J Rheumatol
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In this study of female home care personnel employed in a municipality (n = 643; participation rate 94%) we investigated (1) the prevalence of tender points and fibromyalgia (FM); (2) the relationships between tender point score and other signs and symptoms; (3) if subgroups based on the tender point score differed with respect to signs, symptoms, disability, and health related quality of life; and (4) signs that showed the strongest intercorrelations with disability and health. ⋯ Tender point score together with different symptoms showed relatively strong correlations with disability. A relatively high prevalence of FM was found in occupationally active female home care personnel.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Does self-management education benefit all populations with arthritis? A randomized controlled trial in a primary care physician network.
Studies have suggested that the Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP) course is effective at reducing arthritis pain and health care costs in volunteer participants. There have been no reports of trials of the ASMP in the context of primary care physicians' practices, where the potential for spreading the program may be greatest. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of the ASMP course in a large primary care physician network. ⋯ While the ASMP course has been found to be effective in other patient groups, there were no significant clinical benefits noted at 4 months in patients recruited from primary care practices.
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Clinical Trial
Cyclophosphamide with low or high dose prednisolone for systemic sclerosis lung disease.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of monthly intravenous pulses of cyclophosphamide (CP) in combination with low or high doses of prednisolone in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) related interstitial lung disease (ILD) with FVC < 70% of predicted. ⋯ A combination of IV pulse CP with high doses of prednisolone shows promising efficacy in improving the clinical, physiological, and radiological evolution of SSc related ILD with reversal of the underlying alveolitis.
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Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic, painful musculoskeletal disorder characterized by widespread pain, pressure, hyperalgesia, morning stiffness, and an increased incidence of depressive symptoms. The etiology, however, has remained elusive. The aim of the present study was to examine the inflammatory response system in FM and to investigate the effect of depression level on serum cytokines. ⋯ IL-8 may play an important role in the occurrence of pain in FM.
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Letter Case Reports
Warfarin and azathioprine: clinically significant drug interaction.