Anticitrullinated protein antibodies and radiological progression in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate whether determination of anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) provides predictive information on severity of disease course and joint destruction in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: Sera from 74 children with JIA were examined for ACPA using the ELISA test. To assess joint destruction, plain radiographs of both hands were scored twice according to the Steinbrocker scale: at the beginning of observation and after 8.

Relationship between impaired apoptosis of lymphocytes and distribution of dendritic cells in peripheral blood and synovial fluid of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Introduction: The pathogenesis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is not fully understood. Recently the present authors described disturbed apoptosis of JIA lymphocytes in both peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) as well as an abnormal distribution of blood dendritic cells (BDCs) between the PB and SF in this disease. Possible relationships between these events during the development of JIA process are assessed here.

Distribution and clinical significance of blood dendritic cells in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Background: A role for dendritic cells (DC) in the development of adult rheumatoid arthritis has been suggested. To date, this problem has been poorly explored in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Objective: To analyse distribution and maturation status of blood DC (BDC) in JIA.

[Diagnostic value of thermography and endothelin concentration in serum of children with Raynaud's Syndrome].

Objective: The primary Raynaud's Syndrome may occur in pubescent children, the secondary is connected with connective tissue diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of thermography and endothelin concentration in patients with Raynaud's Syndrome (RS).

Material And Methods: 49 patients aged 11 to 18 years with clinical symptoms of RS and 12 healthy children participated in the study.

Regulation of peripheral blood and synovial fluid lymphocyte apoptosis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: Complex regulatory mechanisms are involved in the induction of apoptosis. Their impairment may play a role in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. Recently, we have described higher incidences of spontaneous apoptosis of peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Background: Recent data suggested that abnormalities in mechanisms regulating apoptosis may have a role in the development of the rheumatoid process.

Objective: To evaluate different aspects of apoptosis in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: The frequency of TUNEL positive peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes (apoptotic index (AI)), as well as serum CD95 (APO1/Fas) antigen expression and serum levels of sFas and interleukin 15 (IL15), were examined in 44 cases of JIA.

HPTLC screening assay for urinary cotinine as biomarker of environmental tobacco smoke exposure among male adolescents.

For selective screening determination of urinary cotinine, i.e. (S)-1-methyl-5-(3-pyridyl)-2-pyrrolidinone, the major metabolite of nicotine, the high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method have been proposed.

Vitamin E, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance concentrations and superoxide dismutase activity in the blood of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To study the role of active oxygen species in tissue injury in rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: We examined the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and antioxidants of the first line antioxidative defence of the organism, i.e.

Chemiluminescence of peripheral blood leukocytes and activity of an inflammatory process in juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA).

The oxidative metabolites have been implicated in the aetiology and pathology of rheumatoid arthritis. In our work we endeavoured to deal with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) ability to generate oxygen free radicals (OFRs). PMNLs metabolic activity was assessed by the means of chemiluminescence (CL) method.

Concentrations of cloxacillin and erythromycin in the tonsils of children after administration of therapeutic doses.

The treatment of infections in the ring of Waldeyer in children is an ever present problem. Most infections are caused by group A streptococci, and various antibiotics are routinely used for their treatment. In many cases, however, this treatment is ineffective as demonstrated by prolonged disease duration and recurrences.