Objectives: By MRI to assess the efficacy of addition of anakinra for controlling synovitis and stopping erosive progression in patients with clinically active RA despite receiving methotrexate, and to determine the predictive value of MRI for subsequent radiographic erosive progression. Methods: 100 mg anakinra subcutaneously/day was added to the treatment of 17 patients with clinically active...

BACKGROUND/AIMS This study was designed to investigate risk factors related to asymptomatic erosive esophagitis and the natural history of both endoscopic findings and reflux-related symptoms in subjects with asymptomatic erosive esophagitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS On a retrospective basis, data were gathered from patients with erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles classification 3A) who had underg...

OBJECTIVE The potential role of acidic drinks in the aetiology of dental erosion is well recognized. Whilst the wide-scale consumption of bottled waters is unlikely to contribute significantly to erosion, the role of flavoured sparkling water drinks is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the pH, titratable acidity and in vitro erosive potential of a selection of these drinks drawn f...

OBJECTIVES Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can both present with an erosive arthritis with the small joints of the hands affected. Therefore a serological marker would be useful to distinguish between these two diseases at onset. In this study anti-RA33 antibodies, which are found in patients with SLE and RA, and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP),...

Background and aims. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an immunologic disorder. A large number of studies have reported that lipid rafts have a key role in receptor signaling of lymphocytes. Here, we explore the potential of lipid rafts as targets for the development of a new class of agents to down-modulate immune responses and treat autoimmune diseases. Materials and methods. The present cross-sect...

In Physics education, the notions and concepts result to be often abstract and difficult to understand. Therefore, their representations can play an important role, since they connect both the operative and the structural thoughts. With the aim of achieving that connection, this work presents a digital simulation of the motion of projectiles in a frictionary environment. The user can select the...

Guards on machine tools are meant to protect persons from injuries caused by parts ejected with high kinetic energy from the machine's working zone. With respect to stationary grinding machines, Standard No. EN 13218:2002, therefore, specifies minimum wall thicknesses for guards. These values are mainly based on estimations and experience instead of systematic experimental investigations. This ...

Auger electron emission – following low energy monoatomic ion impact on metal surfaces – is studied with a many body theory that includes both the band structure and the Fermi singular response of metal electrons (to the sudden neutralization of the projectiles). Application is made to the experimental kinetic energy distributions of electrons ejected from polycrystalline Al by Ar-projectiles a...