J Rheumatol
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Chondroitin sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee: a prospective, double blind, placebo controlled multicenter clinical study.
To assess the efficacy and safety of chondroitin sulfate (CS) 1 g/day per os compared to placebo, in a double blind, randomized, parallel group study, with 3 months treatment followed by a 3 month posttreatment period, in patients with femorotibial osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ We observed a trend towards efficacy of CS 1 g/day compared to placebo with good tolerability after 3 month treatment, and persistent efficacy one month posttreatment. Further investigations are required to confirm this trend.
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To determine the effects of synovial fluids (SF) on DNA binding activity of transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in the Mono Mac 6 monocytic/macrophage cell line as a model for the interaction between SF and synovial tissue macrophages in arthritis. ⋯ Biological activity of TNF-alpha in SF from RA and OA subjects is capable of inducing p65/p50 NF-kappaB DNA binding activity in macrophages. A property of SF that is independent of TNF-alpha and other cytokines is responsible for the induction of a novel slowly migrating NF-kappaB-binding complex. Soluble mediators in SF of subjects with RA and OA can therefore modulate binding of nuclear proteins to the NF-kappaB binding site in macrophages and may play a role in inflammatory gene expression in arthritis.
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Comparative Study
A general population study of fibromyalgia tender points in noninstitutionalized adults with chronic widespread pain.
To assess the distribution and predictive ability of fibromyalgia (FM) tender points (TP) in adults with chronic widespread pain. ⋯ TP differ in their ability to predict FM among adults in the general population with chronic widespread pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Minimal perceptible clinical improvement with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index questionnaire and global assessments in patients with osteoarthritis.
To determine the minimal perceptible clinical improvement (MPCI) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire, and patient and investigator global assessment of disease status in randomized clinical trials for treatment of OA. ⋯ In this analysis, mean changes of roughly 9 to 12 mm (100 mm normalized VAS) on WOMAC scales were perceptible changes to patients with hip and knee OA. A mean decrease of 0.4 in global disease status (0 to 4 Likert scale) as assessed by the investigator corresponded to the patients' MPCI. Understanding the minimal perceptible differences may permit a better assessment of the clinical relevance of therapeutic interventions in OA.