Background Ulnar drift is a common complication of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) (1,2). There no clear consensus regarding the etiology hand deformity. Observations from corrective surgery and other studies have noted more pronounced inflammation in radial site MCP-joints (3,4). This could partly explain pathophysiology behind ulnar deviation. Objectives To determine if there inflammation, measured...

The origins of impaired finger and hand function were examined in 10 stroke survivors with chronic spastic hemiparesis, with the intent of assessing whether mechanical restraint or altered neurophysiological control mechanisms are responsible for the well-known impairment of finger extension. Simultaneous extension of all four metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of the impaired hand was either ext...

OBJECTIVES To assess the inter-observer agreement of standard joint count between experienced Rheumatology professor (Prof) and young Rheumatology fellow (candidate), and to compare disease global assessment between professor, young candidate and patients. METHODS This study included one hundred rheumatoid arthritis patients. For all patients independent clinical evaluation was done by two rh...

Gas-pressurised space suits have been highly effective as a life support system, but are a severe hindrance to astronaut function and capability. They are rigid, heavy, bulky, costly, leaky, and require high maintenance due to the complexity of constant volume joints and associated bearings and restraint layers. For future planetary exploration, revolutionary suit designs must be developed to s...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of targeting the chemotaxis of monocytes and polymorphonuclear monocytes (PMNs) in situ in MRL-Faslpr arthritis. METHODS MRL-Faslpr mice were injected intradermally with complete Freund's adjuvant and cellular infiltration into the joint was monitored. Once clinical disease developed, the animals received one of three treatments: MCP-1(9-76); MCP-1(9-76) pl...

OBJECTIVE In this study we investigated the relationship between synovial vascularity (SV) and structural alteration of finger joints in patients with RA and long-term sustained clinical low disease activity (CLDA). METHODS RA patients with CLDA of >2 years (minimum 1 year of CLDA for study entry plus 1 year of observation) were analysed. Quantitative SV values were sequentially measured in e...

Background: Ultrasound (US) is an accessible and non-invasive tool to assess joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It used for diagnostic prognosis purposes following of RA patients by evaluating the disease activity therefore response treatment. Objectives: This study investigates agreement between US hand wrist findings clinical examination biological inflammatory parameters patient...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, frequently progressive, and destructive autoimmune disease. As the disease progresses, irreversible joint damage may lead to loss of function and physical disability (World Health Organization, 2004). Patients with RA have reduced quality of life compared with healthy people. RA is associated with serious co-morbidities such as heart disease, infection, a...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the modified US7 score (MUS7 score SYN) in the assessment of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA). In addition, dorsal and palmar recesses of the wrists as well as of small joints of the hands and feet were examined for the presence of synovitis by means of a global assessment of joints. METHODS The study sample comprised 32 patients treated for arthritis, with...

Background : Ruptured cerebral aneurysms (ICAs) are the most common non-traumatic cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) that is associated with life threatening complications such as Vasospasm, Infarction, and Hydrocephalus (HCP). The active participation of macrophage/monocyte-mediated inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysm as labeled with Monocyte ChemoattractantProte...