Search results for " arthritis"
showing 10 items of 629 documents
The soluble terminal complement complex (SC5b-9) up-regulates osteoprotegerin expression and release by endothelial cells: Implications in rheumatoid…
2009
Objective. Complement activation products contribute to a large number of inflammatory diseases, including RA. We have investigated whether osteoprotegerin (OPG) may concur with the soluble terminal complement complex (SC5b-9) to the inflammatory cascade characterizing RA. Methods. Levels of SC5b-9 and OPG in the plasma and SF of patients with active RA were determined by ELISA. The presence of SC5b-9 and OPG in RA synovial lesions was analysed by immunohistochemistry. Cultured endothelial cells were used for in vitro leucocyte/endothelial cell adhesion assays. In addition, endothelial cells were exposed to SC5b-9 in order to evaluate the effects on the production of OPG protein, as well as…
Muscle strength characteristics and central bone mineral density in women with recent onset rheumatoid arthritis compared with healthy controls.
1999
Muscle strength and bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (BMDspine) and femoral neck (BMDfem) were determined in 20 healthy women and in 20 women with recent onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The mean duration of articular symptoms of the patients was eleven months and none of them had used glucocorticoids or disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. BMDs were measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Knee extension, trunk extension, and flexion as well as grip strength were measured with David 200 and Digitest dynamometers. BMDspine (1.17 g/cm2 and 1.20 g/cm2) and BMDfem (0.98 g/cm2 and 0.96 g/cm2) between the women with early RA and healthy women did not differ. However, knee ext…
The cutting edge of spondylarthropathy research in the millennium
2002
In the last few years, with advances in technology and concept, research on the spondylarthropathies (SpA) has moved from random harvesting of piecemeal data to systematic evaluations of core puzzles. In the Second International Congress of Spondylarthropathies, held in Ghent, Belgium, on October 4–7, 2000, the most recent data were presented and these core puzzles were defined. The factors that are unique to SpA are 1) the site of inflammation is not only the synovium, but also the enthesis; 2) the essential predisposing gene is HLA– B27; 3) a number of other genes are required for development of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a prototype of SpA; and 4) certain facultative intracellular Gram…
Tumour necrosis factor in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients in blood serum and synovial fluid
2010
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown cause which affects the ability of elderly people to work. There is strong evidence to suggest that inflammatory mediators such as tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin 1 (IL1) have a critical role in the pathogenesis of RA. Biological treatment blocks pathological pathways in the actions of these proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was …
Deficiency of Nrf2 accelerates the effector phase of arthritis and aggravates joint disease
2011
14 páginas, 8 figuras, 1 tabla.-- et al.
Targeting of the transcription factor STAT4 by antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides suppresses collagen-induced arthritis
2007
Abstract The transcription factor STAT4 mediates signals of various proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-12, IL-15, and IL-23, that initiate and stabilize Th1 cytokine production. Although Th1 cytokine production has been suggested to play a major pathogenic role in rheumatoid arthritis, the role of STAT4 in this disease is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate a key functional role of STAT4 in murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). In initial studies we found that STAT4 expression is strongly induced in CD4+ T cells and to a lesser extent in CD11b+ APCs during CIA. To analyze the role of STAT4 for arthritis manifestation, we next investigated the outcome of interfering with S…
Altered (oxidized) C1q induces a rheumatoid arthritis-like destructive and chronic inflammation in joint structures in arthritis-susceptible rats.
1997
Previous studies have identified an altered C1q molecule in synovial fluids from the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients. We therefore immunized arthritis-susceptible Lewis 1A.AVN rats with either native C1q (C1q nat), altered (oxidized) C1q (C1q ox), or type II collagen (CII, induces arthritis in these animals), in order to induce arthritis. Unlike C1q nat, both CII and C1q ox were able to induce swelling and erythema of joints consistent with an arthritis-like inflammatory reaction. Histopathological evaluation of individual joint sections revealed synovitis, bursitis and tendovaginitis, massive joint destruction, and severe pannus formation. In a time-course study, no differences in …
The craniovertebral junction in rheumatoid arthritis: State of the art
2019
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder, characterized by polyarticular inflammation causing progressive joint damage and disability. The mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis involve activation of innate and adaptive immunity, microvascular endothelial cell activation, and inflammatory infiltration of lymphocytes and monocytes into the synovium. Spinal involvement in RA is not typical; when it occurs, the main radiological features are (1) atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS), which is the most typical form of cervical spine involvement; (2) cranial settling—also known as basilar impression, atlantoaxial impaction or superior migration of the odontoid—which is the most seve…
Assessing Single Joints in Arthritis Clinical Trials
2009
The need to develop validated outcome measures to assess response to therapies in single joints has been recognized. In 2004, a task force was established to assess established and novel outcome measures in accordance with the OMERACT filter (truth, discrimination, and feasibility) for single joint assessment. This report describes the proceedings of the single joint assessment special interest group (SIG) at OMERACT 9, including an updated literature review of imaging of the knee joints, with a focus on the extent to which these modalities fulfill the OMERACT filter. A series of studies are reported that examine patient reported, clinical examination, and imaging outcomes in therapeutic st…
Mechanical loading influences the lumbar intervertebral disc. A cross-sectional study in 308 athletes and 71 controls.
2020
There is evidence in animal populations that loading and exercise can positively impact the intervertebral disc (IVD). However, there is a paucity of information in humans. We examined the lumbar IVDs in 308 young athletes across six sporting groups (baseball, swimming, basketball, kendo, soccer, and running; mean age 19 years) and 71 nonathletic controls. IVD status was quantified via the ratio of IVD to vertebral body height (IVD hypertrophy) and ratio of signal intensity in the nucleus to that in the annulus signal (IVD nucleus hydration) on sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. P values were adjusted via the false discovery rate method to mitigate false positives. In examinin…