Table of contents
August 2008 Volume 4 No 8
Editorial
Fast forward for systemic lupus erythematosus clinical trials
387doi:10.1038/ncprheum0866 | Full Text | PDF (104K)
Research Highlights
Potential new therapeutic approach for patients with RA
388Bisphosphonates do not prevent ankylosis in a mouse model of spondyloarthritis
388Changes in insula glutamate levels are associated with changes in fibromyalgic pain
388Bazedoxifene as effective as raloxifene in preventing bone loss
389Novel device to measure skin characteristics of systemic sclerosis
389Gout: the HAQ DI is a reliable measure of physical function
390New tool for assessing enthesitis in patients with psoriatic arthritis
390Guidelines Summary
Commentary on the EULAR recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia
392doi:10.1038/ncprheum0840 | Full Text | PDF (124K)
Practice Points
Does early growth hormone therapy prevent glucocorticoid-associated growth retardation in children with JIA?
394doi:10.1038/ncprheum0845 | Full Text | PDF (131K)
Is a step-down regimen more effective than a step-up regimen in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis?
396doi:10.1038/ncprheum0861 | Full Text | PDF (127K)
Infliximab therapy for patients with ankylosing spondylitis: on-demand or continuous treatment?
398doi:10.1038/ncprheum0846 | Full Text | PDF (128K)
Are intra-articular injections of hylan more effective than injections of hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis?
400doi:10.1038/ncprheum0847 | Full Text | PDF (126K)
Viewpoint
Focal and generalized bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis: separate or similar concepts?
402In rheumatoid arthritis, bone involvement presents as generalized osteoporosis, periarticular osteoporosis and erosions. Prof. Haugeberg discusses evidence for all three features resulting from increased activation of the osteoclast, and suggests that potent anti-inflammatory treatment, or direct inhibition of the osteoclast, might protect against all of these types of bone damage seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0843 | Full Text | PDF (123K)
Reviews
Control of autoimmune diseases by the vitamin D endocrine system
404The vitamin D system has both pathophysiological and therapeutic importance for autoimmune disease. In this Review, the authors discuss the role of the vitamin D system in autoimmunity, the mechanistic basis for this role, and present the potential of vitamin D receptor agonists to treat or prevent autoimmune diseases.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0855 | Full Text | PDF (269K)
-Catenin in the race to fracture repair: in it to Wnt
413The canonical Wnt/
-catenin signaling pathway regulates multiple biological events, including embryonic bone development and fracture repair. In this Review, the authors discuss the role of this pathway in fracture repair at the molecular, cellular and physiological levels, and its potential as a therapeutic target.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0838 | Full Text | PDF (259K)
Drug Insight: aggrecanases as therapeutic targets for osteoarthritis
420High concentrations of intact aggrecan are required for effective weight-bearing in healthy cartilage. Aggrecanases from the ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) enzyme family, particularly ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5, are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. In this Review, Drs Fosang and Little discuss potential disease-modifying agents for osteoarthritis that could trigger the downregulation of ADAMTS enzymes.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0841 | Full Text | PDF (307K)
Therapy Insight: the changing spectrum of rheumatic disease in HIV infection
428The impact of the global HIV pandemic continues to grow and rheumatologists need to be aware of the spectrum of rheumatic diseases that occur in HIV-positive individuals, as outlined in this Review. Changes in the patterns of rheumatic diseases that have developed since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy and the management of treatment of rheumatic diseases in HIV-positive patients are also discussed.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0836 | Full Text | PDF (560K)
Case Study
A case of adult-onset Satoyoshi syndrome with gastric ulceration and eosinophilic enteritis
439Drs Asherson, Giampaolo and Strimling describe a middle-aged patient with total alopecia, muscular spasms, diarrhea and gastric ulceration. She is only the fifth reported case of adult-onset Satoyoshi syndrome (usual age of onset is 5–19 years), and the first person reported to have a combination of Satoyoshi syndrome, gastric ulceration, and eosinophilic enteritis.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0839 | Full Text | PDF (317K)
