Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2003
Autoantibodies against B23, a nucleolar phosphoprotein, occur in scleroderma and are associated with pulmonary hypertension.
To determine whether the abundant nucleolar phosphoprotein B23 is a target of autoantibodies in scleroderma, and to examine the clinical phenotype associated with these antibodies. ⋯ These data unite B23 with the group of nucleolar autoantigens targeted in scleroderma and thus focus attention on changes in the nucleolus that render its components immunogenic in this disease. The demonstration that antibodies to B23 are associated with an increased prevalence of pulmonary hypertension points to anti-B23 antibodies as a possible marker of a specific phenotype in scleroderma.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSafety and efficacy of long-term intraarticular steroid injections in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of long-term intraarticular (IA) steroid injections for knee pain related to osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ Our findings support the long-term safety of IA steroid injections for patients with symptomatic knee OA. No deleterious effects of the long-term administration of IA steroids on the anatomical structure of the knee were noted. Moreover, long-term treatment of knee OA with repeated steroid injections appears to be clinically effective for the relief of symptoms of the disease.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2003
Association of hospital and surgeon volume of total hip replacement with functional status and satisfaction three years following surgery.
To evaluate whether hospital volume and surgeon volume of total hip replacements (THRs) are associated with patient-reported functional status and satisfaction with surgery 3 years postoperatively. ⋯ Hospital volume and surgeon volume have little effect on 3-year functional outcome following THR, after adjusting for patient sociodemographic and select clinical characteristics. However, satisfaction with primary THR is greater among patients who underwent surgery in high-volume centers, and satisfaction with revisions is greater among patients whose operations were performed by higher-volume surgeons. Referring clinicians should incorporate these findings into their discussion of referral choices with patients considering THR. Conclusions regarding the effect of volume on longevity of the implants must await longer-term followup studies. Finally, further research is warranted to better understand the association between hospital and surgeon procedure volume and patient satisfaction with surgery.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2003
Clinical TrialMeasurement of radiographic joint space width in the tibiofemoral compartment of the osteoarthritic knee: comparison of standing anteroposterior and Lyon schuss views.
To evaluate progression of joint space narrowing in radiographs of osteoarthritic (OA) knees imaged in both the standing anteroposterior (AP) and the Lyon schuss positions, using alternative methods to measure joint space width (JSW). ⋯ Compared with the standing AP radiograph, PA imaging of the knee in 20-30 degrees flexion (the schuss position) increases the reproducibility of radiographic JSW measurements in OA knees and the sensitivity to change in JSW in serial radiographs. Sensitivity to change in minimum JSW is notably increased by aligning the medial tibial plateau with the central x-ray beam in the Lyon schuss radiograph.