Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E C Keystone

Publications and source records attributed to E C Keystone.

107 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Serologically active clinically quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus: a discordance between clinical and serologic features.

The significance of abnormal serologic tests in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the absence of active clinical disease is unclear. In this report we describe a group of 14 patients with SLE in whom a discordance between clinical and serologic features was apparent. These patients had persistently positive lupus erythematosus preparations and antinuclear antibody tests, low serum complement levels and high levels of DNA binding. Their lymphocyte response to concanavalin A (Con A) mitogen was suppressed. They have been asymptomatic and have remained untreated for a mean of four and a quarter years.

Adult↗

Leucapheresis in severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Two patients with severe seropositive rheumatoid arthritis previously unresponsive to conventional therapy have been treated with leucapheresis. This technique involves continuous cell separation daily to remove primarily lymphocytes. Clinical improvement was recorded with the use of standard rheumatological measures of inflammation. It is concluded that leucapheresis may help in the management of severely active rheumatoid arthritis when conventional therapy has been unsuccessful.

Adult↗

Effects of lymecycline on Mycoplasma pulmonis-induced arthritis in mice.

The effect of lymecycline treatment on arthritis in C3H mice produced 5 months previously by i.v. inoculation of Mycoplasma pulmonis was examined. Treatment had little effect on the severity of the clinical disease. However, there was a marked reduction the severity of the histopathological inflammatory reaction in joints from lymecycline-treated mice when compared with untreated controls. This reduction was associated with eradication of viable mycoplasmas from the joints. The findings suggest that persistent arthritis in C3H mice is due to the continued presence of viable M. pulmonis organisms in the joint tissues.

Animals↗

Inhibition of mitogen mediated lymphocyte blastogenesis by adenosine.

The effect of adenosine on the proliferative response of human peripheral circulating lymphocytes to stimulation by concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen was evaluated. Increasing concentrations of adenosine substantially inhibited mitogen mediated lymphocyte blastogenesis. Erythro-9(2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl) adenine. HCl enhanced the inhibitory effect of adenosine. Inosine, the deamination product of adenosine, had an inhibitory effect which was less than that of adenosine. Inhibition by adenosine may be relevant to the normal regulation of immune function and may account in part for the pathophysiological relationship between severe combined immunodeficiency disease and adenosine deaminase deficiency.

Adenine↗

Mixed leukocyte reaction in rheumatoid arthritis.

The mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) responses of 29 patients with classic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were compared with those of 24 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Pools of stimulating cells were selected to include the major cross-reacting HL-A specificities. In pooled human serum the MLR response of the RA lymphocytes was significantly enhanced relative to the response controls (P less than 0.05). In autologous serum there was suppression of the MLR response in patients with RA which correlated with disease activity. The data suggest the presence of an intrinsically enhanced cellular reactivity of RA lymphocytes suppressed by serologic factor(s). The mechanisms of this enhancement of suppression are discussed.

Adult↗

Zymosan-induced arthritis: a model of chronic proliferative arthritis following activation of the alternative pathway of complement.

Zymosan particles, which are able to activate complement by the alternative pathway and to induce enzyme secretion from macrophages, were injected into knee joints of mice. After various time intervals, synovia were assessed histologically for various markers of inflammation. Within 7 days after intraarticular injection of zymosan, a chronic inflammatory arthritis with mononuclear cell infiltration, synovial hypertrophy and pannus formation was observed. Latex particles, which do not activate complement or macrophages, produced only mild, transient inflammatory reactions.

Animals↗

Malignant pyoderma.

A patient with malignant pyoderma brought into complete remission with immunosuppressive cyclophosphamide treatment after the failure of multiple other therapies is reported. The entity of malignant pyoderma with its clinical characteristics, laboratory and biopsy findings, complications, and modalities of therapy is reviewed.

Adult↗

Role of adalimumab in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis.

Adalimumab, a recent addition to the therapeutic armamentarium in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), has been evaluated in patients with early RA. The DE019 study, a double blind randomized placebo controlled trial of adalimumab given 20 mg once a week or 40 mg every other week demonstrated both clinical and radiographic efficacy. A subset analysis of patients with early disease revealed that early treatment with adalimumab may be more efficacious than therapy later in the course of disease, particularly with regard to radiographic progression. The findings support early aggressive intervention in RA.

Adalimumab↗

Role of infliximab in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis.

Data has been generated that infliximab may be more effective when initiated earlier in the course of disease. A subset analysis of the Attract trial has demonstrated better efficacy of infliximab in reducing joint damage in an early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) population. Recently a randomized double-blind controlled trial revealed that infliximab in combination with methotrexate (MTX) in an early RA population improved signs and symptoms as well as inhibition in radiographic progression compared with patients receiving infliximab or MTX alone. The possibility of withdrawing infliximab after induction of remission with a combination of infliximab and MTX has been shown in a small pilot trial. Taken together, the results support the early use of infliximab in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe disease.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The safety of biologic agents in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Accompanying the excitement surrounding the prominent efficacy of biologic agents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been concern regarding potential adverse effects. Data from clinical trials and pharmacovigilance has provided an assessment of their safety in patients with established RA. As biologic agents are utilized in patients with earlier disease, optimal determination of the risk/benefit will depend on continued careful monitoring, collection, reporting and analysis of safety information.

Adalimumab↗

Safety issues related to emerging therapies for rheumatoid arthritis.

Several novel biologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are emerging that target aspects of the immune system other than tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Two such therapies currently in development include CTLA4Ig (Abatacept) and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (Rituximab). CTLA4Ig has been demonstrated to be well tolerated with a good short-term safety profile. Rituximab has also been shown to have a good safety profile in a limited number of RA patients. Further safety data with larger numbers of RA patients treated with Rituximab is required.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Antigen-specific suppressor cell activity in patients with scleroderma.

Antigen-specific suppressor cell activity (SCA) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was investigated in 22 patients with scleroderma (PSS) and 22 age and sex matched healthy controls. SCA was induced by priming peripheral blood mononuclear cells with high dose antigen (ovalbumin). Antigen-specific SCA was measured by determining the ability of the primed cells to suppress an optimal ovalbumin specific plaque forming cell (PFC) response in an autologous target culture. The in vitro PFC response and suppressor cell activity of the PSS patients was not different from that of the normal controls. Antigen dose-response curves of the priming phase of the assay were similar in both the patient and control groups.

Adult↗

Eosinophilic fasciitis and aplastic anaemia.

Aplastic anemia developed in a 66-yr-old farmer with eosinophilic fasciitis. The concurrence of these 2 rare diseases is noteworthy. The case is presented and the relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

Aged↗