Relationships Between Standing Frontal-Plane Knee Alignment and Dynamic Knee Joint Loading During Walking and Jogging in Youth Who Are Obese

Abstract Background. Youth who are obese have high risk of poor knee health and cartilage damage. Understanding factors which may affect knee health in youth who are obese is critical for preservation of knee integrity and function. Objective. This study compared standing frontal-plane knee alignment and knee loading patterns between youth who are obese and those of healthy weight and determine the association between knee alignment and knee loading patterns during walking and jogging. Design. This study used a cross-sectional matched pair design. Methods. Twenty youth who were obese and 20 youth who were healthy-weight (ages 11–18 years) were recruited. Three-dimensional motion analysis quantified standing frontal-plane knee alignment as well as frontal- and sagittal-plane knee moments during walking and jogging. Paired t-tests, multiple analysis of covariance, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were used for analysis. Results. The youth who were obese demonstrated greater knee valgus in standing (P = 0.02), lower normalized peak external knee adduction moments during walking (P = 0.003), and greater normalized peak external knee extension moments during jogging (P = 0.003) compared with the youth who were healthy-weight. Standing knee alignment did not correlate with knee moments in the youth who were obese. Limitations. Results are limited to small, homogeneous cohorts. The standing alignment methodology is not validated in this population and may limit interpretation of results. Conclusion. Youth who are obese stand in more knee valgus and have altered knee loading patterns during walking and jogging compared with youth who are healthy-weight. Frontal-plane knee alignment does not correlate with frontal-plane knee loading patterns in youth who are obese. A better understanding of other mechanisms related to joint loading in youth who are obese is necessary to maintain long-term joint integrity in this population

Muscle MRI at the time of questionable disease flares in Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM)

Abstract Background The course of JDM has improved substantially over the last 70 years with early and aggressive treatments. Yet it remains difficult to detect disease flares as symptoms may be mild; signs of rash and muscle weakness vary widely and are often equivocal; laboratory tests of muscle enzyme levels are often normal; electromyography and muscle biopsy are invasive. Alternative tools are needed to help decide if more aggressive treatment is needed. Our objective is to determine the effectiveness of muscle Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in detecting JDM flares, and how an MRI affects physician’s decision-making regarding treatment. Methods This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. JDM patients were consulted between 1/2005 and 6/2015. MRIs were performed on both lower extremities without contrast sequentially: axial T1, axial T2 fat saturation, axial and coronal inversion recovery, and axial diffusion weighted. The physician decision that a JDM patient was in a flare was considered the gold standard. MRI results were compared with physician’s decisions on whether a relapse had occurred, and if there was a concordance between the assessment methods. Results Forty-five JDM patients were studied. Eighty percent had weakness at diagnosis, 100% typical rash, and 73% typical nail-fold capillary changes. At diagnosis, muscle enzymes were compatible with JDM generally (CK 52%, LDH 62%, aldolase 72%, AST 54% abnormal). EMG was abnormal in 3/8, muscle biopsy typical of JDM in 10/11, and MRI abnormal demonstrating myositis in 31/40. Thirteen patients had a repeat MRI for possible flares with differing indications. Three repeat MRI’s were abnormal, demonstrating myositis. There was moderate agreement about flares between MRI findings and physician’s treatment decisions (kappa = 0.59). In each abnormal MRI case the physician decided to increase treatment (100% probability for flares). MRI was negative for myositis in 10 patients, by which 7/10 the physicians chose to continue or to taper the medications (70% probability for non-flares). Conclusion A muscle MRI would facilitate objective assessments of JDM flares. When an MRI shows myositis, physicians tend to treat 100% of the time. When an MRI shows no myositis, physicians continued the same medications or tapered medications 70% of the time. Further studies would help confirm the utility and cost-effectiveness of MRI to determine JDM flares

Magnesium intake, bone mineral density, and fractures: results from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.

BackgroundMagnesium is a necessary component of bone, but its relation to osteoporotic fractures is unclear.ObjectiveWe examined magnesium intake as a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures and altered bone mineral density (BMD).DesignThis prospective cohort study included 73,684 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Total daily magnesium intake was estimated from baseline food-frequency questionnaires plus supplements. Hip fractures were confirmed by a medical record review; other fractures were identified by self-report. A baseline BMD analysis was performed in 4778 participants.ResultsBaseline hip BMD was 3% higher (P < 0.001), and whole-body BMD was 2% higher (P < 0.001), in women who consumed >422.5 compared with <206.5 mg Mg/d. However, the incidence and RR of hip and total fractures did not differ across quintiles of magnesium. In contrast, risk of lower-arm or wrist fractures increased with higher magnesium intake [multivariate-adjusted HRs of 1.15 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.32) and 1.23 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.42) for quintiles 4 and 5, respectively, compared with quintile 1; P-trend = 0.002]. In addition, women with the highest magnesium intakes were more physically active and at increased risk of falls [HR for quintile 4: 1.11 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.16); HR for quintile 5: 1.15 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.20); P-trend < 0.001].ConclusionsLower magnesium intake is associated with lower BMD of the hip and whole body, but this result does not translate into increased risk of fractures. A magnesium consumption slightly greater than the Recommended Dietary Allowance is associated with increased lower-arm and wrist fractures that are possibly related to more physical activity and falls

Additional file 1: of Muscle MRI at the time of questionable disease flares in Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM)

Disease Characteristics of 45 Patients with Juvenile Dermatomyositis. (DOCX 27 kb

COVID-19 related multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C): a case series from a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Qatar

Abstract Background Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a severe complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children, which is increasingly being reported worldwide. Here we report the first case series of 7 children diagnosed with MIS-C in Qatar. Methods Clinical features and outcomes of COVID-19 positive patients admitted to Sidra Medicine, Qatar from June to October 2020, who met the WHO case definition for MIS-C were reviewed. Results The mean age in our case series was 5.6 years, of which 71.4% were males. All patients were previously healthy but had a history of COVID-19 infection. Fever, rash, vomiting and abdominal pain were the most common symptoms (70–100%). The average hospitalization was 12.9 days with no case fatalities. Laboratory findings included lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia in most patients, as well as evidence of coagulopathy and elevated inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, ferritin and procalcitonin. Many patients (71.4%) required inotropic support in intensive care, while only one required respiratory support. Although all patients had elevated cardiac biomarkers, cardiovascular involvement was observed in 42.9% of patients with one patient developing a giant coronary aneurysm. All patients received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and 86% of patients received corticosteroids, with two patients requiring treatment with IL-1 inhibitors. Conclusions Our report is one of the first reports on MIS-C from Asia. Although clinical features and outcomes are not significantly different from those reported elsewhere, lack of case fatalities in our cohort may indicate that early recognition and prompt medical attention is necessary for a favorable outcome in MIS-C