International journal of rheumatic diseases
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The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Hakka populations. ⋯ The clinical and immunological characteristics of the SLE patients in our study place our population in the middle of the spectrum between other Asian and Caucasian populations.
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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a relatively commoner complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc) with estimated prevalence ranging between 8% and 12% as compared to much lower figures in other connective tissue diseases (CTD). It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in CTDs. PH is classified into five major groups. ⋯ CTD-PAH patients constitute at least 20% of patients included in all major trials of PH-specific therapy and the results are comparable to those of idiopathic PAH. The role of anticoagulation in CTD-PAH is associated with a high risk-benefit ratio with the caveat of its potential role in those with severe disease. There appears to be no role of immunosuppression in scleroderma-PAH; however, immunosuppressive agents, namely the combination of glucocorticoids and pulse cyclophosphamide / possibly mycophenolate, may result in clinical improvement in a subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and mixed connective tissue disease-related PAH.
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Comparative Study
Telephone interview strategy can be used for screening inflammatory back pain in the community.
Telephone surveys are less expensive and time-consuming for both interviewers and interviewees, with similar or even higher response rates than face-to-face interviews. In rheumatology, telephone technique has been used in a number of epidemiologic studies. In the present study, we conducted a telephone survey for screening inflammatory back pain (IBP) in the community. ⋯ The results of our study indicate that telephone surveys based on Calin's criteria for IBP has a moderate, almost substantial agreement with face-to-face interviews and can be used as an easily applicable, less expensive and time-saving method in screening subjects for IBP.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and changes after therapy with bosentan. ⋯ NT-proBNP levels were found to be significantly higher in SSc-PAH at baseline. Serial assessment of NT-proBNP in SSc-PAH patients on bosentan therapy showed no relation to the clinical improvement. This suggests that NT-proBNP may lack 'sensitivity to change', but further studies are warranted to assess the role of NT-proBNP as a biomarker of the therapeutic response in larger cohorts of SSc patients.
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Clinical Trial
Management of pain on hallux valgus with percutaneous intra-articular Pulse-Dose Radiofrequency.
The purpose of our study was to investigate the role of intra-articular pulse-dose radiofrequency in management of painful hallux valgus refractory to conservative therapies. ⋯ Our experience shows pulse-dose radiofrequency is a safe, repeatable and effective technique for managing patients with symptomatic hallux valgus in the short and medium term. Pulse-dose radiofrequency may improve pain control and quality of life in patients with hallux valgus refractory to conservative therapies.