Effects of an ergonomic program on the quality of life and work performance of university staff with physical disabilities: A clinical trial with three-month follow-up.

Background: Problems related to physical disability may have an extremely negative impact in the work environment, reducing productivity and contributing to health problems and a worsening quality of life.

Objective: To assess the effects of an ergonomic intervention program on the quality of life and the work performance of people with physical disabilities working in a university environment.

Methods: A pilot clinical trial with three-month follow-up was conducted at the Physiotherapy Clinic of the Federal University of Paraíba (Brazil).

Effectiveness of two home ergonomic programs in reducing pain and enhancing quality of life in informal caregivers of post-stroke patients: A pilot randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Informal caregivers of post-stroke patients usually undergo high levels of pain and stress and have a reduced quality of life.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of two home ergonomic interventions aimed at reducing pain intensity and perceived stress and enhancing the quality of life in informal caregivers of chronic post-stroke patients.

Methods: A randomized single-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted, with a sample of 33 informal caregivers of patients with stroke.

Influence of exercise on mood in postmenopausal women.

Aim And Objective: To evaluate the influence of an exercise programme on postmenopausal women with symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Background: The menopause is a period of hormonal changes when mood variations are probably more severe than at any other period of women's lives.

Design: Prospective study with control group and pre- and post-treatment measures, after six months treatment.

[The impact of therapy with TNF-blockers on health-related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis patients. A pilot study].

Introduction: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the initial response to 16 weeks of treatment with infliximab and etanercept of disease activity and quality of life in a cohort of 37 patients with established rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients And Method: Patients were selected from the Unit of Rheumatology in Hospital Clínico San Cecilio from Granada, refractory to conventional treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. To assess the disease activity, Disease activity score (DAS28) was used and the measurement of quality of life was evaluated with the Spanish version of the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the RA-specific questionnaire QoL Scale (Quality of Life in Rheumatoid Arthritis).

[Functional level and quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis, pilot study after 16 weeks TNF blocker treatment].

Background And Objectives: The aim of the present study is to assess the impact of infliximab and etanercept, TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor-alpha blockers) on functional disability and quality of life in thirteen patients over 65 years-old with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Patients And Methods: We consecutively included patients over 65 years-old, attending our clinic from Rheumatology Service in Hospital Clínico de Granada. These patients were all refractory to conventional therapy with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD).

Successful use of infliximab in a patient with neuro-Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitic disorder of unknown aetiology characterised by recurrent oral and often genital ulcers, which may be associated with ocular, cutaneous, articular, neurological or vascular involvement. We report a 52-year-old woman diagnosed of neuro-BD who was treated with infliximab with a dramatic response to this treatment.