The MDR1 3435 polymorphism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial disease, the pathogenesis of which involves immunological, genetic and environmental factors. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by the MDR1 gene, is an important transporter for many drugs, xenobiotics and cytokines and may be associated with many immunological processes and apoptosis. The activity of P-gp is genetically determined.

Gastroduodenal safety and tolerability of lumiracoxib compared with Ibuprofen and celecoxib in patients with osteoarthritis.

Objective: To compare the incidence of gastroduodenal ulcers in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) treated with therapeutic doses of the novel COX-2 selective inhibitor, lumiracoxib (COX189, Prexige), and the standard nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen. The COX-2 selective inhibitor celecoxib was included as an active control.

Methods: In this randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group study, eligible patients were randomized to receive lumiracoxib 200 mg (n = 264) or 400 mg (n = 260) once daily (qd), ibuprofen 800 mg (n = 260) 3 times daily (tid), or celecoxib 200 mg qd (n = 258) for 13 weeks.

[Neurological deficits in patients with primary and secondary anticardiolipin syndrome].

27 patients (22 women, 5 men); age 17 to 56 yr. (mean age 37 yr.) were included in this study, 4 had primary antiphospholipid syndrome and 18 secondary antiphospholipid syndrome in the course of systemic connective tissue disease and in 5 cases increased levels of anticardiolipid antibodies were found which did not meet the criteria necessary for diagnosis of secondary antiphospholipid syndrome.

[Antiphospholipid antibodies in high-risk pregnancy].

Unlabelled: Recently the connection of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) presence with pregnancy loss and complications in pregnancy has been observed APLs related obstetric complications include: miscarriages after 10 weeks, IUGR, intrauterine foetal death, preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia. Our objective was to determine the aPLs prevalence in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss and/or complicated pregnancy. We examined 154 pregnant women aged 19-42 (average of 29.

Effects of ionic and non-ionic contrast media on platelet function as evaluated by plasma concentration of beta-thromboglobulin.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of ionic and non-ionic contrast media on platelet function. In 44 patients who underwent angiography, the plasma concentration of beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) was measured before and after ionic contrast medium (diatrizoate) administration in 22 patients and non-ionic contrast medium (iopromide) in the other 22 patients. A significant decrease in the plasma beta TG levels after intraarterial contrast medium injection occurred in both groups of patients.

[Backache and and related absenteeism].

The aim of this work was to compare the outcome of the questionnaire survey of low back pain with data on related sickness absenteeism. The questionnaire was responded by 585 (88.8%) employees.

[Encephalopathy in the course of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome -- clinical-morphological correlations].

A case of 33-year-old man, who underwent numerous hospital admissions caused by multiple progressing disseminated neurological abnormalities is presented. At first multiple sclerosis was a tentative diagnosis. Because of persistent eosinophilia, after exclusion of other causes of increased eosinophil count, idiopathic hyperoesinophilic syndrome was diagnosed.

[Gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Personal observations].

The localization, symptoms, endoscopic findings, histologic type, infiltration of bone marrow, lymphoma cell presence in the blood, and results of therapy were evaluated in 18 patients with gastrointestinal lymphoma. Only 9 patients met the criteria of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma, the remaining 9 presenting an extra-nodular localization of systemic disease, i.e.

[Ocular symptoms in Wegener's granulomatosis--personal observations].

The authors present 10 patients treated for Wegener's granulomatosis. In 5 of of them (50%) the ocular changes were observed: in 3-infiltration of the orbit, including one case with infiltration of lacrimal ducts, and in 2-the recurrent bacterial conjunctivitis. On the account of the rareness of the disease and its various symptoms, the diagnosis, in some cases, was made fairly late.

[Results of the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome with TFX (thymus factor X)].

Seven patients with Sjögren's syndrome (6 with primary and 1 with secondary form of the syndrome developing during SLE) were treated with TFX Polfa in ampoules of 10 mg during 6-12 month. Before the treatment, besides evaluation of the general clinical condition, the following immunological parameters were determined: IgG, IgA and IgM levels, absolute lymphocyte count, T-cell and B-cell counts, absolute neutrophil count, antinuclear antibodies, circulating immune complexes and skin tests with recall antigens (tuberculin and distreptase). The clinical condition of the patients was determined at monthly intervals and the immunological investigations were repeated after the treatment which lasted 6-12 months.

Immunological profile in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

In 51 cases with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and in 25 healthy subjects, immunological state was determined by resorting to values of the following parameters of nonspecific immunity: the levels of G, A and M immunoglobulins, antistreptolysins, complement, T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and the skin test with recall antigens. The values were expressed according to the points system of Nagel et al. The results of studies revealed that in all but one case the values were lower than in controls.

Immune profile of patients with reticuloplasmocytoma treated with alkeran and prednisone.

The humoral and cellular immune response was examined in 26 patients with reticuloplasmocytoma. In 14 patients the tests were repeated after 6-8 month treatment with Alkeran and Prednisone. The following parameters were determined: level of immunoglobulin G, A and M, lymphocyte count and differential count (T, B and O), leukocytes migration tests and tuberculine skin test.