1,721,123 research outputs found
Secukinumab treatment in psoriatic patients: Italian experiences
No full textPsoriasis is an inflammatory condition involving several organs, and not only a chronic skin disease as previously considered (1 Campanati A, Neri P, Giuliodori K, et al. Psoriasis beyond the skin surface: a pilot study on the ocular involvement. Int Ophthalmol. 2015;35:331–340. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], , [Google Scholar] ). A high level of discomfort is usually present, and the disease may have a huge negative impact on social and working life
Rheumatoid Arthritis and heart disease risk factors and ultrasound findings
No full textL'artrite reumatoide è una patologia autoimmune che può coinvolgere non solamente il danno articolare, ma anche organi come il cuore e i polmoni. Il rischio cardiovascolare associato all'artrite reumatoide è sovrapponibile a quello del diabete e lo studio del dismentabolismo lipidico e la valutazione dell'ecocardiografia sono indispensabili per una valutazione del rischio global. In una coorte selezionata di pazienti (studio EPIDAURO) è stato seguito uno studio Tissue Doppler per indagare eventuali alterazioni della funzione sistolica del ventricolo sinistro e l'associazione con l'artrite reumatoiderheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects both joints (with the related articular damage) and organs like lungs and heart. The cardiovascular risk in patients with RA is the same of the diabetic ones. The evaluation of lipid dismetabolism and heart ultrasonography are essential in order to achieve a global risk evaluation. in a selected cohort of patients (EPIDAURO study) a Tissue Doppler evaluation was done in order to clear which are the alterations of sistolic function of left ventricule and their association with rheumatoid arthriti
Ultrasonography reveals nail thickening in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.
No full textNail psoriasis is usually investigated anddiagnosed by clinical examination. Ultrasonography is anon-invasive imaging technique for studying soft tissueinvolvement. The objective of this study was to estimatenail involvement in patients with chronic plaque psoriasisby ultrasonography. Prevalence, clinical type and severityof nail involvement according to nail psoriasis and severityindex (NAPSI) were investigated in 138 patients withpsoriasis. The thickness of the plate and bed of the fingernailswas measured in 54 patients with psoriasis, 46healthy controls and 37 patients with chronic eczema, usingan ultrasonographic system equipped with a frequencytransducer of 18 MHz. The prevalence of nail psoriasis was73 % (102 out of 138). Onycholysis and thickening of thenail plate were the most common clinical type affecting 56and 50 % of patients, respectively; splinter haemorrhageswas the less common involving 10 % of patients. The meanNAPSI score was 18.4 ± 17.5 (SD; range 0–107). Thethickness of fingernail plate and bed was significantlyhigher in patients with psoriasis with nail disease comparedto healthy controls and patients with chronic eczema(p\0.001). There was a linear correlation between NAPSIand plate and bed nail thickness (r = 0.52 and r = 0.38,p = 0.001). Increased nail plate and bed thickness wasobserved also in patients with psoriasis without clinicallyapparent nail involvement. In conclusion, thickening of thenail is a common feature of nail psoriasis also in patientswithout clinically apparent nail involvement
Recent Advances in Imaging for Diagnosis, Monitoring, and Prognosis of Psoriatic Arthritis
No full textPsoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory condition characterized by a strong heterogeneity and multifaceted behavior. PsA manifests in two types-axial and peripheral-which may be present at the same time. Peripheral manifestations can be further divided into the articular (arthritis) and extra-articular (i.e., enthesitis and dactylitis) subgroups. In such a complex disease, imaging is often required to characterize the type of involvement and to evaluate the radiological damage and progression of PsA. In addition, imaging plays a pivotal role in clinical practice; that is, for axial involvement. Conventional radiology has been the main standard of reference for many years. However, in recent years, there has been growing interest in different imaging modalities, such as ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All these techniques play a role in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with PsA and cover all the types of the disease. US and MRI have good sensitivities and specificities for detecting synovitis, and this may be helpful for differential diagnosis with other musculoskeletal diseases and useful in the early or preclinical phases of the disease. However, US is not useful in the diagnosis of axial PsA. In addition, other modalities have been investigated in the field of PsA imaging. Computed tomography (CT), in particular, dual energy-CT and high-resolution peripheral CT (HRpQ-CT) might play an important role in the assessment of bone damage, erosions, and new bone formation. Regarding advanced functional imaging, FDG PET/CT is another interesting technique for exploring disease activity
Vitamin D: not just bone, but also immunity
No full textVitamin D should not be considered only as a vitamin. It has a relevant role in many functions of body regulation, both skeletal and extra skeletal and this makes vitamin D an essential element for a healthy status. This is well explained by a ubiquitous presence of vitamin D receptors. Nowadays extra skeletal effects have a more interesting impact in medical practice. The paracrine and autocrine action of vitamin D has a pivotal role for these effects. The activation of the cellular transcriptional process leads to the expression of beta-defensin and cathelicidin, activating the Th1 pathway, related to innate immunity against bacteria. The action of vitamin D is also related to adaptive immunity with a Th2 response and production of anti-inflammatory cytokines like interleukins 4 and 5, and with Th17 and B-lymphocyte suppression. Vitamin D deficiency could have an unfavorable effect on both healthy and ill subjects. It is well-known that many autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis are influenced by vitamin D deficiency, and this is especially true for disease activity. Several other pathologies are influenced by the levels of vitamin D, such as diabetes mellitus type 1: an adequate intake of vitamin D can reduce the risk to develop this disease. The same applies to asthma and multiple sclerosis. It is very important to make a point about the deficiency state and their correction, especially in those people at higher risk
Relationship between serum parathyroid hormone, vitamin D sufficiency, age, and calcium intake.
No full textVitamin D deficiency is extremely common among elderly subjects and it has been associated with poor bone health, and to a number of other conditions. The ideal 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration, reflecting the size of vitamin D deposits, are generally retained those not associated with any marginal increase in serum parathyroid hormone (PTH). These threshold values vary considerably and this may be due to the interaction of other factors. The aim of the study is to assess whether age and calcium intake interact with the relationship between 25(OH)D and PTH. Data from a survey on the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in elderly women in Italy were analysed in order to verify whether age and calcium intake were interfering on the 25(OH)D/PTH relationship. A total of 697 women were available for analysis. Serum PTH levels were significantly correlated with age, 25(OH)D and calcium intake (p8 months) able to increase 25(OH)D levels above 110 nMol/l, PTH levels were maintained below 35 pg/mL. The minimum 25(OH)D levels to be recommended depends largely on the age and the calcium intake. In elderly individuals not taking calcium supplements in order to keep serum PTH levels strictly within the normal range 25(OH)D serum levels should be maintained above ca. 120 nMol/L
Neridronic acid for the treatment of bone metabolic diseases
No full textneridronic acid; bisphosphonate; bone disease
Coronavirus disease 19 (Covid-19) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)
No full textCoronavirus disease 19 (Covid-19) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)
Osteoporosis Treatment: When to Discontinue and When to Re-start
No full textA number of effective therapies for the treatment of osteoporosis have become available in recent years. However, uncertainty exists regarding their long-term use and effectiveness. Bisphosphonate treatment, unlike hormone replacement, denosumab or teriparatide, is associated with benefits extended even after treatment discontinuation. The extended benefits are most apparent for alendronate (ALN) and zoledronate (ZOL). A drug holiday might be considered in patients at low-moderate risk and who have been fully compliant with treatment, and who have had a response to treatment. In patients at low-moderate risk of fractures the decision to consider a drug holiday should be balanced also with the safety profile of each treatment
- …
