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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
2039615 Evaluating the safety and potential use of a weight-bearing exercise, Tai-Chi Chuan, for r 1991 Jun The safety of a traditional Chinese exercise, Tai-Chi Chuan, on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients was evaluated. RA patients, who received 1 h of Tai-Chi Chuan instruction once (n = 20) and twice (n = 15) a week for 10 consecutive wk in two separate studies, showed no deterioration in their clinical disease activities compared with the corresponding controls (n = 11 and 9, respectively). Testing parameters included joint tenderness, joint swelling, time to walk 50 feet, handgrip strength and a written functional assessment. No significant exacerbation of joint symptoms using this weight-bearing form of exercise was observed. Tai-Chi Chuan exercise appears to be safe for RA patients and may serve as an alternative for their exercise therapy and part of their rehabilitation program. Weight-bearing exercises have the potential advantages of stimulating bone growth and strengthening connective tissue, but this effect needs to be documented in long-term studies.
1712506 [Comparative study of the activity of immunoglobulin G and therapeutic preparations of nor 1991 Jan The authors consider that the development of immunopathological reactions in SLE, AIDS depends on the reduction in normal gamma-globulin level in the patient's serum. The sera with anti-DNA, anti-HIV antibodies show a decreased binding of corresponding antigens and decreased concentrations of gamma-globulin with normal features.
1857971 Evidence for the effects of a superantigen in rheumatoid arthritis. 1991 Jul 19 While studying the alpha beta T cell receptor repertoire in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, we found that the frequency of V beta 14+ T cells was significantly higher in the synovial fluid of affected joints than in the peripheral blood. In fact, V beta 14+ T cells were virtually undetectable in the peripheral blood of a majority of these RA patients. beta-chain sequences indicated that one or a few clones dominated the V beta 14+ population in the synovial fluid of individual RA patients, whereas oligoclonality was less marked for other V beta's and for V beta 14 in other types of inflammatory arthritis. These results implicate V beta 14-bearing T cells in the pathology of RA. They also suggest that the etiology of RA may involve initial activation of V beta 14+ T cells by a V beta 14-specific superantigen with subsequent recruitment of a few activated autoreactive v beta 14+ T cell clones to the joints while the majority of other V beta 14+ T cells disappear.
3551621 The efficacy of the ROM Dance Program for adults with rheumatoid arthritis. 1987 Feb This study examined the efficacy of an exercise and relaxation program for adults with rheumatoid arthritis. The program integrates principles of occupational therapy and T'ai-Chi Ch'uan and was expected to be more effective than traditional exercise and rest regimens because of its expressive and pleasurable elements. There were significant differences between 17 experimental and 16 control subjects on two categories of dependent variables after the former group's participation in the experimental program. These dependent variables were range of motion measures and subject self-reports of frequency, enjoyment, and benefits of home exercise and rest routines. Pretest, posttest, and 4-month follow-up data were analyzed. Program participants showed significantly greater upper extremity range of motion 4 months after completing the program although the reported frequency of exercise and rest was greater in the control group. Postprogram reports of enjoyment were significantly higher for experimental than for control subjects. If these initial results are confirmed in further studies, the efficacy of the use of purposeful activity for exercise and rest will be supported. This study also supports the integration of Eastern and Western frames of reference in the treatment of patients with chronic illness.
2096138 Jaccoud's arthritis. 1990 Dec A 16 year old girl with multivalvular heart disease and recurrent episodes of polyarthritis with correctable deformities of hands and feet fitting into that of Jaccoud's arthritis is reported. The condition is rare and often difficult to differentiate from rheumatoid arthritis.
3340904 Temporomandibular joint ankylosis in rheumatoid arthritis. A case report. 1988 Jan 9 Rheumatoid arthritis can result in ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint. The objectives of treatment are to maintain ascending mandibular ramus height, improve joint function and prevent occlusal-facial deformity. These are achieved by the use of a glenoid fossa-condylar total joint replacement prosthesis.
3039594 Radiographic visualisation of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in carriers of HLA-B27. 1987 Jul A group of 11 B27-positive, seropositive patients with rheumatoid arthritis was compared with 11 matched B27-negative seropositive patients. The radiographs of all limb joints, the sacroiliac joints, and the cervical spine were read blindly. Ten patients in each group were radiographed 2-6 times during observation periods of 3-13 years; one patient in each group was only examined once. The prevailing picture of both groups was that of progressive erosive rheumatoid arthritis, although two small differences were found: Erosions of the apophyseal joints of the cervical spine and slight periosteal new bone formation of the shoulder, hip, and knee regions occurred more often in the B27-positive than in the B27-negative group.
2057974 Antiphospholipid antibodies in cerebral ischemia. 1991 Jun In a 2-year prospective study of 146 patients with cerebral ischemia, we compared vascular risk factors for stroke with clinical and laboratory findings, particularly antiphospholipid antibodies. Ten patients (6.8%) were positive for at least one antiphospholipid antibody; one patient had systemic lupus erythematosus, one had rheumatoid arthritis, and the remaining eight fulfilled criteria for the diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid syndrome. These patients were predominantly male, not necessarily young, and 50% of them did not have any other vascular risk factors; there were no significant clinical or paraclinical differences between these patients and those without antiphospholipid antibodies. Outcome in the 10 patients was good, and platelet antiaggregating drugs proved to be useful in preventing further cerebrovascular ischemic events in our patients.
3751350 [Acetylcholine receptor antibody in D-penicillamine therapy]. 1986 May Since 1978 a 63-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis received D-penicillamine (D-PA) in a daily dose of 250-500 mg (mean 300 mg/d). In 1982 the patient complained of diplopia for several days, the ophthalmological and neurological examinations three days later were normal. In July 1983 she developed a myasthenic syndrome, D-PA was stopped and treatment with mestinon was started. At this time anti-acetylcholine-receptor-antibodies (anti-AChR) were detectable in the patient's serum. The examination of sera stored at -80 degrees C since 1978 revealed anti-AChR existing since 1981 -1 1/2 years, however, before the temporary diplopia. Therefore in 13 other patients receiving D-PA for more than one year anti-AChR were examined. In two of these patients anti-AChR were found. The electroneurological tests were (still?) normal. The question arises whether anti-AChR should be measured routinely in patients with D-PA.
3741503 The Face Scale: a brief, nonverbal method for assessing patient mood. 1986 Jul Validity and reliability studies were conducted on the Face Scale, a very brief, pictorial scale of mood which uses a sequence of 20 faces and does not require reading literacy. Correlational and experimental evidence of the Face Scale's construct validity is presented, as well as its test-retest reliability. Recommendations are made for its use as a screening tool and for additional validity studies.
11188587 Combination of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthri 1991 Mar Combinations of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been recently advocated. Efficacy and toxicity data are scant. We conducted a survey of Alabama rheumatologists to determine actual practice patterns regarding combined DMARD treatment for their patients with RA. No differences were found between academic and nonacademic rheumatologists nor between users and nonusers of combination DMARDs in demographics or practice pattern profiles. The majority did report use of combination DMARD treatment, though only in a small proportion of their patients for whom the pyramid approach had failed. The combination most often employed was gold salts and antimalarials. Users, as compared to nonusers, did favor changing the classic pyramid approach for the treatment of RA, but the differences did not reach statistical significance.
2344206 Comparison of long term evolution of adult onset and juvenile onset Still's disease, both 1990 May Still's disease is a clinical entity of unknown origin, which can appear before 15 years of age (juvenile onset Still's disease) or later (adult onset Still's disease). There are few reported data about the long term prognosis of Still's disease and no study compares the long term evolution of adult onset and juvenile onset Still's disease. Eighteen patients fulfilling the American Rheumatism Association criteria for Still's disease were followed up for more than 10 years. Ten (group 1) had juvenile onset Still's disease and eight (group 2) adult onset Still's disease. A comparison of the groups showed no significant differences in the initial systemic manifestations of Still's disease, or in the joint lesions. Both groups had severe sequelae, which appeared between six and 10 years after the initial flare up of Still's disease. Nine patients had articular damage and nine had only arthritis without apparent x ray abnormalities. Nine patients had bilateral hip destruction in less than four years. Of these nine, seven required 13 total hip replacements before the age of 45. In the whole group of 18 patients bilateral involvement of the following joints was also seen: carpus (seven patients), knee (four), tarsus (four), ankle (three); three patients had ankylosis of the cervical spine. The occurrence of amyloidosis (three cases, two deaths) was restricted to group 2. This was the only difference between the groups, as the treatments were identical. It is concluded that the articular prognosis of Still's disease is poor, be it adult onset or juvenile onset, with severe joint destruction in half of the patients.
2879544 Sulfasalazine in rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 1986 Dec Sulfasalazine (SSZ), 3 gm daily, was compared with placebo for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, in a 15-week randomized, parallel, double-blind trial. Joint tenderness and swelling, morning stiffness, grip strength, and pain score all showed significantly more improvement with SSZ than with placebo. Adverse effects, particularly gastrointestinal reactions, led to withdrawal from the study of 28% of the patients who had been receiving SSZ, but these effects were all readily reversible and not life-threatening. These results confirm previous findings that suppression of rheumatoid synovitis may be induced by SSZ, within 2 months after full maintenance doses are reached.
2213774 Lack of significant interaction between low dose methotrexate and ibuprofen or flurbiprofe 1990 Aug Low dose methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Current product recommendations accompanying MTX preparations advise against concurrent usage of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID), and adverse pharmacokinetic interactions have been reported with this combination. Six patients who were receiving MTX were studied with both oral and parenteral MTX, 10-25 mg/dose, without NSAID and with ibuprofen (2400 mg/day) and flurbiprofen (300 mg/day) for 6 weekly doses. Serum MTX levels were obtained at frequent intervals. Serum was separated and MTX analyzed using a radioimmunoassay (RIA). There was no observable interaction between MTX and either ibuprofen or flurbiprofen, with respect to the area under the curve per unit dose, Cmax, Cmax/dose, Tmax, and serum half-life. The pharmacokinetic indices were not significantly influenced by the route of administration.
2686087 Observations with Rabenid in patients with locomotor disease. 1989 By examining 139 patients suffering from locomotor diseases the author could observe the characteristic accompanying diseases as well as high uric acid level in 40 cases. She analyses the current opinions on hyperuricaemia and reports on her observations with uricosuric and antithrombotic coated Rabenid tablet (RG). She found sulfinpyrazone to be effective and valuable in the examined indication field.
3495936 [Physical therapy in inflammatory rheumatic diseases]. 1987 Feb 15 The physiotherapy of inflammatory rheumatic diseases is interpreted at the instance of the clinical pictures of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and progressive sclerodermia. Issuing from the clinical picture in each case the aim of therapy and the application of physiotherapy are described. For practice it is particularly referred to the significance of the temporary phases of the disease with regard to therapeutic purpose and planning of physiotherapy.
3061369 Scintimetric assessment of synovitis activity during treatment with disease modifying anti 1988 Dec In a double blind trial of 36 patients with rheumatoid arthritis a new scintimetric method was applied to three comparable patient groups before and after eight months' treatment with levamisole, penicillamine, or azathioprine. Technetium-99m pyrophosphate scintigraphy of both hands was performed on a gammacamera with a computer attached, immediately after the administration of the tracer. The uptake ratio of each proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and the mid-half of the adjacent proximal phalanx was calculated from the activity counted for one minute. A scintimetric index was expressed as the sum of eight uptake ratios. This index was higher for each of the three patient groups before start of treatment than that for 10 age matched controls. After eight months of treatment the index, the number of PIP joints with clinical signs of synovitis, and the total circumference of the PIP joints decreased in the penicillamine and azathioprine groups. The scintimetric method reliably reflected local synovitis activity and its changes but, like grip strength and PIP circumference, was not a representative measure of the overall activity of the disease.
2903924 Adverse reactions to sulfasalazine: the British experience. 1988 Sep Sulfasalazine has been used for a decade in the United Kingdom for treating rheumatoid arthritis. There is now considerable experience with its adverse reaction profile and the incidence of serious events. In the initial weeks of treatment minor side effects are common, especially upper gastrointestinal problems and nausea. Therapy is thus usually introduced slowly and enteric coated tablets are preferred. In 20-30% of patients treatment is discontinued due to an adverse reaction. Most of such reactions occur within 3 months of starting therapy, are trivial, and are self-limiting after withdrawal of the drug. Potentially more serious adverse reactions include leukopenia, rash, abnormal liver function tests, and dyspnea. These reactions also reverse after treatment is stopped. Side effects leading to drug withdrawal after 1 year of therapy are unusual.
3258750 Augmented interleukin-1 production and HLA-DR expression in the synovium of rheumatoid art 1988 Apr Potent interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity was detected in culture supernatants from synovium, obtained by arthroscopy, from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients but not from non-RA patients. Production of IL-1 by RA synovium correlated well with findings of inflammation on arthroscopy and HLA-DR expression in immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between IL-1 production from RA synovium and joint changes detected on roentgenograms. These findings strongly suggest that IL-1 might play an important role in the joint destruction in RA.
11188590 The impact of Hurricane Hugo and the San Francisco earthquake on a sample of people with r 1991 Jun The health effects of two natural disasters on 32 people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were assessed during the second-year wave of interviews in an ongoing 3-year study. Although the severity of Hurricane Hugo exceeded that of the San Francisco earthquake, no significant differences in health impacts were found. Both groups reported significantly increased ratings of RA activity, pain, and depression compared with ratings during the first year. However, comparison with the rest of the sample (n = 767) showed that increases in disease activity and pain were a general phenomenon but that the increase in depression was unique to the disaster subsample. Physician health status assessments also indicated that those who experienced the disaster were more likely to be classified in later stages of the disease subsequent to the disaster and were more likely to experience flares. These results suggest that people with RA may constitute a special high-risk population for adverse health effects after natural disasters.