Table of contents
July 2008 Volume 4 No 7
Editorial
Research Highlights
Combined MRI and SPECT assessment could aid diagnosis of NPSLE
334Efficacy and safety of anti-TNF therapy for ankylosing spondylitis: long-term results
334Intravenous ibandronate is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for osteoporosis
335Possible role for complement inhibition in amelioration of arthritis
335Novel CCL2 inhibitor alleviates established rat adjuvant-induced arthritis
336MRI is more sensitive than radiography for the detection of RA wrist bone erosions
336Practice Points
Is computer-assisted management necessary for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis?
338doi:10.1038/ncprheum0817 | Full Text | PDF (126K)
Balancing efficacy and cancer risk of cyclophosphamide for patients with Wegener's granulomatosis
340doi:10.1038/ncprheum0822 | Full Text | PDF (128K)
Oral versus parenteral administration of methotrexate for the treatment of active RA
342doi:10.1038/ncprheum0827 | Full Text | PDF (128K)
Does early sulfasalazine treatment provide long-term benefits to patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
344doi:10.1038/ncprheum0819 | Full Text | PDF (129K)
What is the optimal treatment for patients with RA who fail to respond to monotherapy with methotrexate?
346doi:10.1038/ncprheum0830 | Full Text | PDF (130K)
Clinical Advance
Are cannabinoids a new treatment option for pain in patients with fibromyalgia?
348doi:10.1038/ncprheum0826 | Full Text | PDF (125K)
Is mizoribine a new therapeutic agent for Sjögren's syndrome?
350doi:10.1038/ncprheum0823 | Full Text | PDF (128K)
Viewpoints
Type 17 T-helper cells might be a promising therapeutic target for systemic lupus erythematosus
352Emerging data implicate a novel subset of CD4+ T cells, termed TH17 cells, in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. In this Viewpoint article, the authors discuss the role of TH17 cells in systemic lupus erythematosus and discuss their potential as a therapeutic target.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0815 | Full Text | PDF (126K)
Why do we need noncommercial, investigator-initiated clinical trials?
354Noncommercial, investigator-initiated trials are an essential part of clinical research. In this Viewpoint, the author describes the burden of current legislation on investigator-initiated trials and explores possible solutions.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0814 | Full Text | PDF (123K)
Reviews
Ethical issues in rheumatology clinical trials
356Clinical trials in rheumatology, similar to other areas of research, are associated with a plethora of ethical issues. Relevant issues, depending on the type of trial (for example, early phase trials, prevention trials and postmarketing studies), are outlined in this article, along with issues related to the selection of control arms for clinical trials, the selection of relevant outcome measures and some of the challenges in obtaining informed consent.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0829 | Full Text | PDF (198K)
Drug Insight: anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies for the vasculitic diseases
364Biologic agents that target tumor necrosis factor represent an attractive approach to the treatment of vasculitic diseases, especially those associated with granuloma formation. Available data on the use of these agents for individual vasculitic diseases, and the potential to apply these data to the care of vasculitis patients in clinical practice are discussed in this Review.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0825 | Full Text | PDF (346K)
Technology Insight: adult mesenchymal stem cells for osteoarthritis therapy
371Although osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease, an effective treatment for this disease is lacking. In this Review, the authors outline the potential use of strategies based on mesenchymal stem cells, which can differentiate into cells of the chondrogenic lineage, in the regeneration and maintenance of damaged articular cartilage.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0816 | Full Text | PDF (449K)
Case Study
Optic neuritis and recurrent myelitis in a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus
381Optic neuritis and myelitis can occur as manifestations of idiopathic demyelinating syndromes, as well as of systemic rheumatic syndromes. In this Case Study, Drs Birnbaum and Kerr present a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and concomitant neuromyelitis optica (also known as Devic's syndrome), and discuss the distinguishing clinical and radiographic features critical for an accurate diagnosis.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0818 | Full Text | PDF (291K)
Article Responses
Author response to "Clinical studies can be performed in an ethical manner"
E6doi:10.1038/ncprheum0857 | Full Text
