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Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the proportions of individuals infected with , , , , or who develop reactive arthritis. A... (Review)
Review
The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the proportions of individuals infected with , , , , or who develop reactive arthritis. A systematic review was conducted, encompassing English-language articles published before January 2024, sourced from the Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. This review included observational studies that reported the occurrence of reactive arthritis (ReA) among patients with , , , , or infections. Data extraction was carried out independently by two reviewers. Subsequently, a random-effects meta-analysis was performed, with heterogeneity assessed using the I value. Additionally, meta-regression was employed to investigate the potential influence of study-level variables on the observed heterogeneity. A total of 87 studies were identified; 23 reported on ReA development after infection, 7 reported on ReA after , 30 reported ReA onset after salmonellosis, 14 reported ReA after shigellosis, and 13 reported ReA after infection. The proportion of patients who developed ReA was 0.03 (95% CI [0.01, 0.06], I = 97.62%); the proportion of patients who developed ReA was 0.01 (95% CI [0.00, 0.06], I = 92.78%); the proportion of patients was 0.04 (95% CI [0.02, 0.08], I = 97.67%); the proportion of patients was 0.01 (95% CI [0.01, 0.03], I = 90.64%); and the proportion of patients who developed ReA was 0.05 (95% CI [0.02, 0.13], I = 96%). A significant proportion of , , and cases resulted in ReA. Nonetheless, it is important to interpret the findings cautiously due to the substantial heterogeneity observed between studies.
PubMed: 38929962
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123433 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024(1) : Dexmedetomidine is a sedative for patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) that previous single-site studies have found to be associated with...
Association between Dexmedetomidine Use and Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 Receiving Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: A U.S. National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Study.
(1) : Dexmedetomidine is a sedative for patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) that previous single-site studies have found to be associated with improved survival in patients with COVID-19. The reported clinical benefits include dampened inflammatory response, reduced respiratory depression, reduced agitation and delirium, improved preservation of responsiveness and arousability, and improved hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and ventilation-perfusion ratio. Whether improved mortality is evident in large, multi-site COVID-19 data is understudied. (2) : The association between dexmedetomidine use and mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving IMV was assessed. This retrospective multi-center cohort study utilized patient data in the United States from health systems participating in the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) from 1 January 2020 to 3 November 2022. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality rate from the initiation of IMV. Propensity score matching adjusted for differences between the group with and without dexmedetomidine use. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for 28-day mortality were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models with dexmedetomidine use as a time-varying covariate. (3) : Among the 16,357,749 patients screened, 3806 patients across 17 health systems met the study criteria. Mortality was lower with dexmedetomidine use (aHR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.73-0.90; < 0.001). On subgroup analysis, mortality was lower with earlier dexmedetomidine use-initiated within the median of 3.5 days from the start of IMV-(aHR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.60-0.76; < 0.001) as well as use prior to standard, widespread use of dexamethasone for patients on respiratory support (prior to 30 July 2020) (aHR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.42-0.69; < 0.001). In a secondary model that was restricted to 576 patients across six health system sites with available PaO/FiO data, mortality was not lower with dexmedetomidine use (aHR 0.95, 95% CI, 0.72-1.25; = 0.73); however, on subgroup analysis, mortality was lower with dexmedetomidine use initiated earlier than the median dexmedetomidine start time after IMV (aHR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53-0.98; = 0.04) and use prior to 30 July 2020 (aHR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.06-0.78; = 0.02). (4) : Dexmedetomidine use was associated with reduced mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving IMV, particularly when initiated earlier, rather than later, during the course of IMV as well as use prior to the standard, widespread usage of dexamethasone during respiratory support. These particular findings might suggest that the associated mortality benefit with dexmedetomidine use is tied to immunomodulation. However, further research including a large randomized controlled trial is warranted to evaluate the potential mortality benefit of DEX use in COVID-19 and evaluate the physiologic changes influenced by DEX that may enhance survival.
PubMed: 38929961
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123429 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Concurrent opioid (OPI) and benzodiazepine (BZD) use may exacerbate injurious fall risk (e.g., falls and fractures) compared to no use or use alone. Yet, patients may...
Concurrent opioid (OPI) and benzodiazepine (BZD) use may exacerbate injurious fall risk (e.g., falls and fractures) compared to no use or use alone. Yet, patients may need concurrent OPI-BZD use for co-occurring conditions (e.g., pain and anxiety). Therefore, we examined the association between longitudinal OPI-BZD dosing patterns and subsequent injurious fall risk. We conducted a retrospective cohort study including non-cancer fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries initiating OPI and/or BZD in 2016-2018. We identified OPI-BZD use patterns during the 3 months following OPI and/or BZD initiation (i.e., trajectory period) using group-based multi-trajectory models. We estimated the time to first injurious falls within the 3-month post-trajectory period using inverse-probability-of-treatment-weighted Cox proportional hazards models. Among 622,588 beneficiaries (age ≥ 65 = 84.6%, female = 58.1%, White = 82.7%; having injurious falls = 0.45%), we identified 13 distinct OPI-BZD trajectories: Group (A): Very-low OPI-only (early discontinuation) (44.9% of the cohort); (B): Low OPI-only (rapid decline) (15.1%); (C): Very-low OPI-only (late discontinuation) (7.7%); (D): Low OPI-only (gradual decline) (4.0%); (E): Moderate OPI-only (rapid decline) (2.3%); (F): Very-low BZD-only (late discontinuation) (11.5%); (G): Low BZD-only (rapid decline) (4.5%); (H): Low BZD-only (stable) (3.1%); (I): Moderate BZD-only (gradual decline) (2.1%); (J): Very-low OPI (rapid decline)/Very-low BZD (late discontinuation) (2.9%); (K): Very-low OPI (rapid decline)/Very-low BZD (increasing) (0.9%); (L): Very-low OPI (stable)/Low BZD (stable) (0.6%); and (M): Low OPI (gradual decline)/Low BZD (gradual decline) (0.6%). Compared with Group (A), six trajectories had an increased 3-month injurious falls risk: (C): HR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.58-2.01; (D): HR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.93-2.59; (E): HR = 2.60, 95% CI = 2.18-3.09; (H): HR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.70-2.40; (L): HR = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.98-3.76; and (M): HR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.32-2.91. Our findings suggest that 3-month injurious fall risk varied across OPI-BZD trajectories, highlighting the importance of considering both dose and duration when assessing injurious fall risk of OPI-BZD use among older adults.
PubMed: 38929905
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123376 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Tissue fibrosis represents a complex pathological condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM) components, resulting... (Review)
Review
Tissue fibrosis represents a complex pathological condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM) components, resulting in impaired organ function. Fibroblasts are central to the fibrotic process and crucially involved in producing and depositing collagen-rich ECM. Apart from their primary function in ECM synthesis, fibroblasts engage in diverse activities such as inflammation and shaping the tissue microenvironment, which significantly influence cellular and tissue functions. This review explores the role of Yes-associated protein (Yap) and Transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (Taz) in fibroblast signaling and their impact on tissue fibrosis. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the intricate molecular mechanisms of Yap/Taz signaling in fibroblasts may reveal novel therapeutic targets for fibrotic diseases.
PubMed: 38929890
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123358 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Jun 2024Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is characterized by enthesitis. As persistent inflammation around joints results in bone and cartilage destruction and physical impairment, a...
BACKGROUND
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is characterized by enthesitis. As persistent inflammation around joints results in bone and cartilage destruction and physical impairment, a detailed assessment of inflammation is essential. We previously reported the difference between clinical assessment (tenderness) and ultrasound (US) assessment (inflammation) of entheses. Herein, we investigated whether clinical or US assessment of joints and entheses can predict the progression of joint destruction in Japanese patients with PsA.
METHODS
Thirty joints and 14 entheses in 47 patients were assessed using US and clinical examination. The US greyscale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) scores at the ultrasonographic synovitis, the US active enthesitis count, and the clinical tender joint/entheses count were assessed. Additionally, the yearly radiographic progression of the Sharp-van der Heijde scoring method for PsA was assessed. Their correlations were investigated.
RESULTS
About half of the patients with PsA experienced joint destruction during a follow-up period of 20.4 months. Progression of joint destruction in patients with PsA only correlated with joint GS and PD scores, reflecting the severity of ultrasonographic synovitis, not with the tender joint/entheses count.
CONCLUSIONS
US examinations are essential for preventing joint destruction and physical impairment in patients with PsA.
PubMed: 38929851
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060630 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Jun 2024The aim of this nationwide longitudinal cohort study is to determine the risk of congestive heart failure (CHF) associated with a seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...
The aim of this nationwide longitudinal cohort study is to determine the risk of congestive heart failure (CHF) associated with a seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) population in Korea. In this study, National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS) data from 2002 to 2003 were used. The cohort was followed up with for 12 years until December of 2015. Seropositive RA was defined as a patient prescribed with a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) among patients with the International Classification of Diseases code M05 (seropositive RA). Patients who were diagnosed before 2004 were excluded. The seropositive RA group consisted of 2765 patients, and a total of 13,825 patients were in the control group. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the 12-year CHF incidence rate for each group. A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio of CHF. The hazard ratio of CHF in the seropositive RA group was 2.41 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-4.14) after adjusting for age and sex. The adjusted hazard ratio of CHF in the seropositive RA group was 2.50 (95% CI: 1.45-4.30) after adjusting for age, sex, income, and comorbidities. In females aged ≥65 and aged <65, the incidence rates in the non-hypertension, non-diabetes mellitus, and non-dyslipidemia subgroups were significantly higher in the seropositive RA group than in the control group. This nationwide longitudinal cohort study shows an increased risk of CHF in patients with seropositive RA.
PubMed: 38929836
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060615 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine May 2024Addressing trapezio-metacarpal (TMC) osteoarthritis often involves considering TMC joint replacement. Utilizing TMC prostheses offers advantages such as preserving the...
PURPOSE
Addressing trapezio-metacarpal (TMC) osteoarthritis often involves considering TMC joint replacement. Utilizing TMC prostheses offers advantages such as preserving the thumb length and more accurately replicating the thumb's range of motion (ROM). TMC prostheses have an intrinsic risk of dislocation and aseptic loosening. Analyzing pre- and postoperative imaging can mitigate complications and improve prosthetic placement, providing insights into both successes and potential challenges, refining overall clinical outcomes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted a prospective analysis of 30 patients with severe TMC arthritis treated with a Touch© (Kerimedical, Geneva, Switzerland) prosthesis in 2021-2023: X-ray and CT protocols were developed to analyze A) the correct prosthesis placement and B) its correlation with clinical outcomes (VAS, Kapandji and QuickDASH scores) by performing Spearman correlation analysis.
RESULTS
The average differences in trapezium height and M1-M2 ratio pre- and post-surgery were, respectively, 1.8 mm (SD ± 1.7; < 0.001) and 0.04 mm (SD ± 0.04; = 0.017). Pre-to-postoperative M1 axis length increased by an average of 2.98 mm (SD ± 3.84; = 0.017). Trapezial cup sinking, indicated by the trapezium index, measured 4.6 mm (SD ± 1.2). The metacarpal index averaged at 11.3 mm (SD ± 3.3). The distance between the centers of the trapezium distal surface and the prosthesis cup was 2.23 mm (SD ± 1.4). The Spearman correlation analysis gave the following results: negative correlations were highlighted between postoperative VAS scores and the M1/M2 ratio and residual trapezium height (correlation coefficient: -0.7, = 0.03 and -0.064, = 0.03, respectively) at 6 months; a negative correlation was found at the 3-month mark between QuickDASH and the trapezium residual height (correlation coefficient: -0.07, = 0.01); and a positive correlation was found for the trapezium index at 1 month (correlation coefficient: 0.07, = 0.03) and 3 months ( = 0.04) using the Kapandji score. Similarly, we found a positive correlation between the distance between the prosthesis and trapezium centers and QuickDASH score at 1 and 3 months (correlation coefficient: 0.066, = 0.03; correlation coefficient: 0.07, = 0.05, respectively) and a positive correlation between prosthesis axis and the residual first metacarpal angle with QuickDASH score at 3 months (correlation coefficient: 0.07, = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS
Pre- and postoperative systematic imaging analysis should become a method for predicting complications and guiding recovery in TMC prosthesis: CT imaging could provide us with radiographical landmarks that are intrinsically linked to clinical outcomes. Further research is necessary to fuel a protocol for the correct intraoperative TMC prosthesis implantation.
PubMed: 38929806
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060585 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine May 2024Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis, characterized by heterogeneous clinical manifestations and variable disease... (Review)
Review
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis, characterized by heterogeneous clinical manifestations and variable disease progression. Ultrasonography has emerged as a valuable tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of PsA, providing real-time visualization of joint and soft tissue abnormalities. This review highlights recent advancements in ultrasonographic techniques for the assessment of PsA, including the identification of typical features, the role of power Doppler imaging in detecting active inflammation, and the potential of ultrasound for guiding treatment decisions. Additionally, we discuss the utility of ultrasound in assessing treatment response and monitoring disease progression in patients with PsA, with a focus on novel imaging modalities. By elucidating the evolving role of ultrasonography in PsA management, this article aims to enhance clinicians' understanding of its utility in facilitating early diagnosis, optimizing treatment strategies, and improving patient outcomes.
PubMed: 38929771
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060550 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder caused by inflammation of cartilaginous diarthrodial joints that destroys joints and cartilage, resulting in... (Review)
Review
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder caused by inflammation of cartilaginous diarthrodial joints that destroys joints and cartilage, resulting in synovitis and pannus formation. Timely detection and effective management of RA are pivotal for mitigating inflammatory arthritis consequences, potentially influencing disease progression. Nuclear medicine using radiolabeled targeted vectors presents a promising avenue for RA diagnosis and response to treatment assessment. Radiopharmaceutical such as technetium-99m (Tc), combined with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) combined with CT (SPECT/CT), introduces a more refined diagnostic approach, enhancing accuracy through precise anatomical localization, representing a notable advancement in hybrid molecular imaging for RA evaluation. This comprehensive review discusses existing research, encompassing in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies to explore the application of Tc radiolabeled targeting vectors with SPECT imaging for RA diagnosis. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential of this strategy to enhance patient outcomes by improving the early detection and management of RA.
PubMed: 38929734
DOI: 10.3390/life14060751 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Traditional cardiovascular... (Review)
Review
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, although present in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, do not explain such a high burden of early cardiovascular disease in the context of these systemic connective tissue diseases. Over the past few years, our understanding of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis has changed from it being a lipid-centric to an inflammation-centric process. In this review, we examine the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, the two most common systemic connective tissue diseases, and consider them as emblematic models of the effect of chronic inflammation on the human body. We explore the roles of the inflammasome, cells of the innate and acquired immune system, neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, chemokines and soluble pro-inflammatory cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and the roles of certain autoantigens and autoantibodies, such as oxidized low-density lipoprotein and beta2-glycoprotein, which may play a pathogenetic role in atherosclerosis progression.
PubMed: 38929699
DOI: 10.3390/life14060716