Table of contents
November 2007 Volume 3 No 11
Viewpoint
Behavioral changes in systemic lupus erythematosus are of an autoimmune nature
592Neuropsychiatric manifestations are present in approximately 70% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and are often associated with a poor prognosis. In this Viewpoint, Dr Strous and Dr Shoenfeld discuss the potential role for autoimmune factors in contributing to neuropsychiatric expressions via direct and indirect autoantibody-induced neuronal damage.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0622 | Full Text | PDF (168K)
Research Highlights
IL-18 is involved in systemic JIA, but not in oligoarticular or polyarticular forms
594Low serum COMP levels predict improved response to anti-TNF treatment in patients with RA
594Is plasma concentration of calprotectin a measure of joint inflammation and damage in RA?
594Anti-inflammatory therapy reduces S100A12 expression in patients with RA
595Low concentrations of prostaglandin E2 reduces type II collagen cleavage in OA
595Risk factors for cartilage loss in knee osteoarthritis
596SmD1 and SmD3 peptide immunoassays are accurate for the diagnosis of SLE
596Group-educational program for patients with RA is not effective
597Pain in rheumatoid arthritis: assessment, predictors and treatment
597CpG oligonucleotides can prevent RA in a mouse model
597Novel helper T cell clones from patients with Crohn's disease
598Smoking is a risk for development of RA but does not affect disease progression
599Practice Points
Should infliximab be used to help maintain glucocorticosteroid-induced remission in patients with giant cell arteritis?
600doi:10.1038/ncprheum0623 | Full Text | PDF (165K)
Combination versus monotherapy for patients with RA—are initial clinical benefits maintained over time?
602doi:10.1038/ncprheum0627 | Full Text | PDF (166K)
Treatment of acute gout-like arthritis in an emergency setting: prednisolone versus indomethacin
604doi:10.1038/ncprheum0600 | Full Text | PDF (162K)
Is treatment with chondroitin efficacious for osteoarthritis?
606doi:10.1038/ncprheum0629 | Full Text | PDF (159K)
Treatment with TNF inhibitors for uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
608doi:10.1038/ncprheum0630 | Full Text | PDF (165K)
Reviews
Pain measurement in patients with low back pain
610Although measuring pain in patients with low back pain is not simple, for pain to be effectively managed it needs first to be accurately assessed. In this Review, the authors describe the various instruments that have been developed for the evaluation of pain and provide recommendations for their use in daily clinical practice.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0646 | Full Text | PDF (255K)
CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in autoimmune diseases
619Regulatory T cells have a key role in immune homeostasis and in suppressing unwanted inflammatory responses toward self-antigens. In this Review the authors discuss the function of regulatory T cells in human autoimmune disease, focusing primarily on rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0624 | Full Text | PDF (406K)
Neuroendocrine–immune interactions in synovitis
627Inflammation of synovial tissue is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis. Synoviocytes express receptors for glucocorticoids, androgens and estrogens, which thereby creates a potential link between the immune reaction and the endocrine systems at a local level. There are also changes in the peripheral nervous system at the site of local inflammation. The complex interactions that occur between the endocrine, nervous and immune systems are outlined in this article.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0601 | Full Text | PDF (478K)
Mechanisms of Disease: angiogenesis in inflammatory diseases
635Angiogenesis might have a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. The basic mechanisms, mediators and inhibitors of inflammation-associated angiogenesis are outlined in this Review, and the possible clinical application of therapeutics that target angiogenesis are discussed.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0647 | Full Text | PDF (496K)
Mechanisms of Disease: genetics of rheumatoid arthritis—ethnic differences in disease-associated genes
644Studies on the genetics of rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, have identified multiple polymorphisms related to disease susceptibility. The findings on rheumatoid arthritis-associated genes are reported in this Review, which focuses on the differences in the frequency of polymorphisms between various ethnic groups.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0592 | Full Text | PDF (399K)
Primer: signal transduction in rheumatic disease—a clinician's guide
651Cells can respond to diverse external stimuli through the transmission of information to their interior by signal transduction cascades. In some cases, the results can be detrimental and lead to chronic inflammatory disease. This article highlights several pathways involved in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases, and their therapeutic potential.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0631 | Full Text | PDF (779K)
Primer: challenges in randomized and observational studies
661Although randomized controlled trials and observational studies often reach the same conclusions, observational studies are often considered second rate. The uses, limitations, and methodological problems associated with observational studies are outlined in this article.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0626 | Full Text | PDF (179K)
Therapy Insight: how the gut talks to the joints—inflammatory bowel disease and the spondyloarthropathies
667Patients with inflammatory bowel disease often suffer from joint inflammation; conversely, gut inflammation often occurs in patients with primary spondyloarthropathies. Pathogenic mechanisms common to these inflammatory diseases, and approaches to their treatment, are outlined in this Review.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0625 | Full Text | PDF (304K)
Case Study
A case of human T lymphotropic virus type I-associated synovial swelling
675This Case Study describes a patient with human T lymphotropic virus type I-associated adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma complicated by arthritis. Although the patient died as a result of the adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma, the associated synovial swelling had markedly improved with alemtuzumab treatment.
doi:10.1038/ncprheum0648 | Full Text | PDF (611K)
