Rheumatology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Can training in musculoskeletal examination skills be effectively delivered by undergraduate students as part of the standard curriculum?
There is a need to improve competence of musculoskeletal system (MSS) examination in medical students and junior doctors. Peer-assisted learning (PAL) is a technique whereby students learn from and with each other. This study aimed to determine whether PAL can be integrated into standard undergraduate medical curricula to improve MSS examination using the gait, arms, legs, spine (GALS) screening tool. ⋯ MSS examination skills are improved by integrating PAL into the undergraduate medical curriculum, with student confidence being increased, and higher OSCE scores.
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IA injections of SIJs with corticosteroids are often performed in patients suffering from low back pain due to active sacroiliitis. However, SIJ injections are technically demanding, and therefore the clinical outcome of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid SIJ injections was analysed in relation to the accuracy of the injection. ⋯ These results demonstrate that IA SIJ injections remain technically challenging despite ultrasound guidance. However, peri-articular deposition of triamcinolone appears sufficient for pain and symptom control in patients suffering from active sacroiliitis.
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To determine the efficacy of IA corticosteroid (CS) injection in pain reduction for hip OA under ultrasound (US) guidance. ⋯ US-guided steroid injections in hip OA is an efficacious and safe therapeutic approach to achieve pain control and reduction of synovial hypertrophy avoiding the use of X-ray-guided procedure.
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Meta Analysis
Non-synonymous variant (Gly307Ser) in CD226 is associated with susceptibility to multiple autoimmune diseases.
Recently, a non-synonymous (Gly307Ser) variant, rs763361, in the CD226 gene was shown to be associated with multiple autoimmune diseases (ADs) in European Caucasian populations. However, shared autoimmunity with CD226 has not been evaluated in non-European populations. The aim of the present study is to assess the association of this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with ADs in non-European populations. ⋯ Our results demonstrate that the coding variant rs763361 in CD226 gene is associated with multiple ADs in non-European populations.
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Clinical Trial
Effect of bosentan on skin fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis: a prospective, open-label, non-comparative trial.
To assess the effect of the ET-receptor antagonist bosentan on skin fibrosis and functionality in patients with SSc. ⋯ In addition to the well-known effect of bosentan in prevention of DUs, the results of this study demonstrate that bosentan may also be effective at reducing skin fibrosis in patients with SSc.