Incidence and predictors of cutaneous manifestations during the early course of systemic sclerosis: a 10-year longitudinal study from the EUSTAR database.

Objectives: To longitudinally map the onset and identify risk factors for skin sclerosis and digital ulcers (DUs) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) from an early time point after the onset of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) cohort.

Methods: 695 patients with SSc with a baseline visit within 1 year after RP onset were followed in the prospective multinational EUSTAR database. During the 10-year observation period, cumulative probabilities of cutaneous lesions were assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method.

A gender gap in primary and secondary heart dysfunctions in systemic sclerosis: a EUSTAR prospective study.

Objectives: In agreement with other autoimmune diseases, systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a strong sex bias. However, unlike lupus, the effects of sex on disease phenotype and prognosis are poorly known. Therefore, we aimed to determine sex effects on outcomes.

A laboratory-based study on patients with Parkinson's disease and seborrheic dermatitis: the presence and density of Malassezia yeasts, their different species and enzymes production.

Background: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are frequently associated conditions. Aims of this study were: to determine severity of SD, presence of different species and density of Malassezia yeasts; to assess yeast lipases and phosphatases production in vitro and to compare these results between SD patients with and without PD.

Methods: This case-control prospective study was conducted at the Dermatology and Neurology Units, Clinical Centre of Serbia and at the National Medical Mycology Reference Laboratory, University of Belgrade Medical School, Serbia.

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.

Metallophilic macrophages are fully developed in the thymus of autoimmune regulator (Aire)-deficient mice.

Thymic metallophilic macrophages represent a significant component in the thymus physiology. Recently, we showed their presence to be dependent on functional lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LT beta R) signaling pathway. However, it is unknown whether the development of metallophilic macrophages also requires the Autoimmune regulator (Aire) transcription factor, as suggested by some studies for medullary thymic epithelial cells, or perhaps the presence of Aire-expressing thymic epithelial cells themselves.

Metallophilic macrophages are lacking in the thymus of lymphotoxin-beta receptor-deficient mice.

Lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTbetaR) axis plays a crucial role in development and compartmentalization of peripheral lymphatic organs. But, it is also required for the appropriate function and maintenance of structural integrity of the thymus: in LTbetaR-deficient animals the clonal deletion of autoreactive lymphocytes is impaired and differentiation of thymic medullary epithelial cells is disturbed. In this study, using several markers, we showed that thymic metallophilic macrophages were lacking in LTbetaR-deficient mice.

T cells are required for the peripheral phase of B-cell maturation.

B-lymphocyte maturation is considered to be independent of the thymus. However, there is circumstantial evidence suggesting that it may be impaired in nude animals that lack the thymus. Our study shows that the proportion of immature B-lymphocyte subsets (CD90(high) IgM(high) and CD90(high) IgM(low)) was significantly increased, whereas that of mature B-lymphocyte subsets (CD90- IgM(low) and CD90- IgM(high)) was decreased in the blood and lymph nodes of nude rats.

Age and body mass related changes of cardiovascular risk factors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered a metabolic disorder closely related to obesity, insulin resistance (IR), hyperinsulinemia and unfavorable lipid profile, all increasing the risk for the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess age and body mass index (BMI) related changes of cardiovascular risk factors in 90 women with PCOS. The cut-off age point was 30 years and for BMI 27.

CMV DNA in blood and CSF of HIV infected patients.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection frequently affects the central nervous system in HIV infected patients. Varied clinical manifestations of CMV disease make virological detection of CMV essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. Thus, in patients in different stages of HIV-induced disease, we attempted to detect cell associated and free, non cell associated CMV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

An external approach without tracheotomy for submucosal cordectomy with laterofixation for bilateral abductor paralysis of the vocal folds.

There are numerous surgical procedures now available to manage bilateral abductor paralyses of the vocal folds. These procedures have various success rates but mostly do not offer reliable and predictable postoperative results, and usually require tracheotomy. The technique described in this report is based on a trial study to obtain a safe airway for an affected patient and avoid tracheotomy, if possible.

Neuropathy of the facial nerve in chronic otitis media without associated facial paralysis. A human temporal bone study.

In the present study we examined whether pathologic changes can exist in the facial nerve in chronic otitis media (COM) when facial nerve function is clinically normal. In so doing, 20 human temporal bones were examined. Each case had a premortem history of COM without facial paralysis.

Anatomical variations and relations of the medical and lateral portions of the attic and their surgical significance.

The medial and lateral attics were examined in 150 specimens of temporal bones of adults using anatomical and histological methods. The medial attic varies in shape and size, depending upon the position of the auditory ossicles, the degree of prominence of the lateral semicircular canal and the direction in which the tympanic segment of the facial canal extends. The latero-medical diameter of this attic at the level of the body of the incus averages 1.

X-ray diffraction analysis of the auditory ossicles in chronic otitis.

An X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out on 10 healthy mallei and incudes which were taken from cadavers and on 50 diseased mallei and incudes taken peroperatively from patients with atticoantral otitis. X-ray powder diagrams of normal ossicles were shown as a granular hydroxyapatite. In diseased ossicles, changes were found in the crystallinity of hydroxyapatite which can be divided into four groups: (i) with characteristics of a diagram of normal bones giving peaks of maximum intensity of a granular hydroxyapatite; (ii) with less hydroxyapatite crystallinity; (iii) characterized by the occurrence of an amorphous phase of bone; (iv) characterized by the absence of all types of crystallization.