Clinical rheumatology
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Clinical rheumatology · Jul 2007
Reliability and validity of the Turkish version short-form McGill pain questionnaire in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The translation of existing pain measurement scales is considered important in producing internationally comparable measures for evidence based practice. In measuring the pain experience, the short-form of McGill's pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) is one of the most widely used and translated instruments. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the Turkish version of the SF-MPQ is a valid and reliable tool to assess pain and to be used as a clinical and research instrument. ⋯ Correlation of total, sensory and affective score with the numeric rating scale was tested for construct validity demonstrating r = 0.637 (p < 0.001) for test and r = 0.700 (p < 0.001) for retest. Correlation with erythrocycte sedimentation rates for concurrent validity was found to be r = 0.518 (p < 0.001) for test and r = 0.497 (p < 0.001) for retest. The results of this study indicate that the Turkish version of the SF-MPQ is a reliable and valid instrument for the measurement of pain in Turkish speaking patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
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Clinical rheumatology · Jul 2007
Improving management of musculoskeletal disorders in primary care: the Joint Adventures Program.
Musculoskeletal disorders represent a large and growing clinical challenge to primary care clinicians. Unfortunately, there appears to be a gap in current training and continuing education to meet this challenge. We used script concordance within a continuing medical education program entitled "Joint Adventures" to assist family physicians to acquire the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to improve their management of musculoskeletal disorders. ⋯ The Joint Adventures program provided family physicians with knowledge and skills that changed their care of musculoskeletal disorders. This was achieved using consensus that was sensitive to local needs. Further use should be evaluated in other areas of medical practice as well.
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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.