Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 315 in total

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  1. Clinical and high resolution computed tomography characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis lung disease
    Mohd Noor N, Mohd Shahrir MS, Shahid MS, Abdul Manap R, Shahizon Azura AM, Azhar Shah S
    Int J Rheum Dis, 2009 Jul;12(2):136-44.
    PMID: 20374331 DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-185X.2009.01376.x
    Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease of unknown cause. A variety of pulmonary disorders have been described in association with RA. Among the most common are interstitial lung disease
    (ILD) and bronchiectasis.
    Objectives: This study aims to determine the characteristics of RA patients with lung disease in relation to clinical characteristics, pulmonary function test (PFT) and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) thorax.
    Method: This is a 6-months cross-sectional study involving 63 consecutive RA patients in an outpatient rheumatology clinic. Patients had a mean disease duration of 5 years and above. Disease activity and severity
    was assessed by Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Rheumatoid Arthritis Articular Damage (RAAD) score. Full pulmonary function test (PFT) and HRCT of thorax were performed.
    Conclusions: The prevalence of RA-ILD is 44% and 67% of patients are asymptomatic. There was significant higher proportion (68%) in patients of Chinese ethnicity who have ILD. Diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide
    was abnormal in all patients and forced expiratory flow (FEF)25–75% was low in 16%. Restrictive pattern was 66.7% by PFT. The most common HRCT findings were reticulation (46%) followed by ground glass opacities
    (38.1%) and bronchiectasis (28.6%). There was no association between ILD and male gender, duration of the disease, smoking, rheumatoid factor, extra-articular manifestations, disease activity or severity.
    Key words: high resolution computed tomography, interstitial lung disease, lung function test, rheumatoid arthritis.
    Study site: Rheumatology clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/ethnology*
  2. Immunomodulation by melatonin: its significance for seasonally occurring diseases
    Srinivasan V, Spence DW, Trakht I, Pandi-Perumal SR, Cardinali DP, Maestroni GJ
    Neuroimmunomodulation, 2008;15(2):93-101.
    PMID: 18679047 DOI: 10.1159/000148191
    Melatonin is not only synthesized by the pineal gland but also in many other organs and tissues of the body, particularly by lymphoid organs such as the bone marrow, thymus and lymphocytes. Melatonin participates in various functions of the body, among which its immunomodulatory role has assumed considerable significance in recent years. Melatonin has been shown to be involved in the regulation of both cellular and humoral immunity. Melatonin not only stimulates the production of natural killer cells, monocytes and leukocytes, but also alters the balance of T helper (Th)-1 and Th-2 cells mainly towards Th-1 responses and increases the production of relevant cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-12 and interferon-gamma. The regulatory function of melatonin on immune mechanisms is seasonally dependent. This fact may in part account for the cyclic pattern of symptom expression shown by certain infectious diseases, which become more pronounced at particular times of the year. Moreover, melatonin-induced seasonal changes in immune function have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of seasonal affective disorder and rheumatoid arthritis. The clinical significance of the seasonally changing immunomodulatory role of melatonin is discussed in this review.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology
  3. Fulltext Discovery of a new class of inhibitors for the protein arginine deiminase type 4 (PAD4) by structure-based virtual screening
    Teo CY, Shave S, Chor AL, Salleh AB, Rahman MB, Walkinshaw MD, et al.
    BMC Bioinformatics, 2012;13 Suppl 17:S4.
    PMID: 23282142 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-13-S17-S4
    BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. Anticitrullinated protein autoantibody has been documented as a highly specific autoantibody associated with RA. Protein arginine deiminase type 4 (PAD4) is the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the conversion of peptidylarginine into peptidylcitrulline. PAD4 is a new therapeutic target for RA treatment. In order to search for inhibitors of PAD4, structure-based virtual screening was performed using LIDAEUS (Ligand discovery at Edinburgh university). Potential inhibitors were screened experimentally by inhibition assays.

    RESULTS: Twenty two of the top-ranked water-soluble compounds were selected for inhibitory screening against PAD4. Three compounds showed significant inhibition of PAD4 and their IC50 values were investigated. The structures of the three compounds show no resemblance with previously discovered PAD4 inhibitors, nor with existing drugs for RA treatment.

    CONCLUSION: Three compounds were discovered as potential inhibitors of PAD4 by virtual screening. The compounds are commercially available and can be used as scaffolds to design more potent inhibitors against PAD4.

    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/enzymology*
  4. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-ulcerogenic effect of total alkaloidal extract from Murraya koenigii leaves in animal models
    Mani V, Ramasamy K, Abdul Majeed AB
    Food Funct, 2013 Apr 25;4(4):557-67.
    PMID: 23360913 DOI: 10.1039/c3fo30356j
    The fresh leaves of Murraya koenigii are often added to various dishes in Asian countries due to the delicious taste and flavour that they impart. In the present study, the effect of the total alkaloidal extract from Murraya koenigii leaves (MKA) with respect to anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-ulcerogenic effects were evaluated using different experimental animal models. Oral supplementation of MKA at 10, 20 and 40 mg kg(-1) body weight successfully and dose-dependently reduced the formation of oedema induced by carrageenan, histamine and serotonin as well as formaldehyde-induced arthritis. In addition, the extract (10, 20 and 40 mg kg(-1), p.o.) attenuated the writhing responses induced by an intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid and late phase of pain response induced by a subplantar injection of formalin in mice. MKA at higher doses (20 and 40 mg kg(-1), p.o) reduced the early phase response induced by formalin as well as reaction time on hot plate models. Interestingly, there was no ulcer score with the ulcerogenic effect of MKA. Moreover, all the doses of MKA (10, 20 and 40 mg kg(-1), p.o) showed promising anti-ulcerogenic activity with protection against acute gastric ulcers induced by ethanol plus hydrochloric acid and aspirin models in a dose dependent manner.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis/drug therapy*
  5. Cerebral tuberculoma with pulmonary tuberculosis in a patient with psoriasis treated with adalimumab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agent
    Selvarajah L, Choon SE, Tarekh NA, Chhetri AD
    Int J Dermatol, 2016 Feb;55(2):e115-7.
    PMID: 26566776 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.13047
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Psoriatic/drug therapy*
  6. Chronic nephrotoxicity of anti-inflammatory drugs used in the treatment of arthritis
    Segasothy M, Chin GL, Sia KK, Zulfiqar A, Samad SA
    Br J Rheumatol, 1995 Feb;34(2):162-5.
    PMID: 7704463
    We determined the consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the prevalence of chronic renal impairment and renal papillary necrosis (RPN) in patients with various types of arthritis. Ninety-four patients with chronic arthritis who had consumed more than 1000 capsules and/or tablets of NSAIDs were studied. Renal profiles and radiological investigations such as intravenous urogram (IVU), ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) were performed to look for evidence of RPN. Twelve patients did not complete the study. Ten of the 82 patients who had completed the study (12.2%) had radiologic evidence of RPN. Five out of 53 patients (9.4%) with rheumatoid arthritis, three out of 11 patients (27.3%) with gouty arthritis and two out of seven patients (28.6%) with osteoarthritis had RPN. Renal impairment (serum creatinine levels of 125-451 mumol/l) was found in 20 patients (24.4%). The patients had consumed 1000-26,300 capsules and/or tablets over a period ranging from 1 yr to more than 30 yr. Patients with chronic arthritis who consume excessive amount of NSAIDs are at risk of developing RPN and chronic renal impairment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis/drug therapy*
  7. Paediatric rheumatology clinic population in Southeast Asia: are we different?
    Arkachaisri T, Tang SP, Daengsuwan T, Phongsamart G, Vilaiyuk S, Charuvanij S, et al.
    Rheumatology (Oxford), 2017 03 01;56(3):390-398.
    PMID: 27994096 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew446
    Objectives: To examine the descriptive epidemiology of the patient population referred to paediatric rheumatology centres (PRCs) in Southeast Asia (SEA) and to compare the frequency of conditions encountered with other PRC populations.

    Methods: A web-based Registry for Childhood Onset Paediatric Rheumatic Diseases was established in 2009 and seven PRCs in four SEA countries, where paediatric rheumatologists are available, participated in a prospective 24 month data collection (43 months for Singapore).

    Results: The number of patients analysed was 4038 (788 from Malaysia, 711 from the Philippines, 1943 from Singapore and 596 from Thailand). Over 70% of patients evaluated in PRCs in Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand had rheumatic diseases (RDs), as compared with one-half of the proportion seen in Singaporean PRCs, which was similar to the Western PRC experience. Among RDs diagnosed (n = 2602), JIA was the most common disease encountered in Malaysia (41%) and Thailand (61%) as compared with systemic vasculitides in the Philippines (37%) and Singapore (35%) among which Henoch-Schönlein purpura was the most prevalent. SLE and related diseases were more common, but idiopathic pain syndrome and abnormal immunological laboratory tests were rarer than those seen in the West. JIA subtype distributions were different among countries. Among non-RDs (n = 1436), orthopaedic and related conditions predominated (21.7-59.4%).

    Conclusion: The frequencies of RDs seen by SEA PRCs were different from those in the West. Systemic vasculitides and SLE were common in addition to JIA. Paediatric rheumatologist availability and healthcare accessibility partially explain these observed discrepancies.

    Study site: multination + Selayang Hospital, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Juvenile/epidemiology*
  8. Raised Intraocular Pressure in Nonjuvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Uveitis Children: Risk Factors and Effect on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer
    Md Din N, Tomkins-Netzer O, Talat L, Taylor SR, Isa H, Bar A, et al.
    J Glaucoma, 2016 07;25(7):598-604.
    PMID: 26900824 DOI: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000000379
    PURPOSE: To determine risk factors for intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and glaucoma in children with nonjuvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis and any IOP-related changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness.

    PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data were collected from children attending a tertiary referral uveitis clinic between May 2010 and October 2012. We assigned 206 eyes of 103 children into 32 normal eyes, 108 normotensive uveitics (NU), 41 hypertensive uveitics (HU: raised IOP without glaucomatous disc), and 25 glaucomatous uveitics (GU: raised IOP with glaucomatous disc). Risk factors for raised IOP, glaucoma and steroid response (SR) were evaluated and RNFL thickness across groups was compared with determine changes related to raised IOP.

    RESULTS: IOP elevation occurred in 40 patients (38.8%) or 66/174 eyes with uveitis (37.9%); and SR occurred in 35.1% of all corticosteroid-treated eyes. Chronic uveitis was a significant risk factor for raised IOP [odds ratio (OR)=9.28, P=0.001], glaucoma, and SR (OR=8.4, P<0.001). Higher peak IOP was also a risk factor for glaucoma (OR=1.4, P=0.003). About 70% of SR eyes were high responders (IOP increase >15 mm Hg from baseline), associated with younger age and corticosteroid injections. Although no significant RNFL thinning was detected between HU and NU eyes, significant thinning was detected in the inferior quadrant of GU (121.3±28.9 μm) compared with NU eyes (142.1±32.0 μm, P=0.043).

    CONCLUSIONS: Children with chronic uveitis are at higher risk of raised IOP and glaucoma. Thinning of the inferior RNFL quadrant may suggest glaucomatous changes in uveitic children with raised IOP.

    Study site: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Juvenile/physiopathology*
  9. Berberine and musculoskeletal disorders: The therapeutic potential and underlying molecular mechanisms
    Wong SK, Chin KY, Ima-Nirwana S
    Phytomedicine, 2020 Jul 15;73:152892.
    PMID: 30902523 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2019.152892
    BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are a group of disorders that affect the joints, bones, and muscles, causing long-term disability. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, has been previously established to exhibit beneficial properties in preventing various diseases, including musculoskeletal disorders.

    PURPOSE: This review article aims to recapitulate the therapeutic potential of berberine and its mechanism of action in treating musculoskeletal disorders.

    METHODS: A wide range of literature illustrating the effects of berberine in ameliorating musculoskeletal disorders was retrieved from online electronic databases (PubMed and Medline) and reviewed.

    RESULTS: Berberine may potentially retard the progression of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Limited studies reported the effects of berberine in suppressing the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells. These beneficial properties of berberine are mediated in part through its ability to target multiple signaling pathways, including PKA, p38 MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, AMPK, RANK/RANKL/OPG, PI3K/Akt, NFAT, NF-κB, Hedgehog, and oxidative stress signaling. In addition, berberine exhibited anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive properties.

    CONCLUSION: The current evidence indicates that berberine may be effective in preventing musculoskeletal disorders. However, findings from in vitro and in vivo investigations await further validation from human clinical trial.

    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/prevention & control
  10. Fulltext Nutritional situation of a Chinese community
    Suriah AR, Chong TJ, Yeoh BY
    Singapore Med J, 1998 Aug;39(8):348-52.
    PMID: 9844494
    AIM: To evaluate the anthropometric measurements and dietary intake of the free-living elderly in a Chinese community.
    METHOD: A survey was carried out on 48 male and female subjects aged 60 to 96 years using anthropometric, dietary intake and questionnaire techniques.
    RESULTS: The study indicated female subjects to have more health problems, like pain at the joints (33%), hypertension (17%) and diabetes (27%) as compared to the male subjects. Dietary intake analysis showed the Chinese male subjects to have a higher energy intake (1,623 kcal) compared to the females (1,197 kcal) even though they did not fulfill the recommended dietary intake. The intake for energy, fats and carbohydrates, was found to be significantly different (p < 0.05) between both sexes. Anthropometric measurements indicated male elderly subjects to be significantly heavier (p < 0.05, 55.4 kg) and taller (161.8 cm) than female elderly subjects (49.5 kg; 146.2 cm respectively). About half of the elderly were normal in their BMI (male 55.6%; female 50%) and only 6.6% of the female subjects were obese. More male subjects were found to be underweight (33%) compared to female subjects (17%). Waist hip ratio was 0.92 for male and 0.87 for female.
    CONCLUSION: Our study showed that female elderly subjects had more health problems compared to male elderly subjects. On the whole, the elderly did not fulfill the recommended amount for energy intake while the percentage for carbohydrates, fats and protein from the total calorie intake were not in accordance with the healthy diet guidelines. Anthropometrically, male subjects were heavier and taller than female subjects. Looking at body mass index, most of the male elderly subjects were in the normal to underweight range. With these results, more research is warranted to give a clearer picture of the Chinese elderly in the country.

    Study site: Kampung Baru Tabuh Naning, Alor Gajah, Malacca
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis/complications
  11. Fulltext Sarcoidosis: a review of cases seen at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur
    Liam CK, Menon A
    Singapore Med J, 1993 Apr;34(2):153-6.
    PMID: 8266159
    Fourteen cases of sarcoidosis consisting of 7 male and 7 female patients with a mean age of 42.4 years were seen at the University Hospital from 1972 to 1990. There were 10 Indians, 2 Malays, and 2 Chinese. Twelve patients had thoracic involvement. The other common disease manifestations included weight loss, arthralgia, hepatomegaly, erythema nodosum, peripheral lymphadenopathy, and hypercalcaemia. At initial presentation, the disease was in radiographic stage I, II, and III in 8, 3 and one patient respectively. The Kveim test was positive in 7 out of 9 patients. Eight patients required steroid therapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis/physiopathology
  12. Fulltext IgA rheumatoid factor as a serological predictor of poor response to tumour necrosis factor α inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis
    Sakthiswary R, Shaharir SS, Mohd Said MS, Asrul AW, Shahril NS
    Int J Rheum Dis, 2014 Nov;17(8):872-7.
    PMID: 25292482 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.12443
    AIM: The main objective of this study is to elucidate the role of immunoglobulin A (IgA) rheumatoid factor (RF) in predicting the clinical response to tumour necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFi) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
    METHOD: We recruited all patients with RA who were ever on TNFi for a minimum duration of 3 months at our centre. Based on the European League Against Rheumatism response criteria, subjects were further divided into responders and non-responders. Age-matched RA patients who were on conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and in remission were enrolled as controls. Subjects were tested for quantitative values of IgA, IgM, IgG RF and anti-citrulinated cyclic peptides (CCP). Further, all subjects were assessed for the disease activity score that includes 28 joints (DAS28) and Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) 8-item Disability Index (HAQ-DI).
    RESULTS: A total of 31 subjects with RA who had received TNFi and 15 controls were enrolled in this study. There was a trend for the non-responders (n = 10) to have higher levels of all isotypes of RF and anti-CCP. However, only the IgA RF and anti-CCP levels were significantly higher in the non-responder group compared to the responders and controls (P = 0.001, P = 0.034, respectively). On multivariate analysis, only the IgA RF remained significant (OR 0.989; 95% CI 0.980-0.999; P = 0.026).
    CONCLUSION: IgA RF is potentially a novel predictor of response to TNFi in RA patients. Testing for pretreatment IgA RF levels could be a reasonable consideration before commencement of TNFi.
    Study site: Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy*; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology
  13. Subclinical coronary artery disease in Asian rheumatoid arthritis patients who were in remission: a pilot study
    Ma NH, Teh CL, Rapaee A, Lau KB, Fong AY, Hi S, et al.
    Int J Rheum Dis, 2010 Aug;13(3):223-9.
    PMID: 20704618 DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-185X.2010.01533.x
    INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who have active disease with longer disease duration have been reported to have increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to the normal population.
    OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of our study is to ascertain the prevalence of significant asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) in Asian RA patients who are in remission using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). The secondary aims of our study are the usage of pulse wave velocity and the biomarkers N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-senstivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to detect subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients.
    METHODS: We performed a comparative cross-sectional study of 47 RA patients who were in remission with a control group of non-RA patients with a history of atypical chest pain in Sarawak General Hospital from November 2008 to February 2009. All patients underwent 64-slice MDCT, assessment of arterial stiffness using the SphygmoCor test and blood analysis for NT-proBNP and hsCRP.
    RESULTS: There were 94 patients in our study with a mean age of 50 +/- 8.8 years. The RA and control patients in each group were matched in terms of traditional CV risk factors. Our RA patients had a median disease duration of 3 years (IQR 5.5). MDCT showed evidence of CAD in nine (19.1%) RA patients and three (6.4%) control patients (P = 0.06). There was no significant association between pulse wave velocity (PWV) and presence of CAD in our RA group. There was no significant correlation between PWV with levels of proBNP or hsCRP in our RA patients.
    CONCLUSIONS: In our current pilot study with the limitation of small sample size, RA was not associated with an increased risk of CAD in our RA patients who were in remission. Larger studies of CAD in Asian RA patients are needed to confirm our current finding.
    Study site: Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/ethnology*; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/therapy
  14. Dietary Phytochemicals: Natural Swords Combating Inflammation and Oxidation-Mediated Degenerative Diseases
    Islam MA, Alam F, Solayman M, Khalil MI, Kamal MA, Gan SH
    Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2016;2016:5137431.
    PMID: 27721914
    Cumulatively, degenerative disease is one of the most fatal groups of diseases, and it contributes to the mortality and poor quality of life in the world while increasing the economic burden of the sufferers. Oxidative stress and inflammation are the major pathogenic causes of degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diabetes mellitus (DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although a number of synthetic medications are used to treat these diseases, none of the current regimens are completely safe. Phytochemicals (polyphenols, carotenoids, anthocyanins, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, and terpenes) from natural products such as dietary fruits, vegetables, and spices are potential sources of alternative medications to attenuate the oxidative stress and inflammation associated with degenerative diseases. Based on in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials, some of these active compounds have shown good promise for development into novel agents for treating RA, DM, and CVD by targeting oxidative stress and inflammation. In this review, phytochemicals from natural products with the potential of ameliorating degenerative disease involving the bone, metabolism, and the heart are described.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/metabolism; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/therapy*
  15. Transdermal anti-inflammatory activity of bilayer film containing olive compound hydroxytyrosol: physical assessment, in vivo dermal safety and efficacy study in Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritic rat model
    Ng SF, Tan LS, Buang F
    Drug Dev Ind Pharm, 2017 Jan;43(1):108-119.
    PMID: 27588411 DOI: 10.1080/03639045.2016.1224893
    Previous studies have shown that hydroxytyrosol (HT) can be a potential alternative therapeutic agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, HT is extensively metabolized following oral administration, which leads to formulating HT in a topical vehicle to prolong drug action as well as to provide a localized effect. Hidrox-6 is a freeze-dried powder derived from fresh olives and contains a high amount of HT (∼3%) and other polyphenols. Alginate bilayer films containing 5% and 10% Hidrox-6 were formulated. The films were characterized with respect to their physical, morphology, rheological properties; drug content uniformity; and in vitro drug release. Acute dermal irritancy tests and a skin sensitization study were carried out in rats. An efficacy study of the bilayer films for RA was conducted using Freund's adjuvant-induced polyarthritis rats. Animal data showed that the bilayer film formulations did not cause skin irritancy. The efficacy in vivo results showed that the Hidrox-6 bilayer films lowered the arthritic scores, paw and ankle circumference, serum IL-6 level and cumulative histological scores compared with those measured for controls. The topical Hidrox-6 bilayer films improve synovitis and inflammatory symptoms in RA and can be a potential alternative to oral RA therapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy*; Arthritis, Experimental/metabolism
  16. Molecular mechanism of down-regulating adipogenic transcription factors in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells by bioactive anti-adipogenic compounds
    Guru A, Issac PK, Velayutham M, Saraswathi NT, Arshad A, Arockiaraj J
    Mol Biol Rep, 2021 Jan;48(1):743-761.
    PMID: 33275195 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-06036-8
    Obesity is growing at an alarming rate, which is characterized by increased adipose tissue. It increases the probability of many health complications, such as diabetes, arthritis, cardiac disease, and cancer. In modern society, with a growing population of obese patients, several individuals have increased insulin resistance. Herbal medicines are known as the oldest method of health care treatment for obesity-related secondary health issues. Several traditional medicinal plants and their effective phytoconstituents have shown anti-diabetic and anti-adipogenic activity. Adipose tissue is a major site for lipid accumulation as well as the whole-body insulin sensitivity region. 3T3-L1 cell line model can achieve adipogenesis. Adipocyte characteristics features such as expression of adipocyte markers and aggregation of lipids are chemically induced in the 3T3-L1 fibroblast cell line. Differentiation of 3T3-L1 is an efficient and convenient way to obtain adipocyte like cells in experimental studies. Peroxisome proliferation activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and Cytosine-Cytosine-Adenosine-Adenosine-Thymidine/Enhancer-binding protein α (CCAAT/Enhancer-binding protein α or C/EBPα) are considered to be regulating adipogenesis at the early stage, while adiponectin and fatty acid synthase (FAS) is responsible for the mature adipocyte formation. Excess accumulation of these adipose tissues and lipids leads to obesity. Thus, investigating adipose tissue development and the underlying molecular mechanism is important in the therapeutical approach. This review describes the cellular mechanism of 3T3-L1 fibroblast cells on potential anti-adipogenic herbal bioactive compounds.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis/etiology; Arthritis/genetics; Arthritis/pathology; Arthritis/prevention & control*
  17. Pomegranate use to attenuate bone loss in major musculoskeletal diseases: an evidence-based review
    Shuid AN, Mohamed IN
    Curr Drug Targets, 2013 Dec;14(13):1565-78.
    PMID: 24200293
    This review explores the effects of pomegranate on the pathogenesis of bone loss in osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify the relevant studies on pomegranate and osteoporosis/osteoarthritis/rheumatoid arthritis. A comprehensive search was conducted in Medline and CINAHL for relevant studies published between the years 1946 to 2012. The main inclusion criteria were research articles published in English, studies had to report the association or effect of pomegranate and these bone and joint diseases: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The literature search identified 35 potentially relevant articles, whereby 8 met the inclusion criteria. Two animal studies, two combinations of animal and in vitro studies, three in vitro studies and one human study were included in this review. All the studies reported positive effects of pomegranate extract or juice on osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This evidence-based review highlighted the potential of pomegranate extract being used for treating bone loss in osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Further studies are required to identify the active ingredients and molecular mechanisms before controlled human observational studies are conducted to provide stronger evidence.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy*
  18. High incidence and treatment of flexor carpi radialis tendinitis after trapeziectomy and abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty for basal joint arthritis
    Low TH, Hales PF
    J Hand Surg Eur Vol, 2014 Oct;39(8):838-44.
    PMID: 24051478 DOI: 10.1177/1753193413506150
    We reviewed the incidence and treatment of flexor carpi radialis tendinitis in 77 patients (81 thumbs) who had trapeziectomy and abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty for thumb carpometacarpal joint arthritis. Eighteen patients, 20 wrists (25%) had flexor carpi radialis tendinitis. The onset was 2-10 months (mean 4.7) after surgery. Two cases had preceding trauma. Eight cases (40%) responded to splinting and steroid injection. Ten patients, 12 wrists (60%) underwent surgery after failing non-operative treatment. Eleven wrists had frayed or partially torn flexor carpi radialis tendon and one had a complete tendon rupture with pseudotendon formation. Flexor carpi radialis tenotomy and pseudotendon excision were performed. All operated patients obtained good pain relief initially post-operatively. However, the pain recurred in two patients after 8 months. One required a local steroid injection for localized tenderness at the site of the proximal tendon stump. The other patient required a revision operation for scaphotrapezoid impingement. Both obtained complete pain relief. Our study has shown a high incidence of flexor carpi radialis tendinitis following trapeziectomy and abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty. Patients should be warned about this potential complication.

    Study a collaboration between Malaysia and Australia
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis; Arthritis/surgery*
  19. Fulltext A replication study confirms the association of dendritic cell immunoreceptor (DCIR) polymorphisms with ACPA - negative RA in a large Asian cohort
    Guo J, Wu X, Too CL, Yin F, Lu X, He J, et al.
    PLoS One, 2012;7(7):e41228.
    PMID: 22829930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041228
    OBJECTIVES: Dendritic cell immunoreceptor (DCIR) has been implicated in development of autoimmune disorders in rodent and DCIR polymorphisms were associated with anti-citrullinated proteins antibodies (ACPA)-negative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Swedish Caucasians. This study was undertaken to further investigate whether DCIR polymorphisms are also risk factors for the development of RA in four Asian populations originated from China and Malaysia.

    METHODS: We genotyped two DCIR SNPs rs2377422 and rs10840759 in Han Chinese population (1,193 cases, 1,278 controls), to assess their association with RA. Subsequently, rs2377422 was further genotyped in three independent cohorts of Malaysian-Chinese subjects (MY_Chinese, 254 cases, 206 controls), Malay subjects (MY_ Malay, 515 cases, 986 controls), and Malaysian-Indian subjects (MY_Indian, 378 cases, 285 controls), to seek confirmation of association in various ethnic groups. Meta-analysis was preformed to evaluate the contribution of rs2377422 polymorphisms to the development of ACPA-negative RA in distinct ethnic groups. Finally, we carried out association analysis of rs2377422 polymorphisms with DCIR mRNA expression levels.

    RESULTS: DCIR rs2377422 was found to be significantly associated with ACPA -negative RA in Han Chinese (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.27-2.90, P=0.0020). Meta-analysis confirms DCIR rs2377422 as a risk factor for ACPA-negative RA across distinct ethnic groups (OR(overall) =1.17, 95% CI 1.06-1.30, P=0.003). The SNP rs2377422 polymorphism showed significant association with DCIR mRNA expression level, i.e. RA-risk CC genotype exhibit a significant increase in the expression of DCIR (P=0.0023, Kruskal-Wallis).

    CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide evidence for association between DCIR rs2377422 and RA in non-Caucasian populations and confirm the influence of DCIR polymorphisms on RA susceptibility, especially on ACPA-negative RA.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics*
  20. Impact of tight control strategy on rheumatoid arthritis in Sarawak
    Teh CL, Wong JS
    Clin Rheumatol, 2011 May;30(5):615-21.
    PMID: 20886247 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-010-1583-3
    The aim of our study is to describe the impact of tight control strategy on the care of RA patients in Sarawak General Hospital. We performed a prospective study of all patients with a diagnosis of RA who received treatment at the Rheumatology Clinic in Sarawak General Hospital over a 1-year period. Systematic DAS-driven treatment adjustments aimed to achieve low disease activity (DAS 28-ESR <2.6) were carried out in the clinic over the 1-year period. Disease activity and treatment regimes of all 142 patients were collected for at baseline and 1 year later for statistical analysis. Our patients have a significantly lower DAS 28 with a mean of 2.99 ± 0.95 compared with baseline of 4.31 ± 1.34 (p < 0.000). More patients were in remission 1 year later compared to baseline (36.6% vs 11.3%). Tight control strategy has a positive impact on the care of RA patients in our centre. By optimising the care of RA through tight control strategy, RA can be better controlled in our centre.

    Study site: Rheumatology clinic, Sarawak general hospital
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/therapy*
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