Clinical rheumatology
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Clinical rheumatology · Jun 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of the thermal mineral water of Nagybaracska on patients with knee joint osteoarthritis--a double blind study.
To study the effect of thermal mineral water of Nagybaracska (Hungary) on patients with primary knee osteoarthritis in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 64 patients with nonsurgical knee joint osteoarthritis were randomly selected either into the thermal mineral water or into the tap water group in a non-spa resort village. The patients of both groups received 30-min sessions of bathing, 5 days a week for four consecutive weeks. The patients were evaluated by a blind observer immediately before and at the end of the trial using Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) indices and follow-up assessment 3 months later. ⋯ The WOMAC activity, pain, and total scores improved significantly also in the tap water group at the end of the treatment course, but no improvement was detected at the end of the 3-month follow-up period. The treatment with the thermal mineral water of Nagybaracska significantly improved activity, pain, and total WOMAC scores of patients with nonsurgical OA of the knee. Even after 3 months, significant improvement was observed compared to the scores before the treatment or to tap water treatment.
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Clinical rheumatology · Jun 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of gallium arsenide aluminum laser therapy in the management of cervical myofascial pain syndrome: a double blind, placebo-controlled study.
The efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) seems controversial. A prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients with chronic MPS in the neck to evaluate the effects of low-level 830-nm gallium arsenide aluminum (Ga-As-Al) laser therapy. The study group consisted of 64 MPS patients. ⋯ In both groups, statistically significant improvements were detected in all outcome measures compared with baseline (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were obtained between the two groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, although the laser therapy has no superiority over placebo groups in this study, we cannot exclude the possibility of effectivity with another treatment regimen including different laser wavelengths and dosages (different intensity and density and/or treatment interval).
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Macrovascular involvement in scleroderma has received relatively little attention. We hereby describe a 5.6-cm ascending aortic aneurysm in a 56-year-old man presenting with increased dyspnea, diagnosed with antibody-negative, rapidly progressive diffuse cutaneous scleroderma. ⋯ Other features included Raynaud's phenomenon, arthralgia, dysphagia, dyspnea attributed to pulmonary fibrosis, pericardial effusion, and cardiomyopathy. To the best of our knowledge, there is only one other report to date in the English language of a thoracic aortic aneurysm associated with scleroderma.
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Clinical rheumatology · Jun 2007
Case ReportsNecrotizing fasciitis resulting from Streptococcus pneumoniae in recently diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus case: a case report.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic, autoimmune disease. SLE patients are prone to infections, and their hospital admissions and mortality are most commonly associated with infections. ⋯ In this report, NF associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPN) that developed within hours and resulted in death is presented in a 46-year-old female case who was recently diagnosed as SLE and did not receive any medication (steroid, immunosuppressive, etc.) except for etodolac. This case shows that SLE can generate predisposition to NF, and SPN can play a role in NF etiology.