MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Autoimmunity Reviews' source. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:42:45 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5659831&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22285588%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Borchers AT, Gershwin ME Abstract Giant cell arteritis is a chronic vasculitis affecting large and medium-sized arteries, most commonly the temporal and other cranial arteries. Temporal artery biopsy has long been the gold standard for establishing the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. There is growing evidence that simultaneous color Doppler and duplex ultrasonography of temporal arteries of GCA patients represents a valid alternative for this somewhat invasive procedure. Ultrasonography and other imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography have also provided evidence that involvement of the aorta and its proximal branches is much more common in giant cell arteritis than previously appreciated; it will be important to clarify wh... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5659831 Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5659831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5642532&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22273982%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that the double-negative T cells in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome display features that differ, in both thymic function and gene expression profile, from SP T cells. These findings may explain some of the patients' chronic lymphoproliferation and breakdown of self-tolerance checkpoints. PMID: 22273982 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5642532 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5642532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5642534&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22269861%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: Visual and automated interpretations of IIF findings for ANA, ANCA, and dsDNAab demonstrated a good agreement when assessing patients with suspected autoimmune diseases. Automated interpretation systems such AKLIDES may improve laboratory efficiency and support standardization of IIF in clinical laboratories. PMID: 22269861 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5642534 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5642534 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5642533&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22269862%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Khattri S, Zandman-Goddard G, Peeva E Abstract The increased awareness of the role of humoral immunophysiology in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has aroused interest in B cells as therapeutic targets in this disease. This paper reviews the literature on B cell directed therapies in human and experimental APS. The clinical data is limited to B cell depletion with rituximab and comprises case reports and case series. Murine studies include use of modulators of B cell function such as belimumab and abatacept. In both human and murine studies, B cell directed therapies appeared to have clinical and serologic beneficial effects including a decrease in the antiphospholipid antibody titers after treatment. Randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to determine whether B c... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5642533 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5642533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5604045&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22246055%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: Val/Val genotype of β(2)-GPI gene is associated with a significant excess risk to suffer from APS and, among patients with APS, to have anti-β(2)-GPI antibodies. No definite conclusions can be made regarding the association of this polymorphism with thrombosis among APS patients. PMID: 22246055 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5604045 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5604045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5604046&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22240262%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mirarabshahi P, Abdelatti M, Krilis S Abstract Vascular thrombosis and/or recurrent miscarriages are the main characteristics defining Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). Currently there is no well-defined clinical features and/or laboratory tests that predicts the risk of adverse prognostic outcomes in APS. In this short review, we report the importance of posttranslational modification of beta2 glycoprotein I, the major autoantigen in the APS beta2 glycoprotein I that may, in part, explain possible mechanisms for the generation of auto antibodies to beta2 glycoprotein I. A specific ELISA measuring the level of oxidised beta2 glycoprotein I could be used as a potential new laboratory test - along with other laboratory tests - to more accurately predict the risk of having a c... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5604046 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5604046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5578847&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22227276%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ghirardello A PMID: 22227276 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5578847 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5578847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5550836&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22197901%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhou ZY, Chen SL, Shen N, Lu Y Abstract Behcet's Disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. Increasing studies find that a sophisticated interlacing cytokine network is closely implicated in the onset, evolution and even organ damages of the disease. Cytokines involved can be categorized as Th1 type, Th2 type, Th17 type, chemokines and other proinflammatory cytokines, etc. The vicious cycle of cytokine network plays a substantial role in the disease pathogenesis and even in organ lesions, and might be disorganized by blocking one of the key links of the cytokines, which in turn may provide essential clues to outlook the target therapy regimen of cytokine agents in BD. There have been a number of case reports of the positive efficacies of cytokine (and cytok... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5550836 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5550836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5550838&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22193289%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hughes GC Abstract Sexual dimorphism in human immune systems is most apparent in the female predominance of certain autoimmune diseases (ADs) like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Epidemiologic, observational and experimental evidence strongly suggest sex steroids are important modulators of genetic risk in human AD. In this regard, the roles of progesterone (Pg), an immunomodulatory female sex steroid, are poorly understood. Several lines of investigation indicate Pg and synthetic progestins impact risk of AD and immune-mediated injury in different ways depending on their concentrations and their engagement of various Pg receptors expressed in immune organs, immune cells or tissues targeted by immune attack. At low physiologic levels, Pg may enhance interferon-alpha (I... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5550838 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5550838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5550837&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22197900%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: de Chambrun MP, Wechsler B, Geri G, Cacoub P, Saadoun D Abstract Behçet's disease (BD) is a recurrent systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown origin characterized by oral and genital mucous ulcer, uveitis, and skin lesions. Involvement of large vessels, central nervous system (CNS), gastrointestinal tract and thrombotic events are less frequent but can be life threatening. The aim of this review is to provide new insights into the pathogenesis of BD. Over the past year substantial advances have been done in the understanding of the genetic [1,2] and immunology [3] of BD. BD is at the crossroad between autoimmune and autoinflammatory syndromes. In common with autoimmune diseases BD shares class I MHC association. However, in contrast to autoimmune disorders, BD has clini... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5550837 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5550837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5550835&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22198431%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Carvalheiras G, Faria R, Braga J, Vasconcelos C Abstract The impact on fetal outcome in women with autoimmune diseases is a result of a several conditions. Fetal success depends on early immunological changes in the mother, which rely in modifications of the innate and adaptative immune system, inducing tolerance to the semi-allogenic fetus. Others crucial factors are maternal disease activity, severity of organ damage, circulating antibodies, and drug treatment. Although fetal outcome is becoming better still it has a worse prognosis in comparison with healthy women. Diseases like antiphospholipid syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus and vasculitis have the higher risk while rheumatoid arthritis and spondiloarthopaties the least. In the majority of the diseases the risk... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5550835 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5550835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536705&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22182796%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pan Z, Chang C Abstract For humans and other animals, gender has an influence not only on their physical attributes, but also on life span. In humans, females have a longer life span than males. The reasons for this are not entirely clear. The role of gender in the regulation of longevity may be linked to gender specific genetic differences, including the expression of sex hormone patterns and the changes in these patterns during an individual's lifetime. In addition, the effect of sex hormones on other physiologic responses to environmental influences on cellular stress and oxidative damage may play a role in longevity. Gender can impact many disease states, including autoimmune diseases, and the factors that affect the development of autoimmune diseases and the regulatio... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536705 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536706&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22178509%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Duarte-Rey C, Bogdanos DP, Leung PS, Anaya JM, Gershwin ME Abstract The role of specific immunoglobulin isotypes in human autoimmune disease has long attracted attention. Indeed, the presence of a polyclonal gammopathy is well known in a variety of systemic autoimmune diseases and is likely the result of chronic inflammation. However, in specific clinical situations, patients manifest isolated and elevated IgM levels, but normal IgG and IgA. The pathophysiology of this elevation and the clinical significance have been elusive. However, the relationships between specific genes and hyper-IgM are now very well defined, as it has been documented in primary hyper IgM syndromes. In this review we present data on clinical diseases with characteristic IgM abnormalities, including ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536706 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536709&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155781%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, anti-TNF-α are an efficient therapy in refractory TA patients although side effects are observed in 20% of cases. Further studies are warranted to assess the long term efficacy and safety of anti-TNF in TA and to better define if they should be prescribed earlier in the course of TA. PMID: 22155781 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536709 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536708&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22172712%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lee TP, Chiang BL Abstract There is a supposed link between autoimmune diseases and sex hormones. To better understand the pathogenesis of human autoimmune diseases, an animal model is a good tool that can also help in developing novel therapeutics for diseases. Animal models of diseases can be divided into naturally occurring or induced by physical, chemical, or biological factors. Most human autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren's syndrome (SS), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and multiple sclerosis (MS) have increased incidence and prevalence in females, but so far, sex differences and hormone therapy in spontaneous or chemical induced animal models of autoimmunity are not entirely ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536708 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536707&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22172713%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chighizola C, Meroni PL Abstract The prevalence of autoimmune diseases has significantly increased over the recent years. It has been proposed that this epidemiological evidence could be in part attributable to environmental estrogens, compounds that display estrogen-like activity and are ubiquitously present in the environment. Environmental estrogens can be found in a wide variety of foods: phytoestrogens occur in plants such as clover and soy, while mycoestrogens are food contaminants produced by fungi. Meat, eggs and dairy products from animals given exogenous hormones contain relatively high concentration of estrogens. Among xenoestrogens, industrial estrogens are synthetic chemicals produced for specific purposes (pesticides, plastics, surfactants and detergents) whi... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536707 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536718&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155196%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Selmi C, Brunetta E, Raimondo MG, Meroni PL Abstract The number of human conditions that are currently considered to be autoimmune diseases (AID) has been steadily growing over the past decades and it is now estimated that over 10million people are affected in the United States. One of the major shared features among AID is the predominance in the female sex which in some cases changes with the age at disease diagnosis. Numerous hypotheses have been formulated based on intuitive scientific backgrounds to justify this sex imbalance, i.e. sex hormones and reproductive factors, fetal microchimerism, other sex-related environmental factors, a skewing of the X-chromosome inactivation patterns, and major defects in sex chromosomes. Nevertheless, none of these hypotheses has thus... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536718 Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536717&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155197%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gatto M, Iaccarino L, Canova M, Zen M, Nalotto L, Ramonda R, Punzi L, Doria A Abstract Primary systemic vasculitis are uncommon diseases that may affect young women in their childbearing age. To date, patients affected with primary systemic vasculitis are often diagnosed and treated earlier than in the past, due to improvement in diagnostic skills and a larger availability of effective drugs. The progressive achievement of a longer life expectancy and a better quality of life have progressively led to an increased number of pregnancies observed during the course of such diseases. Here, we review 567 pregnancies among patients with primary systemic vasculitis, in order to define the relationship between pregnancy and these conditions and to suggest guidelines for their mana... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536717 Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536715&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155199%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lidar M, Langevitz P Abstract Systemic sclerosis is a systemic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease affecting the skin and viscera, manifesting pathologically with microvascular lesions, perivascular infiltration by mononuclear cells and increased deposition of extracellular collagen. The rarity of the disease as well as its propensity to appear in the early 1940s, explain the low frequency of concurrent scleroderma and pregnancy. However, the marked female excess, as well as the trend for increasing maternal age due to social change and assisted reproductive technologies, renders heightened significance to issues of fertility, pregnancy course and pregnancy outcomes. In the past, scleroderma patients were thought to be at high risk for poor fetal and maternal outcome, but mo... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536715 Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536714&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155200%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Oertelt-Prigione S Abstract Sex and gender differences in disease prevalence, pathogenesis and modulation have been frequently reported. The menstrual cycle represents the opportunity to study the physiological effect of hormonal fluctuations in vivo on the immune function and chronic disease modulation. Reports on the effect of the cycle on immune cell numbers and activity fluctuations are scarce, but recent publications demonstrate an increasing interest in the subject. The menstrual cycle might affect immune cell numbers and modulate their activity throughout the 4-week cycle, as demonstrated in the case of regulatory T cells. The implications of these fluctuations are particularly relevant in the field of chronic diseases affecting women of reproductive age. In fact, b... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536714 Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536713&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155201%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Oertelt-Prigione S Abstract The immune system and its orchestrated response are affected by a multitude of endogenous and exogenous factors, modulators and challenges. One of the most frequent differences described in the immune response is its vigor and activity in females compared to males, leading to the consequent increase in autoimmune conditions seen in the female population as well as differences in the immune response to pathogens and viruses. The following review summarizes our present knowledge on sex differences in the immune response, detailing the hormonal and genetic effects that have been proposed as explanatory mechanisms. Sexual hormones, mostly estrogen but also progesterone and testosterone, affect immune cells quantitatively and qualitatively. Relevant ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536713 Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536712&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155202%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Borchers AT, Gershwin ME Abstract There are an enormous number of incorrect stereotypes that characterize the differences between women and men. Indeed, nearly all of these stereotypes are based on cultural inaccuracies and faulty data without consideration of biology and the distinct sociological differences between genders. Sociological differences are those that relate to the development, structure, interaction and behavior of organized groups of human beings, or societies, and their values and beliefs. Gender is a social construct referring "to the culturally and historically based differences in the roles, attitudes and behaviors of men and women" ([1], p.1) as shaped by norms and stereotypes. Sex, on the other hand, serves to classify living things according to their... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536712 Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536723&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22154619%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, TS is a condition associated with a number of autoimmune manifestations. Individuals with TS need life-long medical attention. As a consequence of these findings, early diagnosis and regular screening for potential associated autoimmune conditions are essential in the medical follow-up of TS patients. PMID: 22154619 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536723 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536722&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22154710%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ostensen M, Villiger PM, Förger F Abstract During pregnancy, the fetus represents a natural allograft that is not normally rejected. While the maternal immune system retains the ability to respond to foreign antigens, tolerance mechanisms are up-regulated to protect the fetus from immunologic attacks by the mother. The profound immunologic adaptations during and after pregnancy do influence maternal autoimmune rheumatic diseases in several ways. One is triggering the onset of a rheumatic disease in the post partum period, the other influencing disease activity of established rheumatic disease. The review will discuss the mechanisms of increased susceptibility of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the first year post partum with a specific emphasis on the role of fetal cells or ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536722 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536721&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22154711%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Petríková J, Lazúrová I Abstract The human ovary is commonly the target of an autoimmune attack leading to the ovarian dysfunction which can be manifested as premature ovarian failure (POF), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), unexplained infertility as well as endometriosis. In case of POF, the evidence for an autoimmune etiology is based on the presence of lymphocytic oophoritis, autoantibodies to ovarian antigens and association with other autoimmune disorders, which was clearly documented in many studies. The search for antiovarian antibodies has been undertaken in numerous studies, especially in patients with POF, however their results are still conflicting particularly due to difference in laboratory methods as well as many ovarian components being potential antige... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536721 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536716&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155198%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cutolo M, Sulli A, Straub RH Abstract Epidemiological and experimental immunological evidence suggest that estrogens enhance the humoral immune response, and at the same time, seem to play important roles in pathophysiology of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Estrogens in human subjects are generally considered as enhancers of cell proliferation (anti-apoptotic), however, rather than through their serum levels (that may exert opposite dose-related effects), they play important roles through their peripheral metabolites especially in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Several investigations strongly support an accelerated aromatase-mediated peripheral metabolic conversion of upstream androgen precursors to estrogen metabolites in peripheral tissues affected by immune/inflammatory... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536716 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536711&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155203%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shelly S, Boaz M, Orbach H Abstract Sex hormones, especially estrogen and prolactin (PRL), have an important role in modulating the immune response. PRL is secreted from the pituitary gland as well as other organs and cells particularly lymphocytes. PRL has an immune stimulatory effect and promotes autoimmunity. PRL interferes specifically with B cell tolerance induction, enhances proliferative response to antigens and mitogens and increases the production of immune globulins, cytokines and autoantibodies. Hyperprolactinemia (HPRL) in women present with clinical manifestations of galactorrhea, primary or secondary amenorrhea, delayed menarche or a change in the menses either in the amount or in the regularity. Furthermore in the last 2 decades multi-organ and organ specifi... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536711 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536710&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155204%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, human Breg cells decrease the proliferation of CD4(+) T cells and also enhance the expression of Foxp3 and CTLA-4 in Treg cells by cell-to-cell contact. PMID: 22155204 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536710 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536720&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155015%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Singh RP, Waldron RT, Hahn BH Abstract The characterization of functional CD8(+) inhibitory or regulatory T cells and their gene regulation remains a critical challenge in the field of tolerance and autoimmunity. Investigating the genes induced in regulatory cells and the regulatory networks and pathways that underlie mechanisms of immune resistance and prevent apoptosis in the CD8(+) T cell compartment are crucial to understanding tolerance mechanisms in systemic autoimmunity. Little is currently known about the genetic control that governs the ability of CD8(+) Ti or regulatory cells to suppress anti-DNA Ab production in B cells. Silencing genes with siRNA or shRNA and overexpression of genes with lentiviral cDNA transduction are established approaches to identifying and... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536720 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5536719&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155016%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Palazzi C, Buskila D, D'Angelo S, D'Amico E, Olivieri I Abstract Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is one of the best mimes in medicine. About 40-70% of patients suffering from this disorder develop at least one extra-hepatic disorder that can have a rheumatic nature (arthralgias, arthritis, vasculitis and sicca syndrome) and must be differentiated from the primitive rheumatic diseases. In addition, HCV infection can also alter the laboratory tests. Several alterations of first line laboratory tests can be usually found in both chronic HCV infection and chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorders. In the present review we analyze the interference of HCV in tests more specifically used in rheumatology: rheumatoid factor and other autoantibodies (ANA, anti-ENA, ANCA, anti-DNA, ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5536719 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5536719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5494134&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22142547%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Moroni L, Bianchi I, Lleo A Abstract Autoimmune diseases include more than 70 different disorders affecting over 5% of the population of the Western countries. They are mainly characterized by female predominance and have great impact on the quality of life of affected subjects. It is generally accepted that ADs are the result of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors; however the mechanisms involved in the loss of tolerance remain unknown. Studying the distribution of these conditions across various global regions and ethnic groups by means of geoepidemiology might readily provide epidemiological data and also advance our understanding of their pathogenesis. Indeed, geoepidemiology demonstrates that genetic susceptibility interacts with lifestyle ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5494134 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5494134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5494135&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22122867%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Temajo NO, Howard N Abstract An autoimmune disease (AD) occurs in a situation where an individual's protective immune system attacks and destroys the individual's own tissues and organ(s), causing a recognizable syndrome(s). The viruses feature in the triggering of autoimmune diseases in genetically primed individuals through generating a viral group of regulatory immediate early proteins (IE). The IE indulges in promiscuous regulations of the viral replications as well as of host intracellular proteins. But there are consequences in the IE controlling host cell protein regulations, which we suggest as: the IE titration of the transactivator protein, autoimmune regulator (AIRE), which causes abolition of central tolerance; and the IE titration of the repressor protein, FOX... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5494135 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5494135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5494133&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22146313%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gómez-Puerta JA, Quintana LF, Stone JH, Ramos-Casals M, Bosch X Abstract Vasculitides associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) serum positivity affecting small and medium-sized vessels are defined as ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Glomerulonephritis in AAV is characterized by focal necrosis, crescent formation, and few or no immunoglobulin deposits. In vitro and animal evidence suggests that ANCA play a pathogenic role in AAV. Specific gene expression signatures are reported to predict long-term prognosis in AAV, suggesting the possibility of individualizing therapy and identifying new therapeutic targets. Although immunosuppressants and glucocorticoids are the cornerstone of AAV therapy, results from two recent randomized controlled trials have show... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5494133 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5494133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5494136&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22120060%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sammaritano LR Abstract Menopause represents a time of significant clinical and hormonal change. Given the incompletely understood interrelationship between gonadal hormones and the immune system, it is possible that menopause may affect, or be affected by, the presence of autoimmune disease. Menopause has significant effects on a number of organ systems including the cardiovascular, skeletal, central nervous and genitourinary systems. Premature ovarian failure is related to autoimmune factors in a proportion of cases, but is not generally associated with systemic autoimmune disorders unless secondary to treatment with alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide. Gonadal hormones have been suggested to relate to both onset and activity in certain autoimmune diseases. For pa... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5494136 Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5494136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5494139&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22100329%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chatzikyriakidou A, Voulgari PV, Georgiou I, Drosos AA Abstract The epigenetic mechanisms in regulation of genes' expression seem to be another field of research that gains land in genetic association studies of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility factors. Recently, a new class of molecules has been discovered, the microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are related to post-transcriptional regulation of genes' expression. Different expression patterns of mir-146a, miRNA-155, miRNA-124a, mir-203, mir-223, mir-346, mir-132, mir-363, mir-498, mir-15a, and mir-16 were documented in several tissue sample types of RA patients. The polymorphisms of these miRNAs and their gene targets, which previously have been associated with RA or other autoimmune diseases, are also reviewed. Finally, ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5494139 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5494139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5494137&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22100331%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: de Verteuil D, Granados DP, Thibault P, Perreault C Abstract Endogenous peptides presented by MHC I molecules represent the essence of self for CD8 T lymphocytes. These MHC I peptides (MIPs) regulate all key events that occur during the lifetime of CD8 T cells. CD8 T cells are selected on self-MIPs, sustained by self-MIPs, and activated in the presence of self-MIPs. Recently, large-scale mass spectrometry studies have revealed that the self-MIP repertoire is more complex and plastic than previously anticipated. The composition of the self-MIP repertoire varies from one cell type to another and can be perturbed by cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors including dysregulation of cellular metabolism and infection. The complexity and plasticity of the self-MIP repertoire repre... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5494137 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5494137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5494138&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22100330%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mahler M, Hanly JG, Fritzler MJ Abstract The presence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) is a hallmark of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). The indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay on HEp-2 cells is a commonly used test for the detection of ANA and was recently recommended as the screening test of choice by a task force of the American College of Rheumatology. However, up to 20% of serum samples from healthy individuals (HI) have been reported to have a positive ANA test, the majority of which are directed to the dense fine speckles 70 (DFS70) antigen. Even more important, the DFS IIF pattern has been reported in 33% of ANA positive HI, but not in ANA positive SARD sera. Since the intended use of the ANA HEp-2 test is to aid in the diagnosis of SARD, the repo... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5494138 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5494138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5494141&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22094710%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jager NA, Teteloshvili N, Zeebregts CJ, Westra J, Bijl M Abstract In patients with systemic auto-immune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) like rheumatoid arthritis the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased. In the pathogenesis of AIIRD and atherosclerosis many similarities can be found in the process underlying CVD. Accumulation of inflammatory cells, in particular macrophages at the site of inflammation producing inflammatory mediators serve as a prominent feature in both systemic inflammation and atherosclerosis. Two different subtypes of macrophages have been described in recent literature namely classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternatively activated macrophages (M2). Alternatively activated macrophages are characterized by low CD14 a... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5494141 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5494141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5494140&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22100310%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nussinovitch U, Shoenfeld Y Abstract Autoimmunity is influenced by multiple factors including gender and sex hormones. A definite female predominance is found in many autoimmune diseases. Gender is also associated with differences in clinical presentation, onset, progression and outcome of autoimmune diseases. Sex hormones might influence the target organ's vulnerability to an autoimmune response. Gender differences also exist in organ specific autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Crohn's disease and celiac disease. Nevertheless, other organ specific autoimmune diseases (i.e. ulcerative colitis) are seemingly characterized with similar prevalence in both males and females. The reason for gender differences in certain autoimmune diseases... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5494140 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5494140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5423115&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22079677%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marie I, Guillevin L, Menard JF, Hatron PY, Cherin P, Amoura Z, Cacoub P, Bachelez H, Buzyn A, Le Roux G, Ziza JM, Brice P, Munck JN, Sarrot-Reynauld F, Piette JC, Larroche C Abstract The aims of this present study were to: 1) assess the characteristics of hematological malignancies in polymyositis/polymyositis (PM/DM) patients; and 2) determine predictive variables of hematological malignancies in PM/DM patients. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 32 patients (14 PM, 18 DM) associated with hematological malignancies. In our 32 PM/DM patients, hematological malignancy was concurrently identified (18.8%) or occurred during the course of PM/DM (31.2%); although, PM/DM more often preceded hematological malignancy onset (50%). We observed that the types of hema... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5423115 Sun, 30 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5423115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5423116&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22056979%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Doria A, Putterman C, Sarzi-Puttini P, Szekanecz Z, Shoenfeld Y PMID: 22056979 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5423116 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5423116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381839&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22041578%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Agmon-Levin N, Mosca M, Petri M, Shoenfeld Y Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) characterizes by a variety of clinical manifestations and the presence of a wide profile of autoantibodies. This clinical and serological heterogeneity raised the question: is SLE a single disease with varied phenotypes, or a similar phenotype shared by different diseases with diverse pathogenic mechanisms? Herein we debate the clinical, genetic, hormonal and serological differences typically observed in SLE on the one hand, and the numerous similarities between subtypes of this disease on the other. Leading to the conclusion that SLE may be considered not as a single disease but rather as a single syndrome, which defines by a set of signs, symptoms, or phenomena that occur together an... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381839 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381838&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22041579%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rekvig OP, Putterman C, Casu C, Gao HX, Ghirardello A, Mortensen ES, Tincani A, Doria A Abstract Several autoantibodies are culprits in the pathogenesis of organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus, by means of established or postulated mechanisms, whereby inducing a perturbation of cell structure and function, with consequent tissue-organ impairment. Common autoantibody-mediated mechanisms of damage include cell surface binding with or without cytolysis, immune complex-mediated damage, penetration into living cells, binding to cross-reactive extracellular molecules. Experimental data from both murine models and humans have recently clarified the key role of autoantibodies in severe organ involvements, including nephritis, neuropsychiatric (NP) dysfunction, and cerebrov... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381838 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381837&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22041580%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Costenbader KH, Gay S, Riquelme ME, Iaccarino L, Doria A Abstract Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease, have complex pathogeneses and likely multifactorial etiologies. The current paradigm for understanding their development is that the disease is triggered in genetically-susceptible individuals by exposure to environmental factors. Some of these environmental factors have been specifically identified, while others are hypothesized and not yet proven, and it is likely that most have yet to be identified. One interesting hypothesis is that environmental effects on immune responses could be mediated by changes in epigenetic regulation. Major mechanisms of epigenetic gene regulation i... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381837 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381848&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22036825%26dopt%3DAbstract Thromboprophylaxis in carriers of antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) without previous thrombosis: "Pros" and "Cons" Autoimmun Rev. 2011 Oct 22; Authors: Ceccarelli F, Chighizola C, Finazzi G, Meroni PL, Valesini G Abstract The presence of anti-phospholipid (aPL) is necessary but not sufficient to induce a thrombotic event. The "second hit" hypothesis suggested that an additional trigger may be needed to develop a vascular event in aPL carriers. In this article, pro and con of primary thromboprophylaxis in aPL carriers is deeply discussed, concluding that univocal data are not available, due to conflicting results of available clinical trials. However, in clinical practice the primary thromboprophylaxis is not indicated in all unselected asymptomatic aPL carriers, and the bes... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381848 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381847&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22036826%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ablin JN, Buskila D, Van Houde B, Luyten P, Atzeni F, Sarzi-Puttini P Abstract Fibromyalgia (FM) is defined as chronic widespread pain (CWP) with allodynia or hyperalgesia to pressure pain, and is classified as one of the largest group of soft tissue pain syndromes. Its pathogenesis is not entirely understood, although it is currently believed to be the result of a central nervous system (CNS) malfunction that increases pain transmission and perception. There are no instrumental tests to confirm the diagnosis, but many of the differential diagnoses can be excluded by means of an extensive clinical examination and patient history. Although fibromyalgia is a recognisable clinical entity, it would seem appropriate to consider the entire range of tenderness and distress in cli... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381847 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381846&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22036827%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, there is currently a lack of consensus on the use of high intensity anticoagulation for the secondary prophylaxis of arterial thrombosis. However, such a treatment may be particularly recommended in those APS patients who have a high risk aPL profile and other concomitant cardiovascular risk factors, provided that the potential benefit outweighs the risk of bleeding. PMID: 22036827 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381846 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381844&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22036829%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: van Vollenhoven RF Abstract Rituximab (Rituxan, Mabthera) is a monoclonal therapeutic anti-CD20 antibody approved for use in lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis but not for use in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nonetheless, over the past decade many reports based on case series and observational studies have suggested benefits in selected groups of SLE patients with this monoclonal. It is also clear that off-label use of rituximab in SLE is not uncommon in many countries in the world. However, two randomized controlled clinical trials of rituximab failed to demonstrate a benefit for this agent, raising important questions on how to assess the potential role of rituximab in SLE. In this article I will review the available data and provide some comments that may be of use... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381844 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381843&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22036830%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cervera R, Conti F, Doria A, Iaccarino L, Valesini G Abstract The diagnosis of seronegative (SN-) antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has been suggested for patients with clinical manifestations indicative of APS but with persistently negative results in the commonly used assays to detect anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibodies, anti-β2 Glycoprotein I antibodies (aβ2GPI), and lupus anticoagulant (LA). To date the best management of these patients is still unclear. New emerging anti-phospholipid (aPL) assays could improve our ability in diagnosing APS. However, the availability of aPL assays in routine laboratory practice is limited. In fact, even aβ2GPI is routinely tested in only a small number of laboratories, and other aPL, such as anti-prothrombin or anti-annexin antibodies, ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381843 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381841&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22037116%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bijl M, Agmon-Levin N, Dayer JM, Israeli E, Gatto M, Shoenfeld Y Abstract Will vaccination raise the incidence of autoimmune diseases, what is the impact of increasingly crowded vaccination schedules, the vaccination in age groups and the risk of coincidental temporal association? All these issues are still under debate. However, for the time being, to avoid confusion in the medical community and the media, we have to adhere to guidelines established consensually by experts while ensuring a strict surveillance and reporting possible side effects. Recommendation for vaccination in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) based on the currently available evidence and expert opinion were recently formulated by an EULAR task force. Major recommendations... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381841 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381840&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22037117%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Buch MH, Rubbert-Roth A, Ferraccioli G Abstract The introduction in the therapeutic armamentarium of TNF inhibitors (TNFi) has greatly advanced the chance of obtaining a control of clinical manifestations and of structural damage progression in an important proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Methotrexate (MTX)-poor responders. However not more than 50% of TNFi treated patients can reach relevant clinical benefits. Therefore the unmet medical question is: should we continue the therapeutic approach with a second or a third TNFi, or should we use other drugs, and change the mode of action of the second drug? These are practical issues that still do not have a definite answer. The real problem is that up to this moment no real biomarker is available to make... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381840 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381842&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22037115%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Olivieri I, Sarzi-Puttini P, Bugatti S, Atzeni F, d'Angelo S, Caporali R Abstract The early diagnosis of new-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has become a major objective for rheumatologists in order to identify a management strategy able to change the natural history of the disease and to prevent joint damage and functional impairment. Emergent evidence emphasizes the benefits of early aggressive therapy of RA. By the nineties, early arthritis cohorts have been collected throughout the world with the aim to increase the early referral of patients with early onset disease by the general practitioners and to collect data on the development of full-blown RA. The frequency of undifferentiated arthritis (UA) ranged from 23% to 81% in these early cohorts with most of them report... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381842 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381845&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22036828%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Orme J, Mohan C Abstract Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous group of autoimmune disorders defined by a consensus of clinical and laboratory criteria. Much of the pathophysiology and therapy of SLE has focused on autoimmune B and T cells of the adaptive immune system. Recently, focus has shifted to the role of myeloid cells like neutrophils and macrophages - part of the innate immune system - in SLE pathogenesis. These cells have altered molecular profiles affecting multiple pathways, but no salient overview has been undertaken to broadly define and categorize this dysregualtion. Here we endeavor to provide this overview and build a new freely accessible online resource for this purpose (http://www.mohanlab.org/SLE_BASE/myeloid_cells/). PMID: 22036828... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381845 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381849&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22032879%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: Rituximab is currently being used to treat refractory systemic autoimmune diseases. Rituximab may be an effective option for patients with lupus nephritis, especially those refractory to standard treatment or who experience a new flare after intensive immunosuppressive treatment. PMID: 22032879 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381849 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381851&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22024499%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: We have shown here aberrant biological responses mediated by the TLR3 variant receptor, L412F, which may explain in part susceptibility of patients to chronic candidiasis, viral infections and autoimmunity. PMID: 22024499 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381851 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5381850&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22024500%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rigante D Abstract Autoinflammatory diseases are genetic or acquired clinical entities globally caused by the aberrant release of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 and mostly characterized by recurrent spontaneous inflammatory events which do not produce antigen-specific T cells or autoantibodies. Within the past decade, the list of autoinflammatory diseases has included cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, familial Mediterranean fever, mevalonate kinase deficiency, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome, hereditary pyogenic disorders, pediatric granulomatous autoinflammatory diseases, idiopathic febrile syndromes, complement dysregulation syndromes and Behçet's disease. Most of these conditions interact with the inflammasomes, intracellu... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5381850 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5381850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5330830&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22001415%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lessard CJ, Ice JA, Adrianto I, Wiley G, Kelly JA, Gaffney PM, Montgomery CG, Moser KL Abstract Recent advances in the field of genetics have dramatically changed our understanding of autoimmune disease. Candidate gene and, more recently, genome-wide association (GWA) studies have led to an explosion in the number of loci and pathways known to contribute to autoimmune phenotypes. Since the 1970s, researchers have known that several alleles in the MHC region play a role in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases. More recent work has identified numerous risk loci involving both the innate and adaptive immune responses. However, much remains to be learned about the heritability of autoimmune conditions. Most regions found through GWA scans have yet to isolate the associ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5330830 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5330830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5330829&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22001416%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cruz-Tapias P, Rojas-Villarraga A, Maier-Moore S, Anaya JM Abstract The aim of this work was to identify common HLA Class II alleles contributing to primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) susceptibility worldwide and to analyze their biological implications through a binding prediction approach of peptides from major pSS auto-antigens. Case-control studies on HLA-DQ and HLA-DR in pSS were searched in various literature databases through April 2011 by a systematic review. The effect summary odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were obtained by means of the random effect model. A total of 1166 cases and 6470 controls from 23 studies were analyzed. At the allelic level, DQA1*05:01, DQB1*02:01, and DRB1*03:01 alleles were found to be risk factors for disease. Conversely, the DQ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5330829 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5330829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5330828&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22001417%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tobón GJ, Pers JO, Cañas CA, Rojas-Villarraga A, Youinou P, Anaya JM Abstract Autoimmune diseases are complex diseases resulting of the interaction between both genetics and environmental factors over time. Different phases in the development of autoimmune diseases are characterized by the detection of serum autoantibodies several months or years before the onset of clinical manifestations and subsequent diagnosis. In addition to serum antibodies, genetic susceptibility factors may predict the future development of the disease. Currently, prediction in type 1 diabetes is the most accurate, with the analysis of genetic susceptibility factors in first-degree relatives of patients and several autoantibody tests. In the future, multiple antibodies test, in combination with t... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5330828 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5330828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5330827&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22001418%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Galarza-Maldonado C, Kourilovitch MR, Pérez-Fernández OM, Gaybor M, Cordero C, Cabrera S, Soroka NF Abstract Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in pregnancy has a serious impact on maternal and fetal morbidity. It causes recurrent pregnancy miscarriage and it is associated with other adverse obstetric findings like preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and others. The 2006 revised criteria, which is still valid, is used for APS classification. Epidemiology of obstetric APS varies from one population group to another largely due to different inclusion criteria and lack of standardization of antibody detection methods. Treatment is still controversial. This topic should include a multidisciplinary team and should be individualized. Su... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5330827 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5330827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5330826&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22001419%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sawla P, Hossain A, Hahn BH, Singh RP Abstract Regulatory T cells play an important role in the maintenance and regulation of immune tolerance and in the prevention of autoimmunity. Recent studies have demonstrated a deficiency in number and function of regulatory T cells in lupus and other autoimmune diseases. This may contribute to immune dysregulations and a defect in self-tolerance mechanisms. How to balance and "reset" the immune response from harmful pro-inflammatory to beneficial anti-inflammatory is the current strategy of the research. In this regard, several studies have been performed with various peptides, drugs, steroids and epigenetic agents to induce or modify regulatory cells and some measure of success has been achieved in the animal model of SLE and with ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5330826 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5330826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5330825&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22001520%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Anaya JM, Shoenfeld Y, Cervera R PMID: 22001520 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5330825 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5330825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5330823&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22001522%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Varin MM, Guerrier T, Devauchelle-Pensec V, Jamin C, Youinou P, Pers JO Abstract Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune epithelitis associated with diffuse lymphocytic infiltration that varies in composition and differs according to lesion severity. T lymphocytes have been viewed as competent in their own right in the destruction of epithelial cells, whereas B lymphocytes that predominate in severe lesions have never been implicated in direct tissue damage. Using co-culture experiments with human salivary gland (HSG) cell line cells and tonsilar B lymphocytes, we observed that direct HSG cell-B lymphocyte contacts were able to induce apoptosis in epithelial cells. This B lymphocyte-mediated cell death could not be ascribed to Fas-Fas ligand interactions but requi... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5330823 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5330823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5330824&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22001521%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: Budesonide is an effective treatment option for the management of AIH, with a low incidence of side effects in patients without findings of advanced liver disease. The presence of liver fibrosis may increase the likelihood of treatment failure as well as the risk of developing side effects. Our study findings suggest that budesonide may be effective in a select group of AIH patients. Further studies are needed to determine its exact place for the treatment of AIH and overlap syndrome. PMID: 22001521 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5330824 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5330824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5330831&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21996556%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sardi F, Fassina L, Venturini L, Inguscio M, Guerriero F, Rolfo E, Ricevuti G Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been recognized as the most common cause of sporadic dementia. It represents both a medical and social problem, as it affects 10% of over-65 population. Even if the elderly are the most involved population, aging alone cannot be considered as the only cause of this disease. In this review we wanted to focus on the last hypotheses on the possible causes of this neuronal affection. We focused in particular on the role of inflammation and alteration of the inflammatory status that is typical of the elderly and may lead to chronic inflammation. The inflammation seems to be a cause of neuronal impairment and loss. Some studies have proposed a protective role of an... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5330831 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5330831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5330832&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21985773%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we reviewed the literature and we retrospectively analysed high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings in a cohort of 131 consecutive subjects: 75 with polymyositis (PM), 43 with dermatomyositis (DM), one with amyophatic PM, two with paraneoplastic syndromes, and 10 with overlapping syndromes. The inclusion criteria were PM/DM, anti-Jo1 antibody positivity, and HRCT-assessed ILD. The effect of 12months' treatment with cyclophosphamide (CYC) or cyclosporin A (CsA) plus steroids was assessed by comparing baseline and follow-up HRCT scans for evidence of stability, improvement or worsening. Fifteen patients (11.5%) had ILD and were Jo-1 positive. They were all women with PM, and had a mean age of 47.33years and a median duration of symptoms of 7.26months. At baseline, H... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5330832 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5330832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5282216&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21619944%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is defined as hearing loss of 30dB in three sequential frequencies over 3days or less. It can be an isolated symptom or the presenting symptom of a systemic disease. The aetiology and pathogenesis remain unknown. Detailed investigation typically reveals a specific cause in about 10% of patients. Proposed theories of causation include viral infections, vascular occlusion and immune system-mediated mechanisms. A variety of therapies have been proposed based on the various proposed aetiologies. PMID: 21619944 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5282216 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5282216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5282215&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21621000%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Miyara M, Gorochov G, Ehrenstein M, Musset L, Sakaguchi S, Amoura Z Abstract Since the characterization of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in mice, significant progress has been made in the definitions of the phenotype and the function of human Treg cells in health and in pathological conditions. Recent advances in the field leading to a better molecular definition of Treg subsets in humans and the description of the dynamics of differentiation of Treg cells should bring new insights in the understanding of human chronic systemic autoimmune diseases. How Treg cells are compromised in these diseases is a challenging issue because the elucidation of the mechanisms leading to such anomaly might lead to promising novel therapeutic approaches. PMID: 21621000 [PubMed... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5282215 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5282215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5282214&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21621002%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Peelen E, Knippenberg S, Muris AH, Thewissen M, Smolders J, Tervaert JW, Hupperts R, Damoiseaux J Abstract Epidemiological studies have shown that a poor vitamin D status is associated with an increased risk of several diseases, including autoimmune diseases. The immune regulatory function of vitamin D is thought to have an important role in these associations. Cells of the adaptive immune system have shown to be direct targets of the vitamin D metabolites. Besides being direct targets, cells of the adaptive immune system express the enzymes involved in the metabolism of vitamin D, enabling them to locally convert 25(OH)D into its active metabolite 1,25(OH)(2)D. In this review, the effects of vitamin D on cells of the adaptive immune system are described. Experimental data... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5282214 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5282214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5282213&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21718807%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lakota K, Zigon P, Mrak-Poljsak K, Rozman B, Shoenfeld Y, Sodin-Semrl S Abstract The acute phase response is a defense system in which the innate immune response is activated following injury or infection. Positive and negative acute phase proteins (APPs) are crucial for protecting the host organism, as well as returning it to homeostatic levels, the first with elevated concentrations and the latter with decreased concentrations during the acute phase. Reports about the presence of antibodies against APPs are known, however their individual, as well as potentially collective, pathological or physiological roles are still emerging. Some of these autoantibodies are specifically connected with diseases (such as pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor and C3, C4 nephritic facto... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5282213 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5282213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5282212&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21964164%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhao Y, Jiang Z, Guo C Abstract The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing worldwide, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and the development of innovative therapeutic approaches for the prevention and cure of the condition. Mounting evidence points to the involvement of immune dysfunction in insulin resistance in T2D, suggesting that immune modulation may be a useful tool in treating the disease. Recent advances in the use of adult stem cells from human umbilical cord blood and bone marrow for immune modulation hold promise for overcoming immune dysfunction in T2D without many of the complications associated with traditional immunosuppressive therapies. This review focuses on recent progress in the use of immune m... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5282212 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5282212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5282217&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21958603%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Luijten KM, Tekstra J, Bijlsma JW, Bijl M Abstract Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), because of its complex and multisystemic presentation, lacks a reliable and sensitive gold standard for measuring disease activity. In addition, there is no standardized method for defining response to therapy. Several disease activity indices have been developed over the years, each with their own positive and negative aspects. Growing insight in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases like SLE leads to the introduction of specific targeted biologic therapies. To investigate the efficacy of these new biologic agents, disease activity must be monitored regularly by a reliable and validated instrument. Recent studies on new biologics for treatment of SLE use a new composite measurement ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5282217 Sun, 18 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5282217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5262517&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21946651%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: Although MRI is a well established modality for primary diagnosis of TA, the present study suggests that it has a limited clinical role in the long-term follow-up of those patients when reactivation of disease is suspected. PMID: 21946651 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5262517 Sat, 17 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5262517 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5262518&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21939785%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Prete M, Racanelli V, Di Giglio L, Vacca A, Dammacco F, Perosa F Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated disease involving chronic low-grade inflammation that may progressively lead to joint destruction, deformity, disability and even death. Despite its predominant osteoarticular and periarticular manifestations, RA is a systemic disease often associated with cutaneous and organ-specific extra-articular manifestations (EAM). Despite the fact that EAM have been studied in numerous RA cohorts, there is no uniformity in their definition or classification. This paper reviews current knowledge about EAM in terms of frequency, clinical aspects and current therapeutic approaches. In an initial attempt at a classification, we separated EAM from RA co-morbidities a... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5262518 Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5262518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5219599&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21896340%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Loebermann M, Borso D, Hilgendorf I, Fritzsche C, Zettl UK, Reisinger EC PMID: 21896340 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5219599 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5219599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5219598&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21896341%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shoenfeld Y, Jica C PMID: 21896341 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5219598 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5219598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5219597&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21896342%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: Data on safety and efficacy of vaccinations in paediatric patients with rheumatic diseases is reassuring, but too limited to draw definite conclusions. More research is needed on the safety and efficacy of especially live-attenuated vaccines in patients with rheumatic and autoinflammatory diseases using high dose immunosuppressive drugs. PMID: 21896342 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5219597 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5219597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5219600&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21875694%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kornete M, Piccirillo CA Abstract Mechanisms of peripheral tolerance maintain a controlled balance between self-tolerance, protective immunity against a spectrum of non-self antigens, and suppressing pathology in various disorders. CD4(+) regulatory T cells (T(reg)) expressing the Foxp3 transcription factor dominantly control the activity and pathological consequences of a variety of effector T cell lineages in various inflammatory settings. This review will focus on recent advances on the roles of B7 family members in regulating Treg cell development, function and homeostasis during tolerance induction and organ-specific autoimmunity. PMID: 21875694 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5219600 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5219600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5178693&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21871974%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dreyfus DH Abstract Many chronic human diseases may have an underlying autoimmune mechanism. In this review, the author presents a case of autoimmune CIU (chronic idiopathic urticaria) in stable remission after therapy with a retroviral integrase inhibitor, raltegravir (Isentress). Previous reports located using the search terms "autoimmunity" and "anti-viral" and related topics in the pubmed data-base are reviewed suggesting that novel anti-viral agents such as retroviral integrase inhibitors, gene silencing therapies and eventually vaccines may provide new options for anti-viral therapy of autoimmune diseases. Cited epidemiologic and experimental evidence suggests that increased replication of epigenomic viral pathogens such as Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in chronic human a... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5178693 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5178693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5178692&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21872684%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Anda KS, Gómez-Martín D, Díaz-Zamudio M, Alcocer-Varela J Abstract Abnormal production of interferon type I has been widely related to multiple autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It has been considered the molecular signature characterized by the overexpression of type I Interferon related genes in SLE patients. Among these, are the interferon regulatory factors (IRF). These transcription factors have been involved in the innate immune response, mainly the one related to the defense against viral infections; the development of immune cells and carcinogenesis. The role of IRF in autoimmune pathology has been addressed in diverse murine models. However, evidence in humans is quite scant. This review will focus on the evidence that suppor... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5178692 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5178692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5178695&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21864722%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cutolo M, Pizzorni C, Sulli A Abstract Vitamin D is synthesized from cholesterol in the skin (80-90%) under the sunlight and then metabolized into an active D hormone in liver, kidney and peripheral immune/inflammatory cells. These endocrine-immune effects include also the coordinated activities of the vitamin D-activating enzyme, 1alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) on cells of the immune system in mediating intracrine and paracrine actions. Vitamin D is implicated in prevention and protection from chronic infections (i.e. tubercolosis), cancer (i.e. breast cancer) and autoimmune rheumatic diseases since regulates both innate and adaptive immunity potentiating the innate response (monocytes/macrophages with antimicrobial activity and antigen pres... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5178695 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5178695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5178694&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21864723%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Maddur MS, Hegde P, Sharma M, Kaveri SV, Bayry J Abstract Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) can exert beneficial effects in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases via several mutually non-exclusive mechanisms. While, IVIg can directly modulate the functions of both innate and adaptive immune cells such as dendritic cells (DC), macrophages, B and T cells, several reports have also highlighted that the regulation of immune responses by IVIg can be indirect. In view of these results, we aimed at exploring whether indirect regulation of immune cells by 'IVIg-educated' innate cells is a universal phenomenon. We addressed this question by deciphering the modulation of B cell functions by 'IVIg-educated' DC. Our results indicate that human B cells are resistant to immunomodulation ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5178694 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5178694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5157686&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21856453%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lepse N, Abdulahad WH, Kallenberg CG, Heeringa P Abstract A group of primary vasculitides is associated with the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA). In these diseases, the contribution of ANCA to disease pathogenesis has been studied extensively. Also, in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides, the T lymphocyte compartment is dysregulated, as aberrant distribution and function of T cell subsets has been shown. In this review we will discuss the putative role of T lymphocytes in inflammation and granuloma formation, as well as the involvement of B cell compartments in the pathophysiology of ANCA-associated vasculitis. PMID: 21856453 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5157686 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5157686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5157687&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21855656%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Arnaud L, Haroche J, Mathian A, Gorochov G, Amoura Z Abstract While our knowledge of the pathogenesis of Takayasu's arteritis (TA) has considerably improved during the last decade, the exact pathogenic sequence remains to be elucidated. It is now hypothesised that an unknown stimulus triggers the expression of the 65kDa Heat-shock protein in the aortic tissue which, in turn, induces the Major Histocompatibility Class I Chain-Related A (MICA) on vascular cells. The γδ T cells and NK cells expressing NKG2D receptors recognize MICA on vascular smooth muscle cells and release perforin, resulting in acute vascular inflammation. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are released and increase the recruitment of mononuclear cells within the vascular wall. T cells infiltrate and recognize o... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5157687 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5157687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5141980&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21840425%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Anaya JM, Kim-Howard X, Prahalad S, Cherñavsky A, Cañas C, Rojas-Villarraga A, Bohnsack J, Jonsson R, Bolstad AI, Brun JG, Cobb B, Moser KL, James JA, Harley JB, Nath SK Abstract Many autoimmune diseases (ADs) share similar underlying pathology and have a tendency to cluster within families, supporting the involvement of shared susceptibility genes. To date, most of the genetic variants associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility also show association with others ADs. ITGAM and its associated 'predisposing' variant (rs1143679, Arg77His), predicted to alter the tertiary structures of the ligand-binding domain of ITGAM, may play a key role for SLE pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to examine whether the ITGAM variant is also associated with other... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5141980 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5141980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5141981&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21835271%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Murdaca G, Colombo BM, Puppo F Abstract B-cells abnormalities leading to autoantibody production play a central role in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. B-cell targeted therapies, including anti-B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, are at forefront of new SLE treatments. Biologic agents targeting specific pathways (i.e. T-B lymphocyte interaction, cytokines and complement) have been also proposed as new tools for SLE treatment. In this review we will focus on biological drugs whose potential efficacy has been evaluated in open-label and randomized clinical trials. PMID: 21835271 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5141981 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5141981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5141982&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21821153%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: Rituximab may be regarded as useful and safe pathogenetic treatment of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. The actual role of this drug should be definitely confirmed by randomized controlled trials, as well as its position in the therapeutical strategy, mainly with respect to antiviral treatment in HCV-associated MCs. PMID: 21821153 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5141982 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5141982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5106273&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21802531%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shetty S, Ghosh K PMID: 21802531 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5106273 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5106273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5106272&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21803174%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Caserta V, Sorock N, Destefano F PMID: 21803174 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5106272 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5106272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5106274&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21782980%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zakka LR, Reche P, Ahmed AR Pemphigoid (Pg) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease that affects the elderly population. The phenotype can be Bullous Pemphigoid (BP), which primarily involves the skin, or Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (MMP), which primarily involves mucus membranes. Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid (OCP) and Oral Pemphigoid (OP) are subsets of MMP. The known antigens in BP are Bullous Pemphigoid Antigen 1 (BPAG1, also known as BP230), Bullous Pemphigoid Antigen 2 (BPAG2, also known as BP180), and subunits of human integrins α6 and β4. The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) allele HLA-DQβ1*0301 has been reported to be associated with enhanced susceptibility to all of these subsets. Sera of patients with the four subsets are characterized by the presence of ant... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5106274 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5106274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5058873&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21763790%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Miserocchi E, Pontikaki I, Modorati G, Gattinara M, Meroni PL, Gerloni V Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the CD20 antigen expressed on B cells and widely used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis. There is a growing amount of literature which suggests that rituximab may be useful for inflammatory ocular diseases and intraocular lymphoma. Few cases have been reported on treatment of refractory scleritis, peripherative ulcerative keratitis, uveitis and ocular surface inflammatory disorders. Rituximab may be effective in the treatment of ocular inflammatory diseases in particular the most aggressive, recalcitrant and sight-threatening forms of inflammation such as uveitis associated to juvenile idiopathic arthritis. We review the... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5058873 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5058873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5058872&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21777703%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nakken B, Munthe LA, Konttinen YT, Sandberg AK, Szekanecz Z, Alex P, Szodoray P Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects primarily the joints and without proper treatment results in their progressive destruction. In addition to T-cells, B-cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The synovial tissue is an active site of B-cell accumulation, plasma cell differentiation and in situ antibody-production in RA. As part of the complex role of B-cells in the joints and synovial membrane of RA patients, B cells secrete chemokines and cytokines and may function as antigen presenting cells. The multifaceted pathogenic function of B-cells identifies them as excellent targets for immunosuppressive therapy. B-cell targeting involves a wid... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5058872 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5058872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5058876&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21763466%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hsieh CC, Lin BF Cytokines play the active roles in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and contribute significantly to the immune imbalance in this disease. Conservative therapeutic approaches, such as dietary modifications have been shown to have some beneficial impact on the disease activity of the SLE. Over the past years, accumulating evidences have supported a major role for specific dietary factors, including calorie restriction, n-3/n-6 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, phytoestrogens or herbal medicine in the regulation of cytokines involved in SLE development. Although there are many reviews that discuss the issue of nutrition and immunity, there are relatively few articles that focus on the regulation of cytokines by dietary factors. T... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5058876 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5058876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5058875&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21763467%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, air pollution is one of the environmental factors involved in systemic inflammation and autoimmunity. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate air pollutants and their potentially serious effects on autoimmune rheumatic diseases and the mechanisms involved in the onset and the exacerbation of these diseases. PMID: 21763467 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5058875 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5058875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5058874&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21763468%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Selmi C There is now growing evidence that autoimmunity is the common trait connecting multiple clinical phenotypes albeit differences in tissue specificity, pathogenetic mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches cannot be overlooked. Over the past years we witnessed a constant growth of the number of publications related to autoimmune diseases in peer-reviewed journals of the immunology area. Original data referred to factors from common injury pathways (i.e. T helper 17 cells, serum autoantibodies, or vitamin D) and specific diseases such as multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. As an example, the issue of a latitudinal gradient in the prevalence and incidence rates has been proposed for all autoimmune diseases and was recently coined as ge... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5058874 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5058874 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5058878&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21741497%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Op De Beeck K, Vermeersch P, Verschueren P, Westhovens R, Mariën G, Blockmans D, Bossuyt X Testing for antinuclear antibodies is useful for the diagnosis of systemic rheumatic diseases. Solid phase assays are increasingly replacing indirect immunofluorescence for detection of antinuclear antibodies. In the most recent generation of solid phase assays, manufacturers attempt to improve the performance of the assays by adding extra antigens. Solid phase assay (EliA CTD Screen, Phadia, in which antibodies to 17 antigens are detected) was compared to indirect immunofluorescence for the detection of antinuclear antibodies in diagnostic samples of 236 patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases, in 149 healthy blood donors, 139 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, and 134... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5058878 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5058878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5058880&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21740984%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marie I, Mouthon L Because polymyositis and dermatomyositis (PM/DM) are uncommon conditions, few randomized placebo controlled studies have been performed in these patients. The first line of therapy consists in high-dose oral prednisone, prescribed at 1mg/kg/day, then progressively tapered based on patients' clinical response. In patients who do not improve with corticosteroids alone, methotrexate is added, the therapeutic effect of which being observed within 8weeks. If PM/DM patients are refractory to corticosteroids and methotrexate, intravenous immunoglobulins can be added. In patients who fail to respond to this therapeutic strategy, it is crucial to make sure that the correct diagnosis has been made and we strongly recommend to perform a new muscle biopsy in order to ex... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5058880 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5058880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5058879&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21740985%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Santodomingo-Garzon T, Swain MG The three main broad categories of autoimmune liver disease are autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). The etiologies of these diseases are still incompletely understood, but seem to involve a combination of immune, genetic and environmental factors. Although each of these diseases has relatively distinct clinical, serologic and histological profiles, all of them share common pathways of immune-mediated liver injury. The development of autoimmune liver diseases is thought to be due to an imbalance of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune responses within the liver, with proinflammatory immune responses being upregulated and anti-inflammatory ones downregulated. The available ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5058879 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5058879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5058877&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21741498%26dopt%3DAbstract This study, supported by a Regional grant for innovative research projects started in January 2008, is an observational research aimed at comparing the number of ANA, anti-dsDNA and anti-ENA testing as well as the percentage of positive test results before and after implementation of the diagnostic algorithm in hospitalized patients. A multidisciplinary team consisting of clinical immunologist and laboratory scientists was established, with the aim of collecting and analysing diagnostic criteria, clinical needs, laboratory report formats, analytical procedures, as well as the number of tests performed. The laboratory results and the clinical protocol were both validated by data emerging from the clinical follow-up studies. RESULTS: A joint guideline for auto-antibody testing, placing ANA t... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5058877 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5058877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5011319&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21726670%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: This cumulative meta-analysis does not demonstrate an association of TLR4 (+896 A/G) gene polymorphism with susceptibility to GCA. Further studies using larger samples and in populations from different geographic origins are needed to determine the exact role of TLR4 gene polymorphisms in GCA. PMID: 21726670 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5011319 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5011319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4963143&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21684355%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ramonda R, Lo Nigro A, Modesti V, Nalotto L, Musacchio E, Iaccarino L, Punzi L, Doria A The atherosclerotic process is accelerated in several autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Effector cells of innate and adaptive immunity along with pro-inflammatory cytokines and other immune mediators are found in atherosclerotic lesions, where they play an important role in induction, progression and rupture of plaques. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by arthritis, enthesitis, dactilytis, osteitis, and axial involvement, along with skin manifestations. PsA is frequently associated with obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, accelerated atherosclerosis and with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Disease-specific and traditional r... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4963143 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4963143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4963146&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21664302%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Haylock-Jacobs S, Keough MB, Lau L, Yong VW The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of scaffolding molecules that also plays an important role in cell signalling, migration and tissue structure. In the central nervous system (CNS), the ECM is integral to the efficient development/guidance and survival of neurons and axons. However, changes in distribution of the ECM in the CNS may significantly enhance pathology in CNS disease or following injury. One group of ECM proteins that is important for CNS homeostasis is the chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs). Up-regulation of these molecules has been demonstrated to be both desirable and detrimental following CNS injury. Taking cues from arthritis, where there is a strong anti-CSPG immune response, there is eviden... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4963146 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4963146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4963145&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21664497%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brandão M, Marinho A Adult idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, commonly referred to as myositis, are a heterogeneous group of diseases with an autoimmune etiology. In this review, the authors are going to focus on myositis excluding inclusion body myositis. They will review the prognostic factors (for mortality and response to steroids), define refractory disease, introduce a new concept (presumed refractory disease), analyze definitions of active disease, damage and improvement criteria, and summarize therapeutic alternatives for refractory patients, based on different disease phenotypes. PMID: 21664497 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4963145 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4963145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871834&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21601657%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vasconcelos C, Kallenberg C, Shoenfeld Y PMID: 21601657 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871834 Mon, 16 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871836&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21600312%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rutgers A, Kallenberg CG Refractory vasculitis occurs in 4-5% of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis (AAV). Differences between therapies used for refractory disease are mostly reflected in the percentages of complete and partial remissions, but also in the number of serious side effects. Rituximab is considered the most safe second line therapy and should be advocated as a first alternative choice for cyclophosphamide in disease induction in refractory AAV. PMID: 21600312 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871836 Tue, 10 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871835&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21600313%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Campar A, Farinha F, Vasconcelos C There is no definition or guidelines for refractory disease (RD) in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). However, new therapies have been tested mainly in refractory patients. The concept, like the disease, is complex and implies deeper knowledge on the disease pathogenesis and patients' subsets. RD is not included in current activity indices of the disease, what raises the question of how are we monitoring its response to new drugs. In this paper, we analyse some concepts considered important for the global definition of RD in SLE and in some specific organ involvements, excluding lupus nephritis. Management issues will be addressed also. Finally, we review therapeutic options in particular subsets of the disease, namely, cutaneous, articular... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871835 Tue, 10 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871839&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21575744%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Arnaud L, Zahr N, Costedoat-Chalumeau N, Amoura Z Treatment of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) who have active disease refractory to current therapeutic strategies continues to be a real challenge. Here, we propose that the classic definition of refractory SLE patients - failure to achieve adequate response to the standard of care - should be further refined to incorporate the dimension of adequate drug exposure. Inter-individual pharmacokinetic variability may induce insufficient exposure to many drugs used in SLE, leading to both apparent inefficacy of treatments and inappropriate therapeutic escalation. Among others, we have shown that individual assessment of exposure to mycophenolic acid, the active metabolite of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) could be used ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871839 Mon, 09 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871838&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21575745%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Almeida I, Faria R, Vita P, Vasconcelos C Systemic sclerosis or scleroderma (SSc) is an heterogeneous disease involving the connective tissue and the microvasculature with fibrosis and vascular occlusion. It is difficult to define refractory SSc once it is itself a paradigm of a refractory condition: there is no evidence of when to act to stop the progression to fibrosis and irreversible microvascular damage. There is no definition of refractory disease in SSc and to propose a definition we used mainly the Medsger severity index and the EULAR 2009 treatment recommendations from the skin to the heart through peripheral vascular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, renal, pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease. We used some clinical setting reflecting the different ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871838 Fri, 06 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871837&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21575746%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Costenbader KH, Prescott J, Zee RY, De Vivo I The pathogenesis of RA, a disabling autoimmune disease, is incompletely understood. Early in the development of RA there appears to be loss of immune homeostasis and regulation, and premature immunosenescence. While identification of risk factors and understanding of the phases of RA pathogenesis are advancing, means of accurately predicting an individual's risk of developing RA are currently lacking. Telomere length has been proposed as a potential new biomarker for the development of RA that could enhance prediction of this serious disease. Studies examining telomere length in relation to RA have found that telomere erosion appears to proceed more rapidly in subjects with RA than in healthy controls, and that telomere lengths are... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871837 Fri, 06 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871842&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21570494%26dopt%3DAbstract We present here the preliminary results in the first 27 patients enrolled. The overall response rate in 24 evaluable patients was 79%, and the mean time to relapse was 6.5months, similar to the 6.7months reported in studies with high-dose rituximab. Side effects were comparable to those seen in patients treated with high-dose. Increase of HCV viral load, reported in some high-dose studies, was not observed in our patients. Low-dose rituximab may provide a more cost/effective and possibly safer alternative for treating refractory HCV-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia. PMID: 21570494 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871842 Wed, 04 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871841&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21570495%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rosenblum H, Amital H Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy has been revolutionized in recent years following the introduction of three main anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors (anti-TNF) agents, infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept. Evidence in the literature indicates that patients treated with anti-TNF agents are at increased risk for bacterial infections, but it is not clear if this is a result of the treatment or of disease severity. The treatment has been recognized as a clear risk factor for reactivation of latent TB infections. So far, observational studies have not indicated any increased overall risk of cancer in RA patients treated with anti-TNF. The overall risk of lymphoma in these patients does not appear to differ greatly from that recorded among untreated ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871841 Wed, 04 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871840&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21570496%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Polido-Pereira J, Vieira-Sousa E, Fonseca JE Despite the enthusiastic progresses in the field of rheumatoid arthritis pharmacotherapy the presence of prognostic factors associated with an unfavorable outcome and the inappropriate and/or delayed initiation of DMARDs can diminish the likelihood of achieving remission and increase the probability of refractoriness to treatment. During the last decade we have experience exciting developments regarding the approval of new treatment options but few patients are reaching sustained remission and refractory patients continue to be a problem. Thus, it is critical to understand how clinicians can decrease the risk of refractoriness by close monitoring disease activity, using well defined and accepted composite measures, and by early and ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871840 Wed, 04 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871845&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21565286%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pons-Estel GJ, Serrano R, Plasín MA, Espinosa G, Cervera R Although the survival of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) has improved considerably in recent years, refractory LN appears in a substantial proportion of patients and, therefore, treatment of LN remains a real challenge today. We will use the term "refractory" LN, for those cases with none or partial response to first-line therapies. In this sense, numerous epidemiological factors, including racial, socioeconomic, histological and serological parameters, may influence treatment response and, therefore, may have an impact on the outcome of renal involvement. Initial conventional therapy will depend somewhat on these epidemiological factors. If this initial therapy fails, fortunately today we have alternative therapie... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871845 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871844&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21569863%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Espinosa G, Berman H, Cervera R The catastrophic variant of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is the most severe form of APS with acute multiple organ involvement and small vessel thrombosis. Refractory catastrophic APS may be defined as patients who did not respond to first-line therapies (anticoagulation, glucocorticoids and plasma exchange and/or intravenous immunoglobulins) and died in the acute phase of the episode or patients with recurrent episodes of catastrophic APS. The purpose of this review is to focus on the current management of these refractory patients and some of the potential new therapeutic approaches. PMID: 21569863 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871844 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4871843&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21569864%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: TPE is an effective therapeutic option for treating serious manifestations of systemic autoimmune diseases and a valid option for those patients with refractory disease to conventional treatments. PMID: 21569864 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4871843 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4871843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815849&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21558021%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Scoble T, Wijetilleka S, Khamashta MA Anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune prothrombotic disorder characterised by the predisposition to venous and/or arterial thrombosis and obstetric morbidity. Management of APS centres on attenuating the procoagulant state whilst balancing the risks of anticoagulant therapy. Cases of recurrent thromboses and obstetric complications occur despite optimum therapy. Alternative therapies for refractory cases are subject to disparity among clinicians due to the current lack of clinical evidence present. This review aims to address the current management strategies for refractory thrombotic and obstetric cases and future therapeutic interventions. The role and current clinical evidence of using long term low molecular weight heparin ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815849 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815850&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21549861%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liakouli V, Cipriani P, Marrelli A, Alvaro S, Ruscitti P, Giacomelli R Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by a widespread microangiopathy, autoimmunity and fibrosis of the skin and of various internal organs. Microangiopathy is characterized by a reduced capillary density and an irregular chaotic architecture that lead to chronic tissue hypoxia. Despite the hypoxic conditions, there is no evidence for a sufficient compensative angiogenesis in SSc. Furthermore, vasculogenesis is also impaired. An imbalance between angiogenic and angiostatic factors might explain the pathogenetic mechanisms of SSc vasculopathy. As far as angiogenic factors are concerned, within the most important are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its rece... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815850 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815857&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21545849%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alessandri C, Conti F, Pendolino M, Mancini R, Valesini G The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by arterial and venous thrombosis, recurrent miscarriages or fetal loss, and circulating antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for anticardiolipin and anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies and clotting assays for the lupus anticoagulant are the tests recommended for detecting aPL. However, the aPL are a heterogeneous group of antibodies directed against anionic phospholipids but also toward phospholipid-binding plasma proteins or phospholipid-protein complexes. β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) is the playmaker antigen of APS, however during apoptosis, lysophospholipids can become exposed on the cell surface, and mainly thr... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815857 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815855&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21545851%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marrelli A, Cipriani P, Liakouli V, Carubbi F, Perricone C, Perricone R, Giacomelli R Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from existing vessels. During RA new blood vessels can maintain the chronic inflammatory state by transporting inflammatory cells to the site of inflammation and supplying nutrients and oxygen to the proliferating inflamed tissue. The increased endothelial surface area also creates an enormous capacity for the production of cytokines, adhesion molecules, and other inflammatory stimuli, simultaneously the propagation of new vessels in the synovial membrane allows the invasion of this tissue supporting the active infiltration of synovial membrane into cartilage and resulting in erosions and destruction of the cartilage. This angiogenic phenotyp... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815855 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815853&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21549221%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ballanti E, Perricone C, di Muzio G, Kroegler B, Chimenti MS, Graceffa D, Perricone R The complement system is an essential component of innate immunity and also plays an important role in modulating adaptive immunity. It comprises more than 30 plasma and membrane-bound proteins and can be activated through three pathways: the classical, the alternative and the lectin pathways. Its activation contributes to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. The evidence of complement activation in synovial fluid of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients is abundant, while few data exist in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) patients. Levels of complement proteins are generally depressed in the synovial fluid of patients with RA, reflecting consumption of complement. On the... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815853 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815852&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21549859%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: This prospective study suggests that some cases of cryofibrinogenemia that are initially considered as essential, may have underlying lymphoma. Thus, we further suggest that regular follow-up should be performed in patients with essential cryofibrinogenemia. PMID: 21549859 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815852 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815851&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21549860%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alexoudi I, Kanakis M, Kapsimali V, Vaiopoulos G Kawasaki disease (KD) is a vasculitis that affects mainly children of 6months to 4years old. It is important to be early recognised so as to limit the inflammatory cascade that may lead to aneurysmatic dilatations of coronary arteries. The causative agent of KD has not been still indentified and the aetiopathogenetic theories are based on epidemiologic, laboratory and histological data. The management of the disease is divided according to the clinical stage and patients' follow up should be continued for years after the disease onset. The exact period is determined by the risk level of the KD. PMID: 21549860 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815851 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815861&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21539939%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cacciapaglia F, Navarini L, Menna P, Salvatorelli E, Minotti G, Afeltra A Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and heart failure (HF). Over the last years RA could benefit from TNFa inhibitors that mitigated disease activity, decreased structural damage, and prevented cardiovascular events. Contraindications to clinical use of TNFa inhibitors may include infections, autoimmune disorders, demyelinating disease, cancer, and heart failure. Overall, these pathological conditions do not appear to increase significantly during treatment with TNFa antagonists compared to placebo. Clinical trials probed these drugs in non RA HF patients produced disappointing results and formed the basis to contraindicate TNFa in... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815861 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815860&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21539940%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gremese E, Ferraccioli G Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have an incidence of cardiovascular (CV) diseases at least two times higher than the general population. Atherosclerosis, the main determinant of CV morbidity and mortality, and carotid intima-media thickness, an early preclinical marker of atherosclerosis, also occur early on in RA. Traditional CV risk factors seem to have the same prevalence in RA and non-RA patients, and thus do not fully explain the increased CV burden, suggesting that RA inflammation and therapies play a role in increasing CV risk in these patients. The metabolic syndrome and fat tissue are likely to be the major players in this complex network. The metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that have in common ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815860 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815859&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21545847%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Perricone C, Ceccarelli F, Valesini G Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory, multi-factorial disease sustained by environmental and genetic factors. These seem to be necessary but not sufficient in the disease development, nonetheless they can be responsible of different clinical pictures and response to therapy, and they can represent potential therapeutic targets. Several genes have been indicated so far in the pathogenesis of RA. The most important region is the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) that contributes to approximately half of the genetic susceptibility for RA. The association seems to be stronger or specific for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies positive disease. Several alleles in the epitope-recognition part of the HLA molecule that sho... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815859 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815858&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21545848%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rigon A, Buzzulini F, Soda P, Onofri L, Arcarese L, Iannello G, Afeltra A The recommended method for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) detection is IIF but it is influenced by many different factors. In order to pursue a high image quality without artefacts and to reduce inter-observer variability, this study aims to evaluate the reliability of using automatically acquired digital images for diagnostic purposes. In this paper we present SLIM-system a comprehensive system that supports the two sides of IIF tests classification. It is based on two systems: the first labels the fluorescence intensity, whereas the second recognizes the staining pattern of positive wells. We populated a dataset of 600 images obtained from sera screened for ANA by IIF on Hep-2 cells. The error rate has b... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815858 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815856&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21545850%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bosello S, De Luca G, Tolusso B, Lama G, Angelucci C, Sica G, Ferraccioli G Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in the skin and other visceral organs and it is associated with immune activation characterized by autoantibody production, release of various cytokines and T-lymphocyte activation. Several recent lines of evidence in animal models and in SSc patients indicate a potential role for B cells in the SSc. B cells have arisen as a possible player in tissue fibrosis in some experimental models and, since IL-6 produced by B cells, along with TGF-β, may induce matrix synthesis and less collagen degradation, targeting B cells could be one way to reduce ECM deposition and reduce the inflammatory bac... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815856 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815854&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21549220%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cipriani P, Marrelli A, Liakouli V, Di Benedetto P, Giacomelli R Vascular endothelial injury in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) leads to pathological changes in the blood vessels that adversely impact the physiology of many organs, resulting in chronic tissue ischemia. The response to hypoxia induces complex cellular and molecular mechanisms in the attempt to recover endothelial cell function and tissue perfusion. The progressive losses of capillaries on one hand, and the vascular remodeling of arteriolar vessels on the other, result in insufficient blood flow, causing severe and chronic hypoxia. Hypoxia is a major stimulus of angiogenesis, leading to the expression of pro-angiogenic molecules, mainly of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which triggers the angiogenic process... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815854 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815863&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21536151%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chimenti MS, Graceffa D, Perricone R Anti-TNFα blockers have rapidly become a standard treatment for rheumatoid (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) because of their acceptable safety profile and efficacy. Clinical and radiological remission may now be a realistic outcome and constitutes the best achievable state. However, clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements on the criteria of introduction, duration and cessation of treatment are under constant revision. Evidence supports that the early use of biologic DMARDs would produce rapid and sustained suppression of inflammatory disease and preserve function and joint erosions. Proof of this concept, anti-TNFα agents would be effective in maintaining response after cessation of treatment. Conversely, when therapy with... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815863 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815862&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21536152%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Conigliaro P, Scrivo R, Valesini G, Perricone R Natural killer (NK) cells are large, granular lymphocytes devoted to the defense against microbial agents and cancer cells, traditionally recognized as an important arm of the innate immunity, even if more recent data underpin a role also in the responses of acquired immunity. Several studies have led to ascertain that NK cells are involved in the pathogenesis of many immune-mediated diseases, where they may exert both protective and pathogenic roles. In particular, the CD56(bright) NK cell subset, showing immunoregulatory properties, has been found to accumulate in tissue sites of inflammation, such as the skin lesions in psoriatic patients and the synovial membrane in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. In this latter disease, ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815862 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815864&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21527362%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Iaccarino L, Ghirardello A, Canova M, Zen M, Bettio S, Nalotto L, Punzi L, Doria A Annexins are a group of 12 highly conserved proteins which exert several regulatory functions on cell biology. There are involved in numerous cell processes including vesicle trafficking, calcium signaling, cell growth, division, and apoptosis. Autoantibodies directed toward annexin I, II, V and XI have been reported, but their role and their clinical correlates are controversial. Annexin I exerts an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing the generation of inflammatory mediators and anti-annexin I antibodies were detected in patients affected with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic (SLE) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Annexin II and V have a high affinity for phospholipids playing a pivotal rol... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815864 Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815865&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21527361%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sagi L, Baum S, Agmon-Levin N, Sherer Y, Katz BS, Barzilai O, Ram M, Bizzaro N, Sanmarco M, Trau H, Shoenfeld Y Pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid are two autoimmune diseases that have a similar pathogenesis. Both have a genetic predisposition which promotes the production of auto-antibodies targeted against different components of the epidermal desmosome and hemidesmosome. Environmental factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of this autoimmune disease. Among these, the role of infectious agents was debated as a causative factor. We sought to determine a possible connection between various infectious agents and autoimmune bullous disease (ABD). A cohort of 148 serum samples of patients with pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid and controls was screened for evidence of a pri... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815865 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815866&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21515413%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: García-Carrasco M, Jiménez-Hernández C, Jiménez-Hernández M, Voorduin-Ramos S, Mendoza-Pinto C, Ramos-Alvarez G, Montiel-Jarquin A, Rojas-Rodríguez J, Cervera R Susac's syndrome is an infrequent neurological disorder characterized by the clinical triad of encephalopathy, hearing loss, and branch retinal artery occlusions. Its pathophysiology is not entirely clear, although it is now thought that it is most probably an immune-mediated endotheliopathy that affects the microvasculature of the brain, retina, and inner ear. An early diagnosis is important as treatment can halt disease progression and prevent permanent disability. PMID: 21515413 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815866 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815867&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21513817%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hu N, Westra J, Kallenberg CG The interplay between neutrophils and endothelial cells allows ANCA to become pathogenic and results in uncontrolled inflammation in the vessel wall. This review presents an overall view on neutrophil-endothelial interaction during inflammation with a focus on ANCA-associated vasculitis, and summarizes the effector mechanisms which cause vascular damage in AAV. In addition, potential elements for disease intervention based on this process are discussed. PMID: 21513817 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815867 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815868&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21511061%26dopt%3DAbstract In this report the clinical course after an ascending aorta and aortic valve replacement in a 32 year-old caucasian woman is described. Perhaps, time has come for a worldwide challenge to create an updated score to quantify damage in SLE patients. PMID: 21511061 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815868 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815869&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21497675%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ospelt C, Reedquist KA, Gay S, Tak PP Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease leading to joint destruction. Synovial fibroblasts are recognized as key cells in the pathogenesis of RA since they attract and activate immune cells and produce matrix degrading enzymes. Most notably synovial fibroblasts from patients with RA are stably activated and produce high levels of disease-promoting molecules without further stimulation by immune cells. Accumulating data suggest that epigenetic changes in stromal cell populations might be crucially involved in the pathology of RA and other chronic inflammatory diseases. In the current review, we discuss the mechanisms by which epigenetic changes might cause the stable activation of synovial fibroblasts in RA and how chang... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815869 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4815870&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21497208%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Balsamo S, Santos-Neto LD Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by fatigue; however, little research has been performed to identify non-pharmacological strategies, such as physical exercise, that can be employed in the prevention and treatment of fatigue in patients with SLE. Moreover, it is not clear whether physical fitness (defined here as cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength) and functional capacities are related to SLE-associated fatigue. Here, we review the studies, mechanisms and results that relate to SLE-associated fatigue. The main findings indicate that SLE patients have lower cardiovascular capacity than healthy subjects. Physical fitness, muscle strength and functional capacity are also lower in patients with SLE t... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4815870 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4815870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4710906&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21447407%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ghillani P, André C, Toly C, Rouquette AM, Bengoufa D, Nicaise P, Goulvestre C, Gleizes A, Dragon-Durey MA, Alyanakian MA, Chretien P, Chollet-Martin S, Musset L, Weill B, Johanet C Ro52 antigen has recently been identified as TRIM21 protein, but the clinical significance of anti-Ro52/TRIM21 antibodies remains controversial. The aim of this multicentric study was to investigate the significance of anti-Ro52 antibodies without anti-SSA/Ro60 antibodies in various connective diseases. Sera were selected by each laboratory using its own method (ELISA, immunodot or Luminex technology), and then performed with ANA Screen BioPlex™ reagent (BIO-RAD). Among the 247 screened sera, 155/247 (63%) were confirmed as anti-Ro52 positive and anti-SSA/Ro60 negative. These sera were analyzed ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4710906 Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4710906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4655730&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21440682%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: In Caucasians, we highlighted the definite protective role of HLA-DRB1*14 and DRB1*07 for MS. DRB1*03 is probably the only risk factor for MS besides DRB1*15 and a common genetic foundation for autoimmune disease. Targeting to these alleles may have potential values in prevention or therapy for MS in the specific population. PMID: 21440682 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4655730 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4655730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4593176&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21397735%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Racanelli V, Prete M, Musaraj G, Dammacco F, Perosa F Autoantibodies to intracellular antigens form a large family of immunoglobulins directed to a variety of ubiquitously expressed intracellular molecules, including numerous enzymes, some ribonucleoproteins and double-stranded DNA. These anti-self antibodies have been found to be selectively expressed in sera of patients with several systemic (non-organ-specific) autoimmune diseases, such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), SLE, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjögren's syndrome and idiopathic myopathies. Despite their important diagnostic and prognostic value and their utility in assessing disease activity, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in their generation and role in autoimmune diseases nor is it known ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4593176 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4593176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4593178&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21362559%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chighizola C, Shoenfeld Y, Meroni PL PMID: 21362559 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4593178 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4593178 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4593177&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21376142%26dopt%3DAbstract In this report, we compared the effect of different IVIg products on IL-17 production by human Th17 cells. We found that irrespective of products, IgGs of all IVIg preparations were equally effective in inhibiting the production of IL-17A from Th17 cells. PMID: 21376142 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4593177 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4593177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4593179&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21354338%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sellner J, Kraus J, Awad A, Milo R, Hemmer B, Stüve O Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common acquired inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). Not unlike many inflammatory diseases with a presumed autoimmune pathogenesis, it has been established that there is a female preponderance in prevalence. While in the past it was shown that there are two women for every man with a diagnosis of MS, recent serial cross-sectional assessments provide compelling evidence for an increase of the female to male sex ratio in patients with relapsing-remitting MS over the last decades. An understanding of this phenomenon might provide key insights into the pathogenesis of the disease but also may have implications for health-care strategies and further researc... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4593179 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4593179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4593180&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21334464%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sandoval-Cruz M, García-Carrasco M, Sánchez-Porras R, Mendoza-Pinto C, Jiménez-Hernández M, Munguía-Realpozo P, Ruiz-Argüelles A Vitiligo is a common depigmenting disorder which may have devastating psychological and social consequences and is characterized by the presence of circumscribed white macules in the skin due to the destruction of melanocytes in the epidermis. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the pathomechanisms involved in this disease, and studies have shown the participation of autoimmune processes in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Cellular and humoral immunity has been implicated in the development of vitiligo and their role continues to be investigated. Peripheral blood and skin biopsies of patients with vitiligo show that T-cells, mononucle... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4593180 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4593180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4593181&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21333759%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liao WW, Arthur JW The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) constitutes an important part of the human immune system. During infection, pathogenic proteins are processed into peptide fragments by the antigen processing machinery. These peptides bind to MHC molecules and the MHC-peptide complex is then transported to the cell membrane where it elicits an immune response via T-cell binding. Understanding the molecular mechanism of this process will greatly assist in determining the aetiology of various diseases and in the design of effective drugs. One of the most challenging aspects of this area of research is understanding the specificity and sensitivity of the binding process. An empirical approach to the problem is unfeasible as there are over 512 billion potential binding... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4593181 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4593181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4593183&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21320644%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lin YT, Wang CT, Gershwin ME, Chiang BL Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has had a long and difficult problem with classification. It is clearly a heterogeneous and multi-factorial autoimmune disease but all too often the distinctions among subtypes were unclear. In fact, there is now increasing evidence of a distinct pathogenesis of oligo/polyarticular JIA compared to systemic JIA. Oligo/polyarticular JIA is an antigen-driven lymphocyte-mediated autoimmune disease with abnormality in the adaptive immune system. Cartilage-derived auto-antigens activate autoreactive T cells including Th1 and Th17 cells with production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17. On the other hand, the inhibition of regulatory T (Treg) cells including natural Foxp3(+) Treg and self-heat sh... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4593183 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4593183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4593182&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21320645%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, Patients with SSc have significantly lower serum vitamin D concentrations compared to healthy controls; moreover fibrosis of the cutaneous tissue is inversely related to the vitamin D concentration. PMID: 21320645 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4593182 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4593182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4481019&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21303705%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: Although there are few controlled randomised trials of MCS treatment, increasing knowledge of its pathogenesis is opening up new frontiers. The recommendations provided may be useful as provisional guidelines for the management of MCS. PMID: 21303705 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Autoimmunity Reviews) Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4481019 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4481019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4481023&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21296190%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Leng RX, Pan HF, Chen GM, Feng CC, Fan YG, Ye DQ, Li XP E26 transformation-specific-1 (Ets-1) belongs to the Ets family of transcription factors which share a common 85-amino-acid DNA-binding domain. Ets-1 is essential to regulation of the immune system including immune cell proliferation and differentiation. Past data demonstrated Ets-1 play a role in negative regulation of Th17 cells and B cells differentiation. Recently, association of genetic variation in Ets-1 with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been independently identified by two Genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and decreased Ets-1mRNA level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients has been reported. All these findings suggest that the transcription factor is broadl... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4481023 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4481023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4481021&cid=s_34528_3_f&fid=34528&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21296192%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chatzikyriakidou A, Voulgari PV, Drosos AA HLA-B27 (Human Leukocyte Antigen-B27) accounts approximately for the one third of the overall genetic susceptibility to spondylorthropathies (SpAs). Up to 70 HLA-B27 subtypes have been reported all over the world with a decreasing north-south gradient of its frequency, which is reverse to that of endemic malaria. In an attempt to explain the possible role of HLA-B27 in SpAs pathogenesis, several theories have been suggested [1. Arthritogenic peptide, 2. Misfolding, 3. Cell surface HLA-B27 homodimers, 4. β2m (β2-microglobulin) deposition, 5. β2m-free/peptide free heavy chains of HLA-I, 6. Enhanced survival of some microbes in HLA-B27 cells, 7. ERAP1/ERAP2 (endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases 1 and 2) and Tapasin function, 8. β2m ... Autoimmunity Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4481021 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4481021