J Rheumatol
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Review Meta Analysis
Medicinal and injection therapies for mechanical neck disorders: a Cochrane systematic review.
To systematically review randomized trials on medicines and injections used to improve pain, function/disability, and patient satisfaction in adults with mechanical neck disorders (MND) with or without associated headache or radicular findings. ⋯ Intramuscular injection of lidocaine for chronic MND and intravenous injection of methylprednisolone for acute whiplash were effective treatments. There was limited evidence of effectiveness of epidural injection of methylprednisolone and lidocaine for chronic MND with radicular findings. Muscle relaxants and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs have unclear benefits. There was moderate evidence that Botox-A intramuscular injections for chronic MND were not better than saline.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of intraarticular hyaluronic acid for osteoarthritis of the knee.
To assess the efficacy of intraarticular (IA) injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) compared to placebo in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee; and to assess patient satisfaction with treatment relative to placebo, and whether there is a difference between a series of 3 versus 6 consecutive IA injections. ⋯ Intraarticular HA was superior to placebo in improving knee pain and function, with no difference between 3 or 6 consecutive injections for the primary efficacy assessment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A phase I study assessing the safety, clinical response, and pharmacokinetics of an experimental infliximab formulation for subcutaneous or intramuscular administration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
To assess safety, clinical response, and pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous (SC) and intramuscular (IM) doses of an experimental formulation of infliximab [including experimental SC doses following administration of commercially-formulated intravenous (IV) infliximab] in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refractory to methotrexate. ⋯ SC and IM treatment with this experimental infliximab formulation was well tolerated and was associated with a favorable ACR response.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Physician control of needle and syringe during aspiration-injection procedures with the new reciprocating syringe.
To evaluate physician control of needle and syringe during aspiration-injection syringe procedures by comparing the new reciprocating procedure syringe to a traditional conventional syringe. ⋯ The reciprocating syringe reduces procedure time and patient pain and improves operator satisfaction with the procedure syringe. The reciprocating syringe improves physician performance in both the validated quantitative needle-based displacement model and in real aspiration-injection syringe procedures, including arthrocentesis.
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Review Meta Analysis
Is sulfasalazine effective in ankylosing spondylitis? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of sulfasalazine (SSZ) for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). ⋯ Across all patients with AS, SSZ showed some benefit in reducing ESR and easing spinal stiffness, but no evidence of benefit in physical function, pain, spinal mobility, enthesitis, or patient and physician global assessment. Patients at an early stage of disease, with higher level of ESR (or active disease) and peripheral arthritis, might benefit from SSZ.