published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Pharmacology / Master / Master of Philosophy

High output of prostaglandins (PGs) are the hallmark of inflammatory and immune reactions. A rate-limiting step in the production of PGs is the presence of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). COX exists as two isoforms: COX-1 which is constitutively expressed in most cells and COX-2 which is inducible by LPS, proinflammatory cytokines and other stimuli in cells involved in inflammation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and proinflammatory cytokines on COX-2 expression in human macrophages. COX-2 specific (NS-398) and non-specific (aspirin, indomethacin and naproxen) inhibitors showed no effect on COX mRNA and protein expression induced by LPS. In contrast, the drugs markedly inhibited COX activity as measured by the accumulation of PGE2. The induction of COX-2 mRNA expression by LPS was rapid and sustained. However, LPS only transiently stimulated the transcription of COX-2 gene and activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. LPS stimulated the release of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha but these cytokines had no autocrine effect on the transcriptional or post-transcriptional regulation of COX-2. The presence of LPS was essential for the maintenance of high levels of long-lived COX-2 mRNA. As IFN-gamma is a major macrophage activating factor, we determined the role of this cytokine on COX-2 expression induced by exogenous IL-1beta. IFN-gamma-primed macrophages showed significantly lower levels of COX-2 mRNA, protein and PGE2 production compared to non-primed cells. IFN-gamma specifically decreased the transcriptional activation of COX-2 gene by IL-1beta but not by LPS without affecting the rate of mRNA decay. These results demonstrate that sustained production of PGE2 by macrophages in an inflammatory milieu can occur through the stabilization of COX-2 mRNA and revealed a role for IFN-gamma as an anti-inflammatory cytokine counteracting the expression of COX-2. A better understanding of COX-2 regulation will

In the United States, approximately 46 million people have doctor diagnosed arthritis and arthritis is the leading cause of disability. Arthritis is used to describe over 100 rheumatic diseases. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and lupus. Physical activity has recently been recommended for individuals with arthritis. Moderate and vigorous physical activity was assessed within this study. The primary goal was to assess the associations between arthritis, physical activity and other variables found to be associated with physical activity participation in the general population. The secondary goal was to assess the association between healthcare provider communication about exercise and participation in physical activity among those with a diagnosis of arthritis. BRFSS (2007) data and SPSS v.16 was utilized for data analysis. Results indicate the odds in favor of participating in moderate physical activity increase when a healthcare provider suggests physical activity for individuals with arthritis. This outcome stresses the significance of healthcare providers communicating the benefits of physical activity to individuals with arthritis and the general public.

Genome-wide Association (GWA) studies have become a widely used method for analyzing genetic data. It is useful in detecting associations that may exist between particular alleles and diseases of interest. This thesis investigates the dataset provided from problem 1 of the Genetic Analysis Workshop 16 (GAW 16). The dataset consists of GWA data from the North American Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium (NARAC). The thesis attempts to determine a set of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) that are associated significantly with rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, this thesis also attempts to address the question of whether the one-sided alternative hypothesis that the minor allele is positively associated with the disease or the two-sided alternative hypothesis that the genotypes at a locus are associated with the disease is appropriate, or put another way, the question of whether examining both alternative hypotheses yield more information.

Introduction. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes the dislocation of joints. Foot deformity and deformity of foot fingers is brought about by inflammatory processes in the joints and due to the changed pressure of body weight on the feet. The computerized method of foot-barography allows one to estimate in what way the pressure of body weight on the feet distributes itself during the process of walking and in the standing posture. This method also allows one to judge about foot deformity as well as the condition of foot joints, ligaments and muscles of the patient. The aim of the research was to study the efficiency of applying the computerized method of foot-barography in the treatment of foot joints damaged by rheumatoid arthritis. Subjects and Methods. The research was carried out at the Polyclinic of the Joint-Stock Company „Ortopedijos technika“ (Orthopedic Technology) in Kaunas. The subjects were 19 females and 3 males suffering from chronic rheumatoid arthritis. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) the experimental group, i.e. patients to whom kinesitherapy was applied, and 2) the control group, i.e. patients to whom kinesitherapy was not applied. The feet of the patients have been studied applying the computerized method of foot-barography. The distribution of the pressure of body weight on definite points (5, 7, 10, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20) of the foot as well as on the fingers and hell of the foot has been analysed. Conclusions. As a result of the... [to full text]

Tyrimo objektas: lėtinio reumatoidinio artrito gydymas taikant šaltį (krioterapiją). Tyrimo problema: reumatoidinis artritas sukelia sąnarių skausmą, tuo pačiu mažindamas jų judesio amplitudę, pablogindamas žmogaus fizinę būklę. Skausmas, sąnarių sustingimas ir jų sumažėjusi judesio amplitudė priklauso nuo ligos progresavimo. Didžiausias dėmesys šiame darbe buvo skiriamas skausmo sumažėjimui ir judesio amplitudės padidėjimui po krioterapijos. Tyrimo hipotezė: šalčio (krioterapijos) taikymas du kartus savaitėje penkias savaites turėtų sumažinti reumatoidinio artrito sukeltą sąnarių sustingimą, padidinti judesio amplitudę ir sumažinti sąnarių skausmą. Tyrimo tikslas — nustatyti šalčio (krioterapijos) veiksmingumą sergant lėtiniu reumatoidiniu artritu. Tyrimo uždaviniai buvo: įvertinti tiriamųjų sąnarių skausmą prieš ir po krioterapijos taikymo. Įvertinti tiriamųjų judesio amplitudę prieš ir po krioterapijos taikymo. Įvertinti tiriamųjų sąnarių sustingimą prieš ir po krioterapijos taikymo. Įvertinti tiriamųjų sąnarių skausmą, judesio amplitudę ir sąnarių sustingimą priklausomai nuo krioterapijos procedūrų skaičiaus. Tyrime dalyvavo 40 tiriamųjų (30 moterų ir 10 vyrų). 14 tiriamųjų atliko 5 procedūras; 15 tiriamųjų atliko 10 procedūrų; 11 tiriamųjų atliko 7 krioterapijos procedūras. Tiriamųjų judesio amplitudė ir skausmas buvo įvertinti prieš ir po krioterapijos. Atlikus surinktų duomenų analizę padarytos šios išvados: 1. Tiriamųjų, sergančių reumatoidiniu artritu, sąnarių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Object: range of movement and pain in rheumatoid arthritis applying cryotherapy. Problem: rheumatoid arthritis induces joints’ pain, reduces range of movement, and makes human’s physical condition worse. Pain, joints’ stiffness and reduced range of movement depend on progression of disease. Serious consideration in this work was paid in reducing pain and stiffness and increasing range of movement after applying cryotherapy. Hypothesis: applying of cryotherapy should reduce joints’ stiffness which is caused by rheumatoid arthritis, increase range of movement and reduce pain. The aim of this study was to assess efficiency of cryotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis. The tasks: 1. To evaluate joints’ pain before and after applying cryotherapy; 2. To evaluate range of movement before and after cryotherapy; 3. To evaluate morning stiffness before and after cryotherapy; 4. To evaluate joints’ pain, range of movement and morning stiffness in relation to the number of applied cryotherapy procedures. Subjects: 40 patients (30 females and 10 males) took part in the research: 5 procedures were prescribed for 14 patients, 10 procedures of cryotherapy were prescribed for 15 patients and 7 procedures were prescribed for 11 patients. Range of movement, pain and morning stiffness were measured before and after applying cryotherapy. Statistical methods were used to analyze data. The main findings: 1. Pain of the joints before applying cryotherapy was evaluated as moderate, after applying... [to full text]

Rheumatoid arthritis is the inflammatory disease of web, which causes progressive inflammation of joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is on the top according to the number of patients who become invalids. The growing number of invalids in Lithuania becomes not only medical problem, but social problem as well. Everything is done to quell the activity of pathological process, its progression and to return and maintain the functions of moving device of the body with the help of prophylaxis, therapy and rehabilitation. The perfect program of treatment is often created for a year or longer period of time to reach good results. Different methods of treatment and their consistency let to reach better results. Physiotherapy is one of the treatments of rheumatoid arthritis, blocking the progress of the disease. The aim of the research – to estimate the effect of physiotherapy on arm functions of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The goals of the research: to estimate the state of health of investigative and control groups of people with rheumatoid arthritis according to Keitel indicators before and after physiotherapy; to estimate the force of hand muscles of people with rheumatoid arthritis before and after physiotherapy; to estimate the effect of physiotherapy on the pain of hand joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis; to estimate the mobility of hand joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis before and after physiotherapy. 40 patients (5 men and 35 women) with the average age 57.6... [to full text]

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Tyrimo tikslas: įvertinti kineziterapijos taikymo efektyvumą rankų funkcijoms sergant reumatoidiniu artritu. Tyrimo objektas: pacientai sergantys reumatoidiniu artritu tiriant jų rankų funkcinę būklė, sąnarių skausmą, plaštakų raumenų jėga ir judesių amplitudes. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti tiriamųjų sergančių reumatoidiniu artritu rankų funkcinę būklę, naudojant Keitel indekso rodiklius, prieš ir po kineziterapijos. 2. Nustatyti tiriamųjų sergančių reumatoidiniu artritu plaštakų raumenų jėgą prieš ir po kineziterapijos. 3. Nustatyti kineziterapijos efektyvumą tiriamųjų sergančių reumatoidiniu artritu rankų sanarių skausmui. 4. Nustatyti tiriamųjų sergančių reumatoidiniu artritu rankų sąnarių judesių amplitudes prieš ir po kineziterapijos. Rezultatai: tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad po kineziterapijos (KT) taikymo rankų funkcijos pagal Keitel indeksą pagerėjo 2,8 balo. Plaštakos raumenų jėgą tiriamiesiams KT pagerino dešinėje rankoje 3,9 kg, o kairėje rankoje 3,3 kg. Skausmo stiprumas sąnariuose po KT tiriamiesiams sumažėjo 2,9 balo. Judesių amplitudės peties, alkūnės ir riešo sąnariuose po KT padidėjo statistiškai patikimai (p<0,001), lyginant rodiklius prieš KT ir po KT. Tyrimo išvados: kineziterapija pagerino rankų funkcinę būklę (Keitel indeksas), sergantiems reumatoidiniu artritu. Kineziterapija pagerino tiriamųjų plaštakų raumenų jėgą, sergančių reumatoidiniu artritu. Kineziterapija sumažino rankų raumenų skausmus, tiriamiesiams, sergantiems reumatoidiniu artritu... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the research: evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy for hand functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Object of the research : patients with rheumatoid arthritis analyzing their hand functional condition, pain in the joints, palm muscle strength and range of motion. The goals of the research: 1. Set of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis hand functional condition using Keitel index indicators before and after physiotherapy. 2. Set of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis hand muscle strength before and after physiotherapy. 3. Determine the effectiveness of physiotherapy for subjects with rheumatoid arthritis to their hand joint pain. 4. Set of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis in hand joints range of motion before and after physiotherapy. Results: the results showed that after physiotherapy, both hand functions by Keitel index improved 2.8 points. Hand muscle strength for subjects after physiotherapy increased 3.9 kg in the right hand and 3.3 kg in left hand. The severity of pain in joints after physiotherapy for subjects decreased by 2.9 points. Range of motion of the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints after physiotherapy increased significantly (p <0.001) compared to rates before physiotherapy and after physiotherapy. Research conclusions: for the purposes of physiotherapy for subjects with rheumatoid arthritis improved hand function condition (Keitel index). For the purposes of physiotherapy for subjects increased hand muscle strength. For the purposes... [to full text]

Multiple myeloma is a painful and uncurable malignant disease with an increasing incidence and mortality in several countries, e.g., Sweden. Some factors are suspected to be of aetiological significance, such as ionising radiation and chronic antigenic stimulation in certain inflammatory diseases. A familial factor has also been indicated. Furthermore, some studies have demonstrated farming as an occupation entailing an increased risk for the disease. The aim of this investigation was to further elucidate the impact of different aetiological factors in relation to multiple myeloma. The knowledge of aetiology is always a prerequisite for prevention. A case-control study on multiple myeloma was performed in a high-inddence area, the northern part of Sweden. One part of this study dealt with occupations and different exposures. The results supported farming as being an occupation with an increased risk. Within farming two kinds of pesticides, phenoxyacetic adds and DDT, and contact with certain domestic animals, i.e., cattle, horses and goats, were assodated with multiple myeloma. Farming as a risk factor was also confirmed by a register-based linkage study using the Swedish Cancer Environment Register. In this study a time trend was indicated, with increasing standardized inddence ratios over the different time periods studied. Another part of the case-control study showed that rheumatoid arthritis entailed an increased risk for multiple myeloma, a finding earlier suggested from register-based linkage studies, but not from any çase-control study. A third part of the case-control study indicated an increased risk for multiple myeloma if any first-degree relative had a history of haematological malignancy, or other malignant tumour, espedally prostatic cancer, brain tumour, and renal cancer. A case study encompassing 942 patients with haematological malignandes in the county of Jämtland, Sweden, during a 22-year period showed that about 5% of the patients had at least one relative who also suffered from such a disease. An espedally strong familial occurrence was found in the group of chronic lymphoprohferative diseases, including multiple myeloma. / <p>S. 1-69: sammanfattning, s. 71-129: 5 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu