Clinical presentations and outcomes of Filipino juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) varies by location and ethnicity. This study describes the clinical, laboratory profile and outcome of juvenile SLE seen at Philippine General Hospital (PGH) from 2004-2008.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Medical charts of all Filipino Juvenile SLE cases admitted at PGH during the 5-year period were reviewed collecting demographic profile, clinical and laboratory manifestations and treatment during disease course.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seventy-eight cases of juvenile SLE were reviewed. There were 7 boys and 71 girls. The mean age at diagnosis was 14 years (SD 2.7) with a range of 8-18 years. Fever (52.5%) and malar rash (41.0%) were the most common features at disease onset. At the time of diagnosis, the most common features were malar rash (65.3%), renal involvement (62.8%) and photosensitivity (55.1%). Mucocutaneous (92.3%), renal (71.7%) and hematologic (69.2%) involvement were the most common features during the entire course of illness. Infection (34.5%) and neurologic (19.0%) complications were observed most frequently. Corticocosteroid treatment was given in most of the patients in the form of prednisone (97.4%) and concomitant methylprednisolone intravenous pulses (29.4%). Nine patients died during the study period. The overall 5-year mortality rate was 11.5%. Infection (77.0%) was the most frequent cause of death.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Malar rash was a common feature at disease onset and at diagnosis among Filipinos with juvenile SLE. Throughout the disease course, renal involvement occurs in 71.7% of patients. Infection was the leading cause of complication and death. The clinical presentations of Filipinos with juvenile SLE were similar to juvenile SLE in other countries.</p

FURANIC COPOLYMERS WITH SYNTHETIC AND NATURAL PHENOLIC MATERIALS FOR WOOD ADHESIVES - A MALDI TOF STUDY

International audienceThe structure of traditional, linear phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins and phenol-furfural (P-Furan) resins has been investigated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectroscopy. The structure of a variety of oligomers has been obtained and the structures present in each of the two types of resins related to the reagent used either formaldehyde or furfural. The oligomers type and species distribution appeared rather different for each case. Comparison of a P-Furan resin with a Mimosa tannin-Furan resin showed some differences. This latter shows a greater proportion of self-condensed fuanic oligomers due to the manner in which it is prepared starting from furfuryl alcohol. Several different Tannin-Furan oligomers were also observed by MALDI TOF analysis

Clinical features of Behcet's disease in children: An international collaborative study of 86 cases

Objectives: The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical picture of Behcet's disease (BD) in children

Aningre (Aningeria spp.) tannin extract characterization and performance as an adhesive resin

International audienceAs aningre tree species are very abundant in central Africa, are rapid growing and have a very high percentage yield of tannin, aningre tannin extract was characterized using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform (ATR-FT MIR) spectra in the 1800 and 600 cm(-1) range and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. These two characterization methods have proven that aningre tannin is a procyanindin/prodelphinidin composed of catechin, gallogatechin as well as galloylated catechin and gallocatechin units. Moreover, oligomers presenting the simultaneous combination of methoxy groups and linked glucose have been observed, these not having been observed before in bark and wood extracted tannins. Two resin formulations were developed with this extract. The Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) was studied by thermomechanical analysis and wood particleboards were prepared bonded with these resins

Registries in Rheumatological and Musculoskeletal Conditions. Paediatric Behcet'S Disease: An International Cohort Study of 110 Patients. One-Year Follow-Up Data

Methods. International experts have defined the inclusion criteria as follows: recurrent oral aphthosis (ROA) plus one of following-genital ulceration, erythema nodosum, folliculitis, pustulous/acneiform lesions, positive pathergy test, uveitis, venous/arterial thrombosis and family history of BD. Onset of disease is < 16 years, disease duration is 3 years, future follow-up duration is epsilon 4 years and informed consent is obtained. The expert committee has classified the included patients into: definite paediatric BD (PED-BD), probable PED-BD and no PED-BD. Statistical analysis is performed to compare the three groups of patients. Centres document their patients into a single database. Results. At January 2010, 110 patients (56 males/54 females) have been included. Mean age at first symptom: 8.1 years (median 8.2 years). At inclusion, 38% had only one symptom associated with ROA, 31% had two and 31% had three or more symptoms. A total of 106 first evaluations have been done. Seventeen patients underwent the first-year evaluation, and 36 had no new symptoms, 12 had one and 9 had two. Experts have examined 48 files and classified 30 as definite and 18 as probable. Twenty-six patients classified as definite fulfilled the International Study Group criteria. Seventeen patients classified as probable did not meet the international criteria. Conclusion. The expert committee has classified the majority of patients in the BD group although they presented with few symptoms independently of BD classification criteria.WoSScopu