Comparison of the effectiveness of cyclophosphamide and rituximab treatment in patients with systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung diseases: a retrospective,observational cohort study

Clinical Rheumatology - To compare the effectiveness of cyclophosphamide and rituximab in the treatment of patients with systemic sclerosis with pulmonary involvement (SSc-ILD). Symptoms and the...     

Platelet function and fibrinolytic activity in patients with bronchial asthma.

Platelets have the capacity to release mediators with potent inflammatory or anaphylactic properties. Platelet factor-4 (PF4) and beta-thromboglobulin (BTG) are two of these mediators. On the other hand, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) are two important mediators of fibrinolysis. Both mediators are secreted mainly by vascular endothelium. Plasma levels of PF4, BTG, PAI-1, and tPA may show changes in chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma. This study examined the role of thrombocytes and the function of the endothelium in asthmatic patients during an attack and during a stable phase. Eighteen patients with known allergic asthma who came to our emergency department with an asthma attack and 14 control subjects were included in the study. Blood samples were taken after starting therapy with salbutamol inhalation. Lung function tests were performed after receiving the first emergency therapy for asthma. Plasma levels of PF4, BTG, PAI-1, tPA were determined before starting steroid therapy and after receiving 1 week of steroid therapy. Plasma levels of PF4 among patients with an asthma attack were significantly higher than those of controls (150.5+/-8.92 IU/mL vs. 92.5+/-7.63 IU/mL, p<0.001). A further increase in plasma PF4 levels was detected after steroid therapy (163.5+/-9.16 IU/mL). Plasma BTG levels of patients on admission were not statistically different from those in the control group (140.4+/-6.34 IU/mL vs. 152.2+/-8.71 IU/mL). An increase was detected after therapy (171.6+/-7.27 IU/mL) and post-treatment plasma levels were statistically meaningful versus the controls. Plasma levels of tPA and PAI were statistically higher than those in controls in asthmatic patients on admission (6.01+/-2.72 vs. 5.4+/-2.3 ng/mL for tPA and 75.2+/-27.2 ng/mL vs. 32.7+/-14.3 ng/mL for PAI-1). Further increases were detected in two parameters after 1 week of therapy with steroids (tPA levels were 6.85+/-2.96 ng/mL and PAI-1 levels were 83.5+/-29.6 ng/mL). There seems to be an increased activity of platelets during an asthma attack. Elevated PAI-1 and tPA levels may also indicate the activated endothelium in asthma. Increases of plasma levels of PAI-1 and tPA after steroid therapy need further investigation because elevated PAI-1 levels enhance airway remodeling.     

Effect of Agitation of EDTA with 808-Nanometer Diode Laser on Removal of Smear Layer

Introduction

Near-infrared diode lasers can be used for several applications, which range from disinfection to smear layer removal in endodontics. This study evaluated the efficacy of agitation of 15% EDTA with an 808-nm diode laser on removal of the smear layer.

Methods

Sixty extracted human maxillary central incisor teeth were instrumented up to ProTaper F4 (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballagues, Switzerland) and then randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 10 for each group) according to the different final irrigating protocols as follows: 5% sodium hypochlorite for 120 seconds performed with the NaviTip (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) (control group); 15% EDTA for 120 seconds performed with the NaviTip; and agitation of 15% EDTA with an 808-nm diode laser for 10, 20, 30, and 40 seconds. Specimens were observed under a scanning electron microscope, and open dentinal tubules were counted using Adobe Photoshop software (Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA). The data were analyzed with 1-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc tests (P = .05).

Results

The number of open dentinal tubules was higher in the middle thirds than in the apical thirds. The differences between the apical and middle thirds were statistically significant (P < .05). Statistically significant differences were also found between the control group and the other groups in both the middle and apical thirds of the root canals (P < .05).

Conclusions

The results indicated that agitation of 15% EDTA with an 808-nm diode laser for 20 seconds was effective in removing the smear layer in the apical thirds of root canals.     

Adductor tenotomy: its role in the management of sports-related chronic groin pain

Patients and methods  

Chronic adductor-related groin pain in athletes is debilitating and is often challenging to treat. Little is published on the surgical treatment when conservative measures fail. This single center study reviews the outcomes of 48 patients (68 groins) who underwent percutaneous adductor tenotomy for sports-related chronic groin pain. Questionnaire assessments were made preoperatively and at a minimum follow-up of 25 months.     

Impact of pollution and place of residence on atopic diseases among schoolchildren in Telemark County, Norway

For estimation of the prevalence, degree of severity, and association with outdoor pollution, a questionnaire on asthma and other atopic diseases was distributed to the parents of 4666 7–13-year-olds, comprising all the children in 36 schools in Telemark County, Norway, including 37% of the schoolchildren in the county. The response rate was 94%. In a validity study employing clinical evaluations, the questionnaire-based diagnosis of asthma was found to have a sensitivity of 0.96 and a specificity of 0.88. The lifetime prevalence of asthma in Telemark was 9% (boys 11.3%, girls 6.6% p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the lifetime prevalence of asthma by pollution zone; 8.3% in heavily, 9.3% in moderately, and 9.2% in minimally polluted zones. The asthma prevalence was significantly higher (14.2% p < 0.05) among boys in the coastal area of the county than in the mountainous area (8.9%). Both of these areas were in the minimal pollution zone. Of asthma cases, 67% were categorized as mild, 29% as moderate, and 4% as severe. The lifetime prevalence was 17.8% (boys 21.3%, girls 14.2% p < 0.001) for allergic rhinitis, 13.2% (boys 11.4%, girls 15.2% p < 0.001) for atopic eczema, and 29.6% (boys 31.7%, girls 27.4% p < 0.01) for overall atopic disease (asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema). These findings are not compatible with the hypothesis that outdoor pollution is associated with the lifetime prevalence of asthma in school-age children. The results also show that less than 0.5% of schoolchildren suffer from severe asthma.     

Acute tubular necrosis and pre-renal acute kidney injury: utility of urine microscopy in their evaluation- a systematic review

Background  

Urine microscopy with examination of the urine sediment examination provides useful diagnostic information about the histology of the kidneys. While most nephrologists use urine microscopy to assess for the presence of glomerular diseases, they are less apt to use this diagnostic test when pre-renal acute kidney injury (AKI) or acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is clinically suspected. More often, tests such as fractional excretion of sodium (FeNa) and fractional excretion of urea (FeUrea) are used to differentiate these two causes of acute kidney injury.     

Prognostic factors in small cell lung cancer

In order to find out prognostic factors and treatment results in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), 40 patients diagnosed in one year period were prospectively analysed. Following history and physical examination, patients were grouped according to ECOG performance scale and underwent Chest X-ray and thoracic computerized tomography (CT). Complete blood count, biochemical analyses, tumor markers were taken. Abdominal USG or CT, bone scintigraphy, cranial CT or MRI and bone marrow biopsy were made for detection of metastases. Limited stage patients received chemotherapy and thoracic RT, whereas cases with extensive disease received chemotherapy. Nineteen cases had limited and 21 had extensive disease. When laboratory findings between 2 stages were compared, LDH, SGOT and GGT were significantly higher in extensive stage (p= 0.005, 0.015, 0.001, respectively). Overall median survival was 6 +/- 1 months, cumulative survival in 6 and 12 months were 39% and 20.72%, respectively. Median survival was 10 +/- 2 months in limited stage and 3 +/- 1 months in extensive stage, with a statististically significant difference. Univariate analyses showed that incresed LDH, CA15-3, GGT and SGOT levels, hipoproteinemia and poor performance scale were poor prognostic signs (p= 0.024, 0.032, 0.047, 0.013, 0.021 ve 0.013, respectively), however multivariate analyses revealed no significant difference. Other blood tests, pleural effusion, age, mediastinal lymph node metastases and weight loss had no prognostic effect. Stage was found to be progniostic factor with both univariate and multivariate analyses (p= 0.045).     

The Efficacy of Steroid Injection in the Treatment of Trigger Finger

Background

Trigger finger is one of the most common reasons for referral to a hand specialist clinic. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of steroid injections for treating trigger digits.

Methods

Ninety digits were investigated with at least a year follow up. The study mainly focused on the efficacy of the injections, as well as co-morbidities, presence of a nodule, actual digit injected and the severity at presentation using Green''s classification.

Results

The study found that 66% of trigger digits were effectively treated using steroid injections. There was a difference between the efficacy of the injection in the different digits, with a statistical significance between the thumb and the fingers. The results also showed that there was no statistical relationship between the severity of the condition, the presence of a nodule or co-morbidities and the efficacy of the steroid injections.

Conclusions

The study found that steroid injections are an effective first-line intervention for the treatment of trigger digit. It also found an increased efficacy for treating the thumb compared to other digits. Both the severity of the condition at presentation and the presence of a nodule had no significant impact on the efficacy of the injections.