Oral tuberculosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis after long treatment with methotrexate and adalimumab.

The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors has been associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). Most patients have extrapulmonary disease. We describe a case of tonsil TB in an RA patient treated with methotrexate for 23 years and adalimumab (TNF-α inhibitor) for the last 3 years after an initial negative PPD (purified protein derivative of tuberculin) skin test.

Mycophenolate mofetil in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease.

This study aimed to assess the effect of mofetil mycophenolate (MMF), an inhibitor of lymphocyte proliferation, on lung function and skin in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical files of 10 patients with SSc-ILD (eight females, 10 patients with diffuse SSc; mean age, 59.7 +/- 12.

The prevalence of rheumatic diseases in central Greece: a population survey.

Background: Rheumatic diseases are a major health and financial burden for societies. The prevalence of rheumatic diseases may change over time, and therefore, we sought to estimate the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in an adult population of central Greece.

Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional population survey, a random sample of adult population was drawn from poll catalogues of a region in central Greece.

Comparison between clinical and ultrasonographic assessment in patients with erosive osteoarthritis of the hands.

The objective of this study is to assess the reliability of clinical examination in patients with erosive osteoarthritis (EOA). Eighteen patients with EOA underwent clinical examination for joint tenderness, bony swelling, and inflammation by two independent, blinded assessors. All patients were also examined by ultrasound (US) by an independent radiologist.

T-cells and B-cells in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by activation of fibroblasts with extensive deposition of collagen, by small vessel vasculopathy with fibrointimal proliferation, and activation of the immune system, with hyper-γ- globulinaemia and autoantibodies. Twin studies have shown that genetic factors play a minor role in SSc development. Serum autoantibodies and skin lymphocytic infiltrates and small vessel damage occur very early before the appearance of skin fibrosis.

Hematogenous spinal infection in central Greece.

Study Design: We retrospectively analyzed spinal infection (SpI), in a teaching Hospital, in Central Greece.

Objective: To study presentation, etiology, and outcome of SpI in Central Greece.

Summary Of Background Data: SpI most frequently involves the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebral bodies and can cause neurologic impairment.

Ultrasonographic evidence of inflammation is frequent in hands of patients with erosive osteoarthritis.

Objective: Erosive osteoarthritis (OA) (EOA) is considered an aggressive form of primary OA that is defined radiographically by intra-articular erosions of the inter-phalangeal joints of the hand and characteristic deformities. The aim of the present study was the sonographic investigation of hand small joints in patients with EOA and comparison of the imaging findings with conventional radiography (CR).

Method: Twenty-two patients (20 women, mean age 62.

Dance biomechanics: a tool for controlling health, fitness, and training.

The need for superior performance in dance has impelled teachers and choreographers to use increasingly effective and sophisticated methods of preparation. To that end, such modalities ofbiomechanics as advanced motion-capture, muscle-function and muscle-strength techniques are being used to provide useful information about which of the dancers' needs require special attention. This often involves improving aspects of dance technique, which, in turn, may help dancers to prevent disabling injuries, the most frequent cause of notoriously short dance careers.

Immunological features of visceral leishmaniasis may mimic systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by the intracellular parasite Leishmania, can present with fever, splenomegaly, pancytopenias, hypergammaglobulinemia, and autoantibody production. These features may mimic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The objective was to study features of VL that shared with and differed from SLE.

Multivitamins and phospholipids complex protects the hepatic cells from androgenic-anabolic-steroids-induced toxicity.

Introduction: Androgenic-anabolic-steroids (AAS)-induced hepatotoxicity typically occurs with C-17 alkylated oral agents abused by exercising individuals at clinically recommended doses. Injectable compounds appear to have the same risk for hepatotoxicity, but are applied in doses three to six times higher than clinically recommended. AAS users occasionally try to avoid the well-known hepatotoxic effects associated with the abuse of a multitude of AAS agents, by using the pharmaceutical agent compound N a phospholipid/vitamin preparation.

Diagnostic value of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in Greek patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies have been of diagnostic value in Northern European Caucasian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In these populations, anti-CCP antibodies are associated with the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope. We assessed the diagnostic value of anti-CCP antibodies in Greek patients with RA where the HLA shared epitope was reported in a minority of patients.

Expression of Retinoic Acid Receptor (RAR) α Protein in the Synovial Membrane from Patients with Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Retinoic acid receptors (RAR) are expressed in inflammatory cells and, through ligand binding, play an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as in regulation of cytokine and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production. Inflammatory cytokines and MMPs play a significant role in cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis (OA) and in joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the prototype of inflammatory arthritis. To determine if RARα is expressed in the synovial membrane (SM) of patients with OA and compare it with RA, SM biopsy samples were used in this study which were from 31 patients with late OA and 14 patients with late RA.

The effect of eccentric exercise on position sense and joint reaction angle of the lower limbs.

Impaired position sense and impaired joint reaction angle of the lower limbs after muscle-damaging activities is a serious functional limitation that may lead to an increased risk of injury, particularly in older populations. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether position sense and joint reaction angle to release can be affected by eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage. Twelve women underwent an isokinetic exercise session of the lower limb.

Mechanisms of Disease: the role of immune cells in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis is characterized by extensive fibrosis, microvascular stenosis and autoantibody production. All three characteristics can be accounted for by activation of cells of the immune system. Activation of T cells is antigen-driven and occurs early in the course of the disease, before microscopic evidence of fibrosis.

Psychiatric and hostility factors related to use of anabolic steroids in monozygotic twins.

Introduction: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are derived by chemical manipulation of the testosterone molecule. The specified category of drugs produces anabolic, androgenic and psycho-active effects including elevated aggressive, hostile, violent and anti social behavior.

Objective: The objective of this case report observational study was to evaluate the possible psychological consequences of AS use in the twin user of each pair, compared with the non-user twin.

Psychiatric side effects induced by supraphysiological doses of combinations of anabolic steroids correlate to the severity of abuse.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the psychological consequences of real-world AAS use in athletes abusing such agents, in comparison with a placebo and control group of comparable athletes, while correlating the severity of abuse with the side effects observed. The hypothesis tested by the study was that the use of AAS induces a wide range of psychological side effects whose impact and emergence is dependent upon the severity of the abuse.

Design: The study includes a substantial group of AAS abusing athletes and two more groups demographically similar to the first, one composed of athletes not using any substance and a placebo group.

The effects of muscle damage on running economy in healthy males.

Published information on aspects related to muscle damage and running economy is both limited and contradictory. To contribute to the current debate, we investigated the effects of an eccentric exercise session on selected muscle damage indices in relation to running economy using 10 (mean age 23 +/- 1 years) healthy male volunteers. The eccentric exercise session consisted of 120 (12 x 10) maximal voluntary repetitions by each randomly selected leg at the angular velocity of 1.

Does living in urban or rural settings affect aspects of physical fitness in children? An allometric approach.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate physical fitness in relation to fatness in urban and rural Greek children by means of allometric scaling.

Methods: The sample consisted of 360 (189 urban and 171 rural; age 12.3+/-0.

New developments in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by extensive fibrosis, vasculopathy and activation of the immune system. Fibrosis can be caused by profibrotic cytokines, such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta), interleukin-4 (IL-4), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and connective tissue growth factor. Vasculopathy can be caused by TGFbeta, PDGF, while paucity of vessels in skin lesions can be attributed to anti-endothelial cell autoantibodies.

Early T cell activation in the skin from patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: To determine if T cells in skin lesions in systemic sclerosis (SSc) express the early activation antigen CD69 that participates in cell-cell interactions.

Methods: Skin biopsy specimens from 17 patients with SSc were analysed by immunohistochemistry using the indirect peroxidase method and monoclonal antibodies for CD3 (T cell marker), CD69 (early T cell activation marker), and CD68 (macrophage marker).

Results: Mononuclear cells, containing mostly T cells and macrophages, were increased in SSc skin lesions and were present in perivascular areas.