Current rheumatology reports
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Widespread chronic pain, fatigue, and distress do not represent risk factors for future systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other autoimmune syndromes. On the other hand, SLE seems to be a significant risk factor for fibromyalgia (FM). Up to 47% of SLE patients fulfill FM criteria. ⋯ Recent research suggests involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and neurokinin receptor systems. Thus, autoimmune activity against these receptor systems in SLE patients could result in pain, cognitive defects, and chronic pain states including FM. Conversely, treatment of SLE-FM patients with inhibitors of NMDA or neurokinin receptors may prevent or alleviate cognitive abnormalities and chronic pain, as well as FM.
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Hip fractures are among the most important causes for disability, reduced quality of life, and death in older persons. Hip fracture patients are typically characterized by older age and a large complexity in their underlying conditions, comorbidities, and clinical histories. ⋯ This paper illuminates the current issues and recommendations for post-operative hip fracture care. Efforts to improve osteoporosis assessment and management, the multidisciplinary team approach, and clinical pathways are areas that have received attention recently.
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Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is a leading cause of disability in the elderly. Given the anticipated increase in osteoarthritis prevalence, the need to identify risk factors for incident osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis progression, osteoarthritis-associated physical function decline, and disability is an especially high priority. ⋯ Recent studies have identified risk factors associated with progression of the disease including varus-valgus alignment, bone marrow edema lesions, varus thrust, a reduced hip abduction moment, and obesity. Predictors of function decline in osteoarthritis include lower self-efficacy, knee laxity, less aerobic exercise, worse joint proprioception, and greater knee pain.
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There has been a dramatic increase in our understanding of fibromyalgia throughout the past 14 years since the publication of the 1990 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria. Before 1990, and for most of the 20th century, fibromyalgia was considered to be predominantly a muscle disorder; now the critical abnormality is described as "central sensitization." However, central sensitization has to have an initial genesis and nociceptive stimuli from painful foci in muscle are increasingly recognized as being relevant to the development of fibromyalgia. ⋯ However, some clues are emerging from the role of diverse stimuli in activating glial cells and the role of disordered cytokine networks. Some predictions about future developments in fibromyalgia are ventured based on the current state of knowledge.
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Urate is the major inert end product of purine degradation in higher primates in contrast to most other mammals because of the genetic silencing of hepatic oxidative enzyme uricase. The kidney plays a dominant role in urate elimination. The kidney excretes 70% of the daily urate production. ⋯ Recently, we have identified the urate-anion exchanger URAT1 (SLC22A12) in the human kidney and found that defects in SLC22A12 lead to idiopathic renal hypouricemia. URAT1 is targeted by uricosuric and antiuricosuric agents that affect urate excretion. Molecular identification of urate transporting proteins will lead to the new drug development for hyperuricemia.