Patient-perceived flares in rheumatoid arthritis: A sub-analysis of the STRASS treatment tapering strategy trial.

Objectives: Patient's and physician's perspective can differ in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim was to define the concept of patient-reported flares.

Methods: Post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial of a step-down strategy in RA patients treated with anti-TNF, in DAS28-remission for ≥6 months, randomized to either "spacing" or "maintaining" anti-TNF.

Gait Speed and Decline in Gait Speed as Predictors of Incident Dementia.

Background: Slow gait is common in dementia, but it remains unknown whether the slowing happens many years prior to dementia onset. We therefore examined the relationship between slow baseline gait speed (GS), change in GS, and the hazard of incident dementia in a community dwelling of elderly people.

Methods: A total of 3,663 participants dementia-free at baseline (mean age, 73.

Adiponectin gene variants, adiponectin isoforms and cardiometabolic risk in type 2 diabetic patients.

Aims/introduction: The aim of the present study was to examine the associations of rs2241766 (+45T>G), rs1501299 (+276G>T), rs17300539 (-11391G>A) and rs182052 (-10069G>A) in the adiponectin (Ad) gene with adiponectin concentrations, and concomitantly the association of these variants with cardiometabolic risk in type 2 diabetic patients of African ancestry.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 patients was carried out. Concentrations of total, high (HMW), middle (MMW) and low (LMW) molecular weight adiponectin isoforms were measured.

Helicobacter pylori Infection in European children with gastro-duodenal ulcers and erosions.

Background: To analyze risk factors associated with gastro-duodenal ulcers and erosions in children.

Methods: Open, prospective, multicenter, case-control study carried out in 11 European countries in patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers/erosions and 2 age-matched controls each. Possible risk factors were recorded.

Outcomes after bronchoscopic procedures for primary tracheobronchial amyloidosis: retrospective study of 6 cases.

Respiratory amyloidosis is a rare disease which refers to localized aberrant extracellular protein deposits within the airways. Tracheobronchial amyloidosis (TBA) refers to the deposition of localized amyloid deposits within the upper airways. Treatments have historically focused on bronchoscopic techniques including debridement, laser ablation, balloon dilation, and stent placement.

Video-axillaroscopy: a new mini-invasive technique for surgical exploration of the axillary region.

Subclavicular lymph nodes are one of the deeper lymph node groups of the lymphatic network located in the axillary region. As its location is surrounded by vessels and nerves, biopsy of subclavicular lymph nodes is not possible without eye control. We describe a new, mini-invasive technique for accessing the thoracic outlet region.

A mediastinal germ cell tumor mimicking an ectopic pregnancy.

The objective is to report the case of a 36 year-old female with a primary mediastinal germ cell tumor mimicking an ectopic pregnancy. The patient under birth control pill presented, at seven weeks of amenorrhea, a β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) level of 850 UI and uterine vacuity with left lateral uterine heterogeneous mass but no bleeding and no pain. She received left adnexectomy, uterine curettage and further treatment by methotrexate because of persistent high β-hCG markers.

Is there a place for video-associated thoracoscopy for dissecting intramural haematoma of the oesophagus?

Spontaneous haematoma of the oesophagus is a rare cause of chest pain. We report the case of a 63-year-old female in whom spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus was suspected, but who was subsequently, found to have a dissecting intramural haematoma of the oesophagus. She successfully underwent mediastinal and thoracic drainage by right video-assisted thoracoscopy.

Pharmacokinetics of free ertapenem in critically ill septic patients: intermittent versus continuous infusion.

Background: The aim of this paper was to compare the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters of continuous (CI) and intermittent infusion (ITI) of ertapenem into critically ill patients with severe abdominal infections.

Methods: Twenty septic patients hospitalized in a university hospital intensive care unit were enrolled in the study. Half of the patients received ertapenem as an ITI 1 g bolus once daily, and the other half of the patients received the same dose via CI over 24 h following a 1-g loading dose.

Simultaneous determination of five systemic azoles in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

A simple, specific and automatable HPLC assay was developed for a simultaneous determination of systemic azoles (fluconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole and its metabolite hydroxyl-itraconazole, and ketoconazole) in plasma. The major advantage of this assay was sample preparation by a fully automatable solid phase extraction with Varian Plexa cartridges. C6-phenyl column was used for chromatographic separation, and UV detection was set at a wavelength of 260 nm.

Could bipolar vessel sealers prevent bile leaks after hepatectomy?

Background And Aims: The aim of this work was to test the feasibility of using a bipolar low thermal acting system inducing collagenic sealing but not protein coagulation to secure hepatic parenchyma cutting.

Materials And Methods: Thirty consecutive hepatectomies were carried out using kellyclasy plus ligatures and clips (controls), while the following 50 hepatectomies used kellyclasy plus bipolar vessels sealer (BVS). Blood loss, duration of hepatic pedicle clamping, length of hospital stay, and complications were recorded.

Determination of free ertapenem in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

A sensitive assay for the determination of unbound ertapenem in human plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was developed using ultrafiltration of plasma and BAL samples. A rapid HPLC method was used with ultraviolet detection set at a wavelength of 305 nm and a separation on a Prontosil AQ C18 column, with imipenem used as internal standard. This assay was linear over the concentration range of 0.

Genetic osteoarticular diseases under the molecular biology spotlight.

Major strides have been made recently in unraveling the genetic underpinnings of various bone and joint diseases. In many cases, progress in molecular biology has provided detailed knowledge in this area. An overview is given herein.