group; odds ratio 0.6, 95% CI 0.30–1.17 versus the population control group). Some evidence of a duration‐response effect was seen, although the numbers were small. The 2 variables were also multiplicative, with nulliparous non‐OCP users having a 4‐fold risk of RA compared with parous OCP users. These findings suggest that pregnancy and OCP use have a “protective effect” on the development of RA, although the mechanism remains unclear.
Radiographic followup of joints injected with triamcinolone hexacetonide for the management of childhood arthritis
Authors: Sparling Marcia , Malleson Peter , Wood Betty , Petty Ross 
Published: February 2007

AbstractEvidence of deleterious effects following intraarticular injection of triamcinolone hexacetonide was sought through a review of radiographs of 145 joints of 55 children with chronic arthritis. Possible deleterious effects were noted in 16 joints of 11 patients. These effects included: small patella (2 joints), patellar osteochondritis dissecans (1 joint), periarticular calcification (9 joints), intraarticular tibial bony spur (1 joint), avascular necrosis of the distal radial epiphysis (2 joints), and avascular necrosis of the proximal femoral epiphysis (1 joint). Only the latter possible complication was symptomatic. Serial radiographs of 76 joints of 30 children showed mild progressive changes compatible with the underlying disease, except in the hip joint, where changes were more severe. The intraarticular injection of triamcinolone hexacetonide is a procedure that appears to be associated with an acceptably low frequency of radiologic abnormalities for many joints in children with chronic arthritis, but its effects on the hip joint remain uncertain.
In vitro identification of a subpopulation of fibroblasts that produces high levels of collagen in scleroderma patients
Authors: Needleman Barbara White , Ordonez Jose V. , Taramelli Donatella , Alms William , Gayer Karla , Choi Jung 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA subpopulation of scleroderma dermal fibroblasts was identified by flow cytometric analysis. Between 15% and 25% of the cells within the scleroderma fibroblast lines had high levels of cytoplasmic granularity, as identified by side light scatter characteristics. Similar fibroblasts composed < 3% of the cells within the normal fibroblast lines, although greater numbers could be induced through exposure to soluble factors derived from activated mononuclear cells. The granular subpopulation of fibroblasts produced 2–3 times as much procollagen as did the other fibroblasts. These data support the hypothesis that fibrosis in scleroderma may result in part from the activity of an inherently high procollagen‐producing subset of normal fibroblasts that is expanded through exposure to immune cytokines.
The effect of marginal osteophytes on reduction of varus‐valgus instability in osteoarthritic knees
Authors: Pottenger Lawrence A. , Phillips Frank M. , Draganich Louis F. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe varus‐valgus stability of 20 knees with unicompartmental osteoarthritis was studied in vivo at the time of total knee replacement. Intact osteoarthritic knees had an average of 11.0° of varus‐valgus motion. Removal of osteophytes from the osteoarthritic compartment significantly increased the motion to 13.1° (P < 0.05), while subsequent removal of osteophytes from the nonosteoarthritic compartment further increased motion to 14.7° (P < 0.025). In primarily unicompartmental osteoarthritis, marginal osteophytes appear to stabilize osteoarthritic knees, but can cause fixed deformity.
Bullous Photosensitivity To Naproxen: “Pseudoporphyria”
Authors: Suarez Sylvia M. , Cohen Philip R. , Deleo Vincent A. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPseudoporphyria is a photo‐induced cutaneous bullous disease characterized by distinct clinical, histologic, and most recently, immunofluorescent features. By definition, results of porphyrin studies are normal in this disease. We describe here a woman with naproxen‐induced pseudoporphyria, and we review previously reported cases of pseudoporphyria. The increasing frequency of pseudoporphyria is a result of the current popularity of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Physicians need to be aware of this reversible skin disorder. Pseudoporphyria must be considered and an appropriate evaluation must be done when an individual who is taking nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs develops bullae and increased fragility of exposed skin.