Editorial introductions

Abstract

Current Opinion in Rheumatology was launched in 1989. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of Rheumatology is divided into 15 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Journal's Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS W. Joseph McCuneW. Joseph McCuneDr Joseph McCune is a graduate of Harvard College, and the University of Cincinnati Medical School, USA. Following residency at the University of Michigan, USA, and fellowship Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA, he joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, where he is the Michael and Marcia Klein Professor of Rheumatic Diseases and Director of the Lupus Program. Dr McCune has devoted much of his research career to systemic lupus. He reported the clinical and immunologic effects of monthly bolus cyclophosphamide for severe lupus using methods that were subsequently adopted as standard treatment for lupus nephritis and has since focused on improving the efficacy and safety of immunosuppressive therapy, including the use of leuprolide for ovarian protection in women receiving cyclophosphamide. His work in medical imaging helped establish the importance of MRI in neurological complications of lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and he was the first to describe ultrasound imaging of articular cartilage. Current interests include the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in SLE, advanced MRI in SLE, and detailed population-based epidemiologic studies of the SLE in southeastern Michigan. Jon T. GilesJon T. GilesDr Giles's research interests are centered primarily within the inflammatory arthritides. Current projects center around understanding the inflammatory and non-inflammatory determinants of body composition abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, and their subsequent effects on health outcomes. Other current and past research involve the investigation of accelerated atherosclerosis and myocardial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis patients, understanding the determinants of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease, and exploring the musculoskeletal side-effects of a class of medications used to suppress estrogen in women with certain forms of breast cancer. He is the recipient of grant support from the National Institutes of Health, the Arthritis Foundation, the Rheumatology Research Foundation, the Marianne Legato Foundation, and the Arthritis National Research Foundation.