Search

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) oscillatory processes in different plasma systems, such as the corona of the Sun and the Earth's magnetosphere, show interesting similarities and differences, which so far received little attention and remain under-exploited. The successful commissioning within the past ten years of THEMIS, Hinode, STEREO and SDO spacecraft, in combination with matured analysis of data from earlier spacecraft (Wind, SOHO, ACE, Cluster, TRACE and RHESSI) makes it very timely to survey the breadth of observations giving evidence for MHD oscillatory processes in solar and space plasmas, and state-of-the-art theoretical modelling. The paper reviews several important topics, such as Alfvénic resonances and mode conversion; MHD waveguides, such as the magnetotail, coronal loops, coronal streamers; mechanisms for periodicities produced in energy releases during substorms and solar flares, possibility of Alfvénic resonators along open field lines; possible drivers of MHD waves; diagnostics of plasmas with MHD waves; interaction of MHD waves with partly-ionised boundaries (ionosphere and chromosphere). The review is mainly oriented to specialists in magnetospheric physics and solar physics, but not familiar with specifics of the adjacent research fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a step-up approach of DMARD treatment of RA a fast response and an early DMARD switch in the case of non-response is important. Therefore, we performed an open trial in which we compared an 8-week and a 16-week observation period during treatment of RA with MTX or LEF, both given in intensified starting doses and accompanied by moderate dose prednisone. MTX and LEF naïve patients with RA (mean time since diagnosis: 2.3 years) were randomised to receive either LEF in a 3-day-loading dose of 100 mg/day followed by 20 mg/day ( n = 19) or MTX intramuscularly in a dose of 25 mg once weekly ( n = 21). All patients received concomitant treatment with oral prednisone in an initial dose of 20 mg/day with weekly dose reductions of 5 mg/day. The disease activity was re-evaluated 8 and 16 weeks after the start of the treatment. Mean DAS28 before the start of treatment was 5.36 ± 0.8 for the MTX-group and 5.46 ± 0.8 for the LEF-group. After 8 weeks of treatment the DAS28 in the MTX-group was 2.59 ± 1.0 and 3.16 ± 0.8 in the LEF group (difference not significant). The mean DAS28 at re-evaluation 16 weeks after the starting of treatment (2.58 ± 1.5 for the MTX-group and 3.25 ± 1.16 for the LEF-group) was significantly different neither in between the both treatment groups nor in comparison to the week 8 evaluation. Efficiency of RA treatment with MTX or LEF in intensified doses and in combination with moderate dose prednisone can be sufficiently judged 8 weeks after its initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of high-dose azathioprine pulse (HAP) therapy in the induction of remission in patients with active Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) or progressive lupus nephritis (LN) refractory to or intolerant of cyclophosphamide. Four patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated WG and two patients with progressive LN were treated with HAP (1200–1800 mg) applied monthly as continuous intravenous infusions at 50 mg/h. Patients received a total of 50 courses of intravenous azathioprine (AZA) therapy. Disease activity was assessed using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) and the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity Index (SLEDAI). As only partial remission was induced in patients with progressive LN on this regimen, an additional 18 cycles were applied in these patients in which oral AZA at 100 mg/day in weeks 2 and 3 was added between two intravenous courses. A hereditary defect in thiopurine methyltransferase activity was excluded before initiation of treatment. High-dose azathioprine pulse and the intensified HAP treatment were well tolerated. Complete remission was achieved in two patients with WG suffering from three relapses of disease on application of 2–6 courses of HAP. Remission was maintained for 16–24 months. The remaining two patients with WG were withdrawn after 2–3 courses due to unchanged disease activity. In two patients with LN, partial remission was noted on 6–9 courses of HAP; however, the patients relapsed despite therapy with methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil. The intensified HAP regimen led to partial or complete remission in both LN patients which was confirmed by sequential renal biopsies. Our results suggest that HAP therapy represents a well-tolerated regimen in patients with active WG and LN intolerant of or refractory to cyclophosphamide. As partial or complete remission was observed in four of six patients, further studies seem warranted to assess clinical efficacy in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of HNO is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We investigated the immunological heterogeneity of plasma Tg in thyroid cancer patients using monoclonal antibodies in an immunoradiometric assay and a conventional RIA system with a polyclonal rabbit antibody. The results were compared with measurements of plasma Tg in patients with nonmalignant disease. We can demonstrate an increased immunological heterogeneity in tumor patients compared with patients with non-malignant thyroid diseases. In one case the Tg value measured by a monoclonal test system exceeded the value obtained by a polyclonal RIA system in the same sample by a factor of 25. It has to be further investigated whether this increase in heterogeneity is of diagnostic value in the follow-up of thyroid cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two types of tumor necrosis factor receptors have been characterized, both capable of transmitting the signal and exerting the biological functions of TNF and lymphotoxin. We measured the plasma concentrations of two types of TNF binding proteins (sTNFR-A and sTNFR-B) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondylarthropathies (SpA) using an enzyme-linked binding assay. In normal controls ( n = 43), mean plasma concentrations were 1030 ± 55 and 1461 ±59 pg/ml for sTNFR types A and B, respectively. In 67 patients with moderate RA, mean levels were 1422 ± 82 pg/ml (type A) and 2088 ± 109 pg/ml (type B); in 34 patients with severe RA, 2588 ±279 pg/ml and 4494 ± 550 pg/ml, respectively, were measured ( P < 0.0001 compared to normal controls). Concentrations of both type A and type B sTNFR were highly correlated in severe RA (R = 0.7) but not in SpA or normal controls. T lymphocytes in synovial fluid of patients with RA expressed predominantly type A TNF receptors on their surface; in some patients a weaker expression of type B receptors was also detectable. Soluble TNF binding proteins in patients with RA were able to neutralize TNF in a cytotoxiity assay, demonstrating their ability to act as 'TNF-inhibiting factors'. We conclude that both types of TNF receptors are parameters of disease activity in RA and may also act as TNF antagonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soluble CD25 antigen was measured in 28 patients with Graves' disease and 20 patients with thyroid autonomy in order to address the question of whether this parameter could be used in the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis. Soluble CD25 was significantly elevated in active Graves' disease (2430±442 U/ml, mean±SEM) compared to patients with thyroid autonomy (1295±225 U/ml, mean±SEM). However, compared to normal controls (mean 605±49 U/ml), both groups of patients had significantly elevated CD25 plasma levels. Investigations in thyroidectomized thyroid cancer patients on and off T suppressive therapy showed no influence of T on the CD25 level. Soluble CD25 concentrations did not differ in thyroid cancer patients compared to normal controls. We conclude that soluble CD25 may indicate a stimulation of the immune system with high sensitivity; however, due to the low specificity of elevated CD25 levels, its usefulness for differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]