Publications by authors named "Brittany Bettendorf"

We present the case of a woman in her early 50s who initially presented to an orthopedist for nodules located near the posterior knee. Imaging revealed diffuse subcutaneous calcifications and she was subsequently referred to rheumatology. Additional testing included myositis panel, electromyography (EMG) and muscle biopsy which indicated the presence of an inflammatory myopathy.

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Background: Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms (IAAAs) are a variant involving a distinct immunoinflammatory process, with nearly one half believed to be associated with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD).

Methods: MEDLINE and Google Scholar searches were conducted for English-language publications relevant to inflammatory aortic aneurysms from January 1970 onward. The search terms included inflammatory aortic aneurysms, aortitis, periaortitis, IgG4-related disease, and retroperitoneal fibrosis.

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Discovery of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) enabled earlier diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other ANA connective tissue diseases (CTD). Rheumatologists increasingly encounter high referral volume of ANA patients. It has been estimated that only a small percentage of these patients will eventually transition to either SLE or other specified CTD.

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Chronic rheumatic diseases often occur in women of reproductive age, and the effect rheumatic disease has on pregnancy varies depending on the condition. Medical management of rheumatic diseases during pregnancy may prevent joint or organ damage and minimize the adverse effects of the disease itself on pregnancy outcomes. Each patient requires individual assessment to control disease activity while minimizing or avoiding medications with potential maternal or fetal toxicity.

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Objective: To develop an evidence-based guideline on contraception, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), fertility preservation with gonadotoxic therapy, use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT), pregnancy assessment and management, and medication use in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD).

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of evidence relating to contraception, ART, fertility preservation, HRT, pregnancy and lactation, and medication use in RMD populations, using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to rate the quality of evidence and a group consensus process to determine final recommendations and grade their strength (conditional or strong). Good practice statements were agreed upon when indirect evidence was sufficiently compelling that a formal vote was unnecessary.

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Objective: To develop an evidence-based guideline on contraception, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), fertility preservation with gonadotoxic therapy, use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT), pregnancy assessment and management, and medication use in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD).

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of evidence relating to contraception, ART, fertility preservation, HRT, pregnancy and lactation, and medication use in RMD populations, using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to rate the quality of evidence and a group consensus process to determine final recommendations and grade their strength (conditional or strong). Good practice statements were agreed upon when indirect evidence was sufficiently compelling that a formal vote was unnecessary.

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Background: Research has demonstrated that residents and fellows (hereafter referred to as "residents") play a significant role in the education of medical students. However, residents often feel unprepared to teach effectively and efficiently in busy clinical environments.

Activity: The Residents as Educators Committee at the Medical College of Wisconsin sought to create an online module for residents to promote five key elements of teaching medical students in a busy clinical environment when time is limited.

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Objective: Although smoking is a risk factor for cardiovascular and rheumatic disease severity, only 10% of rheumatology visits document cessation counseling. After implementing a rheumatology clinic protocol that increased tobacco quitline referrals 20-fold, we undertook this study to examine patients' barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation based on prior rheumatology experiences, to solicit reactions to the new cessation protocol, and to identify patient-centered outcomes or signs of cessation progress following improved care.

Methods: We recruited 19 patients who smoke (12 with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and 7 with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]) to participate in 1 of 3 semistructured focus groups.

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Background: Schnitzler syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by a chronic urticarial rash and monoclonal gammopathy (IgM in more than 90% of the cases). It is difficult to distinguish from other neutrophilic urticarial dermatoses, and diagnosis is based on the Strasbourg criteria. Interleukin-1 is considered the key mediator, and interleukin-1 inhibitors are considered first line treatment.

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The protein product of the progressive ankylosis gene, known as ANK, is a 492-amino acid multi-pass transmembrane protein. This protein is critical for the regulation of pyrophosphate, and gain of function ANK mutations is associated with calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease. Much about the structure, function, and regulation of ANK remain unstudied.

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This report describes the case of a 21-year-old heroin user who presented with a 6-day history of decreased vision in her right eye, preceded by 1 week of headache and tender scalp nodules, neck stiffness, and photophobia. A broad infectious workup for acute vision loss was completed, and she was ultimately presumed to have acquired toxoplasmic chorioretinitis (ocular toxoplasmosis). We review the initial workup for chorioretinitis, and the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis.

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Background: The humanities are increasingly recognized as an important component of medical student education. This study addresses whether early exposure to healthy older adults through the humanities may prepare medical students for positive relationships with aging patients. Few studies have presented a detailed example of a humanistic endeavor organized by medical students to facilitate student interactions with healthy older adults.

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Dysmenorrhea affects up to 80% of reproductive age women, in many cases causing sufficient pain to dramatically affect social and occupational roles. The prevalence varies across ethnic groups, which in part may reflect varying cultural attitudes toward women and menstruation. Key identified risk factors for dysmenorrhea include age of menarche, body mass, dietary habits, associated uterine bleeding disorders, comorbid pelvic pathology, and psychosocial problems.

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