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Objective: To determine the reliability of knee joint sonography in the evaluation of gouty arthritis. Methodology: A search of Google Scholar, PubMed, NCBI, MEDLINE, and Medscape databases, from 1988 up to 2020. The key search terms used were knee joint; knee joint ultrasound; gout; gouty arthritis, knee joint pain; sensitivity; specificity. The reviewer independently screened the titles and abstracts of the relevant articles and full-text downloads to determine whether the inclusion or exclusion criteria were met. Results: In total, 103 articles were identified through the database search. In addition, 11 articles were identified through other sources. Then, screening was performed, and 9 articles were removed due to duplication. Further screening was done for 105 articles, and 27 articles were excluded due to insufficient information. Seventy-eight full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. A total of 13 full-text articles were excluded due to research performed on animals, as the study had been designed as a review of only human studies. Sixty-three studies were included that had a qualitative synthesis. Conclusion: The knee is a weight-bearing joint and may be affected by a myriad of different pathological conditions, therefore a proper diagnosis is of prime importance for a proper management plan. Ultrasound is a non-invasive, radiation-free, and readily available modality that has high sensitivity and specificity in the evaluation of gouty arthritis.

Aim: In this study, we sought to examine the optimal cutoff values for predicting different stages of liver fibrosis, and to determine the level of agreement between shear wave elastography and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) scores in patients with chronic liver disease. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed at the Radiology Department of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital Lahore from 1 Jun 2019 until 1 June 2020. FIB-4 and APRI scores were determined by the following formula: FIB-4 = (age × AST) ÷ (platelet count × (√ (ALT)) and APRI = (AST÷AST upper limit of normal) ÷ platelet × 100. Data was analyzed with the help of SPSS version 24.0 and Microsoft Excel 2013. Results: Eighty individuals were conveniently selected, of which 62.5% were men and 37.5% were women. The mean age of the subjects was 43.47 SD ± 13.85 years. APRI and FIB-4 scores predicted F4 patients using the cutoff values of 0.47 (Sn. 72%, Sp. 70%) and 1.27 (Sn. 78%, Sp. 73%), respectively. The cutoff values of 0.46 for APRI and 1.27 for FIB-4 predicted F3–F4 patients (Sn. 74% and 77%; Sp. 76% and 76%), respectively. To predict F1–F4 compared to F0, the cutoff value was 0.34 (Sn. 68%, Sp. 75%) for APRI, while the cutoff value for FIB was 0.87 (Sn. 72%, Sp. 75%). The findings suggest that FIB-4 shows better diagnostic accuracy than APRI. Conclusion: This study provides optimal cutoff values for different groups of fibrosis patients for both serum markers. Also, the diagnostic accuracy of FIB-4 for predicting liver fibrosis was found to be superior to APRI in all disease stages.

Objective: To determine the association between spectral Doppler cardiac activity in the lower limb veins and echocardiographic findings in patients with tricuspid regurgitation. Material and methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed in the Gilani Ultrasound Center over a period of 13 months. The total study sample comprised 400 subjects. All individuals referred for abdominal ultrasound having cardiac activities in external iliac vein, popliteal and posterior tibial vein, individuals having normal venous Doppler ultrasound, both genders and all ages, were included, and unwilling and non-cooperative patients were excluded from the study. Results: Out of 400 individuals, 200 showed cardiac activity in the lower limb veins on Doppler vascular ultrasound, while 200 did not show cardiac activity. On echocardiography, 204 individuals were diagnosed with tricuspid regurgitation, and 196 individuals had a competent tricuspid valve. According to the independent sample t-test the mean difference in the posterior tibial vein was 25.54 (95% CI: 24.09; 26.98), while the mean difference in the iliac vein was 2.34 (95% CI: 0.64; 4.03) among normal and tricuspid regurgitation. Conclusion: A correlation was found between the cardiac activities in the lower limb veins and tricuspid regurgitation.

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a medical condition characterized by hypertension and proteinuria during pregnancy, with the symptoms generally manifesting in the 3rd trimester. Hypertension brings hemodynamic changes; it is therefore expected that arterial blood flow velocity waveforms will be different in the uterine and ophthalmic arteries in preeclampsia. Vascular changes do occur in preeclampsia, which in turn induces hemodynamic changes. Aim: To compare mean values of the resistive index of the ophthalmic and uterine arteries in patients with preeclampsia and normotensive individuals in Doppler US. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, ultrasound of the uterine and ophthalmic arteries was performed in 60 pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy to compare the resistive index of these arteries in preeclamptic and normotensive individuals. All the patients, i.e. 30 preeclamptic and 30 normotensive pregnant women, took part in this study voluntarily. The study was approved by the institutional review board (IRB) of the University of Lahore. Results: The mean resistive index of the uterine artery was 0.50 ± 0.08 in normotensive participants and 0.64 ± 0.09 in preeclamptic women, with the p-value

Background: In recent years, an increasing prevalence of obesity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been observed. However, only a few studies have focused on the impact of overweight and obesity on IBD-related disability., Aims: To identify the factors associated with obese and overweight patients with IBD, including IBD-related disability., Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included 1704 consecutive patients with IBD in 42 centres affiliated with the Groupe d'Etude Therapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires du tube Digestif (GETAID) using a 4-page questionnaire. Factors associated with obesity and overweight were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses (odds ratios (ORs) are provided with 95% confidence intervals)., Results: The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 24.1% and 12.2%, respectively. Multivariable analyses were stratified by age, sex, type of IBD, clinical remission and age at diagnosis of IBD. Overweight was significantly associated with male sex (OR = 0.52, 95% CI [0.39-0.68], p < 0.001), age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI [1.01-1.03], p < 0.001) and body image subscore (OR = 1.15, 95% CI [1.10-1.20], p < 0.001) (Table 2). Obesity was significantly associated with age (OR = 1.03, 95% CI [1.02-1.04], p < 0.001), joint pain subscore (OR = 1.08, 95% CI [1.02-1.14], p < 0.001) and body image subscore (OR = 1.25, 95% CI [1.19-1.32], p < 0.001) (Table 3)., Conclusion: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with IBD is associated with age and poorer body image. A holistic approach to IBD patient care should be encouraged to improve IBD-related disability and to prevent rheumatological and cardiovascular complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Yoram Bouhnik received lecture and consulting fees from Abbvie, Biogaran, Boehringer-Ingelheim, CTMA, Ferring, Gilead, Hospira, ICON, Inception IBD, Janssen, Lilly, Mayoli Spindler, Merck, MSD, Norgine, Pfizer, Robarts Clinical Trials, Roche, Sanofi, Shire, Takeda, UCB and Vifor Pharma. This author has also stock ownership of Inception IBD, San Diego, CA, USA. Melanie Serrero has received lecture or consulting fees from Abbvie, Ferring, Amgen, Celltrion, Janssen, Ferring, Takeda and Tillotts. Jerome Filippi has received lecture and consulting fees from Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Ferring, HAC Pharma, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, Sandoz and Takeda. Xavier Roblin reported a relationship with MSD, Abbvie, Amgen, Sandoz, Pfizer, Takeda and Janssen. Guillaume Bouguen received lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Takeda and Pfizer and consultant fees from Takeda, Janssen. Denis Franchimont is research director of FNRS; he has received educational grants from Abbvie, Takeda, MSD, and has received honoraria fees for lectures or consultancy from Ferring, Falk, Chiesi, Abbvie, MSD, Centocor, Pfizer, Amgen, Janssen, Mundipharma, Takeda and Hospira. Guillaume Savoye has received lecture fees from Vifor Pharma, Takeda, Pfizer, HAC Pharma, Abbvie, MSD, and Ferring France. This author has also received travel accommodations from Ferring, Abbvie, and MSD France as well as a research grant from Ferring. Anthony Buisson has received research funding from Pfizer, lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, Hospira, MSD, Janssen, Sanofi-Aventis, Takeda and Vifor Pharma and consulting fees from Abbvie, Biogen, Janssen, Pfizer and Takeda. Edouard Louis has received fees for: Research Grant: Takeda, Pfizer; Educational Grant: Abbvie, Takeda, Janssen; Speaker Fees: Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Falk, Takeda, Hospira, Janssen, Pfizer, Celgene; Advisory Board: Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Takeda, Celgene, Hospira, Janssen; Consultant: Abbvie Stephane Nancey has received consulting fees from Merck, Abbvie, Takeda, Ferring, Norgine, Vifor Pharma, Novartis, Janssen Cilag, Hospira, Takeda and HAC Pharma Vered Abitbol has received lecture fees from Amgen, Biogen, Mylan, Sandoz, Pfizer, Takeda, Janssen, Tillots, Gilead, Ferring Jean-Marie Reimund has received consulting fees from Hospira and Pfizer. This author has also received lectures fees from Abbvie, Biocodex, Ferring, Janssen Cilag, Pfizer and Takeda, as well as travel accommodations from Ferring, Abbvie, MSD, Janssen Cilag, Pfizer, Hospira and Takeda Olivier DeWit declares counseling, boards, transport or personal fees from Abbvie, BMS, Celltrion, Ferring, Galapagos, Janssen, Mylan, Pfizer, and Takeda Lucine Vuitton has received lecture fees from Abbvie, MSD, Takeda, Ferring, Janssen and Pfizer, and research grants from MSD, Takeda and Pfizer. Nicolas Mathieu has received consulting fees from Celltrion, Mylan, MSD, Gilead, Sandoz and lecture fees from Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, Takeda Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet has received consulting fees from Merck, Abbvie, Janssen, Genentech, Ferring, Norgine, Tillots, Vifor, Shire, Therakos, Pharmacosmos, Pilège, BMS, UCB-Pharma, Hospira, Celltrion, Takeda, Biogaran, Boerhinger-Ingelheim, Lilly, Pfizer, and HAC-Pharma. This author has also received lecture fees from Merck, Abbvie, Takeda, Janssen Cilag, Ferring, Norgine, Tillots, Vifor, Therakos, HAC-Pharma, and Mitsubishi. Cyrielle Gilletta received lecture fees from Abbvie, Takeda, Pfizer and Janssen and consulting fees from Abbvie, Janssen and Takeda. Matthieu Allez has received honoraria from Novo Nordisk, MSD, Abbvie, Ferring, Genentech, Janssen, Pfizer, GSK, Hospira, UCB, Novartis, Takeda, Mayolo-Spindler. Stephanie Viennot has received consulting fees from Abbvie, MSD, Takeda, Vifor Pharma and Ferring. Catherine Le Berre has served as a consultant for Abbvie, Janssen and Gilead; reports receiving payment for lectures from AbbVie, Celltrion, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer and Takeda. Medina Boualit has received travel accommodation from Abbvie, Janssen Takeda and Pfizer. Lucile Boivineau has received consulting fees from Abbvie and Tillotts. Mathurin Fumery has received lecture and consulting fees from Abbvie, MSD, Boehringer, Pfizer, Takeda, Janssen and Ferring. Ludovic Caillo received board and lecture fees from Abbvie, Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda, Amgen David Laharie has received counseling, boards, transports and/or fees from Abbvie, Biogaran, Biogen, Ferring, HAC-pharma, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Prometheus, Roche, Takeda, Theradiag, Tillots. Maria Nachury has received lecture and consulting fees from Abbvie, Adacyte, Amgen, Arena, Biogen, CTMA, Ferring, Gilead, Janssen, Mayoli Spindler, MSD, Pfizer, Takeda, Viatris Aurelien Amiot has received consulting fees from Abbvie, Hospira, Takeda, Gilead and Biocodex as well as lecture fees and travel accommodations from Abbvie, Janssen, Biocodex, Hospira, Ferring, Takeda and MSD. This author has also received advisory board fees from Gilead, Takeda and Abbvie. No conflicts of interest are claimed by the remaining authors., (Copyright © 2023 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Anthracyclines are antibiotics widely used for the treatment of leukemia and solid tumors. Perfusion is the standard clinical administration form. Unfortunately, this does not allow treatment of gastric cancers. A new galenic presentation, consisting of anthracyclines adsorbed onto hydroxylapatite granules, has been developed. It was found to be possible to modulate the release of the drug as a function of the pH by using copper(II) ions. At neutral pH, the drug remains on the mineral support, but at pH 3, the drug is released into solution. Further investigations demonstrate that copper-containing hydroxylapatite can retain a determined quantity of antibiotic by surface complexation. This result could contribute to new designs for drug carriers targeted for gastric cancers., (Copyright 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)