Rheumatology international
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Tomography-guided palisade sacroiliac joint radiofrequency neurotomy versus celecoxib for ankylosing spondylitis: a open-label, randomized, and controlled trial.
Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is a common symptom in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Palisade sacroiliac joint radiofrequency neurotomy (PSRN) is a novel treatment for the SIJ pain. In the current clinical trial, we treated AS patients with significant SIJ pain using PSRN under computed tomography guidance and compared the results with the celecoxib treatment. ⋯ Gastrointestional irritation was more frequent in the celecoxib arm than in the PSRN arm (P < 0.05). No severe complications were noted in either arm. PSRN is both efficacious and safe in managing SIJ pain in patients with AS.
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Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain and the presence of specific tender points. The prevalence of FM has been estimated at 2-7 % of the general global population. The presence of FM in several rheumatic diseases with a structural pathology has been reported as 11-30 %. ⋯ Concomitant FM is a common clinical problem in rheumatologic diseases, and its recognition is important for the optimal management of these diseases. Increased pain, physical limitations, and fatigue may be interpreted as increased activity of these diseases, and a common treatment option is the prescription of higher doses of biologic agents or corticosteroids. Considerations of the FM component in the management of rheumatologic diseases increase the likelihood of the success of the treatment.
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To evaluate the performance of Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) with the disease activity score 28 (DAS28) and the clinical/simplified disease activity index (CDAI/SDAI) in a Korean population with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Four hundred patients with RA were consecutively enrolled. All patients completed disease activity indices such as RAPID3, DAS28, SDAI, and CDAI. ⋯ However, approximately 50 % of patients with remission-to-low disease activity in DAS28, CDAI, and SDAI showed remission-to-low disease activity in RAPID3. This study confirms RAPID3 as an informative disease activity index with equivalent values in DAS28, CDAI, and SDAI. RAPID3 reveals differential agreement in patients with lower disease activity.
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The aim of the study is to assess the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in Rheumatology International (RI) by using three types of analytical tools. MEDLINE was used to extract RCTs from original articles published in the RI from 1981 (vol. 1) to 2012 (vol. 32). The relationship between the number of articles and RCTs with time and that between various factors and the quality of RCTs were analyzed. ⋯ The differences in RCT quality scores by each method in the publication years evaluated were not statistically significant, but RCTs that included descriptions of allocation concealment methods had received institutional review board (IRB) approval, and that conducted in the multicenter had significantly higher-quality scores than other studies. In conclusion, although the number of RCTs published in RI since its publishing in 1981 has increased with time, but no qualitative improvement of RCT was observed over time. It is necessary to improve the reporting of concealment of allocation, generation of randomization sequences, design of blinded studies, and obtaining IRB approval, all of which are criteria of high-quality RCTs.
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Comparative Study
Backpack-related musculoskeletal symptoms among Nigerian secondary school students.
Musculoskeletal discomfort in schoolchildren is significantly related to the weight and mode of carrying backpack to school. Prevalence and patterns of musculoskeletal discomfort among Nigerian secondary school students carrying backpack was investigated. Systematic sampling technique was used in the selection of the participating junior secondary schools for this study. ⋯ Prevalence of shoulder pain was high, particularly among the girls, in this sample. We suggest that factors other than the weight of backpack may predispose to musculoskeletal pain. Parents, teachers and clinicians can influence the mode of carrying backpack by secondary school students.