scholarly journals Importance of pediatric rheumatologists and transitional care for juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis: A retrospective series of 9 cases.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susumu Yamazaki ◽  
Asami Shimbo ◽  
Yuko Akutsu ◽  
Horoshi Takase ◽  
Tomohiro Morio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Good Prognosis ◽  
Ophthalmic Surgery ◽  
Biologic Drugs ◽  
Speckled Pattern ◽  
Appropriate Treatment

Abstract Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIA-U) is a serious condition associated with the risk of blindness. However, pediatric rheumatologists rarely encounter cases of blindness, because most patients reach adulthood during the course of follow-up before blindness occurs. Here, we report the progress of 9 patients with JIA-U, including 2 patients who became blind after the transition period. We aimed to highlight the importance of the role of pediatric rheumatologists and transitional care in preventing blindness associated with JIA-U. Case presentation: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the case records of 9 JIA-U patients (1 male, 8 female; median age 16.8 years, range 5.5–19.8 years). All patients presented with oligo-juvenile idiopathic arthritis (oligo-JIA) (one presented with extended oligo-JIA); the median age of uveitis onset was 5.0 years (range 3.0–13.0 years), and the onset of uveitis preceded the onset of arthritis in 2 patients. The median disease duration was 12.5 years (range 3.5–24.7 years); 4 patients had anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) positivity (≧1:160) (all with a homogeneous and speckled-pattern subtype). All patients were negative for rheumatoid factor. Eight patients received methotrexate, 7 patients received one or more biologic drugs (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, and golimumab), and 6 patients required ophthalmic surgery at an early age (≦ 18 years). Two patients developed blindness after the transition period. Medical examination by pediatric rheumatologists and use of biologics had been delayed in both patients. One patient developed depression after transition and interrupted her own treatment. Conclusions: The reason for blindness in the 2 patients was thought to be the delay in the commencement of treatment and failure to provide transitional care. Inflammation is difficult to control in JIA-U even with appropriate treatment. Pediatric rheumatologists must be informed about the risk of JIA-U blindness, especially after transition. To ensure a good prognosis, the specialized treatment with the involvement of pediatric rheumatologists is necessary early on, and consideration for transitional medicine is essential. Therefore, this report reaffirms the importance of planned transitional care that has been advocated for globally.

scholarly journals Role of Radiotherapy in Recurrent Intra-Abdominal Yolk Sac Tumor

2021 ◽  
pp. 1010-1018
Author(s):  
Marhendra Satria Utama ◽  
Andi Kurniadi ◽  
A.A. Citra Yunda Prahastiwi ◽  
Antony A. Adibrata
Keyword(s):  
Case Reports ◽  
Yolk Sac ◽  
Yolk Sac Tumor ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Curative Radiotherapy ◽  
Chief Complaints ◽  
Abdominal Mri ◽  
Malignant Germ Cell Tumor

Yolk sac tumor (YST) is a rare malignant germ cell tumor with no appropriate treatment strategy to date. However, patients are treated on a case-to-case basis as per various case reports that have been published. Here, we present a case of 27-year-old female patient who presented to us with chief complaints of severe abdominal pain associated with leucorrhea. She previously had a similar pain episode, which was then evaluated by a multidisciplinary team. She was diagnosed with YST. After that, she underwent 6 cycles of chemotherapy, but there was no improvement. Then the medical oncologist referred her to performed radiotherapy. Then, the radiation oncologist decided to give her curative radiotherapy of 3D-CRT. After completing her sessions, she felt better and clinically improving. After that, she was discharged and scheduled a follow-up visit for first evaluation. At her follow-up visit, she was feeling well, and we decided to have an abdominal MRI.

scholarly journals The Role of Patient Navigators in Ambulatory Care: Overview of Systematic Reviews

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Budde ◽  
Gemma Williams ◽  
Juliane Winkelmann ◽  
Laura Pfirter ◽  
Claudia Bettina Maier
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health System ◽  
Ambulatory Care ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Patient Navigation ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Patient Navigators

Abstract Background: Patient navigators have been introduced across various countries to enable timely access to healthcare services and ensure completion of diagnosis and follow-up of care. There is an increasing amount of evidence on the positive effect of patient navigation for patients. The aim of this study was to analyse the evidence on patient navigation interventions in ambulatory care and to evaluate their effects on individuals and health system outcomes.Methods: An overview of reviews was conducted, based on a prespecified protocol. All patients in ambulatory care or transitional care setting were included in this review as long as it was related to the role of patient navigators. The study analysed all roles of patient navigators covering a wide range of health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers as well as lay health workers or community-based workers with no or very limited training. Studies including patient-related measures and health system-related outcomes were eligible for inclusion. A rigorous data collection was performed in multiple data bases. After reaching an inter-rater agreement, title and abstract screening was independently performed. Of an initial 8362 search results a total of 673 articles were eligible for full-text screening. An extraction form was used to analyse the nine included review.Results: Nine systematic reviews were included covering various patient navigation roles in cancer care, disease screening and transitional care. Seven systematic reviews primarily tailored services to ethnic minorities or other disadvantaged groups. Patient navigators performed tasks such as providing education and counselling, translations, home visits, outreach, scheduling of appointments and follow-up. Six reviews identified positive outcomes in expanding access to care, in particular for vulnerable patient groups. Two reviews on patient navigation in transitional care reported improved patient outcomes and hospital readmission rates and mixed evidence on quality of life and emergency department visits.Conclusions: Patient navigators have shown to expand access to screenings and health services for vulnerable patients or population groups who tend to underuse health services.

The role of a geriatrician in a cancer center.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 39-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Korc-Grodzicki ◽  
Sung W. Sun ◽  
Armin Shahrokni ◽  
Koshy Alexander ◽  
Soo Jung Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Increased Risk

39 Background: Older adults are likely to have coexisting health conditions, polypharmacy and functional limitations. The geriatrician may have a pivotal role in risk assessment, prevention and treatment of comorbidities and addressing geriatric syndromes. The purpose of this study is to describe the growth and development of, and the role of a Geriatrics Service (GS) in a cancer center. Methods: A GS was founded in MSKCC in 2009. Since then it has grown to provide inpatient (IP) and outpatient (OP) care for older adults undergoing cancer diagnosis, surveillance or active treatment. It offers preoperative evaluations, geriatric assessment (GA) and follow-up shared- care. Recently, a Transitional Care Management (TCM) program was established for patients at increased risk of rehospitalization. The GS strives to develop an interprofessional educational geriatrics curriculum and to participate in quality and research projects focused on cancer and aging. Results: Between 2009 and 2014 a total of 6679 new patients were evaluated by the GS. 16% of the patients were 65-75, 70% were 76-85 and 14% were older than 85. 46% were male and 84% were white. 15% were IP and 85% were OP consultations. 13% of the OP consults were for GA, the rest were preoperative evaluations. All patients seen preoperatively who are admitted after surgery, are followed postoperatively by the IP geriatrics team. In total, 4 Geriatricians, 2 Geriatric Nurse Practitioners (GNP) and 3 RNs were recruited. The number of follow-up visits increased from 143 in 2009 to 733 in 2014. The new TCM program based on close communication between the IP and OP GNP has been successful in keeping frail patients from frequent rehospitalizations. Noon conferences on geriatrics for the house staff, a biannual course on “Advancing Nursing Expertise in the Care of Older Adults with Cancer” and a monthly interprofessional meeting for the discussion of Geriatric Clinical Complex Cases (GCCC) are ongoing. Research has focused on risk assessment and the use of telemedicine in geriatric patient care. Conclusions: The establishment of a GS in a cancer center was very well received and embraced by the oncologists showing an unmet need in the care of the older cancer patient. The potential reproducibility beyond the cancer center will be discussed.

scholarly journals POS1333 ANKLE ARTHRITIS IN JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS: DON’T MISS TENOSYNOVITIS. CLINICAL AND SONOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF ANKLE TENOSYNOVITIS IN JIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 948.3-949
Author(s):  
S. Pastore ◽  
S. Della Paolera ◽  
A. Zabotti ◽  
A. Tommasini ◽  
A. Taddio
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Color Doppler ◽  
Tendon Sheath ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Tibialis Posterior ◽  
Ultrasound Guided ◽  
Sonographic Examination

Background:Tenosynovitis can occur in patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and may be clinically difficult to distinguish from joint synovitis. The role of musculoskeletal ultrasound (msk-US) is still discussed in the management of JIA but recent studies supported the utility of msk-US especially in detection of tenosynovitis. There is no consensus treatment for tenosynovitis in children with JIA and almost all studies focused on tendon sheath injection with glucocorticoids.Objectives:The aims of the study were: i) to define the prevalence of tenosynovitis of the ankle in JIA patients and ankle swelling; ii) to describe the clinical characteristics of patient with tenosynovitis and to analyze different response to treatment.Methods:We conducted an observational cross-sectional study of a group of patients with JIA followed at the Rheumatology Service of the Maternal and Child Institute “Burlo Garofolo” of Trieste. We enrolled all the patients who reported a swelling of the ankle at least once during the follow-up period and, among these patients, we included only those who underwent msk-US. Based on both clinical and sonographic examination, we identified patients with tenosynovitis and we described their demographical and clinical characteristics as well as the therapeutic approach undertaken in this group of patients.Results:On December 31st 2019, 56 swollen ankles of 48 patients were assessed with msk-US: 22 ankles showed sonographic signs of synovitis (39%), 16 ankles of both synovitis and tenosynovitis (28%), 14 ankles of tenosynovitis only (25%). Overall, tenosynovitis was detected on twenty-seven (56%) out of 48 children with at least a swollen ankle. The majority of patient were females (70%) and the most affected tendon was the tibialis posterior (66%). Twenty-five patients with tenosynovitis (92%) achieved clinical and radiological remission: seven out of 26 patients (26%) treated with methotrexate achieved clinical and radiological remission without the addition of other therapies; fifteen out of seventeen patients (88%) treated with a biological drug responded to the therapy, of which eleven (73%) were in combination therapy with methotrexate.Conclusion:We observed that more than 50% of the patients with a swelling of the ankle presented a tenosynovitis and among these patients about 50% did not show sonographic sign of synovitis. Msk-US was decisive in order to identify tenosynovitis and to characterize ankle swelling in JIA patients. Among patients with tenosynovitis biological therapy alone or in association with immunomodulating therapy showed effectiveness in inducing disease remission.References:[1]Peters SE, Laxer RM et al. Ultrasound-guided steroid tendon sheath injections in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a 10-year single-center retrospective study. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2017 Apr 11;15(1):22.[2]Lanni S, Bovis F et al. Delineating the Application of Ultrasound in Detecting Synovial Abnormalities of the Subtalar Joint in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016 Sep;68(9):1346-53.[3]Cimaz R, Giani T et al. What is the real role of ultrasound in the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis? Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 Apr;79(4):437-439. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216358[4]Lanni S, Marafon DP et al. Comparison between clinical and ultrasound assessment of the ankle region in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Apr 27.[5]Laurell L, Court-Payen M et al. Ultrasonography and color Doppler in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: diagnosis and follow-up of ultrasound-guided steroid injection in the ankle region. A descriptive interventional study. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2011 Jan 29;9(1):4.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Role of Computed Tomography in Staging and Management of Gastrointestinal Lymphoma

1979 ◽  
Vol 72 (11) ◽  
pp. 818-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Blackledge ◽  
Jonathan K Best ◽  
Derek Crowther
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Ct Scan ◽  
Good Prognosis ◽  
Initial Presentation ◽  
Gastrointestinal Lymphoma ◽  
Planning Treatment ◽  
Gastrointestinal Lymphomas

Twenty-six computed tomography (CT) examinations in 18patients with histologically proven gastrointestinal lymphomas are reported. Fourteen CT examinations were performed at the time of initial presentation, the others being performed during the course of the disease. CT did not help in the diagnosis of the disease but it is effective in assessing the extent and thus the stage of the disease. A normal CT scan during follow up is associated with good prognosis. CT may be of help in planning treatment, especially radiotherapy. It is an investigation easily tolerated by patients and can be used in circumstances where other investigations would be impossible.

scholarly journals The role of patient navigators in ambulatory care: overview of systematic reviews

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Budde ◽  
Gemma A. Williams ◽  
Juliane Winkelmann ◽  
Laura Pfirter ◽  
Claudia B. Maier
Keyword(s):  
Ambulatory Care ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Patient Navigation ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Patient Navigators ◽  
Abstract Screening

Abstract Background Patient navigators have been introduced across various countries to enable timely access to healthcare services and to ensure completion of diagnosis and follow-up of care. There is an increasing evidence on the the role of patient navigation for patients and healthcare systems. The aim of this study was to analyse the evidence on patient navigation interventions in ambulatory care and to evaluate their effects on individuals and health system outcomes. Methods An overview of reviews was conducted, following a prespecified protocol. All patients in ambulatory care or transitional care setting were included in this review as long as it was related to the role of patient navigators. The study analysed patient navigators covering a wide range of health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and lay health workers or community-based workers with no or very limited training. Studies including patient-related measures and health system-related outcomes were eligible for inclusion. A rigorous search was performed in multiple data bases. After reaching a high inter-rater agreement of 0.86, title and abstract screening was independently performed. Of an initial 14,248 search results and an additional 62 articles identified through the snowballing approach, a total of 7159 hits were eligible for title/abstract screening. 679  articles were included for full-text screening. Results Eleven systematic reviews were included covering various patient navigation intervention in cancer care, disease screening, transitional care and for various chronic conditions and multimorbidity. Nine systematic reviews primarily tailored services to ethnic minorities or other disadvantaged groups. Patient navigators performed tasks such as providing education and counselling, translations, home visits, outreach, scheduling of appointments and follow-up. Eight reviews identified positive outcomes in expanding access to care, in particular for vulnerable patient groups. Two reviews on patient navigation in transitional care reported improved patient outcomes, hospital readmission rates and mixed evidence on quality of life and emergency department visits. Two reviews demonstrated improved patient outcomes for persons with various chronic conditions and multimorbidity. Conclusions Patient navigators were shown to expand access to screenings and health services for vulnerable patients or population groups with chronic conditions who tend to underuse health services.

scholarly journals Circulating tumour cells in thyroid carcinoma - the prognostic role of this biomarker. Review of the literature.

2017 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-261
Author(s):  
Iulian Claudiu Bădulescu ◽  
Elena Bărbuș ◽  
Doina Piciu
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Carcinoma ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Good Prognosis ◽  
High Survival ◽  
New Research

Thyroid cancer is a disease with a good prognosis and high survival rates, but having a marked growth of incidence all over the world in the last years. This fact requires special attention of researchers for understanding the behavior of this disease and to establish a correct therapy. Analysis of circulating tumor cells in patients with different malignancies is nowadays a new and exciting research tool, which can improve the diagnosis and prevent the metastatic disease. In the case of thyroid carcinoma there are few studies which explore these biomarkers and investigate the prognostic significance of circulating tumor cells. With this review we seek to emphasize the role of these cells to better understand the mechanisms of invasion or metastasis and to establish a new research base to treat aggressive forms of this type of cancer. Most of the included studies demonstrate the efficacy of these markers for diagnosis and follow up.

scholarly journals POS1315 USEFULNESS OF SYNOVIAL BIOPSY IN THE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND AS POSSIBLE PREDICTOR OF RESPONSE TO TREATMENT IN JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 940.1-940
Author(s):  
S. Costi ◽  
F. Pregnolato ◽  
A. Parafioriti ◽  
E. Armiraglio ◽  
T. Giani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽  
Inflammatory Infiltrate ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Synovial Biopsy ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Biologic Drugs ◽  
Number Of Layers

Background:While synovial biopsy is an invasive procedure and is not required for the diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), it may be useful in doubtful cases.Objectives:Aims of the study were i.to verify the role of synovial biopsy in the differential diagnosis of JIA and ii. to review the pathology slides in order to evaluate possible associations of a histologic pattern with response to treatment.Methods:We reviewed data from medical records of patients under the age of 18 years who underwent a synovial biopsy requested by our Pediatric Rheumatology Unit over the last 10 years. We collected information on demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, histopathological characteristics, as well as treatment response (in particular, remission at the last visit and number of examination, number of biologic drugs used). Among variables in the histologic score, number of layers in the synovial lining and inflammatory infiltrate (0-5) were compared to clinical status at last visit. Potential differences in variables between responders and non responders were assessed by unpaired t-test or non-parametric Mann-Whitney test, as appropriate.Results:We identified 64 patients (40F, 24M) with a median age at disease onset of 9 years (range 1-15) and a median follow-up time of 161 months (range 8-1160). We recognized two groups of interest: patients with a known JIA diagnosis (28/64) and patients with unknown diagnosis (36/64) at the moment of synovial biopsy. In the group with known JIA, most underwent the procedure during orthopedic surgery, and in all cases the histology was consistent with JIA. Among the unknown diagnosis group, in 19 cases results were consistent with a chronic synovitis, while among the other 17 histology could lead to a diagnosis of other conditions in 6 cases (foreign body and villonodular synovitis n=2 each, sarcoidosis and osteochondromatosis n=1 each). In the remaining 11 the final diagnoses were varied (mostly genetic forms eg skeletal dysplasia, CACP, Thiemann disease).Between the two groups we identified 46 patients with a definite JIA diagnosis. At the last follow-up visit 29 of them were in clinical remission, albeit on medication. The remaining 17 had a severe course of disease, with persistent activity and use of at least two biologic drugs. In 26 cases we could evaluate the correlation between status at last visit and number of layers/inflammatory infiltrate, but no statistical significant correlation was found.Conclusion:Despite its limited use nowadays, synovial biopsy may still be a useful tool in patients whose diagnosis is unclear. In our study, while it confirmed the suspicion in most cases, in other instances it allowed the diagnosis of rare conditions that would have been otherwise missed. No association between disease course and histological features in a small JIA cohort was found. We are currently expanding the study with a larger series.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Controversies in the Management of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Revisited

ISRN Oncology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlon A. Guerrero ◽  
Orlo H. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Papillary Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Central Neck Dissection ◽  
Good Prognosis ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Papillary Thyroid ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Extent Of Surgery ◽  
Molecular Tumor Markers

The debate on the appropriate treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has persisted for several decades. The main controversies focus on the extent of surgery, the timing of central neck dissection, and the indications for radioactive iodine ablation. These controversies continue, for the most part, due to the good prognosis of PTC patients and the questionable effect these treatment modalities have on patient survival. This paper addresses these three controversies and the role of molecular tumor markers in the appropriate treatment selection.

scholarly journals Endometrial stromal sarcoma: a rare form of undifferentiated endometrial cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolly Mehra ◽  
Anjum Saiyyed
Keyword(s):  
Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma ◽  
Good Prognosis ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Repeat Surgery ◽  
Stromal Sarcoma ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Uterine Cancers

Uterine sarcomas are a rare for of uterine cancers. They account for 0.2% of uterine cancers. The median age group is 40 to 60 years. They run an indolent course. About 60% women recur after a long period. Metastasis may occur even after 20 years. They can be classified into low grade, high grade and undifferentiated types. Low grade ESS has good prognosis. Surgery with adjuvant hormonal therapy is the mainstay of treatment. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy have no role in management. The role of lymphadenectomy is not clear. The first line treatment for recurrence is a repeat surgery. Patients require a long term follow up to detect recurrence. Here we present a case of perimenopausal women presenting as a case of AUB. MRI initially diagnosed it as a case of fibroid. Patient underwent TAH with BSO. Subsequent hispathology and immunohistochemistry revealed it to be Low grade ESS. Although rare, endometrial stromal sarcoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women presenting as AUB.

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