Enthesitis in psoriatic arthritis (Part 1): pathophysiology.

Enthesitis is a key manifestation of PsA and current knowledge supports the concept that it may be among the primary events in the development of this disease, as well as other forms of SpA. Patients with PsA seem to have a different threshold to mechanical stress, which may be genetically determined. Hence patients with psoriatic disease respond pathologically with inflammation after being exposed to physiological mechanical stress.

Effects of ustekinumab versus tumor necrosis factor inhibition on enthesitis: Results from the enthesial clearance in psoriatic arthritis (ECLIPSA) study.

Objectives: To date, all studies addressing on anti-inflammatory drugs in PsA have been carried out in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with polyarticular disease. Specific studies on enthesitis are missing. IL-23 is considered to play a central role in the development of enthesitis.

Increased Cytokeratin 19 Fragment Levels Are Positively Correlated with Adenosine Deaminase Activity in Malignant Pleural Effusions from Adenocarcinomas.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and cytokeratin 19 (CK19) are known pleural biomarkers. Although ADA in humans functions mainly in the immune system, it also appears to be associated with the differentiation of epithelial cells. Keratin filaments are important structural stabilizers of epithelial cells and potent biomarkers in epithelial differentiation.

Imaging of gout: New tools and biomarkers?

While joint aspiration and crystal identification by polarizing microscopy remain the gold standard for diagnosing tophaceous gout, agreement among medical and ancillary health personnel examining synovial fluid using polarizing microscopy for the detection of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals appears to be poor. Imaging modalities, including conventional radiography (CR), ultrasonography (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), have been found to provide information on the deposition of MSU crystals in tissues, and the consequences of such deposition. CR can demonstrate typical "punched out lesions" with marginal overhangs, but the sensitivity for erosion detection is better for DECT and US.

Culture of neural cells of the eyestalk of a mangrove crab is optimized on poly-L-ornithine substrate.

Although there is a considerable demand for cell culture protocols from invertebrates for both basic and applied research, few attempts have been made to culture neural cells of crustaceans. We describe an in vitro method that permits the proliferation, growth and characterization of neural cells from the visual system of an adult decapod crustacean. We explain the coating of the culture plates with different adhesive substrates, and the adaptation of the medium to maintain viable neural cells for up to 7 days.

Psychometric properties of three single-item pain scales in patients with rheumatoid arthritis seen during routine clinical care: a comparative perspective on construct validity, reproducibility and internal responsiveness.

Objective: To investigate the construct validity, reproducibility (ie, retest reliability) and internal responsiveness to treatment change of common single-item scales measuring overall pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to investigate the corresponding effect of common pain-related comorbidities and medical consultation on these outcomes.

Methods: 236 patients with RA completed a set of questionnaires including a visual analogue scale (VAS), a numerical rating scale (NRS) and a verbal rating scale (VRS) measuring overall pain before and immediately after routine medical consultation as well as 1 week after the patient's visit. Construct validity and retest reliability were evaluated using the Bravais-Pearson correlation while standardised response means (SRM) were calculated for evaluating internal responsiveness.

Combined evaluation of adenosine deaminase level and histopathological findings from pleural biopsy with Cope's needle for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.

Introduction: Closed needle pleural biopsy (CNPB) has historically been the gold standard procedure for the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an efficient biomarker for tuberculosis that is measurable in pleural fluids.

Objective: We compared the diagnostic accuracy of the pleural ADA (P-ADA) level and histopathological findings of CNPB specimens in patients with pleural tuberculosis.

High incidence of disease recurrence after discontinuation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment in patients with psoriatic arthritis in remission.

Objective: To investigate the possibility of drug-free remission in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in continuous remission.

Methods: Prospective observational study in disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-treated PsA patients in continuous disease remission (no musculoskeletal symptoms, no or minimal skin/nail disease) for at least 6 months. Demographic, disease-specific and ultrasound parameters were assessed at baseline.

Evaluation of adenosine deaminase activity for the diagnosis of pleural TB in lymphocytic pleural effusions.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic value of pleural adenosine deaminase (P-ADA) as a pleural TB-specific biomarker in lymphocytic pleural effusions.

Materials & Methods: Pleural effusions were classified on the basis of definitive diagnosis.

Results: A total of 218 patients (122 tuberculous and 96 nontuberculous) were included in the study.

Ouabain inhibits monocyte activation in vitro: prevention of the proinflammatory mCD14(+)/CD16(+) subset appearance and cell-size progression.

Classically described as a potent inhibitor of the sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase enzyme, ouabain has been further shown to act as an effective immunomodulator in mammals. Recently, our group showed that this hormone downregulates membrane CD14 (mCD14) in human monocytes, though it is not known whether monocyte activation status could modify ouabain influence. Hence, we aimed to investigate ouabain effect during monocyte activation in vitro, analyzing mCD14, CD16 and CD69 expression in total monocytes after two periods of adhesion (2 hours and 24 hours) or in small and large monocyte subpopulations separately.

A phospholipase A₂ isolated from Lachesis muta snake venom increases the survival of retinal ganglion cells in vitro.

We have previously showed that a phospholipase A₂ isolated from Lachesis muta snake venom and named LM-PLA₂-I displayed particular biological activities, as hemolysis, inhibition on platelet aggregation, edema induction and myotoxicity. In the present work, we evaluated the effect of LM-PLA₂-I on the survival of axotomized rat retinal ganglion cells kept in vitro, as well as its mechanism of action. Our results clearly showed that treatment with LM-PLA₂-I increased the survival of ganglion cells (100% when compared to control cultures) and the treatment of LM-PLA₂-I with p-bromophenacyl bromide abolished this effect.

The nerve growth factor reduces APOBEC3G synthesis and enhances HIV-1 transcription and replication in human primary macrophages.

Macrophages infected with HIV-1 sustain viral replication for long periods of time, functioning as viral reservoirs. Therefore, recognition of factors that maintain macrophage survival and influence HIV-1 replication is critical to understanding the mechanisms that regulate the HIV-1-replicative cycle. Because HIV-1-infected macrophages release the nerve growth factor (NGF), and NGF neutralization reduces viral production, we further analyzed how this molecule affects HIV-1 replication.

The trophic effect of ouabain on retinal ganglion cell is mediated by EGF receptor and PKC delta activation.

It was already shown that ouabain treatment can stimulate PKC isoenzymes leading to the activation of intracellular pathways involved in cell survival, growth and proliferation. We have previously demonstrated that ouabain or PMA treatment increases retinal ganglion cell survival, an effect mediated by PKC activation. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of EGF receptors in the ouabain effect and also to study which PKC isoform is activated by treatment with ouabain and PMA.

Neuronal cell survival: the role of interleukins.

One of the central issues in neuroscience today is the study of the mechanisms of neuronal survival. Since the discovery of nerve growth factor (almost 60 years ago), many groups have clearly demonstrated the central role of neurotrophins on the regulation of neuronal cell survival during developmental stages as well as during adult life. However, neurotrophins are not alone in regulating neuronal survival, and many groups have demonstrated the effect of different cytokines on this phenomenon.

Protein kinase C regulates the expression of M1 receptors and BDNF in rat retinal cells.

Protein kinase C (PKC) plays a key role in cellular events including proliferation, survival and differentiation. Our previous study showed the effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, inducing a decrease in retinal cells proliferation. This effect was mediated by muscarinic type 1 receptors (M1) activation and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) treatment also induced a decrease in cell proliferation.

The increase in retinal cells proliferation induced by FGF2 is mediated by tyrosine and PI3 kinases.

Since 1973, multiple effects of basic fibroblast growth factor have been described in a large number of cells. These effects include proliferation, survival and differentiation. The aim of this work was to study the intracellular pathways involved in the basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) effect on rat retinal cells proliferation in vitro.

Ca2+ mobilization induced by ouabain in thymocytes involves intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ pools.

Immune dysfunction has been reported in hypertensive rats, and circulating levels of ouabain are increased in some experimental models of hypertension. Ouabain is an inhibitor of the Na+/K+-ATPase capable of diverse effects on cells of the immune system, but its mode of action on these cells is still unknown. The levels of cytoplasmic calcium ions play an important role in cell signaling, and ouabain may induce an increase in intracellular calcium indirectly through the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.

IL-4 increases GABAergic phenotype in rat retinal cell cultures: involvement of muscarinic receptors and protein kinase C.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. During injuries, infections and neurodegenerative diseases, high levels of this molecule are expressed in the brain. In the present work, we investigated the effect of IL-4 on GABAergic differentiation of retinal cells kept in vitro.

PMA decreases the proliferation of retinal cells in vitro: the involvement of acetylcholine and BDNF.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in several cell events including proliferation, survival and differentiation. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of PKC activation on retinal cells proliferation. We demonstrated that PKC activation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a tumor promoter phorbol ester, is able to decrease retinal cells proliferation.

Sciatic conditioned medium increases survival, proliferation and differentiation of retinal cells in culture.

Many evidences clearly demonstrate that Schwann cells provide trophic support for neurons. Different cytokines, including neurotrophins (NTs), are produced and released by Schwann cells. These trophic molecules play an important role on neuronal survival either during the development or during adult life.