Indications for IVIG in rheumatic diseases

The use of IVIG to treat a wide variety of immune-driven diseases has grown rapidly, although the mechanism of action is not completely understood. Increasing demand for IVIG coupled with concerns regarding potential transmissible agents has led to worldwide supply shortages. National agencies have therefore produced guidelines for its use, with the latest England and Wales guideline being published in 2011. Due to the rarity of the rheumatic diseases, the evidence for IVIG use has been shown to be lacking in some areas and promising in others. Conditions in which IVIG has been shown to have benefit include ITP, Guillain–Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy occurring in the context of rheumatic disease, as well as in SLE, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and ANCA-associated vasculitides. This review looks at current IVIG use and is designed to be an aid for rheumatologists when considering the use of IVIG in clinical practice

Autoantibodies in connective tissuedisease

Autoimmune connective tissue diseases are heterogeneous rheumatic diseases with the potential to affect multiple body systems. Autoantibodies are a characteristic feature of these diseases and are typically highly disease specific. In addition to aiding diagnosis, many autoantibodies have established associations with clinically important disease complications including internal organ involvement. In this chapter, we review the autoantibodies relevant to autoimmune connective tissue diseases, excluding systemic lupus erythematosus, with particular reference to the associated clinical features and how identification of such an autoantibody may inform prognosis and clinical management. We also discuss the practicalities of testing for autoantibodies along with potential difficulties and pitfalls.</p

Autoantibodies in connective tissuedisease

Autoimmune connective tissue diseases are heterogeneous rheumatic diseases with the potential to affect multiple body systems. Autoantibodies are a characteristic feature of these diseases and are typically highly disease specific. In addition to aiding diagnosis, many autoantibodies have established associations with clinically important disease complications including internal organ involvement. In this chapter, we review the autoantibodies relevant to autoimmune connective tissue diseases, excluding systemic lupus erythematosus, with particular reference to the associated clinical features and how identification of such an autoantibody may inform prognosis and clinical management. We also discuss the practicalities of testing for autoantibodies along with potential difficulties and pitfalls.</p

A Commercial Anti-TIF1γ ELISA Is Superior to Line and Dot Blot and Should Be Considered as Part of Routine Myositis-Specific Antibody Testing

OBJECTIVES: Anti-TIF1γ is an important autoantibody in the diagnosis of cancer-associated dermatomyositis and the most common autoantibody in juvenile onset dermatomyositis. Its reliable detection is important to instigate further investigations into underlying malignancy in adults. We previously showed that commercial assays using line and dot blots do not reliably detect anti-TIF1γ. We aimed to test a new commercial ELISA and compare with previously obtained protein immunoprecipitation. METHODS: Radio-labelled immunoprecipitation had previously been used to determine the autoantibody status of patients with immune-mediated inflammatory myopathies and several healthy controls. ELISA was undertaken on healthy control and anti-TIF1γ sera and compared to previous immunoprecipitation data. RESULTS: A total of 110 serum samples were analysed: 42 myositis patients with anti- TIF1γ and 68 autoantibody negative healthy control sera. Anti-TIF1γ was detected by ELISA in 41 out of 42 of the anti-TIF1γ-positive samples by immunoprecipitation, and in none of the healthy controls, giving a sensitivity of 97.6% and specificity of 100%. The false negative rate was 2%. CONCLUSION: ELISA is an affordable and time-efficient method which is accurate in detecting anti-TIF1γ

In The Garden: Giggles In The Greenery

Graphic Anthology of New Works by 12 International Artists collectively Initiated, curated, and Riso-printed by Dominica Harrison With support from Manchester Metropolitan University and University of the Arts London The graphic anthology ‘Anima Mundi inaugural book explores inter-species communication between humans, plants, fungi, and minerals. Anima Mundi’s books are artefacts that draw viewers’ attention to the diverse and wonderful life within the more-than-human world. The protagonist, Seraphina, who travels the Four Kingdoms, represents open-minded curiosity and respect when encountering other life forms. As we navigate an era dominated by information saturation, a mental health crisis, and pressing environmental issues, we urgently need to reimagine our relationship with nature. ‘In The Garden’ explores entheogenic plants and their potential to expand consciousness. Every plant featured in the book has a rich history of medicinal and ritual use. These plants have enabled humans to probe the mysteries of consciousness, bridging human experiences with a greater sense of the Spirit and facilitating our recognition, acceptance, and engagement with the more-than-human world. Kim Noce Statement For “In The Garden: Giggles In The Greenery” I created illustrations and animations that research the mystical history of Datura in witchcraft. This work explores the role of women healers and their historical mislabeling as witches, using medicinal herbs, symbols, and movement to tell their stories. Inspired by “Witches, Midwives, and Nurses,” my illustrations highlight the suppression of women in medicine as male-dominated practices took over. Central to this narrative is Datura, a plant with a rich and mysterious history. Known for its psychoactive alkaloids, Datura has served as a potent medicine and a powerful toxin. Datura is historically linked to witch hunts in the Middle Ages, symbolizing the complex intersection of herbalism, medicine, and societal fears. Its anticholinergic properties, which cause vivid hallucinations and profound disorientation, have been both revered and feared. The plant’s history includes its use in traditional medicine for asthma and its role in rituals, embodying the fine line between remedy and poison. By exploring Datura’s legacy, we uncover layers of forgotten wisdom and the political history of medicine, revealing the intricate relationship between society and the women who practised healing. The book was created as a collective journey

Measurement of the Dipion Mass Spectrum in X(3872) -> J/Psi Pi+ Pi- Decays

We measure the dipion mass spectrum in X(3872)--> J/Psi Pi+ Pi- decays using 360 pb-1 of pbar-p collisions at 1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector. The spectrum is fit with predictions for odd C-parity (3S1, 1P1, and 3DJ) charmonia decaying to J/Psi Pi+ Pi-, as well as even C-parity states in which the pions are from Rho0 decay. The latter case also encompasses exotic interpretations, such as a D0-D*0Bar molecule. Only the 3S1 and J/Psi Rho hypotheses are compatible with our data. Since 3S1 is untenable on other grounds, decay via J/Psi Rho is favored, which implies C=+1 for the X(3872). Models for different J/Psi-Rho angular momenta L are considered. Flexibility in the models, especially the introduction of Rho-Omega interference, enable good descriptions of our data for both L=0 and 1.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures -- Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Measurement of B(t->Wb)/B(t->Wq) at the Collider Detector at Fermilab

We present a measurement of the ratio of top-quark branching fractions R= B(t -> Wb)/B(t -> Wq), where q can be a b, s or a d quark, using lepton-plus-jets and dilepton data sets with integrated luminosity of ~162 pb^{-1} collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab during Run II of the Tevatron. The measurement is derived from the relative numbers of t-tbar events with different multiplicity of identified secondary vertices. We set a lower limit of R > 0.61 at 95% confidence level.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, published in Physical Review Letters; changes made to be consistent with published versio

Measurement of the Lifetime Difference Between B_s Mass Eigenstates

We present measurements of the lifetimes and polarization amplitudes for B_s --> J/psi phi and B_d --> J/psi K*0 decays. Lifetimes of the heavy (H) and light (L) mass eigenstates in the B_s system are separately measured for the first time by determining the relative contributions of amplitudes with definite CP as a function of the decay time. Using 203 +/- 15 B_s decays, we obtain tau_L = (1.05 +{0.16}/-{0.13} +/- 0.02) ps and tau_H = (2.07 +{0.58}/-{0.46} +/- 0.03) ps. Expressed in terms of the difference DeltaGamma_s and average Gamma_s, of the decay rates of the two eigenstates, the results are DeltaGamma_s/Gamma_s = (65 +{25}/-{33} +/- 1)%, and DeltaGamma_s = (0.47 +{0.19}/-{0.24} +/- 0.01) inverse ps.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables; as published in Physical Review Letters on 16 March 2005; revisions are for length and typesetting only, no changes in results or conclusion

Measurement of WγW\gamma and ZγZ\gamma Production in ppˉp\bar{p} Collisions at s\sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV

The Standard Model predictions for $W\gamma$ and $Z\gamma$ production are tested using an integrated luminosity of 200 pb$^{-1}$ of \ppbar collision data collected at the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The cross sections are measured selecting leptonic decays of the $W$ and $Z$ bosons, and photons with transverse energy $E_T>7$ GeV that are well separated from leptons. The production cross sections and kinematic distributions for the $W\gamma$ and $Z\gamma$ are compared to SM predictions.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR