J Rheumatol
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The underlying mechanism(s) by which antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) result in thrombosis remains poorly understood. A significant body of evidence has evolved to support the hypothesis that antibody-mediated disruption of an annexin A5 anticoagulant shield may play a role in the pathogenesis; this proposed mechanism has not been previously studied in children. ⋯ Children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases and persistent aPL have reduced annexin A5 anticoagulant activity, whereas transient, nonpathogenic aPL have less effect on annexin A5 activity.
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To determine response with duloxetine versus placebo in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee using the Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials-Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OMERACT-OARSI) responder index and other clinically relevant outcomes including minimal clinically important improvement (MCII) and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) for pain and function. ⋯ Significantly more patients receiving duloxetine than placebo achieved an OMERACT-OARSI response, improvements in pain and function exceeding the level accepted as MCII, and reached PASS. Results support the clinical relevance of outcomes of prior duloxetine studies in symptomatic OA of the knee.
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Comparative Study
Racial differences in knee osteoarthritis pain: potential contribution of occupational and household tasks.
We examined whether occupational and household tasks contributed to differences in pain between African Americans and whites with radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ Current performance of physically demanding occupational tasks contributed to racial differences in pain severity among individuals with knee OA. Better workplace policies to accommodate OA-related limitations may help to reduce racial differences in pain.
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To assess the effectiveness of rituximab (RTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in routine clinical practice, and to identify predictors of 6-month response to RTX in patients for whom at least 1 anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF) therapy has failed. ⋯ RTX has proven to be effective in routine clinical practice. When anti-TNF therapy fails, response to RTX was influenced by baseline DAS28 score, RF status, baseline HAQ score, and sex.