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- Maddison, P, et al.
(författare)
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The rate and pattern of organ damage in late onset systemic lupus erythematosus
- 2002
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Ingår i: Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X. ; 29:5, s. 913-917
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To compare the extent and type of damage in patients with late onset and earlier onset Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI). Methods. A total of 86 SLE patients with disease onset after the age of 54 years were matched for center, sex, and ethnic origin with 155 SLE patients with disease onset before the age of 40 years. SDI scores were obtained at one year and 5 years after the diagnosis of SLE. Analysis was based on conditional logistic regression. Results. SDI scores were higher in the late onset group than in younger patients at both one [mean 0.7 (range 0-3) vs 0.3 (range 0-3). p < 0.001] and 5 years [mean 1.6 (range 0-8) vs 0.9 (range 0-7); p < 0.001] after diagnosis. There was also a difference in the pattern of organ damage. While damage to the skin, kidneys, and central nervous system occurred with similar frequency, late onset disease was characterized by significantly more cardiovascular (OR 14.13, p < 0.001). ocular (OR 9.38, p 0.001), and musculoskeletal (OR 2.68, p = 0.016) damage and malignancy (OR 7.04, 3 = 0.046). Conclusion. The occurrence of organ damage assessed by the SDI is greater in patients with late onset SLE than in younger patients and, by this criterion, lupus cannot be judged to be more benign in this age group. Also, the pattern of damage is different, but whether this reflects age per se or the effect of the disease in the elderly remains to be established.
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| 3. |
- Ploj, Karolina, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of melanocortin receptor ligands on ethanol intake and opioid peptide levels in alcohol-preferring AA rats
- 2002
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Ingår i: Brain Research Bulletin. - 0361-9230 .- 1873-2747. ; 59:2, s. 97-104
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Melanocortin (MC) peptides are suggested to play a role in opiate dependence, where they antagonise the addictive properties of opiates. To further study the involvement of the MCs in drug dependence, we analysed the effects of the MC(4)-receptor antagonist HS014 (1 nmol/rat), and the non-selective MC-receptor agonist MTII (1 nmol/rat), using i.c.v. administration, on ethanol intake in alcohol-preferring AA rats. The rats had access to ethanol during 40 days, resulting in a mean ethanol intake of 6.6 g/kg/day, before treatment. One group received only artificial cerebrospinal fluid solution. MTII caused a reduction in ethanol intake and ethanol preference, whereas HS014 was without effect. No effect on water intake was observed. A decrease in food intake was detected after MTII, whereas HS014 induced an increase in food intake. Analysis of dynorphin B and Met-enkephalin-Arg(6)Phe(7) immunoreactive levels revealed that MTII and HS014 altered opioid peptide levels in several brain areas and the pituitary gland of the rats with an established ethanol intake. This is the first report showing that manipulation of the MC-receptor system changes ethanol intake in chronically ethanol-drinking AA rats. In addition, manipulation of the MC system modulates ethanol-induced changes in opioid peptide levels.
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