Clin Exp Rheumatol
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To study the incidence and prevalence of primary systemic vasculitides (PSV) in the Costa del Sol region (southern Spain) and to compare the major epidemiological studies in PSV with the results obtained in our area. ⋯ The first epidemiological study of PSV in southern Spain corroborates their infrequency, with GCA and AAV as the PSV most often diagnosed. In southern Spain, the incidence and prevalence of PSV are lower than in northern Spain and in countries in the Northern Hemisphere.
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Onset of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) can be abrupt with life-threatening manifestations requiring Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. A high level of suspicion leading to prompt diagnosis is essential. Our objective was to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics and the type of life-threatening manifestations. ⋯ Keeping a high level of suspicion for AAV is mandatory, particularly when treating life-threatening onset manifestations in the ICU. A history of asthma, nasal polyps, eosinophilia and arthralgia should always be investigated. ANCA are negative in about half of cases, therefore clinical expertise and strict collaboration with the rheumatologist are still pivotal.
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Comparative Study
Expression of glucocorticoid receptor isoforms and associations with serine/arginine-rich protein 30c and 40 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
To investigate the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) isoforms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), confirm the main GR isoforms involving in glucocorticoids (GC) resistance, and explore the associations of GR isoforms with serine/arginine-rich protein (SRp) 30c and SRp40. ⋯ Our data demonstrated that the decreased expression of GRα might be the evidence of high disease activity and help to predict GC resistance. GR-P isoform might be implicated in the development of resistance. Additionally, the preliminary finding suggested that SRp40 might be associated with GRα transcripts in SLE patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Web/Internet-based telemonitoring of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the time-integrated effects of a 24-week multicomponent intervention on key health outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia.
The aims of the study were to assess the efficacy of a multicomponent intervention and evaluate the feasibility and user acceptance of an internet-based home telemedical surveillance system for the evaluation of pain and other key health outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). ⋯ The multicomponent approach to FM was effective in treating the key symptoms and maintaining the improvements in the short term, and telemonitoring proved to be an easyto-use solution for patient-centred data acquisition.
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Emerging evidence associates fibromyalgia (FM) with pain system dysfunction. In this study, using laser evoked potentials (LEPs) and paired laser stimuli, we tested excitability in the pain matrices and sought possible changes in patients with FM. ⋯ Objective evidence from increased conditioned Aδ-LEP amplitudes reflecting hyperexcitability in the pain matrices in FM, provides diagnostically useful information and might help in developing new therapeutic approaches.