Is type II collagen a target antigen of clonally expanded T cells in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis?
T cell clones that had TCR CDR3 sequences identical to those induced by purified CII were found in a proportion of RA patients. This finding suggests that CII is recognised by T cells that accumulate clonally in RA joints. Oligoclonal T cell expansion in RA joints is probably driven, at least in part, by intra-articular components such as CII.
This prospective randomized study showed that the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for detection of middle ureteral stones increased significantly when performed without any water ingestion before the procedure. We recommend that patients thought to have ureteral stones should be first examined without any fluid ingestion.