Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2009
Meta AnalysisEfficacy of multicomponent treatment in fibromyalgia syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.
To systematically review the efficacy of multicomponent treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). ⋯ There is strong evidence that multicomponent treatment has beneficial short-term effects on the key symptoms of FMS. Strategies to maintain the benefits of multicomponent treatment in the long term need to be developed.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2009
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyVariation in age and physical status prior to total knee and hip replacement surgery: a comparison of centers in Australia and Europe.
To investigate whether variation exists in the preoperative age, pain, stiffness, and physical function of people undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) at several centers in Australia and Europe. ⋯ The large variations in age and preoperative status indicate substantial differences in the timing of joint replacement across the centers studied, with potential for compromised surgical outcomes due to premature or delayed surgery. Possible contributing factors include patient preferences, the absence of concrete indications for surgery, and the capacity of the health care systems.
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To determine whether sex plays a role in the time to diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). ⋯ In SSc, the time to diagnosis is longer for women than men after the onset of Raynaud's phenomenon, suggesting that there may be possible biologic differences in the progression of disease or in the health care trajectories of men and women with early SSc.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2009
Expression, regulation, and signaling of the pattern-recognition receptor nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts.
Since pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), in particular Toll-like receptors (TLRs), were found to be overexpressed in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to play a role in the production of disease-relevant molecules, we sought to determine the expression, regulation, and function of the PRR nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD-2) in RA. ⋯ Not only TLRs, but also the PRR NOD-2 is expressed in the synovium of RA patients, and activation of NOD-2 acts synergistically with TLRs in the production of proinflammatory and destructive mediators. Therefore, NOD-2 might contribute to the initiation and perpetuation of chronic, destructive inflammation in RA.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEvaluation of the efficacy and safety of pamapimod, a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, in a double-blind, methotrexate-controlled study of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.
To determine the efficacy and safety of pamapimod (a selective inhibitor of the alpha-isoform of p38 MAP kinase) as monotherapy in comparison with methotrexate (MTX) treatment in adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ The present results showed that pamapimod was not as effective as MTX in the treatment of active RA.