• Title/Summary/Keyword: Rheumatic diseases.

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Role of Bone Scan in Rheumatic Diseases (류마티스 질환에서 골스캔의 역할)

  • Choi, Yun-Young
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.137-146
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    • 2003
  • Rheumatic diseases can be categorized by pathology into several specific types of musculoskeletal problems, including synovitis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), enthesopathy (e.g. ankylosing spondylitis) and cartilage degeneration (e.g. osteoarthritis). Skeletal radiographs have contributed to the diagnosis of these articular diseases, and some disease entities need typical radiographic changes as a factor of the diagnostic criteria. However, they sometimes show normal radiographic findings in the early stage of disease, when there is demineralization of less than 30-50 %. Bone scans have also been used in arthritis, but not widely because the findings are nonspecific and it is thought that bone scans do not add significant information to routine radiography. Bone scans do however play a different role than simple radiography, and it is a complementary imaging method in the course of management of arthritis. The Image quality of bone scans can be improved by obtaining regional views and images under a pin-hole collimator, and through a variety of scintigraphic techniques including the three phase bone scan and bone SPECT. Therefore, bone scans could improve the diagnostic value, and answer multiple clinical questions, based on the pathophysiology of various forms of arthritis.

The Comparison Study on the Efficacy of Bucillamine Monotherapy and Bucillamine plus Methotrexate Combination Therapy in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (류마티스 관절염 환자에서 Bucillamine 단독요법과 Bucillamine과 Methotrexate 병용요법의 치료효과에 대한 비교연구)

  • Lee, Young Ran;Suh, Okkyung;Jung, Sung Soo;Jun, Jae Bum;Yoo, Dae Hyun;Lee, Suk Hyang;Shin, Hyun Taek;Kim, Seong Yoon
    • Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.1-12
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    • 1998
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common systemic inflammatory disease which DMARDS have been widely used as a treatment modality both as monotherapy and combination therapy Bucillamine, one of newer DMARDS, has recently proven its efficacy as monotherapy in the treatment of RA. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and the safety of bucillamine monotherapy and bucillamine plus methotrexate combination therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Forty-nine mild RA patients were enrolled in this prospective, open-trial and were assigned to receive bucillamine 200 mg/day (n=18) or bucillamine 200 mg/day and methotrexate 7.5-15 mg/week (n=31) orally for 16 weeks. Concomitant use of NSAID and prednisolone <5 mg/day or equivalent dose of steroid were allowed. Both monotherapy group and combination therapy group have shown significant improvement in disease activities (Ritchie index, painful joints, swollen joints, morning stiffness, grip strength, ESR, RF, CRP, patient's self assessment of pain, physician's global assessment of disease activity) from the baseline. However, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups. The adverse effects were more frequently shown in combination therapy group than monotherapy group. In conclusion, in patients with mild RA monotherapy has shown to be equally efficacious as combination therapy with less side effects.

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Renal involvement in pediatric rheumatologic diseases

  • Kim, Seong Heon
    • Childhood Kidney Diseases
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.18-24
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    • 2022
  • Pediatric rheumatologic diseases are rare systemic diseases that can involve various organs, including the kidneys. Each rheumatologic disease can exhibit characteristic renal involvement, which requires proper treatment and diagnosis. In this review, we discuss renal involvement in classic rheumatologic diseases, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and juvenile dermatomyositis. Reviews addressing lupus nephritis and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated renal disease are complex and tend to cover a wide array of topics, and thus were excluded from this review.

Long-Term Results of the Leaflet Extension Technique for Rheumatic Aortic Regurgitation: A 20-Year Follow-up

  • Kwak, Yu-jin;Ahn, Hyuk;Choi, Jae Woong;Kim, Kyung-Hwan
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.52 no.1
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    • pp.9-15
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    • 2019
  • Background: Although aortic valve repair can reduce prosthesis-related complications, rheumatic aortic regurgitation (AR) caused by leaflet restriction is a significant risk factor for recurrent AR. In this study, we evaluated the long-term results of the leaflet extension technique for rheumatic AR. Methods: Between 1995 and 2016, 33 patients underwent aortic valve repair using the leaflet extension technique with autologous pericardium for rheumatic pure AR. Twenty patients had severe AR and 9 had combined moderate or greater mitral regurgitation. Their mean age was $32.2{\pm}13.9$ years. The mean follow-up duration was $18.3{\pm}5.8$ years. Results: There were no cases of operative mortality, but postoperative complications occurred in 5 patients. Overall survival at 10 and 20 years was 93.5% and 87.1%, respectively. There were no thromboembolic cerebrovascular events, but 4 late deaths occurred, as well as a bleeding event in 1 patient who was taking warfarin. Twelve patients underwent aortic valve reoperation. The mean interval to reoperation was $13.1{\pm}6.1$ years. Freedom from reoperation at 10 and 20 years was 96.7% and 66.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The long-term results of the leaflet extension technique showed acceptable durability and a low incidence of thromboembolic events and bleeding. The leaflet extension technique may be a good option for young patients with rheumatic AR.

Correlates of Cognitive Impairment of Rheumatic Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (류마티스질환 환자의 인지손상과 관련된 요인 규명: 체계적 문헌고찰 및 메타분석)

  • Mo, JinA;Park, JiSuk;Oh, HyunSoo
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.46 no.1
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    • pp.1-18
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    • 2016
  • Purpose: This study was conducted to synthesis the results of research on relationships of cognitive impairment with multi-dimensional correlates of rheumatic disease through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Methods: For the study purpose, 23 studies were selected through a systematic process of searching the literature. Results: The study results showed that among general characteristics, age and education were the variables having a significant relationship with cognitive impairment. Among health risk factors, obesity appeared to have a significant positive relationship with cognitive impairment. For past history, diabetes and hypertension were shown to have a significant positive relationship with cognitive impairment. It was noted also that aPL, one of the physiological factor, had significant association with cognitive impairment. None of the medication related factors had a significant relationship with cognitive impairment. Results showed that among disease related factors, disease activity had the highest relationship with cognitive impairment. Depression, among psychological factors, was the only variable having a significant relationship with cognitive impairment. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the variables strongly impacting on cognitive impairment in rheumatic disease are depression and disease activity.

New evidence on mechanisms of action of spa therapy in rheumatic diseases

  • Tenti, Sara;Fioravanti, Antonella;Guidelli, Giacomo Maria;Pascarelli, Nicola Antonio;Cheleschi, Sara
    • CELLMED
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.3.1-3.8
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    • 2014
  • Spa represents a treatment widely used in many rheumatic diseases (RD). The mechanisms by which immersion in mineral or thermal water ameliorates RD are not fully understood. The net benefit is probably the result of a combination of factors, among which the mechanical, thermal and chemical effects are most prominent. Buoyancy, immersion, resistance and temperature play important roles. According to the gate theory, pain relief may be due to the pressure and temperature of the water on skin; heat may reduce muscle spasm and increase the pain threshold. Mud-bath therapy increases plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin levels and secretion of corticotrophin, cortisol, growth hormone and prolactin. It has recently been demonstrated that thermal mud-bath therapy induces a reduction in circulating levels of prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and tumour necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, important mediators of inflammation and pain. Furthermore, balneotherapy has been found to cause an increase in insulin-like growth factor-1, which stimulates cartilage metabolism, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}$. Beneficial anti-inflammatory and anti-degenerative effects of mineral water were confirmed in chondrocytes cultures, too. Various studies in vitro and in humans have highlighted the positive action of mud-packs and thermal baths, especially sulphurous ones, on the oxidant/antioxidant system. Overall, thermal stress has an immunosuppressive effect. Many other non-specific factors may also contribute to the beneficial effects observed after spa therapy in some RD, including effects on cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. adipokines) and changes in the environment, pleasant surroundings and the absence of work duties.