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Context : Pre- and postoperative distress in breast cancer patients can cause complications and delay recovery from surgery. Objective : The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of yoga intervention on postoperative outcomes and wound healing in early operable breast cancer patients undergoing surgery. Methods : Ninety-eight recently diagnosed stage II and III breast cancer patients were recruited in a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of a yoga program with supportive therapy and exercise rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes and wound healing following surgery. Subjects were assessed at the baseline prior to surgery and four weeks later. Sociodemographic, clinical and investigative notes were ascertained in the beginning of the study. Blood samples were collected for estimation of plasma cytokines-soluble Interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (IL-2R), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma. Postoperative outcomes such as the duration of hospital stay and drain retention, time of suture removal and postoperative complications were ascertained. We used independent samples t test and nonparametric Mann Whitney U tests to compare groups for postoperative outcomes and plasma cytokines. Regression analysis was done to determine predictors for postoperative outcomes. Results : Sixty-nine patients contributed data to the current analysis (yoga: n = 33, control: n = 36). The results suggest a significant decrease in the duration of hospital stay ( P = 0.003), days of drain retention ( P = 0.001) and days for suture removal ( P = 0.03) in the yoga group as compared to the controls. There was also a significant decrease in plasma TNF alpha levels following surgery in the yoga group ( P < 0.001), as compared to the controls. Regression analysis on postoperative outcomes showed that the yoga intervention affected the duration of drain retention and hospital stay as well as TNF alpha levels. Conclusion : The results suggest possible benefits of yoga in reducing postoperative complications in breast cancer patients.

Context : Breast cancer patients awaiting surgery experience heightened distress that could affect postoperative outcomes. Aims : The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of yoga intervention on mood states, treatment-related symptoms, quality of life and immune outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing surgery. Settings and Design : Ninety-eight recently diagnosed stage II and III breast cancer patients were recruited for a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of a yoga program with supportive therapy plus exercise rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes following surgery. Materials and Methods : Subjects were assessed prior to surgery and four weeks thereafter. Psychometric instruments were used to assess self-reported anxiety, depression, treatment-related distress and quality of life. Blood samples were collected for enumeration of T lymphocyte subsets (CD4 %, CD8 % and natural killer (NK) cell % counts) and serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM). Statistical Analysis Used : We used analysis of covariance to compare interventions postoperatively. Results : Sixty-nine patients contributed data to the current analysis (yoga n = 33, control n = 36). The results suggest a significant decrease in the state ( P = 0.04) and trait ( P = 0.004) of anxiety, depression ( P = 0.01), symptom severity ( P = 0.01), distress ( P < 0.01) and improvement in quality of life ( P = 0.01) in the yoga group as compared to the controls. There was also a significantly lesser decrease in CD 56% ( P = 0.02) and lower levels of serum IgA ( P = 0.001) in the yoga group as compared to controls following surgery. Conclusions : The results suggest possible benefits for yoga in reducing postoperative distress and preventing immune suppression following surgery.

Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the referral delay in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (Sjogren's) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). Materials and Methods: The independent, multicentre, cross-sectional study collected data from seven centres across India through the Indian Rheumatology Association (IRA) database. The patient-related factors and referral factors were determined based on the patient narrations. Based on the patient's income, a modified version of the Prasad scale was employed to classify them according to socioeconomic status. Results: The study included 118 patients with Sjogren's and 166 patients with SSc. Approximately 60% of patients with SSc and Sjogren's received rheumatology specialty care more than 6 months after symptom onset. The primary reasons for this delay were identified as a lack of awareness of rheumatology specialty care among patients (Sjogren's: 61%; SSc: 74%) and disease management by other specialists (Sjogren's: 75%; SSc: 62%) rather than rheumatologists. Additionally, over 25% of primary care practitioners were unaware of rheumatology specialty services, and a similar percentage of patients were not diagnosed with rheumatic diseases by their primary care physicians. Patients with delayed referrals for Sjogren's exhibited higher rates of haematologic, oral, and non-articular pain. Similarly, in SSc patients, delayed referral was associated with a significantly higher prevalence of skin involvement (P <.01). Conclusion: Patient referrals to other specialties and a lack of knowledge about rheumatology were the primary causes of referral delays. Educating primary care physicians and facilitating direct referrals to rheumatology specialists could help reduce these delays. The study findings may help in stratifying interventions to improve early referral and access to rheumatology specialty care for patients with Sjogren's and SSc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological studies, referred to as the Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) studies, have been conducted under the aegis of the International League against Rheumatism and the World Health Organization to evaluate the epidemiology of rheumatic and musculoskeletal (RMSK) diseases in India. These COPCORD studies conducted in rural Bhigwan and urban Pune in Maharashtra, rural Calicut and rural Trivandrum in Kerala and rural and urban Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, along with data from the Global Burden of Diseases study have helped to understand the burden of rheumatic diseases in the community. Based on these studies, RMSK diseases, which are amongst the top 25 causes of disability in the Indian population, are prevalent in nearly 25%–30% of the Indian population. The common rheumatic diseases in the community are soft tissue rheumatism, neck and back pain, fibromyalgia and unspecified pains and osteoarthritis (most commonly affecting the knee). These diseases most commonly affect young persons between the third to the fifth decade of life, more often affect females, are prevalent in both rural and urban populations, and account for considerable disability in up to one-fifth of individuals leading to loss of livelihood and dependence on others for self-care. Community-based national healthcare programs to manage RMSK diseases at the community level are urgently needed. There also remains an unmet need to train more doctors to diagnose and manage rheumatic diseases at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study is intended to evaluate the factors influencing the diagnostic and rheumatology care referral delay in patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in India. Materials and methods: The independent prospective, multicentre, observational study collected data from 8 centres across India through the database created by the Indian Rheumatology Association (IRA). Modified Prasad scale was used for socio-economic classification based on the patient's income. The data of PsA and SpA were analysed separately, and the causes were compared using t -test for continuous variables and chi-square and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables. Results: The mean referral delay noted for PsA and SpA subjects were 16.3±34.35 and 17.48±33.59 (IQR 24 and 34) months, respectively. Majority of the PsA patients and about 65% of SpA subjects reported a lack of awareness of the rheumatology specialty as the major reason for the delay. Another major reason was management by other specialists instead of rheumatologists (65% and 74% respectively). Approximately 8% of patients in both disease groups had no faith in modern care due to perceived elevated risk of adverse effects. SpA patients with improved socio-economic status had a higher proportion of subjects seeking specialty care. A direct association was noted between professional skill and early access to specialty care for both PsA and SpA patients. Conclusion: The lack of awareness of rheumatology as a specialty and patients being managed by other specialties are the two major reasons for delayed referral of SpA and PsA. Additionally, a patient's economic and skill level can influence their ability to access specialty care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The current study evaluated latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) positivity in a cohort of Indian subjects and the accuracy of IFN-gamma release assay (IGRA) in predicting tuberculosis (TB) reactivation. Methods This cross‐sectional, retrospective chart-based study considered patients diagnosed with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs), especially those who received treatment with biologics or targeted synthetic (ts)DMARDs. The patients had undergone LTBI screening and IGRA test. The study excluded patients with inadequate information and those who had undergone test exclusively for diagnostic purpose. Statistical analyses were carried out for descriptive, demographic and clinical variables. Accuracy and error rate in predicting the absence of TB reactivation were calculated for IGRA test. Results The study selected 943 patients who had undergone IGRA pre-screening prior to the initiation of biologics or tsDMARDs with a mean age of 42.93 ± 14.01 years and male-to-female ratio of 1:2.08. RA was the most common primary diagnosis (43.16%). The proportion of subjects who received single, double and triple or more DMARDs or immune suppressants were 54.35%, 33.33% and 7.69%, respectively. Among the selected subjects, 125 patients were LTBI positive and 816 were negative. All patients, except one who tested positive at baseline, received antitubercular prophylaxis. Accuracy of IGRA in predicting the absence of TB reactivation was 99.6%, with an error rate of 0.46. Conclusion LTBI screening is beneficial in AIRDs patients prior to the prescription of biologics or tsDMARDs. IGRA is ideal for identifying patients with increased likelihood of developing TB upon receiving biologics or tsDMARDs with reasonable accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Comorbidities frequently accompany psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and add to the disease burden. We aimed to identify the comorbidity burden in patients with PsA and evaluate its impact on the disease activity measures in our geographic region. Methods: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study involving consecutive PsA patients from 17 rheumatology centers. Their disease variables and comorbidities were recorded. Results: In 549 enrolled patients, the mean age was 39.2 (14.9) years, with male predominance (6:5). The mean duration of PsA was 63.1 (76.3) months and 232 (42.3%) patients had one or more comorbidities. Dyslipidemia was the most prevalent comorbidity, followed by hypertension (HTN) (19.8%) and diabetes (16.6%). About 39% of patients were overweight and 18% were obese. Smoking, ischemic heart disease, hypothyroidism, osteoarthritis, depression, anxiety, and fractures were seen in <5% of the cohort. Increasing age, longer duration of psoriasis, a family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or stroke, smoking, alcohol consumption, and higher waist circumference were associated with the presence of one or more comorbidities. Overall, 104 (18.9%) patients needed hospitalization for various comorbidities. Infections accounted for 59 (10.8%), of which skin (23) was the most common site, followed by urinary tract (6) and lung (4). Conclusions: More than 40% of PsA patients have comorbidities. Dyslipidemia, HTN, diabetes, and obesity were most prevalent, putting these patients at risk for CVDs. Active screening for these comorbidities is crucial for providing comprehensive care to these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical patterns and disease activity burden of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) varies in different parts of the world. There are limited studies from the Indian subcontinent. Aims: To study the cutaneous and articular profile of PsA and describe their disease activity with validated outcome measures. Methods: Karnataka psoriatic arthritis cohort study is a multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional, observational study which included all consecutive PsA patients defined by Classification criteria for psoriatic arthritis (CASPAR) from 18 rheumatology centers. Results: A total of 549 PsA patients (M: F: 6:5), mean age 38.4 (±14) years were included. PsA preceded psoriasis in 81 (14.7%) while simultaneous onset was noted in 117 (21.5%). Plaque lesions (330 [78.8%]) and scalp (210 [49.2%]) were the most common type and site. Mild, moderate, and severe skin disease was noted in 480 (80%), 50 (9.3%), and 57 (10.6%) patients, respectively. Mean disease activity in PsA (DAPSA) was 18.8 (16.6); 100 (19.9%) were in remission. Low, moderate, and high joint disease activity was found in 145 (28.8%), 137 (27.2%), and 123 (24.5%), respectively. There was no correlation between skin and joint disease. Polyarthritis (216 [40.7%]) and oligoarthritis (202 [38.1%]) were the most frequent PsA subtypes. Those with a higher DAPSA (>28) were older (P = 0.02), had a shorter duration of psoriasis (P = 0.02) and higher psoriatic area and severity index scores (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: We report high articular disease activity in half while cutaneous disease activity was minimal in majority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]