Epidemiology and rheumatology: how can epidemiologists affect treatment strategies?

Deborah PM Symmons

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0703 | Full Text | PDF (95K)

Emerging viral infections and arthritis: the role of the rheumatologist

Leonard H Calabrese

The increase in viral epidemics leading to arthritis is evident. In his Viewpoint, Dr Calabrese discusses the role of the rheumatologist in the evaluation of ill travelers returning from exotic lands.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0679 | Full Text | PDF (123K)

How important is MRI for detecting early osteoarthritis?

Changhai Ding, Flavia Cicuttini and Graeme Jones

For patients with osteoarthritis, considerable changes occur before they can be visualised by plain radiography. MRI has been invaluable in improving our understanding of early joint changes, as is discussed in this Viewpoint.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0676 | Full Text | PDF (124K)

Laser Doppler flowmetry as an assessment technique for localized scleroderma in children

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0656 | Full Text | PDF (71K)

Validating MRI and the OMERACT RAMRIS for assessing joint damage in RA

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0657 | Full Text | PDF (71K)

Increased fibrosis and number of myofibroblasts in the gastric wall of patients with SSc

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0658 | Full Text | PDF (76K)

Class A scavenger receptors mediate apoptotic cell clearance by marginal zone macrophages

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0659 | Full Text | PDF (71K)

Elevated APRIL serum levels are associated with pulmonary fibrosis in patients with SSc

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0660 | Full Text | PDF (76K)

Thioredoxin might protect against oxidative-stress-induced damage in Sjögren's syndrome

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0661 | Full Text | PDF (71K)

Does long-term bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis cause increased bone microdamage?

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0662 | Full Text | PDF (76K)

Raloxifene might be a beneficial therapy for prevention and treatment of RA

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0664 | Full Text | PDF (71K)

HRT does not increase the risk of vascular events in postmenopausal women with SLE

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0663 | Full Text | PDF (71K)

Identification of two potential biomarkers indicating radiographic progression of hip OA

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0665 | Full Text | PDF (77K)

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: prevalence and risk factors

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0666 | Full Text | PDF (70K)

Serum CCL18 levels are positively correlated with disease activity score in RA

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0667 | Full Text | PDF (77K)

Variation in STAT4 linked with RA and SLE

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0668 | Full Text | PDF (71K)

A tyrosine kinase inhibitor successfully treats RA in rats

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0669 | Full Text | PDF (71K)

Does the dose of methotrexate influence the rate of relapse in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis?

Eamonn S Molloy and Carol A Langford

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0675 | Full Text | PDF (127K)

Should aspirin be used as a preventive therapy for thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies?

Kathleen M O'Neil

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0682 | Full Text | PDF (127K)

Is the risk of serious infections increased in patients with RA who receive treatment with antirheumatic drugs?

Thomas M File Jr and Elizabeth A File

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0684 | Full Text | PDF (123K)

Should patients with RA be aggressively monitored for hypertension?

Patrick H Dessein and Gavin R Norton

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0678 | Full Text | PDF (128K)

Nonpharmacologic management of osteoporosis to minimize fracture risk

Julie T Lin and Joseph M Lane

Traditional management of osteoporosis has focused on a pharmacologic approach to treatment; however, for reasons such as potential adverse effects, some patients will not comply with medication regimens. This Review highlights the increasing evidence that valuable protection from fractures can also be derived from nonpharmacologic approaches.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0702 | Full Text | PDF (695K)

Primer: history and examination in the assessment of musculoskeletal problems

Anthony D Woolf and Kristina Åkesson

Although musculoskeletal problems are common, the musculoskeletal system is seldom appropriately assessed in everyday clinical practice. The authors of this article aim to provide a standardized approach to the clinical assessment of musculoskeletal problems, with an emphasis on history and examination. Teaching and assessment of clinical skills are also considered.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0673 | Full Text | PDF (200K)

Primer: inflammasomes and interleukin 1 in inflammatory disorders

Leigh D Church, Graham P Cook and Michael F McDermott

Inflammasomes—large, intracellular complexes—receive input from Toll-like receptors and Nod-like receptors, and function to detect and respond to pathogens and genotoxic stress by processing pro-interleukin-1 to its active form. As well as providing an overview of inflammasomes, this article highlights some of the consequences of mutations in inflammasome components and aberrant processing of interleukin-1.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0681 | Full Text | PDF (369K)

Primer: making sense of T-cell memory

Peter CL Beverley

Immunological memory is the ability of an animal to make a second, more effective, immune response to an antigen that has been encountered previously. In this Review, Professor Beverley discusses how T-cell memory is generated and maintained, and highlights the heterogeneity of T-cell memory populations in terms of their kinetics, homing and function.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0671 | Full Text | PDF (231K)

A case of Erdheim–Chester disease initially mistaken for Ormond's disease

Konstanze Loddenkemper, Bimba Hoyer, Christoph Loddenkemper, Kay-Geert Hermann, Patrick Rogalla, Gregor Förster, Frank Buttgereit, Falk Hiepe and Gerd-Rüdiger Burmester

Erdheim–Chester disease is a rare form of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis characterized by foamy histiocyte infiltration of the skeleton and viscera. A case of Erdheim–Chester disease that was initially mistaken for Ormond's disease is presented with a discussion of the tests required to differentiate between the two diagnoses.

doi:10.1038/ncprheum0677 | Full Text | PDF (372K)