Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0024141 (systemic lupus erythematosus)
 44,322 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

It has been recognized that the remarkable decline in infant mortality and the extension in human lifespan involving both developing and developed countries alike, has been influenced by social and economic developments and public health orientated measures (such as clean water and sewerage) rather more than by developments in medical research. However, the identification of important disease risk factors for a number of common conditions such as smoking, solar exposure, dietary fat and alcohol has led to further reductions in disease prevalence and mortality, at least in some countries. The varied success of strategies to reduce the mortality from circulatory, nutritional and diseases due to infection has had the predictable result of leaving communities more exposed to the chronic non-communicable diseases, especially those affecting the elderly. The COPCORD community-based studies, carried out largely in tropical Asia/Pacific countries, have indicated that the burden of musculoskeletal conditions as far as pain and disability, as well as from an economic point of view, are substantial and WHO has called for increased research and educational activities into the causes and consequences of chronic disease and in particular rheumatic diseases. To the problems of an increasing ageing population can be added the rapid growth of urban populations, new occupational stresses, lifestyle changes and a number of other factors (WHO, 1984). The common community-based rheumatic diseases are not RA or SLE that dominate admissions to hospital arthritis clinics. Pain and disability are most often caused by osteoarthritis, especially knee OA, and various soft tissue rheumatic problems producing neck, back, shoulder and elbow pain. Viral and reactive arthritis cannot be ignored and the complications from osteoporosis (although not normally considered a rheumatic condition), are a significant threat to ageing populations worldwide. It is clear that for many of these conditions, certain risk factors have been identified and that preventative strategies are becoming available although far more detailed research is still required (Wigley, 1993). Community education is an essential part of prevention and treatment and the ILAR-sponsored publication Aches and Pains--Living with Arthritis and Rheumatism (Hampton, 1992) is available in at least 10 different languages and fills an important need. Education helps to influence not only knowledge but also skills and attitudes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Tropical rheumatology. Epidemiology and community studies: Asia/Pacific region. 772 73

Aches and pains in children can arise from multiple problems, varying from a reaction to minor intercurrent infection that rapidly improves to the presence of severe skeletal lesions such as malignancy; they can also be part of a skeletal dysplasia. All cases require a good history (including family history), a full examination, and basic blood tests, which include the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin, white count, platelets, rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear factor. Other tests need be performed only when suspicion has been aroused. Recognition of unusual syndromes is important; no child should be labeled as having juvenile idiopathic arthritis unless there is a clear history with the presence of soft tissue swelling in appropriate sites and other causes for joint pain have been excluded. The conditions that most frequently mimic systemic onset juvenile arthritis are infections, which may have been partially treated, inflammatory bowel disease, malignancy, familial Mediterranean Fever, and the rarer connective tissue diseases, in particular systemic lupus erythematosus. Bacterial infection should be suspected in a child who is feverish and toxic, with a single hot swollen joint that has limited movement and is often rigidly guarded. Should such a child have already received antibiotics, general symptoms may well be minimal, so one is left with the history and a swollen and painful joint. Aspiration for investigation of the synovial fluid as well as blood tests should be undertaken immediately to establish the nature of any underlying infection.
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PMID:Rheumatic disease mimics in childhood. 1099 Jan 84