Biomedical subjects

Masza Mukamel

Publications and source records attributed to Masza Mukamel.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Increased prevalence of antithyroid antibodies and subclinical hypothyroidism in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the occurrence of antithyroid antibodies (ATA) and hypothyroidism in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared to matched healthy controls. METHODS: The occurrence of ATA, including antithyroglobulin (anti-TG) and antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies, was evaluated by quantitative immunometric ELISA in children with JIA and in a healthy matched control group. Thyroid function was assessed in both groups. RESULTS: The study group included 66 patients with JIA (50 girls, 16 boys) of mean age 11.7 +/- 4.4 years (range 2-23). The control group included 89 children (71 girls, 18 boys) of mean age 10.8 +/- 4.2 years (range 2-18). Mean age at onset of joint disease was 7.3 +/- 3.6 years (range 1-15). Anti-TG antibodies were found in 7 of 62 patients (11.3%) in the JIA group and 2 of 89 controls (2.2%) (p = 0.03); anti-TPO antibodies were found in 5 of 65 patients (7.9%) and one of 89 controls (1.1%) (p = 0.08). All patients with ATA had oligoarticular type JIA (p = 0.01). Mean thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were higher in the study group than in controls (2.6 +/- 2.3 vs 1.9 +/- 1.0 mIU/l; p = 0.01); levels were above normal range (0.4-4 mIU/l) in 8 study patients (12%) and 3 controls (3.4%) (p = 0.055). Overall, ATA were found in 9 of the 150 study participants, 4 (44%) of whom had TSH levels above 4 mIU/l (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Children with JIA have a higher than normal incidence of ATA and subclinical hypothyroidism and should be routinely screened for these variables.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Recurrent transient synovitis of the hip in childhood. Longterm outcome among 39 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcome of children with recurrent transient synovitis (TS) of the hip. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of children with at least 2 separate episodes of TS between 1986 and 2003. We described the diagnostic investigations and outcome of these patients. A followup telephone survey for disability and pain scores was performed in 2004. RESULTS: We studied 39 children, 26 boys and 13 girls, from 6 pediatric rheumatology centers. The mean age at initial episode was 6 +/- 2.6 years. There were a total of 102 episodes (mean 2.9 +/- 1.6, median 2, range 2-10). All but 2 children had normal plain radiographs of the hip. All patients were contacted 4.2 +/- 2.5 years after the first episode. None developed clinical Perthes disease or other chronic orthopedic condition. Three (8%) patients developed chronic disease: one had familial Mediterranean fever and 2 developed spondyloarthropathies, 0.5, 2, and 6 years after presentation. At followup 26 of 36 patients were asymptomatic, and 10 reported rare hip pain after intensive physical effort. CONCLUSION: Children with recurrent TS usually have a benign course. In some patients recurrent TS may be the presenting feature of a chronic inflammatory condition. No progression to chronic orthopedic conditions was observed.

Child↗

PubMed2005

Clinical course and outcome of uveitis in children.

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the clinical course, complications, and visual outcome of pediatric uveitis. METHODS: Our sample included 38 consecutive children with uveitis treated between 1986 and 2002: 15 with idiopathic uveitis, 10 with Behcet disease, 9 with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, 4 with other diagnoses. The last group was excluded from the analysis because of its small size. Appropriate ophthalmologic and laboratory examinations were obtained. Treatment consisted of topical, periocular, or systemic steroids with or without immunosuppression. RESULTS: Complications occurred in all 3 groups, although they tended to be more severe in the patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Visual acuity improved from presentation to final examination; the difference was statistically significant for the patients with idiopathic uveitis (P < 0.0005) and Behcet disease (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support an intensive treatment approach to childhood uveitis. The visual prognosis is good even in patients with a severe clinical course.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Neutrophil adhesion molecule expression in familial Mediterranean fever: discordance between the intravascular regulation of beta2 integrin and L-selectin expression in acute attack.

BACKGROUND: To determine the surface expression of neutrophil beta2 integrin (CD11b/CD18) and L-selectin (LS) adhesion molecules in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and to investigate the in vitro regulation of their expression in response to chemoattractant stimuli. METHODS: Neutrophil surface expression of CD11b and LS molecules was analyzed by flow cytometry in anticoagulated whole blood drawn from FMF patients and normal controls, and the in vitro regulation of these molecules induced by the chemoattractant N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) was assayed. RESULTS: Patients during acute FMF attacks showed a statistically significant increased neutrophil surface CD11b compared with normal controls (mean fluorescence intensity: 22.8 +/- 13.7 vs 12.8 +/- 10.41, respectively; p = .03). There was no difference in LS expression between the groups. Neutrophils of FMF patients regulate CD11b and LS expression induced by chemoattractant (FMLP) stimulation to a degree similar to that in controls. CONCLUSIONS: beta2 Integrin is up-regulated during an acute attack of FMF in dissociation with LS expression, suggesting a unique nonchemoattractant-mediated neutrophil activation.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2003

Brachyolmia and spinal stenosis.

Brachyolmia is a rare short-trunk short stature skeletal dysplasia characterized by generalized platyspondyly without significant epiphyseal or metaphyseal changes in the long bones. This group of skeletal dysplasia is heterogeneous and four types have been differentiated on the basis of radiological and genetic findings. We report on two siblings with Hobaek-type brachyolmia complicated by spinal stenosis. This combination has never been reported in the literature and suggests further genetic heterogeneity within brachyolmia.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Naproxen as an alternative to aspirin for the treatment of arthritis of rheumatic fever: a randomized trial.

We performed a prospective, randomized, open-label equivalence study comparing the use of naproxen to aspirin in 33 patients with rheumatic fever. The mean time until resolution of arthritis was 2.9+/-2.9 days in both groups. Liver enzyme elevations were more frequent in the aspirin group (P=.002). We conclude that naproxen is as effective, is easier to use, and is safer than aspirin in the treatment of the arthritis of rheumatic fever.

Adolescent↗