Erasmus syndrome in a marble worker.

Erasmus syndrome is defined as the association of silica exposure and subsequent development of systemic sclerosis. The limited number of cases reported in the literature mainly involves miners and only sporadically other professionals. We describe a case of Erasmus syndrome in a marble worker.

Intra-articular therapy with tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists: an update.

The aim of the study was to review from the present literature the intra-articular (IA) use of the TNF-blocking drugs. A total of 28 papers about this topic were found through a search in PubMed; the first publication's date was July 2003. These studies include a total of 214 patients affected by 12 different joint diseases that reported a total of 1046 intra-articular therapies carried out in 10 different joint sites.

Papular-purpuric gloves and socks syndrome due to parvovirus B19: a report of two simultaneous cases in cohabitant families.

The so-called papular-purpuric gloves and socks syndrome (PPGSS) is a condition characterized by acute onset of intense erythema, edema and petechiae with a typical localization on the hands and feet, besides mucosal lesions of the oral cavity. The syndrome has a favorable and self-limited course, requiring only a symptomatic therapy. In the 50% of the cases described in literature (ninety cases in 22 years), is documented an acute infection caused by parvovirus B19 and in only two cases the onset of PPGSS is reported among different members of the same family.

Incidence of influenza-like illness into a cohort of patients affected by chronic inflammatory rheumatism and treated with biological agents.

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI), from October 2009 to May 2010, in a group of patients suffering from chronic inflammatory rheumatism and treated with biological therapies. At the end of 2009-2010 influenza season, 159 patients under biological therapies answered to a questionnaire distributed 8 months before and were deeply interviewed. The group included 69 men and 90 women (mean age 47.

Clinical characteristics and incidence of first fracture in a consecutive sample of post-menopausal women attending osteoporosis centers: The PROTEO-1 study.

Background: Osteoporosis is a highly prevalent disease and fractures are a major cause of disability and morbidity.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to characterize post-menopausal women attending osteoporosis centers in Italy, to evaluate physician management, and to determine the incidence of first osteoporotic fracture.

Subjects And Methods: PROTEO-1 was an observational longitudinal study with a 12-month follow-up.