The Relationship Between Tc-Pertechnetate Hand Perfusion Scintigraphy and Nailfold Capillaroscopy in Systemic Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the possible relationship between Tc-pertechnetate hand perfusion scintigraphy (HPS) and nailfold capillaroscopy (NC) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Patients And Methods: The study group consisted of 25 SSc patients (6 males; 19 females; mean age 54.2±9.

Long-term effects of immunosuppressive therapy on lung function in scleroderma patients.

The study aims to analyze the effects of induction treatment with cyclophosphamide (CYC) pulse therapy followed by maintenance treatment with other mild immunosuppressive agents on lung function in scleroderma (SSc) patients. Thirty patients with SSc (mean age 52 years, mean disease duration < 2 years) with forced vital capacity (FVC) ≤ 80% and/or diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLco) ≤ 70% were included. Monthly CYC pulses were given for 6 months (induction treatment), followed by 3-monthly maintenance pulses for the next 18 months, and during the next 5 years patients received other mild immunosupressive therapy brought by the competent rheumatologist.

Matrix Metalloproteinases-3 Baseline Serum Levels in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients without Initial Radiographic Changes: A Two-Year Ultrasonographic Study.

Objective: To investigate the association of high baseline serum levels of metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3) with structural damage to hand and feet joints, assessed by ultrasonography (US), in patients with early, treatment-naïve rheumatoid arthritis (RA), without initial X-ray-visible erosions, during 24 months follow-up.

Methods: Sixty-three early RA (European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology 2010), disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs/glucocorticoid naïve patients (mean age 53.4 ± 14.

Cross-cultural validation of the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale in Serbian community-dwelling women at risk for osteoporotic fracture.

Objective: Cross-cultural validation of the Serbian version of the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES).

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 257 women aged 65 years and above who were referred for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry examination at the Railway Healthcare Institute in Belgrade, Serbia, between January and April 2016. Data collection comprised of a sociodemographic questionnaire and Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF) questionnaire, and data related to fractures, level of physical activity, use of medications that can increase the risk of falls, and frequency of falls in the past 12 months.

Women with silicone breast implants and autoimmune inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants: description of three patients and a critical review of the literature.

Silicone has been widely used in the manufacture of medical implants. It is well tolerated in most cases. However, in this paper we report the cases of three women who developed autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA syndrome), namely with silicone breast implants.

Adaptation and validation of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL) questionnaire for use in Serbia.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most prevalent inflammatory rheumatic diseases. As it is a chronic and a lifelong destructive disease, the aim of the treatment is to reduce disability and improve quality of life. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL) questionnaire is a patient-reported outcome measure, specific to RA.

Diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon by Tc-pertechnetate hand perfusion scintigraphy: a pilot study.

We assess the usefulness of Tc-pertechnetate hand perfusion scintigraphy in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). The study population consisted of 18 patients with primary RP, 25 patients with secondary RP within systemic sclerosis (SSc), and ten healthy individuals. Gamma camera dynamic first-pass study during the first 60 s and a static scintigraphy after 5 min were recorded following a bolus injection of Tc-pertechnetate via a cubital vein.

Profile of rheumatology patients willing to report adverse drug reactions: bias from selective reporting.

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have a significant impact on human health and health care costs. The aims of our study were to determine the profile of rheumatology patients willing to report ADRs and to identify bias in such a reporting system.

Methods: Semi-intensive ADRs reporting system was used in our study.

Multiple Major and Minor Anomalies Associated With Klippel-Feil Syndrome: A Case Report.

Klippel-Feil syndrome is defined as congenital fusion of two or more cervical vertebrae. In this article, we report a 55-year-old male patient with one-year history of neck pain, headaches, and one episode of syncope after a severe trauma. X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging of cervical spine revealed fused vertebral bodies of C2-C5.

Fatal sulfasalazine-induced eosinophilic myocarditis in a patient with periodic fever syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to report the first case of drug-induced eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) in a patient with hereditary periodic fever syndrome (PFS).

Case: A 28-year-old man with hyper-IgD syndrome, one of the PFS, developed a sulfasalazine-induced systemic hypersensitivity reaction complicated by EM. Thirteen days after sulfasalazine introduction, which had been given for arthritis, the patient developed fever, facial/neck edema, rash and cardiogenic shock, and died within 8 h.

Lower extremity lipedema, upper extremity lipodystrophy and severe calcinosis complicating juvenile dermatomyositis.

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare but complex and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease of childhood. Significant proportions of patients have residual weakness, muscle atrophy, joint contractures, and calcinosis. Recently, new clinical findings, such as lipodystrophy accompanied with increased fat deposition in certain areas, have been reported.

The value of pattern capillary changes and antibodies to predict the development of systemic sclerosis in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

The aim of this study is to assess the prognostic value of major provisional criteria for the development of systemic sclerosis (SSc) in primary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) patients. We retrospectively studied the chart of 497 patients with primary RP in whom anticentromere (ACA) and antitopoisomerase I (ATA) antibodies tests and a capillary reading were available. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratios (LHR+), negative likelihood ratios (LHR-), odds ratio (OR), and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of those criteria were assessed to predict the development of SSc.

The relationship among hypertension, antihypertensive medications, and osteoporosis: a narrative review.

Osteoporosis and hypertension are two frequent diseases among the aging population that share a similar etiopathology and often coexist. Moreover, treatment of hypertension affects bone mineral density and, therefore, can worsen osteoporosis. This narrative review considers the influence of the main etiologic factors that contribute to the development of hypertension and osteoporosis and examines the effect of the most often used antihypertensives on bones.

Late appearance and exacerbation of primary Raynaud's phenomenon attacks can predict future development of connective tissue disease: a retrospective chart review of 3,035 patients.

To assess the prognostic value of the age at onset of Raynaud's (RP) and of a history of exacerbation of RP attacks for the development of connective tissue disease (CTD) in patients initially found to have primary Raynaud's. 3,035 patients with primary RP (2,702 women and 333 men) were followed for an average of 4.8 years (range from 1 to 10 years).

Validation of the osteoporosis quality of life questionnaire QUALEFFO-41 for the Serbian population.

Background: Vertebral fractures could lead to reduced physical, social and mental functioning, and loss of personal independence. Therefore, during the treatment of osteoporosis, it has become necessary to examine the changes in everyday functioning, well-being and health related quality of life (HRQOL). To that effect, this study aims to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Serbian version of Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41) for patients with vertebral fractures.

Is there a difference in systemic lupus erythematosus with and without Raynaud's phenomenon?

The aim of this study was to assess the association between Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and specific capillaroscopic findings in patients with SLE and particular clinical manifestations of the disease. A total of 79 patients with SLE were included in the study: 44 of them (43 women) with RP and 35 (32 women) age-, sex-, and disease-duration-matched patients with SLE without RP. Demographic variables, clinical manifestations, laboratory and nailfold capillaroscopy findings were compared between the two groups.

Systemic lupus erythematosus progressing to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma complicated by fatal hemophagocytic syndrome: case report.

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) may be provoked by infections, malignancies and autoimmune diseases. We report on a 56-year-old woman with long-lasting systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who presented with malar rash, inflammatory livedo reticularis, fever, weight loss, pancytopenia and mild splenomegaly with cervical lymphadenopathy. She had criteria for SLE flare-up (malar rash, high antinuclear antibody titer, complement consumption, pathological urinary sediment, and retinal vasculitis).

Development of a shorter version of the osteoporosis knowledge assessment tool.

The aim of the authors of this study was to develop a short version of the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool to be used for the target population of young adult Serbian females as an easily implemented add-on questionnaire. The 20-item Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool was translated and culturally adapted using the Principles of Good Practice for the Translation and Cultural Adaptation Process for Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures. The validation study was conducted on a sample of 250 female students studying at the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Belgrade, during a two-month period (November-December 2010).

Scleroderma pattern of nailfold capillary changes as predictive value for the development of a connective tissue disease: a follow-up study of 3,029 patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

To assess the prognostic value of scleroderma pattern of nailfold capillary changes for the development of connective tissue diseases (CTD) in subjects with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). The study included 3,029 consecutive patients with primary RP who had been followed at 6-month intervals during the mean of 4.8 years.

Pregnancy-associated spinal osteoporosis treated with bisphosphonates: long-term follow-up of maternal and infants outcome.

Pregnancy-associated spinal osteoporosis (PPSO) is a rare condition characterized by severe back pain occurring near the end of the first pregnancy or shortly afterward. The aim of this report is to present a 12-year follow-up of a patient with PPSO. Also, the outcomes of patient's two pregnancies and her infants after long-term treatment with bisphosphonates are assessed.

Factors associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis: a case-control study of Belgrade women.

The aim of this study was to investigate factors related to osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in Belgrade. A case-control study was conducted during 2006-2007. The study group consisted of 100 newly diagnosed osteoporosis patients and 100 age-matched controls (± 2 years).

[The assesment of diastolic function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune chronic disease. In comparison with the overall population, mortality and morbidity of RA patients are increased due to cardiovascular diseases. There is increasing evidence that autoimmunity mechanisms are included in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.

Efficacy and safety of once monthly ibandronate treatment in patients with reduced bone mineral density--ESTHER study.

Introduction: Osteoporosis usually affects post-menopausal women. Treatment is individualized and requires an approach that will provide long-term compliance to prevent fractures. Studies conducted so far suggest inadequate compliance and persistence in weekly bisphosphonate treatment (under 43% after a year of treatment).

Supplementation with bio-calcium from shells Pinctada maxima in postmenopausal women with decreased mineral bone density--pilot study.

Introduction: Treatment of osteoporosis, in addition to a specific antiresorptive or anabolic treatment, requires supplementation with calcium and vitamin D. Widespread cultivation of pearl shells has made pearls available for commercial use for a very reasonable price. The main chemical compound of pearls from shells Pinctada maxima is calcium-carbonate (CaCO3).