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Background: The Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL®) is a patient reported quality-of-life questionnaire specific to sarcopenia. In the Indian context, its availability is limited to Hindi, Marathi and Bengali vernacular languages. Aims: This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt the SarQoL® questionnaire into Kannada and investigate its psychometric properties. Methods: The SarQoL®-English version was translated into Kannada with the developer's permission and in accordance with their requirements. To validate the discriminative power, internal consistency and floor and ceiling effect of the SarQoL®-Kannada questionnaire were assessed in the first step. In the second step, the construct validity and the test–retest reliability of the SarQoL®-Kannada was determined. Result: There was no difficulty in the translation process. A total of n = 114 participants (sarcopenic participants n = 45 and n = 69 non-sarcopenic participants) were included. The good discriminative power of the SarQoL®-Kannada questionnaire {quality of life for sarcopenic subjects [56.43 ± 11.32] vs. non-sarcopenic ones [79.38 ± 8.16], p < 0.001}. High internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.904) and no ceiling/ floor effect were reflected. Excellent test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.97, 95% CI 0.92–0.98) were found. A good convergent and divergent validity with similar and different domains of WHOQOL-BREF was observed, while EQ-5D-3L had good convergent and weak divergent validity. Conclusion: The SarQoL®-Kannada questionnaire is valid, consistent and reliable for the measurement of quality of life of sarcopenic participants. SarQoL®-Kannada questionnaire is now available to be used in clinical practice and as a treatment outcome indicator in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: The Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL®) is a patient reported quality-of-life questionnaire specific to sarcopenia. In the Indian context, its availability is limited to Hindi, Marathi and Bengali vernacular languages. Aims: This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt the SarQoL® questionnaire into Kannada and investigate its psychometric properties. Methods: The SarQoL®-English version was translated into Kannada with the developer's permission and in accordance with their requirements. To validate the discriminative power, internal consistency and floor and ceiling effect of the SarQoL®-Kannada questionnaire were assessed in the first step. In the second step, the construct validity and the test–retest reliability of the SarQoL®-Kannada was determined. Result: There was no difficulty in the translation process. A total of n = 114 participants (sarcopenic participants n = 45 and n = 69 non-sarcopenic participants) were included. The good discriminative power of the SarQoL®-Kannada questionnaire {quality of life for sarcopenic subjects [56.43 ± 11.32] vs. non-sarcopenic ones [79.38 ± 8.16], p < 0.001}. High internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.904) and no ceiling/ floor effect were reflected. Excellent test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.97, 95% CI 0.92–0.98) were found. A good convergent and divergent validity with similar and different domains of WHOQOL-BREF was observed, while EQ-5D-3L had good convergent and weak divergent validity. Conclusion: The SarQoL®-Kannada questionnaire is valid, consistent and reliable for the measurement of quality of life of sarcopenic participants. SarQoL®-Kannada questionnaire is now available to be used in clinical practice and as a treatment outcome indicator in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background. The upper limb neural tissue provocation test-1 (ULNTPT-1) is used for determining the neurogenic etiology of neck and arm pain. Biomechanical studies have primarily investigated in vitro, whereas in vivo examination is lacking. Objective. The objective was to determine the effect of the shoulder external rotation (ER) component of ULNTPT-1 on the deficit in elbow extension range of motion (EEROM) and vibration threshold (VT) in participants with neurogenic cervicobrachial pain syndrome (CBPS). Methods. Thirty-two patients were included in the study as per the inclusion criteria. ULNTPT-1 with/without shoulder external rotation was performed on symptomatic and asymptomatic side. Deficit in EEROM at the onset of muscle activation of biceps brachii (R1) and initial onset of pain (P1) along with VT in median nerve territory was recorded. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the difference and level of significance was p < 0.05. Results. The effect of ULNTPT-1 with/without shoulder ER component on the deficit in EEROM at P1 & R1 was significant on symptomatic as well as on the asymptomatic side (p < 0.001). The difference was not significant on symptomatic (p = 0.15) and asymptomatic sides (p = 0.31) for the VT. The difference in value of responses obtained on each side with/without shoulder ER compared, showed no significant difference in all three outcomes P1, R1, and VT (p = 0.219; p = 0.273; p = 0.145). Conclusions. There was greater deficit in EEROM with shoulder ER, which suggest that there is a heightened nerve mechanosensitivity with shoulder ER component of ULNTPT-1. Study registration. Clinical Trial Registry India received a prospective registration for the trial with the number CTRI/2018/04/013383. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Case reviews of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (ADRs) such as SJS/TEN provide useful insights for clinical characteristics, putative drugs, and management protocols. Patients and Methods: Medical charts of 62 (m:f- 20:42) patients with SJS/TEN hospitalized between 2010 and 2019 were analyzed retrospectively for clinical attributes, putative drugs and their indications, extracutaneous complications, and therapeutic outcome. The diagnosis was clinical based on established criteria. WHO-UMC scale for reporting ADR and ALDEN algorithm score were used for causality assessment. Therapies were customized based on in-house resources and affordability. Results: Cases included were SJS (41.9%), SJS/TEN overlap (33.9%), and TEN (24.2%) aged 4–85 years. Complications included transaminitis (69.4%), lymphadenopathy (15.5%), septicemia (11.3%), and wound infections (4.8%). Aromatic anticonvulsants (37.1%), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (25.8%), antiretroviral drugs (12.9%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (8.1%), antimicrobials (4.8%), and trihexyphenidyl (3.2%) were major putative drugs. The mean latent period was 16.6 days. The observed 8% mortality was because of primary comorbidities or multiorgan failure. Addition of fresh blood transfusion (BT, n = 11) or IVIg (n = 7) to systemic corticosteroids showed early relief in skin tenderness, improvement in general condition, and re-epithelialization. Only 16% of patients developed sequelae. Conclusion: Aromatic anticonvulsants, allopurinol, nevirapine, cotrimoxazole, paracetamol, and diclofenac remain the most implicated drugs. Sulfasalazine, leflunomide, ethambutol, and trihexyphenidyl were uncommon additions. A short course of high-dose dexamethasone in the early stage was useful. Addition of BT or IVIg provided rapid relief. Preexisting HIV disease, kidney disease, and sepsis remain important for in-hospital deaths. Retrospective study design and small number of cases remain major limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Association of psoriasis with other autoimmune diseases remains an ongoing research subject. Objectives: To investigate the association of psoriasis with other autoimmune disorders. Materials and Methods: We studied 80 (M: F 57:23) psoriasis patients aged 13--75 years for concurrent autoimmune disorders. After clinical examination, hemogram, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, thyroid function tests, anti-TPO antibody, rheumatoid factor, anti-tTG antibody, anti-CCP antibody, ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody, anti-Ro antibody, and fecal calprotectin were estimated. Results: Mild-to-moderate and severe psoriasis was present in 86.3% and 13.8% patients, respectively. Psoriatic arthritis was present in 3.8% patients, all of whom also had severe psoriasis. Only 37 (46.3%) patients had clinical and/or sero-abnormality suggestive of autoimmune disorders; vitiligo in 3.8%, type-1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in 1.3%, and type-2 DM in 6.3% patients. Sero-positivity reflecting subclinical autoimmunity was noted for anti-CCP antibodies (in 2.5%), rheumatoid factor (in 2.5%), hypo- or hyper-thyroidism (in 8.8%), anti-TPO antibodies (in 5.0%), anti-tTG antibody (in 1.3%), ANA (in 5.0%), anti-dsDNA antibody (in 2.5%), and anti-Ro antibody in 11.3% patients. Elevated fecal calprotectin levels suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurred in 11.2% of 27 patients. Multiple abnormalities happened in 2.5% patients. Conclusion: Apparently psoriasis patients seem to have a predilection for other autoimmune disorders particularly for vitiligo, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and IBD. However, association between psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders at best remains tenuous for want of strong evidence. Nevertheless, screening for them will improve overall management of these patients. Cross-sectional study design and small number of study subjects remain important limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

• The SarQoL questionnaire is the only validated instrument to measure quality of life in sarcopenia. • In this meta-analysis, data on individual patients from 32 studies were combined. • Sarcopenia is associated with lower quality of life measured with SarQoL. • Activities of daily life and locomotion are the two most impacted domains. Age-related sarcopenia, resulting from a gradual loss in skeletal muscle mass and strength, is pivotal to the increased prevalence of functional limitation among the older adult community. The purpose of this meta-analysis of individual patient data is to investigate the difference in health-related quality of life between sarcopenic individuals and those without the condition using the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire. A protocol was published on PROSPERO. Multiple databases and the grey literature were searched until March 2023 for studies reporting quality of life assessed with the SarQoL for patients with and without sarcopenia. Two researchers conducted the systematic review independently. A two-stage meta-analysis was performed. First, crude (mean difference) and adjusted (beta coefficient) effect sizes were calculated within each database; then, a random effect meta-analysis was applied to pool them. Heterogeneity was measured using the Q-test and I2 value. Subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the source of potential heterogeneity. The strength of evidence of this association was assessed using GRADE. From the 413 studies identified, 32 were eventually included, of which 10 were unpublished data studies. Sarcopenic participants displayed significantly reduced health-related quality of life compared with non-sarcopenic individuals (mean difference = −12.32; 95 % CI = [−15.27; −9.37]). The model revealed significant heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses revealed a substantial impact of regions, clinical settings, and diagnostic criteria on the difference in health-related quality of life between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic individuals. The level of evidence was moderate. This meta-analysis of individual patient data suggested that sarcopenia is associated with lower health-related quality of life measured with SarQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...