Browsing by Author "Saraux, Alain (56514844800)"

Introduction: Major salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) demonstrated its good metric properties as an outcome measure for diagnosing primary Sjögren’s disease (SD). The objective was to assess SGUS reliability among sonographers with different levels of experience, using web training. Methods: Sonographers from expert centers participated in the reliability exercise. Before exercises, training was done by videoconferencing. Reliability of the two most experienced sonographers (MES) was assessed and then compared to other sonographers. Intra-reader and inter-reader reliability of SGUS items were assessed by computing Cohen’s κ coefficients. Results: All sets were read twice by all 14 sonographers within a 4-month interval. Intra-reader reliability of MES was almost perfect for homogeneity, substantial for Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) scoring system (OMERACTss). Among LES (less experienced sonographers), reliability was moderate to almost perfect for homogeneity, fair to moderate for OMERACTss, and fair to almost perfect for binary OMERACTss. Inter-reader reliability between MES was almost perfect for homogeneity, substantial for diagnosis, moderate for OMERACTss, and substantial for binary OMERACTss. Compared to MES, reliabilities of LES were moderate to almost perfect for both homogeneity and diagnosis, only fair to moderate for OMERACTss, but increased in binary OMERACTss. Conclusions: Videoconferencing training sessions in an international reliability exercise could be an excellent tool to train experienced and less-experienced sonographers. SGUS homogeneity items is useful to distinguish normal from abnormal salivary glands parenchyma independently of diagnosis. Structural damage evaluations by OMERACT scoring system is a new comprehensive score to diagnose patients with SD and could be easily used by sonographers in a binary method. © The Author(s) 2024.

Introduction/Objective The objective was to compare rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA) and subtypes of SpA prevalence in four European countries. Methods A 33-items detection questionnaire, containing self-reported diagnosis, classification criteria for RA and SpA, personal and family history, was translated using cross-cultural adaptation and validated in France, Turkey, Lithuania and Serbia, where it was used on a population sample. Suspected cases were evaluated and confirmed by a rheumatologist. Prevalence estimates were age-and sex-standardized to European standard population. Results In total, 33,454 people older than 18 years were screened and 31,454 interviewed: France 14,671, Lithuania 6,558, Serbia 6,213, Turkey 4,012. Standardized RA prevalence varied from 0.29% (95% CI: 0.17–0.40) in France to 0.57% (0.31–0.84) in Turkey; this inequality was mostly caused by differences in women prevalence (from 0.42% in France to 1.02% in Turkey) SpA prevalence was similar in France (0.30%), Serbia (0.35%) and Turkey (0.37%), but in Lithuania it was 0.89%, which could be caused by geographic and genetic differences, as SpA prevalence was higher in North and East Europe, as well as the human leukocyte antigen B27 presence. SpA prevalence was equally presented by gender for France and Serbia. Regarding SpA subtypes, ankylosing spondylitis prevalence varied from 0.07–0.30% (Serbia–Lithuania), PsA 0.10–0.26% (France–Lithuania), reactive arthritis was 0.09–0.18% (Serbia–Lithuania). Previously non-diagnosed SpA cases were found in 6.9% in France, 25.9% in Lithuania and 31.2% in Serbia. Conclusion East–West decreasing tendency for the female RA prevalence was noted. SpA was higher in North-Eastern Europe than in its Western and Southern part. One quarter of the SpA patients in Lithuania and one third in Serbia were not previously diagnosed. The SpA population prevalence was higher than expected and similar to RA. © 2022, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.

Objectives Ultrasonography (US) is sensitive for detecting echostructural abnormalities of the major salivary glands (SGs) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Our objectives were to define selected US-SG echostructural abnormalities in pSS, set up a preliminary atlas of these definitions and evaluate the consensual definitions reliability in both static and acquisition US-SG images. Methods International experts in SG US in pSS participated in consensus meetings to select and define echostructural abnormalities in pSS. The US reliability of detecting these abnormalities was assessed using a two-step method. First 12 experts used a web-based standardised form to evaluate 60 static US-SG images. Intra observer and interobserver reliabilities were expressed in κ values. Second, five experts, who participated all throughout the study, evaluated US-SG acquisition interobserver reliability in pSS patients. Results Parotid glands (PGs) and submandibular glands (SMGs) intra observer US reliability on static images was substantial (κ > 0.60) for the two main reliable items (echogenicity and homogeneity) and for the advised pSS diagnosis. PG inter observer reliability was substantial for homogeneity. SMGs interobserver reliability was moderate for homogeneity (κ = 0.46) and fair for echogenicity (κ = 0.38). On acquisition images, PGs interobserver reliability was substantial (κ > 0.62) for echogenicity and moderate (κ = 0.52) for homogeneity. The advised pSS diagnosis reliability was substantial (κ = 0.66). SMGs interobserver reliability was fair (0.20< κ ≤ 0.40) for echogenicity and homogeneity and either slight or poor for all other US core items. Conclusion This work identified two most reliable US-SG items (echogenicity and homogeneity) to be used by US-SG trained experts. US-PG interobserver reliability result for echogenicity is in line with diagnosis of pSS. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Objectives Ultrasonography (US) is sensitive for detecting echostructural abnormalities of the major salivary glands (SGs) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Our objectives were to define selected US-SG echostructural abnormalities in pSS, set up a preliminary atlas of these definitions and evaluate the consensual definitions reliability in both static and acquisition US-SG images. Methods International experts in SG US in pSS participated in consensus meetings to select and define echostructural abnormalities in pSS. The US reliability of detecting these abnormalities was assessed using a two-step method. First 12 experts used a web-based standardised form to evaluate 60 static US-SG images. Intra observer and interobserver reliabilities were expressed in κ values. Second, five experts, who participated all throughout the study, evaluated US-SG acquisition interobserver reliability in pSS patients. Results Parotid glands (PGs) and submandibular glands (SMGs) intra observer US reliability on static images was substantial (κ > 0.60) for the two main reliable items (echogenicity and homogeneity) and for the advised pSS diagnosis. PG inter observer reliability was substantial for homogeneity. SMGs interobserver reliability was moderate for homogeneity (κ = 0.46) and fair for echogenicity (κ = 0.38). On acquisition images, PGs interobserver reliability was substantial (κ > 0.62) for echogenicity and moderate (κ = 0.52) for homogeneity. The advised pSS diagnosis reliability was substantial (κ = 0.66). SMGs interobserver reliability was fair (0.20< κ ≤ 0.40) for echogenicity and homogeneity and either slight or poor for all other US core items. Conclusion This work identified two most reliable US-SG items (echogenicity and homogeneity) to be used by US-SG trained experts. US-PG interobserver reliability result for echogenicity is in line with diagnosis of pSS. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.