Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the English Lequesne Algofunctional index in to Bengali.

BACKGROUND: This study was focused on translation and cultural adaptation of the English Lequesne Algofunctional index (LAI) into Bengali for patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) and testing reliability and validity of the Bengali version of the LAI. METHODS: This study was carried out in the Department of Rheumatology, BSM Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Using the forward-backward method the English LAI was translated into Bengali including cultural adaptation. For pretesting, A sample of 40 patients with primary knee osteoarthritis were screened using the Bengali version of LAI. Following the pretest, 130 consecutive patients with symptomatic knee OA completed the interviewer administered Bengali LAI, the validated Bengali version of SF-36, Visual Analogue Scale for Pain, Distance Walked and Activities of Daily Living. For the retest 60 randomly selected patients from the cohort were administered the Bengali LAI 7 days later. An item by item analysis was performed. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Kappa coefficient, construct validity was measured using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: It took 3.25 ± 0.71 min to complete the Bengali LAI and the mean score was 9.23 ± 4.58. For the Bengali LAI Cronbach's alpha score was 0.88, test-retest reliability assessed by ICC was 0.97. For construct validity, excellent convergent validity was achieved (ρ = 0.93) but the divergent validity was moderate (ρ = 0.43). CONCLUSIONS: The Bengali LAI showed excellent convergent validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, only the divergent validity was moderate. So, the Bengali LAI can be applied as a HRQoL assessment tool for primary knee OA patients.

Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the English "Short form SF 12v2" into Bengali in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

BACKGROUND: To develop a culturally adapted and validated Bengali Short Form SF 12v2 among Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: The English SF 12v2 was translated, adapted and back translated into and from Bengali, pre-tested by 60 patients. The Bengali SF 12v2 was administered twice with 14 days interval to 130 Bangladeshi RA patients. The psychometric properties of the Bengali SF 12v2 were assessed. Test-retest reliability was assessed by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha. Content validity was assessed by index for content validity (ICV) and floor and ceiling effects. To determine convergent and discriminant validity a Bengali Health Assessment Questionnaire (B-HAQ) was used. Factor analysis was done. RESULTS: The Bengali SF 12v2 was well accepted by the patients in the pre-test and showed good reliability. Internal consistency for both physical and mental component was satisfactory; Cronbach's alpha was 0.9. ICC exceeded 0.9 in all domains. Spearman's rho for all domains exceeded 0.8. The physical health component of Bengali SF 12v2 had convergent validity to the B-HAQ. Its mental health component had discriminant validity to the B-HAQ. The ICV of content validity was 1 for all items. Factor analysis revealed two factors a physical and a mental component. CONCLUSIONS: The interviewer-administered Bengali SF 12v2 appears to be an acceptable, reliable, and valid instrument for measuring health-related quality of life in Bengali speaking RA patients. Further evaluation in the general population and in different medical conditions should be done.

Piriformis syndrome: a case series of 31 Bangladeshi people with literature review.

AIMS: To describe a series of piriformis syndrome patient among Bangladesh people with literature review. METHODS: Consecutive 31 piriformis syndrome patients were enrolled. Besides history and clinical examination, piriformis muscle thickness was also measured with diagnostic ultrasound (3.5 MHZ). MRI of lumbar spine, X-rays of lumbo-sacral spine, and pelvis were performed in all patients. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Windows 8.0, was used for statistical calculation, and univariate analysis of primary data was done. Data present with frequency table. For literature review concerning piriformis syndrome we used Embase, Pubmed, Medline, and Cochrane database. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients (21 female) with PS were enrolled, 21 housewives. Mean age 42.2 ± 14.5 years. All presented with buttock pain, aggravating with long sitting (31), lying on the affected side (31), during rising from a chair(24), and forward bending (28). Six reported pain improvement while walking. Gluteal tenderness, positive FAIR test, and Pace sign were elicited in all patients. A palpable gluteal mass was found in 8 cases, gluteal atrophy in 5 other patients. The mean piriformis muscle thickness on the diseased side was more than on the healthy side (13.6 ± 3.7 vs 10.9 ± 1.9, (p > 0.05). Common conditions associated with PS were: preceding fall (9, 29 %), overuse of piriformis muscle, lumbar spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, intra-muscular gluteal injection, blunt trauma over the buttock, leg length discrepancy and use of rear pocket's wallet. CONCLUSIONS: In Bangladesh piriformis syndrome is more common in female, especially among housewives. A fall often precedes the condition. Piriformis syndrome should be considered as possible diagnosis when sciatica occurs without a clear spine pathology.

Pulmonary embolism versus pulmonary vasculitis in Hughes-Stovin syndrome: Characteristic computed tomography pulmonary angiographic findings and diagnostic and therapeutic implications. HSS International Study Group.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hughes-Stovin syndrome (HSS) is a rare systemic vasculitis with widespread venous/arterial thrombosis and pulmonary vasculitis. Distinguishing between pulmonary embolism (PE) and in-situ thrombosis in the early stages of HSS is challenging. The aim of the study is to compare clinical, laboratory, and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) characteristics in patients diagnosed with PE versus those with HSS. METHODS: This retrospective study included 40 HSS patients with complete CTPA studies available, previously published by the HSS study group, and 50 patients diagnosed with PE from a single center. Demographics, clinical and laboratory findings, vascular thrombotic events, were compared between both groups. The CTPA findings were reviewed, with emphasis on the distribution, adherence to the mural wall, pulmonary infarction, ground glass opacification, and intra-alveolar hemorrhage. Pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) in HSS were assessed and classified. RESULTS: The mean age of HSS patients was 35 ± 12.3 years, in PE 58.4 ± 17 (p < 0.0001). Among PE 39(78 %) had co-morbidities, among HSS none. In contrast to PE, in HSS both major venous and arterial thrombotic events are seen.. Various patterns of PAAs were observed in the HSS group, which were entirely absent in PE. Parenchymal hemorrhage was also more frequent in HSS compared to PE (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Major vascular thrombosis with arterial aneurysms formation are characteristic of HSS. PE typically appear loosely-adherent and mobile whereas "in-situ thrombosis" seen in HSS is tightly-adherent to the mural wall. Mural wall enhancement and PAAs are distinctive pulmonary findings in HSS. The latter findings have significant therapeutic ramifications.

Statin in Clinical and Preclinical Knee Osteoarthritis-What E vidence Exists for Future Clinical Use?-A Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Statins are used to lower serum cholesterol. Recent preclinical and clinical research focuses on articular cartilage regeneration aspects of statin. This review summarizes the effects of statins on knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Published preclinical and clinical literature till November 2021 were searched in PubMed and PubMed Central databases. Articles not written in English, not relevant for the review, and unpublished evidence were excluded. Finally, 27 papers were reviewed and presented in the study. RESULTS: A total of 27 articles have been included-13 clinical and 14 preclinical studies. Preclinical studies showed statin-induced chondroprotective effects; these included in vitro studies on human or animal-derived degenerated articular cartilage as well as OA animal models. Chondroprotective effects of statins are thought to mediate by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, preventing synovial inflammation, and inhibiting catabolic-stress-induced aging of cartilage. Preclinical study outcomes were based on biochemical, macroscopic, and microscopic (histology) assessments and seemed promising in cartilage regeneration. In the 13 clinical studies, the effect of statins on human OA is inconclusive: some showing improvement of OA symptoms, and others depict signs of aggravation and radiological progression. No randomized controlled trial (RCT) has tested the efficacy of intra-articular statins in clinical knee OA, and it seems feasible to avoid oral statinassociated severe adverse effects. CONCLUSION: There are no arguments to recommend oral statins in clinical OA-knee. An RCT testing the efficacy of oral statins in patients with OA knee was never done and still seems justified, as well as a prospective phase-II clinical trial for intra-articular statins in different types of OA.

Looking at fibromyalgia differently - An observational study of the meaning and consequences of fibromyalgia as a dimensional disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Despite data showing that fibromyalgia can be represented as a dimensional disorder, almost all assessments treat fibromyalgia as a dichotomous categorial disorder; and research shows that agreement between community diagnosis of fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia criteria is poor. We investigated the validity of FM as a discrete disorder by exploring the relationships of categorical fibromyalgia, the polysymptomatic distress (PSD) scale, and clinical variables. METHODS: In a databank of 33,972 rheumatic disease patients, we studied the categorical diagnosis of fibromyalgia, the PSD scale separately and divided into severity groups, measures of widespread pain, as well as somatic syndrome questionnaires like the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), and clinical pain, global, HAQ disability and quality of life scales (EQ-5D). RESULTS: Clinical and demographic variables became more abnormal with increasing PSD score groups, indicating substantial increase in symptoms and pain. The changes across PSD categories were linear and large. When we compared FM- (PSD 8-11) with FM+ (PSD 12-18) patients we found considerable overlap in scores for pain, HAQ disability, patient global, PHQ-15, psychological status, and other variables. Somatic symptom scores were highly correlated with PSD (r=0.718). There was no evidence of a differential pain effect that was present in FM+ but not FM- subjects. CONCLUSION: Fibromyalgia is more accurately considered a dimensional than a dichotomous disorder. There is vast variability among fibromyalgia positive and negative cases that is governed by the strong and linear relationships between the dimensional PSD scale and clinical variables. The PSD scale provides measurements of the fibromyalgia dimension that support and enlighten categorical fibromyalgia and are an effective tool to measure clinical status and changes. Whatever the mechanism of the pain and symptom increase in fibromyalgia, it appears to operate over the entire fibromyalgia symptom dimension, not just in those with categorical fibromyalgia.

Tofacitinib for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal manifestations are common extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. Tofacitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. There are limited data on the efficacy of tofacitinib in managing inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis. Here we report two patients with ulcerative colitis- and Crohn's disease-associated arthritis successfully responding to tofacitinib. CASES: A 34-year-old Bangladeshi woman presented with lower limb polyarthritis for 7 years. Six months after the onset of polyarthritis, she developed abdominal pain with rectal bleeding. Colonoscopy and rectal biopsy findings confirmed ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis associated arthritis was diagnosed. Treatment with sulfasalazine, etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, and methotrexate gave no long-lasting remission. Methotrexate with mesalazine gave a partial response, and tofacitinib 5 mg twice per day was added. Her articular and abdominal symptoms improved within a month, and remission persisted till 24 months of follow-up, except a short-lasting mild flare at the seventh month. A 52-year-old Bangladeshi man had Crohn's disease for 5 years. He presented with a swollen left knee and pain in other joints. Laboratory showed positive HLA-B27. He was intolerant to sulfasalazine and experienced poor response to methotrexate. Due to his inability to afford anti-tumor necrosis factor, tofacitinib was initiated. His arthritis improved within a month, and he remained in remission up to the sixth month. CONCLUSIONS: In a woman with ulcerative colitis associated arthritis, refractory to biologic therapy, both arthritis and colitis improved with tofacitinib. A patient with Crohn's disease-associated arthritis went into remission with tofacitinib. Tofacitinib may be effective in inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis.

Piriformis Syndrome in Pre-monsoon, Monsoon, and Winter: An Observational Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION:  Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a rare focal soft tissue rheumatic disease. Due to heavy rural work, we questioned whether PS was more prevalent in the rainy monsoon than in other seasons. In this pilot research, we studied the pattern of PS, the frequency of PS over the seasons, and whether there were typical preceding events.  Methods: In this time-series descriptive study, PS cases diagnosed in a community-based clinic between January 2018 and December 2019 were enrolled. PS was diagnosed by clinical features and a 50% immediate pain relief from ultrasonogram-guided lidocaine (2%) injection in the piriformis muscle (PM). PS mimics were excluded. RESULTS:  A total of 38 PS cases (11 males) were enrolled consecutively. In 2018, during dry winter (November-February), pre-monsoon (March-May), and rainy monsoon (June-October), nine, seven, and one PS cases were diagnosed, respectively; in 2019, the numbers were three, eight, and seven, respectively. Thus, over two years, 12 PS patients were diagnosed in dry winter, 15 in pre-monsoon, and eight in rainy monsoon. There was no correlation with the type of preceding events. There were no differences in the pattern of PS between the seasons. CONCLUSIONS:  In this pilot study, over two years more new PS cases were observed in the pre-monsoon and dry winter than in the rainy season; this was not supporting our research question. There was no association with specific preceding events.

Pulmonary vasculitis in Behçet's disease: reference atlas computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) findings and risk assessment-management proposal.

BACKGROUND AND AIM:  Pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) are the most well-defined type of pulmonary vascular complication in Behçet's disease (BD).The aim of this study is to analyze which CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) signs are associated with serious morbidity and mortality. METHODS: The study included 42 BD patients with pulmonary vascular complications. All patients' medical records were reviewed retrospectively in terms of demographics, disease characteristics, laboratory investigations, pulmonary manifestations, arterial and/or venous thrombosis and CTPA vascular and parenchymal findings. RESULTS: Deep venous thrombosis was observed in 31(73.8%) patients, arterial thrombosis in 13(31%), peripheral arterial aneurysms in 12(286%), haemoptysis in 38 (90.5%), and fatal haemoptysis in 8(19 %) patients. CTPA revealed: in situ thrombosis in 14(33.3%) patients, true stable PAAs in 13(31), true unstable PAAs in 11(26.2%), stable pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms (PAPs) in 7(16.7%), unstable PAPs in 17(40.5%), the latter were associated with perianeurysmal leaking in 26(61.9%) and bronchial indentation in 19(45.2%).In regression analysis, fatal outcomes were associated with age in years (p=0.035), arterial thrombosis (p=0.025), peripheral arterial aneurysms (p=0.010), intracardiac thrombosis (p=0.026) and positively associated with haemoptysis severity (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Peripheral arterial thrombosis and/or aneurysms, intracardiac thrombosis and haemoptysis severity are predictor of fatal outcomes in BD pulmonary vasculitis. PAPs with perianeurysmal alveolar haemorrhage and/or bronchial indentation are serious CTPA signs that require prompt identification and aggressive treatment. PAPs are a more serious aneurysmal pattern than true PAAs because they are a contained rupture of a PA branch in the context of pulmonary vasculitis.

Muscle fiber velocity and electromyographic signs of fatigue in fibromyalgia.

INTRODUCTION: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder of widespread muscular pain. We investigated possible differences in surface electromyography (sEMG) in clinically unaffected muscle between patients with FM and controls. METHODS: sEMG was performed on the biceps brachii muscle of 13 women with FM and 14 matched healthy controls during prolonged dynamic exercises, unloaded, and loaded up to 20% of maximum voluntary contraction. The sEMG parameters were: muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV); skewness of motor unit potential (peak) velocities; peak frequency (PF) (number of peaks per second); and average rectified voltage (ARV). RESULTS: There was significantly higher CV in the FM group. Although the FM group performed the tests equally well, their electromyographic fatigue was significantly less expressed compared with controls (in CV, PF, and ARV). CONCLUSION: In the patients with FM, we clearly showed functional abnormalities of the muscle membrane, which led to high conduction velocity and resistance to fatigue in electromyography.

Hearing loss in fibromyalgia? Somatic sensory and non-sensory symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia and other rheumatic disorders.

OBJECTIVES: It has been proposed that fibromyalgia can be understood as a disorder of central sensitisation and dysregulation (CD) and that characteristic somatic symptoms are the result of 'central augmentation'. We examined this hypothesis by analysing sensory and non-sensory variables in the context of the updated (2010) American College of Rheumatology definition of fibromyalgia and the fibromyalgianess (polysymptomatic distress) scale. METHODS: We studied 11,288 patients, including those with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). We divided somatic symptoms into sensory (hearing difficulties) and evaluative (easy bruising and hair loss) non-sensory symptoms, and included a non-symptom that was neutral as to psychological content or meaning (influenza vaccination). Data were analysed by logistic regression and adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: Fibromyalgia patients reported more sensory and non-sensory symptoms than patients with RA and OA, but not more non-symptoms. At all levels of fibromyalgianess (or fibromyalgia intensity) the probability of sensory and non-sensory symptoms was similar across all rheumatic diseases, and this association occurred in FM criteria (+) and criteria (-) patients. No association was noted with the non-symptom control question. CONCLUSIONS: While the CD hypothesis is consistent with hearing problems in fibromyalgia, there is no medical explanation for the evaluative symptoms of hair loss and bruising being increased. The associations between fibromyalgia/fibromyalgianess and evaluative (not sensory) symptoms must occur through mechanisms other than central sensitization and augmentation, and are consistent with over-reporting that has a psychological basis. However, augmentation of sensory symptoms does not preclude simultaneous over-reporting.

Abnormal muscle membrane function in fibromyalgia patients and its relationship to the number of tender points.

OBJECTIVES: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder characterised by chronic widespread pain in soft tissues, especially in muscles. Previous research has demonstrated a higher muscle fibre conduction velocity (CV) in painful muscles of FM patients. The primary goal of this study was to investigate whether there is also a difference in CV in non-painful, non-tender point (TP) related muscles between FM patients and controls. The secondary goal was to explore associations between the CV, the number of TPs and the complaints in FM. METHODS: Surface electromyography (sEMG) was performed on the biceps brachii muscle of female FM patients (13) and matched healthy controls (13). Short static contractions were applied with the arm unloaded and loaded at 5% and 10% of maximum voluntary force. The CV was derived by cross-correlation method (CV-cc) and inter-peak latency method (CV-ipl). TP score and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) were performed in all participants. Correlations were calculated between the CVs, TP score and items of the FIQ. RESULTS: In FM patients, the CV was higher than in the controls (CV-cc p=0.005; CV-ipl p=0.022). The CV was correlated with the number of TPs in FM patients (r=0.642 and 0.672 for CV-cc and CV-ipl, respectively). No correlations were found between the CV and any aspect of health status on the FIQ. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate abnormally high muscle membrane conduction velocity in FM, even in non-TP muscles. In addition, a relationship has been found between the high membrane velocity and the number of TPs.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a Bengali version of the modified fibromyalgia impact questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Currently, no validated instruments are available to measure the health status of Bangladeshi patients with fibromyalgia (FM). The aims of this study were to cross-culturally adapt the modified Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) into Bengali (B-FIQ) and to test its validity and reliability in Bangladeshi patients with FM. METHODS: The FIQ was translated following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines and pretested in 30 female patients with FM. Next, the adapted B-FIQ was physician-administered to 102 consecutive female FM patients together with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), selected subscales of the SF-36, and visual analog scales for current clinical symptoms. A tender point count (TPC) was performed by an experienced rheumatologist. Forty randomly selected patients completed the B-FIQ again after 7 days. Two control groups of 50 healthy people and 50 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients also completed the B-FIQ. RESULTS: For the final B-FIQ, five physical function sub-items were replaced with culturally appropriate equivalents. Internal consistency was adequate for both the 11-item physical function subscale (α = 0.73) and the total scale (α = 0.83). With exception of the physical function subscale, expected correlations were generally observed between the B-FIQ items and selected subscales of the SF-36, HAQ, clinical symptoms, and TPC. The B-FIQ was able to discriminate between FM patients and healthy controls and between FM patients and RA patients. Test-retest reliability was adequate for the physical function subscale (r = 0.86) and individual items (r = 0.73-0.86), except anxiety (r = 0.27) and morning tiredness (r = 0.64). CONCLUSION: This study supports the reliability and validity of the B-FIQ as a measure of functional disability and health status in Bangladeshi women with FM.

Transient regional osteoporosis of the ankle with shifting bone marrow edema pattern within the joint.

We describe a case of bone marrow edema (BME) shifting within one ankle joint in a 35-year-old - male patient. He presented with increasing pain and no history of trauma. Clinically no local swelling was found and laboratory findings and plain x-ray studies were normal. He did not improve on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 2 weeks. A Gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed no evidence of synovitis, but BME was observed in the talus and transient regional osteoporosis was diagnosed. The patient was treated conservatively by protective partial weight bearing of the affected joint and he showed partial improvement after 6 months of daily treatment with Calcitonin Salmon nasal spray. A magnetic resonance imaging after 6 months showed that the BME had shifted anteriorly with complete resolution at the initial site. Transient regional osteoporosis is a rare self-limiting syndrome characterized by sudden onset of joint pain, functional limitations and spontaneous recovery, without preceding trauma. The condition may present as one episode affecting only one joint or recurrent episode that may affect multiple joints. BME between different compartments of the same joint can occur and has been reported only in a few case reports in the knee joint. The case is discussed and the literature is reviewed.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of Gruberi Bursitis as a very rare cause of dorsolateral ankle pain and swelling: Case report and review of the literature.

The Gruberi sinus tarsi bursa is a dorsolateral ankle anatomic bursa that has been described in the past but is rarely mentioned in recent radiology literature. The Gruberi bursa is distinguished by its position between the extensor digitorum longus tendons and the talus. It is usually unilocular, anechoic and compressible as shown with ultrasound in a previous study. In recent literature, the enhanced MRI features of an inflamed Gruberi bursa as the underlying cause of a painful ankle joint and antalgic gait are rarely demonstrated. In this report, we present the enhanced MRI features of Gruberi bursitis in a female patient who complained of acute onset of pain and swelling along the dorsolateral aspect of her left ankle, as well as a painful limping gait after sport-related activities. Complaints improved after an intra-bursal corticosteroid injection. The case is discussed and the typical enhanced MRI features are demonstrated. The relevant literature is discussed.

Emerging and New Treatment Options for Knee Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent type of arthritis worldwide, resulting in pain and often chronic disability and a significant burden on healthcare systems globally. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, intra-articular corticosteroid injections are of little value in the long term, and opioids may have ominous consequences. Radiotherapy of knee OA has no added value. Physical therapy, exercises, weight loss, and lifestyle modifications may give pain relief, improve physical functioning and quality of life. However, none of them has articular cartilage regenerating potential. Due to a better understanding of osteoarthritis, innovative new treatment options have been developed. In this narrative review, we focus on emerging OA knee treatments, relieving symptoms, and regenerating damaged articular cartilage that includes intra-articular human serum albumin, conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), metformin, lipid-lowering agents (statin), nerve growth factors antagonists, bone morphogenetic protein, fibroblast growth factors, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC), exosomes, interleukin-1 blockers, gene-based therapy, and bisphosphonate.

Pelvi-abdominal ACTINOMYCOSIS as a complication of long-term use of intrauterine device (IUD). The important role of imaging in diagnosis and follow-up.

ACTINOMYCOSIS is a rare chronic granulomatous disease caused by anaerobic filamentous gram-positive bacteria, the most common of which is Actinomyces israelii. Actinomycetes are commensal inhabitants of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, but they may become pathogenic through invasion of breached or necrotic tissue. Pelviabdominal ACTINOMYCOSIS is uncommon and can mimic a variety of disease processes, including abdominal mass mimicking malignancy, acute abdomen, asthenia, and weight loss. We describe a 38-year-old woman who presented with acute abdominal pain and tenderness, as well as constitutional manifestations and elevated inflammatory markers. On initial computerized tomography (CT) and MRI, a large fluid collection underlining the anterior abdominal wall at the false pelvic cavity, as well as parietal peritoneal enhancement and smudging of the mesenteric fat and a bulky fibroid uterus with an implanted IUD, were identified. The ultrasound guided aspiration and anaerobic culture revealed positive growth for Actinomyces bacteria. An exploratory laparoscopy revealed extensive adhesions between the abdominal wall and the small intestine, as well as hyperemic and thickened peritoneum, and peritoneal biopsy confirmed ACTINOMYCOSIS. After the diagnosis was established, the IUD was removed and the patient was given Ceftriaxone 2 gm once daily for 6 weeks before switching to oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for another 3 months. A significant regression of the suprapubic fluid collection, and peritoneal-mesenteric changes were confirmed on follow-up. The case is discussed, and the relevant literature reviewed and analyzed.

The clinical utility of faecal calprotectin in patients with differentiated and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis: Relevance and clinical implications.

OBJECTIVES: There is cumulative evidence in the literature supporting a potential role of faecal calprotectin (FCP) as a biomarker for gut inflammation in spondyloarthritis (SpA). However its relevance in undifferentiated SpA (USpA) is still uncertain. The aim of the current study is to assess the diagnostic significance of FCP levels in patients with differentiated and undifferentiated SpA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 52 differentiated SpA, 33 USpA and 50 controls could be included. For all patients, clinical evaluation, routine laboratory investigations, FCP levels, and occult blood in stool were performed. When indicated imaging and/or endoscopies were performed. RESULTS: The differentiated SpA patients were 12 (23.1%) with ankylosing spondylitis, 21 (40.4%) with psoriatic arthritis, 13 (25%) with ulcerative colitis, 5 (9.6%) with Crohn's disease (CD) and one (1.9%) with reactive arthritis. The mean FCP level in 85 patients correlated with CRP and ESR. Within the SpA group ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients had increased FCP levels compared to other SpA subgroups and USpA patients (p<0.001). The mean FCP levelwas significantly higher in the SpA patients compared to USpA and controls (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated FCP levels may identify patients who are most likely to have SpA already in the unclassified phase of the disease. Further studies in different series of patients are needed to evaluate the potential diagnostic and prognostic roles of FCP in both differentiated and undifferentiated phases of the disease.

Digital Gangrene: An Unusual Manifestation of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Background: Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) comprise a group of haematologic malignancies with different histologic subtypes. The clinical picture varies from indolent to aggressive presentation and nodal (lymphadenopathy) to extranodal (central nervous system, gastrointestinal, cutaneous plaque, or ulcer) involvement. Digital gangrene is seldom reported. Here, we describe a patient with pain and blackening of all fingers and toes as presenting symptoms of NHL. Case Presentation. A 32-year-old male weaver had been smoking three to five cannabis-containing cigarettes daily for about ten years and methamphetamine four to five tablets daily for five years. He had no history of Raynaud's phenomenon, fever, cough, weight loss, skin rash, joint pain, and atherogenic or thrombogenic risk factors. We found normal blood pressure and absent peripheral pulses in arms and legs, dry gangrene of all fingers and toes, generalized lymphadenopathy, and hepatomegaly with ascites. The chest X-ray was normal, as were blood sugar, lipid profile, and hepatic and renal function. Rheumatoid factor, antinuclear and antiphospholipid antibodies, C-ANCA and P-ANCA, hepatitis B and C, and HIV were negative. CT abdomen revealed hepatosplenomegaly with multiple intra-abdominal lymphadenopathies. The peripheral angiogram showed 90-99% stenosis of radial and dorsalis pedis arteries with normal proximal vessels. Diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma was confirmed by histopathology of cervical lymph node (diffuse type), immunohistochemically subtyped as peripheral T cell lymphoma (not otherwise specified). The digital ischemia worsened despite cessation of cannabis and methamphetamine and starting CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) treatment, making amputation necessary. Conclusion: We present, to our knowledge, the first report of peripheral T cell lymphoma, NOS presenting with gangrene in all digits complicated by methamphetamine and cannabis abuse. This uncommon vascular manifestation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma may cause a diagnostic dilemma and delayed initiation of treatment.

Therapeutic consequences of crystals in the synovial fluid: a review for clinicians.

Many crystals may be found in arthritic joints. Rheumatologists are able to diagnose, with a high degree of probability, which crystals induce arthritis in the individual case. A definite diagnosis supported by polarisation microscopy may provide a firm basis for adequate long-term treatment. Recently new insights in the inflammatory processes induced the development of targeted therapies. We review novel developments in crystal-induced arthritis and gout in particular.