Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Tyndall

Publications and source records attributed to A Tyndall.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in rheumatic diseases other than systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are increasingly available as an alternative to whole marrow aspirate for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). They may be derived from an HLA matched individual (allogeneic) or from the patient (autologous). Allogeneic BMT is associated with a 15 to 35% mortality, largely due to graft versus host disease. Autologous HSC are used to rescue the patient after severe immunosuppression, and the transplant related mortality is 3 to 5%. The opportunity to ablate severe autoimmune disease with increased safety is particularly attractive for necrotizing vasculitides, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, primary Sjögren's syndrome, systemic juvenile arthritis, relapsing polychondritis, and Behçet's disease, where correct selection of cases would ensure an acceptable benefit/risk ratio. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis associated arthritis (PsA) and some non-rheumatic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus may also be candidates, but careful selection of patients with a poor prognosis is necessary. There are allogeneic BMT data from patients with aplastic anemia or leukemia and concurrent RA, PsA, and IBD and also autologous HSC BMT data from animal models to support the concept of cure. Patient studies should proceed using recently published protocol guidelines and centralized data collection.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

Hematopoietic stem cell transplants for autoimmune disease: role of EULAR. European League Against Rheumatism.

Despite improved survival of patients with systemic autoimmune disease, severe disease can still be lethal. Autologous human stem cell transplantation is an exciting therapeutic option for patients with organ or life threatening disease. The initial open pilot study must be safety oriented. Data collection will be standardized and centralized. Efforts will be coordinated by a working party from the European League Against Rheumatism and the European group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

Nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a technique for curing cardiac arrhythmias by destroying tissue that is a critical part of the targeted electrical circuit. Nausea and vomiting have been observed after use of this technique, but no study to date has examined these complications. OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of nausea and vomiting after radiofrequency catheter ablation, determine factors related to nausea and vomiting, and evaluate the antiemetic efficacy of promethazine given during the procedure. METHODS: Medical records for 369 cases of radiofrequency catheter ablation performed in a 4-year period at a university medical center were reviewed. RESULTS: Nausea after the procedure was documented in 22% of cases. Logistic regression analysis based on variables significant in bivariate analysis revealed that younger age, female sex, and longer procedure duration were significantly and independently related to nausea. Vomiting after the procedure occurred in 13% of cases. Logistic regression revealed that younger age and longer procedure duration were significantly and independently related to vomiting. Further analysis showed that patients who received larger doses of promethazine relative to the dose of fentanyl had a significantly lower incidence of vomiting. CONCLUSIONS: Nausea and vomiting occurred in a considerable number of cases. Female sex, younger age, and longer procedure duration increased the risk of nausea, whereas only age and procedure duration were associated with vomiting. This study may guide clinicians to use a prophylactic antiemetic in patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation, especially patients at increased risk for nausea and vomiting.

Adolescent↗

Parametric and non-parametric measures in the assessment of knee and hip osteoarthritis: interobserver reliability and correlation with radiology.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the interobserver reliability of parametric and non-parametric variables in the clinical assessment of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA). Three rheumatologists examined 49 patients with different radiological stages of OA using different assessment tools such as a tape measure, a goniometer, a plurimeter and a hand-held pull gauge. The reliabilities of parametric variables calculated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed much higher values than the non-parametric ones calculated by Kendall's tau beta. The highest levels of correlation in hip OA between clinical functional tests and radiological changes were found for hip extension (r = 0.57; P < 0.01) and the Patrick sign (r = 0.54; P < 0.01) while in knee OA the highest correlations were found for knee circumference (r = 0.5; P < 0.01) and knee flexion (r = 0.035; P < 0.02). Knee muscle strength, as measured with a hand-held pull gauge, showed a high level of interobserver agreement (r = 0.79), but correlated poorly with radiological changes. In conclusion parametric variables of joint morphology as knee circumference of parametric variables of function as the Patrick sign should be preferred for assessing secondary endpoints in OA clinical trials.

Aged↗

[Reiter's disease--a review of an interdisciplinary disease].

Over the past 20 years the term 'Reiter's disease' has been expanded from the classical triad of sterile urethritis, conjunctivitis and arthritis to include a broader range of reactive arthritides. Indeed, the classical syndrome as described by Reiter is rarely seen in its complete form, and the presence or absence of active infection in the joint is being redefined in the light of recent techniques of molecular biology. The terminology of Reiter's syndrome, reactive arthritis and seronegative spondylarthropathy are defined here using case examples.

Adult↗

Comfort issues in patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation.

The introduction of RFCA of accessory pathways offers an invasive yet safe cure for the potentially lethal arrhythmias associated with reentrant SVT. This lengthy procedure challenges nurses in providing patient comfort. It cannot be overemphasized how much these seemingly simple comfort measures can humanize an otherwise frighteningly "high-tech" atmosphere. Physical comfort as well as psychological well being will be enhanced with "high-touch" care. As RFCA becomes more common, further research must be directed toward maximizing comfort and minimizing complications.

Catheter Ablation↗

Central nervous system lupus: concomitant occurrence of myelopathy and cognitive dysfunction.

Reported are two cases of patients with central nervous system systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with clinical features of a myelopathy confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In one case, further evaluation including Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) and neuropsychological testing, indicated higher cortical deficits which improved after treatment with monthly pulse intravenous cyclophosphamide. Subsequent cessation of cyclophosphamide was associated with further progression of the neurological disease in this patient.

Adult↗

[Ocular manifestations of rheumatic diseases. Cooperation between internist/ophthalmologist].

A red or painful eye may be the clue to a systemic condition, many of which are of a rheumatological or immunological nature. Conjunctivitis may occur in Sjögren's Syndrome, Reiter's Syndrome (and other sero negative spondyloarthropathies) and with infections such as chlamydia and viruses. 70% of cases of episcleritis are idiopathic, the other 30% being associated with rheumatoid arthritis or other connective tissue diseases or herpes zoster infection. Scleritis may be seen with connective tissue diseases or auto immune conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, Wegener granulomatosis, polyarteritis nodosa, relapsing polychondritis, SLE), infections (herpes, tuberculosis, syphilis, aspergillosis) or metabolic (gout, porphyria, cystinosis). Retinal vasculitis is seen in SLE, Behçet's Disease, sarcoidosis, polyarteritis nodosa, Whipple's disease and Crohn's disease among others. However, uveitis presents perhaps the greatest diagnostic challenge and interface between ophthalmology and rheumatology. Some syndromes are purely ophthalmological (eg: Fuch's heterochromic cyclitis) but others may lead to the diagnosis of a rheumatic disorder (eg: recurrent unilateral acute anterior uveitis and ankylosing spondylitis). Systemic syndromes most likely to be associated with uveitis are Reiter's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis, juvenile arthritis, interstitial nephritis, inflammatory bowel disease, syphilis. The patterns are different, eg: acute painful unilateral anterior uveitis with ankylosing spondylitis and chronic asymptomatic bilateral uveitis in juvenile arthritis (ANA positive, pauci-articular) or bilateral symptomatic uveitis in sarcoidosis. An illustrative case will be presented and an algorithm for the evaluation of uveitis discussed.

Adult↗

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure in men and women aged 17 to 80 years: the Allied Irish Bank Study.

In order to determine reference values for ambulatory blood pressure, a sample of 815 healthy bank employees (399 men and 416 women), aged 17-79 years, were investigated. Ambulatory blood pressure was recorded over 24 h, taking measurements at 30-min intervals. Blood pressure was also measured by trained observers in the clinic. Ambulatory blood pressure in the 815 subjects averaged 118/72 mmHg over 24 h, 124/78 mmHg during the day (1000-2259 h) and 106/61 mmHg at night (0100-0659 h). Office blood pressure, measured by an observer, was 4/2 mmHg lower (p less than 0.0001) than daytime ambulatory pressure. The 95th centiles for the daytime ambulatory pressure in men were: 114/88 mmHg for the age group 17-29 years (n = 107); 143/91 mmHg from 30-39 years (n = 123); 150/98 mmHg from 40-49 years (n = 109); and 155/103 mmHg in 50-79 year old men (n = 60); for the corresponding age groups in women, the 95th centiles of the daytime pressure were: 131/83 mmHg (n = 174); 132/85 mmHg (n = 149); 150/94 mmHg (n = 55); and 177/97 mmHg (n = 38).

Adult↗

Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis.

Five cases (three children and two young women) of sterile inflammatory arthritis are described, each preceded by a streptococcal infection. A throat swab from one patient grew group A, beta haemolytic streptococci, and in each case unequivocal evidence of seroreaction to streptococcal antigens was present. The long term outcome in all cases was excellent, though one patient (female, 24 years of age) required prophylactic penicillin for three months. The diagnosis of a definite recent streptococcal infection is sometimes difficult as throat swabs may be negative and the diagnostic serological reaction missed unless antibodies to multiple antigens (particularly antistreptolysin O and DNAase B) are tested. These cases may represent a reactive arthritis and should be distinguished from rheumatic fever, streptococcal septic arthritis, viral arthritides, acute rheumatic diseases such as juvenile chronic arthritis, and a monoarticular presentation of a seronegative spondyloarthropathy.

Adolescent↗

Nursing care for patients with implantable defibrillators.

Patients with implantable defibrillators are a new patient population that presents challenging issues and concerns. The size of this population will increase as the device's availability increases and design improvements are made that widen its applicability. These protocols have evolved during our first year with these patients and will doubtless change as we accrue experience in assisting patients to assume the role of being their own most important healthcare manager.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗