Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialTai Chi is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialFunctional and work outcomes improve in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who receive targeted, comprehensive occupational therapy.
Work disability is a serious consequence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We conducted a 6-month, prospective randomized controlled trial comparing assessments of function, work, coping, and disease activity in employed patients with RA receiving occupational therapy intervention versus usual care. ⋯ Targeted, comprehensive occupational therapy intervention improves functional and work-related outcomes in employed RA patients at risk of work disability.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2009
A novel inhibitor of Smad-dependent transcriptional activation suppresses tissue fibrosis in mouse models of systemic sclerosis.
Tissue fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and an increasing number of promising molecular targets for antifibrotic therapies have been described recently. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) is well known to be the principal factor that leads to tissue fibrosis. The present study was undertaken to investigate the ability of HSc025, a novel small compound that antagonizes TGFbeta/Smad signaling through the activation of nuclear translocation of Y-box binding protein 1, to prevent tissue fibrosis in vitro or in mouse models of SSc. ⋯ These results demonstrate that HSc025 is a novel inhibitor of TGFbeta/Smad signaling, resulting in the improvement of skin and pulmonary fibrosis. Orally available HSc025 might therefore be useful in the treatment of SSc.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2009
Review Multicenter StudyMacrophage activation syndrome in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus: a multinational multicenter study of thirty-eight patients.
To describe the clinical and laboratory features of macrophage activation syndrome as a complication of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ⋯ Our findings indicate that the occurrence of unexplained fever and cytopenia, when associated with hyperferritinemia, in a patient with juvenile SLE should raise the suspicion of macrophage activation syndrome. We propose preliminary guidelines for this syndrome in juvenile SLE to facilitate timely diagnosis and correct classification of patients.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEffects of teriparatide versus alendronate for treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: thirty-six-month results of a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.
To compare the bone anabolic drug teriparatide (20 microg/day) with the antiresorptive drug alendronate (10 mg/day) for treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (OP). ⋯ Our findings indicate that subjects with glucocorticoid-induced OP treated with teriparatide for 36 months had greater increases in BMD and fewer new vertebral fractures than subjects treated with alendronate.