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E Atra

Publications and source records attributed to E Atra.

90 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Usefulness of HLA-B27 in the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis: positive and negative predictive value and the probability ratio of diseases].

The authors discuss the usefulness of the HLA-B27 test in the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Sensitivity, Specificity, Predictive Value of a Negative Test, Predictive Value of a Positive Test, and Likelihood Ratio are defined and illustrated through the example involving HLA-B27 and AS. The HLA-B27 cannot be used as a screening test for the diagnosis of AS when evaluating an asymptomatic population, however the test is most useful in assisting the diagnosis of AS when used by physicians who understand the principles of probability.

HLA-B27 Antigen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chemotaxis of leukocytes from peripheral blood of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Spontaneous and stimulated migration of leukocytes from peripheral blood was studied in 15 patients with JRA and 15 controls. Cells from both groups showed equal migratory ability. However, in the presence of the activated serum of the JRA patients, there was a significant decrease in migration of leukocytes from JRA patients and from controls, suggesting the existence of a serum factor responsible for this chemotactic impairment. The effect of washing on the migration of these cells was also studied. A significant decrease could be observed in the spontaneous and stimulated migration of washed cells from both JRA patients and controls.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMedDate not supplied

EPM-ROM Scale: an evaluative instrument to be used in rheumatoid arthritis trials.

Different tools are available for the measurement of functional status; however, only a few of them are based on the evaluation of the joint range of motion (ROM). This study is aimed at the design and evaluation of the measurement properties of a ROM scale to be used as an evaluative instrument in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) trials. The EPM-ROM Scale evaluates 10 distinct movements of the small and large joints. The score of each joint varies from 0 (full movement) to 3 (severe limitation) and the cut-off degrees of motion are, in general, based on the lack of ability to perform some determined activities of daily living. The test-retest characteristic of the scale was assessed by administering the scale twice, 5 days apart, to 35 RA patients. The product moment correlation was 0.775 (P less than 0.001). The cross-sectional construct validity of the scale was assessed by the concomitant scoring of the EPM-ROM Scale and the functional ability dimension of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (a reliable, valid and responsive instrument) in these patients. The product moment correlation was 0.518 (P less than 0.001). The evaluation of its longitudinal construct validity and responsiveness are now in progress.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

"Pararamose": an occupational arthritis caused by lepidoptera (Premolis semirufa). An epidemiological study.

The frequency of "pararama" occupational accidents between 1988 and 1990 as well as some associated clinical manifestations are herein reported. Data were collected at an industrial rubber tree plantation, in the northern part of Brazil and compared with data similarly collected from 1971 to 1974 on the same plantation, before starting protective measures. "Pararama" is the popular name of the larval form of a native insect of the Amazonian region, Premolis semirufa. During the study period, the annual average number of latex extractors was 337 and 60 accidents caused by "pararama" were registered. The annual average number of accidents per worker from 1971 to 1974 was 0.117 and in the period of this study, 0.063 (p = 0.061). Nineteen injured subjects were clinically evaluated and 13 of them were symptomatic. There was a statistically significant association between multiple accidents and the presence of symptoms (p = 0.001). "Pararamose", an occupational arthropathy, which may evolve with functional impairment of the affected joint, can be prevented with the latex extractors education and the institution of prophylactic measures, such as the use of gloves, boots and protective glasses.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Critical appraisal of the pattern of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) testing requested over a six month period at the "Escola Paulista de Medicina" (EPM), São Paulo.

In order to evaluate the pattern of ANA testing solicitation, 506 patients with ANA testing requested from July 1st. 1988 to December 31st, 1988, had their charts reviewed. These patients, randomly selected, were regularly attending the outpatient clinic at the "Escola Paulista de Medicina" (EPM). 289 patients were followed up at the Rheumatology Division (group A) and 217 patients at other clinical divisions at EPM (group B). The diseases that most frequently motivated the request for ANA test were: group A--SLE (22.5%), RA (18.0%), undefined arthropathies (6.2%), PSS and CREST (5.9%) and Raynaud phenomena (5.5%); and group B--rheumatic diseases (24.4%), nephropathies (17.1%), neuropathies (16.6%), dermopathies (7.8%), hemopathies (4.6%), pneumopathies (4.2%) and ophthalmopathies (3.7%). The positivity of ANA test in groups A and B was 32.9% and 17.5% respectively. 94 SLE patients were clinically diagnosed. The positivity of ANA and anti-dsDNA tests in this group was respectively 85.1% and 26.6%. The sensitivity and specificity of 1982 ARA revised criteria were 94.7% and 99% respectively. The likelihood ratio (LR) of a positive or a negative test was established for this population. LR of a positive test was 6.5 while for a negative test it was 0.17. The ANA test, although lacking specificity, has been commonly requested by different specialties in order to practically rule-out the diagnosis of some connective rheumatic diseases. Immunofluorescence technique (IF) using antibodies conjugated with fluorochromes. was first described by Coons et al. in 1941. This method has been used as an important diagnostic tool in routine laboratory tests ever since.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

7S IgG rheumatoid factor and hidden 19S IgM rheumatoid factor in juvenile chronic arthritis.

Hidden 19S IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) and 7S IgG RF were assayed in 24 children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) and 26 controls, in whole sera and in the IgM and IgG containing fractions of the serum after separation by acid gel filtration. When non-fractioned serum was used, IgM RF detection was positive in 4.2% by latex fixation test and 4.2% by ELISA. IgG RF was positive in 91.7% by ELISA. In the IgM containing fraction of the serum, the positivity for IgM RF was 41.7% by LFT and 54.2% by ELISA. In the IgG containing fraction the positivity for IgG RF was 100%. These results suggest toward the need of previous serum dissociation before hidden 19S IgM RF is assayed and demonstrate high prevalence of 7S IgG RF.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Age and loss of bone density in pre-menopausal women.

Some studies have suggested that premenopausal women show a decline in bone mass in function of age while other studies have not. Bone density in the spinal column and proximal femur (neck, Ward's triangle and trochanter) in 75 healthy white women between the ages of 30 and 49 without a history of irregular menstrual periods was correlated with age, weight, height and body mass. No statistically significant decline in bone density with age was seen during the premenopausal period. There was a positive correlation between bone density in the spine and proximal femur and weight and body mass indices. Our results suggest that healthy women do not show loss before menopause and it also seems that obesity has a favorable effect on these women's bone mass.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Superposition syndrome of connective tissue diseases: current view with special focus on mixed connective tissue disease].

Attention is called to mixed connective tissue disease which, twenty years after it's original description, has now reached the syndromic individualization with important therapeutic and prognostic implications. In particular the discussion concerns the pulmonary complications (hypertension and fibrosis) responsible frequently for fatal outcome.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A short-term randomized controlled study with methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis].

Randomized, controlled and double-blind study of 36 patients aimed at the evaluation of the efficacy and toxicity of MTX in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Twenty-eight patients completed the study period: 14 in the MTX group and 14 in the placebo group. The patients treated with MTX presented a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in pain, grip strength and functional ability when compared to placebo treated patients. Mild adverse effects were observed in 4 patients treated with MTX and in 2 patients treated with placebo. These findings support other studies and give to methotrexate a relevant position in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, owing to its convenient posology, beneficial effectivity and favourable toxicity.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of the cutaneous lesions of systemic lupus erythematosus with thalidomide.

Twenty three patients with SLE and cutaneous lesions not responsive to chloroquine, photoprotectors and corticosteroid in doses < 0.5 mg/kg/day were treated with thalidomide 300 mg/day. Three patients presented side effects and had to discontinue treatment. Eighteen of the remaining 20 patients (90%) had complete remission of the cutaneous lesions and 2 had partial improvement. Another important parameter of improvement was a reduction in the average prednisone dose required from 40.5 mg/day to 17.4 mg/day. The most frequent side effects were drowsiness in 52% of cases and abdominal distention in 22%. These symptoms were reversed by dose reductions in all but one patient. Thalidomide was shown to be efficient in the treatment of cutaneous lesions unresponsive to more usual treatments.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of the European Spondylarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) preliminary classification criteria in Brazilian patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the ESSG criteria when applied to Brazilian patients with SpA and control patients with other rheumatic diseases. METHODS: Seventy patients with spondylarthropathies and 62 patients with other rheumatic diseases were interviewed, examined and had their charts reviewed. The diagnoses of the diseases were based on published diagnostic guidelines or classification criteria. Data were also collected according to the ESSG criteria. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the ESSG classification criteria were 98.5% and 88.7%, respectively. The sensitivities of the criteria in the different subgroups of SpA ranged from a low of 97.7% in AS to a high of 100% in other SpA studied. CONCLUSION: Despite differences in the socio-cultural and geographic characteristics and in individual disease frequencies, the ESSG preliminary classification criteria performed well when applied to Brazilian patients.

Brazil↗