Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0003864 (arthritis)
 69,039 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The clinical course and diagnostic profile of 13 patients with central nervous system involvement and systemic lupus erythematosus (CNS-SLE) are presented. The diagnostic yield for each procedure was measured as the precent abnormal: CSF total protein was 38%; increased CSF IgG 69%; decreased CSF hemolytic C4 10%; increased CSF anti-DNA 64%; electroencephalogram 80%; flow brain scan 50%; and static brain scan 0%. No single procedure was consistently abnormal, but the battery of tests provided a useful and specific CNS-SLE diagnostic profile.
Arthritis Rheum 1977 Apr
PMID:Central nervous system involvement in SLE. Diagnostic profile and clinical features. 30 Oct 30

Meningococcal antigen was measured by countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of 200 patients with group A meningococcal meningitis. Antigen was detected in the blood of 27 (13.5 per cent) patients. These patients had a worse prognosis and a higher incidence of allergic complications, such as arthritis and vasculitis, about 5 days after the start of antibiotic treatment. Antigen was found in the CSF of 129 (67.5 per cent) patients); antigen often persisted in the cerebrospinal fluid despite antibiotic treatment before admission. A combination of immunoelectrophoresis and routine bacteriologic study was used in the diagnosis of 162 (84.8 per cent) patients with meningococcal meningitis. High levels of antigen and a slow antigen disappearance were associated with neurologic damage. The antigen is stable and may be detected from specimens of cerebrospinal fluid dried on filter paper.
 ...
PMID:Meningococcal antigen in diagnosis and treatment of group A meningococcal infections. 109 29

Antigenic variation and strain heterogeneity have been demonstrated for the pathogenic Borrelia species, i.e. B. burgdorferi and the relapsing fever borreliae. In relapsing fever, new borrelia serotypes emerge at a high rate spontaneously, a mechanism that is caused by DNA rearrangements on linear plasmid translocating genes coding for variable major proteins from previous silent to expression sites (i.e. from inner sites to telomeric sites of the plasmid). As a result of this variation, the borreliae escape the immune response of the host, thus leading to the relapse phenomenon. In B. burgdorferi, which is the causative agent of the multisystem disorder Lyme borreliosis, there is also a growing body of findings that antigenic variation is involved in pathogenesis of the disease. Phenotypic variation of strains in vitro concerns the size and the amount of surface-associated proteins (OspA, OspB and pC). There are indications that OspA and OspB truncations are due to deletions within the ospAB operon caused by recombination events, and that OspA/OspB-less mutants lack the 49-kb plasmid that bears the ospAB operon. With the increasing number of isolates obtained from various geographic and biological sources, it became apparent that B. burgdorferi is immunologically and genetically more heterogeneous, as previously believed. The major outer surface proteins OspA and OspB (which have been efficient antigens in vaccine studies) are heterogeneous at a genetic level. The same degree of genetic non-identity was observed for the pC protein. Other proteins like flagellin and the highly specific immunodominant p100 range protein show a lower degree of non-identity. Recombinant OspA, pC, p100 range protein and flagellin have been hyperexpressed in E. coli and these proteins are immunologically reactive. This allows further research for development of vaccines and diagnostic tools. B. burgdorferi isolates have been investigated with genotyping (DNA hybridization, PCR and 16S rRNA analysis) as well as serotyping by various authors. Comparison of the different methods has shown good agreement when the same strains have been investigated. No correlation could be found between different phenotypic and genotypic groups with respect to the ability to cause arthritis in SCID mice. A serotyping system based on immunological differences in OspA detected by a panel of monoclonal antibodies has been proposed. Serotyping a large number of B. burgdorferi isolates has shown a striking predominance of the OspA serotype 2 among European isolates from human skin, in contrast to isolates from ticks or CSF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Antigenic variation and strain heterogeneity in Borrelia spp. 147 19

The clinical features of 19 patients with neurological manifestations unexplained by another disease and positive serology for Borrelia burgdorferi were studied. ECM was present in only 11% of the cases and 32% referred tick bite. The characteristic features for suspicion of NB according to our series was the presence of polyneuritis in 84% of the cases specially in the form of multiple mononeuritis and involvement of the facial nerve (79%) leading to even greater suspicion with the association of V pair involvement. Seizures, sleep disorders, and higher mental dysfunction may be found in association with other more characteristic neurological features. The typical triad of NB (aseptic meningitis, facial paralysis and polyradiculoneuritis) was found in 21% of the patients and in the absence of another disease to justify the same neuroborreliosis (NB) seemed evident. In all the cases components of this triad were found. Headache, arthralgia, fever and, less frequently, arthritis are other symptoms often past with the presence of anti-BB antibodies. Patients with the shortest evolution most frequently presented antecedents of facial paralysis, sensory alterations and Romberg's sign than patients of longer evolution. CSF demonstrated the presence of pleocytosis in 24% of the cases and in only one patient a slight increase in the intrathecal activity of IgG was observed which may be of use in differential diagnosis with MS. MR showed alterations in 61% of the patients and, while not specific, the lesions present subcortical predominance.
 ...
PMID:[Positive anti-Borrelia antibodies in patients with clinical manifestations compatible with neuroborreliosis]. 161 Jun

Peripheral granulocytes from rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis patients were recently found to express higher levels of a newly defined Ag, termed M6, in comparison to granulocytes from healthy subjects. We present here the molecular characterization of M6 Ag and show that it is a novel human leukocyte activation-associated cell surface glycoprotein. Peripheral lymphocytes do not significantly express M6 Ag, however, it appears upon 3-day PHA-activated T blasts. On monocytes, which constitutively express M6 Ag, it is down-regulated on day 1 but re-induced on day 3 of granulocyte-macrophage CSF stimulation. SDS-PAGE analysis of M6 immunoprecipitates shows a single band of 54 kDa under nonreducing conditions that shifts to 65 kDa under reducing conditions. Endoglycosidase F treatment of M6 immunoprecipitate reveals that 50% of the M6 molecule is composed of N-linked carbohydrates. By modifying the COS cell cloning strategy, we have isolated cDNA clones encoding M6 Ag. M6 cDNA hybridizes with a single mRNA transcript of approximately 1.7 kb in Northern blotting. Comparison analysis of the M6 sequence indicates that M6 Ag is a member of the Ig superfamily and the species homologue of rat OX-47 Ag, mouse basigin (gp42), and chicken HT7 molecule. The highly conserved remarkable transmembrane domain suggests that the M6 Ag may be a component of a multichain complex in the plasma membrane.
 ...
PMID:Human leukocyte activation antigen M6, a member of the Ig superfamily, is the species homologue of rat OX-47, mouse basigin, and chicken HT7 molecule. 163 73

The cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), induce a dose-dependent production of both granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) in cultured human synovial cells, as measured by immunoassay. With IL-1, significant levels of both CSFs were first detected within 6 to 12 hours, with a maximum reached 24 to 48 hours after commencement of stimulation. A synergistic effect was detected between IL-1 and TNF in production of both CSFs in these cells. No evidence was obtained for the IL-1-induced effect to be mediated by induction of endogenous TNF nor for the TNF-induced stimulation to involve IL-1. IL-1-stimulated synovial cells were shown to secrete biologically active GM-CSF and G-CSF, which were specifically inhibited by their respective monoclonal antibodies. The transcription inhibitor, actinomycin D, and protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, inhibited the increase in GM-CSF and G-CSF production induced by IL-1 and TNF. Finally, other cytokines, IL-3, interferon gamma (IFN gamma), IL-2, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), failed to stimulate either GM-CSF or G-CSF production, whether alone or in the presence of IL-1. These results suggest that cytokine-stimulated synovial fibroblasts may be a major source of intraarticular CSF production in the joints of patients with inflammatory arthritis; as a result, monocyte/macrophages and granulocytes may be activated, leading to perpetuation of the inflammation and destructive events occurring in these lesions.
 ...
PMID:Cytokine regulation of colony-stimulating factor production in cultured human synovial fibroblasts: I. Induction of GM-CSF and G-CSF production by interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor. 170 Jul 31

Conditioned media obtained from fibroblasts cultured from rheumatoid and certain other inflammatory synovia were observed to stimulate [3H]thymidine incorporation in an indicator murine fibroblast line. Synovial fibroblasts derived from the joints of patients with osteoarthritis did not display this property. This effect persisted in culture for many weeks and occurred in the absence of co-stimulatory immune cells. Antibody neutralization studies implicated a role for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) in the increased proliferative activity of synovial fibroblast-conditioned media. Synovial cell synthesis of bFGF, TGF beta 1, GM-CSF, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 was confirmed by 35S-methionine labeling and immunoprecipitation. The constitutive production of inflammatory and mitogenic cytokines by synovial fibroblasts may represent the result of long-term, phenotypic changes that occurred in vivo. Persistent cytokine production by synovial fibroblasts may play an important role in the continued recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells in chronic arthritis and in the formation of rheumatoid pannus.
 ...
PMID:Constitutive production of inflammatory and mitogenic cytokines by rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts. 199 47

There are still no definite patterns for antibiotic therapy of Lyme borreliosis. Recent studies have shown that ceftriaxone or tetracyclines are superior to the conventional penicillin. Against erythema chronica migrans (stage I) oral therapy, preferably with tetracycline, is sufficient. In cases with stage II symptoms, such as arthritis or neurological affections, high dose parenteral treatment, preferably with ceftriaxone, is recommended, although its effect on the neurologic symptoms is not yet proven. Carditis also calls for high dose parenteral administration of antibiotics, even though there are no published studies on this treatment as yet. Opinion is divided on the cutaneous symptoms such as acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, morphea, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (acute inflammatory stage) and lymphadenitis cutis benigna. Even if oral penicillin or tetracycline can cure existing symptoms, in the absence of longterm observations, it remains an open question whether oral treatment can prevent further complications or evolution to chronicity (stage III). For these clinical pictures there is also a tendency to give high dose parenteral antibiotics, and ceftriaxone is likely to win favour. In stage II Lyme borreliosis, autoimmune processes occur which scarcely respond to antibiotics any longer. Nevertheless, parenteral administration of high dose antibiotics remains sensible as a means of eradicating pathogens from the tissues, CSF or synovial fluids, and to avoid further complications. Evaluation of the therapeutic effects of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents would require prospective studies.
 ...
PMID:[Antibiotic therapy of Lyme borreliosis]. 240 42

Spirochaetes were demonstrated in material from patients with Lyme disease by short-time high-concentrate silver impregnation after treatment with amylase. Removal of mucoid material was essential to visualise Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme spirochaetes were demonstrated in material from 23 patients with Lyme disease--erythema chronicum migrans (ECM) 10, lymphadenosis benigna cutis (LABC) 7, arthritis 4 and Bannwarth's syndrome 2. Spirochaetes were localised in the subepidermal zone, peri- and intravascularly, and in collagen fibres in ECM and LABC, and beneath the synovial lining cells in arthritis, producing marked vascular changes with fibrosis and synovial hyperplasia. Spirochaetes were also demonstrated in CSF from a patient with Bannwarth's syndrome.
 ...
PMID:Demonstration of spirochaetes in patients with Lyme disease with a modified silver stain. 243 10

We describe a patient with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis who developed pachymeningitis resulting in optic atrophy. Clinical, histopathologic, and radiologic findings in 18 additional cases of inflammatory CNS disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis are reviewed. The three characteristic neuropathologic findings were rheumatoid nodules, pachymeningitis or leptomeningitis, and vasculitis. In most cases, more than one of these histopathologic processes were found. The typical host was middle-aged with long-standing severe nodular disease. However, contrary to previous reports, CNS disease occurred in a significant number of patients without active synovitis and extracranial vasculitis and nodules. Although no correlation between specific neurologic symptoms and neuropathology was noted, patients with CNS nodules tended to be asymptomatic more often than patients with vasculitis or meningitis. CSF analysis and computed axial tomography were helpful diagnostic tools, but diagnosis was ultimately made only by directed biopsy or at autopsy. Treatment with surgical decompression and/or corticosteroids has proved beneficial in several cases. Inflammatory CNS involvement in rheumatoid arthritis should be considered in any patient with neurologic symptoms in whom infectious and malignant processes are ruled out. An aggressive, invasive approach for diagnostic biopsies seems warranted.
Semin Arthritis Rheum 1989 May
PMID:Inflammatory central nervous system involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. 265 68


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next >>