Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jul 2009
Risk of tuberculosis is higher with anti-tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibody therapy than with soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor therapy: The three-year prospective French Research Axed on Tolerance of Biotherapies registry.
Tuberculosis (TB) is associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy, but whether this association is drug-specific remains a concern. Our objective was to describe cases of TB associated with anti-TNF mAb therapy, identify risk factors, and estimate the incidence. ⋯ The risk of TB is higher for patients receiving anti-TNF mAb therapy than for those receiving soluble TNF receptor therapy. The increased risk with early anti-TNF treatment and the absence of correct chemoprophylactic treatment favor the reactivation of latent TB.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jul 2009
Pivotal role of connective tissue growth factor in lung fibrosis: MAPK-dependent transcriptional activation of type I collagen.
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF; CCN2) is overexpressed in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and has been hypothesized to be a key mediator of the pulmonary fibrosis frequently observed in this disease. CTGF is induced by transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) and is a mediator of some profibrotic effects of TGFbeta in vitro. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of CTGF in enhanced expression of type I collagen in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, and to delineate the mechanisms of action underlying the effects of CTGF on Col1a2 (collagen gene type I alpha2) in this mouse model and in human pulmonary fibroblasts. ⋯ Our results clearly define a direct profibrotic effect of CTGF and demonstrate its contribution to lung fibrosis through transcriptional activation of Col1a2. Blocking strategies revealed the signaling mechanisms involved. These findings show CTGF to be a rational target for therapy in fibrotic diseases such as SSc.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jun 2009
Relationships between the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, tender point count, and muscle strength in female patients with fibromyalgia: a cohort study.
To test the hypothesis that fibromyalgia (FM) patients with reduced lower extremity strength are more symptomatic and tender than FM patients with normal muscle strength. ⋯ Significantly reduced knee muscle strength was found in more than half of the patients. Patients with subnormal muscle strength were not more symptomatic or tender than patients with normal muscle strength. There were no clinically significant correlations between FIQ, tender point count, and muscle strength; therefore, reduced knee muscle strength appears to be a common objective abnormality in FM that is independent of measurements of disease activity. The implication of this finding in regard to the clinical assessment of FM needs further study.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jun 2009
Review Meta AnalysisThe effectiveness of Tai Chi for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
To determine whether Tai Chi improves pain, disability, physical performance, and/or health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. ⋯ The available data on the effect of Tai Chi are sparse and derived principally from low-quality studies. These data suggest that Tai Chi has a small positive effect on pain and disability in people with arthritis. The extent to which it benefits other forms of musculoskeletal pain is unclear.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jun 2009
Association of concomitant fibromyalgia with worse disease activity score in 28 joints, health assessment questionnaire, and short form 36 scores in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
To study the association of the presence of fibromyalgia (FM) with the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ FM is related to worse scores on the DAS28, HAQ, and SF-36 in patients with RA. The presence of FM may have major implications in the interpretation of the DAS28 score because it is related to higher scores independently of objective evidence of RA activity.