Prognostic Factors and Decision Tree for Long-Term Survival in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the existence of a bimodal survival pattern in metastatic uveal melanoma. Secondary aims were to identify the characteristics and prognostic factors associated with long-term survival and to develop a clinical decision tree. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 99 metastatic uveal melanoma patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified as either short (≤ 12 months) or long-term survivors (> 12 months) based on a graphical interpretation of the survival curve after diagnosis of the first metastatic lesion. Ophthalmic and oncological characteristicswere assessed in both groups. RESULTS: Of the 99 patients, 62 (62.6%) were classified as short-term survivors, and 37 (37.4%) as long-term survivors. The multivariate analysis identified the following predictors of long-term survival: age ≤ 65 years (p=0.012) and unaltered serum lactate dehydrogenase levels (p=0.018); additionally, the size (smaller vs. larger) of the largest liver metastasis showed a trend towards significance (p=0.063). Based on the variables significantly associated with long-term survival, we developed a decision tree to facilitate clinical decision-making. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate the existence of a bimodal survival pattern in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. The presence of certain clinical characteristics at diagnosis of distant disease is associated with long-term survival. A decision tree was developed to facilitate clinical decision-making and to counsel patients about the expected course of disease.

Avaliação isocinética do tornozelo de pacientes com artrite reumatoide / Isokinetic assessment of ankles in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

RESUMOIntroduçãoO pé e o tornozelo na artrite reumatoide passam por sinovite altamente destrutiva, com perda de força muscular.ObjetivoAvaliar a força muscular do tornozelo de pacientes com artrite reumatoide com base em parâmetros da dinamometria isocinética.Materiais e métodosForam estudados 30 pacientes com diagnóstico de artrite reumatoide. O estudo envolveu 30 indivíduos saudáveis (grupo controle) pareados por idade, sexo, etnia, índice de massa corporal e dominância de membro inferior. Todos os indivíduos foram submetidos a avaliação da flexão dorsal, flexão plantar, inversão e eversão com o dinamômetro isocinético Cybex Norm. As variáveis foram comparadas entre os grupos artrite reumatoide e controle e entre os tornozelos direito e esquerdo. Foi determinada a relação de força muscular flexores dorsais/flexores plantares e inversores/eversores.ResultadosOs pacientes com artrite reumatoide tiveram resultados estatisticamente piores no teste de dinamometria isocinética para todos os movimentos do tornozelo. A relação de força muscular entre flexores dorsais e flexores plantares foi diferente nos dois grupos. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas na relação entre inversores e eversores. Nos dois grupos, os músculos flexores plantares eram estatisticamente mais fortes do que os flexores dorsais.ConclusãoOs pacientes com artrite reumatoide têm pior desempenho na dinamometria isocinética em todos os movimentos do tornozelo do que os indivíduos do grupo controle. Foram observados resultados semelhantes no teste isocinético para o lado direito e esquerdo, em ambos os grupos, com poucas exceções. A avaliação isocinética não representou risco adicional, como dor importante ou atividade inflamatória, em pacientes com artrite reumatoide.

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe foot and ankle in rheumatoid arthritis undergo highly destructive synovitis with loss of muscle strength.ObjectiveTo evaluate the muscle strength of ankles in patients with rheumatoid arthritis based on isokinetic dynamometry parameters.Materials and methodsThirty patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis involving the ankle(s) and 30 healthy subjects (control group) matched for age, gender, race, body mass index and lower limb dominance were studied. Dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, inversion and eversion were evaluated in all subjects on an isokinetic Cybex Norm dynamometer. The variables were compared between the rheumatoid arthritis and control groups and between the right and left ankles, and the dorsiflexor/plantar flexor and invertor/evertor muscle strength ratio was determined.ResultsPatients with rheumatoid arthritis performed statistically worse in the isokinetic dynamometry test for all ankle movements. The muscle strength ratio between dorsiflexors and plantar flexors was different in the two groups. No significant differences were observed in the invertor and evertor ratios. In the two groups the plantar flexor musculature was statistically stronger than dorsiflexors.ConclusionWe conclude that patients with rheumatoid arthritis perform worse in isokinetic dynamometry regarding all ankle movements than control subjects, with similar isokinetic test results being observed for the right and left side in both groups, with few exceptions. Isokinetic evaluation posed no additional risk such as important pain or inflammatory activity to patients with rheumatoid arthritis.