Validation of the General Health Questionnaire 12 for assessing psychological distress in patients with chronic low back pain.

Background: The General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12) is a short easy-to-use scale to assess psychological distress. The GHQ-12 has not been validated for assessing psychological distress in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP).

Objective: To investigate the psychometric properties of the GHQ-12 in patients with chronic LBP.

Unité Rhumatologique des Affections de la Main (URAM) scale: development and validation of a tool to assess Dupuytren's disease-specific disability.

Objective: To our knowledge, no functional outcome measure has been developed and validated for Dupuytren's disease. We aimed to develop and validate a patient-reported functional outcome measure for Dupuytren's disease.

Methods: Patients with Dupuytren's disease (n = 9) and medical experts (n = 7) provided input and opinions about limiting activities that were difficult to perform because of Dupuytren's disease for item generation.

Effect of a collective educational program for patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective 12-month randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect on health and functional status of an 8-week group-education program for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in addition to usual medical care.

Methods: All consecutive inpatients and outpatients with RA (ACR criteria) were asked to participate in this randomized, prospective, controlled trial. The educational intervention consisted of 8 weekly ambulatory sessions, each lasting 6 hours.

Indications for lowering LDL cholesterol in rheumatoid arthritis: an unrecognized problem.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in whom lowering low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) should be considered in accord with the ATPIII guidelines. The treatment goals are based on the number of risk factors (RF) other than LDL-C. The goal for 0-1 RF is < 160 mg/l, for multiple RF < 130 mg/l, and < 100 mg/l for coronary heart disease (CHD) or CHD risk equivalent (other clinical atherosclerotic diseases and diabetes mellitus).

Which variables best predict change in rheumatoid arthritis therapy in daily clinical practice?

Objective: To determine in clinical practice which clinical status variables for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are most closely associated with a change in disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy.

Methods: A prospective monocenter study was conducted in 204 consecutive patients with RA. Rheumatologists recorded patient characteristics, treatments, and disease activity data [tender and swollen joint count (28), morning stiffness, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain (0-100 mm), patient global assessment and physician global assessment, Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)].

The use of glucosamine therapy in osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine products have been used extensively for the management of pain in osteoarthritis. This paper reviews the most recent clinical and experimental studies regarding its efficacy and safety. Although clinical trials include methodologic flaws and publication bias, glucosamine is likely an effective therapy for the symptomatic management of osteoarthritis.

The use of glucosamine therapy in osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine products have been used extensively for the management of pain in osteoarthritis. This paper reviews the most recent clinical and experimental studies regarding its efficacy and safety. Although clinical trials include methodologic flaws and publication bias, glucosamine is likely an effective therapy for the symptomatic management of osteoarthritis.