Clin Exp Rheumatol
-
To investigate the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in the synovial-like interface membrane (SLIM) and in the pseudosynovial tissue surrounding the artificial hip joints, as well as in the pseudosynovial fluid from aseptically loosened total hip replacement (THR) prostheses. ⋯ IL-6 locally produced in SLIM may in a paracrine manner contribute to periprosthetic osteolysis of the nearby bone. In contrast, fluid phase IL-6 does not seem to contribute to this end.
-
The aim of the study was to define how many whiplash injuries occur in Finland in traffic accidents and the degree of severity of these injuries using the whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) classification presented by the Quebec Task Force, and to define possible long-term health effects caused by whiplash injury as well as the duration of whiplash-associated sick-leaves. ⋯ The number of reported neck injuries in proportion to all traffic accidents involving physical injuries is small, even in proportion to rear-end collisions. In a considerable proportion of collision patients, whiplash injury does result in significant impairment which can last as long as a year after the accident. The WAD classification predicts the duration of work disability and the long-term health damage caused by the injury. Since the appearance of symptoms and the individual need for rehabilitation due to impaired functional capacity do not depend solely on the tissue damage and biomechanical forces involved in the collision, in the future it will be important to determine which factors are responsible for the differences in coping after a collision.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Treating rheumatoid arthritis early with disease modifying drugs reduces joint damage: a randomised double blind trial of sulphasalazine vs diclofenac sodium.
Current disease management in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has moved towards "inverting the therapeutic pyramid" by introducing disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) early. Despite the logic of early DMARD therapy, there is a dearth of supportive evidence for this approach. We report a randomised controlled trial comparing sulphasalazine monotherapy with diclofenac monotherapy in early RA. The primary aim was to provide unequivocal evidence that early DMARDs prevent erosive damage. The secondary aim was to evaluate if sulphasalazine used alone has comparable symptomatic benefits to NSAIDs. ⋯ These results show that an accelerated dosing schedule of sulphasalazine has identical effects to diclofenac in reducing symptoms, indicating it is a rapidly effective DMARD. They also provide unequivocal evidence, analysed on an intention to treat basis, that early treatment with sulphasalazine significantly reduces the extent of radiological progression in active RA.
-
Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) is reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies have also investigated the association of different tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) with fibrosis in scleroderma (SSc). The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of serum MMP-1, 3 and TIMP-1 with severity and disease specific markers of SSc and RA. ⋯ We confirm previous observations that MMPs and TIMPs may play an important role in various rheumatic diseases. Whereas serum increase of MMP-3 correlated with RA severity, SSc severity was more characterized by the increase of both MMP-1 and TIMP-1. This suggests that the MMPs and TIMPs involved in SSc are different than those playing a role in RA, which may indicate that in SSc they are produced in different locations than in RA.
-
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Efficacy of periarticular corticosteroid treatment of the sacroiliac joint in non-spondylarthropathic patients with chronic low back pain in the region of the sacroiliac joint.
To investigate the efficacy of periarticular corticosteroid treatment of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) in non-spondylarthropathic patients with chronic low back pain in the region of the SIJ in a double blind, controlled study. ⋯ These results suggest that periarticular injection of methylprednisolone may be effective in the treatment of pain in the region of the SIJ in non-spondylarthropathic patients.