Vascular expression of annexin A2 in lupus nephritis.

Aims: To evaluate vascular expression of annexin A2 (ANXA2) and its subunit S100A10 in lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: The present histological study included 14 patients with LN and 11 controls (patients with non-lupus kidney diseases). Kidney biopsies from patients with lupus were scored for lupus glomerulonephritis (according to the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society 2003 classification) and vascular lesions (such as microthrombi and antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy (APSN)).

Chemistry of free radicals produced by oxidation of endogenous α-aminoketones. A study of 5-aminolevulinic acid and α-aminoacetone by fast kinetics spectroscopy.

Background: Excess 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and α-aminoacetone (AA) are implicated in ketosis, porphyrinpathies and diabetes. Pathologic manifestations involve O₂⁻, H₂O₂, OH, enoyl radicals (ALA and AA) and their oxidation end products.

Methods: To characterize enoyl radicals resulting from reaction of OH radicals with ALA and AA, micromolar OH concentrations were produced by pulse radiolysis of ALA and AA in aqueous solutions.

On the repair of oxidative damage to apoferritin: a model study with the flavonoids quercetin and rutin in aerated and deaerated solutions.

Ferritin (Ft) impairment through (•)O2(-), H2O2, and (•)OH production occurs in the cases of ketoses, diabetes mellitus, acute intermittent porphyria and tyrosinemia. In addition to (•)Trp and TyrO(•) radical production, ferrous iron liberation and Ft synthesis stimulation, site-specific oxidation reactions are induced leading to toxic iron accumulation in organs with high Ft content, for example, liver and brain. To elucidate the potential pathways to Ft recovery, repair of oxidative damage to horse spleen apoferritin (apoFt) and Ft by quercetin (QH) or rutin (RH) was studied in the presence and absence of oxygen.

Antibodies against the N-terminal domain of annexin A2 in antiphospholipid syndrome.

Annexin A2 (ANXA2, an endothelial cell receptor for plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator) has been identified as a new autoantigen in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of antibodies against the N-terminal domain of annexin A2 (ANXA2) in primary APS (PAPS). By using a synthetic peptide corresponding to the 31N-terminal amino acids of ANXA2 (ANXA2(N31)) as an antigen, we performed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure anti-ANXA2(N31) IgG and IgM antibodies in the serum of PAPS patients (n=19), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (n=50) and healthy blood donors (n=106).

Granulomatosis-associated common variable immunodeficiency disorder: a case-control study versus sarcoidosis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent interstitial lung disease (ILD) in common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID)-associated granulomatous disease (GD) is similar to pulmonary sarcoidosis 20 patients with CVID/GD were included in a retrospective study conducted by the Groupe Sarcoïdose Francophone. Medical records were centralised. Patients were compared with 60 controls with sarcoidosis.

Association of sarcoidosis and immune thrombocytopenia: presentation and outcome in a series of 20 patients.

The association of sarcoidosis and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) has rarely been investigated. The aim of the current retrospective study was to investigate the clinical and biological phenotypes and outcome of this association in a large series of recent patients. Twenty patients (50% men) were included.

[Lymph node tuberculosis treatment: from recommendations to practice].

Purpose: Lymph node infection is the most frequent localization of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. However, there is still no consensus on the length of antimicrobial treatment.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in the Department of infectious diseases and internal medicine in the Amiens Teaching Hospital, France.

Serum procalcitonin does not differentiate between infection and disease flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic erythematosus lupus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease. Disease flares may mimic infection with fever, inflammatory syndrome and chills, sometimes resulting in a difficult differential diagnosis. Elevated serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels have been reported to be predictive of bacterial infections, but with conflicting results.

The transport of high amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor by blood platelets underlines their potential contribution in systemic sclerosis angiogenesis.

Objectives: Altered angiogenesis is a characteristic feature in SSc and remains ill-understood. VEGF is believed to play a central role. Serum VEGF is elevated in SSc patients but questions remain concerning the source of circulating VEGF.

Azathioprine or methotrexate maintenance for ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Background: Current standard therapy for Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis combines corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide to induce remission, followed by a less toxic immunosuppressant such as azathioprine or methotrexate for maintenance therapy. However, azathioprine and methotrexate have not been compared with regard to safety and efficacy.

Methods: In this prospective, open-label, multicenter trial, we randomly assigned patients with Wegener's granulomatosis or microscopic polyangiitis who entered remission with intravenous cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids to receive oral azathioprine (at a dose of 2.

Procalcitonin at the onset of giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: the GRACG prospective study.

Objectives: An epidemic pattern has been reported for GCA and PMR. Immunological studies have shown that an unknown antigen activates the dendritic cells of the adventitia and the type 4 toll-like receptors. Procalcitonin (PCT) is an early marker of bacterial infection.

Small-vessel vasculitis surrounding an uninflamed temporal artery: a new diagnostic criterion for polymyalgia rheumatica?

Objective: To assess the prevalence and clinical significance of small-vessel vasculitis (SVV) surrounding an uninflamed temporal artery (TA) in patients diagnosed as having giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA) and/or polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods: Patients with GCA and/or PMR (n = 490) were included in this multicenter prospective study. Slides of TA biopsy specimens were reviewed by 2 pathologists who were blinded with regard to clinical information.

Anti-annexin II antibodies in systemic autoimmune diseases and antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objectives: The objective of this study were (1) to evaluate the prevalence of anti-annexin II antibodies in patients with various autoimmune diseases and antiphospholipid syndrome and (2) to correlate anti-annexin II antibodies with anti-phospholipid antibodies.

Materials And Methods: Anti-annexin II antibodies and anti-phospholipid were detected, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in the serum of patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (n = 16), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 53), primary Sjögren syndrome (n = 71), systemic sclerosis (n = 17), systemic vasculitis (n = 18), and rheumatoid arthritis (n = 119). Healthy blood donors (n = 99) were used as controls.

Pathological features of temporal arteries in patients with giant cell arteritis presenting with permanent visual loss.

Background: Permanent visual loss (PVL) is the most feared complication of giant cell arteritis (GCA), and its risk factors are still unclear.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the pathological features predictive of PVL on temporal artery biopsy (TAB) specimens in patients with GCA.

Methods: The slides of 391 TAB specimens from patients with GCA were reviewed by two pathologists without clinical information.

Thrombocytopenia in sarcoidosis.

Background: Haematological manifestations in sarcoidosis are uncommon. The prevalence of thrombocytopenia in sarcoidosis is not well assessed.

Aim: To describe the main characteristics and outcome of sarcoidosis associated with thrombocytopenia.

[Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of autoimmune diseases].

Purpose: During the past ten years, more than 1000 patients suffering from severe autoimmune disease have received an autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant. These new therapeutic have been used in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Current Knowledge And Key Points: Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation has become a curative option for condition with very poor prognosis as severe systemic sclerosis, lupus erythematosus or other systemic diseases.

Gastric MALT lymphoma presenting as Waldenström's macroglobulinemia without bone marrow involvement.

We report a case of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma with macroglobulinemia in a 59-year-old man who presented with melena. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed irregular thickening of the wall of the stomach, and endoscopic examination disclosed enlarged and inflammatory folds of the fundus. Histopathologic examination of gastric samples showed mucosal infiltration by small lymphocytes, which were positive for CD20 and negative for CD10 and CD23, confirming the diagnosis of gastric MALT lymphoma.