Three out of four working-age patients have fulfilled expectations towards paid employment six months after total hip or knee arthroplasty: a multicentre cohort study
AbstractTo investigate factors associated with fulfilment of expectations towards paid employment after total hip/knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA). Cohort study including preoperatively employed patients aged 18 –64 scheduled for THA/TKA. Expectations were collected preoperatively, and 6 and 12 months postoperatively with the paid employment item of the Hospital-for-Special-Surgery Expectations Surveys (back-to-normal = 1; large improvement = 2; moderate improvement = 3; slight improvement = 4; not applicable = 5). Patients scoring not applicable were excluded. Fulfilment was calculated by subtracting pr...
Source: Rheumatology International - January 18, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
An engineered glove to follow finger function in rheumatoid arthritis: an observational prospective study
AbstractThe engineered Hand Test System (HTS) glove has shown high reliability in assessing the baseline functional status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) hand. Starting from this achievement, the aim of the present observational prospective study was to assess the functionality of the single fingers of rheumatoid hand at follow-up. Eighty RA patients performed HTS glove tests at baseline and among these fifty-six patients were re-tested after 7 months. The HTS glove parameters [Touch Duration (TD), Movement Rate (MR), Inter Tapping Interval (ITI)] were correlated with disease activity and disability clinimetric indexes [Dise...
Source: Rheumatology International - January 18, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Musculoskeletal disorders and pain in agricultural workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
AbstractAgricultural workers constitute two-thirds of the population of Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) and are at increased risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) due to high-risk activities. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesise the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of musculoskeletal pain amongst agricultural workers to identify priority areas for prevention and development of early interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis included Studies published from the inception of global electronic databases until 30 September 2022 were included. Prevalence estimates for ...
Source: Rheumatology International - January 18, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Sex bias in immune response: it is time to include the sex variable in studies of autoimmune rheumatic diseases
AbstractHealthy females and males differ in their immune cell composition and function and females generally mount stronger immune response than males and are much more susceptible to autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Females differ from males in sex hormones, and X-chromosome genes. Sex hormones affect immune cells and responses, and may induce epigenetic DNA changes. The importance of X-chromosome genes is exemplified in men with the Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) who have an additional X-chromosome and develop systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) as frequently as women. X-chromosome contains genes critical for the immune respo...
Source: Rheumatology International - January 18, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Use of prescribed analgesics before and after exercise therapy and patient education in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis
AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate utilisation patterns of prescribed analgesics before, during, and after an exercise therapy and patient education program among patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis. This cohort study is based on data from the nationwide Good Life with osteoarthritis in Denmark (GLA:D®) patient-register linked with national health registries including data on prescribed analgesics. GLA:D® consists of 8 –12 weeks of exercise and patient education. We included 35,549 knee/hip osteoarthritis patients starting the intervention between January 2013 and November 2018. Utilisation patter...
Source: Rheumatology International - January 18, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Diagnostic accuracy of a large language model in rheumatology: comparison of physician and ChatGPT-4
AbstractPre-clinical studies suggest that large language models (i.e., ChatGPT) could be used in the diagnostic process to distinguish inflammatory rheumatic (IRD) from other diseases. We therefore aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ChatGPT-4 in comparison to rheumatologists. For the analysis, the data set of Gr äf et al. (2022) was used. Previous patient assessments were analyzed using ChatGPT-4 and compared to rheumatologists’ assessments. ChatGPT-4 listed the correct diagnosis comparable often to rheumatologists as the top diagnosis 35% vs 39% (p = 0.30); as well as among the top 3 diagnoses, 60% vs 55%, ...
Source: Rheumatology International - January 18, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
The presumed protective effect of IVIG against SARS-CoV-2 in inflammatory myopathy patients remains questionable
(Source: Rheumatology International)
Source: Rheumatology International - January 18, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Prediction of the acceptance of telemedicine among rheumatic patients: a machine learning-powered secondary analysis of German survey data
The objective of the study was to compare 12 ML algorithms for predicting willingness to use TM (TM try) among patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and identify key contributing features. We conducted a secondary analysis of RMD patient data from a German nationwide cross-sectional survey. Twelve ML algorithms, including logistic regression, random forest, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and neural network (deep learning) were tested on a subset of the dataset, with the inclusion of only RMD patients who answered “yes” or “no” to TM try. Nested cross-validation was used for each model. T...
Source: Rheumatology International - January 11, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Validity and reliability of the Duru öz Hand Index in patients with psoriatic arthritis
ConclusionsDespite the occurrence of significant deformities and functional loss in PsA patients, there is a noticeable absence of specific tools tailored for PsA. Considering the intricacies associated with skin, nail, tendon, entheseal involvement, and arthritis, there is a need for straightforward tools in both clinical practice and studies involving patients with PsA. The DHI is a valid and reliable scale to evaluate the functional disability of hands in patients with PsA. (Source: Rheumatology International)
Source: Rheumatology International - January 9, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Potential role of camel, mare milk, and their products in inflammatory rheumatic diseases
This article highlights the therapeutic potential of camel and mare milk and its derived products in treating inflammatory rheumatic disorders, specifically focusing on their anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory capabilities. These alternative types of milk, which do not come from cows, offer potential avenues for investigating innovative strategies to regulate and reduce inflammatory conditions. (Source: Rheumatology International)
Source: Rheumatology International - January 6, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Integrative non-pharmacological care for individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis
AbstractThere is increasing knowledge in the recognition of individuals at risk for progression to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before the clinical manifestation of the disease. This prodromal phase preceding the manifestation of RA may represent a “window of opportunity” for preventive interventions that may transform the clinical approach to this disease. However, limited evidence exists in support of effective interventions to delay the onset or even halt the manifestation of RA. Given the multifactorial nature of RA development and dis ease progression, the latest guidelines for established RA stress the use of integr...
Source: Rheumatology International - January 5, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
Trends in health care of patients with vasculitides, including giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis, ANCA-associated vasculitis and Beh çet’s disease: cross-sectional data of the German National Database 2007–2021
AbstractThe aim of this study is to present the current care situation of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), Takayasu arteritis (TAK), ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and Beh çet’s disease (BD). Trends over the last 15 years will reflect improvements and remaining deficits in the management of vasculitides. Consecutive cross-sectional data from patients with vasculitides from the German National Database (NDB) of the Collaborative Arthritis Centres between 2007 and 2 021 were included. Medication, physician- and patient-reported outcomes on disease activity and disease burden, inpatient stays and occupational p...
Source: Rheumatology International - January 5, 2024 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research
