Autoimmune Medical News for May 2008

Autoimmune Medical News by Date

2009: Jan
2008: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2007: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

May 2008

Increased frequency of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in psoriasis patients. Echocardiographic follow-up of psoriasis patients may be important due to possible association of PH. However, incidences of structural heart disease and arrythmia are not increased in psoriasis according to our results. (SpringerLink) Archives of Dermatological Research. April 30, 2008. (Also see: Psoriasis )

Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody, Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, and Disease Duration as Risk Factors for Extraarticular Manifestations (EAM) in Korean Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Longer disease duration, smoking history, and positive anti-CCP antibody contributed significantly to the occurrence of EAM in Korean patients with RA. Alcohol consumption in patients with RA had a negative association with EAM. J Rheumatol First Release May 1 2008. (Also see: RA Antibodies and RA Prevention ).

Sleep structure and sleepiness in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) with or without co-existing fibromyalgia. CFS patients had significant differences in polysomnograpic findings from healthy controls and felt sleepier and more fatigued than controls after a night's sleep. This difference was due to a decrease in the length of periods of uninterrupted sleep in the patients with more sleepiness in the morning than on the night before. Arthritis Research & Therapy May 12 2008, 10:R56. (Also see: CFS )

Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) Ameliorate Autoimmune Enteropathy Independent of Regulatory T Cells. Data implicates the intestine as a new site of MSC tolerance induction and should motivate further studies evaluating the use of MSCs as a treatment for autoimmune enteropathies. (PubMed) Parekkadan B. Stem Cells. 2008 Apr 17. (Also see: Stem Cell Transplants and Autoimmunity )

Use of NSAIDs and infection with Helicobacter pylori-what does the rheumatologist need to know? Ulcer risk reduction after H. pylori eradication therapy is clearly more marked in patients beginning NSAID therapy than in patients who were already receiving and tolerating NSAID therapy. U. Kiltz. Rheumatology Advance Access. May 13, 2008 (Also see: NSAIDs and GI Involvement ).

Can exercise limits prevent post-exertional malaise in chronic fatigue syndrome? An uncontrolled clinical trial. The use of exercise limits (limiting both the intensity and duration of exercise) prevents important health status changes following a walking exercise in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, but was unable to prevent short-term symptom increases. Clinical Rehabilitation, May 2008, 22(5), pp 426-435. (Also see: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome )

Vitamin D deficiency in systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE): prevalence, predictors and clinical consequences. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are common in patients with SLE and are associated with sun avoidance. G. Ruiz-Irastorza. Rheumatology Advance Access. April 14, 2008 (Also see: Lupus ).

Autonomic nervous symptoms in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). pSS patients showed subjective and objective signs of both a parasympathetic and a sympathetic dysfunction. However, autonomic dysfunction symptoms showed limited associations with objective autonomic nervous function as well as other clinical features of the disease. T. Mandl. Rheumatology Access Online. April 14,2008. (Also see: Sjogren's Syndrome )

Is there any evidence to support the use of antidepressants in painful rheumatological conditions? Systematic review of pharmacological and clinical studies. Certain anti-depressant drugs have analgesic effects in chronic rheumatic painful states in which analgesics and NSAIDs are not very efficient. In inflammatory rheumatic diseases, anti-depressants may be useful for managing fatigue and sleep disorders. S. Perrot. Rheumatology Access Online. April 29, 2008. (Also see: Pain Management and Fatigue )