Review Articles in 2008

Autoantibodies and autoimmune diseases such as drug-related lupus can occur following exposure to certain drugs; however, although many patients develop autoantibodies only a minority develops lupus-like features. As discussed in this Review, clinicians should consider the possibility of a drug-related effect in patients treated with medications such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and minocycline who develop an apparent 'flare' of the disease.

Immunological memory is the ability of an animal to make a second, more effective, immune response to an antigen that has been encountered previously. In this Review, Professor Beverley discusses how T-cell memory is generated and maintained, and highlights the heterogeneity of T-cell memory populations in terms of their kinetics, homing and function.

Although musculoskeletal problems are common, the musculoskeletal system is seldom appropriately assessed in everyday clinical practice. The authors of this article aim to provide a standardized approach to the clinical assessment of musculoskeletal problems, with an emphasis on history and examination. Teaching and assessment of clinical skills are also considered.

Traditional management of osteoporosis has focused on a pharmacologic approach to treatment; however, for reasons such as potential adverse effects, some patients will not comply with medication regimens. This Review highlights the increasing evidence that valuable protection from fractures can also be derived from nonpharmacologic approaches.

Inflammasomes—large, intracellular complexes—receive input from Toll-like receptors and Nod-like receptors, and function to detect and respond to pathogens and genotoxic stress by processing pro-interleukin-1β to its active form. As well as providing an overview of inflammasomes, this article highlights some of the consequences of mutations in inflammasome components and aberrant processing of interleukin-1β.