Enhanced arthrocentesis of the effusive knee with pneumatic compression.

Aim: Complete arthrocentesis of the effusive knee ameliorates patient pain, reduces intra-articular and intraosseous pressure, removes inflammatory cytokines, and has been shown to substantially improve the therapeutic outcomes of intra-articular injections. However, conventional arthrocentesis incompletely decompresses the knee, leaving considerable residual synovial fluid in the intra-articular space. The present study determined whether external pneumatic circumferential compression of the effusive knee permitted more successful arthrocentesis and complete joint decompression.

Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy: an unusual presentation.

Objectives: Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA) is a syndrome characterized by the triad of periostitis, digital clubbing and painful arthropathy of the large joints, especially involving the lower limbs. HPOA without clubbing of the digits is considered an incomplete form of HPOA and has been rarely reported. We are presenting here a case of HPOA without clubbing in a patient with lung cancer.

Progression of noncalcified and calcified coronary plaque by CT angiography in SLE.

Premature coronary artery disease remains the major cause of late death in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Coronary artery calcium (CAC) represents an advanced stage of atherosclerosis, whereas noncalcified coronary atherosclerotic plaque (NCP) typically is more prone to trigger acute coronary events. The aim of this study was to assess the stability of NCP over time and identify factors associated with changes in NCP in patients with SLE.

Coronary calcification in SLE: comparison with the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Objective: Accelerated atherosclerosis is a major cause of morbidity and death in SLE. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the prevalence and extent of coronary artery calcium (CAC) is higher in female SLE patients compared with a non-SLE sample from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Methods: CAC was measured in 80 female SLE patients and 241 female MESA controls from the Baltimore Field Centre, ages 45-64 years, without evidence of clinical cardiovascular disease.

The Role of MicroRNAs and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Proliferative Lupus Nephritis.

Objective: To understand the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in proliferative lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: A high-throughput analysis of the miRNA pattern of the kidneys of LN patients and controls was performed by molecular digital detection. Urinary miRNAs were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Myocardial T2 mapping by cardiovascular magnetic resonance reveals subclinical myocardial inflammation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

To evaluate whether T2 mapping techniques can detect myocardial edema in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Twenty-four patients (mean age 54 ± 9 years) with SLE and twelve controls (mean age 50 ± 7 years) underwent cardiac MRI at 1.5 T.

Apolipoprotein-containing lipoprotein subclasses and subclinical atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Traditional classification of hyperlipidemia using high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein does not provide information on lipoprotein function. Apolipoproteins (Apos), which are protein components of plasma lipoproteins (including A, B, C, D, E) with their different composition, metabolic, and atherogenic properties, provide insight on lipoprotein functioning. In particular, the Apo B/A-I ratio is associated with atherogenic LDL and development of cardiovascular disease.

Vitamin D deficiency does not predict progression of coronary artery calcium, carotid intima-media thickness or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is common in SLE. Cardioprotective effects of vitamin D have been postulated due to modulation of inflammatory cytokines. However, the effects of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory cytokines in trials have been inconsistent.

Predictors of self-reported health-related quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: The Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 Survey (SF-36) has been widely used as a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in different populations. SLE patients have consistently reported lower scores compared with the general population. The objective of our study was to identify predictors of HRQOL using SF-36 among patients with SLE enrolled in a 2-year randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Semiquantified noncalcified coronary plaque in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: A major cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is accelerated coronary atherosclerosis. New technology (computed tomographic angiography) can measure noncalcified coronary plaque (NCP), which is more prone to rupture. We report on a study of semiquantified NCP in SLE.

Urinary vascular cell adhesion molecule, but not neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, is associated with lupus nephritis.

Objective: Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), an adhesion molecule, is involved in the progression of glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a member of the lipocalin superfamily, has been shown to rise in both acute and chronic kidney damage. Both VCAM-1 and NGAL have been found at high levels in the urine of patients with active lupus nephritis.

Association of noninvasively measured renal protein biomarkers with histologic features of lupus nephritis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship of urinary biomarkers and established measures of renal function to histologic findings in lupus nephritis (LN), and to test whether certain combinations of the above-mentioned laboratory measures are diagnostic for specific histologic features of LN.

Methods: Urine samples from 76 patients were collected within 2 months of kidney biopsy and assayed for the urinary biomarkers lipocalin-like prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), α(1) -acid glycoprotein (AAG), transferrin (TF), ceruloplasmin (CP), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1). Using nonparametric analyses, levels of urinary biomarkers and established markers of renal function were compared with histologic features seen in LN, i.

Predictors of progression in atherosclerosis over 2 years in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease remains the major cause of death in SLE. We assessed the degree to which cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and disease activity were associated with 2-year changes in measures of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-seven SLE patients participating in a placebo-controlled trial of atorvastatin underwent multi-detector CT [for coronary artery calcium (CAC)] and carotid duplex [for carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaque] twice, 2 years apart.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) does not slow the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE over 2 years.

Accelerated atherosclerosis is a major cause of mortality in SLE. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been shown to suppress growth factor-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells in animal models. We hypothesized that MMF might modify the inflammatory component of atherosclerosis in SLE.

Quality-of-life measurements versus disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease affecting the physical, social, and psychological well-being of patients. Different instruments have been developed to measure health-related quality of life, some of which are SLE-specific. Contributors to poor quality of life in patients with SLE include fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, and cognitive dysfunction.

Noncalcified coronary plaque in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To study noncalcified coronary plaque (NCP) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Sixty-four-slice coronary multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was performed in 39 consecutive patients with SLE. MDCT scans were evaluated semiquantitatively by a radiologist using dedicated software.

Urine osteoprotegerin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in lupus nephritis.

Objective: Renal biopsy is the "gold standard" to determine renal activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but it is expensive, invasive, and carries risk. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is produced by the heart, lungs, kidney, and bone. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a chemotactic cytokine, is involved in the progression of glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury.

Coronary calcium in systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, but not with disease activity.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The frequency of both subclinical and clinically evident atherosclerosis is greatly increased over healthy controls. We assessed cardiovascular risk factors present in patients with SLE at the baseline visit in a statin intervention trial and their correlation with coronary calcium.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine is a marker of poor prognosis and coronary calcium in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To determine the association of serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) with clinical features, laboratory tests, treatment, cardiovascular risk factors, and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Serum ADMA concentrations were determined by ELISA, using purified ADMA as a standard. Coronary calcium was measured by helical computerized tomography.