Publications by authors named "Julie Drouin"
Aims: We aim to perform ultrastructural and histopathological analysis of muscle biopsies from a large group of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, including some with early/mild SSc features, and examine whether capillary pathology differentiates 'scleromyositis' (SM) from other auto-immune myositis (AIM) subsets.
Methods: Muscle biopsies from a total of 60 SM patients and 43 AIM controls from two independent cohorts were examined by electron microscopy, collagen-4 immunofluorescence (Col4IF) and routine light microscopy.
Results: Ultrastructural examination revealed prominent capillary basement membrane (BM) reduplication (4+ layers in >50% of capillaries) in 65% of SM vs 0% of AIM controls (p < 0.
Objective: To describe successful therapeutic strategies in statin-induced anti-HMGCR myopathy.
Methods: Retrospective data from a cohort of 55 patients with statin-induced anti-HMGCR myopathy, sequentially stratified by the presence of proximal weakness, early remission, and corticosteroid and IVIG use at treatment induction, were analyzed for optimal successful induction and maintenance of remission strategies.
Results: A total of 14 patients achieved remission with a corticosteroid-free induction strategy (25%).
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the disease characteristics in patients with a pure polymyositis (pPM) phenotype, particularly focusing on those with treatment-responsive necrotizing autoimmune myositis (NAM) following atorvastatin exposure.
- Out of the 17 pPM patients studied, 14 had NAM, with 12 suspected of having atorvastatin-induced autoimmune myositis, all showing specific autoimmune markers and three defined stages of myopathy.
- Most of the patients (83%) required additional treatment beyond oral corticosteroids, with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) being commonly used in conjunction with other treatments for better management.
Objective: To develop recommendations for the use of methotrexate (MTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods: Canadian rheumatologists who participated in the international 3e Initiative in Rheumatology (evidence, expertise, exchange) in 2007-2008 formulated 5 unique Canadian questions. A bibliographic team systematically reviewed the relevant literature on these 5 topics.
Objective: To determine through a systematic literature search the predictors of clinical response and radiographic progression in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy.
Methods: A systematic literature search using Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, in May 2008, and review of abstracts of the annual congresses of the American College of Rheumatology (2006-2007) and the European League Against Rheumatism (2002-2007) was performed, as part of a national initiative to develop guidelines for the use of MTX in RA.
Results: Nine studies fulfilled the criteria set for this literature search.
Intestinal epithelial integrity and polarity are maintained by cohesive interactions between cells via the formation of tight junctions. Irregularities in tight junctions have only recently been found to be associated with the initiation and progression of intestinal neoplasia. The claudin family of proteins is integral to the structure and function of the tight junction but little is known of the molecular events that regulate the expression of these components.
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