Rheumatology
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Psychological factors may be important in the assessment and management of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Our primary objective was to describe associations between disease and psychological status in AS, using AS-specific assessment tools and questionnaires. Our secondary objectives were to identify patient subgroups based on such associations and to determine the stability of the measures over time. ⋯ Disease status scores in AS correlated significantly with anxiety, depression, internality and health status. Interpretation of AS disease scores should take an account of psychological status and the choice of measures used. These findings have important potential applications in AS management and monitoring, including the identification of patients for biological therapies.
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To identify the most significant salivary biomarkers in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) using proteomic methods. ⋯ The salivary proteomic profile of SS is a mixture of increased inflammatory proteins and decreased acinar proteins when compared with non-SS. Future studies will test the ability of these biomarker levels, alone and in combination, to diagnose the salivary component of SS.
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Review Meta Analysis
Spa therapy and balneotherapy for treating low back pain: meta-analysis of randomized trials.
Low back pain is a major public health concern and complementary treatments are frequently used for this condition. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the evidence for or against the effectiveness of spa therapy and balneotherapy for treating low back pain. ⋯ Even though the data are scarce, there is encouraging evidence suggesting that spa therapy and balneotherapy may be effective for treating patients with low back pain. These data are not compelling but warrant rigorous large-scale trials.
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Multicenter Study
Outcome of subacute low back pain: influence of patients' and rheumatologists' characteristics.
To assess the outcome of subacute low back pain, to identify the characteristics of patients and physicians which were related to outcome and to evaluate the influence of rheumatologists' beliefs about back pain on their following the guidelines for physical and occupational activity. ⋯ Back pain commonly persists 3 months later in patients with subacute low back pain. Patients and rheumatologists still have negative beliefs about back pain. Rheumatologists' beliefs influence their following guidelines on physical and occupational activities. National education programmes about low back pain are needed in France.