Ultrasound Doppler and tenosynovial fluid analysis in tenosynovitis.

Objective: To assess Doppler ultrasound (US) and tenosynovial fluid (TSF) characteristics in tenosynovitis within common rheumatic conditions, as well as their diagnostic utility.

Methods: Subjects with tenosynovitis underwent Doppler US and US-guided TSF aspiration for white cell count (WCC) and crystal analysis. Tenosynovial Doppler scores (DS) were semiquantitatively graded.

Pathogenesis of dermatomyositis: role of cytokines and interferon.

Dermatomyositis is a systemic autoimmune disease that primarily affects skeletal muscle, skin, and the lungs. Dermatomyositis is characterized by autoantibodies, tissue inflammation, parenchymal cell damage and death, and vasculopathy. This review focuses on recent advances regarding the role of cytokines and interferon in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Vasculitis in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multiorgan connective tissue disease characterized by autoantibody production and fibroproliferative stenosis of the microvasculature. The vascoluopathy associated with SSc is considered to be noninflammatory, yet frank vasculitis can complicate SSc, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Here, we have reviewed the literature for reports of small-, medium-, and large-vessel vasculitis occurring in SSc.

Prevalence and clinical demographics of cerebral salt wasting in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Hyponatremia is a frequent complication following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and is commonly attributed either to the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) or cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSW). The object of this study is to elucidate the clinical demographics and sequelae of hyponatremia due to CSW in subjects with aneurysmal SAH. Retrospective chart review of patients >18 years with aneurysmal SAH admitted between January 2004 and July 2007 was performed.

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and their association with migraine headache.

Objectives: To determine the association between the severity of premenstrual (PMS) symptoms and headache outcome measures during natural menstrual cycles and after medical oophorectomy.

Background: Premenstrual syndrome may occur in 64% of those with pure menstrual migraine and 33% of those with menstrually related migraine. Few past studies have examined the relationship between the severity of PMS symptoms and migraine headache.

Defining the relationship between ovarian hormones and migraine headache.

Objective: (1) To determine whether the attack characteristics of migraine differ between different intervals of the menstrual cycle; (2) To ascertain whether the "rate of change,""magnitude of change," or "total burden" of urinary hormone metabolites correlates with headaches outcome measures during different intervals of the menstrual cycle.

Background: The mechanisms through which migraines are influenced by ovarian hormones remain unclear. No previous studies until now have identified "hormonally defined" time intervals within the female menstrual cycle and compared headache outcome measures among these intervals in female migraineurs.

Urinary beta-FSH subunit concentrations in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a biomarker for ovarian reserve.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop an integrative assessment of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion and to validate these measurements in a population of perimenopausal (PERI) and postmenopausal (POST) women.

Design: In this cross-sectional study, 170 POST and 20 PERI women collected first-void morning urine samples and had a single blood sample drawn on the same day. For comparison, 11 midreproductive-aged women had urine samples collected for one menstrual cycle.