560 research outputs found
Psoriatic arthritis. When the heterogeneity requires normality
No full textPsoriatic arthritis (PsA) is characteristically associated with a large spectrum of disorders, some of which are peculiars, such as enthesopathy, dactilytis, osteitis and axial involvement. Due to the heterogeneity of its expression, definition and classification of PsA have been unsatisfactory until recent years, with consequences on the reliability of epidemiological studies. Other confounding factors for diagnosis and classification of PsA are the radiological changes, sometimes found in asymptomatic patients with psoriasis, and the frequent normality of acute phase response indices, in particular erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein. All these aspects are frequently neglected and probably account also for the unsatisfactory response of PsA to traditional drugs, such as NSAIDs, steroids and DMARDs. Furthermore, these drugs showed only a partial ability to influence radiographic progression and psoriasis. The anti-TNF agents have demonstrated to be able to influence all the multiple aspects of the PsA disease and indeed, to slow radiographic progression and to improve patients’ quality of life. This seems obtained with a convenient cost-effectiveness ratio
Women and spondyloarthritis
No full text: Spondyloarthritis is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous group of chronic inflammatory diseases affecting the spine and/or peripheral joints, often associated with extra-articular manifestations, such as psoriasis, uveitis, and inflammatory bowel disease..
Ultrasonography of salivary glands in primary Sjogren's syndrome: a comparison with contrast sialography and scintigraphy
No full textUltrasonography of salivary glands in primary Sjogren's syndrome: a comparison with contrast sialography and scintigraphy Author(s): Salaffi, F (Salaffi, F.)1; Carotti, M (Carotti, M.)2; Iagnocco, A (Iagnocco, A.)3; Luccioli, F (Luccioli, F.)4; Ramonda, R (Ramonda, R.)5; Sabatini, E (Sabatini, E.)3; De Nicola, M (De Nicola, M.)6; Maggi, M (Maggi, M.)6; Priori, R (Priori, R.)3; Valesini, G (Valesini, G.)3; Gerli, R (Gerli, R.)4; Punzi, L (Punzi, L.)5; Giuseppetti, GM (Giuseppetti, G. M.)2; Salvolini, U (Salvolini, U.)6; Grassi, W (Grassi, W.)1 Source:
RHEUMATOLOGY Volume: 47 Issue: 8 Pages: 1244-1249
DOI: 0.1093/rheumatology/ken222 Published: AUG 2008 Times Cited: 10 (from Web of Science) Cited References: 40 [ view related records ] Citation Map Abstract: Objective. To compare ultrasonography (US) of salivary glands with contrast sialography and scintigraphy, in order to evaluate the diagnostic value of this method in primary SS (pSS).
Methods. The diagnostic value of parotid gland US was studied in 77 patients with pSS (male/female ratio 3/74; mean age 54 yrs) and in 79 with sicca symptoms but without SS. The two groups were matched for sex and age. Imaging findings of US were graded using an ultrasonographic score ranging from 0 to 16, which was obtained by the sum of the scores for each parotid and submandibular gland. The sialographic and scintigraphic patterns were classified in four different stages. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) was employed to evaluate the screening methods performance.
Results. Of the 77 patients with pSS, 66 had abnormal US findings. Mean US score in pSS patients was 9.0 (range from 3 to 16). Subjects without confirmed pSS had the mean US score 3.9 (range from 0 to 9) (P < 0.0001). Results of sialography showed that 59 pSS patients had abnormal findings at Stage 1 (n = 4), Stage 2 (n = 8), Stage 3 (n = 33) or Stage 4 (n = 14), and 58 patients had abnormal scintigraphic findings at Stage 1 (n = 11), Stage 2 (n = 18), Stage 3 (n = 25) or Stage 4 (n = 4). Through ROC curves US arose as the best performer (AUC = 0.863 +/- 0.030), followed by sialography (AUC = 0.804 +/- 0.035) and by salivary gland scintigraphy (AUC = 0.783 +/- 0.037). The difference between AUC-ROC curve of salivary gland US and scintigraphy was significant (P = 0.034). Setting the cut-off score 6 US resulted in the best ratio of sensitivity (75.3%) to specificity (83.5%), with a likelihood ratio of 4.58. If a threshold 8.0 was applied the test gained specificity, at the cost of a serious loss of sensitivity (sensitivity 54.5%, specificity 97.5%, likelihood ratio 21.5).
Conclusions. Salivary gland US is a useful method in visualizing glandular structural changes in patients suspected of having pSS and it may represent a good option as a first-line imaging tool in the diagnostics of the disease. Accession Number: WOS:000257787200026 Document Type: Article Language: English Author Keywords: Sjogren's syndrome; salivary glands; ultrasonography; sialography; salivary gland scintigraphy; diagnosis KeyWords Plus: COLOR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY; PAROTID SIALOGRAPHY; CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA; DIAGNOSTIC-CRITERIA; SICCA SYNDROME; BIOPSY; ECHOGRAPHY Reprint Address: Salaffi, F (reprint author), Univ Politecn Marche, Cattedra Reumatol, Via Colli 52, Ancona, Italy Addresses:
1. Polytechn Univ Marche Reg, Dept Rheumatol, Ancona, Italy
2. Polytechn Univ Marche Reg, Dept Radiol, Ancona, Italy
3. Univ Rome, Rheumatol Unit Sapienza, Rome, Italy
4. Univ Perugia, Dept Clin & Expt Med, Rheumatol Unit, I-06100 Perugia, Italy
5. Univ Padua, Dept Clin & Expt Med, Rheumatol Unit, Padua, Italy
6. Polytechn Univ Marche Reg, Dept Neuroradiol, Ancona, Italy E-mail Address: [email protected] Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, GREAT CLARENDON ST, OXFORD OX2 6DP, ENGLAND Web of Science Category: Rheumatology Subject Area: Rheumatology IDS Number: 328GU ISSN: 1462-032
Cytogenetics, palynology and phylogeography of genus Ramonda (Gesneriaceae) in the Balkan peninsula
No full textFamilija Gesneriaceae obuhvata biljne vrste pretežno rasprostranjene u tropskim
u subtropskim oblastima Starog i Novog sveta. Samo mali broj vrsta naseljava umerene
oblasti, a među njima je i jedinih 5 vrsta ove familije u Evropi: Ramonda myconi,
endemit Pirinejskog poluostrva, kao i R. nathaliae, R. serbica, Haberlea rhodopensis i
Jankaea heldreichii, četiri endemične vrste Balkanskog poluostrva. Svih pet vrsta su
relikti Tercijera, vremena kada je klima u Evropi bila toplija i vlažnija. Za vreme
Ledenog doba, one su našle skrovište u klisurama i kanjonima gde ih najčešće nalazimo
i danas. Ovi „živi fosili“ danas nepovoljne uticaje spoljašnje sredine u velikoj meri
preživljavaju zahvaljujući poikilohidričnosti, pa se još nazivaju i „biljke koje
vaskrsavaju“.
Danas se dve balkanske vrste roda Ramonda odlikuju disjunktnim arealima.
Ramonda nathaliae zastupljena je u Makedoniji, S Grčkoj, na obroncima planine Šare
na Kosovu i u JI Srbiji. Najveći deo areala vrste R. serbica nalazi se u Albaniji, a
prisutna je i na SZ Grčke, u Z Makedoniji, JZ i SI Crnoj Gori, JZ, JI i SI Srbiji, kao i na
SZ Bugarske. Jedina zona u kojoj se areali dve vrste susreću nalazi se u JI Srbiji, gde na
dva lokaliteta, Oblik i Radovanski Kamen, obrazuju simpatrijske populacije. Obe vrste
prevashodno naseljavaju krečnjačku podlogu, s tim što se R. nathaliae može naći i na
serpentinitu, škriljcima i granitu. Ova vrsta, takođe, bolje podnosi otvorenija staništa, a
njene populacije se mogu naći i na većem rasponu nadmorskih visina, zbog čega se smatra otpornijom i tolerantijom.
Ciljevi ovog rada su višestruki: da se utvrde morfološke osobine polena i semena
sve tri vrste roda Ramonda, jer detalji njihove građe do sada nisu istraživani; da se
procene vijabilnost njihovog polena i klijavost semena; da se utvrdi broj hromozoma,
kao i veličina genoma kod tri vrste; da se proveri da li postoje hibridne jedinke u
simpatrijskim populacijama; da se pomoću molekularnih markera utvrdi stepen
sličnosti i filogeografske veze između vrsta R. nathaliae i R. serbica. U tu svrhu, polen
i seme analizirani su pomoću svetlosnog i scanning elektronskog mikroskopa, broj hromozoma određen je standardnim kariološkim tehnikama, veličina genoma
procenjena je pomoću protočne citometrije, a genetički diverzitet primenom
molekularne AFLP tehnike...Family Gesneriaceae comprises plant species mostly distributed in the tropics
and subtropics of both the Old and New Worlds. Only a small number of species
inhabits temperate regions. Among them, there are the only 5 species of this family in
Europe: Ramonda myconi, endemic of the Iberian Peninusla, as well as R. nathaliae, R.
serbica, Haberlea rhodopensis i Jankaea heldreichii, four endemic species of the
Balkan Peninsula. All five species are Tertiary relicts, remnants from the times when
the climate was much warmer and more humid. During the Ice Age, they have found
shelter in canyons and gorges where can be often found today as well. These „living
fossils“ are poikilohydric, „resurrection plants“ what helps them survive the
inhospitable environmental conditions.
Balkan species of the genus Ramonda are today characterized by disjunct
distribution. Ramonda nathaliae is restricted to Macedonia, N Greece, slopes of Mt.
Šara in Kosovo and few localities in SE Serbia. The largest part of the R. serbica range
is situated in Albania, but is also present in NW Greece, W Macedonia, SW and NE
Montenegro, SW, SE and NE Serbia and NE Bulgaria. The ranges of two species cooccur
only in two localities in SE Serbia, Oblik and Radovanski Kamen, establishing
sympatric populations. Both species prefer limestone rocks, but R. nathaliae can also
be found on serpentine, schist and granite. This species is often found in more open
habitats and in higher altitudes why it is considered as more resistant and tolerant than
R. serbica.
The aims of this study are: to investigate morphology of both pollen and seeds of
three Ramonda species; to estimate pollen viability and germination capacity of their
seeds; to determine chromosome numbers and genome size of three species; to explore
if there are hybrids in sympatric populations; to look into genetic diversity and
phylogeography of R. nathaliae and R. serbica. Pollen grains and seeds were examined
by light and scanning electron microscopy, chromosome number by standard karyological techniques, genome size was estimated by flow cytometry and genetic
diversity by molecular AFLP method..
Recovery Dynamics of Photosynthetic Performance and Antioxidant Defense in Resurrection Plants Ramonda serbica and Ramonda nathaliae After Freezing-Induced Desiccation
No full textResurrection plants such as Ramonda serbica and Ramonda nathaliae are gaining scientific attention due to their exceptional ability to withstand extreme drought and cold. This study is the first to evaluate the changes in photosynthetic activity, antioxidant defense, and the role of protective proteins during the early hours of recovery of these species after freezing-induced desiccation. Specimens collected from natural habitats where temperatures dropped below −10 °C were rehydrated under controlled conditions, and measurements were taken at multiple time points from 1 h up to 7 days after recovery. Both species demonstrated a gradual increase in photosynthesis, with the CO2 assimilation rate significantly improving after 24 h and reaching full restoration by day 7. This recovery aligned with increases in relative water content and stomatal conductance. Photosystem II efficiency was fully restored within 72 h. Notably, R. nathaliae exhibited higher thermal dissipation during stress than R. serbica. Antioxidant activity peaked between 1 and 3 h of rehydration and returned to baseline by day 7. Additionally, early rehydration stages triggered the accumulation of stress-related proteins such as dehydrins, early light-inducible proteins, small heat shock proteins, and fatty acid amide hydrolase. These results provide valuable insights into the desiccation–rehydration mechanisms of Ramonda species, demonstrating that they fully recover physiological functions within seven days and highlighting species-specific stress responses during early rehydration
Activity of δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase at Ramonda nathaliae and Ramonda serbica Plants During Dehydration and Rehydration
No full textIntroduction: Ramonda nathaliae and Ramonda serbica are resurrection plants belonging to homoiochlorophyllous desiccation-tolerant angiosperms. Chlorophyll biosynthesis is one of the most important metabolic pathways to tolerate desiccation in these plant species. Materials and methods: To better understand the early pathway steps of chlorophyll biosynthesis, we have analyzed the enzyme δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) and contents of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and total chlorophyll as a final product during dehydration and rehydration stages for these plant species. Results: Our results showed that the activity of ALA-D in R. nathaliae and R. serbica plants rapidly decreased during dehydration and in the final stage of desiccation the activity of this enzyme was decreased by 79% and 86%, respectively. After rehydration of plants, the ALA-D activity was fully restored. In contrast, the ALA content of both plant species significantly increased during desiccation and decreased after 48 hr of rewatering. In each stage of dehydration or rehydration, a significant negative correlation was established between ALA-D activity and ALA content in both plant species. Conclusions: Total chlorophyll content was preserved more in R. nathaliae than in R. serbica during desiccation. Moreover, ALA-D activity was decreased to a minimal level but preserved its function during desiccation, and this suggests one possible mechanism of desiccation tolerance to retain the chlorophyll of these plant species
Data_Sheet_4_Genetic Variability in Balkan Paleoendemic Resurrection Plants Ramonda serbica and R. nathaliae Across Their Range and in the Zone of Sympatry.PDF
No full textThe genus Ramonda includes three Paleoendemic and Tertiary relict species that survived in refugial habitats of the Balkan Peninsula (R. nathaliae and R. serbica) and the Iberian Peninsula (R. myconi). They are all “resurrection plants,” a rare phenomenon among flowering plants in Europe. Ramonda myconi and R. nathaliae are diploids (2n = 2x = 48), while R. serbica is a hexaploid (2n = 6x = 144). The two Balkan species occur in sympatry in only two localities in eastern Serbia, where tetraploid potential hybrids (2n = 4x = 96) were found. This observation raised questions about the existence of gene flow between the two species and, more generally, about the evolutionary processes shaping their genetic diversity. To address this question, genetic markers (AFLP) and an estimate of genome size variation were used in a much larger sample and at a larger geographic scale than previously. The combination of AFLP markers and genome size results suggested ongoing processes of interspecific and interploidy hybridization in the two sites of sympatry. The data also showed that interspecific gene flow was strictly confined to sympatry. Elsewhere, both Ramonda species were characterized by low genetic diversity within populations and high population differentiation. This is consistent with the fact that the two species are highly fragmented into small and isolated populations, likely a consequence of their postglacial history. Within sympatry, enormous variability in cytotypes was observed, exceeding most reported cases of mixed ploidy in complex plant species (from 2x to >8x). The AFLP profiles of non-canonical ploidy levels indicated a diversity of origin pathways and that backcrosses probably occur between tetraploid interspecific hybrids and parental species. The question arises whether this diversity of cytotypes corresponds to a transient situation. If not, the question arises as to the genetic and ecological mechanisms that allow this diversity to be maintained over time.</p
Editorial: Genetic Studies on Spondyloarthritis: From Disease Predictors to Therapeutic Targets
No full textData_Sheet_3_Genetic Variability in Balkan Paleoendemic Resurrection Plants Ramonda serbica and R. nathaliae Across Their Range and in the Zone of Sympatry.pdf
No full textThe genus Ramonda includes three Paleoendemic and Tertiary relict species that survived in refugial habitats of the Balkan Peninsula (R. nathaliae and R. serbica) and the Iberian Peninsula (R. myconi). They are all “resurrection plants,” a rare phenomenon among flowering plants in Europe. Ramonda myconi and R. nathaliae are diploids (2n = 2x = 48), while R. serbica is a hexaploid (2n = 6x = 144). The two Balkan species occur in sympatry in only two localities in eastern Serbia, where tetraploid potential hybrids (2n = 4x = 96) were found. This observation raised questions about the existence of gene flow between the two species and, more generally, about the evolutionary processes shaping their genetic diversity. To address this question, genetic markers (AFLP) and an estimate of genome size variation were used in a much larger sample and at a larger geographic scale than previously. The combination of AFLP markers and genome size results suggested ongoing processes of interspecific and interploidy hybridization in the two sites of sympatry. The data also showed that interspecific gene flow was strictly confined to sympatry. Elsewhere, both Ramonda species were characterized by low genetic diversity within populations and high population differentiation. This is consistent with the fact that the two species are highly fragmented into small and isolated populations, likely a consequence of their postglacial history. Within sympatry, enormous variability in cytotypes was observed, exceeding most reported cases of mixed ploidy in complex plant species (from 2x to >8x). The AFLP profiles of non-canonical ploidy levels indicated a diversity of origin pathways and that backcrosses probably occur between tetraploid interspecific hybrids and parental species. The question arises whether this diversity of cytotypes corresponds to a transient situation. If not, the question arises as to the genetic and ecological mechanisms that allow this diversity to be maintained over time.</p
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