One individual had fracture of the T8, while the other fractured the L1 vertebrae. Both injuries were treated conservatively with Taylor braces.
Conclusion
We
highlight one of the potential hazards of this recreational activity, and the almost identical fracture pattern in this couple.”
“Purpose of review
Cocaine use is associated with several rheumatic syndromes. This review summarizes these clinical manifestations and highlights recent LY3039478 research buy developments linked to levamisole-adulterated cocaine.
Recent findings
Cocaine use has been linked to several distinctive syndromes that can be difficult to distinguish from idiopathic rheumatic diseases. These disorders can range in severity from purely cosmetic damage to organ and/or life-threatening disease that includes sinonasal
destruction and vasculitis. Many of these illnesses are associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (cytoplasmic, perinuclear and atypical perinuclear Fedratinib mouse patterns). With the recent introduction of levamisole as a cocaine adulterant, a newly reported syndrome has emerged that is associated with neutropenia, retiform purpura with cutaneous necrosis and autoantibodies consisting of high-titre perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCAs) with specificities for ‘atypical’ antigens.
Summary
Cocaine use is associated with clinical syndromes that closely mimic other primary rheumatic diseases.
Given the high prevalence of cocaine use and its adulteration with levamisole, clinicians should be familiar with these rheumatic manifestations in order to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment with potentially toxic therapies.”
“Purpose of review
Biological agents are therapies designed to target a specific SB203580 cell line molecular component of the immune system, and are currently licensed for use in autoimmune rheumatic, digestive, dermatological and systemic diseases. However, their use has been linked with the paradoxical development of autoimmune processes.
Recent findings
More than 1500 cases of autoimmune diseases induced by biologics have been reported, including a wide variety of both systemic (lupus, vasculitis, sarcoidosis, antiphospholipid syndrome and inflammatory myopathies) and organ-specific (interstitial lung disease, uveitis, optic neuritis, peripheral neuropathies, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune hepatitis) autoimmune processes. Although these processes are overwhelmingly associated with anti-TNF agents, recent cases have been associated with therapies directed against other cytokines, B or T-cells, illustrating that even though targeting a particular immune molecule may be associated with an excellent clinical response in most patients, an unexpected autoimmune response may arise in some cases.