A Cross-Disciplinary Study of Facial Asymmetry in a Pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican Sculpture: Some Cultural and Rheumatological Insights.

Background/historical Perspective: Facial asymmetry has been recognized and represented in Mesoamerican and South American pre-Hispanic cultures.

Summary: This study aims to describe and contextualize an ancient pre-Hispanic stone face carving from the Early Postclassic Period (1200-1500 AD) discovered during excavations for the construction of what is now the National Rehabilitation Institute in Mexico City. The remarkable facial asymmetry of the artifact, suggesting facial paralysis, is a focal point for an interdisciplinary study combining bioarchaeology, anthropology, paleopathology, and rheumatology.

A review of brain structural and functional changes using MRI technology in patients who received bariatric surgery.

According to the World Health Organization, obesity is one of the most significant health issues currently because it increases risk for type 2 diabetes and cancer, heart disease, bone health, reproduction, and quality of living and it impacts approximately 500 million adults worldwide. This review analyzed the existing literature focusing on the effects of Metabolic and bariatric surgeries (MBS), including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy on changes in brain function and anatomy using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. A PubMed search using the key words bariatric surgery and MRI conducted in December 2023 resulted in 544 articles.

Central and peripheral mechanisms of pain in fibromyalgia: scoping review protocol.

Fibromyalgia is characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, which may present with fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep and cognitive disturbances. It is the second most prevalent rheumatic disease. An accurate diagnosis is challenging, since its symptoms may resemble diverse conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, Raynaud syndrome, Sjögren syndrome, amongst others.

Adherence to literature search reporting guidelines in leading rheumatology journals' systematic reviews: umbrella review protocol.

Literature searches are important components of systematic reviews. They are not only informative of the retrieval process, but they also set the data to be analyzed and influence additional components of systematic reviews. Despite the available guidelines, several studies have shown that the quality of reporting in systematic reviews is deficient in several medical fields.

Threats to scholarly research integrity arising from paper mills: a rapid scoping review.

"Paper mills" are unethical outsourcing agencies proficient in fabricating fraudulent manuscripts submitted to scholarly journals. In earlier years, the activity of such companies involved plagiarism, but their processes have gained complexity, involving the fabrication of images and fake results. The objective of this study is to examine the main features of retracted paper mills' articles registered in the Retraction Watch database, from inception to the present, analyzing the number of articles per year, their number of citations, and their authorship network.

Update of the current role of ultrasound in asymptomatic hyperuricemia. A systematic literature review.

Ultrasound (US) is a recognized imaging modality for the assessment of gout. Recently it is being explored for its potential role in the evaluation of subjects with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH). Preliminary reports demonstrated the presence of monosodium urate (MSU)-crystal deposits including aggregates, double contour sign and/or tophi in both intra-articular and periarticular tissues of AH individuals.

Quantifying Potential Cost-Savings Through an Alternative Imaging-Based Diagnostic Process in Presumptive Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (SRA) is a condition that is not well understood and difficult to confirm by a conventional diagnostic process. We aimed to quantify the potential cost-savings of an alternative diagnostic process (ADP) imaging-based, for patients with presumptive SRA from everyday clinical practice.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis for patients with presumptive SRA who tested negative for both rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, through an ADP imaging-based, that is a standard clinical practice in our center.

Advances in imaging technologies for the assessment of peripheral neuropathies in rheumatoid arthritis.

Peripheral neuropathy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a maladaptive autoimmune response that may cause chronic pain and disability. Nerve conduction studies are the routine method performed when rheumatologists presume its presence. However, this approach is invasive, may not reveal subtle malfunctions in the early stages of the disease, and does not expose abnormalities in structures surrounding the nerves and muscles, limiting the possibility of a timely diagnosis.

Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated in a Disease Management Program: Real-World Results.

Background: Care models can affect the clinical outcome of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

Objective: We aimed to compare how an innovative model of a rheumatoid arthritis disease-management program can improve the clinical outcomes of patients compared to a conventional assessment approach.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of real-world data from clinical records of a cohort of 5078 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis who were followed up at the Center of Excellence in Rheumatoid Arthritis vs the clinical outcomes reported in the Colombian National Registry of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Therapeutic Potential of Ultrasound Neuromodulation in Decreasing Neuropathic Pain: Clinical and Experimental Evidence.

Background: For more than seven decades, ultrasound has been used as an imaging and diagnostic tool. Today, new technologies, such as focused ultrasound (FUS) neuromodulation, have revealed some innovative, potential applications. However, those applications have been barely studied to deal with neuropathic pain (NP), a cluster of chronic pain syndromes with a restricted response to conventional pharmaceuticals.

Computer-aided diagnosis in rheumatic diseases using ultrasound: an overview.

Clinical evaluation of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases through images is a challenge for the beginner rheumatologist since image diagnosis is an expert task with a long learning curve. The aim of this work was to present a narrative review on the main ultrasound computer-aided diagnosis systems that may help clinicians thanks to the progress made in the application of artificial intelligence techniques. We performed a literature review searching for original articles in seven repositories, from 1970 to 2019, and identified 11 main methods currently used in ultrasound computer-aided diagnosis systems.

Hypouricemia: what the practicing rheumatologist should know about this condition.

We presented an update in the field of hypouricemia, which is defined as a serum urate concentration of < 2 mg/dL (119 μmol/L), for the practicing rheumatologist, who usually is the consulting physician in cases of disorders of urate metabolism. We performed a narrative review through a literature search for original and review articles in the field of human hypouricemia published between January 1950 and July 2018. We divided the etiology of hypouricemia into two main categories: those associated with a decrease in urate production and those promoting the elimination of urate via the kidneys.

Central Nervous System Mechanisms of Nausea in Gastroparesis: An fMRI-Based Case-Control Study.

Background/aims: Nausea is a major complaint of gastroparesis (GP), and the pathophysiology of this condition is poorly understood. Therefore, this study utilized fMRI to investigate the possible central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms of nausea in 10 GP patients versus 8 healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: Nausea severity was assessed on a 0-10 scale and presented as mean ± SD.

Pan-American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) capillaroscopy study group consensus for the format and content of the report in capillaroscopy in rheumatology.

Objective: The aim of this work was to produce a consensus-based report for capillaroscopy in rheumatology to be used in daily clinical practice.

Methods: A written Delphi questionnaire regarding capillaroscopy report was developed from a literature review and expert consensus. The Delphi questionnaire was sent to an international panel including 25 rheumatologists experts in capillaroscopy, asking them to rate their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement.

Barriers towards effective pharmacovigilance systems of biosimilars in rheumatology: A Latin American survey.

Purpose: This review summarises the current status of regulatory guidelines for the approval of biosimilars in Latin America and highlights the main barriers to effective pharmacovigilance in this region. We also report results from a survey of Latin American rheumatologists assessing their understanding of prescribing biosimilars and the pharmacovigilance of these drugs.

Methods: We reviewed the current guidelines for the regulatory approval of biosimilars and barriers to effective pharmacovigilance in Latin American countries.

Challenges for social media editors in rheumatology journals: an outlook.

Social media has become a key component of contemporary medicine, and the rheumatology subspecialty is not an exemption. We found that just six of the 40 key peer-reviewed rheumatology journals have found it sensible to incorporate the new appointment of a Social Media Editor-or a similar designation-into their Editorial Boards. We propose that the role of a social media editor is a trinomial: not only a technological work to promote digital engagement but also an activity of ethical guidance and a cultural challenge dealing with worldwide cultural and mindset diversity.

Mexican rheumatology: where do we stand?

The aim of this review was to provide an overall overview of the past, present, and future situations and main challenges that are facing Mexican Rheumatology as a medical subspecialty in the context of their national healthcare system, where a deficit of workforce at the national level coexists with a shortage of specialists in the less-developed southern states of the country and a great surplus of professionals within large metropolitan areas. We also analyzed the prevalence and burden of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs), the structural composition and distribution of Mexican Rheumatology, and the clinical profile of the Mexican Rheumatologist. Last, we examined comorbidities, education and training programs and one scenario for Mexican Rheumatology wherein the principal main threats and opportunities are determined.

Ultrasound of sacroiliac joints in spondyloarthritis: a systematic review.

Ultrasound (US) is an accessible imaging technique with a possible role to diagnose active sacroiliitis, so this technique is projected as a promising diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of SpA. We analyse the available evidence about the use of US as a diagnostic tool in sacroiliitis in patients with SpA, by a systemic review of the literature fulfilling OMERACT criteria. A systematic literature search for original articles was carried out using four databases (Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science).