Clinical rheumatology
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Clinical rheumatology · Feb 2021
Characteristics of primary Sjögren's syndrome related lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia.
This paper is aimed at investigating the clinical characteristics of primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) with lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP). ⋯ To the patients of pSS-LIP, female were more common than male, and the onset of LIP was usually more insidious. Hyperglobulinemia and anti-SSA antibody were more prominent in patients with pSS-LIP. Pulmonary function showed the higher rate of obstructive ventilation dysfunction and the lower rate of diffusion dysfunction. The appearance of ground-glass opacities in pSS-LIP patients suggests that the infiltration of inflammatory cells increases, which may cause airway compression, the expansion of terminal bronchioles, and the formation of cysts. The more ground-glass opacities appear earlier, and the more appearance of new cysts later. Therapy with glucocorticoid may be effective on the ground-glass opacity during acute stage, and therapy with cyclophosphamide may be effective on the cysts during chronic stage. The heavier ground-glass opacity is at baseline, the more likely it will recur during maintenance treatment. So follow-up closely is needed. Key Points • It is the first clinical study with more cases of patients with pSS-LIP. • Female and hyperglobulinemia and anti-SSA antibody were more prominent in patients with pSS-LIP. • Pulmonary function showed the higher rate of obstructive ventilation dysfunction and the lower rate of diffusion dysfunction. • Therapy with glucocorticoid may be effective on the ground-glass opacity during acute stage, and therapy with cyclophosphamide may be effective on the cysts during chronic stage.
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Clinical rheumatology · Jan 2021
Measurement properties of Pain Catastrophizing Scale in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Pain catastrophizing impacts symptoms and outcomes for knee osteoarthritis (OA). We evaluated the internal consistency, content, construct and structure validity of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) in patients with knee OA. ⋯ This study supports internal consistency, construct validity and structural validity of PCS as a measure of pain catastrophizing in knee OA patients. Key points • The PCS is validated for measuring pain catastrophizing in knee OA patients, for evaluation of possible link to post-KR surgery satisfaction outcomes and other purposes.
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Clinical rheumatology · Dec 2020
ReviewChallenges, collaboration, and innovation in rheumatology education during the COVID-19 pandemic: leveraging new ways to teach.
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the field of rheumatology, in both the delivery of clinical care and didactic education for our trainees. These changes have generated significant strain for program directors and clinical educators who have had to leverage technology and develop new systems to ensure continued trainee education and assessment. ⋯ With the rapid dissolution of barriers in place during the pre-COVID-19 era, we have the opportunity to assess the efficacy of new methods of care and further integrate technology into teaching and assessment. We propose that a hybrid in-person and technology-enabled learning approach, so-called blended learning, is likely to remain the most desirable future model for supporting trainee learning.