The aim was to determine the place of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonographic (US) examination in the diagnosis and follow-up of Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

To compare the discriminating ability of the chronic arthritis systemic index (CASI), an index that uses the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) as the main variable, with the disease activity score (DAS) and Thompson's articular index (TAI) to detect high and low disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

To determine bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with mild ankylosing spondylitis (AS), to establish the prevalence of vertebral fractures and fracture risk in these patients, and to determine the relationship between BMD and vertebral fractures.

To investigate the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms andJapanese female patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand, hip, and knee.

To assess the arthritogenicity of Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 and O:5 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administered separately as single antigens in hamsters.

Differences in clinical manifestations of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) between different ethnic groups have been documented. The FMF gene was recently cloned and four missense mutations (Met694Val, Met680Ile, Val726Ala, and Met694Ile) that account for a large percentage of the patients were identified. The results of initial mutation studies have led to the hypothesis that phenotypic variation of the disease may be attributable to the existence of some of these mutations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether this phenotypic variation is associated with the existence of particular mutations in Turkish FMF patients living in Turkey.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an oligogenic disease for which only one susceptibility locus has been identified to date. Genes involved in T-cell regulation are potential candidates. Association to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated-4 (CTLA-4) protein, a negative regulator of T-cell activation, has previously been described in a subset of German RA patients carrying the HLA DRB1*0401 subtype. Linkage and association with another oligogenic autoimmune disease, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, has also been described in a Spanish population.

Finger extensor tenosynovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may lead to partial and eventually to complete tendon tears. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of sonography (SG) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize partial tendon tears.

Evaluation of hepatic lesions in patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) generally used the Roenigk histological score. However, the sensitivity of the method for hepatic fibrosis assessment has been discussed. The semi-quantitative histological scoring system (SSS) offers a sensitive and specific evaluation of liver fibrosis. Both scores have been evaluated in liver biopsies of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The experience with digital image analysis (DIA) in the assessment of synovial inflammation is limited. In this study we compared DIA with two currently applied methods for the evaluation of the synovium.

To investigate long-term functional outcomes of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated actively with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) from diagnosis, according to the 'sawtooth' principle, and to compare the results to historical data.

To summarize the state of knowledge with regard to the economic impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to highlight any weaknesses in the work conducted to date, so as to inform future RA cost-of-illness studies.

Clinical trials specifically targeting and neutralizing the cytokine, tumour necrosis factor (TNF), have recently provided evidence of efficacy and a promise of a novel approach for the treatment and management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). With the evolving emergence of anti-TNF therapeutics, several unresolved issues have come to light, including the assessment of safety and efficacy of current therapies, study design for new agents and cost-benefit issues. During an international meeting of leading rheumatologists and specialists, the majority opinion regarding the use of anti-TNF therapy was that these agents are most appropriate in patients with active disease who have insufficient response to methotrexate, which is presently considered the standard for RA treatment. Anti-TNF therapy was also recommended in patients with active disease unable to tolerate methotrexate therapy, or who have not responded to at least two other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). In patients with RA who have serious infection or malignancy, the use of anti-TNF therapies was not advised. Time, experience and clinical data from recently completed and currently ongoing studies of infliximab and etanercept, which will be available in the future, will help determine the ultimate role of such targeted therapeutics. Additional data on anti-TNF therapeutics as monotherapy or in various combinations are still needed to achieve maximum disease control safely with currently available DMARDs.