Effects of infliximab treatment on lipoprotein profile in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To investigate the longterm effects of the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy infliximab, a drug known to reduce disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: Eighty-two patients (50 with RA, 32 with AS) aged 17-77 years were enrolled. All patients were treated with intravenous infliximab.

Effects of infliximab treatment on insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Background: Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) may be an important mediator of insulin resistance. Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal, high affinity antibody against the soluble and transmembrane TNFalpha, which can reduce markedly the biological activity of circulating and tissue TNFalpha and is used to treat various autoimmune disorders.

Objective: To assess the effects of infliximab infusions on insulin sensitivity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

alpha-Amylase and isoamylase levels in renal transplant recipients compared to uremic patients.

Hyperamylasemia is a common finding in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. The present study was designed to evaluate the frequency, the type, and the hyperamylasemia levels in renal transplant recipients (RTR) compared to patients with renal failure with or without replacement of renal function. One hundred and forty-one subjects [42 with varying degree of renal insufficiency (group A), 74 on hemodialysis (group B), and 25 RTR (group C)] and 47 normal individuals were studied.

The value of alpha-amylase and isoamylase determination in chronic renal failure patients.

Hyperamylasemia is a common finding in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. It has been suggested that the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in these patients is confirmed when serum amylase activities are greater than three times the upper normal limits. In order to evaluate the frequency, the type, and the hyperamylasemia levels in patients with various degree of chronic renal failure, the total serum amylase (Ta), the pancreatic (Pa) and salivary (Sa) types of serum isoamylases, as well as the urine isoamylases (Tu, Pu, Su, respectively) have been determined by the Phadebas method.