Medicine
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Collagen type XI alpha 2 chain is a component of type XI collagen and is expressed in various tissues including articular cartilage and tectorial membrane of the cochlea. Variants in the COL11A2 gene, which encodes collagen type XI alpha 2 chain, has been reported to cause hearing loss and has been associated with osteoarthritis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine. Despite the importance of type XI collagen in the joints, association of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with COL11A2 has not been reported. ⋯ We herein report a patient with RA with compound heterozygous variants in the COL11A2 gene. Autoantibodies against type XI collagen are detected in the sera of patients with RA, suggesting the possibility that type XI collagen may be involved in the pathogenesis of RA as an autoantigen. The hearing loss and osteoarthritis in this patient may be due to the compound heterozygous variants in the COL11A2 gene, and the conformational changes induced by the variants may have changed the immunogenicity of type XI collagen, leading to the development of RA.
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Case Reports
Stenosing tenosynovitis with rice bodies formation diagnosed by ultrasound: A case report.
Rice bodies are usually found in several nonspecific chronic inflammatory diseases that are symptomatically dominated by primary disease and local compression symptoms. Rice bodies are usually detected by magnetic resonance imaging; however, some remote areas and areas with poor economic conditions do not have access to magnetic resonance imaging examination, which leads to delayed diagnosis of the disease. ⋯ Stenosing tenosynovitis with rice body formation is a very rare condition, and we use ultrasound for diagnosis. Ultrasound is convenient, rapid, inexpensive, and can obtain blood flow information, facilitate disease follow-up, and even allow ultrasound localization in advance for guided needle biopsy.
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Surgeons generally perform Hickman catheter insertion in children under general anesthesia. At times, it is difficult to perform procedures with an anesthesiologist for an interventional radiologist. Several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are efficiently and safely conducted using intravenous (IV) sedation in children with a pediatrician. ⋯ Catheter-related infections were suspected in 4 patients (6.8%), with 1 positive result. Radiological Hickman catheter placement in children under 20 kg using IV sedation by pediatricians is effective and safe, with minimal complications. The carina is a landmark to estimate the cavoatrial junction in pediatric patients.
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Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) refer to musculoskeletal injuries caused by the occupation. Physical therapists (PTs) suffer from a high risk of WMSD despite their extensive knowledge in ergometrics and injury prevention. This study aims to discover the incidence and prevalence of WMSD among PTs using Taiwan's nationwide claims database. ⋯ The patients/PTs ratio was higher (270.56-337.74) in 1998 and 2004 to 2007 and became stable (245.93-252.82) in 2008 to 2012, correlating with a rise in the WMSD prevalence in 1999 to 2007 and a steady prevalence after 2008 (63.5%-66.3%) in PTs. In conclusion, the risk of WMSD among PTs was positively correlated to the frequency of patients seeking rehabilitation service. In addition, age and gender were important risk factors for developing WMSD among PTs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of acupuncture on oligomenorrhea due to polycystic ovary syndrome: An international multicenter, pilot randomized controlled trial.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common disorders of reproductive endocrinology affecting women of reproductive age. Our study aims to explore the feasibility of a full-scale trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS. ⋯ This is the first protocol for multi-country, multi-center RCTs for PCOS in Korea and China. The control group in this study will be subjected to usual care (regular meals, enough sleep, and appropriate exercise). The results of this study will provide evidence for future clinical decisions and guidelines.This trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04509817).