ABSTRACT
Knee pain Is one of the most common reasons patients visit their physician. In this regard Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] is the tool of preference for diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine appropriate guidelines for knee MRI administration using the RAND Appropriateness Method [RAM]-2013. This qualitative study was done in the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2013. The most appropriate approved knee MRI administration clinical guidelines were evaluated using Guidelines Evaluation and Research Appraisal [AGREE]. Panel members consisting of six orthopedic and three rheumatologic doctors gave scores ranging from 1 to 9 for each scenario. The indications were grouped as appropriate, equivocal and inappropriate. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and SPSS ver. 18 software. Sixty-three scenarios were extracted from the guidelines and then the scenarios were evaluated in 26 indications. Thirty-two [50.79%] cases were considered appropriate, 12 [19.04%] cases uncertain and 19 [30.1%] cases inappropriate. The RAND appropriateness method is helpful in identifying the opinion of stakeholders in health care systems. Moreover, making practical use of clinical guidelines can improve patients' quality of care and prevent un-necessary costs
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension [PAH] is a late progressive sclerodermarelated complication, which can lead to right heart failure and cor pulmonale. Given that cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic method of choice for PAH, and considering the high risks of this method, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum Pro-Brain natriuretic peptide [Pro-BNP] Levels and PAH in patients with limited scleroderma
Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, during June 2011- Dec 2013, referring patients to two major educational hospitals, Mashhad- Iran, with scleroderma, who were afflicted with the disease for at least two years [or more], were enrolled in the study if they met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the patients underwent echocardiography to determine the pulmonary artery pressure [PAP]. Afterwards, the subjects were referred to a lung center for performing body plethysmography, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity [DLCO], and 6-minute walk test [6MWT]. Pro-BNP Serum level was determined using flourescent immune assay method
Results: The present study included 20 patients [18 female subjects] with the mean age of 43.28 +/- 9.56 yrs, and the mean pro-BNP level of 138 pg/ml. The logarithmic correlation between PAP values, Forced Vital Capacity /DLCO ratio, and pro-BNP level, which was measured using Pearson's correlation coefficient, showed a significant association among these variables[ respectively, r=0.76, P=0.001; r=0.677, P=0.011]. Moreover, the DLCO decrease was associated with increasing pro-BNP level, though this relationship was not significant
Conclusion: This study showed that there was a significant relationship between the serum levels of pro-BNP marker and increased PAP in the echocardiography, DLCO reduction, and FVC/DLCO increase. In fact, this serum marker can be used in patients with systemic scleroderma [SSc] to evaluate the status of PAH
ABSTRACT
Glycogen storage disease [GSDs] comprise several rare inherited diseases caused by abnormalities of enzymes that regulate the synthesis of Glycogen. A- 26 years old man admitted to the hospital because of pain and swelling in his ankles. Also, he had delay of puberty. In diagnostic evaluation, the patient had hyperuricemia, hyperlipidemia and adenomatous nodules in the liver. Liver biopsy revealed Glycogen storage disease type 1. gouty arthritis in glycogen storage disease is not uncommon; however, glycogen storage disease as a reason of gouty arthritis is rare. Because of growth failure, delayed puberty and laboratory results we strongly suspected to an underlying disease as a cause of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis leading to glycogen storage disease diagnosis