Reasons for Dermatology Consultations in Nursing Homes and the Estimated Potential of Teledermatology as a Triage Tool.

Considering the limited availability of dermatologists to perform live consultations in nursing homes, teledermatology could be used as a triage tool for selection of cases for which live consultations are considered to be of added value compared with teledermatology. This prospective, multicentre observational study aimed to determine the reasons for dermatology consultations in nursing homes and the estimated value of teledermatology as a triage tool, including potential predictors. Skin tumours were the most common reason (n = 161/270; 59.

High-Dose Intravenous Pulse Methotrexate in Patients With Eosinophilic Fasciitis.

Importance: Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a connective tissue disorder in which conventional treatment leads to disappointing results in a proportion of patients. Therefore, we investigated high-dose intravenous (IV) pulse methotrexate (MTX) as a treatment for EF.

Objective: To examine safety and effects of monthly high-dose IV pulse MTX in EF.

Are ultrasonographic signs of inflammation predictors for response to intra-articular glucocorticoids in knee osteoarthritis?

Objectives: To investigate the predictive value of ultrasound (US) characteristics for the effect of intra-articular glucocorticoids in knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 62 patients with symptomatic knee OA (clinical knee OA criteria, pain>4 on a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS; 0-10)) received an intra-articular glucocorticoid injection (40 mg triamcinolone acetonide). Patients with NRS pain ≤4 at 4 weeks were defined as responders.

Association between serum levels of the proinflammatory protein S100A8/A9 and clinical and structural characteristics of patients with established knee, hip, and hand osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To explore the association between S100A8/A9 serum levels with clinical and structural characteristics of patients with established knee, hip, or hand osteoarthritis (OA).

Method: A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted with 162 OA patients. Measures for pain, stiffness, and function included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) questionnaire or the Australian Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand (AUSCAN) Index and for structural abnormalities, osteophytes and joint space narrowing grades.

Ultrasonographic analysis in knee osteoarthritis: evaluation of inter-observer reliability.

Objectives: Evidence for the validity of US in detecting structural joint pathology in OA is increasing. However, despite the rapidly emerging field of US in OA, few studies have reported on the inter-observer reliability of US to date. The objective of this study was to assess inter-observer reliability of ultrasonography (US) in the evaluation of specifically defined features in osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.