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Gout is a chronic metabolic disease, characterized by joint inflammation caused by monosodium urate monohydrate crystals. The main objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of gout in a rheumatology department in Romania and secondary to describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed with this condition, with emphasis on the comorbidities. This is a longitudinal, retrospective study on 280 patients from the Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Dr I Cantacuzino Hospital, from January 2017 to May 2019, diagnosed with chronic or acute gout. The prevalence of gout in our hospital in 2 years period was 0.97%. Gouty attack was diagnosed in 38.2% of cases, while 61.8% were evaluated for chronic gout. Male frequency was 69.6%, alcohol consummation was observed in more than half of the cohort (53.2%) and 72.1% were retired persons. The most frequent comorbidity was hypertension (HBP) (82.1%) followed by dyslipidemia (65.3%), atherosclerotic disease(ATS) (55.0%) and chronic kidney disease (53.9%). There was a significant association between HBP, ATS and dyslipidemia with chronic gout (p=0.038, p=0.022 and p=0.009, respectively). The rate of gouty attack significantly increased with the serum level of uric acid (p<0.001). The therapeutic approach complies with international recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory, chronic and systemic disease that primarily affects the synovial joints. Anemia is a common extra-articular manifestation in the absence of an effective treatment. The main mechanisms involved include shortening the lifespan of erythrocytes, inadequate bone marrow and abnormalities in iron metabolism. Eighty-eight patients over 18 years with definite diagnosis of rheumatoid were included in this study. The prevalence, respectively the characteristics of anemia were analyzed, together with demographic data, the type of symptoms, the type of comorbidities, the hematological indices and treatments. The mean age of the study population was 65.31 ± 12.57 years. Treat to target was achieved in one third of the patients (36.4%). The prevalence of anemia was 55% with higher prevalence in males (57%) than females (50%). Anemia was associated with higher disease activity (p=0.036). Out of the anemic patients, 7.14% had megaloblastic anemia, 40.48% had anemia of chronic disease and 21.43% suffered from iron deficiency anemia. Microcytic normochromic and normocytic hypochromic patterns can have mixed causes, belonging to both iron-pathophysiological processes and chronic inflammation. The prevalence of anemia at the 1-year check-up was 29.44% and the percentage of patients who achieved treat-to-target goals increased from 36.40% to 40.90%. The majority (48.80%) did not prove to have anemia neither at admission nor at follow-up. The results of the study suggest that anemic patients tend to have a higher level of RA activity, therefore screening for anemic syndrome should be part of the management of these patients, in an effort to establish the best therapeutic conduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that predominantly affects middle-aged adults in the third to fifth decades of life, but can also occur at any age. Significant differences were observed between patients with the diagnose of the disease under the age of 65 years – young- onset of RA (YORA) and those with the onset over the age of 65 years -elderly-onset of RA (EORA). The literature has shown that patients in the EORA group, in comparison to the young, have more severe onset, shorter duration of morning stiffness, lower frequency of seropositivity and a more important biological inflammatory syndrome. Objective: Describe and compare the clinical characteristics, laboratory features, functional status, therapeutic approach and disease progression in elderly-onset and young-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Materials and methods: This retrospective, transversal study included 102 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis according to the ACR / EULAR criteria and who had at least 3 visits to our clinic, the last one during 2019- 2020. Depending on the age at disease onset, we divided them into 2 groups- EORA and YORA and analyzed them comparing the clinical, laboratory and treatment data obtained at diagnosis. Subsequently we studied the evolution of the disease activity and the therapy efficiency at 6 months of follow-up and at the last hospitalization for each group. Results: The percentage of women is similar and predominant in both groups, YORA and EORA (68.3% and 71.8%). YORA was associated with a longer disease length and a prolonged symptom duration prior to the diagnosis in comparison to EORA (p<0.001 and P=0.002). Extra-articular manifestations were more frequent in elderly-onset RA patients at diagnosis, especially the presence of rheumatoid nodules (46.2% vs 22.2%. p=0.011) and weight loss (82.1% vs 34.9%, p<0.001). Anemia was statistically associated with the EORA group (p=0.037). Analyzing the radiological findings, there was a greater number of patients who showed erosions (48.7%) and geodes (28.2%) in EORA, than in YORA group (33.3% and 19.0%). The prevalence of specific auto-antibodies positivity as antiCCP was higher in YORA (76.2% vs 53.8%, p=0.019), as well as the positivity of Rheumatoid factor (RF) (84.1% vs 61.5%, p=0.010). The majority of patients began treatment with synthetic DMARD monotherapy, 54.0% of YORA and 64.1% of EORA. Methotrexate was the main drug administrated in both groups (61.5% in EORA and 54.0% in YORA, p-value= 0.602). Other medications, such as Sulfasalazine and Leflunomide, were less preferred in the two groups. Biologic therapy was preferred in younger patients than in those with RA at 65 years of age or over (69.8% vs 35.9%, p=0.001). Disease activity measured with DAS28(CRP) score was similar between the two groups at baseline, but significantly lower for YORA patients measured at the last hospitalization (p=0.020), treat to target (low disease activity and remission) being achieved in 53% of cases in the YORA group versus 23% of EORA patients (p=0.002). Conclusions: The definite diagnosis of RA was delayed in YORA patients in comparison to EORA patients and the extra-articular manifestations of the disease were more frequently found in the EORA group. Seropositivity was statistically significantly associated with the YORA group. Anemia was predominant in patients with disease onset over 65 years old. Both groups underwent DMARDs therapy in the early stages of the disease, but biologic therapy was more often administered in younger patients. Disease activity at diagnosis was similar in both groups, but in dynamic, the treat to target endpoint was achieved more frequent in YORA population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the chronic complications of diabetes and along with other complications causes a pathology called diabetic foot. The present study analyzed a group of 164 patients admitted to the surgery department of the Clinical Hospital “Doctor Ioan Cantacuzino” Bucharest, between September and December 2019. The results of the study highlight the potential for contamination of neuropathic lesions and the need for curative surgery, most conservative. The conclusion of the analysis emphasizes that the imbalance of the underlying disease changes, in a negative sense, the prognosis of any complication of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment reflected by the rate of response to therapy at 6 months and 12 months of follow-up respectively. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical, laboratory data, treatment regimens, the type of response and relapse rate of 51 patients diagnosed with LN between January 2017 and February 2020. Results:47.06% of the patients underwent renal biopsy, classes III and IV being the most common lupus nephritis types (totaling 35.3% of biopsied patients). All induction therapy choices analyzed in the study- CYC, Glucocorticoids (GCs) and MMF- proved effective at reducing the proteinuria of the patients (p=0.001, p=0.012 and p=0,019 respectively. The 12 months evaluation demonstrated an ascending trend of the complete response, starting from 27.45% at 6 months and almost doubling at 1 year (56.86%). Almost half of patients (49.02%) did not relapse, while most of them (27.45%) had only 1 relapse. Analyzing the risk of relapse for each induction drug used, CYC had the highest rate of recurrence (62.07%). The use of MMF as a maintenance drug associated the lowest degree of recurrence. Conclusions: Both CYC and MMF as induction therapy are significantly effective in reducing proteinuria. The complete response was more frequently identified as an endpoint at 12 months of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus brings together several syndromes, all burdened by a high complexity and with the potential to generate vital impairment. The large number of complications result from the association of high blood glucose level with vascular damage, neuropathy, poor healing and overall increased atherosclerosis process. The clinical manifestation of these complications involves a wide range of manifestations from simple lesions to complex pathology, many of them requiring surgical treatment. Surgical implications of diabetes mellitus include diabetic foot syndrome, soft tissue infections, renal impairment and abdominal pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological therapy is used in a wide range of medical settings. Adverse reactions to biological therapy can limit their widespread use, so early detection and treatment can adjust attempts to stop these molecules. TNF Alpha blockers may cause the following skin reactions in alpha patients: injection site reactions, infections, immune-mediated reactions (psoriasis, psoriasis, drug-induced lupus, vasculitis, hidradenitis, alopecia), allergic or neoplastic reactions. We present the case of a patient with RA who developed skin lesions during biological therapy and was diagnosed with drug-induced lupus based on clinical elements, associated autoimmunity, and dermatological evaluation. The skin lesions were attributed to the interaction of three medications (biosimilar Etanercept, Leflunomide, and Isoniazid), all of which have been implicated in causing these side effects. The solutions that saved the patient were temporarily discontinuing the immunosuppressive medication and replacing it with a local corticoid, followed by the continuation of Etanercept in associated with Methotrexate, and the patient was able to continue the biological medication and obtain a favorable response to the treatment. In conclusion, skin changes caused by TNF Alpha inhibitors are common, but vary in severity, and do not warrant therapy interruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to evaluate the incidence, characteristics of diagnosis and treatment for patients with rectal cancer, but also the evolution of patients diagnosed with this neoplasia, so that a personalized treatment can be applied and followed, adapted to the patient’s clinical-imaging picture. The study included 127 patients operated on between January 2018 and November 2021. Dixon resection was performed in 63 patients, rectal amputation (Miles) in 42 patients, and Hartmann resection in 22 patients. For the Miles-type intervention, the patients in a more advanced stage were selected, which represented a percentage of 33.07% of the total. This type of intervention involves a permanent colostomy and has a strong impact on the patient’s life. Of the total of 127 patients, the presence of complications was relatively rare, occurring in only 14 patients. Of the 14 patients, the most common complication was abscess, which occurred in 6 patients, while peritonitis and occlusion occurred in only 4 patients. After analyzing the data obtained, it can be seen that the results coincide with world statistics, the highest incidence of rectal cancer occurring in the age range 60-69 years, with an increased incidence among male patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]