Inflammatory Rheumatic Disorders and Bone

Inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other rheumatic conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and ankylosing spondylitis, comprise a heterogeneous group of joint disorders that are all associated with extra-articular side effects, including bone loss and fractures. The concept of osteoimmunology is based on growing insights into the links between the immune system and bone. The pathogenesis of osteoporosis in these patients is multifactorial. We have, more or less as an example, described this extensively for patients with SLE. High disease activity (inflammation) and immobility are common factors that substantially increase fracture risk in these patients, on top of the background fracture risk based on, among other factors, age, body mass index, and gender. Although no fracture reduction has been shown in intervention studies in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, we present treatment options that might be useful for clinicians who are treating these patients

Construcion and characterization of an effector strain of <I>Streptococcus mutans</I> for replacement therapy of dental caries.

NatuurwetenskappeBiochemiePlease help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected]

DNA Supercoiling in <I>Escherichia coli </I>is under tight and subtle homeostatic control, involving gene-expression and metabolic regulation of both topoisomerase I and DNA gyrase

NatuurwetenskappeBiochemiePlease help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected]

Branched-chain alpha-keto acid cacbolism via the gene products of the <I>bkd</I> operon in <I>Enterococcus faecalis</I>: a new secreted metabolite serving as a temporary redox sink.

NatuurwetenskappeBiochemiePlease help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected]

DNA supercoiling by gyrase is linked to nucleoid compaction

NatuurwetenskappeBiochemiePlease help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected]

Can yeast glycolysis be understood in terms of <I>in vitro</I> kinetics of the constituent enzymes?

NatuurwetenskappeBiochemiePlease help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected]

What makes general practitioners order blood tests for patients with unexplained complaints? A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Approximately 13% of consultations in general practice involve patients with unexplained complaints (UCs). These consultations often end with general practitioners (GPs) ordering blood tests of questionable diagnostic informativeness. OBJECTIVE: We studied factors potentially associated with GPs' decisions to order blood tests. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Twenty-seven GPs completed registration forms after each consultation concerning newly presented UCs. RESULTS: Of the 100 analysable patients, 59 had at least one blood test ordered. The median number of ordered tests was 10 (interpercentile range [IPR-90] 2-15). Compared to abdominal complaints, the blood test ordering (BTO) probability for fatigue was five times higher (relative risk [RR] 5.2). Duration of complaints for over 4 weeks also increased this probability (RR 1.6). Factors associated with a lower BTO probability were: likelihood of background psychosocial factors (RR 0.4) and GPs having a syndrome rather than symptom type of working hypothesis (RR 0.5). CONCLUSION: We found a high rate of BTO among GPs confronted with patients with UCs. Furthermore, a considerable number of tests were ordered. The selectivity in BTO behaviour of GPs can be improved upon