Project description:BackgroundOne of the rationales behind using strength training in the treatment of adolescents with Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) is that reduced strength of the lower extremity is a risk factor for PFP and a common deficit. This rationale is based on research conducted on adolescents >15 years of age but has never been investigated among young adolescents with PFP.ObjectivesTo compare isometric muscle strength of the lower extremity among adolescents with PFP compared to age- and gender-matched pain-free adolescents.MethodsIn 2011 a population-based cohort (APA2011-cohort) consisting of 768 adolescents aged 12-15 years from 8 local schools was formed. In September 2012, all adolescents who reported knee pain in September 2011 were offered a clinical examination if they still had knee pain. From these, 20 adolescents (16 females) were diagnosed with PFP. Pain-free adolescents from the APA2011-cohort (n?=?20) were recruited on random basis as age- and gender-matched pairs. Primary outcome was isometric knee extension strength normalized to body weight (%BW) and blinded towards subject information. Secondary outcomes included knee flexion, hip abduction/adduction and hip internal/external rotation strength. Demographic data included Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and symptom duration.ResultsAdolescents with PFP reported long symptom duration and significantly worse KOOS scores compared to pain-free adolescents. There were no significant differences in isometric knee extension strength (?0.3% BW, p?=?0.97), isometric knee flexion strength (?0.4% BW, p?=?0.84) or different measures of hip strength (?0.4 to 1.1% BW, p>0.35).ConclusionYoung symptomatic adolescents with PFP between 12 and 16 years of age did not have decreased isometric muscle strength of the knee and hip. These results question the rationale of targeting strength deficits in the treatment of adolescents with PFP. However, strength training may still be an effective treatment for those individuals with PFP suffering from strength deficits.
Project description:A 26-year-old smoker male presented with a history of sudden onset dyspnea and right-sided chest pain. Chest radiograph revealed large right-sided pneumothorax which was managed with tube thoracostomy. High-resolution computed tomography thorax revealed multiple lung cysts, and for a definite diagnosis, a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery-guided lung biopsy was performed followed by pleurodesis. This clinicopathologic conference discusses the clinical and radiological differential diagnoses, utility of lung biopsy, and management options for patients with such a clinical presentation.
Project description:Clinical History:A 57-year old woman presented with left hand pain, periodic leg movement during sleep, gradual onset of stiffness, clumsiness, and falls. Neurological examination showed: generalized rigidity and bradykinesia. There was left hand dystonic posturing and ideomotor apraxia, as well as mirror movements of upper limbs and stimulus-sensitive myoclonus. The patient had a high-pitched voice and hypophonia (Video S1). Discussion:Experts discuss localization and the syndromic diagnosis and predict the underlying pathology. The pathological diagnosis is then provided and clinical learning points are considered.
Project description:AbstractMusculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a common reason for consultation in general practice and frequently reported in children and adolescents. This study examined the prevalence of MSK pain in 13-year-old children and assessed associations with physical and psychosocial factors. Data from the Generation R Study, a population-based birth cohort, was used. Prevalence and characteristics of MSK pain were assessed, using a pain mannequin, at 13 years of age (N = 3062). Demographics and data on physical activity, sedentary behaviors, previous reported MSK pain, and behavioral problems were extracted from questionnaires. The body mass index (BMI) SD-score was calculated from objectively measured weight and height. A prevalence of 23.3% was found for MSK pain in children of which 87.2% persisted for more than 3 months (ie, chronic), 45.5% experienced pain daily. More physically active children and children with a higher BMI reported MSK pain more frequently compared with non-MSK pain and no pain. The knee was the most often reported location. Children with MSK pain were more likely to have reported MSK pain at 6 years. Multivariable analyses showed significant associations for male sex (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56-0.98), high maternal educational (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.96), higher BMI (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.35), being physically active (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.03-1.91), and behavioral problems (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.33-2.59) with the presence of MSK pain. The chronic nature of MSK pain in combination with the relatively high prevalence of MSK pain in this study shows that MSK pain is already an important problem at a young age.
Project description:Pericarditis is a rare, but severe cause of chest pain in children that can easily be overlooked during routine diagnostics. Fibrinous pericarditis was recognized in a 5-year old patient who presented with fever and chest pain. Despite thorough diagnostics, no evident etiological factor was found. Furthermore, the disease was unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibiotics and NSAIDs, however oral prednisone was found to cause rapid improvement in the patients' condition. It was presumed that the patient's condition was caused by a blunt trauma to the chest experienced 3 days prior to the onset of symptoms. In an 8-month follow-up the patient remains in good overall condition and no recurrences were observed.
Project description:Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a distinct cardiomyopathy that is morphologically characterized by a two-layered myocardium, numerous prominent trabeculations, and deep intertrabecular recesses communicating with the left ventricular cavity. We present a case report regarding the identification of a new mutation in TNNI3 in a patient with LVNC using next-generation sequencing. A 13-year-old girl who had no family history of cardiac disease was hospitalized with dyspnea after exercise and electrocardiographic abnormalities during a school screening. Based on her clinical features, she was diagnosed with LVNC. Via genetic analysis, a TNNI3 heterozygous missense variant was identified in the proband. Although mutations in TNNI3 have been reported in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy, this is the first report of a mutation in this gene in a patient with LVNC. <Learning objective: We identified a variant in TNNI3 in a patient with isolated left ventricular noncompaction using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Mutations in TNNI3 have been reported in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy. The use of NGS also results in the identification of multiple genetic variants of unknown significance to the investigated disease.>.
Project description:Isolated ventricular noncompaction, a rare genetic cardiomyopathy, is thought to be caused by the arrest of normal myocardial morphogenesis. It is characterized by prominent, excessive trabeculation in a ventricular wall segment and deep intertrabecular recesses perfused from the ventricular cavity. The condition can present with heart failure, systematic embolic events, and ventricular arrhythmias. Two-dimensional echocardiography is the typical diagnostic method. We report a case of heart failure in a 35-year-old man who presented with palpitations. Two-dimensional echocardiograms revealed left ventricular noncompaction, which markedly improved after standard heart failure therapy.