Non-Infectious Uveitis and Pregnancy, is There an Optimal Treatment? Uveitis Course and Safety of Uveitis Treatment in Pregnancy.

In pregnancy, a plethora of factors causes changes in maternal immunity. Uveitis flare-ups are more frequent in the first trimester and in undertreated patients. Management of non-infectious uveitis during pregnancy remains understudied. A bibliographic review to consolidate existing evidence was performed by a multidisciplinary group of Ophthalmologists, Gynaecologists and Rheumatologists. Our group recommends initial management with minimum-required doses of corticosteroids, preferably locally, to treat intraocular inflammation whilst ensuring good neonatal outcomes. If ineffective, clinicians should consider addition of Cyclosporine, Azathioprine or Certolizumab pegol, which are seemingly safe in pregnancy. Other therapies (such as Methotrexate, Mycophenolate Mofetil and alkylating agents) are teratogenic or have a detrimental effect on the foetus. Furthermore, careful multidisciplinary preconception discussions and close follow-up are recommended, monitoring for flare-ups and actively tapering medication doses, with a primary endpoint focused on protecting ocular tissues from inflammation, whilst giving minimal risk of poor pregnancy and foetal outcomes.

Role of Myostatin in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review of the Clinical Impact.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects synovial joints and that frequently involves extra-articular organs. A multiplicity of interleukins (IL) participates in the pathogenesis of RA, including IL-6, IL-1ß, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; immune cells such as monocytes, T and B lymphocytes, and macrophages; and auto-antibodies, mainly rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs). Skeletal muscle is also involved in RA, with many patients developing muscle wasting and sarcopenia. Several mechanisms are involved in the myopenia observed in RA, and one of them includes the effects of some interleukins and myokines on myocytes. Myostatin is a myokine member of the TGF-ß superfamily; the overproduction of myostatin acts as a negative regulator of growth and differentiates the muscle fibers, limiting their number and size. Recent studies have identified abnormalities in the serum myostatin levels of RA patients, and these have been found to be associated with muscle wasting and other manifestations of severe RA. This review analyzes recent information regarding the relationship between myostatin levels and clinical manifestations of RA and the relevance of myostatin as a therapeutic target for future research.

Risk Factors Associated with Adverse Events Leading to Methotrexate Withdrawal in Elderly Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in elderly population represents a challenge for physicians in terms of therapeutic management. Methotrexate (MTX) is the first-line treatment among conventional synthetic-disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cs-DMARDs); however, it is often associated with adverse events (AEs). Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors of MTX discontinuation due to AEs in elderly patients with RA in a long-term retrospective cohort study. Methods: Clinical sheets from elderly RA patients taking MTX from an outpatient rheumatology consult in a university centre were reviewed. To assess MTX persistence, we used Kaplan-Meir curves and Cox regression models to identify the risk of withdrawing MTX due to adverse events. Results: In total, 198 elderly RA patients who reported using MTX were included. Of them, the rates of definitive suspension of MTX due to AEs were 23.0% at 5 years, 35.6% at 10 years and 51.7% at 15 years. The main organs and system involved were gastrointestinal (15.7%) and mucocutaneous (3.0%). Factors associated with withdrawing MTX due to AEs were MTX dose ≥ 15 mg/wk (adjusted HR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.22-4.96, p = 0.012); instead, the folic acid supplementation was protective for withdrawal (adjusted HR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.16-0.49, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Higher doses of MTX increase the risk of withdrawals in elderly RA, while folic acid supplementation reduces the risk. Therefore, physicians working in therapeutic management for elderly patients using MTX must focus on using lower MTX doses together with the concomitant prescription of folic acid.

Complementary Therapies and Their Association with Problems in Therapeutic Adherence to Conventional Synthetic DMARDs in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The use of complementary therapies is highly prevalent among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nevertheless, the use of complementary medicine could involve problems in the following of scientifically accepted treatments. To date, there is limited information regarding the association of nonconventional therapies with problems regarding compliance with the treatment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify whether the utilization of complementary therapies is associated with a high risk of problems regarding therapeutic adherence to conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cs-DMARDs) in RA patients. A survey was performed with RA patients in an outpatient rheumatology clinic in a university hospital; the use of complementary therapies, as well as their type, was identified. To assess problems with therapeutic adherence, we used the four-item Morisky-Green scale. A comprehensive assessment of clinical and therapeutic characteristics was performed. Univariable and multivariable models were performed to identify the risk of problems with therapeutic adherence in users of complementary therapies. In total, 250 RA patients were included; 92% used complementary therapies. Of them, the most frequently used were herbal medicine (65%), homeopathy (64%), and cannabis and its derivatives (51%). In the univariable logistic regression analysis, the factors associated with problems in the therapeutic adherence to cs-DMARDs were age (p = 0.019), the presence of other comorbidities (p = 0.047), and the use of complementary therapies (p = 0.042). After controlling for potential confounders, the use of complementary therapies increased the risk of problems with therapeutic adherence to cs-DMARDs (adjusted OR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.06-7.63, p = 0.037). We concluded that the use of complementary therapies increases the risk of problems with therapeutic adherence. Therefore, for physicians and healthcare professionals, the early identification of the use of nonconventional therapies in their RA patients is required, followed by a directed discussion with their patients about the risks and benefits to which they could be exposed to complementary therapies.

O papel da colangiografia intraoperatória na identificação imediata das variações das vias biliares / The role of intraoperative cholangiography in the immediate identification of changes in biliary tract

A colelitíase é uma das doenças mais prevalentes na população adulta. A lesão iatrogênica envolvendo a via biliar constitui-se numa das situações mais temidas pelos cirurgiões, acontecendo tanto durante a cirurgia aberta como na videolaparoscópica. Discute-se as causas determinantes do desenvolvimento destas lesões, assim como a variação anatômica da árvore biliar associado à presença de ductos biliares acessórios ou aberrantes que são lesados inadvertidamente. Os autores relatam dois casos de lesões de ductos biliares acessórios da via biliar, que foram diagnosticados pela realização da colangiografia intraoperatória e corrigidos prontamente durante o procedimento cirúrgico.

Cholelithiasis is one of the most prevalent diseases in the adult population. Iatrogenic injury involving the bile duct constitutes one of the most feared situations by surgeons, occurring both in open surgery as in laparoscopic. Discusses the determinants of the development of these lesions causes, as well as the anatomical variations of the biliary tree associated with the presence of aberrant bile ducts or accessories that are inadvertently injured. The authors report two cases of accessory bile duct lesions of the biliary tract, which were diagnosed by perfoming intraoperative cholangiography and promptly corrected during surgery.

Pneumatose cística intestinal / Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis

Pneumatose cística intestinal é uma doença rara caracterizada pelo acúmulo de gás na parede intestinal estando associada a uma variedade de doenças e procedimentos. Não existe uma história específica, achados de exame físico ou laboratorial que auxiliam no diagnóstico. O tratamento conservador utilizando-se a oxigenioterapia hiperbárica é efetivo, ficando a abordagem cirúrgica indicada quando há complicações.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is an uncommon disease characterized by an accumulation of gas in the bowel wall, and has been associated with a variety of disorders and procedures. There is no specific history and physical or laboratory findings do not help to diagnose. The treatment conservative with hyperbaric oxygen is effective, and surgery is usually indicated when complications appear.

Estudo da morfo e citodiferenciação da glândula submandibular remanescente de ratos após excisão parcial de um de seus lobos / Study of the morpho and cytodifferentiation of the submandibular gland of rats submitted to partial excision of one of its lobes

Manter uma boa saúde depende, entre outros fatores, de um fluxo salivar adequado1-3. Os danos causados por obstrução, traumas ou remoção cirúrgica das glândulas salivares poderão acarretar alteração na produção salivar. Qualquer diminuição no fluxo salivar trará conseqüências danosas ao organismo. Desenvolveu-se este trabalho com o objetivo de aprofundar o conhecimento nos mecanismos que envolvem a regeneração da Glândula Submandibular (GSM) de ratos submetida à excisão parcial de um de seus lobos. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Experimental. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foram utilizadas lâminas referentes ao desenvolvimento glandular de ratos aos 15, 16, 17, 18 e 19 dias de vida fetal, e 20 ratos machos de 30 ou 60 dias. Após conveniente anestesia foi removido o terço inferior do lobo esquerdo da GSM de cada animal. Após a remoção, foram deixados a se recuperar por 2, 3, 7 e 15 dias. Nestes tempos determinados foram eutanaziados, as glândulas removidas, fixadas em Methacarn, incluídas em parafina, e cortes de 5 »m efetuados. Foi realizada coloração ou com hematoxilina/eosina ou com ácido Periódico Reativo de Schiff (PAS). RESULTADOS: Observou-se que o processo regenerativo se instalou precocemente e em todos os espécimes estudados. Foi semelhante ao aspecto verificado no desenvolvimento glandular normal e mais acentuado no rato de 30 dias. A citodiferenciação representada pela marcação das mucinas neutras pelo PAS foi discreta inicialmente, logo após atingindo sua produção máxima, então finalmente reduzindo a expressão, sendo mudada a sua localização inicial. CONCLUSÃO: Baseados nos resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que o processo regenerativo da GSM de ratos excisada é estável, permanente e gradual, seguindo etapas definidas.

Reprodutibilidade da manometria anal em mulheres sem distúrbios evacuatórios / Reproducibility of manometry anal in women without evacuating disturbances

O estudo visa verificar a reprodutibilidade da manometria anal, em pacientes do sexo feminino, sem distúrbios evacuatórios, internadas no Serviço de Clínica Cirúrgica do Hospital Universitário de Taubaté, no período de 12 de maio a 16 de agosto de 2003. Pacientes e Métodos: Estudo prospectivo em 11 pacientes voluntárias internadas para tratamento de doença não orifícial ou pélvica, selecionadas de acordo com os seguintes critérios de inclusão: ausência de constipação intestinal e ausência de incontinência fecal. O exame foi realizado sem preparo intestinal prévio com as pacientes em decúbito lateral esquerdo. O balão do manômetro era introduzido no orifício anal até cinco centímetros do rebordo anal. Realizaram-se medidas em intervalo de um em um centímetro no sentido crânio-caudal, em cada ponto medindo: pressão máxima de repouso, pressão máxima de contração, pressão mínima de evacuação. Com a análise dessas variáveis obtivemos mais duas: ponto de maior pressão e comprimento do canal anal. Após 12 horas o exame foi repetido. Para a análise estatística foi utilizado o teste não paramétrico de Wilcoxon. Resultados: O resultado obtido nos dois exames para as mesmas variáveis não apresentou diferença significativa, com exceção da pressão de evacuação a cinco centímetros cujo p foi menor que 0,050.Conclusão:Concluímos com os valores das variáveis pressão máxima de repouso, pressão máxima de contração, pressão minima de evacuação, ponto de maior pressão e comprimento do canal anal foram reprodutíveis após 12 horas, exceto a pressão de evacuação a cinco centímetros do rebordo anal.