A 65-year-old Woman With Persistent Dyspnea,Arthritis, and Raynaud's Phenomenon

Antisynthetase syndrome (AS) is a rare disease that affects patients with inflammatory myopathies such as polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM). In patients with AS, up to 95% of patients develop antisynthetase syndrome-associated interstitial lung disease (AS-ILD). Although AS-ILD commonly occurs in patients with a well-established diagnosis of AS, it can be the first or only manifestation of an occult AS. The frequency of interstitial lung disease (ILD), myopathy, and skin involvement are often dependent on the type of myositis-specific antibodies present. AS-ILD patients who are positive for both anti-Jo-1 and anti-SSA/RO-52 autoantibodies often present with a severe degree of lung restriction on pulmonary function tests and radiologic imaging with an inadequate response toward immunosuppressive therapies. We describe a 65-year-old woman who presents with chronic dyspnea. She was initially diagnosed with corticosteroid-resistant cryptogenic organizing pneumonia based on the radiological findings on her CT chest. Her symptoms did not improve, and she suffered from intolerable corticosteroid-related side effects. Reviews of systems were positive for arthritis and Raynaud's phenomenon. She was found to have elevated inflammatory markers and autoantibodies such as anti-Jo-1, anti-RO-52, and anti-SSA. A diagnosis of AS-ILD resistant to corticosteroid therapy was made. Her lung function improved with combination therapy of mycophenolate and rituximab. Our case highlights that a detailed history and physical exam, compatible radiologic imaging, and autoantibodies are essential for the diagnosis of AS-ILD.     

Differentiation of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis from rheumatologic and autoimmune diseases causing diffuse alveolar hemorrhage: establishing a diagnostic approach

Clinical Rheumatology - This narrative review provides an overview of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) associated with rheumatologic and autoimmune diseases and their differentiation from...     

Role of Splenic Artery Embolization in Management of Traumatic Splenic Injuries: A Prospective Study

The objective of our study was to evaluate the role of splenic artery embolization (SAE) in the management of traumatic splenic injuries. From September 2008 to September 2010, a total of 67 patients underwent nonoperative management (NOM) for blunt splenic injuries. Twenty-two patients were excluded from the study because of associated significant other organ injuries. Twenty-five patients underwent SAE followed by NOM (group A) and 20 patients underwent standard NOM (group B). Improvement in clinical and laboratory parameters during hospital stay were compared between two groups using Chi-square test and Mann–Whitney test. SAE was always technically feasible. The mean length of the total hospital stay was lower in the group A patients (5.4 vs. 6.6 day, [P = 0.050]). There was significant increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in group A patients after SAE, whereas in group B patients there was decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels and only slight increase in SBP (pre- and early posttreatment relative change in hemoglobin [P = 0.002], hematocrit [P = 0.001], and SBP [P = 0.017]). Secondary splenectomy rate was lower in group A (4 % [1/25] vs. 15 % [3/20] [P = 0.309]). No procedure-related complications were encountered during the hospital stay and follow-up. Minor complications of pleural effusion, fever, pain, and insignificant splenic infarct noted in 9 (36 %) patients. SAE is a technically feasible, safe, and effective method in the management of splenic injuries. Use of SAE as an adjunct to NOM of splenic injuries results improvement in hemoglobin, hematocrit levels, and SBP. SAE also reduces secondary splenectomy rate and hospital stay.Keyword: Trauma, Splenic artery embolisation     

Seasonal changes in hematological parameters of Catla catla (Hamilton 1822)

Hematological parameters are repeatedly used as an essential diagnostic tool to assess the health condition of fish. The purpose of this study was to assess the reference values of some hematological parameters of Catla, Catla catla collected from a freshwater pond in a tropical climate of India from July 2008 to June 2010. Variations in hematological parameters such as hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, total leucocyte count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of fish were compared according to sex and seasonal differences. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences between sexes and the results indicated that blood parameters levels between the sexes in summer were significantly different than that measure in other seasons except mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and MCHC value (P?<?0.05). The number of total leukocyte levels was found to be higher in female fish especially in reproductive seasons, but the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and MCV values were high in male fish in an annual period. However, there was no difference in MCH and MCHC values between the sexes and seasons throughout the study period. These may be related to season of sampling and changing physiological cycles during these months. The correlations between measured hematological parameters were also determined.     

Innocuous cardiac gunshot that proved fatal: A bitter lesson learned

The management of hemodynamically normal patients with retained intra-pericardial foreign body remains a matter of conjecture. The available literature supports non-operative management of such innocuous foreign bodies. We report our experience of a hemodynamically normal patient with a retained intra-pericardial pellet from a firearm injury. He initially received successful non-operative management but developed fatal hemopericardium 21 days after injury. In this paper, we discussed the pitfalls in the management of such injuries in light of the available literature and summarized the clinical experience.     

Modified Boytchev procedure for treatment of recurrent anterior dislocation of shoulder

Background:

More than 200 different operations have been described for the treatment of recurrent anterior dislocation of shoulder. The Modified Boytchev procedure employs rerouting of the detached tip of coracoid process with its attached conjoined tendon (short head of biceps and coracobrachialis) deep to subscapularis and reattaches to its anatomical location. We conducted a study on evaluation of long-term effect of modified Boytchev procedure and to compare our results with other studies published in literature.

Materials and Methods:

Since June 2002, modified Boytchev procedure was performed on 48 patients, who presented with recurrent anterior dislocation. 45 were men and 3 were women and were in the age group of 18-40 years (mean 27.83±4.95 years). Forty patients were affected on the dominant side and rest on the non-dominant side. The mean number of dislocations in these patients was 18.22±12.08. The mean followup period was 58.13±19.06 months (range 18-96 months). The patients were evaluated by visual analogue score, modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon''s Score (ASES), and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score at the last followup.

Results:

All the patients regained almost preoperative range of forward flexion at the last followup. In the preoperative period the mean external rotation deficit at 0° and at 90° of abduction was 13.22°±5.16° and 18.06°±6.50°, respectively. At the last followup, the mean external rotation deficit at 0° and at 90° of abduction was 8.06°±2.47° and 8.95°±2.07°, respectively. This improvement in external rotation deficit was statistically significant (P<.05). Preoperative scores were compared with the most recent followup scores for all variables with use of a paired t test. All patients had significant improvement in visual analogue score, modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon''s Score (ASES), and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score at the last followup. Four of the patients developed superficial infection which got resolved after treating with antibiotics, and two of the patients developed transient musculocutaneous nerve paresis. There was no radiological evidence of loosening and migration of coracoid screw or any glenohumeral arthritis on subsequent followup of skiagrams in any of our patients.

Conclusion:

Modified Boytchev procedure is an efficacious and technically simple procedure to treat recurrent anterior dislocation of shoulder.