The Effects of Adalimumab in Behçet Disease Patients on Clinical Manifestations and on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Milieu: Long-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Behçet's disease is a multi-systemic chronic relapsing inflammatory disease, classified among the vasculitides. The heterogeneity of clinical manifestations challenges the disease management.

Objectives: To assess efficacy and safety of adalimumab in patients with active persistent Behçet's arthritis who did not respond to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and to assess the impact of treatment on the cytokine milieu.

Advancing Understanding of the Aesthetics of Temporal Sequences by Combining Some Principles and Practices in Music and Cuisine With Psychology.

We consider how to optimize remembered aesthetic pleasure resulting from temporal sequences of events such as music and meals. We examine what psychology and music can learn from each other and how this knowledge might be applied to tasting menus and other temporal sequences. Common practices in longer musical works suggest the importance of (a) beginnings and endings, (b) variations in affective intensity over time, (c) repetitions, (d) variations on a theme, and (e) a return to prior material at the end of a piece.

Hereditary persistence of hemoglobin F is protective against red cell sickling. A case report and brief review.

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is a physiologic protein tetramer that is crucial for a developing fetus to survive in utero. Maternal hemoglobin has a relatively lower affinity for oxygen, and thus allows for an efficient transfer of oxygen from maternal to fetal blood. In addition to fulfilling a critical physiologic role, HbF is also known to alleviate symptoms of sickle-cell disease (SCD).

[THE INPUT OF MEASURING INFLIXIMAB LEVELS AND LEVELS OF ANTIBODIES TO INFLIXIMAB IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES].

Background: High levels of infliximab (IFX) directed antibodies (IFX-Ab) may result in significant reduction in IFX concentration and loss of drug efficacy.

Objectives: To assess the input of measuring serum IFX levels and levels of IFX-Ab in the management of rheumatic diseases.

Methods: Serum levels of IFX and anti-IFX-Ab were measured by ELISA (IFX-Abs were also identified by anti-human lambda chain Ab) and correlated to patients (responders and nonresponders) disease activity scores.

[ULTRASOUND FOR IMAGING OF ACUTE SHOULDER DISEASES].

The shoulder is a complex multi-component structure of the musculoskeletal system with numerous elements within a limited space. These comprise of two joints, synovial sucks (bursa), tendons of rotator cuff, ligaments, multiple muscles, nerves, vessels, fat, bones and skin. Ultrasound (US) investigation of the shoulder enables us to obtain precise information of the anatomy at stasis and motion.

Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma Mimicking Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

In a patient with systemic multiorgan disease with overlapping features, the differential diagnosis included infectious diseases, malignancies, and systemic autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. We present an unusual case of a young male with B cell lymphoma who presented with symptoms mimicking systemic vasculitis and review the existing literature.

Long-term follow-up of patients with scleroderma interstitial lung disease treated with intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy: a single-center experience.

Background: Scleroderma lung disease (ILD-SSc) is treated mainly with cyclophosphamide (CYC). The effectiveness of CYC was judged after 12-24 months in most reports.

Objectives: To analyze the effect of monthly intravenous CYC on pulmonary function tests including forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing lung capacity (DLCO), as well as Rodnan skin score (mRSS), during long-term follow-up.

Ultrasound investigation of the glenohumeral joint by anterior access in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls.

Background: The aim of this study was to measure glenohumeral joint (GHJ) parameters via the anterior access through ultrasound and to compare to data from posterior and inferior accesses.

Material And Methods: Twenty healthy controls (M: F=15: 5, aged 45.1±11.

Felty's syndrome without rheumatoid arthritis?

Felty's syndrome (FS) is characterized by neutropenia and splenomegaly in patients with seropositive (RF+, anti-CCP+) rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As a result of neutropenia, affected persons are increasingly susceptible to infections. In the majority of patients, FS appears in the course of long-standing and well-established RA.

Early repolarization: innocent or dangerous?

Electrocardiographic (ECG) findings of wide QRS complexes in right precordial leads with saddle ST elevation in patients with polyarthritis, palpitations and family history of syncope urged us to review early repolarization syndrome (ERS). ERS is commonly seen in young men. The main ECG features are as follows: wide spread concave ST-segment elevation, more in the precordial leads (usually V2-V4); notching or irregular contour of J point and prominent concordant T waves with large amplitude.

Trends of SAPHO therapy: should we be content?

The interventional studies with bone biopsy of the SAPHO lesions and microbiological investigation are a significant addition to a long range of publications showing an association of SAPHO with Propionibacterium acnes. Infectious agents isolated from SAPHO patients have merited special attention for many years. Their possible etiological role is supported by the pathogen isolation from different sites: anterior chest wall, spine, synovial fluid, bone tissue, and skin pustules.

Rituximab: rescue therapy in life-threatening complications or refractory autoimmune diseases: a single center experience.

Rituximab (RTX) is a chimeric anti-CD20 antibody, approved for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who failed anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor therapy. It has been used occasionally for life-threatening autoimmune diseases (AID). We report our center experience in the use of RTX in life-threatening complications or refractory AID.

Pulmonary arteries involvement in Takayasu's arteritis: two cases and literature review.

Objectives: To review pulmonary arteritis (PA) complicated by pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in Takayasu's arteritis (TA).

Methods: Two cases of PA and PAH in TA patients and similar cases published in the Medline database from 1975 to 2009 were reviewed.

Results: Forty-six cases (females 89.

Large leg ulcers due to autoimmune diseases.

Background: Large leg ulcers (LLU) may complicate autoimmune diseases. They pose a therapeutic challenge and are often resistant to treatment. To report three cases of autoimmune diseases complicated with LLU.

Seronegative polyarthritis as severe systemic disease.

Background: Severe extra-articular disease is associated with high levels of rheumatoid factor (RF ) in patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA ) and a poor prognosis. It is said that patients with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis have a more benign course and less destructive disease. We observed several patients with seronegative non-rheumatoid polyarthritis, with aggressive extra-articular systemic disease.

Arterio-venous shunts or low oxygen utilization?

An idea of arteriovenous shunts (AVS) was proposed for explanation of dynamic regulation of oxygenation and venous hyperoxia. A formula enabling calculation of AVS and real CO2 production has recently been derived by comparing data of arterial and venous blood gases. Regarding venous hyperoxia, there is a need to differentiate capillary to tissue transport defect (low oxygen utilisation-LOU) from AVS, which may exist simultaneously.

SAPHO syndrome: is a range of pathogen-associated rheumatic diseases extended?

SAPHO syndrome, representing a constellation of synovitis, acne, palmo-plantar pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis, is now recognized as a distinct medical entity: a reactive infectious osteitis. Genetic, immunological, and bacterial mechanisms are implicated in the development of the disease. Diagnostic problems may arise due to non-complete manifestations of SAPHO: either acne and arthritis or acne and anterior wall osteitis with an unclear pustulosis history.

Depletion of B lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis patients modifies IL-8-anti-IL-8 autoantibody network.

Cytokines and chemokines are key regulatory molecules involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). B-cell depletion therapy improves RA clinically but its mechanism is not completely understood. One possible mechanism for this therapy is the modification of the proinflammatory cytokine homeostasis of RA.

Sacroiliitis and severe disability due to isotretinoin therapy.

We report a case of acute sacroiliitis with severe disability after only 3 weeks of isotretinoin therapy with graduate reduction of pain, limitation and muscle incompetence after discontinuation of the drug and ACTH-depo injection and Ethodolac therapy. Naranjo probability scale indicated a probable relationship between isotretinoin therapy and bilateral sacroiliitis. We discussed possible mechanisms of sacroiliitis and disability due to isotretinoin treatment.

Glucosamine sulfate--environmental antibacterial activity.

We have recently showed antibacterial activity against E. coli in vitro of a trademark Mega-Gluflex-containing glucosamine sulfate (GS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS). The purpose of this study was to examine the antibacterial activity of GS as a new trademark Arthryl (Manufacturer Rottapharm Ltd, Ireland; Distributor in Israel Rafa Laboratories Ltd) in vitro.