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T Appelboom

Publications and source records attributed to T Appelboom.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

D-mannose and N-acetylglucosamine moieties and their respective binding sites in salivary glands of Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune exocrinopathy. The mannose binding lectin (MBL), a pluripotent molecule of the innate immune system, is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. We investigated whether specific ligands for MBL and MBL related structures could be reliable markers in cases of SS. METHODS: The labial salivary glands of 19 patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for primary (n=11) and secondary SS (n=8) were studied. Seven healthy women served as controls. Computer assisted microscopy was employed to determine quantitatively the percentage of positive structures (acini, ducts, and interlobular connective tissue), the staining intensity, and the level of staining heterogeneity for 4 glycohistochemical probes including wheat germ agglutinin and concanavalin (Con A) as lectins, and mannose and N-acetylglucosamine as parts of neoglycoproteins. The data were evaluated by discriminant analysis. RESULTS: The data strongly suggest that MBL related structures, if not MBL itself, could play distinct roles in the pathogenesis of primary versus secondary SS. Further, quantitative determination of the level of expression of D-mannose and N-acetylglucosamine and their respective binding sites in labial salivary gland acini offers a powerful diagnostic tool for distinguishing primary from secondary SS. CONCLUSION: In SS labial salivary glands, determination of the level of acceptor sites for wheat germ agglutinin, Con A, D-mannose, and N-acetylglucosamine provides information on the roles played by glycoforms in SS. The methodology and data described in this paper should provide pathologists with objective diagnostic markers for SS. Our results should enhance the biological understanding of this pathology.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1999

[How to evaluate osteoporosis: bone densitometry and biochemical tests].

The use of bone densitometry, by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, allows the identification, at an early stage, of subjects who will, 15-20 years later, present a fracture event. Furthermore, this technique is the most appropriate to confirm the efficacy of preventive or curative therapeutic approaches of osteoporosis. A balanced utilisation of biochemical tests is mandatory to exclude a secondary cause of osteoporosis, to help in the choice of the most appropriate therapeutic strategy and to evaluate the early response of patients to the administered drugs.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1999

[Postmenopausal osteoporosis in women].

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is now considered a major public health problem in aging women, due to the burden related to the consequent fractures. Over recent years, several pharmacological approaches were developed for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Besides regular physical exercise and calcium rich diet, calcium supplementation can be suggested to both genders, after seventy years as well as systematic vitamin D supplementation in order to cope with the frequent lack observed in our country. Hormone replacement therapy is the first choice in prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Based on a careful evaluation of the needs of a postmenopausal woman as well as on the risk/benefit ratio derived from her individual risk factors, selective estrogen receptor modulators (raloxifene) or second generation bisphosphonates (alendronate) can be considered as alternative to estrogens. Due to its prohibitive cost, nasal calcitonin should be only considered for very specific cases. In osteoporosis confirmed by bone densitometry or by occurrence of fractures, bisphosphonate (alendronate) reduces subsequent fracture rate. Fluoride salts can, in some cases, improve spinal symptomatic osteoporosis. The use of etidronate, a molecule from the past, should be avoided as much as possible and, at any rate, strictly restricted to its legal indication including women with several vertebral crush fractures and severely decreased bone mineral density.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Fluoride salts are no better at preventing new vertebral fractures than calcium-vitamin D in postmenopausal osteoporosis: the FAVOStudy.

Although fluoride salts have been shown to be capable of linearly increasing spinal bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal osteoporosis, the effects of this gain in density on the vertebral fracture rate remain controversial. We conducted a 2-year multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-masked clinical trial in 354 osteoporotic women with vertebral fractures (mean age 65.7 years). They received either fluoride (208 patients), given as sodium fluoride (50 mg/day) or as monofluorophosphate (200 mg/day or 150 mg/day), or a placebo (146 patients). All patients received daily supplements of 1 g of calcium (Ca) and 800 IU of vitamin D2 (D). A 1-year open follow-up on Ca-D was obtained in 124 patients. After 2 years the fluoride group and the Ca-D group had increased their lumbar BMD by 10.8% and 2.4% respectively (p = 0.0001). However, the rate of patients with at least one new vertebral fracture, defined by semiquantitative assessment and evaluable on an intention-to-treat basis in 89% of patients, was similar in the fluoride groups and the Ca-D group. No difference between the three fluoride regimens was found. The percentage of patients with nonvertebral fractures was not different in the fluoride and Ca-D groups (1.9% and 1.4% respectively for hip fractures). A lower limb pain syndrome occurred more frequently in the fluoride groups. In the 124 patients followed for 1 year after cessation of fluoride therapy, the percentage of patients with at least one new vertebral fracture after 36 months was identical to the percentages in the previous fluoride group and the Ca-D group. We conclude that fluoride-Ca-D regimen was no more effective that Ca-D supplements for the prevention of new vertebral fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Meloxicam].

NSAID's are currently medications widely prescribed. Meloxicam is a new oxicam which has a low COX-2/COX-1 ratio, i.e. it has an inhibitory effect focused on the inflammatory proteins (COX-2) with relative saving of the homeostatic proteins (COX-1). This molecule has been studied in three rheumatic diseases, the acute flare-up of osteoarthritis, rheumatoïd arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. The results show that meloxicam is as effective as comparative NSAID's. A global analysis of the data from more than 5000 patients included in clinical trials showed that gastro-intestinal tolerance of meloxicam was better than that of comparative NSAID'S. Nevertheless, the clinical translation of the anti-COX-2 selectivity concept is currently debated.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1998

Methotrexate inhibits LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor production in vivo.

We investigated the effects of methotrexate (MTX) on the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in vivo. Administration of low doses of MTX (450 mug/kg once a week for 4 weeks) in Balb/c mice resulted in a significant inhibition of the systemic release of TNF and NO upon LPS challenge, whereas the production of IL-10 remained unchanged. These anti-inflammatory effects of MTX were exerted at the macrophage level since peritoneal macrophages from mice, injected for 4 weeks with MTX produced lower levels of TNF than cells from control mice upon LPS stimulation ex vivo. In parallel, we found that MTX-treated mice were less susceptible to a lethal challenge with LPS and D-galactosamine. MTX did not inhibit TNF release after injection of Concanavalin A (ConA) or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb), indicating that MTX does not inhibit TNF production at the T cell level. We conclude that repeated administration of a low dose of MTX in mice is associated with a decreased production of TNF by macrophages upon LPS activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Pyogenic arthritis caused by streptococcus equisimilis (group-C streptococcus) in a patient with AIDS.

A patient with the Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) treated with a daily low dose of corticosteroids for chronic atopic dermatitis experienced a sudden episode of unilateral knee arthritis. Culture of the purulent synovial liquid yielded a pure culture of Streptococcus Equisimilis. A four week period of intravenous antibiotherapy combined with repeated drainages allowed a complete recovery of articular function.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1997

Articular aspergillosis: two case reports and review of the literature.

We report two cases of septic arthritis of the knee caused by Aspergillus: one by Aspergillus terreus in a cirrhotic patient and the other by Aspergillus fumigatus after vascular graft infection. The recovery of these organisms in synovial fluid should be considered as pathogenic, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. The pathogenic mechanism is discussed and the literature is reviewed.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Peri-articular injection of tenoxicam for painful shoulders: a double-blind, placebo controlled trial.

Eighty out-patients (50 F, 30 M), aged 58 +/- 12 years (range: 26-84) and weighing 72 +/- 10 kg (range: 50-97), presenting with an acute or subacute (< 3 months) episode of rotator cuff tendinitis without (n = 28) or with movement restriction (n = 52) of the shoulder and having a pain intensity of at least 4 on VAS for pain at rest or on active movement, were treated at random and in double blind conditions for 1 to 4 weeks with 1 weekly periarticular anterior injection of tenoxicam 20 mg or placebo. Tenoxicam treated patients improved more than placebo-injected patients in a statistically highly significant manner with regard to clinical index, pain on VAS during active movement and at rest, active mobility (degrees), pain or pressure and clinical global impression (assessed by investigator and patient). There was a nonsignificant opinion that placebo treated patients consumed more rescue medication. Safety assessments were not significantly better in the placebo-treated patients through local tolerability tended to be better in that group. These results indicate that tenoxicam 20 mg injected locally is effective in alleviating pain and in improving shoulder mobility in patients with a painful shoulder episode and suggest that such a treatment is safe and well tolerated. Local injection of tenoxicam seems to be a promising new treatment of acute, painful, local inflammatory processes in Rheumatology, Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine and Sports Medicine. Further studies in other pathologies are warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A comparative study of tenidap, a cytokine-modulating anti-rheumatic drug, and diclofenac in rheumatoid arthritis: a 24-week analysis of a 1-year clinical trial.

Tenidap is a novel anti-rheumatic drug that combines cytokine modulation with cyclo-oxygenase inhibition. This 24-week, multicentre, double-blind, randomized study compared the clinical efficacy, biochemical effects and safety of tenidap 120 mg/day (once daily) with diclofenac 150 mg/day (50 mg t.i.d) in the treatment of 384 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. After 24 weeks, improvement with tenidap was significantly greater than with diclofenac for all five primary efficacy parameters, two of the four secondary efficacy parameters and 11 of the 13 Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales assessments. The superior efficacy of tenidap was apparent after 4 weeks of treatment with further improvements observed by 24 weeks. The probability of discontinuation due to lack of efficacy was significantly greater in the diclofenac group. Tenidap but not diclofenac was associated with significant, rapid and sustained reductions in C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A levels and with a significant reduction in plasma interleukin-6. The nature and frequency of side-effects were similar in the two groups as was the discontinuation rate for treatment-related safety reasons. Tenidap was associated with an equal incidence of elevated transaminases, but a higher incidence of mild (> or = 500 mg/24 h < 1500 mg/24 h) non-progressive, proteinuria of proximal tubular origin compared with diclofenac.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1995

Antibodies to small ribonucleoprotein and to 73-kD heat shock protein: two distinct markers of mixed connective tissue disease.

We set out to discover whether antibodies to small ribonucleoprotein antigens (RNP) and to 73-kD heat shock protein (hsp 73) which have been proposed as markers of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) recognize different epitopes. MCTD serum was immunoadsorbed on hsp 73-coupled Sepharose and the affinity retained, and non-retained fractions were checked by immunoblotting for recognition of either purified bovine hsp 73 or calf thymus extract RNPs. The hsp 73 affinity-bound serum fraction recognized hsp 73 but not RNP antigens, the reverse being true for the non-retained fraction. We conclude that anti-hsp 73 and anti-RNPs are distinct markers of MCTD.

Antigens, Nuclear↗