Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by a chronic inflammatory synovitis, eventually leading to destruction of bone and cartilage. Significant hyperplasia and infiltration of activated inflammatory cells play a major role in the destruction of joint. The proliferation of synovial cells could be derived from imbalance between apoptotic cell death and excessive proliferation of synovial cells. However, many reports regarding on the apoptosis or proliferation of synovial cells showed a little bit contradictory up to date. Induction of synovial cell apoptosis could be an interesting and attractive way of treatment by way of many signal transduction pathway, such as NFkB, P53, sentrin, FADD, etc. We discussed on the apoptosis and proliferation of synovial cells, and focused on the proposed mechanisms of resistance for apoptosis. Here, we reviewed literatures on the apoptosis and abnormal proliferation of synovial cells, and focused on the proposed mechanisms of resistance against apoptosis. In addition, we mentioned about the possibility of apoptosis induction as a modality of treatment against rheumatoid arthritis in future.
Apoptosis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Cartilage ; Cell Death ; Hyperplasia ; Joints ; Signal Transduction ; SUMO-1 Protein ; Synovitis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common, chronic inflammatory arthritis that affects mainly the small diarthrodial joints of hands and feet. Although the cause of this disease remains unknown, the extensive researches to the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis have resulted dramatic evolution in understanding its pathogenesis over the past a few years. Especially, the increasing knowledge about the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis has led to a new strategy to treat this disease. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge about the expression of proand anti-inflammatory cytokines and their roles in rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Cytokines* ; Foot ; Hand ; Joints

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules of 20~22 nucleotides, which are involved in many biologic functions such as development, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition to these biologic functions, recent reports have demonstrated that miRNAs play important roles in the development of the immune system and the regulation of immune responses. Dysregulation of miRNAs might be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have shown that miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-203 are overexpressed in RA and that miR-124a is under expressed in RA. miR-146 downregulates the expression of IL-1 receptor associated kinase 1 and TNF receptor-associated factor 6 involved in IL-1beta signaling, and miR-155 suppresses the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3, suggesting that these miRNAs act as negative feedback regulators of inflammation and tissue damage in RA. In this report, we review the current knowledge about miRNAs and summarize the involvement of miRNAs in RA.
Apoptosis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cell Proliferation ; Immune System ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; MicroRNAs ; Nucleotides ; Phosphotransferases ; RNA, Untranslated ; TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules of 20~22 nucleotides, which are involved in many biologic functions such as development, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition to these biologic functions, recent reports have demonstrated that miRNAs play important roles in the development of the immune system and the regulation of immune responses. Dysregulation of miRNAs might be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have shown that miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-203 are overexpressed in RA and that miR-124a is under expressed in RA. miR-146 downregulates the expression of IL-1 receptor associated kinase 1 and TNF receptor-associated factor 6 involved in IL-1beta signaling, and miR-155 suppresses the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3, suggesting that these miRNAs act as negative feedback regulators of inflammation and tissue damage in RA. In this report, we review the current knowledge about miRNAs and summarize the involvement of miRNAs in RA.
Apoptosis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cell Proliferation ; Immune System ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; MicroRNAs ; Nucleotides ; Phosphotransferases ; RNA, Untranslated ; TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Blood Sedimentation* ; Humans

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma of the female genital tract are extremely rare. Fewer than 30 cases have been described in the literature. We experienced a case of alveolar soft-part sarcoma of the female genital tract which was diagnosed by routine light microscopic study using ultrastructural and immunohistochemical stain. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.
Female* ; Humans ; Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part*

No abstract available.
Candidiasis* ; Fluconazole*

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial*

OBJECTIVES: Fibromyalgia is a common rheumatologic disease characterized by chronic myalgia, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. Chronic fatigue syndrome is chracterized by debilitating fatigue of at least 6 months duration accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, pharyngitis, painful lymph nodes, headache, myalgia, sleep disturbances, neurocognitive complaints, and depression. There has reported that 70% of patients with fibromyalgia met the centers for Disease Control and Prevention symptom criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. The objectives of this study were to determine how frequently patients with fibromyalgia met the criteria for and chronic fatigue syndrome and what symptoms were manifested. METHODS: 34 patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia were participated in the study. The questionnaire made according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria was administerd and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were diagnosed by this questionnaire, physical examination and laboratory tests. RESULTS: 21% (7 patients) of patients with fibromyalgia met the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. The symptoms in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were memory loss/forgetfullness (100%), sore throat (57%), painful lymph node (29%), myalgia (100%), multiple arthralgia (57%), headache (57%), unrefreshing sleep (86%), postexertional malaise (86%). CONCLUSION: 21% of patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia met the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. The incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome in our study is low as compared with the previous study (70%) in 1996.
Arthralgia ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Depression ; Fatigue ; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic* ; Fever ; Fibromyalgia* ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Lymph Nodes ; Memory ; Myalgia ; Pharyngitis ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

IgA nephropathy can occur rarely as a complication of D-penicillamine treatment, but it is exact pathogenesis remains unclear. If a patients has gross or microscopic hematuria during D-penicillamine treatment, D-penicillamine induced IgA nephropathy should be suspected as a cause of hematuria. In those cases, renal biopsy should be taken for diagnosis and proper management. We experienced a case of IgA nephropathy confirmed by renal biopsy in a 39-years-old female patient with scleroderma during D-penicillamine therapy and report this case with a review of literature.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Penicillamine*