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Biomedical subjects

D R Finger

Publications and source records attributed to D R Finger.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of suspected stress fractures.

Stress fractures can occur if normal bone is exposed to repeated abnormal stress (fatigue fractures) or if normal stress is placed on bones with compromised elastic resistance (insufficiency fractures). This article describes two patients without a history of excessive stressful activity or apparent metabolic bone disease who developed bilateral distal tibial stress fractures. Different etiologies, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and diagnostic imaging modalities of stress fractures are discussed.

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Prevalence of pulmonary disorders in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis.

Our objective was to determine the prevalence of airway hyperreactivity (AHR) in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had received no disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and to characterise the spectrum of lung diseases identifiable in these patients at the time of presentation. Eighteen consecutive patients with newly diagnosed RA referred to our medical centre's rheumatology clinic over 2 years underwent pulmonary evaluation with arterial blood gas analysis, chest radiographs, spirometry before and after bronchodilator medication, and body plethysmography. They returned on subsequent days in random order for methacholine inhalation challenge (MIC) and eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation (EVH) as bronchoprovocation techniques. One patient had severe obstructive disease at presentation and therefore did not undergo bronchoprovocation. We found a wide variety of pulmonary abnormalities, including two patients with hypoxia (12%), two with obstruction (12%), three with restriction (18%) and four with AHR (23%). The data also suggest a strong association between pulmonary diseases in RA and cigarette smoking. Although no single characteristic lung disease such as AHR was identified in patients presenting with RA, the association between lung disease and cigarette smoking is striking and underscores the need to emphasise smoking cessation in this patient population.

Adult↗

Eosinophilia in Wegener's granulomatosis.

Significant eosinophilia is a prominent feature in Churg-Strauss syndrome but has only rarely been described in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). We describe two Wegener's granulomatosis patients with > 30% eosinophilia on their initial presentations. Other etiologies that could account for their eosinophilia were excluded. Both patients had pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage, sinusitis, arthritis, high-titer cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (cANCA), and proteinase-3 antibodies, but no evidence of renal disease. Herein we discuss eosinophilia, the differential diagnosis of pulmonary infiltrates and eosinophilia, the role of cANCA in vasculitis and autoimmune disease, compare Wegener's granulomatosis and Churg-Strauss syndrome, and review possible pathogenic mechanisms.

Adult↗

Prospective use of intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide in pseudogout.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess the efficacy of intramuscular (i.m.) triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of pseudogout. METHODS: Fourteen patients with crystal proven pseudogout presenting with an acute attack within 5 days of onset were treated with intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide 60 mg and followed for 30 days. Patients with inadequate response were eligible for a 2nd triamcinolone acetonide injection on Day 1-2. RESULTS: Twelve patients had contraindication to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents (NSAID). Acute arthritis was monoarticular in 10 patients, and involved 2 or more joints in 4 patients. All patients had good clinical response to triamcinolone acetonide based on restoration of near baseline joint range of motion and joint circumference, and at least 50% improvement in patient and physician global assessment. Major clinical improvement occurred by Day 1-2 (2 patients), Day 3-4 (11 patients), and Day 10-14 (one patient). Six patients required a 2nd triamcinolone acetonide injection on Day 1-2. Toxicities were not observed. CONCLUSION: I.m. triamcinolone acetonide appears to be safe, well tolerated, and effective in the treatment of pseudogout. It may be a reasonable alternative therapy when NSAID are contraindicated, and for polyarticular attacks where intraarticular corticosteroids are impractical.

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Focal myositis.

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Adult↗