Osteoartritis

Osteoartritis (OA) is one of the most frequent causes of pain, loss of function and disability in adults. The prevalence of OA is expected to increase substantially in the future. Knee OA is the most common subset of OA. Therapeutic ultrasound (US) is one of several physical therapy modalities suggested for the management of pain and loss of function due to OA. The purpose of our study was to investigate the efficacy of US therapy in reducing pain and functional loss and improving the quality of life in patients with knee OA in comparison to sham US therapy...

Clinical and experimental studies have shown that renal and cardiovascular effects of most selective COX-2 inhibitors (rofecoxib, celecoxib) are similar to other traditional NSAIDs (dual COX inhibitors). In these study the effect of nimesulide--preferential COX-2 inhibitor, administration on 24-hour blood pressure profile was investigated in 40 adult individuals on antihypertensive therapy with pain states caused by osteoartritis. Nimesulide was administered orally, twice a day at the conventional dose of 0...

In recent years, a great number of studies have investigated the possible role of trace elements in the etiology and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoartritis (OA). We studied synovial fluid and plasma concentrations of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) in patients with RA and OA and compared them with sex- and age-matched healthy subjects. Plasma albumin levels were measured as an index of nutritional status. Plasma Se, Cu, and Zn concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and Fe concentrations were determined by the colorimetric method...

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the role of VEGF in cartilage pathophysiology. METHODS: VEGF release from chondrocytes in the presence of IL-1beta, TGFbeta and IL-10 was detected by immunoassay. VEGF receptor -1 and -2 expression and VEGF ability to modulate caspase -3 and cathepsin B expression were detected by immunohistochemistry on cartilage biopsies and cartilage explants. VEGF effects on chondrocyte proliferation was analysed by a fluorescent dye that binds nucleic acids...

OBJECTIVE: To carry out a economic evaluation of diclofenac/misoprostol in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoartritis when comparing with diclofenac alone, diclofenac + omeprazol, and diclofenac + ranitidine. DESIGN: Cost effectiveness analysis using a decision analytic model, where the effectiveness unit was defined as the patient free of gastro-intestinal toxicity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effectiveness data of the four alternatives under evaluation have been obtaining from published clinical trials...