International journal of rheumatic diseases
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Comparative Study
Validation of the scleroderma health assessment questionnaire and quality of life in English and Chinese-speaking patients with systemic sclerosis.
To perform cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (S-HAQ) and Systemic Sclerosis Quality of Life scale (SSc-QoL) in English and Chinese-speaking patients with SSc. ⋯ In this pilot study, we provided preliminary evidence to demonstrate the good test-retest reliability and reasonable construct validity of S-HAQ and SSc-QoL for use in English and Chinese-speaking SSc patients. This forms the basis for future studies to assess more extensively their psychometric properties.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Therapeutic ultrasound versus sham ultrasound for the management of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind controlled clinical study.
The aim of this trial was to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of ultrasound (US) therapy on pain, physical function, ambulation activity, disability and psychological status in patients with knee OA. ⋯ US therapy is safe but use of US in addition to conventional physical therapy programs seems to have no further significant effect in people with knee OA.
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Pro-inflammatory cytokines are found to be elevated in patients with anxiety and depression but whether their serum levels are related to anxiety and depression is unknown. We used rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as an inflammatory disease model to explore such relationships. ⋯ Serum IL-17 was elevated in RA patients, especially in those with anxiety. In addition, IL-17 level was independently associated with higher anxiety score.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Diacerein as adjuvant to diclofenac sodium in osteoarthritis knee.
To evaluate clinical effectiveness of diacerein as an adjuvant to diclofenac sodium in treatment of Indian patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) knee. ⋯ Use of diacerein and diclofenac sodium together decreases pain and improves joint function significantly more than diclofenac alone in OA knee.
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Advanced glycation end-products inhibition improves endothelial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis.
Chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction. The objective was to study the efficacy and safety of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) inhibitor (benfotiamine 50 mg + pyridoxamine 50 mg + methylcobalamin 500 μg, Vonder(®) (ACME Lifescience, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, India)) on endothelial function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ Advanced glycation end products inhibitor improves endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory disease activity in RA. In RA, endothelial dysfunction is part of the disease process and is mediated by AGEs-induced inflammation.