Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Mielants

Publications and source records attributed to H Mielants.

188 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Cervical spine involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: a clinical, neurological and radiological evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to reveal any correlation between radiological signs and clinical findings of cervical spine involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Fifty patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis were evaluated for cervical spine involvement by a clinical neurological examination, a somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) study and different radiological techniques including tomograms, computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Anterior atlantoaxial subluxation was a common finding, frequently associated with superior migration of the dens and subaxial subluxation. Two patients presented a posterior atlantoaxial subluxation due to complete erosion of the dens. Both had cervical cord compression and one of them had hypoglossal nerve paresis. The delineation of peridental pannus formation was clearly demonstrated by MRI. In the majority of cases cervical cord compression was caused by pannus formation or by vertical atlantoaxial subluxation. CONCLUSION: The correlation between the severity of the radiological findings and the clinical-neurological signs was poor. A 4-limb SEP study appeared to be a useful screening method for the detection of cervical medullary compression.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of inflammatory rheumatic diseases in an adolescent urban student population, age 12 to 18, in Belgium.

In order to determine the prevalence of inflammatory rheumatic diseases in an urban secondary school student population, a questionnaire dealing with past or present joint, tendon, axial, gastrointestinal, ocular and dermatological symptoms was completed by 2,990 students of secondary schools in Antwerp and Ghent. The parents were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the family medical history. From these 2,990 students, 524 were selected for further investigation by a rheumatology resident, who checked the answers to the first questionnaire and performed a clinical examination. Forty-one adolescents with a presumptive history or present symptoms of inflammatory rheumatic diseases were retained. These students were examined by the medial staff of the rheumatology department; if necessary, a complementary biochemical and radiological examination was performed. Five cases of definite juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) (with polyarticular onset in 1 case and late pauciarticular onset in 4 cases) and 4 cases of presumptive late pauciarticular onset JCA were detected, resulting in a prevalence of 167 per 100,000 for definite JCA and of 301 per 100,000 for possible JCA. This prevalence rate is higher than that generally described. This method of investigation effectively allows the detection of milder and spontaneously remitting cases of JCA. It further enabled us to definite case and 4 presumptive cases of various previously undiagnosed forms of JCA.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

M cells are damaged and increased in number in inflamed human ileal mucosa.

Ileocolonoscopy and biopsies of patients with spondylarthropathy revealed gut inflammation in 62% of the cases. In order to better understand the pathogenetic mechanisms of spondylarthropathy related gut inflammation the follicle associated epithelium was examined. Biopsies from 9 controls and 18 patients with spondylarthropathy were studied by electron microscopy. Membranous (M) cells were investigated in normal and inflamed ileum. In normal mucosa M cells were scarce whereas in inflamed mucosa their number was increased (up to 24% of follicle associated epithelial cells). They showed a thin rim of cytoplasm covering groups of lymphocytes. In chronic ileitis necrotic M cells, ruptures of M cell cytoplasm and lymphocytes entering the gut lumen were observed. The bursts of M cells at the top of the lymphoid follicles lead to interruption of the gut epithelial lining and give luminal content access to the lymphoid tissue. This pathogenetic mechanism may cause aphthoid ulcers.

Crohn Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A double-blind study to determine the duration of action of flurbiprofen in a sustained release preparation.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study proves that the duration of activity of a sustained-release preparation of flurbiprofen 200 mg covers a full 24 hour period. In a group of 24 patients with clinically active rheumatoid arthritis a statistically significant increase of pain was noted 37 hours after the last active dose. The increase in disease symptoms was inversely related to the plasma flurbiprofen levels and was rapidly reversed with one active dose of sustained release flurbiprofen.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Altered expression of alpha E beta 7 integrin on intra-epithelial and lamina propria lymphocytes in patients with Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the expression of adhesion molecules on intestinal intra-epithelial (IEL) and lamina propria T cells (LPL) from ileum and colon, in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) versus healthy controls, with special reference for the alpha E beta 7 integrin. METHODS: IEL and LPL were obtained from 18 CD patients and 20 controls by enzymatic extraction, and subsequently characterized by flow cytometry for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, LFA-1 alpha (CD11a), CD44, alpha 4 and alpha E beta 7 integrin. RESULTS: In LPL of controls, a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio was noted in ileum compared to colon. This regional difference was accompanied by a higher expression of alpha E beta 7 integrin in ileum versus colon. In LPL from left hemicolon of CD patients, a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio was noted versus controls. alpha E beta 7 expression on T cells of LPL did not discriminate CD from controls. However, an overexpression of this beta 7 integrin member was observed on CD25+ T cell subsets from lamina propria of left hemicolon, in CD versus controls. Moreover, in IEL, profound alterations in alpha E beta 7 integrin were observed in CD, compared to controls. A decreased expression of alpha E beta 7 was noted in IEL of ileum of CD patients. This was also apparent in non-inflamed mucosa. CONCLUSION: The observed changes of alpha E beta 7 integrin expression in CD patients versus controls are of pathogenic relevance, especially the decreased expression of alpha E beta 7 in IEL of non-inflamed CD mucosa. This may be one of the earliest events in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[HL-A and chronic juvenile polyarthritis].

The authors determined the HLA groups in 1000 blood donors, in 62 subjects suffering from ankylosing spondylarthritis, and in 32 subjects suffering from chronic juvenile polyarthritis. The results confirm those of other authors as regards the occurrence of W27 antigen in ankylosing spondylarthritis. The examination of the subjects suffering from chronic juvenile polyarthritis made it possible to subdivide this population into 4 groups: (1) Chronic juvenile polyarthritis evolving towards ankylosing spondylarthritis; (2) Chronic juvenile polyarthritis with sacroilitis; (3) Chronic juvenile polyarthritis without sacroiliac involvement; and (4) Rhematoid juvenile polyarthritis. They showed that the presence of W27 antigen was very high in groups (1) and (2) and very low in groups (3) and (4). Determination of the presence of W27 antigen makes it possible to place the patient in one of these groups and the future will show whether this classification is of any therapeutic consequence.

Adult↗