Expert Rev Clin Immunol
January 2023
Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by autoantibody expression and aberrant autoreactive B cells contribute to disease progression; therefore, B cell inhibition has been an attractive target for novel therapies. However, after more than two decades of research and over 40 randomized clinical trials, only one such therapy, belimumab, has been approved for use in SLE.
Areas Covered: In this review, we discuss the evidence for B cell-targeted therapies in SLE and lupus nephritis.
Background Knee joint injections and aspirations are essential procedures for medical students, residents, and primary care physicians to master. Simulation-based training has been shown to improve learner confidence and performance scores in knee joint injections. Current knee joint simulators are expensive, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The endocannabinoid system has been shown to reduce inflammatory flares and pain in rodent models of arthritis. A limitation of endocannabinoids is that they are rapidly denatured by hydrolysing enzymes such as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) which renders them physiologically inert. Osteoarthritis (OA) is primarily a degenerative joint disease; however, it can incorporate mild inflammation and peripheral neuropathy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSmoke inhalation-associated lung injuries (SI-ALI) present multiple challenges to the rural emergency department, and they require timely and appropriate management to prevent significant mortality and morbidity. In this report, we outline an adaptable simulation of an SI-ALI patient that is designed for use in a rural emergency department. The aim of this simulation is to better equip clinicians and emergency department staff who may encounter SI-ALI in rural settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhile acute inflammation is a natural physiological response to tissue injury or infection, chronic inflammation is maladaptive and engenders a considerable amount of adverse pain. The chemical mediators responsible for tissue inflammation act on nociceptive nerve endings to lower neuronal excitation threshold and sensitize afferent firing rate leading to the development of allodynia and hyperalgesia, respectively. Animal models have aided in our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the generation of chronic inflammatory pain and allowed us to identify and validate numerous analgesic drug candidates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere are over 100 different types of arthritis and each can differ greatly in their aetiology and pathophysiology; however, one characteristic that is common to all arthritic conditions is joint pain. Musculoskeletal pain is the leading cause of disability in the world, and the number one reason arthritis patients visit their primary care physician. Despite the prevalence and burden of arthritis pain, current analgesics lack sufficient efficacy and are plagued by multiple adverse side effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: During the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there are frequent but intermittent flares in which the joint becomes acutely inflamed and painful. Although a number of drug therapies are currently used to treat RA, their effectiveness is variable and side effects are common. Endocannabinoids have the potential to ameliorate joint pain and inflammation, but these beneficial effects are limited by their rapid degradation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cranio-atlanto-axial junction (C0-C2) is anatomically and biomechanically the most complex spinal region. It is frequently engaged by different pathologies of tumoral, traumatical or inflammatory origin, leading to spinal instability. The advanced knowledge about the anatomical details, the physiology, the mechanism of injury, the nature of the processes and their classification are crucial for the adequate therapeutic approach when dealing with pathologies in this region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKhirurgiia (Sofiia)
December 2008
Introduction: High-grade gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors. Dismal prognosis for the patients with a marked deterioration of the quality of life and a mean length of survival of 9-18 months are typical characteristics for this pathology. The aim of this study is to assess the most appropriate questionnaire for measuring the quality of life (QOL) in this group of patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKhirurgiia (Sofiia)
December 2008
Introduction: Aneurysms of the internal carotid artery (ICA)-anterior choroid artery (ACHA) are about 2-5% of all intracerebral aneurysms. The neck of the aneurysm typically engages both arteries. Aneurysms located on the ACHA itself without engaging the ICA present a rare pathology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKhirurgiia (Sofiia)
September 2008
Aneurysmal bone cysts of the cervical spine are rare. They account for 15% of all primitive tumors of the spine. The authors report the case of a 43-year-old man with an aneurysmal bone cyst in the body of the 3th cervical vertebra.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: We report a case of a 52-years old women with Paget's disease. A secondary symptomatic basilar impression was observed, causing quadriparesis, bulbar palsy and ataxia
Clinical Presentation: We report a case of a 52-year old woman with history of/periodic headache. In the last 6 months the complaints became more intensive and continuous.
Khirurgiia (Sofiia)
September 2008
Introduction: We are presenting our preliminary experience with the cervical intervertebral carbon cages (CICC) as a treatment option for interbody fusion in cases with cervical disk herniation.
Material And Methods: For the period 08.2003-08.
Khirurgiia (Sofiia)
October 2008
Introduction: The craniocervical junction (C0-C2) is anatomically and biomechanically the most complex spinal region. It is frequently engaged by different pathologies of tumoral, traumatic or inflammatory origin, leading to spinal instability. We are presenting our experience with the posterior screw fixation for the treatment of the craniocervical junction instabilities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKhirurgiia (Sofiia)
July 2000
Over the period 1994-1998, five patients presenting coagulation status impairment in the course of sintrom treatment are hospitalized in the Clinic of Emergency Neurology and Neurosurgery. Three of them are with craniocerebral trauma (2 severe forms--score 5 by the Glasgow Coma Rating scale, and one mild form--score 15), one has spontaneous intracerebral hematoma, and one--acute hydrocephalus against the background of ruptured aneurysm of the basilar artery (score 4). Three patients are given sintrom treatment because of rheumatic heart disease (2 with mitral valve prosthetic replacement and one in the post-commissurotomy period), and two--because of absolute arrhythmia, complicated by systemic emboli in the extremities and/or pulmonary artery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis is a case report on a 16-year-old girl presenting lipoma located in the temporal cerebral lobe, in conjunction with an ever increasing frequency of epileptic seizures, unresponsive to the anticonvulsive treatment carried out. A comprehensive analysis is done of the data concerning clinical course, diagnostic examinations' specificity and microsurgical removal of the lipoma with ensuing optimal postoperative results--total abatement of epileptic seizures against the background of reduced anticonvulsive therapy throughout the 3.5 years observation period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudied were the occurrence and species composition of microscopic fungi of the Fusarium genus in maize, and the results are given of testing the toxicity of these fungi for chick embryos. A total of 357 strains of Fusarium fungi were isolated from 800 maize samples. Thirty-nine per cent of the sampled material accounted for the presence of F.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA total of 1050 samples of maize silage taken at various depths on premises for storing ensilaged feeds. The presence of eight species of microscopic fungi was demonstrated in the sampled silage: Mucor, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Trichoderma. It was established that highest was the number of species in the surface layer of the ensilaged mass.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZoohygiene studies have been carried out in the course of two years, following up periodically at 20--25-day intervals the concentration of ammonia gas and hydrogen sulfide, the relative humidity, and the temperature within the houses of an industrial animal-breeding complex for the production of broiler turkey-poults. Parallel investigations have aimed at following up the morbidity and mortality rates among the birds. Part of them divided into age groups, have likewise been studied in terms of total protein and protein fractions of the blood serum along with the establishing of the blood bactericidal titer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic experiments were carried out with 62 guinea pigs (31 test and 31 control animals) which were given dipterex orally for 60 days at the rate of 100 mg/kg each. The effect was followed up of dipterex on the bactericidal properties of the blood, the phagocytic activity of some organs of the reticulo-endothelial system, the serum cholinesterase, the alkaline phosphatase, the hemoglobin and hematocrit values of the blood, and the proteinogram of the blood serum. A neglible drop of the gamma-globin fraction of the serum and the phagocytic activity of the immobile cells of the RES of the spleen and liver was found.
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