Rheumatology international
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Review Case Reports
Dermatomyositis associated with acute myelocytic leukemia.
Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are inflammatory myopathic diseases characterized by symmetric, proximal myopathy with or without a distinct cutaneous eruption. They have long been recognized to be associated with cancer. The common cancers associated with DM/PM include ovarian, lung, pancreatic, breast, and stomach cancer. ⋯ In our review of literature we could find only seven such reported cases. We present here a case presenting with DM and diagnosed to be suffering from AML on admission. This happens to be the second reported case of DM and AML with no latent period between the two diseases.
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The objectives of the study were identification, quality evaluation and summary of RCTs on complementary and alternative medicine as defined by the National Institute of Health with the exception of dietary and nutritional supplements. A computerized search of databases from 1990 (year of publication of the ACR criteria for fibromyalgia) to July 2007 was performed. The RCTs were assessed by a methodological quality score. ⋯ Mindfulness meditation showed mostly positive results in two trials and acupuncture mixed results in multiple trials with a tendency toward positive results. Tendencies for improvement were furthermore noted in single trials of the Mesendieck system, connective tissue massage and to some degree for osteopathy and magnet therapy. No positive evidence could be identified for Qi Gong, biofeedback, and body awareness therapy.
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Review Case Reports
Primary central nervous system vasculitis mimicking brain tumour: case report and literature review.
Primary central nervous system vasculitis (PCNSV) is a rare inflammatory disease causing significant morbidity and mortality. We present a detailed history and clinical course of a patient with PCNSV along with a literature review. A 50-year-old Chinese female presented with a 6-month history of mild to moderate headache and sudden onset of visual loss. ⋯ Steroid and immunosuppressive therapy dramatically improved the patient's condition. Our report highlights the importance of considering PCNSV as a differential diagnosis in patients who are suspected with encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral haemorrhage, cerebral thrombus, leukoencephalopathy, or brain tumour, etc. while their clinical presentations are exceptionally so changeable. This case also gives emphasis to the value of a brain biopsy in consolidating the diagnosis, and the efficacy of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy in PCNSV.
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Review Case Reports
Beneficial effect of treatment with cyclosporin A in a case of refractory antisynthetase syndrome.
We report a case of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy accompanied with the presence of anti-Jo1 antibodies and complicated by diffuse parenchymal lung disease (antisynthetase syndrome). Efficacy of different therapeutic agents, including corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and cyclosporin A, is described. ⋯ An interesting association of the disease onset with toxoplasmosis infection is discussed and difficulties regarding diagnosis of cardiac involvement are addressed. We also review other case reports of this rare disorder of poor prognosis.
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Temporomandibular disorders are recognized as the most common nontooth-related chronic orofacial pain conditions. This article reviews the recent temporomandibular disorders literature and summarizes the temporomandibular disorders seen in rheumatology practices. Arthritis is a common condition affecting the temporomandibular joint. ⋯ The American Academy of Orofacial Pain established the first well-defined diagnostic classification. In addition, Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders have been developed using similar classification. In the treatment of temporomandibular disorders, conservative and noninvasive treatments are endorsed for the initial care of nearly all TMD patients because the majority of patients with TMD achieve good relief of symptoms with conservative treatment.