Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Mar 2012
Selective up-regulation of the soluble pattern-recognition receptor pentraxin 3 and of vascular endothelial growth factor in giant cell arteritis: relevance for recent optic nerve ischemia.
To assess local expression and plasma levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). ⋯ Our findings indicate that local expression of PTX3 is a feature of vascular inflammation in GCA; elevated circulating levels of PTX3 identify patients with very recent optic nerve ischemia or a recent diagnosis. Optic nerve ischemia is also associated with increased circulating VEGF levels.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudySafety and efficacy of ocrelizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to at least one tumor necrosis factor inhibitor: results of a forty-eight–week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase III trial.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ocrelizumab plus methotrexate (MTX) or leflunomide (LEF) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and an inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors. ⋯ Patients in both of the ocrelizumab groups met the clinical primary efficacy end points. Inhibition of change in the SHS was statistically significant at 48 weeks for those in the ocrelizumab 500 mg group. The rate of serious infections in this trial was higher for both ocrelizumab doses as compared with placebo.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2012
The incidence of knee arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis grows rapidly among baby boomers: a population-based study in Finland.
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a commonly used treatment for severe primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) that is refractory to conservative treatment. Despite the presumed increase in the use of this treatment modality in younger patients, there are few published data concerning this. The aim of our study was to examine the changes in the age- and sex-standardized incidence of TKA and unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) in Finland during 1980-2006 and to identify factors that might affect the incidence during this period. ⋯ We demonstrated a rapid increase in the incidence of arthroplasty among patients with primary knee OA in Finland, especially in those ages 50-59 years. There was no single explanatory factor behind this finding, although some of the growth might be due to the increased incidence noted in low- and intermediate-volume hospitals.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2012
NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neutrophil recruitment and hypernociception depend on leukotriene B(4) in a murine model of gout.
Deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals in the joints promotes an intense inflammatory response and joint dysfunction. This study evaluated the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)-derived leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4) ) in driving tissue inflammation and hypernociception in a murine model of gout. ⋯ These results reveal the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in mediating MSU crystal-induced inflammation and dysfunction of the joints, and highlight a previously unrecognized role of LTB(4) in driving NLRP3 inflammasome activation in response to MSU crystals, both in vitro and in vivo.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyCognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of juvenile fibromyalgia: a multisite, single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial.
Juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder in children and adolescents for which there are no evidence-based treatments. The objective of this multisite, single-blind, randomized clinical trial was to test whether cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was superior to fibromyalgia (FM) education in reducing functional disability, pain, and symptoms of depression in juvenile FMS. ⋯ In this controlled trial, CBT was found to be a safe and effective treatment for reducing functional disability and symptoms of depression in adolescents with juvenile FMS.