Arthritis care & research
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Arthritis care & research · Jul 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyDo Short and Sustained Periods of American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Remission Predict Functional and Radiographic Outcome in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients With Low Overall Damage Progression?
To investigate whether remission at single and consecutive visits predicts good outcome in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ Early RA patients who reached remission according to ACR/EULAR and other criteria during short or sustained periods were likely to retain good physical function in the subsequent months. Sustained remission periods were a stronger predictor than remission at single visits. However, in the setting of low overall damage progression, (sustained) remission was not predictive of good radiographic outcome.
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Arthritis care & research · Apr 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTofacitinib in Combination With Conventional Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: Patient-Reported Outcomes From a Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial.
Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We compared patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with RA treated with tofacitinib or placebo in combination with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). ⋯ Patients with active RA treated with tofacitinib combined with background conventional DMARD therapy reported sustained, significant, and clinically meaningful improvements in PROs versus placebo.
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Arthritis care & research · Mar 2017
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyGeneralized Hyperalgesia in Children and Adults Diagnosed With Hypermobility Syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility Type: A Discriminative Analysis.
Lowered pressure-pain thresholds have been demonstrated in adults with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobility type (EDS-HT), but whether these findings are also present in children is unclear. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to determine whether generalized hyperalgesia is present in children with hypermobility syndrome (HMS)/EDS-HT, explore potential differences in pressure-pain thresholds between children and adults with HMS/EDS-HT, and determine the discriminative value of generalized hyperalgesia. ⋯ Children and adults with HMS/EDS-HT are characterized by hypermobility, chronic pain, and generalized hyperalgesia. The presence of generalized hyperalgesia may indicate involvement of the central nervous system in the development of chronic pain.
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Arthritis care & research · Mar 2017
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialPreliminary Outcomes of a Cross-Site Cognitive-Behavioral and Neuromuscular Integrative Training Intervention for Juvenile Fibromyalgia.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in reducing disability among youth with juvenile fibromyalgia (FM); however, engagement in moderate to vigorous physical activity remains poor, even after CBT. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of an innovative program combining CBT with specialized neuromuscular exercise: the Fibromyalgia Integrative Training for Teens (FIT Teens) program. ⋯ Adolescents with juvenile FM reported significant improvements in physical function and reduced fear of movement following the intervention. Improvement in physical function was achieved in a shorter time frame than in a prior trial of CBT without an exercise component. Further work is needed to compare the FIT Teens program with existing approaches and determine whether objective changes in exercise participation are achieved.
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Arthritis care & research · Dec 2016
Multicenter StudyQuantifying Temporomandibular Joint Synovitis in Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) frequently affects the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and is often undetected by history, examination, and plain imaging. Qualitative assessment of gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance images (MRIs) is currently the standard for diagnosis of TMJ synovitis associated with JIA. The purpose of this study is to apply a quantitative analysis of synovial enhancement to MRIs of patients with and without JIA to establish a disease threshold and sensitivity and specificity for the technique. ⋯ Calculating a ratio of pixel intensity between the TMJ synovium and the longus capitis muscle is a reliable way to quantify synovial enhancement. An ER of 1.55 differentiates normal TMJs from those affected by inflammatory arthritis.