177,150 research outputs found
Abrupt occurrence of high fever and rash in a patient treated with sulphasalazine for psoriatic arthritis [Iperpiressia ed eritema cutaneo in una paziente trattata con sulfasalazina per artrite psoriasica]
No full textWe report a singular clinical condition observed following a short duration treatment with sulphasalazine (SSZ) in a 64-year-old woman affected by psoriatic arthritis. Two weeks after starting treatment, a high degree, subcontinuous fever occurred, together with systemic discomfort, fatigue, headache, and ultimately a moderate wakefulness impairment. Upon admission to the hospital, a malar rash became evident. Modest notes of hepatotoxicity were also evident. All of the symptoms suddenly resolved after SSZ withdrawal. The markers of hepatitis become negative just 2 months later. It is interesting to note that after dismissal, in order to counteract the severe arthritic conditions and the presence of a type 2 diabetes, a combined therapy with methotrexate and cyclosporin had to be used, with no renal or hepatic side effects and remarkable therapeutic effects. No markers of autoimmunity were found in this patient. The chronology and the clinical events here described may confirm the hypothesis of a idiosyncratic reaction to SSZ, closely resembling a rare, sometimes irreversible, condition known as "the 3 week sulphasalazine syndrome"
Abrupt occurrence of high fever and rash in a patient treated with sulphasalazine for psoriatic arthritis.
No full textWe report a singular clinical condition observed following a short duration treatment with sulphasalazine (SSZ) in a 64-year-old woman affected by psoriatic arthritis. Two weeks after starting treatment, a high degree, subcontinuous fever occurred, together with systemic discomfort, fatigue, headache, and ultimately a moderate wakefulness impairment. Upon admission to the hospital, a malar rash became evident. Modest notes of hepatotoxicity were also evident. All of the symptoms suddenly resolved after SSZ withdrawal. The markers of hepatitis become negative just 2 months later. It is interesting to note that after dismissal, in order to counteract the severe arthritic conditions and the presence of a type 2 diabetes, a combined therapy with methotrexate and cyclosporin had to be used, with no renal or hepatic side effects and remarkable therapeutic effects. No markers of autoimmunity were found in this patient. The chronology and the clinical events here described may confirm the hypothesis of a idiosyncratic reaction to SSZ, closely resembling a rare, sometimes irreversible, condition known as "the 3 week sulphasalazine syndrome"
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe 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
Predictive factors of remission in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients treated with biological therapies 13-year experience of a single center
No full textPREDICTIVE FACTORS OF REMISSION IN JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS PATIENTS TREATED WITH BIOLOGICAL THERAPIES. 13-YEAR EXPERIENCE OF A SINGLE CENTER M. Romano1, I. Pontikaki1, I. Ardoino2, M. Gattinara1, E. del giudice3, P. Boracchi2, S. Lodi-Rizzini1, P.L. Meroni1, V. Gerloni1 1Division of Rheumatology, Istituto Ortopedico G.Pini 2Unit of Medical Statistic and Biometry “G.A. Maccacaro”, University of Milan, Italy., Milan 3Dep. of Pediatrics, Sapienza, University of Rome, Italy, Rome, Italy Background: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent chronic rheumatic disease in childhood. The term JIA means a group of clinically heterogeneous arthritides, beginning before the age of 16 years, of unknown cause, and persistent for more then 6 weeks. The prognosis is often severe and many children are still suffering from active disease in adulthood. Objectives: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent chronic rheumatic disease in childhood. The term JIA means a group of clinically heterogeneous arthritides, beginning before the age of 16 years, of unknown cause, and persistent for more then 6 weeks. The prognosis is often severe and many children are still suffering from active disease in adulthood. Methods: All JIA patients (pts) treated in our Center with BTs, are prospective followed every 2 months for the evaluation of safety and efficacy (according to ACR-Pedi core set criteria). Charts of all 363 pts enrolled between November 1999 and November 2012, have been reviewed. In total 750 BTs were administered to our 363 pts. The outcome measures needed to define the achievement of the status of ID, CRM and CR, at several follow-up moments, were analysed. Results: Two hundred ninety-four JIA pts (who received in total 535 BT) were statistically evaluated for predicting factors of CRM during the 1st course of BT. Median age at disease onset was 5.4 yrs (mean 6.7, range 0.5-16). At starting of the 1st BT median disease duration was 7.9 yrs (mean 9.6, range 0.2 - 41.4), median age was 15.2 yrs (mean 16.3, range 1.9 - 49.8). Median treatment duration of the 1st BT was 2.06 yrs (mean 1.96, range 0.03-10.35). CRM was achieved with 172 out of all 535 BTs (32.1%) and with 136 out of 294 1st courses of BTs (46.2%). 136 out of 172 successful treatments (79.1%) were 1st BTs. During the 1st BT, 136 out of 294 pts (46.3%) obtained one or more periods of CRM of variable duration. Only 4 pts reached CR. The statistical multivariate analysis showed that the probability of CRM with the 1st BT is positively correlated with male gender (p=0.005), non-soJIA (p<0.05) and shorter disease duration before starting the 1st BT (p<0.05). Conclusions: Upon treatment with the 1st BT, nearly half of children and young people affected by JIA, although they had suffered from long-standing, refractory disease non responder to DMARDs, reached at least one sustained period of CRM. Nevertheless a persistent CR off medication remains a rare event. References: 1. Wallace CA, Ruperto N, Giannini EH. Preliminary criteria for clinical remission for select categories of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. J Rheumatol 2004;31:2290-4. 2. Lurati A, Salmaso A, Gerloni V, Gattinara M, Fantini F. Accuracy of Wallace criteria for clinical remission in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a cohort study of 761 consecutive cases. J Rheumatol. 2009 Jul;36(7):1532-5. 3. Fantini F, Gerloni V, Gattinara M, Cimaz R, Arnoldi C, Lupi E. Remission in juvenile chronic arthritis: a cohort study of 683 consecutive cases with a mean 10 year followup. J Rheumatol. 2003 Mar;30(3):579-84
"Closing the R&D Gap, Evaluating the Sources of R&D Spending"
Get PDFBoth spending and tax policies have been implemented in the United States with the goal of stimulating private sector research and development (R&D). Karier questions whether current R&D policy, especially the research and experimentation tax credit, can contribute to closing the gap between nondefense expenditures on R&D in the United States and such expenditures in other countries, such as Japan and Germany. He also explores possible changes to our current R&D policy to make it more effective.
Skeletal mineralization in a prepubertal female population affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis
No full textBackground: Puberty is an essential step in bone mass accrual. Growth failure and impairment of sexual maturation
are frequent manifestations of chronic illnesses in the paediatric population, and chronic rheumatologic disorders such
as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are no exception to this.
Methods: The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate bone density in adolescents females with JIA, and to
correlate the results with clinical variables, in particular with age at menarche. Lumbar spine (L2-L4) areal bone
mineral density (aBMD) (assessed by Dual X-ray Absorbiometry, DXA) was monitored every 6-12 months in a group
of 38 girls with JIA. The evaluated bone density accrual during the peripubertal time as well as absolute and relative
(Z-score) aBMD in relationship with age at menarche, JIA subset, disease activity (as evaluated by ESR and Hgb),
corticosteroid and methotrexate treatment (mean pro kg daily dose, cumulative dose) was assessed. Height, body mass
index (BMI), bone mass content (BMC) values were also collected. Volumetric BMD (vBMD) evaluated with a geometric
correction formula has been calculated and compared to aBMD.
Results: Patients were divided into two groups:
- group I included girls with menarche age within normal limits for italian standards;
- group II included girls with delayed menarche. The BMD values and Z scores in group I were not significantly different
to normal population. The BMD values and Z scores in group II were significantly decreased when compared
to the normal population (p<0.001). With a multivariate analysis only age at menarche seemed independently related
to peripubertal mineralization (p=0.025, r between -0.65 and -0.75). With a binary logistic analysis only disease
activity (ESR and Hgb values) seems independently related to a menarche delay (1.24±0.4 for each mm/h).
Conclusion: Our data show a critical role for disease activity in determination of a regular pubertal onset and an optimal
bone density achievemen
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe 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
Systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a retrospective study of 80 consecutive patients followed for 10 years
No full textObjective. To investigate the relationships between systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis disease activity, course of the disease, and functional class according to Steinbrocker.
Methods. The records of all children with systemic onset juvenile arthritis (JA) according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria attending our center since 1971 with a minimum followup period of 3 years were reviewed, A cohort of 80 consecutive patients entered the study: 42 males, 38 females, mean age at onset 6.3 years (range 0.7-16), mean followup period 10.7 years (range 3-33), The cumulative duration of the active periods (CDAP) in months was calculated for every patient.
Results. Three patterns of disease course were apparent: monocyclic (subtype I), intermittent (subtype II), and persistent (subtype III). At the last control the functional class and disease activity status were evaluated. In all subtype I patients (9 cases) the disease was in remission and no patient was in class II, III, or IV. In subtype II patients (27 cases), 16 were inactive or in remission and 6 in class III. In subtype III (44 cases) 21 were inactive or in remission and 17 were in class III or IV. The equation relating the Steinbrocker class to the CDAP was calculated considering the functional outcome as the dependent variable. The linear regression equation y = 0.0083 x + 1.266 was found with a correlation coefficient r = 0.586 (p < 0.0001). The majority of our patients were treated with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, which in many cases were effective in reducing the duration of the active phases of disease.
Conclusion. Systemic onset JA may present with different clinical courses; the functional outcome is always good in subtype I (monocyclic), but can be poor in subtypes II and III. The severity of disability evaluated according to Steinbrocker classes is dependent on the cumulative duration of the active periods of the disease
II ruolo degli omega-3 nel paziente pluripatologico complesso: dalle evidenze alla pratica clinica in Medicina Interna
Get PDFII ruolo degli omega-3 nel paziente pluripatologico complesso
M. Campanini, R. Nardi
II ruolo degli omega-3 nella prevenzione dell’ipertrigliceridemia pura e iperlipemia combinata, ma non solo: dalle evidenze alla pratica clinica
P. Gnerre, O. Para, G. Balbi
Gli omega-3 nell’obesità e nell’insulino-resistenza
M. Poggiano
Gli omega-3 nel diabete mellito di tipo 2
M. Poggiano
Gli effetti degli omega-3 sulle aritmie
C. Cenci
Gli effetti degli omega-3 nella prevenzione dell’infarto miocardico
R. Gerloni
Omega-3 e scompenso cardiaco
R. Gerloni
I prodotti naturali: una possibile alternativa alle statine per la riduzione del colesterolo
M.C. Pasquini
Nutrizione, omega-3 e cancro
A. Mazza, G. Rubello, G. Mazza
Gli omega-3: trigliceridi naturali o esteri etilici?
P. Zuccheri, C. Iacono, G. Benini
II ruolo degli omega-3 nel paziente pluripatologico complesso: dalle evidenze alla pratica clinica in Medicina Interna
A. Fontanell
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