Detailed radiographic evaluation of articular damage.

<p>Data are presented as mean ± SEM.</p><p>n = 10.</p><p>a: significantly different from CIA-group at <i>p</i><0.05.</p><p>b: significantly different from LEF-group at <i>p</i><0.05.</p><p>Detailed radiographic evaluation of articular damage.</p

Intra-articular MPO activity.

<p>Mice with CIA were treated with leflunomide (LEF), nimesulide (NIM), or leflunomide+nimesulide (LEF+NIM) and compared to untreated arthritic and normal mice. Articular MPO activity was measured 40 days after treatment as a marker of leucocytic infiltration.</p

Symptomatic assessment of arthritis.

<p>Mice with CIA were treated with leflunomide (LEF), nimesulide (NIM), or leflunomide+nimesulide (LEF+NIM) and compared to untreated arthritic and normal mice. Hyperalgesia (A) and joint stiffness (B) were recorded at pre-arthritic, mid-arthritic and late arthritic phases of arthritis and compared to base line readings. Data are presented as mean ± SD. * Significantly different from normal mice; ** significantly different from CIA-mice.</p

Histopathological assessment of articular damage.

<p>Mice with CIA were treated with leflunomide (LEF: Panel C), nimesulide (NIM: Panel D), or leflunomide+nimesulide (LEF+NIM: Panel E) for 40 days and the H&E stained joints were compared with untreated arthritic (CIA: Panel B) and normal mice (Panel A). Pathological findings were compared in terms of synovial hyperplasia (S), articular irregularity (A), narrowing of joint space (N), and lymphocytic infiltration (M).</p