High percentages and activity of synovial fluid NK cells present in patients with advanced stage active Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) causes chronic inflammation of joints. The cytokines TNFα and IFNγ are central players in RA, however their source has not been fully elucidated. Natural Killer (NK) cells are best known for their role in elimination of viral-infected and transformed cells, and they secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Validation of Sonography findings of synovitis and tenosynovitis of hands and wrists in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Validating musculoskeletal ultrasound features of the joints and tendons of the hands in a large scleroderma cohort.

Methods: A total of 81 scleroderma patients participated in this prospective, cross-sectional study. Grayscale and power Doppler musculoskeletal ultrasound images of 13 joints and 5 tendons of the wrist and hand were obtained.

[THE PREVALENCE OF POSITIVE POWER DOPPLER SIGNALS BY MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND OF HANDS IN SCLERODERMA PATIENTS].

Background: Musculoskeletal ultrasound is increasingly used in the evaluation of joint inflammation. Power Doppler can identify increased hyperemia which indicates inflammation.

Objectives: To measure the prevalence and level of positive Power Doppler signals at the hand joints of scleroderma patients.

The Rate of Adherence to Antiarthritis Medications and Associated Factors among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Literature Review and Metaanalysis.

Objective: Reported adherence in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) varies widely (10.5-98.5%).

Pulmonary hemorrhage in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Objective: To characterize the clinical manifestations of patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) and pulmonary hemorrhage (PH).

Methods: We performed a retrospective, single-center analysis of patients with APS who were followed up from 1980 to 2011. Of these patients, only those who fulfilled the Sydney criteria for APS were included.

Severe malnutrition due to systemic lupus erythematosus associated protein losing enteropathy.

Systemic lupus erythematosus most often targets organs such as joints, serosa, skin, bone marrow, and the kidneys. Gastrointestinal complications are uncommon, and among these, protein losing enteropathy is particularly rare. We present a young woman who suffered from chronic abdominal pain and diarrhea, developed severe malnutrition, and was eventually diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and associated protein losing enteropathy.

Adalimumab-induced autoimmune hepatitis.

Antitumor necrosis factor antibodies are widely used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. We describe the occurrence of autoimmune hepatitis in a patient treated with adalimumab, a fully human IgG antibody against tumor necrosis factor, for psoriatic arthritis. The patient made a full recovery after discontinuation of adalimumab and treatment with steroids.

Severe Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in six adult patients.

Background: EBV associated hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is an aggressive and potentially life-threatening condition. So far, most EBV associated HPS has been characterized mainly in infants and children in Asian countries.

Results: Here, we report six cases of EBV associated HPS occurring in previously healthy adults in a non-endemic area within a short period of 3 years.

Age-related accelerated tapping response in healthy population.

Different types of rapid tapping responses were described in the finger-tapping test. The "Hastening phenomenon" was described as an abnormal motor response in patients with Parkinson's disease. Accelerated tapping has been shown in a healthy elderly sample.