Publications by authors named "Jean-Francois Budzik"
Article Synopsis
- This study compares two types of transcutaneous neurostimulation (TENS) for treating chronic radicular pain: conventional high-frequency low-intensity current (c-TENS) vs. mixed current (m-TENS), which combines c-TENS with low-frequency high-intensity current.
- Seventy-four patients with chronic neuropathic pain participated in the trial and received both treatments in a randomized order over a month; the primary outcome measured was pain level using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
- Results showed no significant difference in pain relief between c-TENS and m-TENS, with similar tolerance levels for both, indicating that there’s no clear preference for either treatment method in managing chronic neuropathic radicular pain.
Objectives: To determine the clinical associations and predictive value of two thresholds of negative dual-energy CT (DECT) for MSU crystal deposition in gout patients initiating urate lowering therapy (ULT), and identify which threshold is more clinically relevant.
Methods: Patients from the CRYSTALILLE cohort with a diagnosis of gout naive to ULT with baseline DECT scans of knees and feet were selected. Two thresholds of positivity for DECT detection of MSU crystal deposition were considered (<0.
Background: Acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis causes intense joint pain mainly affecting older people. Because guidance and evidence remain scarce, management of this disease relies on expert opinion. We therefore aimed to compare the safety and short-term equivalence of low-dose colchicine with oral prednisone in older patients with acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To examine factors influencing the kinetics of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal dissolution measured with dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) during follow-up of patients with gout.
Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of gout with baseline knees and feet DECT scans exhibiting MSU crystal volumes ≥0.1 cm and at least one follow-up DECT were included.
Objectives: To assess whether the extent of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition estimated by ultrasound could predict renal and cardiometabolic events during urate-lowering therapy (ULT).
Methods: A prospective study on gout patients from two referral centers initiating ULT who underwent baseline ultrasound and were followed for 1 year. Ultrasound scans assessed six joints for double-contour (DC) signs and tophi.
Objective: To characterize dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) changes depicting hyaline cartilage changes in gout patients with and without osteoarthritis (OA) and in comparators without gout.
Design: Patients with suspected crystal-associated arthropathy were enrolled and underwent bilateral DECT scans of the knees. Standardized regions of interest were defined in the femorotibial hyaline cartilage.
Objective: To develop definitions for imaging features being considered as potential classification criteria for calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease, additional to clinical and laboratory criteria, and to compile example images of CPPD on different imaging modalities.
Methods: The American College of Rheumatology and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology CPPD classification criteria Imaging Advisory Group (IAG) and Steering Committee drafted definitions of imaging features that are characteristic of CPPD on conventional radiography (CR), conventional computed tomography (CT), dual-energy CT (DECT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An anonymous expert survey was undertaken by a 35-member Combined Expert Committee, including all IAG members.
Introduction: The too-long anterior process (TLAP) increases mechanical stress on the hindfoot and could lead to osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) by localized hyper-pressure. The purpose of this study is to investigate an association between TLAP and OLT in children.
Methods: This is a retrospective, multicenter, case-control study conducted between 2010 and 2020.
Dual-energy computed tomography in crystalline arthritis: knowns and unknowns.
Curr Opin Rheumatol
March 2022
Purpose Of Review: To give an overview of what can reasonably be considered as known about dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in crystal-related arthropathies, and what still needs to be explored.
Recent Findings: Recent studies suggest an overall superiority of DECT over ultrasound in gout in terms of sensitivity (89 vs. 84%) and specificity (91 vs.
Objective: To characterize peripheral vascular plaques color-coded as monosodium urate (MSU) deposition by dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) and assess their association with the overall soft-tissue MSU crystal burden.
Methods: Patients with suspected crystal arthropathies were prospectively included in the CRYSTALILLE inception cohort to undergo baseline knees and ankles/feet DECT scans; treatment-naive gout patients initiating treat-to-target urate-lowering therapy (ULT) underwent repeated DECT scans with concomitant serum urate level measurements at 6 and 12 months. We determined the prevalence of DECT-based vascular MSU-coded plaques in knee arteries, and assessed their association with the overall DECT volumes of soft-tissue MSU crystal deposition and coexistence of arterial calcifications.
Objective: To examine the accuracy of dual-energy CT (DECT) vs ultrasound or their combination for the diagnosis of gout.
Methods: Using prospectively collected data from an outpatient rheumatology clinic at a tertiary-care hospital, we examined the diagnostic accuracy of either modality alone or their combination, by anatomical site (feet/ankles and/or knees), for the diagnosis of gout. We used two standards: (i) demonstration of monosodium urate crystals in synovial fluid (gold), and (ii) modified (excluding DECT and ultrasound) 2015 ACR-EULAR gout classification criteria (silver).
Objectives: To determine whether the volume of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition measured with dual-energy CT (DECT) is predictive of short-term mortality and development of cardiovascular comorbidities and diabetes mellitus.
Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of gout having had baseline DECT scans of their knees and feet to measure the volume of MSU crystal deposition were included to undergo a follow-up visit. Risk factors for mortality and a composite variable (onset of any cardio-metabolic event) were examined using multivariable Cox models.
Objective: To assess the ability of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in identifying early calcium crystal deposition in menisci and articular cartilage of the knee, depending on the presence/absence of chondrocalcinosis seen on conventional CT.
Methods: One hundred thirty-two knee DECT scans from patients with suspected crystal-associated arthropathy were reviewed and assigned to a calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) group (n = 50) or a control group (n = 82). Five DECT attenuation parameters were measured in preset regions of interest (ROIs) in menisci and articular cartilage and compared between groups using linear mixed models with adjustment for confounders.
Purpose: To describe bone perfusion and adiposity beyond the necrotic zone with quantitative MRI techniques in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH).
Method: In this cross-sectional multicentre study, we recruited patients suffering from late-stage ONFH or hip osteoarthritis. Hip MRI included quantitative MRI sequences: chemical-shift imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.
Background: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is being considered as a non-invasive diagnostic and characterization tool in calcium crystal-associated arthropathies. Our objective was to assess the potential of DECT in distinguishing between basic calcium phosphate (BCP) and calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal deposition in and around joints .
Methods: A total of 13 patients with calcific periarthritis and 11 patients with crystal-proven CPPD were recruited prospectively to undergo DECT scans.
Association of Specific Comorbidities with Monosodium Urate Crystal Deposition in Urate-Lowering Therapy-Naive Gout Patients: A Cross-Sectional Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Study.
J Clin Med
May 2020
Article Synopsis
- Study aimed to identify factors linked to the volume of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposits in knees and feet of patients with gout who haven't received urate-lowering therapy.
- Conducted a multicenter study using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) to analyze the scans of 91 ULT-naive gout patients, while also collecting demographic and clinical data to assess their relationship with MSU crystal volume.
- Results showed that longer gout duration, diabetes mellitus, and chronic heart failure were significant factors associated with higher MSU crystal deposits, highlighting that certain comorbidities may have a greater influence than the duration of gout itself.
The potency of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the exact extent of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine if the volume of necrosis assessed with MRI accurately reflects the volume of architectural mineral alterations in osteonecrosis of the femoral head by comparison with high-resolution microfocus X-ray computed tomography (HR-μCT). Fourteen male patients aged 53 years [46.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Bone marrow adiposity (BMA) is a significant yet overlooked tissue that can affect bone strength, particularly in conditions like anorexia nervosa, which the study focused on by examining 40 underweight and 36 weight-recovered anorexic women and comparing them to 10 healthy controls.
- The study used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure bone marrow fat fraction (BMFF) and apparent lipid unsaturation levels (aLUL) across different hip regions, finding that both BMFF and aLUL values were significantly altered in anorexic patients compared to controls, particularly at the femoral neck.
- Notably, the research revealed a complex interaction between BMA, body fat percentage, and bone mineral density, with BMA showing
Objectives: FLAIR-DWI mismatch is an effective method to select eligible wake-up stroke (WUS) patients for intravenous thrombolysis, but shows limitations in the case of subtle FLAIR hyperintensities. T2 mapping is a quantitative method, directly generated from synthetic MRI, which provides T2 relaxation times. We aimed to assess the correlation between T2 values and onset time in acute stroke patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study investigated variations in semi-quantitative and permeability parameters during DCE-MRI of normal striated muscles in 44 participants (20 women and 24 men) with a mean age of 39.1 years.
- Two types of regions of interest (ROI) were analyzed in twelve different muscles, showing good intra-observer agreement but poor inter-observer agreement on measurement accuracy.
- Significant inter-individual variation was found in muscle perfusion parameters, potentially leading to errors in interpreting muscle DCE-MRI studies, indicating a need for improved acquisition protocols and post-processing methods.
Background: Predicting the risk of flares in patients with gout is a challenge and the link between urate burden and the risk of gout flare is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine if the extent of monosodium urate (MSU) burden measured with dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) and ultrasonography (US) is predictive of the risk of gout flares.
Methods: This prospective observational study recruited patients with gout to undergo MSU burden assessment with DECT (volume of deposits) and US (double contour sign) scans of the knees and feet.