Based on the premise that bone mass and bone geometry are related to load history and that subchondral bone may play a role in osteoarthritis (OA), we sought to determine if static and dynamic markers of knee joint loads explain variance in the medial-to-lateral ratio of proximal tibial bone mineral density (BMD) in subjects with mild and moderate medial knee OA. We utilized two surrogate markers of dynamic load, the peak knee adduction moment and the knee adduction angular momentum, the ...

OBJECTIVE: This study tests the hypothesis that the peak external knee adduction moment during gait is increased in a group of ambulatory subjects with knee osteoarthritis (OA) of varying radiographic severity who are being managed with medical therapy. Tibiofemoral knee OA more commonly affects the medial compartment. The external knee adduction moment can be used to assess the load distribution between the medial and lateral compartments of the knee joint. Additionally, this study ...

OBJECTIVE: The LupusPRO, a disease-targeted patient-reported outcome measure, was developed and validated in US patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report the results of the cross-cultural validation study of the English version of the LupusPRO among patients in Canada with SLE.

METHOD: The LupusPRO was administered to English-speaking Canadian patients with SLE. Demographic, clinical, and serological characteristics were obtained, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short ...

Excessive release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) during loading and/or injury of the cartilage matrix may contribute to the onset or progression of osteoarthritis. This pathological role may be related to the ability of bFGF to decrease proteoglycan synthesis and to antagonize the activity of anabolic growth factors in cartilage such as insulin-like growth factor-1 and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7 or OP-1). Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), a catabolic ...

This study tested whether the peak external knee adduction moments during walking in subjects with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were correlated with the mechanical axis of the leg, radiographic measures of OA severity, toe out angle or clinical assessments of pain, stiffness or function. Gait analysis was performed on 62 subjects with knee OA and 49 asymptomatic control subjects (normal subjects). The subjects with OA walked with a greater than normal peak adduction moment during early ...

OBJECTIVE: Subjects with unilateral end-stage hip osteoarthritis (OA) who undergo total hip replacement (THR) preferentially require subsequent replacement of the contralateral knee compared with the ipsilateral knee. We investigated whether this nonrandom, preferential evolution of lower extremity OA from the hip to the contralateral knee joint may be related to asymmetries in dynamic joint loading at the knees, particularly the peak external knee adduction moment, which has been ...

OBJECTIVE: The rate of progressive joint space narrowing in the contralateral hip after total hip arthroplasty (THA) for osteoarthritis (OA) and the factors which may predispose patients to more aggressive joint space narrowing remain undefined. The current study sought to evaluate the rate and pattern of, and risk factors for, progressive joint space narrowing in the contralateral hip after THA for OA.

METHODS: Each patient who underwent THA for OA in 1984-1985 was followed up ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum free light chains (FLC) as a putative biomarker of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity.

METHODS: Seventy-five SLE patients and 41 age- and sex-matched rheumatoid arthritis (RA) controls were enrolled. Disease activity was assessed using the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus: National Assessment version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) definition and physician global assessments for SLE and the Disease ...

Although treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee are often directed at relieving pain, pain may cause patients to alter how they perform activities to decrease the loads on the joints. The knee-adduction moment is a major determinant of the load distribution between the medial and lateral plateaus. Therefore, the interrelationship between pain and the external knee-adduction moment during walking may be especially important for understanding mechanical factors related to the ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the continued efficacy and safety of alendronate (ALN) for up to 2 years in patients receiving glucocorticoids.

METHODS: This is a 12-month extension of a previously completed 1-year trial of daily ALN, performed to evaluate the effects of ALN over a total of 2 years in 66 men and 142 women continuing to receive at least 7.5 mg of prednisone or equivalent daily. All patients received supplemental calcium and vitamin D. The primary end point was the mean percentage ...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship of the radiographic joint space width (JSW) in the hip with age and a variety of physical parameters in a clinically non-arthritic population in order to identify potential age-related changes.

DESIGN: One hundred and eighteen patients (58F/60M, age range 20-79 years) who underwent supine abdominal radiography for non-rheumatological indications and had no hip pain were evaluated. Height, weight and leg lengths were measured. ...

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. (NSAIDs) inhibit both cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 isoenzymes and are effective in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. This 8-week, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to assess the safety profile, tolerability, and effective dose range of once-daily rofecoxib, a COX-2-specific inhibitor, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). After a 3- to 15-day washout of prior NSAID therapy, 658 patients were randomly allocated ...

OBJECTIVE: Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important patient-reported outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We evaluated the psychometric properties of 2 widely used preference-based generic HRQOL measures, EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) and Short Form-6D (SF-6D), among United States patients with SLE.

METHODS: Patients with SLE enrolled at an academic institution were assessed for self-reported generic HRQOL (EQ-5D, Medical Outcomes Study SF-36), disease activity, and disease ...