Neurosarcoidosis-Induced Winging Scapula: Efficacy of Infliximab Treatment in Addressing Multifaceted Challenges.

Sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous disease primarily affecting the respiratory and lymphatic systems, can rarely manifest as neurosarcoidosis either in isolation or alongside other systemic symptoms. Here, we describe the case of a 45-year-old male with a history of recurrent sinusitis refractory to antibiotics, who presented to the emergency department with sinus congestion and dysphagia. Clinical examination revealed left lower motor neuron facial palsy and enlarged submandibular salivary glands.

Saline Breast Implant Associated With Inflammatory Arthritis and Positive Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA): A Case Report.

Breast implants, whether silicone or saline-filled, have a silicone shell and have been used for decades. Studies have shown an association between silicon with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, progressive systemic sclerosis, and vasculitis. However, controversy and inconsistency have been pervasive in the literature with respect to the role of breast implants in the development of autoimmune diseases.

Live Patient Encounters: A Perspective From Second-Year Medical Students.

Background Interactive patient cases have been shown to be a valuable resource in medical education. Previous studies have demonstrated that using patients as teachers can help students improve clinical reasoning and have educational benefits; however, there is limited research on student feedback on patients as teachers. The objective of this study is to evaluate second-year medical students' (MS2s) perceptions of patient encounters during the teaching of the Skin and Musculoskeletal System Course (BMS 6635).

Diet as a Risk Factor for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease that involves primarily synovial tissues and typically affects women more than men. An exact cause has yet to be identified, but the disease is thought to manifest due to both genetic and environmental factors. The predominant theory is that RA is an autoimmune disease with environmental triggers.

Achenbach Syndrome: A Case Series.

Achenbach syndrome, also known as "paroxysmal finger haematoma", is a rare, benign, self-limiting condition with unknown etiology that results in an acute onset swelling and pain, and subsequently blue discoloration of the fingers and sometimes the feet. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is not entirely clear, but intermittent spontaneous hematoma formation is reported as its characteristic symptom. Achenbach syndrome is more predominant in the female population.

Anti-TNF-α agents Modulate SARS-CoV-2 Receptors and Increase the Risk of Infection Through Notch-1 Signaling.

Although millions of patients with underlining conditions are treated primarily with anti-TNF-α agents, little is known about the safety of this standard therapy during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this study, we investigated the effect of anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibodies on the cellular entry mechanism of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and increasing the risk of COVID-19 development. We focused on the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2), type II transmembrane serine proteases (TMPRSS2)/TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE) ratio.

Prevalence of Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Disturbance, Fibromyalgia, Obesity, and Gastroesophageal Disease in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases.

Background: Patients with rheumatologic disorders often have comorbidities that complicate their psychological well-being. In this study, we looked at 216 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and Sjogren's syndrome (SS) to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, fibromyalgia (FM), obesity (BMI greater than 23), and gastroesophageal disease (GERD) and the correlation between FM, BMI, disease activity measure, known as Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3).

Methods: Study participants were 216 rheumatology patients seen at the UCF Pegasus Health Clinic from November 2011 to May 2014 with one or more of the following diseases: RA, SS, SLE, or PsA.

Polymorphisms in () are Linked to Infection and Osteoporosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

We previously discovered that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in (T-cell negative-regulators) occur in 78% of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), along with (MAP) infection in 33% of patients. In Crohn's disease, we reported that SNPs in and receptors () benefited intracellular MAP-survival, increased infection, and elevated inflammatory response mimicking the poor response to anti-TNF treatment in some patients. Here, we studied the frequency and effects of SNPs in in RA including gene expression, MAP infection, and osteoporosis marker levels in blood (54 RA and 48 healthy controls).

Role of polymorphisms in pathophysiology of Crohn's disease.

Aim: To establish the relationship of () polymorphisms and mycobacterial infections in Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: All 133 subjects' blood samples were genotyped for nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in using TaqMan™ genotyping, while the effect of the SNPs on and γ gene expression was determined using RT-PCR. Detection of subspecies (MAP) gene was done by nPCR after DNA extraction from the isolated leukocytes of each subjects' blood samples.

Polymorphisms in Are Linked to Hyper-Proliferative T-Cells and Susceptibility to in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

A shared genetic pre-disposition, chronic inflammation, and treatment with similar biologics between Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Crohn's disease (CD) have intrigued us to investigate whether the two disorders share trigger association or possible causation. We hypothesized earlier that Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the negative regulators ( lead to a dysregulated immune response, susceptibility to environmental triggers, and continued apoptosis as seen in chronic inflammation in RA and CD. To test the hypothesis, peripheral leukocytes samples from 132 consented subjects were genotyped for 9 SNPs in /22 using TaqMan™ genotyping.

Developing a Continuous Quality Improvement Assessment Using a Patient-Centered Approach in Optimizing Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Control.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-organ, autoimmune disease in which patients lose self-tolerance and develop immune complexes which deposit systemically causing multi-organ damage and inflammation. Patients often experience unpredictable flares of symptoms with poorly identified triggers. Literature suggests exogenous exposures may contribute to flares in symptoms.