Rheumatology Commons^™

Pustular Psoriasis And The Potential Therapeutic Usage Of An Il-36 Receptor Monoclonal Antibody, Jeannel T. Miclat, Shafik Habal

Research Day

Pustular psoriasis is an uncommon subtype of psoriasis that dramatically affects the quality of life of affected patients. Pustules can emerge anywhere along the trunk, limbs, soles, palms, and fingers, which debilitates the functionality of these appendages. Currently, there are no approved treatments for pustular psoriasis in the US; off-label usage of psoriasis vulgaris medications is usually prescribed. These treatments are insufficient for patients with difficult to manage or severe forms of pustular psoriasis. Psoriasis vulgaris biologic medications mainly target the IL-17 and IL-23 axis. However, novel clinical findings have demonstrated that pustular psoriasis’s central inflammatory axis depends on the …

A Case Of Double-Positive Anti-Gbm And Mpo-Anca Vasculitis With No Pulmonary Involvement, Deonnie W. Huang, Patrick May, Thanh Nguyen

Research Day

Introduction

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is a small vessel vasculitis caused by autoantibodies directed at the glomerular and alveolar basement membranes. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is pauci-immune with no immune deposits. Both vasculitides can lead to precipitation of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. We report a case of a 58 year-old male who presented with acute renal failure with double positive anti-GBM and myeloperoxidase-anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (MPO-ANCA) but no pulmonary involvement.

Case Presentation

Patient is a 58-year-old male with a past medical history of nicotine dependence who presented to the hospital with abnormal blood work. …

Does Secukinumab Improve Self-Reported Quality Of Life In Patients With Moderate-To-Severe Ankylosing Spondylitis When Taken Regularly?, Ryan Yenovkian

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not secukinumab improves self-reported quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe ankylosing spondylitis when taken regularly.

Study design: A systematic review of three randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs), published in peer-reviewed journals between 2013 and 2015, all in the English language. Data sources: All three studies were found and accessed on PubMed.

Outcomes measured: Patient quality of life was assessed in all three studies using the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) questionnaire and reported as mean change from baseline. ASQoL is scored from 0-18 with a higher …

Is Hyaluronic Acid Intra-Articular Injection Better Than Corticosteroid Intra Articular Injection At Reducing Pain In Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis?, Madison Cohen

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Hyaluronic Acid intra articular injection is better than Corticosteroid intra articular injection at reducing pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis.”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three double-blind, randomized control trials published between 2014 and 2016. All studies were published in English language in peer reviewed journals.

DATA SOURCES: All three randomized control trials were found via PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The primary outcomes measured by the patient and investigator being improvement of knee pain severity, knee function, and range of motion after hyaluronic acid intra articular (IA) injection …

Does Adjuvant Therapy With Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil) Improve Joint Tenderness In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis?, Eileen Fauteux

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not adjuvant therapy with Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) improves joint tenderness in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of 3 double-blind, randomized controlled trials from 2010- 2017.

DATA SOURCES: Three peer-reviewed journal articles written in English were found using PubMed. Articles were selected based on their relevance to the question and whether the outcome measured was patient-oriented evidence that matters.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: All articles analyzed the effectiveness of adjunctive treatment with omega-3 fatty acids on the improvement of joint tenderness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. …

Can Yoga Therapy Help To Decrease Osteoarthritis-Related Pain In Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis?, Justin Mahr

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not yoga therapy can help to decrease osteoarthritis-related pain in adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Study Design: A review of two randomized controlled trials and one randomized control trial pilot study that were published in English in peer-reviewed journals after 2007.

Data Sources: All articles were selected from peer-reviewed journals and found via PubMed.

Outcome(s) Measured: Patient perception of pain using either a Walking Numerical Rating Scale (WNRS) and/or a Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index scale (WOMAC).

Results: All three studies …

Does Probiotic Supplementation Help Decrease Pain And Number Of Tender Joints In Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis?, Brittany Snyder

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “probiotic supplementation helps decrease pain and number of tender joints in adults with rheumatoid arthritis?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three double-blind, randomized control trials published between 2008 and 2018. All studies were published in English in peer reviewed journals.

DATA SOURCES: Three double-blind, randomized control trials were found via PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured included number of tender joints from baseline to end of study counted by an investigator, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain severity, and a Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire visual analog scale …

Are Hylan Injections More Effective In Reducing Stiffness In Primary Knee Osteoarthritis Compared To Hyaluronic Acid Derivative Injections?, Jordan S. Hood

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Is Weight Loss An Effective Treatment Of Pain Symptoms Related To Knee Joint Osteoarthritis In Obese Adults?, Samantha Sokol

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not weight loss is an effective treatment of pain symptoms related to knee joint osteoarthritis in obese adults.

Study Design: Systematic review of 2 randomized-controlled trials and 1 cohort study. All three articles were published in English between 2011-2015.

Data Sources: Two randomized, un-blinded, controlled studies and one cohort found using Pubmed.

Outcomes Measured: Each study evaluated change in pain symptoms related to knee osteoarthritis in obese adults as compared to weight loss.

Results: Studies showed that weight loss lead to a …

Are Antibiotics, Other Than Roxithromycin, An Effective Way To Manage Joint Pain In Rheumatoid Arthritis?, Kelly A. Hoffman

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine “Are antibiotics, other than roxithromycin, an effective way to manage joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three double-blind, randomized-controlled studies published in English between 2001-2007.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials published between 2001 and 2007 were found using PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Clinical outcome for all three studies used American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, which assesses joints for swelling and tenderness.

RESULTS: In the Odell et al.1 study, at 24 months 28 participants did meet the ACR50 …

Is Etanercept A Safe And Effective Treatment For Ankylosing Spondylitis?, Robyn M. Albert

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not etanercept is a safe and effective treatment for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Study Design: Review of three English language randomized control trials published in 2007, 2008, and 2010.

Data Sources: Two double-blind placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials and one placebo-controlled randomized control trial comparing etanercept to placebo were found using PubMed.

Outcomes Measured: Work instability was measured through the Ankylosing Spondylitis Work Instability Scale (AS-WIS) based on scores of 1-20. Quality of life was measured through the EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D), which assesses mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. …

Is Actemra (Tocilizumab) In Combination With Methotrexate An Effective Treatment For Rheumatoid Arthritis In Patients Who Had An Inadequate Response To Methotrexate Alone?, Jennifer Nagle

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not Actemra (tocilizumab) in combination with methotrexate is an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in patients who had an inadequate response to methotrexate alone. Previous studies have shown other biologic agents and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to have some efficacy in treating rheumatoid arthritis. However, tocilizumab is a newly approved FDA drug and therefore, its efficacy in treating RA has yet to be determined.