Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
Surgery is the current mainstay of treatment for Dupuytren disease but is associated with potentially serious complications and a high rate of recurrence. A phase III study of enzymatic fasciotomy promises advances towards effective nonsurgical treatment of this debilitating disorder.
Septic arthritis kills 10–15% of patients, despite advances in medical treatment over the past 50 years. Is it time to revisit the question of whether, in addition to medical treatment, joint surgery is necessary?
Antimalarial agents have long been used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, despite uncertainty regarding the exact mechanisms underlying their various effects. Growing evidence that these drugs offer protection from major infections could stimulate more research into these mechanisms, with possible implications for therapy.
What is the psychological and clinical effectiveness of a home-based emotional disclosure intervention? Results from a randomized, controlled trial of such an intervention in patients with rheumatoid arthritis could have implications for the future of therapeutic research and clinical practice.
Treatment of renal disease associated with systemic lupus erythematosus remains inadequate despite advances in our understanding of the disease pathogenesis. As discussed in this Review, clinical trials are underway for a number of therapeutic agents shown to be successful in murine lupus. In addition, insights gleaned from animal studies could lead to new strategies for the treatment of lupus nephritis in humans.
Microparticles, which are membrane-bound vesicles that are released from cells during cell activation and apoptosis, are emerging as important mediators of intercellular communication in the context of rheumatic disease. Levels of microparticles are increased in the blood of patients with rheumatic diseases, suggesting a role for microparticles not only in disease pathogenesis, but also as potential biomarkers in these diseases.
The epidemiology and clinical profile of gout have changed considerably over the past two decades. In this context, advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia and gouty inflammation, and developments in therapeutic options for patients with gout are discussed in this Review.
Mounting evidence indicates a role for interferons in the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmunity. This Review focuses on the role of the type I interferon pathway in the development of systemic autoimmune diseases, describing the mechanisms by which these cytokines are produced and how they exert their effects in both the normal antiviral immune response and in autoimmune disease.
A reduction in mechanical loading of the skeleton resulting from aging or a sedentary lifestyle can confer an increased risk of fracture through reductions in bone quantity and quality. Not only are mechanical signals crucial in defining and maintaining bone mass, but they also have the potential—in a high-frequency, low-intensity form—to be used in the treatment of osteoporosis.
