Antinuclear antibody screening in this new millennium: farewell to the microscope?

ANA testing by immunofluorescence technique (F-ANA) is nowadays still performed in much the same way as 45 years ago when the test was introduced. Due to its low specificity the F-ANA test has a poor predictive value for systemic autoimmune diseases and in addition has proven difficult to standardise. In the meantime, many of the nuclear and cytoplasmatic auto-antigens, related to specific types of autoimmune disease, have been characterised and can be tested for in specific ELISA assays (E-ANA). These assays are in large part automated and enable the large volume testing required, by the current attitude, to use ANA-testing for its high negative predictive value in the exclusion of systemic autoimmune disease. In addition, E-ANA assays give specific results for clinically relevant autoantibodies, while its test repertoire can be altered at any given time to reflect changes in current thinking on relevant auto-antigens. Thus, we suggest that the unspecific F-ANA test should no longer be considered the gold standard for the detection of clinically relevant autoantibodies.     

快速成型骨组织工程支架的结构及力学仿生性能特征

目的:利用显微CT的成像技术及材料力学测试,观察多孔双相磷酸钙陶瓷支架的三维结构和力学仿生性能特征。方法:实验于2004-06/2005-12在清华大学新型陶瓷与精细工艺国家重点实验室、香港中文大学威尔士亲王医院骨与关节肌肉研究室和解放军总医院骨科研究所完成。利用三维凝胶叠层成型技术和发泡法复合的方法,制备仿骨多孔双相磷酸钙陶瓷支架,经显微CT扫描得到分辨率为20μm的断层图像,并按骨形态计量方法计算三维计量参数,并与急性脑死亡年轻人股骨头(由解放军总医院骨组织库提供,已签署捐献同意书)标本负重区松质骨样本的三维参数进行统计比较。最后对双相磷酸钙陶瓷支架两个互相垂直方向和松质骨样本的长轴方向进行压缩强度试验,计算压缩强度和弹性模量,并进行统计分析。结果:①双相磷酸钙陶瓷支架的小梁平均宽度和间距低于松质骨小梁(P<0.05);支架的小梁数目和各项异性程度高于松质骨样本(P<0.05);说明支架小梁在排列上呈现更为明显的各向异性特征。②双相磷酸钙陶瓷支架的体积分数、表面积体积比及结构模型指数与松质骨样本相比差异无显著性(P>0.05),两组样本均呈明显的板层结构。③力学测试结果显示双相磷酸钙陶瓷支架材料长轴方向的强度和弹性模量高于垂直方向(P<0.05),说明支架材料具有明显的方向性。长轴方向的强度低于正常松质骨样本,但弹性模量仅比松质骨样本弹性模量高20%(P<0.05)。结论:支架材料在空隙率和表面积方面具有很好的仿生性,利于细胞的黏附和长入。同时具有明显的方向性,提高了其在排列方向上的强度。弹性模量接近股骨头松质骨,具有较好的应力顺应性。     

Antibodies to DNA in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Their role in the diagnosis,the follow-up and the pathogenesis of the disease

Xth European Workshop for Rheumatology ResearchCopenhagen, April 26–29, 1990     

B-lymphocyte activating factor levels are increased in patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis and inversely correlated with ANCA titer

Circulating autoantibodies against neutrophils (ANCA) are a distinctive finding in patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG). B-lymphocyte activating factor (BAFF) promotes autoantibody production by increasing B cell survival and proliferation. We investigated serum BAFF levels (s-BAFF) in a WG patient cohort in relation to ANCA titers and disease activity. Baseline data were obtained in twenty-two WG patients (55% female, age 44 years, disease duration 1 year). S-BAFF was determined by capture ELISA and associations between s-BAFF, clinical (Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI) and Disease Extent Index (DEI)) and biochemical (C-reactive protein (CRP), IgG and ANCA) disease measures were analysed in a cross sectional as well as longitudinal analysis. S-BAFF was increased in WG patients compared to healthy controls (1.8 vs. 0.55 ng/ml, p < 0.01). S-BAFF was higher in ANCA negative than ANCA-positive WG sera (2.16 vs. 1.29 ng/ml, p < 0.01), correlated independently and inversely with ANCA levels (Rs −0.48, p < 0.01) but did not correlate with CRP, BVAS, DEI or VDI scores. Individual s-BAFF profiles were stable over time in 68% of patients. The finding of a negative correlation between ANCA levels and s-BAFF that is independent of steroid treatment indicates that BAFF does not directly drive ANCA production in WG.     

Quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy can distinguish patients with primary Sjøgren’s syndrome during the evaluation of sicca symptoms

Abnormal findings on salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) are part of the classification criteria for Sjøgren’s syndrome (SS), but SGS is operator dependent and poorly standardised. We studied the use of quantitative data on the uptake, concentration and excretion of the four major salivary glands in the evaluation of sicca patients. During an initial clinical evaluation for sicca symptoms (mean duration, 51 months), 24 subjects were classified as either SS (n?=?8) or isolated sicca (IS; n?=?16). SGS was then performed after i.v. injection of 200 MBq pertecnetat. Digitalised quantitative data on time-to-peak uptake (Tmax), peak tracer distribution (C%) and stimulated excretion (E%) were calculated from time-activity curves and compared between groups and controls (n?=?8) and correlated to clinical data. Statistical analysis was performed with non-parametric tests. SS patients had longer Tmax in both parotic glands (18.1 min; p?p?p?>?0.2) and submandibular glands (9.4 min; p?>?0.4). C% was significantly lower in the parotic glands of both the SS and the IS group compared to the controls (p?p?相似文献   

B-lymphocyte activating factor in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in relation to autoantibody levels, disease measures and time

Overexpression of B-lymphocyte activating factor (BAFF) results in arthritis, glomerulonephritis and autoantibody formation in mice, but its role in human autoimmune disease is less obvious. Serum BAFF levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n=42) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n=60) were related to levels of disease activity, anti-dsDNA Ab, anti-ENA Ab, rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-CCP Ab. BAFF levels were also followed over time in 19 SLE patients. BAFF levels correlated inversely with age, were higher in SLE than RA (median 2.7 versus 1.4 ng/mL, P < 0.01) and more SLE than RA patients had increased BAFF levels (57% versus 10%, P < or = 0.01). In SLE, BAFF levels correlated with SLEDAI scores but not with anti-dsDNA Ab levels. SLE patients with increased BAFF levels had higher SLEDAI and CRP levels. In RA, BAFF levels correlated weakly with anti-CCP levels (Rs 0.27, P = 0.07), but not with joint counts, ESR, CRP or RF levels. Longitudinal BAFF levels remained unaltered in two thirds of SLE patients and changes in BAFF levels were unrelated to disease flares. These findings suggest that BAFF stimulation of B-cells may contribute to SLE by other mechanisms than autoantibody production.     

Surgery in patients with haemophilia and high responding inhibitors: Izmir experience

Summary. This report evaluates the haemostatic efficacy of recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) and activated prothrombin complex concentrate (APCC) in patients with haemophilia and high responding inhibitors who underwent major and minor surgery. Data pertaining to surgeries from 2001 to 2009 at a single centre were retrospectively analysed. During this period, 53 surgical procedures were performed in 30 haemophiliacs with high responding inhibitors. Mean age was 16.2 ± 9.4 years. Eleven major surgeries in 4 patients, 41 radioisotope synovectomies (RS) and one circumcision classified as minor surgery in 28 patients were performed. Among the major surgery procedures, four were treated with rFVIIa, five with APCC and two with sequential use of APCC and rFVIIa. We used rFVIIa at the dosage of 80–120 μg kg^?1 every 2 h and APCC 100 IU kg^?1 every 12 h for the major surgery. When performing RS, we used rFVIIa in 18 patients with 26 target joints and APCC in 9 patients with 15 target joints. Three consecutive doses of rFVIIa (90 μg kg^?1) were used at 2‐h intervals followed by additional three doses at 6‐h intervals. The initial dose of APCC was 75 IU kg^?1 followed by a second and third dose of 50 IU kg^?1 at 12‐h intervals. APCC and rFVIIa demonstrated excellent efficacy in our major and minor surgical interventions [100% (22/22) and 94% (31/33), respectively]. We had only two bleeding complications with rFVIIa. There were no thromboembolic complications. APCC and rFVIIa provide an effective and safe first line haemostatic therapy for inhibitor‐positive haemophiliacs, allowing both major and minor surgery to be successfully performed.     

Patient resources in the therapeutic education of haemophiliacs in France: their skills and roles as defined by consensus of a working group

Summary. The activities of ‘expert patients’ or ‘patient tutors’, who help educate their peers, are gaining recognition in the health care system. This study investigates the role played by such patients in therapeutic education programmes organized by caregivers to validate the role of patients in implementing the therapeutic education of haemophilic patients and to define the skills required for such activities. This study employs the consensus methodology recommended by France’s National Authority for Health. The working group includes seven caregivers from Hemophiliac Treatment Centers (HTCs) and three patients from the French Association of Hemophiliacs (FAH). The role of patients in haemophilia education is recognized. Patients participating in the education of their peers are referred to as ‘patient resources’. A patient resource should be an adult, a volunteer and live in the same region as his peers. Candidates are chosen by the FAH and the HTCs to serve based on their motivation to facilitate the education of other patients as well as on their psychological and pedagogical aptitudes. A patient resource participates in the conception and administration of therapeutic education programmes. He also mediates between the caregivers and the patients. He ensures that the patients understand the material and are able to apply their knowledge in daily life. His activities are governed by professional ethics. Seven categories of skills were defined, permitting the group to determine precisely which skills are required to function as a patient resource. Supervision of the patients is planned to reinforce reflexive practices in the patients. Evolution of the health care system has led patients to become involved in therapeutic education. This phenomenon calls for a framework to be developed and an evaluation of its eventual effects.