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At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

[Proposal of a questionnaire for the characterization of the prevalence of digestive symptoms in connective tissue diseases].

BACKGROUND: Connective tissue diseases may damage multiple organic systems, including digestive system. In this one, the degree of injury vary according to the associated disease. Despite the significant frequency of gastrointestinal involvement, there are few studies characterizing the prevalence of digestive symptoms in connective tissue diseases. Furthermore, most of the studies available are less detailed and based in personal experiences or reviews of records. AIM: To establish a reliable list of gastrointestinal symptoms found in the progressive systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, mixed connective tissue disease and systemic lupus erythematosus, through a medical interview and a predefined questionnaire of symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were studied 99 patients, 90% females, mean age 45 years. The whole group were composed of 35 rheumatoid arthritis, 26 progressive systemic sclerosis, 21 systemic lupus erythematosus, 12 polymyositis/dermatomyositis and 5 mixed connective tissue disease. Each patient was submitted to an interview with a well trained doctor and answered a structured questionnaire, containing 17 questions. RESULTS: It was found a high prevalence of digestive symptoms in all five connective tissue diseases searched. Many of them were present in more than 50% of the patients. Called special attention the detection of some manifestations neglected by the literature like, for example, fecal incontinence. Also, disagreeing with other authors, was the finding of multiple gastrointestinal manifestations associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It was particularly surprising the occurrence of dysphagia in one third of the rheumatoid arthritis group. CONCLUSIONS: The connective tissue diseases are usual causes of many gastrointestinal complaints. The use of an interview plus predefined questionnaire seems a very effective way to identify and characterize symptoms and is even sometimes able to uncover features unknown before. Finally, the lack of studies, specially updated studies, did not allow more comprehensive comparisons.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[From connective tissue to the extracellular matrix. Apropos of the 30th birthday of the Foundation of the French Society of Connective Tissue].

The origin of the foundation of the French Connective Tissue Society is briefly described since its foundation in 1963 after the 1st international colloquium organized on this topic in France in 1962 as well as the recent history of this discipline, leading to the foundation of the Federation of European Connective Tissue Societies in 1967-1968. The rapid increase of our knowledge concerning the four major families of macromolecules, collagens, elastin, proteoglycans and structural glycoproteins will be discussed by colleagues who contributed to these fields over the last three decades. Some of the recent contributions of our laboratory, the 1st in France entirely devoted to this discipline are also described, such as the identification of the elastin receptor and the mechanism of interaction between cells and elastic fibers.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Undifferentiated, overlapping and mixed connective tissue diseases].

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), undifferentiated connective tissue disease and overlap syndromes are autoimmune systemic diseases that must be differentiated. Antibodies against the U1-ribonucleoprotein complex --spliceosome-- allows the diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease. Links between the immunologic and clinical phenomena are emerging. Longitudinal studies of patients with MCTD highlight the impact of pulmonary hypertension and contribute to define the disease. Immunogenetic studies hold MCTD as an independent disease.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1993

Connective tissue activation. XXXVI. The origin, variety, distribution, and biologic fate of connective tissue activating peptide-III isoforms: characteristics in patients with rheumatic, renal, and arterial disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the origin, distribution, and biologic fate of platelet-derived connective tissue activating peptide-III (CTAP-III), to define the relative amounts of the antigen forms (CTAP-III, beta-thromboglobulin [beta-TG], neutrophil activating peptide-2 [NAP-2]) in plasma of normal persons and those with rheumatic or end-stage renal disease, and to define the isoforms of CTAP-III in platelets, plasma, transudates, and tissue deposits. METHODS: CTAP-III in plasma was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and growth promoting activity of CTAP-III isoforms was tested in synovial and peritoneal cell cultures by measuring increased synthesis of 14C-glycosaminoglycan (14C-GAG) and 3H-DNA. Isolated CTAP-III was characterized by Western blotting, microsequencing, and mass spectrometry. RESULTS: CTAP-III was the primary isoform of this antigen family in normal platelets and platelet-rich plasma; beta-TG and NAP-2 accounted for < 1% of CTAP-III isoforms. Previously undescribed isoforms, i.e., CTAP-III des 1, des 1-2, des 1-3, and a phosphate adduct of CTAP-III, were observed in varying amounts. Elevated plasma levels of CTAP-III antigen were found in a substantial fraction of rheumatic disease patients: 24% of those with rheumatoid arthritis, 36% of those with systemic sclerosis, and 15% of those with systemic lupus erythematosus. All 10 patients with end-stage kidney disease had marked elevations of plasma CTAP-III levels, which stimulated DNA and GAG synthesis by peritoneal cells in culture. Only large isoforms (such as CTAP-III) were detected in venous plasma of normal subjects, rheumatic disease patients, and patients receiving long-term dialysis. Normal human spleen and kidney contained substantial (micrograms/gm) amounts of CTAP-III and traces of an isoform with the electrophoretic mobility of CTAP-III des 1-15/NAP-2. Liver, lung, and urine contained lesser (ng/gm) amounts of CTAP-III. CONCLUSION: These data show that, among the 10 known isoforms, intact CTAP-III itself was the major circulating isoform (> 90%), and beta-TG was the most rare (0-1%). Deposition of CTAP-III in tissues, such as synovium, spleen, and kidney, is associated with partial processing to NAP-2-like isoforms and the potential to induce neutrophil and fibroblast activation in patients with rheumatic or end-stage renal disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The cellular matrix: a feature of tensile bearing dense soft connective tissues.

The term connective tissue encompasses a diverse group of tissues that reside in different environments and must support a spectrum of mechanical functions. Although the extracellular matrix of these tissues is well described, the cellular architecture of these tissues and its relationship to tissue function has only recently become the focus of study. It now appears that tensile-bearing dense connective tissues may be a specific class of connective tissues that display a common cellular organization characterized by fusiform cells with cytoplasmic projections and gap junctions. These cells with their cellular projections are organised into a complex 3-dimensional network leading to a physically, chemically and electrically connected cellular matrix. The cellular matrix may play essential roles in extracellular matrix formation, maintenance and remodelling, mechanotransduction and during injury and healing. Thus, it is likely that it is the interaction of both the extracellular matrix and cellular matrix that provides the basis for tissue function. Restoration of both these matrices, as well as their interaction must be the goal of strategies to repair these connective tissues damaged by either injury or disease.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological studies of the placenta in maternal connective tissue disease.

Maternal connective tissue disease is an important cause of second-trimester fetal loss. In order to assess the pathological changes in the placenta in maternal connective tissue disease, we reviewed the clinical histories and performed histologic and immunofluorescence studies on nine placentas: five from mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), two from mothers with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), one from a mother with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and one from a mother without prior known connective tissue disease. Excessive intervillous fibrin deposition and infarction were noted in all cases. Immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase studies showed deposits of fibrinogen, IgG, IgM, IgA, and complement 3 (C3) localized to the trophoblast basement membrane (TBM). Electron microscopy documented thickening of the trophoblast basal lamina in three SLE placentas examined. The use of immunofluorescence may be enhanced further if antitrophoblast antibodies can be linked to placental compromise.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Immunoregulatory circuits and potential treatment of connective tissue diseases.

Connective tissue diseases are generated by different immunoregulatory alterations. Their better knowledge may lead to new treatment modalities. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), increased IL-10 production by non-T cells might exert an inhibitory effect on Thl CD4+ T cells which would explain the decreased T cell functions observed in these patients. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, there may be a balance within the synovium, where the local production of IFN-gamma may limit the anti-inflammatory properties of IL- 10, thus leading to chronic damage. This article shows that rational approaches to therapy need to be individualized. In SLE, the potential therapeutic use of monoclonal antibodies to IL-10 seems to be gathering strength, whereas in RA exactly the opposite is contemplated: IL-10 is tried for its potential therapeutic use.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2005

[The importance of antinuclear (ABA) and anti-double stranded dna (anti-dsDNA) antibodies in the diagnosis of connective tissue diseases.].

Connective tissue diseases (CTD) are characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against several tissues. These autoantibodies occur against cell membrane, cell receptors, plasma proteins, and cytoplasmic and nuclear components. In laboratories, anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies are widely used in diagnosis of CTD. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and accompaniment of ANA and anti-dsDNA antibodies in diagnosis of several CTD and also to study the prevalence of ANA and anti-dsDNA in a group of 88 patients with various types of CTD. ANA were detected by immunofluorescence (IFA) using HEp-2 cells (Zeus Scientific, Inc. USA) and anti-dsDNA antibodies using Crithidia luciliae (BioSystems, Spain) as substrates in immunofluorescence. ANA Western Blot (WB) Immunoassay (ImmuBlot, International Immuno-Diagnostics, USA) was also used along with the tests referred to previously. ANA was found in the sera of 84 (96.5%) patients while anti-dsDNA was detected in 7 (7.95%). Moreover different fluorescence patterns were also evaluated with ANA IFA in accordance with anti-dsDNA results. Mixed patterns in three and a homogeneous pattern in four anti-dsDNA positive patients' sera were determined on HEp-2 cell line by IFA. Seven sera which were ANA and anti-dsDNA positive with IFA were also found to be positive with WB and their ANA patterns with the specific ANA WB bands were also evaluated. It was observed that IFA results were in concordance with WB results. Our data indicated that the above findings should be controlled and evaluated with a more advanced method such as western blotting technique in order to confirm the presence of specific antibodies along with clinical outcome of the patients. As a result we think that ANA WB method is an appropriate technique in diagnosis of CTD as anti-dsDNA and ANA bands can be evaluated together with this method.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2003

Gingival/soft tissue abscess following subepithelial connective tissue graft for root coverage: report of three cases.

BACKGROUND: The subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) is a predictable technique for root coverage. The small number of potential postoperative problems make SCTG the current treatment of choice for reversing gingival recession. METHODS: The purpose of this article is to report three cases of complications after the use of an SCTG where an abscess occurred following the initial healing phase. The surgical technique that was used and the treatment that was provided for the abscesses are reported, and the possible causes of these complications are discussed. RESULTS: The abscesses were treated conservatively, and no recurrence has been observed after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Possible causes of the abscesses include "stitch abscess" or reaction to the suture material used for the submerged sutures, or a possible role of epithelium implanted during the procedure. The clinical outcome of the root coverage procedure was not affected.

Abscess↗