Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.)
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Arthritis Rheumatol · Jun 2014
Multicenter StudyEfficacy of tocilizumab in conventional treatment-refractory adult-onset Still's disease: multicenter retrospective open-label study of thirty-four patients.
Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is frequently refractory to standard therapy. Tocilizumab (TCZ) has demonstrated efficacy in single cases and in small series of patients with AOSD. The aim of this multicenter study was to assess the efficacy of TCZ in patients with AOSD refractory to conventional treatment. ⋯ TCZ treatment was associated with rapid and maintained clinical and laboratory improvement in patients with AOSD refractory to standard treatment. However, joint manifestations seem to be more refractory to treatment compared with systemic manifestations.
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Arthritis Rheumatol · May 2014
Comparative StudyBrief report: inadequate description and discussion of enrolled patient characteristics and potential inter-study site differences in reports of randomized controlled trials: a systematic survey in six rheumatology journals.
Detailed information on patient recruitment and study settings is an important component of reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We had the impression that many RCTs published in rheumatology journals lacked this information. This study was undertaken to systemically survey this matter in 6 leading journals. ⋯ Adequate information on patient recruitment, the trial setting, and a discussion of possible multicenter design effects on outcomes are lacking in the majority of RCT reports in rheumatology. This affects the validity of these reports and calls for closer attention of authors, journals, and reviewers.
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Arthritis Rheumatol · May 2014
Ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and risk of malignant lymphoma: a cohort study based on nationwide prospectively recorded data from Sweden.
Data on lymphoma risk in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are scarce. This study was undertaken to assess the risk of lymphoma in AS and PsA overall and in relation to therapies, including tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi), for which lymphoma risks are a concern. ⋯ In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis, the average risks of lymphoma in AS or PsA are not elevated, although increased risks in a subset of PsA patients cannot be excluded. Our findings indicate that TNFi does not affect the risk of lymphoma in AS or in PsA.
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Arthritis Rheumatol · Apr 2014
Activation of spinal NF-κB/p65 contributes to peripheral inflammation and hyperalgesia in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis.
It is known that noxious stimuli from inflamed tissue may increase the excitability of spinal dorsal horn neurons (a process known as central sensitization), which can signal back and contribute to peripheral inflammation. However, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully defined. A number of recent studies have indicated that spinal NF-κB/p65 is involved in central sensitization, as well as pain-related behavior. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether NF-κB/p65 can facilitate a peripheral inflammatory response in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA). ⋯ These findings indicate that spinal NF-κB/p65 plays an important role in the initiation and development of both peripheral inflammation and hyperalgesia. Thus, inhibition of spinal NF-κB/p65 expression may provide a potential treatment to manage painful inflammatory disorders.
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Arthritis Rheumatol · Apr 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of oral glucosamine on joint structure in individuals with chronic knee pain: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
To determine the short-term efficacy of oral glucosamine supplementation by evaluating structural lesions in the knee joints, as assessed using 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ⋯ The results of this short-term study provide no evidence of structural benefits (i.e., improvements in MRI morphologic features or urinary CTX-II excretion) from glucosamine supplementation in individuals with chronic knee pain.