J Rheumatol
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OBJECTIVE. Jaw pain may occur in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and fibromyalgia (FM). We investigated the prevalence and correlates of jaw pain, and whether jaw pain is increased in RA, where intrinsic articular disease can be noted radiographically, or is a manifestation of a generalized pain problem. ⋯ Jaw pain is present in about 19% of patients with RA and OA, and is primarily a marker for a general pain increase and symptom sensitivity problem. Patients who have jaw pain have worse outcomes manifested by decreased functional ability, lower household income, and decreased quality of life. Variables not usually formally measured in clinical practice best identify this problem: self-reported joint count, symptom count, count of painful regions (RPS), and a visual analog scale for fatigue.
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Examination of expression of the chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein-3a (CCL20/Mip-3alpha) in blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and synovial fluid (SF) PMN of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ Recruitment of PMN to the synovial microenvironment induces expression of CCL20 mRNA independent of the concentrations of TNF-alpha accumulating in SF of patients with RA.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy of topical diclofenac diethylamine gel in osteoarthritis of the knee.
To assess the efficacy and safety of topical diclofenac diethylamine gel, 1.16%, 4 g applied qid for 3 weeks to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. ⋯ Diclofenac gel was effective and safe for relief of symptoms of OA of the knee over 3 weeks of dosing.