The Median Nerve Displays Adaptive Characteristics When Exposed to Repeated Pinch Grip Efforts of Varying Rates of Force Development: An Ultrasonic Investigation.

Objectives: Repeated gripping with high grip forces and high rates of grip force development are risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome. As the nerve's adaptive ability is crucial to prevent disease progression, we investigated how these risk factors influence median nerve deformation and displacement over the time course of a repeated pinch grip task.

Methods: Seventeen healthy participants performed a repeated grip task against a load cell while their carpal tunnel was scanned with ultrasound.

Longitudinal Study of Patients with Connective Tissue Disease-Interstitial Lung Disease and Response to Mycophenolate Mofetil and Rituximab.

To investigate the effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and rituximab (RTX) on pulmonary function test (PFT) results in a mixed cohort of patients with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD), longitudinally followed up for 1 year in a single academic center. Patients with CTD-ILD were identified in electronic medical records from 1 January 2009 to 30 April 2019. Prescribed MMF and RTX doses, dosage changes, and therapy plans were analyzed individually with improvement in PFT outcomes determined using multivariable linear regression models during 12-month follow-up.

A Practical Multidisciplinary Approach to Identifying Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: A Clinician's Narrative Review.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the common and potentially lethal manifestations of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). ILD's prevalence, clinical patterns, imaging, and natural history are variable. Each of the representative diseases-systemic sclerosis (SSc), idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjӧgren's syndrome (SjS), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-have distinct clinical, paraclinical and evolutionary features.

Mixed and undifferentiated autoimmune connective tissue diseases.

Dr. Irwin M. Braverman has advanced our understanding of cutaneous manifestations of autoimmune connective tissue diseases (AI-CTD).

Pregnancy with mixed connective tissue disease: Exploration of factors influencing live birth outcomes.

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) predominantly affects women in their reproductive age (30-40 years). This study is aimed to analyze a case series of MCTD-complicated pregnancies. The study design utilized a combined case-series and case-control approach.

Non-infectious mixed cryoglobulinemia as a new clinical presentation of mutation in the gene encoding coatomer subunit alpha: a case report of two adult sisters.

Cryoglobulinemia is a rare disease characterized by the presence of cryoglobulins in the blood serum. It is usually caused by autoimmune, lymphoproliferative, or infectious factors. The pathogenesis of cryoglobulinemia is not well understood, therefore, genetic testing is very important.

High prevalence and incidence of systemic sclerosis in Reunion Island, a French multi-ethnical and tropical territory.

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis' (SSc) prevalence varies according to geographical location, presumably in link with environmental and genetic factors. We sought to determine SSc prevalence and incidence on Reunion Island, a southern hemisphere territory characterised by multi-ethnic background.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of SSc cases defined according to ACR/EULAR 2013 classification criteria.

May-Hegglin anomaly associated nephropathy: Case series.

May-Hegglin anomaly (MHA) is a rare autosomal dominant disease associated with a mutation in the MYH-9 gene. It is characterized by macrothrombocytopenia and neutrophils with abnormal cytoplasmic inclusions. Clinical features of this disease include hearing loss, early cataracts, and renal failure.

Myocardial Performance Index to assess cardiac function in autoimmune connective tissue disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate cardiac function using Myocardial Performance Index (MPI) in autoimmune connective tissue disease (ACTD) patients without cardiovascular abnormalities.

Methods: A systematic search of databases including Medline, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Scopus and Cochrane Library was conducted to identify relevant studies on ACTD and MPI from 1995 to 2023. ACTD included in the search were rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren syndrome (SjD), polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

Mixed connective tissue disease: A case of aggressive progression and multisystem involvement.

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare autoimmune syndrome characterized by overlapping features of systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and polymyositis, first described by Sharp et al. in 1972. This case report discusses a 38-year-old female who presented with symptoms indicative of these overlapping conditions, including sclerodactyly, Raynaud's phenomenon, and muscle weakness, confirmed by laboratory findings and imaging.

Not Just Myocarditis: Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) and Overlap Myositis With Anti-Ku Positivity in a Young Male With Shortness of Breath.

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by high levels of anti-U1 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibodies and overlapping clinical features of autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and polymyositis (PM). Anti-Ku antibodies have been associated with overlap syndromes, which can present with symptoms such as Raynaud's phenomenon, arthritis, and myositis.  A 19-year-old male athlete presented with myositis, notable for cardiac involvement.