Annals of the rheumatic diseases
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Comparison of two different dosages of celecoxib with diclofenac for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis: results of a 12-week randomised, double-blind, controlled study.
To demonstrate the non-inferiority of celecoxib compared with diclofenac in subjects with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). ⋯ The efficacy of celecoxib 200 mg once a day and 200 mg twice a day was comparable to that of diclofenac 75 mg twice a day with respect to pain reduction. Celecoxib 200 mg twice a day and diclofenac reduced some parameters associated with inflammation more effectively than celecoxib 200 mg once a day. Treatment was well tolerated, with celecoxib (either dose) exhibiting less frequent gastrointestinal adverse events than diclofenac.
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Multicenter Study
Mortality and risk factors of scleroderma renal crisis: a French retrospective study of 50 patients.
To describe presentation and outcome of patients with scleroderma renal crisis (SRC). ⋯ SRC remains associated with severe morbidity and mortality. CS might increase the risk of developing SRC. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of in vitro-specific blood tests with tuberculin skin test for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis before anti-TNF therapy.
Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is detected with the tuberculin skin test (TST) before anti-TNF therapy. We aimed to investigate in vitro blood assays with TB-specific antigens (CFP-10, ESAT-6), in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) for LTBI screening. ⋯ Anti-TB blood assays are beneficial for LTBI diagnosis in IMID. Compared with TST, they show a better sensitivity, as seen by positive results in 5 patients with certain LTBI and negative TST, and better specificity, as seen by negative results in most patients with intermediate TST as the only criteria of LTBI. In the absence of clinico-radiographic findings for LTBI, blood assays could replace TST for antibiotherapy decision before anti-TNF.
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To develop and assess the reliability and construct validity of a scale assessing disability involving the mouth in systemic sclerosis (SSc). ⋯ We propose a new scale, the Mouth Handicap in Systemic Sclerosis (MHISS) scale, which has excellent reliability and good construct validity, and assesses specifically disability involving the mouth in patients with SSc.
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To evaluate the available evidence on the efficacy and feasibility of the new concept of tight control in randomised trials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tight control is a treatment strategy tailored to the individual patient with RA, which aims to achieve a predefined level of low disease activity or remission within a certain period of time. ⋯ Tight control aiming for low disease activity or even better still, remission, seems a promising option in treating patients with RA in clinical trials and probably also in daily practice.