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Articles Related to Arthritis

A Case of Rheumatoid Arthritis Presenting with A Brain Mass

Among patients with tuberculosis (TB), approximately 1 to 5 percent develop central nervous system (CNS) complications. A tuberculoma is a conglomerate granulomatous focus that develops from coalescing tubercles acquired during disseminated bacillaemia. Radiographically, tuberculomas are discrete, ring- enhancing lesions of the brain surrounded by perilesional edema and may present as single or multiple lesions. The diagnosis of tuberculoma should be suspected in patients with mass lesion of the brain and relevant epidemiologic factors. A definitive diagnosis of tuberculoma is established via needle biopsy of the CNS lesion for histopathology and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining and culture. In this case report, we present a 43-year-old woman with a past medical history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) managed with steroids and hydroxychloroquine, who attended to us with a two- month history of numbness and paresthesia of her left extremities and recurrent episodic jerks involving the same side. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large hemorrhagic mass (55 * 40 mm) in right temporo-parietal lobe surrounded by edema and mass effect with small nodule in left peri Rolandic cortex. Following clinical and laboratory clues, MR spectroscopy and brain biopsy, we started with corticosteroids and the following 4 anti-TB drugs: Isoniazid, Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol (HRZE). After 2 months, her symptoms completely resolved and a subsequent MRI scan revealed considerable shrinkage of the right-sided mass and left-sided lesion.
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Clodronate : A Potential DMOAD in Osteoarthtitis

Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory-degenerative joint disease that affects the osteochondral unit with the concomitant intervention of the immune system; this causes pain and progressive functional limitation. With a varied and complex etiopathogenesis, Osteoarthritis has a subtle outcome and an inexorable evolution towards joint deformity. The therapeutic approach makes use of non-pharmacological and pharmacological aids. Pharmacological therapy consists of symptomatic drugs that act on acute and especially chronic pain, in an attempt to decrease the incidence of any structural damage to the cartilage and subchondral bone. If the anti-resorptive drugs cure the subchondral-epiphyseal osteometabolic pathology, the interventions on the cartilage have not produced important and well evaluable results, even after prolonged therapies. This contribution analyzes the profile of Clodronate, used for the treatment of subchondral bone edema in Osteoarthritis, regarding its potential protective effects in cartilage, like DMOADs.
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Detection of a Rheumatic Factor (RF,) Anti- Cyclic Citrullinated Peptides (Anti CCP) Antibodies and C- Reactive Protein (CRP) in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA)is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease. It is characterized by arthrosynovitis with resultant joint destruction . So, an early clinical diagnosis along with simple serological tests like anti CCP antibodies, C –reactive protein ( CRP) and Rheumatoid factor (RF) play an important role .An attempt was made to study and compare these parameters in OPD and IPD RA patients in our hospital setup, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital , New Delhi. Aims and Objectives: To study the role of RF , Anti-CCP antibodies and CRP in early detection and prognosis of Rheu- matoid arthritis. Materials and Methods: A Total of 440 samples were studied from January 2018 to December 2020 (3years). Correlation between Rheumatoid factor(RF) ,anti CCP antibodies and CRP in suspected RA patients from various departments like PMR , Orthopaedics , Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Paediatrics was attempted. RF and CRP was performed using latex agglutination test and anti CCP antibody by ELISA. Results and Conclusion: Of 440 samples tested, all the factors were positive in 87 patients . Anti CCP and RF alone was seen in 32 patients. RF and CRP positive in 49 patients, RF alone in 22 patients. In 250 patients all the tests were negative. So, Anti CCP along with RF and CRP showed a better positive predictive value in patients of Rheumatoid arthritis. But positivity of these parameters even in patients who lack sign and symptoms also aids in better diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
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Early Spondyloarthritis Presenting as Premenopausal Osteoporosis and Multiple Vertebral Fractures: A Case Report

We report a 30-year-old woman who presented during pregnancy with mechanical type backache due to non-traumatic multiple vertebral fractures. In-depth the assessment revealed multiple risk factors for osteoporosis, including adolescent steroid use for asthma, prolonged breastfeeding, and vitamin D deficiency. She also had persistently elevated inflammatory markers with radiological evidence of early inflammatory Sacro-ileitis. The rheumatoid factor and HLA B27 were negative. She was successfully managed with NSAIDS, zoledronic acid, and calcium supplementation. This is an example of early inflammatory arthritis in the background of multiple risk factors causing osteoporosis severe enough to cause fragility fractures. This signifies the importance of screening for multiple risk factors in pre-menopausal osteoporosis even in the presence of one or two identified risk factors.
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Long-Term Outcome of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in Early Adulthood: Clinical Experience from a Saudi Tertiary Hospital

To report the long-term outcome including disease activity, damage and social status, quality of life at the last follow-up visit in a Saudi cohort of adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and to determine the predictive factors.
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Ultrasound as a New Imaging Tool to Assess Pathological Change of Joints in Preclinical Mouse Models of Osteoarthritis

Murine osteoarthritis (OA) models are important for exploring OA pathology and treatment in the pre-clinical study. Longitudinal in vivo imaging modalities, including X-ray, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, are commonly used diagnostic tools in OA clinic, while end-point histomorphometry analysis is the major outcome measurement in the pre-clinical study because clinical imaging modalities have limited resolution for small animals.
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Dawn of the Biofilm Disease: Highlights about Biofilm in Bone and Joint & Prosthetic Joint Infections Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment

I present some key considerations of the biofilm disease as part of two complex pathologies such as bone and joint infections and prosthetic joint infections, taking into account the bacterial pathogenic factors to understand the particular nature of these infections, and to achieve an accurate diagnosis and management beyond the antimicrobial therapy. I mention some personal experience of many years in the medical microbiology laboratory and next to the patient’s bed.
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Comparative Study for Efficacy and Safety of Biosimilar Infliximab in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis on a stable Dose of Methotrexate

The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of biosimilar infliximab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis on a stable dose of methotrexate. Subjects were assigned randomly to either study infliximab or reference infliximab product in an approved dose of 3 mg/kg as an intravenous infusion at week 0, followed by similar doses at Weeks 2, 6 and 14. Primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of subjects achieving ACR20 criteria at week 16 and secondary efficacy assessment included proportion of subjects achieving ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70 at week 16. In the open-label phase, all responders were followed till week 54. The non-responders entered a follow-up phase for immunogenicity and safety for an additional 3 months.
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Osteoid Osteoma of the Ribs - Is Image Intensifier or Bone Scintigraphy a Mandatory Diagnostic Tool - A Case report with Review of Literature

Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a benign bone tumour. In 1935, the jaffe reported it first. The fifty percent of OOs occur in long bones of the lower extremities but it may affect any bone. Only 1 % OOs affects the ribs and surgical excision was reported only in 14 cases in the literature. Complete surgical excision is the standard treatment method for osteoid osteoma is complete surgical excision which is reserved for the patients not responding to conservative treatment. In this report, we present a case of osteoid osteoma of the posterior part of the shaft of the sixth rib affecting a 30-year-old male, who had presented with symptoms of severe pain over the affected area and underwent surgical resection. Excised rib segment showed no osteosclerotic lesion on X-ray so immediately extended resection of the sixth rib was done. Here we have tried to evaluate the importance of the presence of the skeletal scintigraphy or C Arm image intensifier intraoperatively by comparing our experience with the available literature.
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Relationship of YWHAH Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms to Markers of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Severity

Introduction: Serum 14-3-3 eta provides diagnostic and prognostic information in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). It is coded by the YWHAH gene with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. It was hypothesized that 6 previously described YWHAH SNPs might relate to markers of RA disease severity such as seropositivity or erosive changes. Association study performed at an academic hospital Rheumatology Clinic. Subjects studied were 18 years of age or older with RA. TaqMan analysis screened for YWHAH SNPs rs2246704, rs2853884, rs3747158, rs4820059, rs7291050, rs933226. Primary endpoint was presence of at least one copy of the YWHAH SNPs with the markers of RA disease severity.
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MRI of the Psoas Major Muscle: Origin, Attachment, Anatomical Variants and Correlation with the Lumbar Disc Extrusion

To verify the psoas major muscle (PMM) anatomical origin and variants, to evaluate the PMM attachment to the lumbar disc and variants, and to search for correlation between the anatomic variants of PMM attachment to the disc and disc extrusion.
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Sjögren’s Syndrome - Oral Changes, Advanced Diagnosis, and Management - A Case Report

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands. It is an elaborate involvement of the lacrimal and salivary glands, which eventually lead to keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia.
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Septic Shock Secondary to Salmonella Enterica Ssp. Arizonae in an Immunocompetent Albanian Male

Salmonella-associated diarrhea is a common cause of community-acquired gastroenteritis. Some species of salmonella are associated with invasive diseases like meningitis, endocarditis and septicemia.
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Canakinumab in the Treatment of Erosive Hand Osteoarthritis: A Case Series

Erosive hand Osteoarthritis (EOA) is a common and debilitating form of hand OA for which there are no proven or efficacious therapies. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) plays a prominent role in OA joint inflammation. Canakinumab is a selective IL-1β inhibitor.
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The Effect of Interleukin-6-Type Cytokines and Adiponectin on MAPK Activation in the Immortalized Human Chondrocyte C28/I2 Line and Normal Human Chondrocytes

The C28/I2 line of immortalized juvenile human chondrocytes was employed to determine the extent to which recombinant human (rh) interleukin-6 (rhIL-6), the interleukin-6-like cytokine, rh-oncostatin M, and the adipokine, rh-adiponectin, activated extracellularsignal regulated kinase (ERK1/2), p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38α MAPK) and c-Jun-amino-terminal kinase (JNK).
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Editorial Board Members Related to Arthritis

Charles J. Malemud

Professor
Department of Medicine and Anatomy
Case Western Reserve University
United States

Muhammad Nasir Afzal

Professor & Director
Department of physiology
College of Medicine, Alfaisal University
Saudi Arabia

Osama Mohamed Ahmed

Professor of Physiology
Physiology Division
Zoology Department
Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University
Egypt

Xueqin Gao

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Texas Health Science Center
USA
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