Validation and incorporation of digital entheses into a preliminary GLobal OMERACT Ultrasound DActylitis Score (GLOUDAS) in psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: The main objective was to generate a GLobal OMERACT Ultrasound DActylitis Score (GLOUDAS) in psoriatic arthritis and to test its reliability. To this end, we assessed the validity, feasibility and applicability of ultrasound assessment of finger entheses to incorporate them into the scoring system.

Methods: The study consisted of a stepwise process.

The Romanian version of the Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report (JAMAR).

The Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report (JAMAR) is a new parent/patient-reported outcome measure that enables a thorough assessment of the disease status in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We report the results of the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the parent and patient versions of the JAMAR in the Romanian language. The reading comprehension of the questionnaire was tested in 15 JIA parents and patients.

European multicentre pilot survey to assess vitamin D status in rheumatoid arthritis patients and early development of a new Patient Reported Outcome questionnaire (D-PRO).

Objective: To collect data on vitamin D (25(OH)D) serum levels in a large number of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from different European countries, to investigate their relation with disease activity, disability, quality of life, and possibly to construct a new Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) questionnaire in order to self-estimate if they are at risk for vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency-related clinical implications (D-PRO).

Methods: This was a European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) supported cross-sectional study (project No CLI064) which involved 625 RA patients (mean age 55±11years, mean disease duration 11±9years), 276 age and sex matched healthy subjects, and rheumatologists working in academic institutions or hospital centres, as well as PARE organizations (patient representatives) from 13 European countries. Serum samples for 25(OH)D level measurement were collected during winter time and analyzed in a central laboratory using chemiluminescence immunoassay (DiaSorin).

[Current microbiological data on lower respiratory tract infection in cystic fibrosis. Part I: Isolated microorganisms and their clinical significance].

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease that degrades the local defense mechanisms of the lower respiratory tract. As a result, patients develop recurrent infections that progressively deteriorates antiinfection defenses and represent the major cause of mortality. A hallmark of those infections is the diversity of microorganisms isolated from broncho-alveolar lavage or sputum.

[Surgical treatment of esophageal diverticula].

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the methods and therapeutic principles of esophageal diverticula pathology. We analyze the main pathological mechanisms which establish the therapeutic attitude linked with a complex pretherapeutic evaluation. In our study we enrolled 12 patients operated between 2001-2009 for esophageal diverticula with different topography.

[Henoch-Schonlein nephritis: diagnosis and prognosis problems in childhood].

Unlabelled: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is the most common vasculitis in childhood and is characterized by sistemic leukocytoclastic angiitis, mainly affecting small vessels of the skin, joints, gastro-intestinal tract and kidneys. Renal involvement is the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with HSP. The aim of this study was to evaluate renal involvement in children with HPS and the prognoses of short- and long-term outcome of patients diagnosed with HS nephritis.

[Chronic hepatitis C in children: are extrahepatic manifestations an argument for standard therapy?].

Unlabelled: Chronic hepatitis C is still an important health problem in children. Adequate management of those patients should be focused on two directions: disappearance or reduction of the viral load (conventional antiviral therapy) and treatment of autoimmune manifestations (corticoids, plasmapheresis, cytotoxic agents).

Aim: To associate extrahepatic manifestations with other disorders and to evaluate the evolution under specific (antiviral) and non-specific therapy.

[Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)--medical rarities?].

Although their overall incidence is low, GISTs are distinctive subgroup of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors which express CD117 or platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA). Considered as rare digestive cancers, tumors like schwannomas, neurofibromas, gastrointestinal leiomiomas are now reclassified as GIST based on immunohistochemistry studies. GIST are more frequent in stomach (40-70%), small bowel (20-40%), colon (5-15%), meanwhile locations such as mesentery, omentum, retro peritoneum in less of 5%.

[Cholangiocarcinoma of the distal bile duct--case presentation].

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare disease (0.15-0.16% in the general population).

[Evaluation of quality of life in children with chronic hepatitis].

Unlabelled: The evolution of chronic viral and non-viral hepatitis in children, and the response to therapy influence the quality of life and the outcome of these patients and tehir family.

Material And Method: This study analyzes the quality of life in children with chronic liver disease, using the records of 45 patients hospitalised in the Hepatology Department of "Sf. Maria" Hospital of Children in Iaşi.

[The open packing of the lesser sac technique in infected severe acute pancreatitis].

The surgical technique we applied was the classical one with several improvements. Firstly, the timing of intervention is delayed until the occurrence of the clearly defined infected necrosis. Secondly, we limited the propagation of infection in submesocolic peritoneal cavity by creating this omental laparostomy with suturing the cutting edges of the gastrocolic ligament to the supra-umbilical anterior parietal peritoneum, near to the laparotomy, achieving the "marsupialisation" of the lesser sac.

[Difficulties in diagnosis and surgical treatment of a giant retroperitoneal lipoma].

Primary retroperitoneal tumors are relatively rare and the histological characters vary. We present the case of a retroperitoneal lipoma in a 51-year-old male patient, whose main complain was enlarging of the abdomen in the last 2 months. The CT of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a giant retroperitoneal tumor.

[Psychogenic pain in children].

Children present many relations between psychic and somatic processes. The most important clinical aspect is the pain that cannot be attributed to any medical condition and occurs in at least one organ. Psychogenic pain is frequent in the pediatric population and its incidence is increasing.

[Long-term survival after eso-gastrectomy for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma--prospective study].

Detection of the esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma in symptomatic stage determine a low survival. The aim of the study was to identify the prognostic factors after eso-gastrectomy for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma. There was done a prospective study of a 43 patients with esophago-gastric resections and abdomino-mediastinal lymph nodes dissection between 2001 and 2006 at the General and Esophageal Surgery "St.

[The role of esophageal manometry in the management of the patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus].

Aim: To analyze the correlation between the failure of medical treatment in patients with reflux esophagitis or Barrett esophagus and LES function, manometrically measured.

Methodology: This is a prospective study of 24 patients admitted in our clinic for reflux disease symptoms, who were investigated by endoscopy (combined with biopsy), esophageal manometry and 24 h pH monitoring. The including criteria for the patients was abnormal esophageal exposure to acid reflux, each patient having abnormal 24 h pH monitoring (pH < 4 in the esophagus more then 4.

[Caudal anesthesia in pediatric surgery].

Unlabelled: The study analyses the efficacy and the safety of caudal anesthesia for the intra and postoperative pain management in children.

Material And Method: A retrospective study was conducted over a five years period enrolling 150 children scheduled for various surgical procedures. We used the standard technique ("loss of resistance", "single shot", lateral decubitus).

[Clinical diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the esophago-gastric junction].

The aim of the work paper is to present the diagnosis methods of the esophago-gastric junction adenocarcinoma, based on our experience and literature data. The later reveal many novelties about diagnosis means in Barrett's esophagus (BE), the definition and classification of BE, as well as the progress of the endoscopical, immunohistochemical and molecular methods in surveillance of the dysplasia arising in BE and in detection of intraepithelial neoplasia. Early esophago-gastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma (AC) is asymptomatic and its detection may be possible only through endoscopical surveillance.

[Statistical study of the evolution over ten years of the clinical and therapeutic approach in childhood soft tissue sarcoma].

Unlabelled: Soft tissue sarcoma has a primitive mesenchymal origin and represents a heterogeneous group of malignant entities with a continuous rising frequency in the age range below 18. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) constitutes 5.8% from the whole amount of pediatric solid tumors, taking the fourth place after CNS tumors, neuroblastoma, and Wilms tumors.

[Clinical and epidemiologic considerations in the role of newborn diseases causing asthma in children].

The authors present results of a multidisciplinary study in 712 children with asthma concerning the role of certain newborns events and the role of feeding in the onset of disease: resuscitation during the delivery--82.68%, respiratory distress--75.5%, Apgar score = 7 - 58.

[Arterial stiffness in pediatric hypertension].

Non invasive assessment of large arteries structure and function is a valuable tool for early detection of athero/arteriosclerosis and the cardiovascular risk. The vascular injury is mainly represented by increased arterial stiffness (increased pulse wave velocity--PWV), increased peripheral arteries reflectivity (Aix) and the occurrence of significant atheromatosis (increased clMT). Although well described in adult, there are few data in children regarding the impact of uremia on vascular structure and function.

[Diagnostic testing in fragile X syndrome].

Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of mental retardation. It is caused by a progressive expansion of polymeric (CGG)n trinucleotide repeats located on the FMR1 gene at Xq27.3.

[Obesity in children: new controversies and present prevention measures].

The authors realise a synthesis on classical data and recent pathogenic explanations in childhood obesity. The obesity is a nutritional disorder of great interest nowadays and surpasses the incidence of the major problem of pediatrics until now--the malnutrition. There is documented data concerning the global incidence of obesity which is continuously growing when it comes to children.