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Introduction Disease monitoring in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be improved by incorporating imaging technologies. Clinical examination fails to detect subclinical inflammation in half of metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJs), but the effectiveness of using ultrasonography (US) in MTPJs is unclear. We aimed to evaluate US assessment of disease activity in the MTPJs using MRI as the reference standard, in comparison to clinical examination. Methods Patients newly diagnosed with RA (ACR criteria) were recruited and assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. A rheumatologist assessed the MTPJs 2-5 bilaterally for swelling and tenderness (presence=1), and for erosion (presence=1), synovial thickening, and power Doppler (PD) by US. Synovial thickening and PD were graded semi-quantitatively (grade 0-3). The most clinically symptomatic foot was scanned using extremity MRI (1.0T) at the baseline and 12-month visits. MTPJs 2-5 were graded semi-quantitatively for synovitis, bone marrow edema (BME) (grade 0-3), and erosions (grade 0-10). Results Forty-one patients were recruited (mean (SD) age=51.9 (10.3) years, 81% female). Kappa agreement was moderate between PD and grade ≥2 synovitis (k=0.46) and BME (k=0.47), but poor agreement was found for clinical examination and synovial thickening. US was able to visualize subclinical inflammation in 41% of non-swollen joints. After 12 months, the average total score for synovial thickening, PD, and BME all significantly decreased, but not swollen or tender joint counts. US visualized few erosions (n=8) compared to MRI (n=101) in the most symptomatic foot. MRI observed erosion repairs in patients treated with DMARDs, and repairs appeared to be preferential for MTPJs that had low inflammation seen by US. Conclusion US appears to better visualize MTPJ inflammation than swollen and tender joint counts, and may be used in combination with clinical examination to improve routine disease monitoring in RA. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Current assessment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) relies on physical examination for joint swelling and tenderness, but these methods often miss underlying inflammation. Ultrasonography (US) may help improve the diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity, but its effectiveness in imaging the feet is unclear. With MRI (another imaging technology) as the standard of reference, we compared the use of physical examination and US in assessing inflammation in the feet, and explored the potential of using US to see damage to bones. In 41 patients with early RA (<2 years of disease), US was able to detect inflammation in many joints that appeared normal, and was better at detecting decreased inflammation over 1 year than physical examination. Although US was limited at assessing early bone damage, it was able to see several large erosions. In conclusion, US can better visualize disease activity than clinical examination and can improve RA assessments.

Bakgrund: ​​Reumatoid artrit (RA) eller ledgångsreumatism är den dominerande artrit sjukdom som drabbar flest vuxna i befolkning, mellan 0.3 - 1% i världen. Orsaken av sjukdomen är okänd men det finns en ärftlighet och miljömässiga faktorer som spelar en stor roll. RA ökar risk för hjärtkärlsjukdomar och osteoporos​ Syfte: ​​Syftet var att beskriva patienters upplevelse att leva med RA.​ Metod: ​​För att besvara litteraturöversiktens syfte gjordes en systematisk ​sökning i två databaser, CINALH Complete och PubMed. Åtta kvalitativa vetenskapliga artiklar inkluderades vars resultat analyserades och tematiserades baserat på likheter och skillnader mellan deltagarnas beskrivningar av erfarenheter av att leva med RA. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i fyra huvudteman: Fysiska upplevelser och begränsningar vid RA, Emotionell påverkan av RA, Sociala konsekvenser av RA, Anpassningsstrategier för att leva med RA. Slutsats: Resultaten visar att personer med RA möter en rad utmaningar såsom fysiska och psykosociala hinder. Symtom som smärta, stelhet, trötthet och funktionsnedsättning påverkar patienternas vardag negativt. För att uppnå en god livskvalitet med RA är det avgörande med stöd från omgivningen, inklusive familj och hälso- och sjukvården. Sjuksköterskans roll är att erbjuda detta stöd genom personcentrerad vård, vilket innebär att stödja patienten och deras närstående med kunskap och resurser för att hantera sjukdomen. Genom att främja patientens egenvård kan sjuksköterskan bidra till att balansera vårdbehov och självständighet. Detta är avgörande för patientens välbefinnande vid RA. / Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the predominant arthritis disease affecting the adult population, estimated to affect between 0.3 - 1% of the world’s population. The cause of the disease is unknown, but both hereditary and environmental factors play a significant role. RA increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis Aim: ​​The aim was to describe patients' experiences of living with RA.​ Method: To address the aim of the literature review, a systematic search was conducted in two databases, CINALH Complete and PubMed. Eight qualitative scientific articles were included, and their results were analysed and thematised based on similarities and differences in participants’ descriptions of living with RA Results: The analysis resulted in four main themes: Physical experiences and limitations with RA, Emotional impact of RA, Social consequences of RA, Adaptation strategies for living with RA. Conclusion: ​​The results show that individuals with RA face a range of challenges such as physical and psychosocial barriers. Symptoms such as pain, stiffness, fatigue, and functional impairment negatively affect patients’ daily lives. To achieve a good quality of life with RA, support from the environment, including family and healthcare, is crucial. The role of the nurse is to provide this support through person-centered care, which involves supporting the patient and their relatives with knowledge and resources to manage the disease. By promoting patient self-care, the nurse can contribute to balancing care needs and independence. This is crucial for the patient’s well-being with RA. ​

Rhinoceroses were an important part of North America’s Paleogene and Neogene ecosystems, with Teleoceras aepysoma being one of the last representatives of this family. Specimens of T. aepysoma from the Gray Fossil Site (GFS) possess distinct/peculiar pathologies: including a pair of fused ribs and ankylosed phalanges. A qualitative description of the pathologies in the GFS T. aepysoma, including new material, was conducted to accurately identify pathologies and make interpretations about the life history of the GFS rhinos. Analysis suggests that rheumatoid arthritis is common in the lower limb bones of GFS rhinos. Additionally, the rib and toe pathologies are more severe than anticipated, with the ribs showing multiple stages of healing indicating repeated trauma, likely being the first direct evidence of agonistic behavior in Teleoceras. This study provides a glimpse of what pathological conditions rhinocerotids may have been vulnerable to through time, as well as a baseline for future studies.

The pain relieving efficacy of music listening combined with vibrotactile cutaneous stimulation was determined. Music with mechanical vibration (30min. session; average amplitude of 26μm; frequency range of 60-600Hz.) was applied to subjects with rheumatoid arthritis using the Music Vibration Table (MVT). Scores from pain relief visual analogue scales (VAS) and McGill Pain Questionnaires (MPQ) were compared to groups with music alone and placebo. ANOVA and post hoc analysis indicated that VAS scores from music with vibration were significantly greater than music alone or placebo. MPQ scores also indicated larger percentages of change in pain perception for the music with vibration condition. However, subjects receiving music alone showed a large percentage of change on the affective dimension of the MPQ. This investigation supports the application of music with a controlled, measurable music vibration for the relief of pain. The results of this study warrant further evaluation and development of treatment protocols using music and music vibration.

Individuals with rheumatic diseases such as Osteoarthritis (OA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) usually are less physically active and engage in low-intensity training. Pain and function impairment lead to reduction in their quality of life. Evidence prove High-Intensity Training (HIT) can positively impact pain and function, however, usually neglected. Assessing the previous research and addressing knowledge gaps in this area can lead to more beneficial intervention to improve the overall quality of life among these populations. HIT is a beneficial and promising approach in most situations to managing symptoms including pain and function in individuals with OA, RA, and axSpA. However, contradictory results arise the need for further meticulous and high-quality studies in this area.

Yes / Exaggerated Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAKSTAT) signalling is key to the pathogenesis of pro-inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases. Mutational activation of JAKs is also responsible for several haematological malignancies, including myeloproliferative neoplasms and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Accumulating evidence links adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)–activated protein kinase (AMPK), an energy sensor and regulator of organismal and cellular metabolism, with the suppression of immune and inflammatory processes. Recent studies have shown that activation of AMPK can limit JAK-STAT-dependent signalling pathways via several mechanisms. These novel findings support AMPK activation as a strategy for management of an array of disorders characterised by hyper-activation of the JAKSTAT pathway. This review discusses the pivotal role of JAK-STAT signalling in a range of disorders and how both established clinically used and novel AMPK activators might be used to treat these conditions. / British Heart Foundation; Diabetes UK; Chief Scientist Office; NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Research Endowment Fund; Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland

Investigar a eficácia da lama negra brasileira como tratamento para inflamação em modelos experimentais de artrite. O efeito antiinflamatório de aplicações de lama foi comparado ao tratamento com água aquecida e ausência de tratamento em modelos experimentais de artrite e osteoartrite induzidas em coelhos e em ratos, visando parâmetros inflamatórios e cartilagem. O tratamento com lama melhorou a infiltração de leucócitos e exerceu um efeito protetor parcial na sinóvia e cartilagem. Nossos resultados sugerem que a lama brasileira apresenta efeito antiinflamatório e pode ser útil como um método complementar ao tratamento de pacientes com doenças articulares crônicas / Investigate the effectiveness of a Brazilian black mud as treatment for inflammation in experimental models of arthritis. Effects of mud applications was compared with warm water and no treatment in experimental models of arthritis and osteoarthritis induced in rabbits and in rats, regarding inflammatory parameters and cartilage. Treatment with mud impaired leukocyte infiltration which was followed by a partial protective effect on synovium and cartilage. Our results show that Brazilian mud presents an anti-inflammatory effect and can be useful as a complementary approach to treat patients with chronicle articular diseases

Eighty-two patients with breast cancer, twenty-seven patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and sixty-five patients with rheumatoid arthritis in this study were selected based on voluntary, randomization and double blind grouping criteria. / In nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, the decrease in percentage and the absolute count of T lymphocytes in the TCM group was significantly lower than those in the placebo group. Besides, the decrease of the absolute count of T helper and T suppressor in the TCM group was significantly lower than that in the placebo group (all p &lt; 0.05). The decrease may be due to radiotherapy. However, there was no significant difference in plasma sIL-2R and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2) between the TCM group and the placebo group. / In rheumatoid arthritis patients, there was no significant difference in plasma. C-reactive protein (CRP), in the percentage, absolute count, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+/NK/B lymphocytes between the TCM group and the placebo group. / Results showed that the absolute count of T helper lymphocytes (CD4+), the ratio of T helper lymphocytes (CD4+)/T suppressor and cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD8+), and the percentage and the absolute count of B lymphocytes were significantly elevated in the patients with breast cancer after taking Yunzhi-Danshen capsules, while plasma soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) concentration was significantly decreased (all p &lt; 0.05). / This study shows that the selected traditional Chinese medicine have determinable immunomodulatory effects in patients with cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat chronic diseases and tumor allegedly by immunomodulatory mechanisms. Breast cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer are prevalent carcinoma diseases in Hong Kong. The immune system of such patients could be adversely affected during the course of conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the joints. The aim of this study was to assess the immunomodulatory effects of TCM Yunzhi-Danshen in auxiliary treatment of both kinds of cancer patients, and Lingzhi (Ganoderma Lucidum)-San Miao San ( Atractylodes lancea, Phellodendron amurense and Achyranthes bidentata B1) in supplementation treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. / by Bao Yixi. / "July 2005." / Adviser: Wai-Kei Lam. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-01, Section: B, page: 0166. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 150-167). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.