Author: Emma Leah

Bone erosion, cartilage damage and inflammation—three aspects of the clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)—interact at a molecular level in the underlying pathology of the disease. Characterizing the sequence of microscopic pathogenic events in RA and relating them chronologically to macroscopic morphological changes is the

The knees of patients with inflammatory arthritis (n = 39) or severe osteoarthritis (n = 72) were examined using colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS), and synovial fluid white blood cell count was used to confirm inflammatory status. Patients with inflammatory arthritis had

Previous studies have suggested correlations between the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and exposures to smoking and air pollution. To investigate the latter potential link, RA-related autoantibodies and swollen or tender joints were assessed in people without RA who are first-degree relatives of patients with

Pulmonary function tests were performed in 38 children (aged 6–23 years) with definite or probable idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. A total of 37% (14/38) of patients had impaired lung function, defined as a total lung capacity or diffusing capacity

Wearing a flat, flexible 'mobility shoe' for ≥6 h per day, 6 days per week for 24 weeks reduced knee adduction movements in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, whether the patient was wearing the mobility shoe (18% reduction, P

Author: David Killock

A study by the international Juvenile Arthritis Consortium for Immunochip (JACI) has revealed many new risk loci associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The findings increase understanding of the genetic basis of susceptibility to this disease and the mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis.The study utilized

Author: Emma Leah

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate transcription, including that of genes encoding matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The possibility of using HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) to treat osteoarthritis (OA) via repression of cartilage-degrading MMP expression has now been advanced by work published in Arthritis & Rheumatism by Ian Clark

Author: Megan Cully

Antibodies against double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) are found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and are implicated in the development of SLE-related nephritis. An article now published in The Journal of Immunology reports that HMGB1, a chromatin-associated protein, is required in the DNA-containing immune

Author: Jenny Buckland

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) aetiology, although incompletely understood, is known to have a genetic element and to be influenced by hormones and environmental factors, such as diet. Research from Bruce Richardson and colleagues, published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, now shows that modification of dietary

Author: Isabel Woodman

Neonatal lupus, the most severe manifestation of which is congenital heart block, is caused by the transfer of specific maternal autoantibodies to the fetus. The mechanisms by which these antibodies result in cardiac injury have not been fully elucidated, but a new study highlights a

Authors: Jonathan Kay & Ellen M. Gravallese

Current classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis allow its classification on the basis of the presence of erosions, in the absence of other indicators. Nevertheless, definition or quantitation of erosions was lacking. A European task force has now addressed this issue by analysing radiographic erosions in two cohorts of patients with early disease.

Author: Maarten Boers

The American College of Rheumatology recently published a list of five strategies (comprising four diagnostic procedures and one therapeutic approach) that they consider to be often unnecessary and thus potentially wasteful. By itself this list is useful, but finding a way to reduce wasteful strategies will be a challenge.

Author: Thomas J. A. Lehman

Rapid progress is being made in the field of rheumatology. Nevertheless, disappointingly, the limited resources of the paediatric rheumatology community are being expended on the publication of consensus guidelines that represent fossilization of old ideas rather than real innovation that leads to the improved care of children.

Authors: Rik J. Lories, Maripat Corr & Nancy E. Lane

The Wnt signalling cascades have essential roles in development, growth and homeostasis of joints and the skeleton. Progress in basic research, particularly relating to our understanding of intracellular signalling cascades and fine regulation of receptor activation in the extracellular space, has provided novel insights into

Authors: Luda Diatchenko, Roger B. Fillingim, Shad B. Smith & William Maixner

Musculoskeletal pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia and low back pain, tend to coexist in affected individuals and are characterized by a report of pain greater than expected based on the results of a standard physical evaluation. The pathophysiology of these conditions is largely unknown, we

Author: Lisa A. Mandl

Total hip and total knee replacements (THR and TKR respectively), the definitive treatments for end-stage arthritis, are both safe and extremely successful in relieving pain and improving function. However, physicians who care for patients with chronic hip and knee arthritis are often the 'gatekeepers' to

Authors: Rodney Grahame & Alan J. Hakim

Arachnodactyly literally means spidery fingers, and describes the long, slender fingers typical of patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS). Many clinicians regard arachnodactyly as pathognomonic of MFS; however, this view is misleading as arachnodactyly is a key element of the marfanoid habitus, which is present in

Authors: Robert E. Coleman, Emma Rathbone & Janet E. Brown

The survival prospects for many patients with cancer are steadily improving. As a result, survivorship issues are of increasing importance as attempts are made to minimize the long-term adverse effects of cancer treatments. Cancer therapies can adversely affect bone health, particularly in women with breast

Authors: Tony J. Kenna & Matthew A. Brown

The proinflammatory cytokine IL-17 has an important role in pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases. In immune-mediated joint diseases, IL-17 can induce secretion of other proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6 and TNF, as well as matrix metalloproteinase enzymes, leading to inflammation, cartilage breakdown, osteoclastogenesis and