Plasma and synovial fluid cAMP in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

cAMP was measured in plasma and synovial fluid from 11 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis with a specific protein-binding assay. Plasma and synovial fluid values were 17.0 +/- 6.8 pmol/ml and 8.3 +/- 3.7 pmol/ml, range 5-28 pmol/ml and 5-16 pmol/ml, respectively. No correlation could be established between plasma and synovial fluid levels, plasma and disease activity, or synovial fluid and disease activity, as judged by Lansbury's index. It is concluded that it seems unlikely that synovial fluid cAMP is derived solely from plasma and that no simple relation exists between cAMP in plasma and synovial fluid and total disease activity.     

Plasma and synovial fluid lanthanides in rheumatoid arthritis: variations after intra-articular therapy

Lanthanides (Ln), or rare earth elements, are detectable in trace amounts in organisms. Increased concentrations of Ln have been observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in plasma (pl) and synovial fluid (Sf). We have evaluated pl and Sf concentrations of Ln (in particular La, Nd, Ce, Yb, Lu, Eu), in rheumatoid arthritis patients, before and after intra-articular steroid injection. Increased pl and Sf concentrations of Ln were confirmed in RA. No detectable synovial fluid concentrations of Ln were observed in healthy controls. A statistically significant Ln reduction (p less than 0.001) was observed in Sf 3 and 6 days after local steroid injection and in pl after 6 days. The decrease in Ln concentrations in Sf and pl, after antiphlogistic therapy, reflects the reduction of the inflammatory condition.     

Increased serum salicylate metabolites with age in patients receiving chronic acetylsalicylic acid therapy

A high pressure liquid chromatographic method was used to measure the serum concentrations of salicylic, salicyluric and gentisic acids in patients receiving chronic acetylsalicylic acid therapy. There was good correlation between this method and the established colorimetric assay for salicylic acid. The concentration of gentisic and salicyluric acids were increased in patients older than 60 years. No correlation was found with sex, concomitant ingestion of other drugs, serum creatinine or serum albumin.     

Plasma and synovial fluid concentrations of salicylic acid and its metabolites in patients with joint effusions

Equilibration of salicylic, salicyluric and gentisic acids between plasma and synovial fluid (SF) was measured in 36 patients receiving chronic salicylate therapy and from whom SF was required for diagnostic purposes. Gentisic and salicyluric acids equilibrated completely, while SF salicylic acid concentration was less than that in plasma. The presence of significant gentisic acid concentrations in SF could contribute to the therapeutic response to chronic salicylate therapy, since its antiinflammatory effect is even greater than that of acetylsalicylic acid.     

Plasma and synovial fluid osteopontin levels in patients with knee osteoarthritis: Relation to radiological grade

Aim of workTo investigate osteopontin (OPN) levels in both plasma and synovial fluid of patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) and their relationship with radiological grade.Patient and methodsSixty patients had knee OA and 30 control subjects were included. Anteroposterior knee radiographs were taken to determine the disease severity of the affected knee. The radiographic grading of OA in the knee was performed by using the Kellgren–Lawrence grading. Osteopontin levels in the plasma and synovial fluid were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared.ResultsOA patients had higher plasma osteopontin concentrations compared to healthy controls (p < 0.000). Osteopontin levels in synovial fluid were significantly higher with respect to plasma sample (r = 0.694, p < 0.000). The mean plasma levels of osteopontin in KL grade 4 were greater than those in KL grade 3, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The plasma osteopontin levels significantly correlated with the severity of disease (r = 0.870, p < 0.000). The synovial fluid levels of osteopontin also correlated with disease severity as regarding the radiological grade (r = 0.817, p < 0.000).ConclusionOsteopontin in plasma and synovial fluid is related to progressive joint damage in knee OA. Osteopontin may serve as a biochemical marker for determining disease severity as regarding radiological grade.     

Plasma and synovial fluid as solvents for monosodium urate.

In-vitro differences in monosodium urate (MSU) crystal dissolution in paired plasma and synovial fluid samples from patients with various arthritides were studied. Plasma was a significantly better solvent for MSU than synovial fluid (overall difference 6.3 mg/dl (0.37 mmol/l); significant at P less than 0.001). Attempts to correlate the solubility differentials with the principal compositional differences between the 2 fluids were only partially successful. (1) A tendency towards higher MSU solubility at higher protein levels was observed, but it was too slight to reach statistical significance. (2) Hyaluronidase treatment of synovial fluid significantly enhanced its ability to dissolve MSU (overall difference 2.2 mg/dl (0.13 mmol/l); significant at P less than 0.01) but not sufficiently to explain wholly the plasma-synovial fluid differential.     

高血压不同并发症患者血浆内皮素变化及辛伐他汀干预对其影响

目的 了解原发性高血压(EH)不同合并症患者血浆内皮素(ET)浓度的变化及辛伐他汀干预对其影响.方法 入选EH患者149例,根据合并症的不同分为单纯EH组44例,EH合并左心室肥厚(EH-LVH)组40例,EH合并心房颤动(EH-AF)组36例,EH合并腔隙性脑梗死(EH-LI)组29例,同时选择30例健康体检者作为对照.149例EH患者按血压水平随机分为常规治疗组(主要应用钙拮抗剂、血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂、利尿剂、β受体阻滞剂等药治疗8周)和辛伐他汀干预组(常规治疗+辛伐他汀40 mg/d),药物治疗前后检测血浆内皮素.结果 (1)EH组ET浓度高于对照组[(71.42±6.62)pg/ml对(45.52±8.28)pg/ml,P<0.01]并与血压升高程度呈正相关(r=0.746,P<0.001),EH-LVH组、EH-AF组、EH-LI组ET浓度均高于EH组[(97.67±10.53)pg/ml、(102.15±12.96)pg/ml、(103.49±9.91)pg/ml对(71.42±6.62)pg/ml,P<0.01],ET浓度变化均与血压升高程度呈正相关(r=0.671,r=0.592,r=0.530,P均<0.001).(2)EH-AF组左心房内径与ET浓度呈正相关(r=0.684,P<0.001);EH-LVH组的左心室质量指数与ET浓度呈正相关(r=0.545,P<0.001).(3)EH-LVH组、EH-AF组、EH-LI组的3级高血压所占的百分比均高于EH组.(4)EH 3级辛伐他汀干预组治疗后血压水平较常规治疗组下降更为显著(P<0.05).(5)EH 2级辛伐他汀干预组治疗后ET水平较常规治疗组显著降低(P<0.05),EH 3级辛伐他汀干预组和常规治疗组治疗后ET水平均显著降低(P<0.05),但辛伐他汀干预组下降更为显著(P<0.05).结论 ET水平与EH的严重程度呈正相关,辛伐他汀干预能更显著降低EH患者ET水平和EH3级患者的血压,提示对EH患者在使用降压药物控制血压的同时合用他汀类药物可能更有益.     

高血压不同并发症患者血浆内皮素变化及辛伐他汀干预对其影响

Objective To observe the association between plasma endothelin (ET) concentration and blood pressure level in essential hypertensive (EH) patients with or without complications and possible impact of statins on ET concentration. Methods From Sep 2007 to Mar 2009, 149 patients with EH were analyzed [44 EH, 40 EH complicated by left ventricular hypertrophy (EH-LVH), 36 EH complicated by atrial fibrillation (EH-AF), and 29 EH complicated by lacunar infarction (EH-LI)], 30 healthy persons were selected as controls. EH patients were randomly divided into routine treatment group (calcium antagonists, ACEI, diuretics, β-receptor blocker for 8 weeks) and simvastatin intervention group (routine treatment + simvastatin 40 mg/d for 8 weeks), plasma ET concentrations before and after drug intervention were measured. Results (1) ET concentration was higher in EH group than that in control group[ (71.42 ±6.62) pg/ml vs. (45.52±8.28) pg/ml, P < 0.01 ]. ET concentration was higher in EH-LVH group, EH-AF group and EH-LI group than that in EH group [ (97.67±10.53) pg/ml, (102.15±12.96 ) pg/ml, (103.49±9.91) pg/ml vs. (71.42±6.62) pg/ml, P<0.01]. The degrees of elevated blood pressure was positively correlated with ET concentrations(all P < 0.001). (2) The left atrial diameters of EH-AF group were positively correlated with ET concentration (r = 0.684, P < 0.001). The left ventricular mass index of EH-LVH group were positively correlated with ET concentration (r = 0.545, P < 0.001). (3) The percentages of class 3 hypertension in EH-LVH group, EH-AF group and EH-LI group were higher than that in EH group (57.5%, 50.0%, 62.1% vs. 25,0% ,all P <0.05). (4) Blood pressure in class 3 hypertension patient treated with simvastatin decreased more significantly than that in routine treatment group(P <0.05). (5)ET concentration of class 2 hypertension patient treated with simvastatin decreased significantly than that in routine treatment group(P < 0.05). ET concentrations of class 3 hypertension patient treated with simvastatin and routine treatment patient decreased significantly after treatment (P < 0.05), and the former was lower (P < 0.05). Conclusion The level of ET were positively correlated with the severity of EH. Simvastatin could decrease the ET levels of patients with EH and blood pressure levels of patients with class 3 hypertension. It suggested that therapeutic alliance of antihypertensive drugs and statins could be benefit to patients with EH.     

Plasma and synovial fluid concentrations of sulphasalazine and two of its metabolites in rheumatoid arthritis

Summary A study was made of plasma and synovial fluid levels of sulphasalazine, one of its dissociation products — sulphapyridine and a metabolite of the latter — acetyl sulphapyridine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were in a steady state on sulphasalazine therapy. Combined sulphapyridine levels were significantly higher than those of sulphasalazine both in plasma and synovial fluid. Synovial fluid levels of both drugs correlated with their plasma levels and were generally slightly lower. Some patients accumulated sulphasalazine and sulphapyridine in the synovial fluid and the mean concentration of sulphasalazine was higher in the fluid than in the plasma. The explanation for this is uncertain. The concentration of combined sulphapyridine in synovial fluid was related to local joint inflammation and more active systemic disease. No consistent association was found between sulphasalazine levels and local or systemic activity. The higher sulphapyridine levels in synovial fluid found in this study suggest the possibility that this moiety could play a more active role in RA than it does in inflammatory bowel disease.     

Methylprednisolone infusion therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The effect on synovial fluid lymphocyte subsets and inflammatory indices

Paired samples of synovial fluid (SF) and blood were obtained prior to and at 4 and 24 hours following high-dose methylprednisolone infusion therapy in a group of patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis. After therapy there was a significant decrease in numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, immune complexes, and C-reactive protein in the SF. Measurement of lymphocyte subsets, using monoclonal antibodies, revealed that at 4 hours postinfusion, there was a disproportionate decrease in the percentage of SF lymphocytes expressing class II antigens (HLA-DR or Ia-like). These data suggest that glucocorticoids induce rapid changes in SF indices of disease activity and may directly influence T cell activation within the rheumatoid joint.     

Interferon in synovial fluid and serum of patients with rheumatic disease

Interferon (IFN) was sought in simultaneously obtained samples of synovial fluid (SF) and serum from patients with a variety of rheumatological diseases. IFN was identified in 11 of 84 samples of SF and 10 of 84 specimens of serum. IFN positive specimens were contributed by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus, seronegative spondyloarthropathies, pseudogout, coccidioidomycosis and unclassified arthritis. Significantly, IFN was frequently found either in SF or in serum but generally not in both of the simultaneously obtained fluids. The highest titers of IFN found in SF were from patients with RA.     

Gynecomastia in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy

Thirty-four HIV-positive men with gynecomastia were seen in an HIV outclinic during a 20-month period (incidence of 2.4 cases/100 patients receiving HAART per year). It developed mainly in subjects having good immunologic and virologic status, after an average of 3 years of HAART. No hormone abnormalities were found, or association with specific drugs. Although initially unilateral, more than half of cases progressed to bilateral gynecomastia. Spontaneous resolution occurred in most subjects with 12 months without modifying therapy.     

Elastase and collagenase activities in synovial fluid of patients with arthritis

The activity of elastase and collagenase was measured in the synovial fluid (SF) of 24 patients with inflammatory and 6 patients with traumatic joint effusions. The enzyme activity was compared with local and systemic variables of the disease. Elastase and collagenase activity could be detected in 79 and 83%, respectively, of the arthritic SF, whereas no enzyme activity was found in the traumatic joint effusions. The SF enzyme activity showed no correlation with clinical, laboratory or radiographic variables of arthritis in the joint from which the fluid was obtained. Our results show that proteolytic enzyme activity in SF may help to distinguish inflammatory from noninflammatory joint effusions but does not reflect the severity of the arthritic process.