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Biomedical subjects

A Weinberger

Publications and source records attributed to A Weinberger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Close association of HLA-B51 in persons with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

The HLA typing profile of 26 Israeli subjects with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) was examined and compared with that of 100 healthy control subjects. HLA-B51 was found in six subjects (23%) with RAS and in nine control subjects (9%) (p < 0.05). HLA-Cw7 was found in six subjects with RAS (23%) and in five control subjects (5%) (p < 0.01). Eleven subjects had first-degree relatives who had RAS. Because a high frequency of HLA-B51 has been found in Behcet's syndrome and aphthous stomatitis is part of this syndrome, it is suggested that in some subjects with RAS the entire syndrome may actually develop in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Rash in systemic lupus erythematosus: prevalence and relation to cutaneous and non-cutaneous disease manifestations.

Rash is a common cutaneous sign in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but no data regarding its prevalence or relation to disease manifestations are known, possibly due to the fact that it is a common but non-specific sign. Rash was present in 48/81 (59%) patients with SLE. Patients with rash had more cutaneous symptoms and signs, lymphadenopathy, increased levels of antibodies to double stranded DNA and decreased complement levels. They were also receiving a higher dose of prednisone. There was no difference between patients with and without rash with respect to renal or central nervous system disease. Rash did not correlate with the disease activity index and clinical parameters of disease exacerbation.

Dermatitis↗
PubMed1992

Disease patterns of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus as shown by application of factor analysis.

Clinical and laboratory test data of 77 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were evaluated by factor analysis. Six factors representing disease patterns were extracted: cutaneous symptoms of alopecia, malar rash, rash and photosensitivity; renal involvement; the anticoagulant syndrome of phlebitis and partial thromboplastic time inversely related to platelet count; lymphopenia; viral or fibromyalgia symptoms of headache, nervousness, joint and muscle pain; and serology of anti-DNA antibodies and complement inversely related. Application of factor analysis reveals various clinical presentations of SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Lupus anticoagulant: correlation with magnetic resonance imaging of brain lesions.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 21 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with and without lupus anticoagulant (LAC), one lupus-like patient and 5 patients with primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Thirteen patients had white matter focal brain lesions on MRI, 10 of whom had LAC (p = 0.03). We found no correlation between these lesions and neurologic manifestations, nor any clinical or serologic indices of activity of SLE. Our MRI lesions were similar to those described in multiple sclerosis and may indicate a similar pathologic process.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Sulfasalazine in rheumatoid arthritis].

Sulfasalazine (SLZ) is now a second-line treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as in psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. 54 patients with active RA were treated with enteric coated SLZ (2 g daily) in a 24-week open study. Clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity were monitored initially and thereafter at 2-week intervals for the first 2 months, and then at 4-week intervals until the end of the 24-week study. There was significant clinical improvement at the end, as shown by scores for joint pain (Ritchie), grip strength and morning stiffness (p less than 0.0001, less than 0.0001 and less than 0.01, respectively, by paired t test). Clinical improvement was accompanied by significant decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increase in hemoglobin (p less than 0.002 and less than 0.016, respectively). There was improvement in some cases as early as 3 weeks after starting therapy. The drop-out rate was significant: 19/54 (35%), most (13) due to side-effects, mainly gastrointestinal; none of the side-effects were serious. Our results, similar to those of other studies, indicate that despite the high rate of side effects, SLZ is an effective, second-line drug for RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1991

Cytokines. A unifying concept in the pathogenesis of clubbing.

Finger clubbing is a striking clinical sign associated with a large variety of diseases and syndromes. Although clubbing is poorly understood, we hypothesise that there is a final common pathway in the pathogenesis of clubbing by which there is increased growth of connective tissue and augmented blood flow mediated or stimulated by cytokines, which are either over-produced or poorly eliminated.

Cytokines↗
PubMed1991

Close association of HLA-B51 and B52 in Israeli patients with Behçet's syndrome.

Epidemiological data, family history, clinical data, and HLA typing were studied in three groups of patients with Behçet's syndrome: six Israeli Ashkenazi Jews, 29 non-Ashkenazi Jews, and three Israeli Arabs. HLA-B51 and B52 were present in 24/38 (63%) and 8/38 (21%), respectively, of the patients compared with 13/151 (9%) of the control group for both cases, a relative risk of 18.2 and 2.8 respectively. The syndrome was found in six of the 34 families. Ninety five per cent of the affected family members were either B51 or B52 positive. Eleven of the 14 families (79%) chosen for study contained a close relative of the proband who had recurrent oral ulcers. All the relatives with ulcers, except for one, were B51 or B52 carriers. Recurrent oral ulcers in the patients with Behçet's syndrome began a few years before other manifestations of the syndrome occurred. Our findings suggest that (a) HLA-B51 and HLA-B52 are primarily associated with Behçet's disease of Israeli patients; (b) the familial occurrence of this syndrome is high and occurs predominantly in the B5 positive group; (c) recurrent oral ulcers may be the first symptom of Behçet's syndrome, appearing early in life; HLA analysis can provide the clue for a correct diagnosis; (d) ulcer recurrence is common among members of a family containing a patient with Behçet's syndrome.

Behcet Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Alopecia in systemic lupus erythematosus. Relation to disease manifestations.

Alopecia was observed in 40/74 (54%) patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients with alopecia had a significantly higher rating for cutaneous manifestations, Raynaud's phenomenon and muscle tenderness, and most of these signs correlated with the magnitude of alopecia. There was no difference between patients with or without alopecia for arthritis, nephritis or central nervous system manifestations. Alopecia correlated with disease activity index but did not correlate with various specific measurements of disease exacerbation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Serum cobalamin and transcobalamin levels in systemic lupus erythematosus.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assay serum cobalamin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as there are few case reports on the association of pernicious anemia and SLE. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum cobalamin levels were assayed in 43 female SLE patients by a radio-dilution assay using purified intrinsic factor. RESULTS: Cobalamin levels were found to be significantly lower in the SLE group compared with a normal control group, eight of whom (18.6%) had serum cobalamin levels equal to or lower than 180 pg/mL (mean: 129.25 +/- 40.05 pg/mL). None of the SLE patients had been found to have pernicious anemia. The transcobalamin II level and unsaturated vitamin B12 binding capacity, but not the cobalamin level, were positively correlated with SLE activity. CONCLUSION: Our results may indicate a subtle cobalamin deficiency in SLE patients without pernicious anemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The effect of local deep microwave hyperthermia on experimental zymosan-induced arthritis in rabbits.

The effect of local deep microwave hyperthermia (LDMWH) on normal and Zymosan-induced arthritis has been evaluated in 12 rabbits (24 joints). LDMWH, four treatments to each joint (twice weekly for a period of 2 wk), was generated by an antenna operating at 915 MHz for 60 min, reaching an intraarticular temperature of 42.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C. A surface cooling system was used with the microwave apparatus. Two weeks after the last treatment, all animals were sacrificed. The application of LDMWH on normal joints induced a limited proliferation of the synovial lining cells with a minimal perivascular infiltration of mononuclear and neutrophil cells. However, no histologic damage to the skin, muscles, bone, cartilage or bone marrow adjacent to the heated joints could be noted. Induction of Zymosan arthritis (2 wk before LDMWH) was characterized by pannus formation and granulomatous reaction accompanied by fibrinoid deposits and disseminated necrotic foci in the synovial intima. The LDMWH treatment on the examined arthritic joints brought about a reduction in the degree of granulomatous reaction concomitant with the appearance of some fibrocytes and fine collagen fibrils. These findings suggest that LDMWH can be safely applied, even repeatedly, without morphologic evidence of damage to any normal mesenchymal tissue. Moreover, it reduces the inflammatory process in experimentally induced synovitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effect of weather conditions on rheumatic patients.

In a one month prospective study of 62 rheumatic patients--16 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 24 with osteoarthritis (OA), 11 with inflammatory arthritis, 11 with fibromyalgia joint pain--swelling and everyday activity was compared with changes in daily weather conditions. In most patients weather changes increased arthritic symptoms. Women were more sensitive to weather than men (62% v 37%). Pain was affected positively by barometric pressure and temperature in RA, by temperature, rain, and barometric pressure in OA, and by barometric pressure in fibromyalgia. These results support the belief of most rheumatic patients that weather conditions significantly influence their day to day symptoms.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1990

Antiproteinuric effect of captopril in a patient with lupus nephritis and intractable nephrotic syndrome.

A 22 year old woman presented with lupus nephritis, hypertension, and intractable nephrotic syndrome. Albumin and furosemide given intravenously was ineffective. Captopril administered in a daily dose of 62.5 mg was associated with a reduction in proteinuria from 28 g/24 hours to 11.5 g/24 hours over 10 weeks, resulting in a weight reduction of 16 kg. This was achieved with relative preservation of renal function. Captopril should be considered in the treatment of intractable proteinuria in patients with lupus nephritis, or when cytotoxic drugs are refused, because of its efficacy and relative safety. Captopril should, however, be used as an adjunct and not as a substitute for standard treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Adult onset Still's disease.

Three patients with adult onset of Still's disease are presented. Common early findings were: septic fever, polyarthralgia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia and elevated sedimentation rate. All of them had abnormal liver function tests which returned to normal values following corticosteroid therapy. It is proposed that hepatic abnormalities in adult onset of Still's disease reflect the basic disease process.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Treatment of articular effusions with local deep microwave hyperthermia.

Local deep microwave hyperthermia (LDMWH) may be considered as a therapeutic tool for joint diseases because it has the advantage of heating the target organ e.g. synovium, while sparing the adjacent tissues, as demonstrated in animals. The effect of this new microwave device has been evaluated on seven rheumatoid arthritis patients with knee effusion. The hyperthermia apparatus consists of a 915 MHz power source with a cooling system to the skin. LDMWH was operated for one hour, twice a week for two weeks. Intra-articular knee temperature reached the level of 40.6 +/- 1.1 degrees C within 15 minutes, raised to 41.2 +/- 0.7 degrees C after 30 minutes and to 41.3 +/- 0.9 degrees C at one hour. The skin temperature over the heated knee joints remained at 24.3 +/- 1.1 degrees C during treatment. All patients noted a sensation of warmth in the treated knee. Aspiration of synovial fluid was performed before and immediately after each treatment. Walking time was improved (p = 0.04) and significant decrease in pain (p = 0.01) was noted following treatment. Synovial fluid leukocyte count and prostaglandin E2 level, knee circumference and range of motion did not change. Severity of pain, walking time, knee circumference and range of motion remained stable in the six weeks following the last hyperthermia application. No adverse reaction could be observed. These results suggest LDMWH to be safe and successful as an adjuvant treatment of chronic inflammatory joint effusions.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Intra-articular temperature measurements after superficial heating.

Superficial heating of the joint is widely used in various rheumatic conditions and is considered as decreasing the intra-articular temperature. This study shows that heating the joint with hot pack significantly increases the articular temperature from 35.2 +/- 1.5 degrees C (mean +/- SD) to 36.4 +/- 1.0 degrees C (p less than 0.001), while intra-cavity temperature of the contralateral unheated knee joint did not change significantly. Since such elevation of temperature of one degree C is liable to enhance the inflammatory process, the use of superficial heating has to be carefully reconsidered in acute and chronic inflammatory joint diseases.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1988

Deep heat in the treatment of inflammatory joint disease.

There is now a growing body of clinical evidence suggesting a therapeutic approach to cancer and prostatic hypertrophy by using hyperthermia. It is proposed that such a hyperthermic modality can produce thermal synovectomy in inflammatory arthritis. Heating the joint cavity up to 42 deg C can inhibit the enzymatic effect of collagenase, oxygenase, and other enzymes playing a role in the inflammatory process. If this hypothesis is correct, therapeutic intervention using hyperthermia may offer hope for the treatment of isolated inflammatory joint diseases.

Arthritis↗