Publications by authors named "Vicky Tai"
Purpose Of Review: Dysphagia is a complication of several autoimmune rheumatic diseases and otorhinolaryngologists are likely to be involved in the assessment and management of patients with such conditions. This review provides an update on rheumatic diseases that may cause swallowing impairment, with particular focus on the epidemiology, pathophysiology and management of dysphagia in these conditions.
Recent Findings: Dysphagia is a common complication of the following rheumatic diseases: idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Background: There is uncertainty about the optimal time to start urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in the setting of a gout flare. The aim was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of ULT initiation during a gout flare.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA methodology.
Purpose Of Review: This review gives an overview of recently published articles on COVID-19 and gout.
Recent Findings: People with gout are likely to be at an increased risk of poor outcomes after COVID-19 infection due to comorbid cardiometabolic conditions. The effects of chronic hyperuricemia on trained immunity, and the hyperinflammatory state induced by gout itself may also play a role.
Autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa is caused by mutations in over 40 genes, one of which is the ceramide kinase-like gene (). We present a case series of six patients from six unrelated families diagnosed with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD) and with two variants in recruited from a multi-ethnic British population. A retrospective review of clinical data in these patients was performed and included colour fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (AF) imaging, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), visual fields and electroretinogram (ERG) assessment where available.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To examine whether urate-associated genetic variants differ in their influence on gout risk according to body mass index (BMI).
Methods: This research was conducted using the UK Biobank Resource (n = 358,728). Participants were divided into 3 groups: BMI <25 kg/m (low/normal), BMI ≥25 kg/m -<30 kg/m (overweight), and BMI ≥30 kg/m (obese).
Genetic advances in gout: potential applications in clinical practice.
Curr Opin Rheumatol
March 2019
Purpose Of Review: Many novel genetic associations in the field of hyperuricaemia and gout have been described recently. This review discusses advances in gout genetics and their potential clinical applications.
Recent Findings: Genome-wide association studies have identified approximately 30 serum urate-associated loci, some of which represent targets for drug development in gout.
Aim: Behcet's syndrome is a rare chronic multisystemic vasculitis of unknown aetiology, is unpredictable and can cause life-threatening complications. This qualitative study aims to explore the experiences of patients living with Behcet's syndrome in New Zealand.
Methods: Eight English-speaking patients participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews about their experiences of living with Behcet's syndrome.
Objective: To determine whether increasing calcium intake from dietary sources affects bone mineral density (BMD) and, if so, whether the effects are similar to those of calcium supplements.
Design: Random effects meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Data Sources: Ovid Medline, Embase, Pubmed, and references from relevant systematic reviews.
Objective: To examine the evidence underpinning recommendations to increase calcium intake through dietary sources or calcium supplements to prevent fractures.
Design: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials and observational studies of calcium intake with fracture as an endpoint. Results from trials were pooled with random effects meta-analyses.
Background: The role of observational studies in informing clinical practice is debated, and high profile examples of discrepancies between the results of observational studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have intensified that debate. We systematically reviewed findings from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), one of the longest and largest observational studies, to assess the number and strength of the associations reported and to determine if they have been confirmed in RCTs.
Methods: We reviewed NHS publication abstracts from 1978-2012, extracted information on associations tested, and graded the strength of the reported effect sizes.