Are obesity and rheumatoid arthritis interrelated

OBJECTIVES In recent years, both the prevalence of obesity and the incidence of RA have been rising. Our aim was to assess the association between overweight or obesity and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). DESIGN Patients who were diagnosed with RA were compared with population-based controls, matched for age and sex (by a ratio of 1:5). Body measurements and smoking status were collected from medical records. Body mass index was classified in WHO categories of underweight, normal, overweight and obese (<18.5, 18.5-<25, 25-<30, ≥30 kg/m2 ). χ2 and t-tests and logistic regression models were used to compare the study groups and to assess the association between obesity and RA. SETTING A cross-sectional analysis performed utilizing the database of Clalit Health Services, the largest healthcare provider organisation in Israel. Data were collected from the beginning of computerised database usage (around year 2000) until 2015. PARTICIPANTS CHS covers over 4.4 million enrollees, of which all RA patients and matched controls were selected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Proportion of obesity (BMI≥30.0 kg/m2 ) among RA patients and controls. RESULTS The study included 11 406 patients with RA and 54 701 controls. The proportion of obese subjects among RA patients was higher in comparison with controls, (33.4% vs 31.6%, respectively). In multivariate regression model, smoking and obesity were found to be associated with RA, whereas male gender was found as inversely related to RA. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that obesity is significantly associated with RA. This finding underlines the role that obesity plays in inflammation and autoimmune conditions

Use of Wearable Devices for Peak Oxygen Consumption Measurement in Clinical Cardiology: Case Report and Literature Review

BackgroundOxygen consumption is an important index to evaluate in cardiac patients, particularly those with heart failure, and is measured in the setting of advanced cardiopulmonary exercise testing. However, technological advances now allow for the estimation of this parameter in many consumer and medical-grade wearable devices, making it available for the medical provider at the initial evaluation of patients. We report a case of an apparently healthy male aged 40 years who presented for evaluation due to an Apple Watch (Apple Inc) notification of low cardiac fitness. This alert triggered a thorough workup, revealing a diagnosis of familial nonischemic cardiomyopathy with severely reduced left ventricular systolic function. While the use of wearable devices for the measurement of oxygen consumption and related parameters is promising, further studies are needed for validation. ObjectiveThe aim of this report is to investigate the potential utility of wearable devices as a screening and risk stratification tool for cardiac fitness for the general population and those with increased cardiovascular risk, particularly through the measurement of peak oxygen consumption (VO2). We discuss the possible advantages of measuring oxygen consumption using wearables and propose its integration into routine patient evaluation and follow-up processes. With the current evidence and limitations, we encourage researchers and clinicians to explore bringing wearable devices into clinical practice. MethodsThe case was identified at Sheba Medical Center, and the patient’s cardiac fitness was monitored through an Apple Watch Series 6. The patient underwent a comprehensive cardiac workup following his presentation. Subsequently, we searched the literature for articles relating to the clinical utility of peak VO2 monitoring and available wearable devices. ResultsThe Apple Watch data provided by the patient demonstrated reduced peak VO2, a surrogate index for cardiac fitness, which improved after treatment initiation. A cardiological workup confirmed familial nonischemic cardiomyopathy with severely reduced left ventricular systolic function. A review of the literature revealed the potential clinical benefit of peak VO2 monitoring in both cardiac and noncardiac scenarios. Additionally, several devices on the market were identified that could allow for accurate oxygen consumption measurement; however, future studies and approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are still necessary. ConclusionsThis case report highlights the potential utility of peak VO2 measurements by wearable devices for early identification and screening of cardiac fitness for the general population and those at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The integration of wearable devices into routine patient evaluation may allow for earlier presentation in the diagnostic workflow. Cardiac fitness can be serially measured using the wearable device, allowing for close monitoring of functional capacity parameters. Devices need to be used with caution, and further studies are warranted

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of the EX-PRESS Filtration Device in Patients with Advanced Neovascular Glaucoma and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Background: The prognosis of conventional filtration surgery in eyes with neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is limited due to increased fibrovascular proliferation or bleeding. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the EX-PRESS filtration device in the management of NVG associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods: In this retrospective case series, we reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed as having NVG associated with PDR who underwent EX-PRESS filtration surgery. The main outcome measures were: postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), the percent of IOP drop, the number of glaucoma medications, visual acuity, and complications of surgery. Successful surgery was defined as an IOP &#x3c;22 mm Hg and &#x3e;5 mm Hg with or without additional glaucoma surgery, and no loss of light perception or less than a 2-line decrease on the Snellen chart of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results: Five patients (5 eyes) were included in this study. The mean preoperative IOP was 33.4 ± 5.9 mm Hg compared to an IOP of 17.0 ± 3.0 mm Hg at the last follow-up (p = 0.003). The mean number of preoperative anti-glaucoma medications was 3.8 ± 0.4 compared to 2.2 ± 1.5 (p = 0.06) at the last follow-up visit. Final visual acuity improved or stabilized within 1 Snellen line in all 5 patients. Three patients had a “hypertensive phase” (defined as an IOP &#x3e;21 mm Hg during the first 6 postoperative months) which resolved within 2 months. Two patients developed a hyphema that resolved spontaneously. None of the patients experienced any serious complications. Conclusion: EX-PRESS filtration device has a good IOP-lowering effect and a low rate of complications in patients with advanced NVG associated with PDR. In addition, there was no loss of light perception or no line decrease of the BCVA

Foreign Body Embedded in Anterior Chamber Angle

Introduction. We present a case of a metallic foreign body embedded in the anterior chamber angle. After standing in close proximity to a construction worker breaking a tile, a 26-year-old woman using soft contact lens for the correction of mild myopia presented to emergency department for evaluation of a foreign body sensation of her right eye. Methods and Results. Diagnosis was confirmed by gonioscopic examination and a noncontrast CT scan of head and orbits. The foreign body was removed by an external approach without utilizing a magnet. The patient's final outcome was favorable. Discussion. The above is a rare clinical situation, which is impossible to detect on slit-lamp examination without a gonioscopic view. Proper imaging and a specific management are mandatory in order to achieve favorable outcome

The Association between Sarcoidosis and Ischemic Heart Disease—A Healthcare Analysis of a Large Israeli Population

(1) Background: Inflammation plays a pivotal role in atherosclerosis, and the association between chronic inflammatory states and ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been shown in several rheumatic diseases. Persistent inflammation might also be a risk factor for IHD in sarcoidosis patients. (2) Methods: Demographic and clinical data of 3750 sarcoidosis patients and 18,139 age- and sex-matched controls were retrieved from the database of Clalit Health Services, Israel’s largest healthcare organization. Variables associated with IHD were assessed by a logistic regression model. To assess for variables that were related to increased risk of all-cause mortality, the Cox proportional hazards method was used, and a log-rank test was performed for survival analysis. (3) Results: Both groups were composed of 64% females with a median age of 56 years. An association between sarcoidosis and IHD was demonstrated by a multivariate analysis (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36–1.66). Long-term follow-up revealed increased mortality among sarcoidosis patients: 561 (15%) deaths compared to 1636 (9%) deaths among controls (p &lt; 0.001). Survival analysis demonstrated that sarcoidosis patients were also at increased risk for all-cause mortality compared to controls (multivariate model, adjusted HR 1.93; 95% CI 1.76–2.13)

Epilepsy among systemic lupus erythematosus patients: insights from a large database analysis

OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy is characterized by a relevant epidemiological and clinical burden. In the extant literature, an increased risk of seizures has been described in several inflammatory/autoimmune disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, so far, relatively few and small size-based studies have been conducted. We aimed to investigate the link between seizure and SLE utilizing a large sample of subjects and extensive data analysis. METHODS: Patients with SLE were compared with age- and sex-matched controls regarding the prevalence of epilepsy in a cross-sectional study. Chi-square and t tests were used for univariate analysis and a logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis. The study was performed utilizing the medical database of Clalit Health Services. RESULTS: The study included 5,018 patients with SLE and 25,090 age- and gender-frequency-matched controls. The proportion of epilepsy was found significantly higher among SLE patients (4.03 vs. 0.87%, p < 0.001). Using logistic regression, adjusting for multiple confounding factors, older age ( 6570 years) resulted as negative predictor (OR 0.42 [95% CI 0.27-0.62], p <0.001), whereas the presence of SLE was a positive predictor of epilepsy (OR 4.70 [95% CI 3.94-5.82], p < 0.001). Interaction between SLE and elderly age resulted in high OR of 5.47 for epilepsy (95% CI 2.53-11.9). CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the higher prevalence of epilepsy in SLE patients. Physicians should be aware of such findings and have a lower threshold for suspecting epileptic seizures in these patients. Further studies are needed to better elucidate the mechanisms by which SLE favors the insurgence of seizures

Healthcare Service Utilization by 116,816 Patients with Atopic Dermatitis in Israel

Understanding of the epidemiology and healthcare service utilization related to atopic dermatitis is necessary to inform the use of new treatments. This cross-sectional study was based on a group of patients with atopic dermatitis and a matched control group comprised of age- and sex- matched enrolees without atopic dermatitis from a large medical database. Healthcare service utilization usage data were extracted and compared between groups. The study included 116,816 patients with atopic dermatitis and 116,812 controls. Atopic dermatitis was associated with an increased burden of healthcare utilization across the entire spectrum of healthcare services compared with controls. For patients severely affected by atopic dermatitis, the increased burden correlated with disease severity: a high­er frequency of emergency room visits (odd ratio (OR) 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–1.9), dermatology wards hospitalizations (OR 315; 95% CI 0–7,342), and overall hospitalizations (OR 3.6; 95% CI 3.3–3.9). In conclusion, this study demonstrates an increased burden of healthcare utilization in atopic dermatitis