Effects of Yoga in Daily Life program in rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of a yoga program in improving health-related quality of life (HQOL), physical and psychological functioning in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. DESIGN: Single-centre parallel-arms randomized controlled trial comparing yoga (n = 30) and education control group (n = 27). SETTING: Tertiary care University hospital. INTERVENTION: A 12-week yoga program, based on the Yoga in Daily Life system, included 2x weekly/90-minute sessions. The control group had 1xweekly/60-minute educational lectures on arthritis-related topics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assessments were performed at baseline, 12 (post-intervention) and 24 weeks (follow-up). The primary outcome was change in The Short Form-36 (SF-36) HQOL at 12 weeks. Linear regression analysis was adjusted for baseline scores. RESULTS: No significant between-group differences were found for SF-36 (all p > 0.05). At 12 weeks the adjusted mean difference between groups favoured yoga for Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-fatigue (5.08 CI 1.29 to 8.86; p = 0.009) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)-depression (-1.37 CI -2.38 to -0.36); p = 0.008) and at 24 weeks for HADS-anxiety (-1.79 CI -3.34 to - 0.23; p = 0.025), while the impact on fatigue was sustained (5.43 CI 1.33 to 9.54, p = 0.01). The program had no impact on RA disease activity. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment rate 16 %, retention 80.7 %, and adherence to yoga 87.5 vs 82.7 % for control. No serious adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Yoga in Daily Life program was not associated with change in health-related quality of life of RA patients. Significant improvements in fatigue and mood were observed at postintervention and follow-up. This yoga program was found feasible and safe for patients and may complement standard RA treat-to-target strategy.

DAPSA and ultrasound show different perspectives of psoriatic arthritis disease activity: results from a 12-month longitudinal observational study in patients starting treatment with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

OBJECTIVES: Disease Activity index for PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) (sum score 68/66 tender/swollen joint counts (68TJC/66SJC), patient's global assessment, pain and C-reactive protein (CRP)) is recommended for clinical assessment of disease activity in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Ultrasound (US) (grey scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD)) detects inflammation in joints and extra-articular structures. The present objectives were to explore the longitudinal relationships between DAPSA, clinical assessment as well as patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) with US in patients with PsA initiating biological DMARDs and the associations between DAPSA and US remission. METHODS: 47 patients with PsA were examined at baseline and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Assessments included 68TJC/66SJC, examiner's global assessment (EGA), PROMs, CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and US GS and PD (48 joints, 10 flexor tendons, 14 entheses, 4 bursae). Clinical composite scores and PD sum scores (0=remission) were calculated. Longitudinal associations were explored by generalised estimating equations with linear and logistic regression. RESULTS: DAPSA was not longitudinally associated to PD. 66SJC, ESR, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, EGA and CRP were longitudinally associated with PD (p<0.001-0.03), whereas the pain-related components of DAPSA (68TJC and pain) as well as PROMs were not associated. At 6-12 months, remission was achieved in 29%-33 % of the patients for DAPSA and 59%-70 % for PD. The association between DAPSA and PD remission was not significant (p=0.33). CONCLUSIONS: DAPSA was not associated with US inflammatory findings which indicates that DAPSA and US may assess different aspects of PsA activity.

[GRANULOMATOSIS WITH POLYANGIITIS (GPA) LIMITED TO UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT--A CASE REPORT]. / GRANULOMATOZA S POLIANGIITISOM (GPA) I LOKALIZIRANIM ZAHVACANJEM GORNJEGA DISNOG SUSTAVA PRIKAZ BOLESNICE.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis) is one of the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic anti-body-associated small vessel vasculitides. Upper and lower respiratory system and kidneys are most commonly affected. The disease is characterized by granulomatous inflammation of the respiratory tract and necrotizing vasculitis of small to medium-sized blood vessels. Most patients show involvement of more than one organ systems at the time of diagnosis, and constitutional symptoms may be present. In around a quarter of patients the disease is initially localised, with involvement of upper respiratory tract or lungs. We report a 21-year-old female patient with chronic rhinitis, saddle nose deformity and subglottic stenosis who presented with inspiratory stridor and impending respiratory failure. Initially, urgent tracheotomy was performed. The patient was diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis limited to upper respiratory tract. Treatment with glucocorticoids and methotrexate was followed by clinical improvement.

Scabies in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with Adalimumab - A Case Report.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease characterized by synovitis, erosions, and destruction of affected joints. If untreated, it leads to severe disability and premature mortality. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors are biological drugs used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Possible side effects include skin allergic reactions, which, if generalized, are the reason for discontinuation of the drug. We report the case of a 46-year-old female patient with rheumatoid arthritis who presented with pruritus and erythematous papular exanthema after administration of the second dose of adalimumab. At first, we suspected a drug hypersensitivity reaction. As the signs and symptoms persisted for 2 months after discontinuation of adalimumab and despite continuous administration of antihistamines and glucocorticoids, further work-up was performed, and scabies was diagnosed. The patient was treated with topical 10% crotamiton. The symptoms were persistent and additional applications of the preparation were needed. After clinical remission of scabies, treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis with adalimumab was restarted without any complications.

[Henoch-Schönlein purpura with late-onset necrotising glomerulonephritis--a case report]. / Prikaz bolesnice s Henoch-Schönleinovom purpurom i kasnom pojavom nekrotizirajuceg glomerulonefritisa.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common systemic vasculitis in children, while it is rare in adults. Typical clinical manifestations include palpable purpura without thrombocytopenia and/or coagulopathy, arthritis/arthralgia, abdominal pain, and/or renal involvement. In adulthood the disease tends to be more serious than in children, with renal manifestations developing over a period of several days to one month after initial symptoms. In this article we present a 22-year-old female patient with cutaneous vasculitis and arthralgia, in whom renal disease developed 8 weeks after disease onset with microscopic hematuria and proteinuria in urinalysis. Renal biopsy subsequently performed revealed focal necrotising glomerulonephritis with IgA deposits. The patient was treated with high dose methylprednisolone followed by gradual tapering, which induced complete remission of the disease. In conclusion, patients with HSP should be carefully monitored for systemic involvement, since serious renal disease can develop even as late as two months after disease onset.

[Comorbidities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Komorbiditet u bolesnika s reumatoidnim artritisom.

Comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients significantly impairs and limits management of primary disease, decreases general quality of life, and worsens outcomes. Cardiovascular comorbidity is the leading cause of excess mortality in RA patients, which is up to two times higher compared to the general population. Infections, pulmonary disease and malignant diseases also contribute to excess mortality, while fatigue, depression and osteoporosis are related to decreased quality of life. Adequate management of RA patients should therefore, besides tight control of disease activity, also include comorbidity screening and management. This approach should improve both RA and comorbidity related outcomes.

[Large vessel vasculitides]. / Vaskulitisi velikih krvnih zila.

Large vessel vasculitis includes Giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis. Giant cell arteritis is the most common form of vasculitis affect patients aged 50 years or over. The diagnosis should be considered in older patients who present with new onset of headache, visual disturbance, polymyalgia rheumatica and/or fever unknown cause. Glucocorticoides remain the cornerstone of therapy. Takayasu arteritis is a chronic panarteritis of the aorta ant its major branches presenting commonly in young ages. Although all large arteries can be affected, the aorta, subclavian and carotid arteries are most commonly involved. The most common symptoms included upper extremity claudication, hypertension, pain over the carotid arteries (carotidynia), dizziness and visual disturbances. Early diagnosis and treatment has improved the outcome in patients with TA.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva in a 62-year-old woman with unstable angina pectoris: a case report.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva is a rare congenital coronary anomaly. We report a case of a 62-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, diabetes type 2 and hypercholesterolemia who was admitted to the local hospital because of unstable angina pectoris. Coronary angiography was performed revealing the anomalous left main coronary artery arising from a single ostium in the right sinus of Valsalva together with the right coronary artery which showed a 90% proximal stenosis. The patient was referred to our hospital for further management. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) coronary angiography confirmed these findings and determined coursing of the anomalous left coronary artery anterior to the pulmonary trunk. The proximal RCA lesion was successfully treated with direct stenting. She is asymptomatic on clinical follow-up at 18 months.

[Cholesterol crystal embolism and renal insufficiency: case report and literature review]. / Kolesterolska embolizacija i bubrezna insuficijencija: prikaz bolesnika i pregled literature.

Cholesterol crystal embolism with renal impairment is increasingly recognised as an iatrogenic complication of invasive vascular procedures. We present a 58-year-old patient in whom the presence of a classic triad of precipitating event (coronary angiography), subacute presentation of renal failure and cutaneous lesions (livedo reticularis and Blue Toe syndrome) suggested this entity. The confirmatory diagnosis was made by means of renal biopsy which revealed cholesterol crystals lodged in arteries. In our patient severe renal insufficiency requiering hemodialysis ensued. Glucocorticoid and statin therapy failed to recover the renal function. The patient died from acute myocardial infarction. Invasive cardiac procedures are increasing in number especially in the elderly population so higher incidence of cholesterol crystal embolism coud be expected in the future. Increased awareness of this syndrome is necessary for early recognition, which is crucial for treatment, and defining the high-risk patient in whom other modalities of coronary diagnostics coud be considered.

[Elective percutaneous coronary intervention after acute coronary syndrome]. / Elektivna perkutana koronarna intervencija (PCI) nakon akutnog koronarnog sindroma.

Elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to guidelines issued by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC), is a therapeutic method that is indicated in patients with ACS with ST segment elevation in case of persistent signs of myocardial ischemia and with significant stenosis of coronary artery verified by coronary angiography, suitable for PCI according to the guidelines. It is also indicated for non-culprit significant stenosis of other coronary arteries which have been seen during primary PCI for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). After non ST segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or after non-ST elevation ACS, elective coronary artery angiography is indicated in low risk patients if they have positive signs of ischemia on noninvasive tests. Depending on the results of coronary angiography, elective PCI is indicated according to ESC or AHA/ACC guidelines. The method success is assessed at three levels, i.e. by angiography, clinically and periprocedurally. PCI enables earlier and more efficient resolution of symptoms, better effort tolerance and lower rate of residual ischemia on noninvasive tests.

Pulmonary valve papillary fibroelastoma diagnosed by echocardiography: a case report.

Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) are rare cardiac valve tumours with reported incidence of <0.03% according to autopsy studies. Among them, pulmonary valve PFEs are extremely rare. With wider use of echocardiography, they are being increasingly recognized premortem. We describe a case of a 32-year-old Caucasian woman with PFE of pulmonic valve diagnosed by echocardiography. The patient underwent surgery due to high mobility of the tumour and high risk of embolic complications. The surgery was done with complete tumour resection and total preservation of valve function. This case report discusses diagnostics of PFEs, their characteristic echocardiographic and histological features, and possible complications and suggests treatment options in this rare cardiac tumour.

A cold shock response triggering acute myocardial infarction.

Acute risk factors are activities and events that suddenly and transiently increase the risk of acute cardiac events, as reported recently in International Journal of Cardiology. It has already been reported that sudden submersion in cold water may provoke myocardial infarction in both subjects with atherosclerotic coronary disease and young people with angiographically normal coronary arteries. We report a case of an acute myocardial infarction triggered by sudden exposure to cold air temperature extreme in a young person with acutely occluded proximal part of the left anterior descending coronary artery and normal other coronary arteries who had extreme obesity and cigarette smoking as cardiovascular risk factors. Our report indicates that the sudden cold exposure and the resulting cold shock response may provoke acute myocardial infarction in young susceptible patients.