Table of contents
January 2006 Volume 2 No 1
Viewpoint
Pharmacogenetics in the rheumatic diseases, from prêt-à-porter to haute couture
2Pharmacogenetics is the study of the genetic characteristics that dictate drug response and toxicity. This Viewpoint discusses this rapidly advancing field that might improve the clinician's ability to match a patient with the right drug or drugs for their disease.
Research Highlights
Increased precision in MRI assessment of cartilage morphology
4Targeting interleukin-6 in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
5Tumor necrosis factor antagonists do not increase cancer risk in patients with RA
5B-cell depletion with rituximab improves symptoms in treatment-refractory childhood SLE
6doi:10.1038/ncprheum0058 | Full Text | PDF (116K)
Use of alendronate to prevent femoral-head collapse
7Injections of lidocaine are more effective than botulinum toxin for myofascial pain syndrome
8Infliximab inhibits radiographic progression in some patients with ankylosing spondylitis
8Risedronate, alendronate, and strontium ranelate reduce nonvertebral osteoporotic fracture risk
9Practice Points
Can the adjusted mean SLEDAI-2K predict organ damage and coronary artery disease?
10Are occupational risk factors associated with markers of disease severity in patients with systemic scleroderma?
12Is treatment with pulsed electromagnetic fields effective in patients with knee osteoarthritis?
14Is mycophenolate mofetil a safe and effective treatment for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus?
16Reviews
B-cell targeted therapies in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
20Given the central role that B cells have in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, interest in approaches that therapeutically target B cells is considerable. This review provides an update on B-cell-depleting therapies for these diseases, as well as other approaches that target co-stimulatory signals, cytokines and other B-cell surface molecules.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0042 | Full Text | PDF (180K)
Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: diagnosis, management, and outcome
28Medical treatment for children with severe systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is unsatisfactory at present, and affected patients suffer from significant morbidity throughout their lives. Research into the pathogenesis of this disease should allow for the identification of new molecular targets and the development of improved therapies for this serious form of childhood arthritis.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0084 | Full Text | PDF (298K)
Mechanisms of Disease: is osteoporosis the obesity of bone?
35Osteoporosis results from decreased osteoblast function, increased osteoclast function and increased adiposity of the bone marrow with age. Regulation of the balance between fat and bone in the bone marrow is complex and involves genetic, hormonal and environmental influences. Here, Clifford Rosen outlines a hypothesis that skeletal fragility has its pathogenic roots in pleuripotent marrow stromal cells and their fate as either fat or bone cells.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0070 | Full Text | PDF (497K)
Primer: mechanisms of immunologic tolerance
44Autoimmune responses are an inherent consequence of the wide repertoires of T-cell and B-cell receptors, which are needed in order for these cells to recognize a broad range of pathogens. This review explains the strategies used by the immune system to prevent and regulate the generation of autoreactive receptors and maintain immunologic tolerance.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0049 | Full Text | PDF (259K)
