Animals ; Arthritis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans

Background: Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome is an autoimmune disorder with two remarkable symptoms such as dry eyes and dry mouth. Objective: To study the symptoms of dry mouth of Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome after rheumatoid arthritis; To evaluate clinical and subclinical manifestations of dry mouth. Subjects and method: A prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study included 160 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, who treated at Department of Rheumatology of Bach Mai hospital, from 1998 to 2003. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 60 patients with Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome and 100 patients without Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome. Results: The average age of patients with Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome was 54.55 \xb1 10.91 years. The mean time of having dry mouth was 8.65 \xb1 8.39 months. Clinical manifestations of dry mouth were sensation of dry mouth (90%), lost of saliva (80%), drink a lot of water while eating (58.3%), enlargement of parotid glands (15%). Degrees of dry mouth were mild and moderate (36.7%), severe (53.3%). 93.3% of patients decreased total salivary flow.82% of patients had 3 and 4 anatomopathologic stages according to Chilsom classification. Conclusion: Incidence of symptoms of dry mouth was higher significantly in the rheumatoid arthritis patients with Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome than those without Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome.
Arthritis ; Rheumatoid/ pathology ; diagnosis ; Sjogren's Syndrome/ pathology ; diagnosis ; Xerostomia/ pathology ; diagnosis

Background: The minor salivary gland biopsy is an important diagnostic criterion of Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome. Objective: To describe histopathological characteristics of minor salivary gland of Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome combined to rheumatoid arthritis. Subjects and method: A prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study included 108 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, who treated at Department of Rheumatology of Bach Mai hospital, from 1998 to 2003. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 50 patients with Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome and 58 patients without Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome. Results: Characteristics of minor salivary gland biopsy were lymphocytic infiltration of minor salivary glands (96%) with various distribution: periductal (86%), periacinic (72%), perivascular (36%). 78% of cases were plasmocytic infiltration, with periductal distribution (70%). 82% of cases were 3, 4 stages according to Chilsom clsssification. 67.5% of cases had ductal abnormality, glandular atrophy (62%), vascular edema (58%). Conclusion: Incidence of 3, 4 stages according to Chilsom classification was 82% in rheumatoid arthritis patients with Gougerot-Sj\xf6gren syndrome.
Arthritis ; Rheumatoid/ pathology ; diagnosis ; Sjogren's Syndrome/ pathology ; diagnosis ; Salivary Glands ; Minor/ pathology

No abstract available.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Hand/pathology ; Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies/*complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Rheumatoid Factor/blood

No abstract available.
Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Foot Deformities, Acquired/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint/*pathology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVES: To analyze arthritic manifestations in Behcet disease, which is one of the most common manifestations of Behcet disease. METHODS: Among the patients who visited the Rheumatology Division, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Taegu, Korea from March 1997 to February 1998, 35 patients, with more than 3 months follow-up, were compatible for the diagnosis of Behcet disease according to the Shimizu criteria, after exclusion of uncertain or possible Behcet cases. The presence of various manifestations was evaluated. Regarding the joint manifestations, the involved joint, signs and the pattern of the articular symptoms were examined. Basic laboratory tests, HLA studies and simple radiologic studies were done. RESULTS: All 35 patients had evident, recurrent, painful oral ulcers by the study definition. Genital ulcers were found in 29%, skin lesions in 77%, uveitis in 9%, gastrointestinal ulcerations in 6% and vascular manifestations in 6%. Joint manifestations appeared in 97%. Knee(91%), proximal interphalangeal (53%) and metacarpophalangeal joints(21%) were the main sites. Tenderness was prominent in 91% and swelling in 44%. Polyarticular presentation was found in 47%. In most cases (76.4%), the articular symptom was short-lasting. C-reactive protein was likely to be positive in active Behcet disease. HLA B51 was positive in 46%. CONCLUSIONS: In Behcet disease, various manifestations can be found. The arthritic manifestation seems quite common. It may present as seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. Otherwise, it may present as palindromic rheumatism.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood ; Behcet's Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Behcet's Syndrome/blood ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism ; Comparative Study ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Human ; Joints/pathology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Rheumatic Diseases/diagnosis* ; Rheumatic Diseases/blood

OBJECTIVETo compare MR imaging with radiographs in detection of the erosions of the wrists in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSIn 50 wrists of 25 patients with RA, radiographs of AP projection and MR imaging examination were performed within 1 week. The MRI sequences were SE T1-weighted image, FSE T2-weighted image, and GE T2* weighted image in coronal plane. Gd-DTPA enhanced SE T1-weighted image with same parameters of pre-contrast administration SE T1WI was performed in 25 wrists, which showed prominent lesions in each 25 patients.

RESULTSIn 50 wrists of 25 patients with RA, bone erosions were found by MR images compared to radiographs in 46 versus 14 wrists, respectively. There were 170 sites of carpal erosions found by MR images, while radiographs found only 23 sites of carpal erosions. Among them triquetrum and lunate were the most frequently involved sites. Significant difference (P < 0.001) was statistically found between conventional radiography and MR imaging in detection of erosions of the wrists of RA. MR imaging also permitted demonstrating synovitis and joint effusion in the wrists. Gd-DTPA-enhanced images allowed distinguishing pannus changes from joint effusion.

CONCLUSIONMRI is superior to conventional radiography with respect to detection of bone erosion in wrists. For those whose conventional radiographs show suspected RA, MRI examination should be advised for the early diagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Wrist Joint ; pathology

Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; epidemiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Shoulder Dislocation ; epidemiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Shoulder Fractures ; epidemiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Shoulder Joint ; pathology ; surgery ; Shoulder Pain ; epidemiology ; pathology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune inflammatory disorder. Many methods have been used to observe the progress of RA. The purpose of this study was to observe the progress of RA in rats with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and arthritis score, and analyze the relationships among different methods in evaluation of RA.

METHODSSixteen healthy Sprague Dawley (SD) rats about 8-week old were randomly assigned to a RA group and a control group. Bovine type II emulsified incomplete Freud's adjuvant was used to induce arthritis in the RA group. Arthritis score of the rats in two groups were recorded, and (18)F-FDG PET/CT, MR imaging were performed both on the corresponding rats every 3 days. All the rats were sacrificed at week 5, and histopathological examination was performed on rat knees stained with haematoxylin and eosin.

RESULTSThe arthritis score and the standard uptake value (SUV) of knee joints in RA rats increased with the progression of arthritis gradually. Both peaks of arthritis score and SUV appeared at 21 days after the first immune injection, then the arthritis score and SUV of knee joints decreased slowly. The arthritis scores of knee joints in RA rats were positively correlated with their SUV changes. The MR images were confirmed by the histopathological studies.

CONCLUSIONPET/CT can detect the earliest molecular metabolism changes of RA, and MR imaging can follow up the dynamical anatomical changes of RA, all of which indicated that PET/CT and MR imaging may be applied as useful tools to monitor the progress of RA.

Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocyte apoptosis gene in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with cold dampness type (CDT), and to explore its correlation with clinical indicators of RA.

METHODSSixteen RA patients with CDT (as the RA group) and 16 healthy subjects (as the normal control group) were recruited. CD4 T cell apoptosis rate was detected in the RA group and the normal control group using FCM. mRNA expressions of fas, fasL, caspase-3, caspase-8, bcl-2, and bax were detected using RT-PCR. Correlations between the expression of apoptosis gene and clinical activity indicators of RA (ESR, CRP, RF, CCP, integrals for Chinese medial symptoms, morning stiffness time, joint tenderness number, joint swelling number, DAS28-3) were analyzed.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rate of CD4+ T was significantly lower in the RA group than in the control group [(2. 6 +/- 0.9) % vs. (7.7 +/- 1.3) %, P < 0.01]. mRNA expression levels of fas, fasL, caspase-8, caspase-3, and bax mRNA of CD4+ T significantly decreased, but bcl-2 mRNA expression increased in the RA group (P < 0.01). The apoptosis rate of CD4+ T was negatively correlated with ESR (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of caspase-8 was negatively correlated with joint swelling number (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of bcl-2 was negatively correlated with integrals for Chinese medial-symptoms and joint function classification (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONApoptosis obstacle exists in peripheral blood CD4 +T lymphocyte of RA patients, and is closely related to disease activity.

Apoptosis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger