J Rheumatol
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Efficacy and safety of 5% ibuprofen cream treatment in knee osteoarthritis. Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
To investigate the efficacy and safety of a cream containing 5% ibuprofen (Dolgit) cream) in primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study using an adaptive sequential design. ⋯ The efficacy and safety of ibuprofen cream in treatment of primary knee OA were statistically significant and clinically relevant compared to placebo.
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We examined the direct medical costs for patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and chronic back pain (CBP) in comparison to similar patients not treated for these conditions. ⋯ Health services and prescription medication costs for patients with OA and CBP were more than double those of matched controls. Much of the increased utilization occurred in areas not commonly associated with musculoskeletal conditions.
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To investigate the mechanisms underlying glucocorticoid (GC) resistance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we evaluated the suppressive effects of prednisolone (PSL) or methylprednisolone (MPSL) on the blastogenesis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We also measured the expression of mRNA for transcription factors [GC receptor-alpha (GRalpha) and activator protein-1] known to be involved in the exertion of GC effects. ⋯ Chronic exposure to inflammation in RA suggests a decrease in the GC sensitivity of peripheral lymphocytes. Although c-fos and GRalpha transcripts in PBMC have been implicated in the pathology of RA, the amount of expression of these factors may not be critical for the development of GC insensitivity in the PBMC in RA.