Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2004
Prognosis and quality of life in patients with acute low back pain: insights from a comprehensive inception cohort study.
To investigate the respective contribution of various biologic and psychosocial factors, especially initial health-related quality of life (HRQOL), in the natural history of acute low back pain (LBP) and to evaluate the impact of this condition on HRQOL. ⋯ This study highlights the large contribution of work-related factors, but also initial HRQOL, to the prognosis of LBP. It also suggests that LBP impairs HRQOL mainly through compensation and inappropriate medical care, and that, in turn, impaired HRQOL favors the condition becoming chronic. These findings have implications for future research into the management of LBP.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialLong-term efficacy of therapy in patients with fibromyalgia: a physical exercise-based program and a cognitive-behavioral approach.
To analyze the long-term efficacy of 2 interventions for female fibromyalgia (FM) patients: 1) cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and 2) a physical exercise (PE)-based strategy. ⋯ PE and CBT improve clinical manifestations in FM patients only for short periods of time. Improvement in self efficacy and physical fitness are not associated with improvement in clinical manifestations.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2004
Structural, psychological, and genetic influences on low back and neck pain: a study of adult female twins.
To assess genetic and environmental influences on low back and neck pain in a classic twin design and to examine the extent to which these are explained by structural changes seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and psychological and lifestyle variables. ⋯ Genetic factors have an important influence on back and neck pain reporting in women. These factors include the genetic determinants of structural disc degeneration and an individual's inherited tendency toward psychological distress. MRI changes are the strongest predictor of low back pain.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialInefficacy of infliximab in primary Sjögren's syndrome: results of the randomized, controlled Trial of Remicade in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (TRIPSS).
There is no effective treatment for patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Since tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) could be a key element in the pathogenesis of primary SS, we conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of infliximab in primary SS. ⋯ This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of an anti-TNF agent did not show any evidence of efficacy of infliximab in primary SS.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2004
Comparative StudyAssociation of squatting with increased prevalence of radiographic tibiofemoral knee osteoarthritis: the Beijing Osteoarthritis Study.
To examine the association between squatting, a common daily posture in China, and the prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) in different knee compartments among Chinese subjects from Beijing, and to estimate how much of the difference in prevalence of knee OA between Chinese subjects in Beijing and white subjects in Framingham, Massachusetts is accounted for by the impact of squatting. ⋯ Prolonged squatting is a strong risk factor for tibiofemoral knee OA among elderly Chinese subjects in Beijing, and accounts for a substantial proportion of the difference in prevalence of tibiofemoral OA between Chinese subjects in Beijing and white subjects in Framingham.