Osteoarthritis and cartilage
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Feb 2010
Racial differences in osteoarthritis pain and function: potential explanatory factors.
This study examined factors underlying racial differences in pain and function among patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ Factors explaining racial differences in pain and function were largely psychological, including arthritis self-efficacy, affect, and use of emotion-focused coping. Self-management and psychological interventions can influence these factors, and greater dissemination among African Americans may be a key step toward reducing racial disparities in pain and function.
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Jan 2010
Review Meta AnalysisRisk factors for onset of osteoarthritis of the knee in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is common in older adults. Determination of risk factors for onset of knee OA may help in its prevention. The objective of this systematic review, and meta-analysis, was to determine the current evidence on risk factors for knee OA. ⋯ Whilst certain factors have been extensively reviewed (for example, body mass index), more longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the association of physical occupational and other patient-determined factors with future knee OA. The quality of such studies also needs to be improved. However, there are identifiable factors which can be targeted for prevention of disabling knee pain.
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Dec 2009
p38 MAPK inhibition selectively mitigates inflammatory mediators and VEGF production in AF cells co-cultured with activated macrophage-like THP-1 cells.
Recent data have suggested that macrophages are involved in the pathogenesis of discogenic back pain and enhance the secretion of inflammatory mediators in co-cultured annulus fibrosus (AF) cells. The purpose of these studies is to determine the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling in the interactions between macrophage and AF cells. ⋯ Annular injury can result in macrophage infiltration, and this can cause enhanced inflammatory mediator and VEGF production by AF cells. The p38 MAPK pathway signals are responsible for much of IL-6 and PG secretion from AF cells with macrophage-like cells, suggesting that blockade of this signal may serve as a therapeutic approach to discogenic pain.
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Dec 2009
Psychometric properties of the French translation of the reduced KOOS and HOOS (KOOS-PS and HOOS-PS).
To evaluate the psychometric properties of the French KOOS physical function (KOOS-PS) and HOOS physical function (HOOS-PS), specifically its feasibility, reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness. ⋯ The French versions of KOOS-PS and HOOS-PS are reliable, valid, and responsive questionnaires for capturing functional disability in people with knee and hip OA.
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Statistical analysis is ubiquitous in medical research, but fundamental statistical principles are not always well understood, which has negative effects for both authors and readers of scientific papers. The purpose of this brief review is to provide a methodological overview on populations, samples, analysis units and sampling uncertainty to facilitate an increased understanding of statistical concepts.