1,721,052 research outputs found
The use of ultrasound for assessing interstitial lung involvement in connective tissue diseases
No full textInterstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most serious pulmonary complications associated with connective tissue diseases (CTDs), resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Recently, lung ultrasound examination has appeared as a useful, feasible, non-invasive, radiation-free imaging technique with high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CTD-associated ILD. In this review, we discuss the literature concerning lung ultrasound findings (B-lines and pleural irregularities) in systemic sclerosis. We also examine the possible utility and potential limitations of lung ultrasound in other CTDs including: inflammatory myopathies, mixed connective tissue disease, and Sjögren's syndrome. Specifically, we compare the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound with traditional imaging techniques and pulmonary functional tests
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
One year in review 2017: novelties in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
No full textRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease characterised by inflammation of the synovial tissue in joints, which can lead to joint destruction. The primary goal of the treatment is to control pain and inflammation, reduce joint damage and disability, and maintain or improve physical function and quality of life. The present review is aimed at providing a critical analysis of the recent literature on the novelties in the treatment of RA, with a particular focus on the most relevant studies published over the last year
Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis: a 2023 update
No full textPurpose of review Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) is an immune complex mediated small vessel vasculitis characterized by the presence of cryoglobulins in serum, often associated with hepatitis C infection, systemic autoimmune diseases or hematological conditions. The focus of this review is to provide an update on new insights into pathogenesis, epidemiology and therapies of infectious and noninfectious type II and type III CV. Recent findings The introduction of new antiviral drugs for treatment of hepatitis C infection implied major changes in HCV-related CV, allowing to shed new lights on CV pathogenesis and mechanisms of relapse and, therefore, to increase the relevance of autoimmune diseases in CV epidemiology. Specific B-cell clones are involved in the production of pathogenic immune complexes that leads to small-vessel vasculitis. Therefore, both antiviral treatments [direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and oral nucleot(s)ide analogues] and targeted anti-CD20 therapies (rituximab) prove to be safe and effective options, leading to a better prognosis. Association of Sj & ouml;gren syndrome and CV defines a specific phenotype of patients, characterized by severe manifestations and poor outcome. Summary Removing viral stimulation on B-cells through direct-acting antivirals and blocking B-cells proliferation and differentiation with rituximab are the goals of treatment of CV. However, further research is needed to identify prognostic factors of refractory and relapsing disease
Artificial neural networks help to identify disease subsets and to predict lymphoma in primary Sjögren's syndrome
No full textPrimary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a complex chronic systemic disorder, for which specific and effective therapeutic interventions are still lacking. In this era of precision medicine, there is a clear need for a better definition of disease phenotypes to foster the research of novel specific biomarkers and new therapeutic targets. The main objectives of this work are: 1) to compare Auto Contractive Map (AutoCM), a data mining tool based on an artificial neural network (ANN) versus conventional Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in discriminating different pSS subsets and 2) to specifically focus on variables predictive of MALT-NHL development, assessing the previsional gain of the predictive models developed
Advances in salivary gland ultrasonography in primary Sjögren's syndrome
No full textSalivary gland ultrasonography (US) has recently been re-discovered as a useful tool to assess salivary gland involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). In this review, we discuss US of the major salivary glands in the diagnosis of primary SS and analyse the possible added value of inclusion in classification criteria. We review the literature concerning associations between US of the major salivary glands, salivary gland histology and serology, with the possibility that US may be of value in disease stratification. We also examine the possible utility for US to monitor patient response to therapy in both clinical research and standard clinical care
Update on the pathophysiology and treatment of primary Sjögren syndrome
No full textSjögren syndrome or Sjögren disease is a chronic form of autoimmune epithelitis characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands, particularly the salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to progressive glandular dysfunction and subsequent xerostomia and xerophthalmia. Other common manifestations include pain and fatigue, various systemic manifestations and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Sjögren syndrome is therefore a complex and disabling disease associated with a reduced quality of life and with considerable long-term damage. Most of the available treatments are merely symptomatic with limited efficacy in both preventing glandular damage and suppressing systemic disease activity. In the past 10 years, great progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of Sjögren syndrome, opening new avenues towards a more targeted and individualized therapeutic approach to the disease. Indeed, several randomized controlled trials have just been completed or are poised to commence evaluating the effectiveness of novel drugs targeting both innate and adaptive immune pathways, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, the type I interferon system, B cell activation, B cell and T cell co-stimulation pathway, and ectopic germinal centre formation. Novel clinical trials are also ongoing exploring various targeted approaches (that is, IgG recycling inhibition, nuclease therapy and CAR-T cell therapy) for Sjögren syndrome
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