Effectiveness and Tolerability of Repeated Courses of Viscosupplementation in Symptomatic Hip Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study of High Molecular Weight Medium Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid No Viscosupplementation.

Nonsurgical management of symptomatic hip osteoarthritis needs real-world evidence. We evaluated the effectiveness and tolerability of US-guided intra-articular treatment of two hyaluronic acids (HAs) commercially available in Italy and investigated predictors of response. Outpatient records including three cohorts: 122 subjects treated with medium (1,500-3,200 kDa; Hyalubrix) molecular weight (MW) or high (hylan G-F20; Synvisc) MW HAs and 20 controls taking NSAIDs/analgesics on demand were retrospectively analyzed.

Levels of chemerin and interleukin 8 in the synovial fluid of patients with inflammatory arthritides and osteoarthritis.

Objectives: Chemerin and interleukin (IL)-8 are pro-inflammatory mediators whose role in joint inflammation and cartilage degradation has been demonstrated in in-vitro findings. Studies on their presence in synovial fluid (SF) samples may offer further information on their pathogenic role. The aim of this study was to investigate SF chemerin and IL-8 levels in patients with different joint diseases.

[Simultaneous ultrasonography and arthroscopy for the study of the joint environment: indications and limits].

Arthroscopy is a mini-invasive technique that allows the direct observation of the joint cavity and the execution of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; arthroscopy needs a very long learning-time curve as well as dedicated spaces and instruments. Ultrasonography is an imaging technique that enables to perform an immediate extension of the standard physical examination. The opportunity to visualize soft tissues, to obtain multiplanar and dynamic images in real time makes this practice easy repeatable at low costs.

[Long-term evaluation of infliximab in the treatment of persistently active juvenile idiopathic arthritis refractory to conventional therapy].

Objectives: To evaluate, in long-term open label prospective study, infliximab as therapeutic choice for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) non responsive to conventional therapy.

Methods: We enrolled to treat with infliximab 78 JIA patients (66 females, 12 males): the mean age was 20.7+/-7.

[Side effects of anti-TNFalpha therapy in juvenile idiopathic arthritis].

Objectives: To report adverse events registered in our population affected by JIA and treated with anti-TNFalpha blockers.

Methods: Ninety-five patients were enrolled to be treated with Etanercept, median age 14 years (range 4-34); median duration of therapy 12 months (range 1-40). 19 patients were also treated with MTX (median dose 12.