Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2013
Discordance between pain and radiographic severity in knee osteoarthritis: findings from quantitative sensory testing of central sensitization.
Radiographic measures of the pathologic changes of knee osteoarthritis (OA) have shown modest associations with clinical pain. We sought to evaluate possible differences in quantitative sensory testing (QST) results and psychosocial distress profiles between knee OA patients with discordant versus congruent clinical pain reports relative to radiographic severity measures. ⋯ The results suggest that central sensitization in knee OA is especially apparent among patients with reports of high levels of clinical pain in the absence of moderate-to-severe radiographic evidence of pathologic changes of knee OA.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Feb 2013
Association of fibromyalgia with altered skeletal muscle characteristics which may contribute to postexertional fatigue in postmenopausal women.
To identify muscle physiologic properties that may contribute to postexertional fatigue and malaise in women with fibromyalgia (FM). ⋯ Peripheral mechanisms, i.e., altered muscle fiber size distribution and decreased capillary density, may contribute to postexertional fatigue in FM. Understanding of these defects in fibromyalgic muscle may provide valuable insight with regard to treatment.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jan 2013
Multicenter StudyDo radiographic disease and pain account for why people with or at high risk of knee osteoarthritis do not meet physical activity guidelines?
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) and pain are assumed to be barriers to meeting physical activity guidelines, but this has not been formally evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportions of people with and those without knee OA and knee pain who meet recommended physical activity levels through walking. ⋯ Disease and pain have little impact on achieving recommended physical activity levels among people with or at high risk of knee OA.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jan 2013
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss): clinical characteristics and long-term followup of the 383 patients enrolled in the French Vasculitis Study Group cohort.
Earlier studies of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss) (EGPA), with limited patient numbers and followup durations, demonstrated that clinical presentation at diagnosis, but not outcome, differed according to antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) status. This study was undertaken to describe the main characteristics of a larger patient cohort and their long-term outcomes. ⋯ The characteristics and long-term outcomes of EGPA patients differ according to their ANCA status. Although EGPA relapses remain frequent, mortality has declined, at least since 1996.