Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · May 2012
Comparative StudyTen years' experience with needle biopsy in the early diagnosis of sacroiliitis.
To evaluate the usefulness of needle biopsy in the diagnosis of early sacroiliitis to improve the diagnostic level and outcome of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). ⋯ MRI, though of low sensitivity, is specific for the diagnosis of early sacroiliitis. Sacroiliitis can be detected earlier by needle biopsy than by MRI.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · May 2012
Incidence and risk factors for radiographic knee osteoarthritis and knee pain in Japanese men and women: a longitudinal population-based cohort study.
To examine the incidence and progression of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) and the incidence of knee pain, and their risk factors in Japan, using the large-scale population of the nationwide cohort study ROAD (Research on Osteoarthritis/osteoporosis Against Disability). ⋯ The present longitudinal study revealed a high incidence of radiographic knee OA in Japan.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · May 2012
The association of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging with body mass index in overweight and obese adults: a population-based study.
To investigate the association of being overweight or obese with the presence, extent, and severity of lumbar disc degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adults. ⋯ Our findings, in one of the largest studies to systematically assess lumbar disc degeneration on MRI, indicated a significant association between the presence, extent, and global severity of disc degeneration with weight in overweight and obese adults.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · May 2012
Clinical TrialActive foot synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: applying clinical criteria for disease activity and remission may result in underestimation of foot joint involvement.
To determine whether application of criteria for remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may result in underestimation of foot joint involvement among patients in a clinic setting. ⋯ Although the DAS28-ESR, CDAI, and SDAI have been validated for assessment of remission in RA, this study shows that the performance of these 3 disease activity measures, which do not provide a direct assessment of the foot, in detecting foot synovitis is poor, in contrast to that of the 1981 ACR and 2011 ACR/EULAR remission criteria utilizing full joint counts. Thus, patients may be at risk of ongoing damage if treatment decisions are made solely on the basis of criteria that omit foot joint assessment.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · May 2012
Association of a Toll-like receptor 1 polymorphism with heightened Th1 inflammatory responses and antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis.
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that alter immune function, inflammatory responses, and disease susceptibility have been identified in several genes encoding Toll-like receptors (TLRs). The TLR SNPs with the best evidence of an effect on immune function are those in TLR1 (1805GG), TLR2 (2258GA), and TLR5 (1174CT). This study was undertaken to assess the frequency and functional outcomes of these polymorphisms in patients with Lyme disease. ⋯ The TLR1-1805GG polymorphism in B burgdorferi RST1-infected patients was associated with stronger Th1-like inflammatory responses, an environment that may set the stage for antibiotic-refractory arthritis.