The history of the (Young) AEMI(E) and the EFIM.

The European Federation of Internal Medicine (EFIM) was formed in 1996 through a merger between the Association Européenne de Médicine Interne (d' Ensemble) (AEMI(E)) and the Forum of Presidents of National Societies of Internal Medicine (IM). It arose as a result of ideas from Carcassi (Rome/Cagliari) and Merino (Alicante) to transform the largely French-speaking and rather elitist AEMI into a more easily accessible and English-speaking federation of national societies. The founding meeting of the General Assembly of the EFIM took place in May 1996 in Paris.

Multicenter study of the safety/efficacy of misoprostol in the prevention and treatment of NSAID-induced gastroduodenal lesions.

Gastrointestinal symptoms and lesions are often associated with the clinical use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). An open-label, single arm multicenter Italian study evaluated if misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analogue with gastroduodenal mucosal protective activity, was effective in the prevention and treatment of NSAID-induced gastroduodenal lesions. Patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA), in treatment with NSAIDs and suffering from gastric symptoms or gastroduodenal lesions related to NSAID use, were admitted to the study.

History of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA).

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) was first described in 1868 as "hyperostosis of the entire skeleton". It has also been mistaken for acromegaly. In 1887-1888 the first description was given of a dermatological disorder "cutis verticis girata" which coexisted with the peculiar bone anomalies of HOA.

Nerve growth factor in the synovial fluid of patients with chronic arthritis.

Cytokines regulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis during inflammatory processes. Since cytokines are also involved in the inflammatory processes of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, we examined levels of NGF in patients with rheumatoid or other types of chronic arthritis. NGF was present in the synovial fluid and synovium of patients with chronic arthritis, but was undetectable in control fluids.

Collagenopathic cardiopathies.

Collagenopathic cardiopathies are a subject of extreme etiologic, pathogenetic and clinical interest. These disorders are associated with congenital or acquired anomalies of the connective tissue and because of the diffusion and nearly total distribution of this tissue, have a higher frequency than what has been previously estimated. The collagenopathic cardiopathies, can be divided into two main groups: one deriving from hereditary connective tissue diseases, and the other from acquired connective tissue diseases.

Prevalence and clinical associations of anticardiolipin antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective study.

The main objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) isotypes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in order to analyze their possible association with the clinical manifestations of the disease. Clinical features of 64 consecutive and unselected SLE patients were prospectively studied. Sera from the same patients taken during each clinical manifestation were tested for the presence of aCL.

Cytotoxic drugs in systemic autoimmune diseases.

Inhibition of cell proliferation, together with the depression of synthesis of non-specific and specific cellular products, are the modes of action of cytotoxic drugs. In systemic autoimmune diseases these actions result in immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects. The adoption of cytotoxic treatment, as well as the choice of the cytotoxic agent and therapeutic strategy in individual patients, depend on the disease status, on the patient's tolerance to previously administered drugs and on the theoretical risk of major side effects.

Iron overload and lysosomal stability in beta zero-thalassaemia intermedia and trait: correlation between serum ferritin and serum N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase levels.

Increased iron storage represents a characteristic condition in patients with beta zero-thalassaemia intermedia. Iron overload is an important factor in cellular damage. Recent studies have shown an enhanced lysosomal fragility due to increased iron storage.

[Familial Mediterranean fever. Description of a case observed by us].

Familial mediterranean fever (FMF) is an hereditary disorder characterized by attacks of febrile serosal inflammation involving pleura or peritoneum and synovium, followed usually by insidious onset of amyloidosis. In other patients amyloidosis of AA-type is the only finding of the disease. This disorder is common in Jews of Sephardi and Ashkenazi ancestry, Arabs, Armenians and Turks.

[Effects of chrysotherapy on various immunological parameters in rheumatoid polyarthritis].

The effects of chrysotherapy on various immunological parameters were studied in 60 cases of rheumatoid arthritis, either classical or as defined by the ARA. There was a significant fall in serum immunoglobulin levels and in rheumatoid factor. The serum levels of C3 and C4 did not show any significant modifications.