Rheumatological Adverse Events Following Immunotherapy for Cancer.

: The occurrence of rheumatological side effects in a patient after receiving immunotherapy for cancer is becoming increasingly common. Oncologists often fail to diagnose and refer affected patients to rheumatologists. This paper presents the various rheumatological adverse events that occur after immunotherapy in patients as well as their treatment and evolution.

Musculoskeletal adverse reactions after immunotherapy for cancer: A case series.

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) including antibodies targeting cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 and programmed cell death 1 have been shown to be effective in the treatment of certain types of cancer. The benefit of these therapies is to prolong life expectancy in the case of metastatic malignancies.

Risk of active tuberculosis in patients with inflammatory arthritis receiving TNF inhibitors: a look beyond the baseline tuberculosis screening protocol.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major concern in patients receiving TNF inhibitors (TNFi). This study aimed to assess the incidence of active TB and the efficacy of TB prevention measures used over the years, and to determine risk factors for developing TB, in a single-centre cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) receiving TNFi. Data of all patients in whom treatment with TNFi was initiated in our rheumatology clinic until December 1st 2014 have been retrospectively analysed.

Tenosynovitis US scoring systems follow synovitis and clinical scoring systems in RA and are responsive to change after biologic therapy.

Aims: To investigate by ultrasonography (US) in a cohort of active RA patients starting biologic therapy the responsiveness of tenosynovitis of wrist and hands compared to the responsiveness of synovitis in a 6 month period follow-up, to compare the responsiveness of finger flexor tenosynovitis with the responsiveness of wrist extensor tenosynovitis and to describe the subclinical synovitis and tenosynovitis in RA patients in clinical remission.

Material And Methods: Fifty seven patients with active RA starting biologic therapy were included. Clinical, laboratory, and US evaluations were performed at baseline, 1, and 6 months.

Development of a prognostic score for work disability in Romanian patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Purpose: To develop a prognostic score for predicting work disability (WD) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) as strong indicator for poor vocational rehabilitation.

Method: A cross-sectional study was performed in a group of 170 patients with AS, 120 work disabled and 50 still employed. The variables strongly associated with WD were quantified (scored 0-30) - abnormalities of: anterior-posterior radiograph of pelvis, lateral cervical spine radiograph and lung function tests, certain work factors (occupation, physical strain and microclimate), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Mobility Index and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index tests.

Inter & intra-observer reliability of grading ultrasound videoclips with hand pathology in rheumatoid arthritis by using non- sophisticated internet tools (LUMINA study).

Aim: To evaluate the inter- and intraobserver agreement of a group of European rheumatologist ultrasonographers in grading musculoskeletal ultrasound videoclips posted on the Internet by using a non-sophisticated electronic environment.

Methods: Forty short movie clips (less than 30 secs) were made available over the Internet to all participants. Normal and pathological RA hand joints and tendons were included in the movie clips.

Trends of rheumatoid arthritis monitorization in Romania.

Background: rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with the loss of overall functionality, which leads to substantial economic losses. Second line agents used in RA treatment require careful monitorization in terms of efficiency and tolerability.

Objective: trends, predictive factors and characteristics of clinical, biological and radiological RA monitorization in a cross sectional observational cohort study, conducted on over 206 patients in Romania, with a 12 months follow up (December 2007 - December 2008).

Rheumatoid arthritis: travelling biological era a Romanian X-ray population.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with loss of overall functionality of the locomotion system and it is connected with substantial economic losses.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and healthcare resource utilization characteristics and to analyze the correlations in a cross-sectional sample of 206 patients in Romania.

Method: RA cases have been enrolled from southern and western part of the country, covering a surface of 23 counties.

Correlation between different components of synovial fluid and pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases.

Unlabelled: Biochemical analysis of synovial fluid is important in orientating the diagnosis of joint effusions. Its composition reflects the metabolic status of synovial tissue correlated with different rheumatic pathologies. The aim of this study was to compare the information provided by usual biochemical tests and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) analysis of synovial fluid, in order to detect potential characteristics of joint effusion correlated to the pathogenesis of arthritis.

A Romanian instrument to facilitate bone density measurement indication in postmenopausal women.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study is to find and valid a clinical instrument which identifies the women that need a bone density measurement because of their high risk for osteoporosis.

Material And Method: A number of 356 women were enrolled in this study. They filled in a study formular and their bone density was measured by DEXA exam (dual energy X-ray absorbtiometry) in the lumbar spine and proximal femur.