12 research outputs found
Deep-inspiration breath-hold <sup>18</sup>F-FDG-PET/CT is useful for assessment of connective tissue disease associated interstitial pneumonia
<div><p></p><p><i>Objective</i>: To examine clinical utility of <sup>18</sup>F-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/CT for assessment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs).</p><p><i>Methods</i>: A total of 69 <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT scans were conducted under deep inspiratory breath hold (DIBH) conditions in 45 CTD patients with ILD, including 16 dermatomyositis/polymyositis, nine systemic scleroderma and seven rheumatoid arthritis. Intensity and distribution of <sup>18</sup>F-FDG signals in PET/CT were determined by standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and visual score in 18 regions, respectively. ILD was defined as active when immunosuppressive therapy was initiated or intensified.</p><p><i>Results</i>: Both SUVmax and visual score were higher in active phase (<i>n = </i>32) than inactive phase (<i>n = </i>37) (both <i>p</i> < 0.05), regardless of the underlying CTD and plain CT findings. The both parameters reduced after initiating or intensifying treatment in the follow-up study of 17 active patients except two died patients who showed increased visual score. Another two died patients showed high visual score (15 and 6/18, respectively). Changing ratio of visual score, but not SUVmax was correlated with KL-6 (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.38, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and CRP (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.52, <i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><i>Conclusion</i>: The DIBH <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT procedure sensitively illustrates active ILD lesions in CTD and the extended signal distribution is associated with unfavorable clinical outcome.</p></div
Effects of HSP60 and LPS on HO-1 protein expression in PBMCs from patients with BD
Effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation on heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and actin protein expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with Behçet's disease (BD). PBMCs from a BD patient were stimulated with LPS in the presence or absence of 10 ng/ml interleukin (IL)-10 and 100 μg/ml polymyxin B (PMB). Representative immunoblotting data for HO-1 protein in the cells are shown. The arrowhead indicates 32 kDa molecular weight HO-1 specific band. Effect of heat shock protein (HSP)60 (3 μg/ml) stimulation on endogenous HO-1 protein expression in PBMCs from patients with BD. The arrowhead indicates 32 kDa HO-1 specific band. A representative of three independent experiments is shown. Mean and standard error of the mean (SEM) values of HO-1 and actin protein expression in PBMCs stimulated by LPS (1 ng/ml) for 24 hours in patients with BD (= 14). < 0.001, as determined using paired -test. Effect of infliximab (10 μg/ml) or IgGκ (10 μg/ml) on HO-1 expression in LPS (10 ng/ml) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF; 1 ng/ml) treated PBMCs.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Association of reduced heme oxygenase-1 with excessive Toll-like receptor 4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Behçet's disease"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/10/1/R16</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008;10(1):R16-R16.</p><p>Published online 31 Jan 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2374472.</p><p></p
Effect of forced HO-1 expression on Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4 mRNA expression in peripheral monocytes
Immunoblotting analysis of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and actin in pHO-1 (human HO-1 expression vector) or pCont (control vector) transfected monocytes. The arrow represents HO-1 protein. Real-time PCR analysis of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression in pHO-1 transfected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). NS, not significant.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Association of reduced heme oxygenase-1 with excessive Toll-like receptor 4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Behçet's disease"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/10/1/R16</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008;10(1):R16-R16.</p><p>Published online 31 Jan 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2374472.</p><p></p
Ultrasonography predicts achievement of Boolean remission after DAS28-based clinical remission of rheumatoid arthritis
<p><i>Objectives.</i> To determine whether ultrasonography (US) predicts Boolean remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who had achieved disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28)-based remission criteria.</p> <p><i>Methods.</i> Thirty-one RA patients in DAS28-based clinical remission were recruited. US semiquantitatively determined Gray scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) signal scores in the bilateral wrists and all metacarpophalangeals and proximal interphalangeals. Total GS score and total PD score were calculated as the sum of individual scores for each joint.</p> <p><i>Results.</i> Among 22 RA patients, who maintained DAS28 remission for 2 years, 16 met Boolean remission criteria at the end of study. Both total GS and total PD scores at baseline were significantly lower in Boolean remission group than non-remission group. There was no significant difference in other baseline parameters, including duration of disease, duration of remission, mTSS, and disease activity composite parameters between the two groups. Among the factors for Boolean remission criteria at 2 years, patient global assessment score was associated with total GS score at the entry, while swollen joint count was related to total PD score.</p> <p><i>Conclusions.</i> Null or low grade of GS and PD findings in US are associated with achieving Boolean remission. Thus, US is essential for assessment and prediction of “deeper remission” of RA.</p
<sup>18</sup>F-FDG and <sup>18</sup>F-NaF PET/CT demonstrate coupling of inflammation and accelerated bone turnover in rheumatoid arthritis
<p><i>Objective.</i> To compare the findings in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-affected joints between <sup>18</sup>F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and <sup>18</sup>F-fluoride (NaF) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT).</p> <p><i>Methods.</i> We enrolled twelve RA patients who started a new biologic agent (naĂŻve 9 and switch 3). At entry, both hands were examined by <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT, <sup>18</sup>F-NaF PET/CT, and X-ray. Intensity of PET signals was determined by standardized uptake value max (SUVmax) in metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and ulnar, medial, and radial regions of the wrists. Hand X-rays were evaluated according to the Genant-modified Sharp score at baseline and 6 months.</p> <p><i>Results.</i> Both <sup>18</sup>F-FDG and <sup>18</sup>F-NaF accumulated in RA-affected joints. The SUVmax of <sup>18</sup>F-FDG correlated with that of <sup>18</sup>F-NaF in individual joints (<i>r</i> = 0.65), though detail distribution was different between two tracers. <sup>18</sup>F-NaF and <sup>18</sup>F-FDG signals were mainly located in the bone and the surrounding soft tissues, respectively. The sum of SUVmax of <sup>18</sup>F-NaF correlated with disease activity score in 28 joint (DAS28), modified health assessment questionnaire (MHAQ), and radiographic progression. <sup>18</sup>F-FDG and <sup>18</sup>F-NaF signals were associated with the presence of erosions, particularly progressive ones.</p> <p><i>Conclusion.</i> Our data show that both <sup>18</sup>F-FDG and <sup>18</sup>F-NaF PET signals were associated with RA-affected joints, especially those with ongoing erosive changes.</p
Additional file 3: Table S3. of Continuous evolution of clinical phenotype in 578 Japanese patients with Behçet’s disease: a retrospective observational study
Rate of therapeutic agents use in groups with different date of onset. (DOC 31 kb
Additional file 2: Table S2. of Continuous evolution of clinical phenotype in 578 Japanese patients with Behçet’s disease: a retrospective observational study
Phenotype of patients with BD treated with biologic agents. (DOC 29 kb
Additional file 2: Table S2. of The predictive prognostic factors for polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease
Comparison of demographic data among each PM/DM subtype in PM/DM-ILD patients. (PDF 102 kb
Associations of amino acid residues in the DRβ (A, D, G), DQβ (B, E, H), or DPβ (C, F, I) chain with SSc (A, B, C), anti-centromere antibody- positive [ACA(+)] SSc (D, E, F), and anti-topoisomerase I antibody-positive [ATA(+)] SSc (G, H, I).
<p>Corrected <i>P</i> (<i>P</i>c) values were calculated by multiplying the <i>P</i> value by the number of amino acid residues tested. Associations were established by Fisher’s exact test using 2X2 contingency tables. Predisposing associations are indicated by filled circles and protective associations by open circles.</p
<i>HLA-DQB1</i> and <i>DPB1</i> allele carrier frequencies in the SSc patients and the healthy controls.
<p><i>HLA-DQB1</i> and <i>DPB1</i> allele carrier frequencies in the SSc patients and the healthy controls.</p