MRI bone oedema predicts eight year tendon function at the wrist but not the requirement for orthopaedic surgery in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the role of early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the wrist in predicting functional outcome in rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: MRI scans of the dominant wrist were scored for synovitis, tendon inflammation, bone oedema, and erosion at first presentation (n = 42), at 1 year (n = 42), and at 6 years (n = 31). At 8 years, clinical reassessment (n = 28) was undertaken.

Magnetic resonance imaging evidence of tendinopathy in early rheumatoid arthritis predicts tendon rupture at six years.

Objective: To determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of tendinopathy in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) could be used to predict the course of tendon involvement in later disease and specifically the risk of tendon rupture.

Methods: The occurrence, pattern, and progression of tendinopathy were studied prospectively over 6 years in a cohort of patients who had presented with RA. Of 42 patients enrolled, full MRI and clinical data were available for 31 at 6 years.

Detection of erosions in the rheumatoid hand; a comparative study of multidetector computerized tomography versus magnetic resonance scanning.

Objective: To compare the detection and scoring of erosions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using magnetic resonance (MR) and multidetector helical computerized tomographic (CT) scanning.

Methods: Comparative CT and MR scans of the dominant wrist were obtained from 9 patients with RA and clinical examination was performed to assess disease activity. MR and CT scans were scored for erosions and MR scans for bone edema by 2 radiologists using a validated system.

Evidence for negative association of the chemokine receptor CCR5 d32 polymorphism with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Ligands of chemokine receptor CCR5, including MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, and RANTES, have been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To test whether CCR5 d32 polymorphism has a negative association with rheumatoid arthritis in a New Zealand cohort.

Methods: 516 white patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 985 healthy controls were investigated by PCR amplification of the region flanking the known CCR5 d32 deletion, and the frequencies of CCR5 d32 compared.

Relationship between serum hyaluronic acid level and disease activity in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To measure hyaluronic acid (HA) levels, which are raised in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in patients with early RA, and to assess the correlation with clinical and laboratory indices of disease activity and with subsequent radiographic erosive status.

Patients And Methods: Patients fulfilling ACR criteria were recruited into a prospective cohort within 6 months of disease onset and reviewed every 6 months. An HA binding protein based sandwich ELISA was used to measure HA in 240 sera from 82 patients at regular intervals.

A randomised placebo controlled trial of delipidated, deglycolipidated Mycobacterium vaccae as immunotherapy for psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that PVAC, delipidated, deglycolipidated heat killed Mycobacterium vaccae, is an effective and safe treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). This treatment has shown promising results in psoriasis.

Methods: 36 patients with PsA in two centres were studied in this double blind, placebo controlled, randomised trial.

MRI of the wrist in early rheumatoid arthritis can be used to predict functional outcome at 6 years.

Objectives: To determine whether magnetic resonance (MR) scans of the dominant wrist of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be used to predict functional outcome at 6 years' follow up.

Methods: Dominant wrist MR scans were obtained in 42 patients with criteria for RA at first presentation. Patients were followed up prospectively for 6 years, and further scans obtained at 1 year (42 patients) and 6 years (31 patients).

The deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) gene 201 R --> G polymorphism: no evidence for genetic association with autoimmune disease.

The product of the deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) gene has a role in apoptosis and is a positional candidate for IDDM6, the putative chromosome 18q12-q23 autoimmune disease locus. We hypothesised that a nonconservative substitution (DCC 201 R --> G; nucleotide (nt) 601 C --> G), located in an extracellular immunoglobulin-like domain of DCC, is an aetiological determinant of autoimmunity. We tested this hypothesis by genetically testing the nt 601 C --> G polymorphism for association with three autoimmune phenotypes in a large population-based case-control study.

Bone edema scored on magnetic resonance imaging scans of the dominant carpus at presentation predicts radiographic joint damage of the hands and feet six years later in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is capable of revealing synovitis and tendinitis in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as bone edema and erosion. These features are visible before radiographic joint damage occurs. We sought to examine whether MRI of one body region (the wrist) can be used to predict whole-body radiography scores reflecting joint damage at 6 years.

What is the fate of erosions in early rheumatoid arthritis? Tracking individual lesions using x rays and magnetic resonance imaging over the first two years of disease.

Objectives: To investigate the progression of erosions at sites within the carpus, in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and plain radiology over a two year period.

Methods: Gadolinium enhanced MRI scans of the dominant wrist were performed in 42 patients with RA at baseline (within six months of symptom onset) and one year. Plain wrist radiographs (x rays) and clinical data were obtained at baseline, one year, and two years.

Interferon-gamma microsatellite and rheumatoid arthritis.

Several non-HLA genes contribute to the susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A recent report noted an allele (126 bp [CA(13)]) of the interferon-gamma intron A microsatellite repeat strongly associated with both the occurrence and the severity of RA. We assessed this locus in an independent set of 128 controls and 93 prospectively recruited patients with early RA.

A 1-year follow-up study of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in early rheumatoid arthritis reveals synovitis to be increased in shared epitope-positive patients and predictive of erosions at 1 year.

Objectives: Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows visualization of the synovial membrane and measurement of synovitis within the joint. A cohort of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were studied using MRI of the dominant wrist and clinical assessments. Associations between synovitis and the shared epitope genotype (SE) were looked for and synovitis as a predictor of joint erosion was examined.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the wrist in early rheumatoid arthritis reveals progression of erosions despite clinical improvement.

Objectives: To investigate the progression of joint damage in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the wrist and determine whether this technique can be used to predict prognosis.

Methods: An inception cohort of 42 early patients has been followed up prospectively for one year. Gadolinium enhanced MRI scans of the dominant wrist were obtained at baseline and one year and scored for synovitis, tendonitis, bone marrow oedema, and erosions.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the wrist in early rheumatoid arthritis reveals a high prevalence of erosions at four months after symptom onset.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the wrist in detecting early joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: MRI was performed on 42 patients with early RA (median symptom duration of four months). Scans were scored separately by two musculoskeletal radiologists using a newly devised scoring system, which was validated.

Expression of the interleukin 6 gene in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts.

A number of fibroblastoid synovial cell lines have been established from rheumatoid joints. These cell lines were shown to express the interleukin 6 (IL-6) gene constitutively, and exposure of these cells to 5 ng/ml of recombinant human interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) increased IL-6 gene expression. Other recombinant human lymphokines, namely interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor had no enhancing effect on IL-6 gene expression.

B cell lymphokines in human systemic lupus erythematosus.

B lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were studied to determine if they were intrinsically hyperresponsive to lymphokine mediators. Peripheral blood B cells from 25 lupus patients and 16 normal individuals matched for age and sex were cultured with recombinant lymphokines. B cells both from patients and normal subjects did not show increased [3H]thymidine uptake when cultured with interleukins 1, 2, and 4.

Effects of aminobisphosphonate infusion on biochemical indices of bone metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis.

In a phase 1 study, seven patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis were treated with intravenous 3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene-1-1-bisphosphonate (APD). Following this treatment, bone resorption as measured by fasting urine calcium/creatinine and hydroxyproline/creatinine ratios, was reduced. This was sustained for 6 months in only three patients.

The removal of phosphorus during wastewater treatment: a review.

Phosphorus removal from wastewater can be achieved either through chemical removal, advanced biological treatment or a combination of both. The chemical removal of phosphorus involves the addition of calcium, iron and aluminium salts to achieve phosphorus precipitation by various mechanisms which are discussed. In addition, the effects of operating conditions, especially wastewater characteristics; sludge production in terms of quality and quantity; optimisation of chemical use and re-use; points of chemical addition combined with biological treatment; alternative chemical/physical treatments and examples of full-scale applications are also reviewed.

Biotechnology for phosphorus removal during wastewater treatment.

Advanced biological wastewater treatment for the removal of phosphorus in excess of the normal metabolic requirements of activated sludge type processes has been developed as an alternative to chemical addition. Current laboratory and pilot plant investigations have confirmed that a preliminary anaerobic zone and plug-flow type configuration are necessary for good enhanced biological phosphorus removal. Nitrate in the anaerobic stage inhibits the process whereas acetate enhances phosphorus uptake.