Chondrocalcinosis of the Knee and the Risk of Osteoarthritis Progression: Data From the Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis Long-term Assessment Cohort.

Objective: To assess the impact of knee chondrocalcinosis (CC) on the 5-year risk of joint replacement and disease progression in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Patients with symptomatic knee OA without previous total joint (knee or hip) replacement (TJR) were recruited from the Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis Long-term Assessment cohort. Cox proportional hazards regression and generalized estimating equation models were used to compare the time from inclusion or OA diagnosis to total knee replacement (TKR) or TJR between patients with and those without knee CC at inclusion.

Body composition and clinical symptoms in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis: Results from the KHOALA cohort.

Objective: To analyze the associations between body composition, notably low lean mass, and clinical symptoms [pain, physical function, quality of life (QoL)] in patients with symptomatic hip and/or knee OA.

Methods: Cross-sectional study using data from the 3-year follow-up visit of the Knee and Hip OsteoArthritis Long-term assessment (KHOALA) cohort. Skeletal muscle and fat mass were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Association between hip morphology and prevalence, clinical severity and progression of hip osteoarthritis over 3 years: The knee and hip osteoarthritis long-term assessment cohort results.

Objective: To assess the effects of variations in hip morphology on prevalence, clinical severity and progression of hip osteoarthritis.

Methods: From 2007 to 2009, we conducted a study of 242 patients aged between 40 and 75 years with symptomatic lower limb osteoarthritis, as part of a population-based osteoarthritis cohort study in France. Standard radiographs of both hips were obtained at baseline and at three years.

Femoro-tibial knee osteoarthritis: One or two X-rays? Results from a population-based study.

Objective: Our objective was to compare the use of both anteroposterior (AP) extended-knee X-ray and semi-flexed X-ray (current gold standard) versus the use of semi-flexed X-ray alone to detect femoro-tibial osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Individuals 40 to 75 years of age with symptomatic hip and/or knee OA (Kellgren/Lawrence [KL] score≥2) were recruited using a multiregional prevalence survey in France. Both AP and schuss X-rays were performed and read; two years later, the same examiner, blinded to the results of the first reading, performed a second reading of the schuss X-ray.

Relationship between hip dysplasia, pain, and osteoarthritis in a cohort of patients with hip symptoms.

Objective: The relationship between acetabular dysplasia (HD) and hip osteoarthritis (OA) remains unclear, especially for mild forms of dysplasia. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of HD in a population-based sample with symptoms and to evaluate potential associations linking HD, hip OA, and hip pain.

Methods: Individuals 40 to 75 years of age with symptoms in 1 or both hips were recruited during a multiregional prevalence survey.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (Forestier-Rotes-Querol disease): what's new?

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), also known as Forestier-Rotes-Querol disease, is characterized by the ossification of the entheses (i.e., enthesopathy).

Randomised, controlled trial of avocado-soybean unsaponifiable (Piascledine) effect on structure modification in hip osteoarthritis: the ERADIAS study.

Objective: To assess the ability of avocado-soybean unsaponifiable-Expanscience (ASU-E) to slow radiographic progression in symptomatic hip osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Prospective, randomised, double blind, parallel group, placebo controlled 3 year trial. Patients with symptomatic (painful ≥1 year, Lequesne Index between 3 and 10) hip OA (American College of Rheumatology criteria) and a minimum joint space width (JSW) of the target hip between 1 and 4 mm on a pelvic radiograph were randomly assigned to 300 mg/day ASU-E or placebo.

Rituximab treatment for spondyloarthritis. A nationwide series: data from the AIR registry of the French Society of Rheumatology.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in several subsets of spondyloarthritis (SpA) using the data of the AIR (Autoimmunity and Rituximab) registry.

Methods: All patients receiving RTX for SpA, and prospectively included in the AIR registry from September 2005 to September 2010, were retrospectively analyzed. The response to treatment was evaluated by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index for axial disease, joint count for peripheral disease, and C-reactive protein reduction.

The KHOALA cohort of knee and hip osteoarthritis in France.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of symptomatic knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) and its course over time, as well as identify prognostic factors of OA course and determinants of costs and access to care in France in a patient cohort.

Methods: Subjects aged 40 to 75 years, with uni- or bilateral symptomatic hip and/or knee OA (ACR criteria), Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) stage 2 or greater, were recruited from a French national prevalence survey for the multicenter KHOALA cohort study. Data collected at baseline included sociodemographic and clinical data; WOMAC, IKS and Harris scores for pain and function; MAQ score for physical activity; functional comorbidity index; GHQ28 score for psychological status; and SF-36 (generic) and OAKHQOL (specific) scores for quality of life.

Reproducibility of radiographic hip measurements in adults.

Introduction: Hip dysplasia may cause pain and premature hip osteoarthritis. Here, our objective was to assess the inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of radiographic hip parameter measurement in adults.

Methods: We used anteroposterior pelvic radiographs and false-profile lateral hip radiographs from 30 individuals (60 hips) enrolled in a prevalence study of hip osteoarthritis.

Efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of refractory inflammatory myopathies in adults: results from the AIR registry.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in patients with refractory idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs).

Methods: RTX efficacy was based on improvement in three criteria: creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level, daily CS dose and physicians' opinion. A decrease in CPK level or CS dose was significant if it was >25%.

Effect of hyaluronic acid in symptomatic hip osteoarthritis: a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a single intraarticular (IA) injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) for the treatment of hip osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial was conducted over 3 months. Patients (older than 30 years) with symptomatic hip OA (pain score of >40 mm on a visual analog scale [VAS]) and a Kellgren/Lawrence grade of 2 or 3 were randomly assigned to receive 1 fluoroscopically guided IA injection of HA (2.

Self-reported prevalence of psoriasis and evaluation of the impact on the natural history of hip osteoarthritis: results of a 10 years follow-up study of 507 patients (ECHODIAH study).

Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess the frequency of self-reported psoriasis in a hip osteoarthritis (OA) cohort, and a secondary objective was to assess the course of hip OA with psoriasis.

Methods: ECHODIAH was a 3-year, randomised double-blind controlled trial evaluating diacerein vs. placebo in hip OA.

Adherence to, and results of, physical therapy programs in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Development of French clinical practice guidelines.

Objective: To develop recommendations regarding adherence to physical therapy programs by patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: We used the method recommended by the French Society for Physical and Rehabilitation Therapy (SOFMER), which combines a systematic literature review, a practice survey, and validation by a multidisciplinary panel of experts.

Results: When setting up exercise programs for patients with lower limb osteoarthritis, measures should be taken to increase effectiveness by optimizing adherence.

Medicoeconomic evaluation of hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis in everyday practice: the MESSAGE study.

Introduction: Medicoeconomic data on treatments for osteoarthritis are scant. We investigated the impact of hyaluronic acid therapy on the cost of management of knee osteoarthritis. Our primary objective was to compare medical costs (admissions, outpatient visits, investigations, and treatments) and non-medical costs (sick leaves and transportation) from the perspective of the national health insurance system during the 3 months before and the 6 months after three intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha and adalimumab differentially regulate CD36 expression in human monocytes.

In chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation acts as an independent cardiovascular risk factor and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFalpha), may decrease this risk. The phagocytosis of oxidized low density lipoproteins (LDLs) accumulated in the subendothelium by mononuclear cells influences atherosclerosis and depends on CD36 expression. We investigated the role of TNFalpha and adalimumab, a human anti-TNFalpha monoclonal antibody widely used in human pathology, in CD36 expression in human monocytes.

A new classification of HLA-DRB1 alleles differentiates predisposing and protective alleles for autoantibody production in rheumatoid arthritis.

The HLA-DRB1 gene was reported to be associated with anticitrullinated protein/peptide autoantibody (ACPA) production in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. A new classification of HLA-DRB1 alleles, reshaping the shared epitope (SE) hypothesis, was recently found relevant in terms of RA susceptibility and structural severity. We investigated the relevance of this new classification of HLA-DRB1 SE+ alleles in terms of rheumatoid factor (RF) and ACPA production in a sample of French RA patients.

Effect of chondroitin sulphate in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of chondroitin sulphate (chondroitin sulphate) in knee osteoarthritis.

Patients And Methods: A 24-week, randomised placebo-controlled trial of chondroitin sulphate (1 g/day) in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis as measured on a visual analogue scale. Pain on daily activities and Lequesne's Index were the primary efficacy criteria.

Systemic vasculitis revealing a benign tumor: a paraneoplastic syndrome?

Systemic vasculitis is a rare event in the course of malignant tumors and has not been described in association with benign tumors. We report a case of renal oncocytoma in a patient who presented with digital necrosis, arthralgia, myalgia, and a decline in general health. The symptoms resolved fully after tumor excision, supporting a diagnosis of paraneoplastic syndrome.

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis pitting oedema after BCG instillation.

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis pitting oedema (RS3PE) is a distinct form of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis like polyarthritis. It is characterized by late onset symmetrical joint involvement and pitting oedema of hands and feet (JAMA 254(19):2763-2767, [1]). Polyarthritis secondary to intravesical Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) therapy has been reported (Clin Rheumatol 21:536-537, [2]).

Reproducibility and sensitivity to change of various methods to measure joint space width in osteoarthritis of the hip: a double reading of three different radiographic views taken with a three-year interval.

Joint space width (JSW) and narrowing (JSN) measurements on radiographs are currently the best way to assess disease severity or progression in hip osteoarthritis, yet we lack data regarding the most accurate and sensitive measurement technique. This study was conducted to determine the optimal radiograph and number of readers for measuring JSW and JSN. Fifty pairs of radiographs taken three years apart were obtained from patients included in a structure modification trial in hip osteoarthritis.

Topical ketoprofen patch.

Although oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective in the treatment of a variety of acute and chronic pain conditions, their use may be associated with serious systemic adverse effects, particularly gastrointestinal disorders. In order to minimise the incidence of systemic events related to such agents, topical NSAIDs have been developed. Topical NSAIDs, applied as gels, creams or sprays, penetrate the skin, subcutaneous fatty tissue and muscle in amounts that are sufficient to exert a therapeutic effect on peripheral and central mechanisms in the absence of high plasma concentrations.