Self-Reported Weather Sensitivity is Associated with Clinical Symptoms and Structural Abnormalities in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background Patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) often complain about clinical symptoms affected by weather-related factors. The purpose of the present study was to use cross-sectional analysis to determine whether weather sensitivity was associated with clinical symptoms, as well as structure abnormalities, in KOA patients.Methods Data from 80 participants were obtained from the Feng Hans Shi Effects on OA (FHS) study, an OA cohort study initiated in China in 2015. The weather sensitivity of each participant was determined by a self-reported questionnaire. The following measurements were used to assess clinical and biological outcomes: a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC); and blood levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1(IL-1). Structural changes identified via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were also evaluated. Independent sample t-tests, chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, Cochran-Armitage tests for linear trends, and binary linear regression were used to evaluate the clinical characteristics, biomarkers, WOMAC, and Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) of weather-sensitive KOA patients and non-weather-sensitive KOA patients.Results Most of the KOA participants (57.5%) perceived the weather as affecting their knee-joint clinical symptoms. Through logistic regression analysis, the presence of weather sensitivity was found to increase the risk of KOA participants reporting higher levels of WOMAC pain scores [OR = 3.3 (95% CI: 1.1, 9.9), P > 0.032], functional scores [OR = 5.5 (95% CI: 1.8,16.8), P > 0.003], total scores [OR = 3.3 (95% CI: 1.1, 10.2), P = 0.034], WORMS cartilage scores [OR = 3.1 (95% CI: 1.1, 8.5), P < 0.027], and marrow abnormality scores [OR = 3.0 (95% CI: 1.1, 8.1), P > 0.029].Conclusions Weather-sensitive KOA patients were prone to show more serious clinical symptoms and structural abnormalities in their knee joints. Therefore, the existence of weather sensitivity may accelerate the progress of KOA.

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CLINICAL SYMPTOMS, BIOCHEMISTRY AND CYTOLOGY OF PLEURAL, PERITONEAL EFFUSIONS

Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy ◽

10.34071/jmp.2015.6.10 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 66-71

Author(s):

Van Mao Nguyen ◽

Huyen Quynh Trang Pham

Keyword(s):

Pleural Effusion ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Malignant Cells ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Pleural Effusions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Breath Sounds ◽

Peritoneal Effusion ◽

Neutrophil Leukocytes

Background: The cytology and the support of clinical symptoms, biochemistry for diagnosis of the cases of effusions are very important. Objectives: - To describe some of clinical symptoms and biochemistry of effusions. - To compare the results between cytology and biochemistry by the causes of pleural, peritoneal fluids. Material & Method: A cross-sectional study to describe all of 47 patients with pleural, peritoneal effusions examinated by cytology in the Hospital of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy from April 2013 to January 2014. Results: In 47 cases with effusions, pleural effusion accounting for 55.32%, following peritoneal effusions 29.79% and 14.89% with both of them. The most common symptoms in patients with pleural effusions were diminished or absent tactile fremitus, dull percussion, diminished or absent breath sounds (100%), in patients with peritoneal effusions was ascites (95.24%). 100% cases with pleural effusions, 50% cases with peritoneal effusions and 80% cases with pleural and peritoneal effusions were exudates. The percentage of malignant cells in patients with pleural effusions was 26.92%, in peritoneal effusions was 28.57%, in pleural and peritoneal effusions was 42.86%. The percentage of detecting the malignant cells in patients with suspected cancer in the first test was 57.14%, in the second was 9.53% and 33.33% undetectable. Most of cases which had malignant cells and inflammatory were exudates, all of the cases which had a few cells were transudates. Besides, 7.5% cases which had high neutrophil leukocytes were transudates. Conclusion: Cytology should be carry out adding to the clinical examinations and biochemistry tests to have an exact diagnosis, especially for the malignant ones. For the case with suspected cancer, we should repeat cytology test one more time to increase the ability to detect malignant cells. Key words: Effusion, pleural effusion, peritoneal effusion, cytology, biochemistry

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Prevalence of COVID-19-like Symptoms among People Living with HIV, and Using Antiretroviral Therapy for Prevention and Treatment

Current HIV Research ◽

10.2174/1570162x18666200712175535 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 373-380 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi ◽

Maryam Ghadimi ◽

Mahboubeh Hajiabdolbaghi ◽

Mehrnaz Rasoolinejad ◽

Ladan Abbasian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Shortness Of Breath ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Limited Data ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Living With Hiv

Background: COVID-19 has spread globally with remarkable speed, and currently, there is limited data available exploring any aspect of the intersection between HIV and SARSCoV- 2 co-infection. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of clinical symptoms associated with COVID-19 among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Tehran, Iran. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 200 PLWH were recruited through the positive club via sampling, and completed the symptom-based questionnaire for COVID-19, which was delivered by trained peers. Results: Of 200 participants, respiratory symptoms, including cough, sputum, and shortness of breath, were the most prevalent among participants, but only one person developed symptoms collectively suggested COVID-19 and sought treatments. Conclusions: It appears that existing infection with HIV or receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) might reduce the susceptibility to the infection with SARS-CoV-2 or decrease the severity of the infection acquired. Further research is needed to understand causal mechanisms.

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