Matrix Metalloproteinases-3 Baseline Serum Levels in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients without Initial Radiographic Changes: A Two-Year Ultrasonographic Study.

Objective: To investigate the association of high baseline serum levels of metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3) with structural damage to hand and feet joints, assessed by ultrasonography (US), in patients with early, treatment-naïve rheumatoid arthritis (RA), without initial X-ray-visible erosions, during 24 months follow-up.

Methods: Sixty-three early RA (European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology 2010), disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs/glucocorticoid naïve patients (mean age 53.4 ± 14.

Activity and expression of dipeptidyl peptidase IV on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with early steroid and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs naïve rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV/CD26) plays an important role in T cell activation and immune regulation, however the role of this enzyme in early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) has not been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to determine the serum activity of DPPIV, its expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and to examine possible correlations with disease activity (DAS28) in untreated patients with eRA.

Methods: The study included 50 patients newly diagnosed with RA, who had not received any corticosteroid or disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) therapy and whose conventional radiographs of hands and feet showed no structural damage.

Inter & intra-observer reliability of grading ultrasound videoclips with hand pathology in rheumatoid arthritis by using non- sophisticated internet tools (LUMINA study).

Aim: To evaluate the inter- and intraobserver agreement of a group of European rheumatologist ultrasonographers in grading musculoskeletal ultrasound videoclips posted on the Internet by using a non-sophisticated electronic environment.

Methods: Forty short movie clips (less than 30 secs) were made available over the Internet to all participants. Normal and pathological RA hand joints and tendons were included in the movie clips.

Ultrasonographic measures of synovitis in an early phase clinical trial: a double-blind, randomised, placebo and comparator controlled phase IIa trial of GW274150 (a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To test the sensitivity to change of ultrasonographic endpoints in early phase clinical trials in subjects with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A double-blind, placebo and comparator controlled, randomised, two-centre study investigated the effect on synovial thickness and vascularity of 28 days repeat daily oral dosing of 60 mg of the inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor GW274150 or 7.5 mg prednisolone in RA.

Construct validity and reliability of ultrasound disease activity score in assessing joint inflammation in RA: comparison with DAS-28.

Objective: To investigate the construct validity and reliability of US DAS compared with 28-joint DAS (DAS-28) in assessing joint inflammation and in prediction of structural damage in patients with RA.

Methods: Ninety patients with active RA were prospectively recruited and followed up during the 6 months of treatment. The patients underwent clinical, laboratory and X-ray assessment, along with blinded power Doppler US (PDUS) and grey-scale (GS) US (GSUS) examination at baseline and 6 months.

[Comparison of various cyclophosphamide treatment regimens on the course and outcome of lupus nephritis ].

Introduction: Immunosuppressive drugs, particularly cyclophosphamide, are widely accepted as the treatment of choice for severe, proliferative lupus nephritis. However, there is no consensus with regard to: 1) the dose required for achieving control of disease activity; 2) duration of cyclophosphamide therapy after the achievement of treatment response; 3) treatment of lupus nephritis relapses [1-5]. In the Institute of Rheumatology, Belgrade, two regimens of intravenous cyclophosphamide have been introduced in the treatment of lupus nephritis patients years ago.

[Therapy of lupus nephritis with standard therapeutic protocols and cyclosporine].

The study carried out was at the Department of Nephrology, Military Medical Academy, over the period from 1996 to 2001. Different types of lupus nephritis were documented in 42 patients and were treated with standard therapeutic protocols (corticosteroids, the pulse dose of cyclophosphamide + corticosteroids) and cyclosporine in the target serum concentration of 100-120 ng/ml along with pronisone of 15-20 mg per day. The different degree of damaged renal function was observed.