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Biomedical subjects

M Yaron

Publications and source records attributed to M Yaron.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

The effects of leucovorin (folinic acid) on methotrexate therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

High-dose leucovorin (folinic acid) supplementation was tested in a prospective, unblinded manner for 4 weeks in 7 rheumatoid arthritis patients who were being treated successfully with low-dose methotrexate (MTX). Nausea caused by MTX disappeared; however, the underlying rheumatic disease worsened in all patients. Subjective clinical assessment, Ritchie articular index, grip strength, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and levels of C-reactive protein showed statistically significant deterioration. All these parameters improved after the leucovorin was stopped. This is the first direct clinical evidence implying folate antagonism in the action of low-dose MTX therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Accelerated nodulosis and vasculitis during methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.

Three women with classic rheumatoid arthritis, who were receiving weekly doses of methotrexate (MTX), developed accelerated subcutaneous nodulosis, despite good response to the drug. In 2 of the patients, the onset of nodulosis occurred within 3 months and 5 months, respectively, after starting MTX; in the third patient, it was observed only after 4 years of MTX therapy. In all 3 patients, the onset was unusually abrupt, with extensive distribution and remarkable nodule size. Additional manifestations of cutaneous vasculitis in 2 of the patients and Raynaud's phenomenon in the third appeared concomitantly with the nodulosis. Physicians prescribing MTX therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis should be aware of these potential complications.

Aged↗

POEMS syndrome associated with cryoglobulinemia, lymphoma, multiple seborrheic keratosis, and ichthyosis.

The case of a patient with POEMS syndrome is presented. The characteristic features of the disorder were associated with the apparently unique and undescribed findings of multiple seborrheic keratosis, ichthyosis, livedo reticularis, and vasculitis, combined with IgM/IgG cryoglobulinemia. Analysis of the cryoprecipitate revealed monoclonal IgM, with kappa light chains. Six years later an immunoblastic lymphoma developed. Notably, the paraneoplastic cutaneous signs were present 6 years before the development of the immunoblastic lymphoma.

Aged↗

Computed tomographic demonstration of calcification of the ligamenta flava of the lumbosacral spine in ankylosing spondylitis.

An axial computed tomographic (CT) scan of the lumbosacral regions was performed in 65 patients. The patient population was divided into two groups. The first (control) group included 40 elderly patients without calcification of the ligamenta flava. The second group included 25 patients with ankylosing spondylitis. More than 90% of those in the second group showed calcified lumbosacral ligamenta flava. In two patients these calcifications produced spinal stenosis. The diagnostic and practical importance of these findings are discussed.

Adult↗

Association of HLA-B35 with mucocutaneous lesions in Israeli patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving gold treatment.

Seventy-four Israeli patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were studied for possible association between HLA antigens and adverse reactions to gold treatment (aurothioglucose). HLA-B35 was significantly increased in patients who developed gold induced mucocutaneous lesions. These results are in accord with earlier reports, despite the different genetic background of the Israeli RA population and the different type of gold compound used.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Evaluation of disease activity in rheumatic patients by leucocyte adhesiveness/aggregation.

Previous work has shown that leucocyte adhesiveness/aggregation (LAA), as measured by the leukergy test, correlates well with disease severity in rheumatic patients. As LAA is probably a manifestation of the acute phase reaction various components of the acute phase reaction were measured in order to identify the best marker of disease activity. In addition to LAA, the following variables were measured in 79 patients with various rheumatic diseases and in 10 controls: white blood cell and platelet counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, C reactive protein, albumin, globulin, caeruloplasmin, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta, and gamma globulin, and haemoglobin concentrations. Patients were graded according to the state of their disease as mild, moderate, or severe. The extent of leucocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in peripheral blood proved to be the best laboratory variable for the grading of disease activity. Correct grading was obtained in 63% of the patients by means of the LAA, compared with 48% with C reactive protein, 41% with caeruloplasmin, 40% with haptoglobin, and 32% with haemoglobin. It is suggested that LAA of the peripheral blood during inflammation may be used as a reliable marker of disease severity.

Adolescent↗

Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective study in Israeli patients with immunogenetic correlations.

In a prospective open study 44 Israeli patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with weekly low dose methotrexate (MTX) for up to 36 months. Nine patients withdrew from the study: six because of side effects and three due to inefficacy. One patient died of septicaemia following septic arthritis. Significant improvement, graded by Ritchie articular index, grip strength, physician's global assessment, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and platelet counts, was noticed in response to treatment. Seronegative patients had a better clinical response. Transient gastrointestinal symptoms were common and correlated with increases of serum aspartate transaminase (AST). HLA-DR1 and DR7 were significantly associated with increased serum AST concentrations.

Aged↗

Periarthritis associated with basic calcium phosphate crystal deposition and low levels of serum alkaline phosphatase--report of three cases from one family.

Three siblings, 2 women and one man, from an Iranian-Jewish family with low serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (liver fraction) and symptomatic calcific periarthritis of multiple joints are described. Both parents and 2 additional siblings had normal serum alkaline phosphatase levels and no joint symptoms. The disease in the proposita, a 49-year-old woman, showed 3 unusual features: (1) no rise in acute phase serum proteins despite severe attacks of periarthritis; (2) refractoriness to treatment; (3) pure octacalcium phosphate found in a deposit obtained by biopsy.

Adult↗

Airway management in the resuscitation of trauma patients.

Airway management in resuscitation of the traumatized patient is a complex and challenging area for the health care provider and the medical engineer involved in the improvement of airway management instrumentation. Surgical and nonsurgical airway management is discussed, with emphasis placed on the instrumentation available and its appropriate uses and limitations. Suggestions for areas requiring new innovations are included.

Airway Obstruction↗

Human recombinant interleukin-1 beta stimulates glycosaminoglycan production in human synovial fibroblast cultures.

Human recombinant interleukin-1 beta (rIL-1 beta) stimulated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) production in human synovial fibroblast cultures. A dose-dependent increase in GAG production was found, to a maximum of 500%. Increase was detected at doses as low as 1 pg/ml of rIL-1 beta, reached a maximum at 10-100 pg/ml, and was apparent 10 hours after addition of rIL-1 beta. Stimulation of GAG was always accompanied by increased accumulation of prostaglandin E (PGE) in culture media and by increased collagenase production in approximately one-half the experiments. Indomethacin (5 micrograms/ml) completely inhibited PGE stimulation by rIL-1 beta, but only partially inhibited that of GAG overproduction and had no effect on collagenase production. Hydrocortisone (2 micrograms/ml) inhibited stimulation of all 3 parameters. Stimulation of hyaluronate in synovial cultures prevailed over that of sulfated GAG, which occurred to a lesser extent. Our results support earlier suggestions that interleukin-1 is a major active mononuclear cell factor that is capable of inducing profound changes in connective tissue cell function.

Cells, Cultured↗

Imaging of experimental amyloidosis with 131I-labeled serum amyloid P component.

131I-labeled human serum amyloid P component, which was injected into mice with experimentally induced systemic AA amyloidosis and into controls, became specifically localized and was retained in amyloidotic organs. In comparison, it was rapidly and completely eliminated from unaffected tissues and from control animals. Distinctive images of this amyloid-specific deposition of labeled serum amyloid P component were derived from whole body scanning, in vivo, of amyloidotic mice. These findings suggest that such imaging may have applications for the diagnosis and quantitation of amyloid deposits in humans.

Amyloidosis↗

Aggregation of white cells and C-reactive protein: relation between these two indices in acute phase reaction.

The association between aggregates of leucocytes in blood drawn from patients with various inflammatory conditions and the serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) was examined: serum concentration of CRP might contribute to the development of cellular aggregations. A total of 213 patients with various inflammatory or necrotic conditions were examined (including 31 women with normal pregnancy and 59 controls). A significant correlation between the degree of leucocyte aggregation and CRP concentration was noted in patients with bacterial infections and in a group of patients with various inflammatory conditions. In contrast, there was no correlation between the extent of leucocyte aggregation and CRP concentrations in patients with viral infections, malignancies, or pregnancy. The presence or absence of aggregated leucocytes can help in differentiating between the respective bacterial or viral infections. The serum concentrations of CRP were increased in both types of infection, although when a quantitative CRP assay was used, considerably higher concentrations were detected in bacterial diseases.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

Stimulation of collagenase production in human synovial fibroblast cultures by poly (I). poly (C).

Poly (I). poly (C) was found to induce collagenase secretion in both "normal" and "rheumatoid" synovial fibroblast cultures. Induction was time dependent, was maximal at 20-50 micrograms/ml poly (I). poly (C) and was dependent on de novo synthesis. Induction was prevented by hydrocortisone (0.1 microgram/ml) but inhibition of prostaglandin E production by diclofenac (0.2 microgram/ml) or ibuprofen (0.1 microgram/ml) did not affect collagenase production. Collagenase induction was accompanied by stimulation of hyaluronic acid and prostaglandin E production. This in vitro system may represent a model for the study of pathological secretory activities in the inflamed joint.

Cell Line↗