Organic cation transporters OCT1 and OCT2 determine the accumulation of lamivudine in CD4 cells of HIV-infected patients.

Purpose: Identifying factors that determine concentrations of antiretroviral drugs in CD4 cells are important for improving therapeutic efficacy. Experimental models indicate that the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor lamivudine is transported by the organic cation transporters 1 and 2 (OCT1 and OCT2, respectively). Here, we tested whether OCT1 and OCT2 contribute to the uptake of lamivudine into native CD4 cells of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals.

Recombinant proteins in rheumatology - recent advances.

New targeted anti-inflammatory drugs have revolutionized the therapeutic strategies in rheumatology. Recombinant DNA selection technologies have enabled the isolation and humanization of specific antibody fragments of any specificity that can be 'armed' to deliver effective anti-inflammatory 'payloads'. Antibodies and other targeted provide the opportunity to block key soluble mediators of inflammation in their milieu, or alternatively to block intracellular inflammation-triggering pathways by binding to an upstream cell-surface receptor.

Drug combinations with methotrexate to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

MTX is still considered the anchor drug among the disease-modifying antirheumatic agents, and it is widely accepted as first line treatment in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The ultimate therapeutic goal in treatment of RA is remission or at least low disease activity and this goal may not always be achieved with MTX monotherapy. Over the last two decades drug combinations based on MTX have been used increasingly to treat patients with RA.

Soluble CSF interleukin 2 receptor as indicator of neurosarcoidosis.

Neurosarcoidosis (NS) represents an important differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, thus far no reliable laboratory marker of neurosarcoidosis exists. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2-R) distinguish NS and other inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system.

An open-label pilot study of the efficacy and safety of anakinra in patients with psoriatic arthritis refractory to or intolerant of methotrexate (MTX).

Only limited data have been published about the therapeutic use of anakinra in patients with psoriatic arthritis. We undertook this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anakinra in patients with active psoriatic arthritis. In a prospective open-label single-center study, 20 patients were treated with 100 mg anakinra everyday either alone or in combination with ongoing methotrexate over 6 months.

Effect of anakinra on functional status in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis receiving concomitant therapy with traditional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs: evidence from the OMEGA Trial.

Objective: To assess changes in functional status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist anakinra in addition to a disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD).

Methods: In this large, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study, adult patients with RA receiving methotrexate, sulfasalazine, or hydroxychloroquine for > or = 3 months were given anakinra 100 mg once daily for up to 36 weeks. The primary objective was to evaluate changes from baseline to week 36 in the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index and subscales.

The registry of the German Network for Systemic Scleroderma: frequency of disease subsets and patterns of organ involvement.

Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare, heterogeneous disease, which affects different organs and therefore requires interdisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic management. To improve the detection and follow-up of patients presenting with different disease manifestations, an interdisciplinary registry was founded with contributions from different subspecialties involved in the care of patients with SSc.

Methods: A questionnaire was developed to collect a core set of clinical data to determine the current disease status.

Relevance of the organic cation transporters 1 and 2 for antiretroviral drug therapy in human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Carrier-mediated transport across cell membranes is an important determinant of activity, resistance, and toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents including antiretroviral (ARV) drugs (ARDs). The organic cation transporters (OCTs) 1 and 2 have been implicated in the translocation of different cationic drugs but so far were insufficiently tested for interactions with ARDs. Here, we assessed among cationic drugs commonly used in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy inhibitors and substrates of OCTs, and analyzed the tissue distribution of OCTs and their expression in lymph nodes (LNs), the primary intracellular target of HIV and ARDs.

Digital amorphous silicon flat-panel detector radiography at different exposure doses versus mammography film: possibility of radiation dose reduction in detecting rheumatologic bone defects.

Background: Radiographic examinations of the skeleton are the most commonly performed radiologic procedures, even outnumbering examinations of the chest. The imaging systems used in skeletal radiography must meet high standards in terms of contrast and spatial resolution to effectively visualize the high contrast between bone and soft tissue as well as fine bone structures.

Purpose: To determine the performance of amorphous silicon flat-panel detector radiography compared to mammography film in detecting rheumatologic bone defects at different exposure doses.

Rituximab in a patient with multiple sclerosis--effect on B cells, plasma cells and intrathecal IgG synthesis.

Objective: To study the time course of immunoglobulin, B and plasma cells in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) before and during rituximab treatment in a patient with severe relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in relation to clinical and MRI findings.

Methods: Immunoglobulins in the CSF were measured by nephelometry and detected by isoelectrical focussing. CSF and blood cell subtypes from seven time points were analysed by flow cytometry.

Treatment of hereditary angioneurotic oedema (HANE) with tibolone.

Objective: Eight women, aged 25-58 years, with hereditary angioneurotic oedema (HANE) were treated with tibolone, a synthetic steroid exhibiting oestrogenic, androgenic and progestational activity.

Design: Pilot study.

Results: Tibolone at a dose of 2.

Association of rheumatoid arthritis with ergothioneine levels in red blood cells: a case control study.

Objective: The dietary thiol compound and erythrocyte ingredient ergothioneine (ET) is the preferential physiological substrate of the organic cation transporter OCTN1, found to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in genetic studies, but the biological roles of ET and OCTN1 are unclear. We investigated the association between ET concentrations in peripheral blood erythrocytes and the occurrence of RA.

Methods: Erythrocyte ET concentrations in patients with mildly active RA (n = 73) were compared to ET levels in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD; n = 62) and osteoarthritis (OA; n = 148), serving as non-RA chronic inflammatory disease controls.

Modification of surface antigens in blood CD8+ T-lymphocytes in COPD: effects of smoking.

In contrast to the effects of cigarette smoke on T-lymphocyte subsets in the airways, it has not yet been determined whether smoking has immunomodulatory effects on surface antigens of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes and, if that is the case, whether these effects differ in smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The present authors have, therefore, examined the expression of the surface activation marker CD28, the levels of cytotoxic effector lymphocytes (CD27-/CD45RA+) and the expression of the lung type (Tc)1-specific chemokine receptor CXCR(3)+ on peripheral blood CD8+ T-lymphocytes. The present authors have also studied the chemotactic activity of CD8+ T-lymphocytes on monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and compared 13 nonsmoking controls, 12 smokers with COPD and 14 smokers without airflow limitation.

Autologous blood stem cell transplantation in refractory systemic lupus erythematodes with recurrent longitudinal myelitis and cerebral infarction.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has the potential to eliminate autoreactive lymphocytes and may represent a therapeutic option for patients with refractory autoimmune diseases. We describe a 19-year old woman with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematodes (NPSLE) presenting with acute longitudinal myelitis and aseptic meningitis. Despite therapy with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide (CYC), recurrence of longitudinal myelitis and a disabling stroke-like relapse occurred.

Stroke after initiation of interferon-beta treatment for relapsing-remitting disseminated white matter disease.

Background: Interferon-beta (INF-beta) is effective and used in reducing exacerbation frequency and disease progression in multiple sclerosis. In certain circumstances, INF-beta can lead to rare side effects.

Aims Of The Study: We report the case of a 34-year-old female patient satisfying the McDonald criteria of multiple sclerosis without showing typical pathologic changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

High-dose azathioprine pulse therapy as a new treatment option in patients with active Wegener's granulomatosis and lupus nephritis refractory or intolerant to cyclophosphamide.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of high-dose azathioprine pulse (HAP) therapy in the induction of remission in patients with active Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) or progressive lupus nephritis (LN) refractory to or intolerant of cyclophosphamide. Four patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated WG and two patients with progressive LN were treated with HAP (1200-1800 mg) applied monthly as continuous intravenous infusions at 50 mg/h. Patients received a total of 50 courses of intravenous azathioprine (AZA) therapy.