Educational needs and preferences of young European clinicians and physician researchers working in the field of rheumatology

Funding Information: CB: Grant BE 5191/1-1 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.Objectives: To understand the educational needs and preferences of young clinicians and physician researchers in the field of rheumatology in Europe. Methods: An international online survey was performed as a joint venture of ESCET and EMEUNET. The survey assessed the acceptance of and the access to the current European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) educational portfolio, as well as the unmet educational needs and learning preferences among individuals below the age of 40 years working in rheumatology in Europe. Results: Among 568 European clinicians and physician researchers, 65% indicated that the existing EULAR educational portfolio adequately covers their educational needs. Within the EULAR portfolio, the online course on rheumatic diseases and the postgraduate course were the most appreciated. Participants were very much in favour of new educational courses on imaging techniques, and 63% of participants indicated a particular interest in musculoskeletal ultrasound. A strong interest in refresher (60%) and general review (55%) courses was observed. Lack of funding was considered the major obstacle to participating in existing EULAR programmes. Finally, participants showed diverse preferences regarding learning modalities with common interests in live courses and conferences. Conclusions: EULAR's training opportunities are well appreciated among young clinicians and physician researchers in rheumatology. The results from this survey will help to develop EULAR's future educational portfolio.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Rheumatology training experience across Europe : Analysis of core competences

Publisher Copyright: © 2016 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: The aim of this project was to analyze and compare the educational experience in rheumatology specialty training programs across European countries, with a focus on self-reported ability. Method: An electronic survey was designed to assess the training experience in terms of self-reported ability, existence of formal education, number of patients managed and assessments performed during rheumatology training in 21 core competences including managing specific diseases, generic competences and procedures. The target population consisted of rheumatology trainees and recently certified rheumatologists across Europe. The relationship between the country of training and the self-reported ability or training methods for each competence was analyzed through linear or logistic regression, as appropriate. Results: In total 1079 questionnaires from 41 countries were gathered. Self-reported ability was high for most competences, range 7.5-9.4 (0-10 scale) for clinical competences, 5.8-9.0 for technical procedures and 7.8-8.9 for generic competences. Competences with lower self-reported ability included managing patients with vasculitis, identifying crystals and performing an ultrasound. Between 53 and 91 % of the trainees received formal education and between 7 and 61 % of the trainees reported limited practical experience (managing ≤10 patients) in each competence. Evaluation of each competence was reported by 29-60 % of the respondents. In adjusted multivariable analysis, the country of training was associated with significant differences in self-reported ability for all individual competences. Conclusion: Even though self-reported ability is generally high, there are significant differences amongst European countries, including differences in the learning structure and assessment of competences. This suggests that educational outcomes may also differ. Efforts to promote European harmonization in rheumatology training should be encouraged and supported.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Racial differences in systemic sclerosis disease presentation: a European Scleroderma Trials and Research group study

Objectives. Racial factors play a significant role in SSc. We evaluated differences in SSc presentations between white patients (WP), Asian patients (AP) and black patients (BP) and analysed the effects of geographical locations.Methods. SSc characteristics of patients from the EUSTAR cohort were cross-sectionally compared across racial groups using survival and multiple logistic regression analyses.Results. The study included 9162 WP, 341 AP and 181 BP. AP developed the first non-RP feature faster than WP but slower than BP. AP were less frequently anti-centromere (ACA; odds ratio (OR) = 0.4, P < 0.001) and more frequently anti-topoisomerase-I autoantibodies (ATA) positive (OR = 1.2, P = 0.068), while BP were less likely to be ACA and ATA positive than were WP [OR(ACA) = 0.3, P < 0.001; OR(ATA) = 0.5, P = 0.020]. AP had less often (OR = 0.7, P = 0.06) and BP more often (OR = 2.7, P < 0.001) diffuse skin involvement than had WP.AP and BP were more likely to have pulmonary hypertension [OR(AP) = 2.6, P < 0.001; OR(BP) = 2.7, P = 0.03 vs WP] and a reduced forced vital capacity [OR(AP) = 2.5, P < 0.001; OR(BP) = 2.4, P < 0.004] than were WP. AP more often had an impaired diffusing capacity of the lung than had BP and WP [OR(AP vs BP) = 1.9, P = 0.038; OR(AP vs WP) = 2.4, P < 0.001]. After RP onset, AP and BP had a higher hazard to die than had WP [hazard ratio (HR) (AP) = 1.6, P = 0.011; HR(BP) = 2.1, P < 0.001].Conclusion. Compared with WP, and mostly independent of geographical location, AP have a faster and earlier disease onset with high prevalences of ATA, pulmonary hypertension and forced vital capacity impairment and higher mortality. BP had the fastest disease onset, a high prevalence of diffuse skin involvement and nominally the highest mortality

Phototherapy in the animal models of systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis is a rare, chronic, autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. The pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis includes vasculopathy, progressive fibrosis and alterations in the immune system. Despite the current existing systemic treatment, the management of the disease with non-invasive methods is limited. In accordance with the physical properties of ultraviolet A1 (UVA1) and the optical features of the skin, the narrowband UVA1 would be effective and safe phototherapy for the dermal fibrosis. The special-purpose medical device “IMC-Light” has been constructed during the doctoral studies. The equipment consists of UVA1 light emitting diodes, which emit the ultraviolet rays with a peak wavelength of 365 ± 5 nm. Animal models are essential tools in investigating in-depth the search of new therapeutic modalities. The aim of the doctoral dissertation was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of narrowband UVA1 for the dermal fibrosis treatment using the bleomycin-induced systemic sclerosis model in DBA/2 mice. The results of the study have revealed that narrowband UVA1 phototherapy reduces the dermal thickness, stops the progression of dermal fibrosis, induces the regression of already existing fibrotic changes and does not cause an increased risk of carcinogenesis in the established, bleomycin-induced mouse model of scleroderma. In the near future, the efficacy of narrowband UVA1 phototherapy for patients with systemic sclerosis will be evaluated

Coma: etiology, diagnosis, and treatment

Coma is the disorder of consciousness because of the damage to diffused bilateral cerebral hemisphere cortex or reticular activating system. Coma can be caused by neurogenic (head brain injury), metabolic (endogenic), and toxic (exogenic) factors. To determine the cause of metabolic and toxic coma, laboratory tests are performed; in case of neurogenic coma, the neurologic examination is essential, when five systems are evaluated: the level of consciousness (according to Glasgow Coma Scale or Full Outline of Unresponsiveness Scale), photoreaction of pupils and ophthalmoscopic examination, oculomotoric, motoric, and cardiopulmonary systems. For the treatment of coma, adequate oxygenation and correction of blood circulation disorders are important. The treatment of metabolic coma is guided by special schemes; antidotes often are needed in the treatment of toxic coma, and surgery helps if traumatic brain injury is present. The prognosis and outcomes of the comatose patient depend on the age and comorbid diseases of the patient, the underlying cause of coma, timely medical help and its quality, and intensive treatment and care of the patient in coma

A comparison between nailfold capillaroscopy patterns in adulthood in juvenile and adult-onset systemic sclerosis: a EUSTAR exploratory study

Objective: Qualitative capillaroscopy patterns in juvenile- and adult-onset systemic sclerosis (SSc) were studied in adulthood using data from the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database. Methods: Data collected between June 2004 and April 2013 were examined with focus on capillaroscopy. In this retrospective exploratory study, series of patients with juvenile-onset SSc were matched with series of adult-onset SSc having the same gender and autoantibody profile. Results: 30 of 123 patientswith juvenile-onset and 2108 of 7133with adult-onset SSc had data on capillaroscopy. Juvenile-onset SSc showed scleroderma pattern more frequently than adult-onset SSc (93.3% and 88%). The OR was 2.44 and 95% CI 0.57–10.41. An active scleroderma pattern was present in 58% of juvenile- and 61% of adult-onset SSc. The OR was 0.91 and 95% CI 0.28–2.93. The late scleroderma pattern was present in 61% of juvenile- and 55.5% of adult-onset SSc. The OR was 1.06 and 95% CI 0.34–3.56. Conclusion: This is the first exploratory study on the comparison of capillaroscopy between juvenile- and adult-onset SSc in adulthood. Juvenile-onset SSc had an increase prevalence of scleroderma pattern, but a similar distribution of the three patterns was suggested. Further studies are needed to define this issue. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

A gender gap in primary and secondary heart dysfunctions in systemic sclerosis: A EUSTAR prospective study

Objectives. In agreement with other autoimmune diseases, systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a strong sex bias. However, unlike lupus, the effects of sex on disease phenotype and prognosis are poorly known. Therefore, we aimed to determine sex effects on outcomes. Method. We performed a prospective observational study using the latest 2013 data extract from the EULAR scleroderma trials and research (EUSTAR) cohort. We looked at (i) sex influence on disease characteristics at baseline and (ii) then focused on patients with at least 2 years of follow-up to estimate the effects of sex on disease progression and survival. Results. 9182 patients with SSc were available (1321 men) for the baseline analyses. In multivariate analysis, male sex was independently associated with a higher risk of diffuse cutaneous subtype (OR: 1.68, (1.45 to 1.94); p<0.001), a higher frequency of digital ulcers (OR: 1.28 (1.11 to 1.47); p<0.001) and pulmonary hypertension (OR: 3.01 (1.47 to 6.20); p<0.003). In the longitudinal analysis (n=4499), after a mean follow-up of 4.9 (±2.7) years, male sex was predictive of new onset of pulmonary hypertension (HR: 2.66 (1.32 to 5.36); p=0.006) and heart failure (HR: 2.22 (1.06 to 4.63); p=0.035). 908 deaths were recorded, male sex predicted deaths of all origins (HR: 1.48 (1.19 to 1.84); p<0.001), but did not significantly account for SSc-related deaths. Conclusions. Although more common in women, SSc appears as strikingly more severe in men. Our results obtained through the largest worldwide database demonstrate a higher risk of severe cardiovascular involvement in men. These results raise the point of including sex in the management and the decisionmaking process

Prediction of improvement in skin fibrosis in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: A EUSTAR analysis

none194Dobrota, Rucsandra; Maurer, Britta; Graf, Nicole; Jordan, Suzana; Mihai, Carina; Kowal-Bielecka, Otylia; Allanore, Yannick; Distler, Oliver; Cerinic, Marco Matucci; Guiducci, Serena; Walker, Ulrich; Lapadula, Giovanni; Iannone, Florenzo; Becvar, Radim; Sierakowsky, Stanislaw; Cutolo, Maurizio; Sulli, Alberto; Valentini, Gabriele; Cuomo, Giovanna; Vettori, Serena; Riemekasten, Gabriela; Siegert, Elise; Rednic, Simona; Nicoara, Ileana; Kahan, André; Vlachoyiannopoulos, P.; Montecucco, C.; Caporali, Roberto; Carreira, Patricia E.; Novak, Srdan; Czirják, László; Varju, Cecilia; Chizzolini, Carlo; Kucharz, Eugene J.; Kotulska, Anna; Kopec-Medrek, Magdalena; Widuchowska, Malgorzata; Cozzi, Franco; Rozman, Blaz; Mallia, Carmel; Coleiro, Bernard; Gabrielli, Armando; Farge, Dominique; Wu, Chen; Marjanovic, Zora; Faivre, Helene; Hij, Darin; Dhamadi, Roza; Airò, Paolo; Hesselstrand, Roger; Wollheim, Frank; Wuttge, Dirk M.; Andréasson, Kristofer; Martinovic, Duska; Balbir-Gurman, Alexandra; Braun-Moscovici, Yolanda; Trotta, F.; Monaco, Andrea Lo; Hunzelmann, Nicolas; Pellerito, Raffaele; Mauriziano, Ospedale; Bambara, Lisa Maria; Caramaschi, Paola; Black, Carol; Denton, Christopher; Damjanov, Nemanja; Henes, Jörg; Santamaria, Vera Ortiz; Heitmann, Stefan; Krasowska, Dorota; Seidel, Matthias; Burkhardt, Harald; Himsel, Andrea; Salvador, Maria J.; Da Silva, José Antonio Pereira; Stamenkovic, Bojana; Stankovic, Aleksandra; Tikly, Mohammed; Ananieva, Lidia P.; Denisov, Lev N.; Müller-Ladner, Ulf; Frerix, Marc; Tarner, Ingo; Scorza, Raffaella; Engelhart, Merete; Strauss, Gitte; Nielsen, Henrik; Damgaard, Kirsten; Mendoza, Antonio Zea; de la Puente, Carlos; Giraldo, Walter A. Sifuentes; Midtvedt, Øyvind; Reiseter, Silje; Hachulla, Eric; Launay, David; Valesini, Guido; Riccieri, Valeria; Ionescu, Ruxandra Maria; Opris, Daniela; Groseanu, Laura; Cornateanu, Roxana Sfrent; Ionitescu, Razvan; Gherghe, Ana Maria; Soare, Alina; Gorga, Marilena; Bojinca, Mihai; Schett, Georg; Distler, Jörg H.W.; Beyer, Christian; Meroni, Pierluigi; Ingegnoli, Francesca; Mouthon, Luc; Keyser, Filip De; Smith, Vanessa; Cantatore, Francesco P.; Corrado, Ada; Pozzi, Maria R.; Eyerich, Kilian; Hein, Rüdiger; Knott, Elisabeth; Wiland, Piotr; Szmyrka-Kaczmarek, Magdalena; Sokolik, Renata; Morgiel, Ewa; Madej, Marta; Krummel-Lorenz, Brigitte; Saar, Petra; Aringer, Martin; Günther, Claudia; Westhovens, Rene; de Langhe, Ellen; Lenaerts, Jan; Anic, Branimir; Baresic, Marko; Mayer, Miroslav; Radominski, Sebastião C.; de Souza Müller, Carolina; Azevedo, Valderílio F.; Agachi, Svetlana; Groppa, Liliana; Chiaburu, Lealea; Russu, Eugen; Popa, Sergei; Zenone, Thierry; Stebbings, Simon; Highton, John; Stamp, Lisa; Chapman, Peter; O'Donnell, John; Solanki, Kamal; Doube, Alan; Veale, Douglas; O'Rourke, Marie; Loyo, Esthela; Li, Mengtao; Rosato, Edoardo; Amoroso, Antonio; Gigante, Antonietta; Tanaseanu, Cristina-Mihaela; Popescu, Monica; Dumitrascu, Alina; Tiglea, Isabela; Foti, Rosario; Chirieac, Rodica; Ancuta, Codrina; Villiger, Peter; Adler, Sabine; de la Peña Lefebvre, Paloma García; Rubio, Silvia Rodriguez; Exposito, Marta Valero; Sibilia, Jean; Chatelus, Emmanuel; Gottenberg, Jacques Eric; Chifflot, Hélène; Litinsky, Ira; Venalis, Algirdas; Butrimiene, Irena; Venalis, Paulius; Rugiene, Rita; Karpec, Diana; Saketkoo, Lesley Ann; Lasky, Joseph A.; Kerzberg, Eduardo; Montoya, Fabiana; Cosentino, Vanesa; Limonta, Massimiliano; Brucato, Antonio Luca; Lupi, Elide; Spertini, François; Ribi, Camillo; Buss, Guillaume; Pasquali, Jean Louis; Martin, Thierry; Gorse, AudreyDobrota, Rucsandra; Maurer, Britta; Graf, Nicole; Jordan, Suzana; Mihai, Carina; Kowal Bielecka, Otylia; Allanore, Yannick; Distler, Oliver; Cerinic, Marco Matucci; Guiducci, Serena; Walker, Ulrich; Lapadula, Giovanni; Iannone, Florenzo; Becvar, Radim; Sierakowsky, Stanislaw; Cutolo, Maurizio; Sulli, Alberto; Valentini, Gabriele; Cuomo, Giovanna; Vettori, Serena; Riemekasten, Gabriela; Siegert, Elise; Rednic, Simona; Nicoara, Ileana; Kahan, André; Vlachoyiannopoulos, P.; Montecucco, Carlomaurizio; Caporali, Roberto; Carreira, Patricia E.; Novak, Srdan; Czirják, László; Varju, Cecilia; Chizzolini, Carlo; Kucharz, Eugene J.; Kotulska, Anna; Kopec Medrek, Magdalena; Widuchowska, Malgorzata; Cozzi, Franco; Rozman, Blaz; Mallia, Carmel; Coleiro, Bernard; Gabrielli, Armando; Farge, Dominique; Wu, Chen; Marjanovic, Zora; Faivre, Helene; Hij, Darin; Dhamadi, Roza; Airò, Paolo; Hesselstrand, Roger; Wollheim, Frank; Wuttge, Dirk M.; Andréasson, Kristofer; Martinovic, Duska; Balbir Gurman, Alexandra; Braun Moscovici, Yolanda; Trotta, F.; Monaco, Andrea Lo; Hunzelmann, Nicolas; Pellerito, Raffaele; Mauriziano, Ospedale; Bambara, Lisa Maria; Caramaschi, Paola; Black, Carol; Denton, Christopher; Damjanov, Nemanja; Henes, Jörg; Santamaria, Vera Ortiz; Heitmann, Stefan; Krasowska, Dorota; Seidel, Matthias; Burkhardt, Harald; Himsel, Andrea; Salvador, Maria J.; Da Silva, José Antonio Pereira; Stamenkovic, Bojana; Stankovic, Aleksandra; Tikly, Mohammed; Ananieva, Lidia P.; Denisov, Lev N.; Müller Ladner, Ulf; Frerix, Marc; Tarner, Ingo; Scorza, Raffaella; Engelhart, Merete; Strauss, Gitte; Nielsen, Henrik; Damgaard, Kirsten; Mendoza, Antonio Zea; de la Puente, Carlos; Giraldo, Walter A. Sifuentes; Midtvedt, Øyvind; Reiseter, Silje; Hachulla, Eric; Launay, David; Valesini, Guido; Riccieri, Valeria; Ionescu, Ruxandra Maria; Opris, Daniela; Groseanu, Laura; Cornateanu, Roxana Sfrent; Ionitescu, Razvan; Gherghe, Ana Maria; Soare, Alina; Gorga, Marilena; Bojinca, Mihai; Schett, Georg; Distler, Jörg H. W.; Beyer, Christian; Meroni, Pierluigi; Ingegnoli, Francesca; Mouthon, Luc; Keyser, Filip De; Smith, Vanessa; Cantatore, Francesco P.; Corrado, Ada; Pozzi, Maria R.; Eyerich, Kilian; Hein, Rüdiger; Knott, Elisabeth; Wiland, Piotr; Szmyrka Kaczmarek, Magdalena; Sokolik, Renata; Morgiel, Ewa; Madej, Marta; Krummel Lorenz, Brigitte; Saar, Petra; Aringer, Martin; Günther, Claudia; Westhovens, Rene; de Langhe, Ellen; Lenaerts, Jan; Anic, Branimir; Baresic, Marko; Mayer, Miroslav; Radominski, Sebastião C.; de Souza Müller, Carolina; Azevedo, Valderílio F.; Agachi, Svetlana; Groppa, Liliana; Chiaburu, Lealea; Russu, Eugen; Popa, Sergei; Zenone, Thierry; Stebbings, Simon; Highton, John; Stamp, Lisa; Chapman, Peter; O'Donnell, John; Solanki, Kamal; Doube, Alan; Veale, Douglas; O'Rourke, Marie; Loyo, Esthela; Li, Mengtao; Rosato, Edoardo; Amoroso, Antonio; Gigante, Antonietta; Tanaseanu, Cristina Mihaela; Popescu, Monica; Dumitrascu, Alina; Tiglea, Isabela; Foti, Rosario; Chirieac, Rodica; Ancuta, Codrina; Villiger, Peter; Adler, Sabine; de la Peña Lefebvre, Paloma García; Rubio, Silvia Rodriguez; Exposito, Marta Valero; Sibilia, Jean; Chatelus, Emmanuel; Gottenberg, Jacques Eric; Chifflot, Hélène; Litinsky, Ira; Venalis, Algirdas; Butrimiene, Irena; Venalis, Paulius; Rugiene, Rita; Karpec, Diana; Saketkoo, Lesley Ann; Lasky, Joseph A.; Kerzberg, Eduardo; Montoya, Fabiana; Cosentino, Vanesa; Limonta, Massimiliano; Brucato, Antonio Luca; Lupi, Elide; Spertini, François; Ribi, Camillo; Buss, Guillaume; Pasquali, Jean Louis; Martin, Thierry; Gorse, Audre