A surface topography analysis of the curling stone curl mechanism.

The curling motion of the curling stone on ice is well-known: if a small clockwise rotational velocity is imposed to the stone when it is released, in addition to the linear propagation velocity, the stone will curl to the right. A similar curl to the left is obtained by counter-clockwise rotation. This effect is widely used in the game to reach spots behind the already thrown stones, and the rotation also causes the stone to propagate in a more predictable fashion.

Prevalence of vertebral compression fractures and associated factors in children and adolescents with severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: Vertebral fractures occur in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but data on their frequency and causes are scarce. Our cross-sectional study evaluated prevalence of compression fractures and associated factors in a high-risk pediatric population with severe JIA.

Methods: Children and adolescents with a history of treatment-resistant polyarticular-course JIA for ≥ 5 years or systemic arthritis for ≥ 3 years were recruited.

Aggressive combination drug therapy in very early polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (ACUTE-JIA): a multicentre randomised open-label clinical trial.

Objectives: In juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the efficacy of very early disease-modifying drug therapy, synthetic or biological, is not well known. Three alternative strategies were compared for treating recent-onset polyarticular JIA.

Methods: In a 54-week multicentre open-label clinical trial, 60 disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naive patients aged 4-15 years were randomly assigned into three treatment arms.

Intra-articular corticoid injection induces circulating glucocorticoid bioactivity and systemic immune activation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: To study the systemic effects of intra-articular (IA) glucocorticoid (GC) injections in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: The study group comprised 21 JIA patients being treated with IA methylprednisolone [MP (n = 15) or MP plus triamcinolone hexacetonide (THA) (n = 6)] prescribed on clinical indications. The systemic effect of MP was assessed by measuring circulating glucocorticoid bioactivity (GBA) with a recombinant cell transactivation assay 7 and 24 h after the IA injections, and after 2 months.

Iron status during anti-TNF therapy in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Patients with active juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have frequently low haemoglobin (Hgb) due to inflammation and/or iron deficiency. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy on their iron status. Twenty children with JIA were treated with either etanercept (n = 8) or infliximab (n = 12) for 12 months.

Empirical classification of children with JIA: a multidimensional approach to pain and well-being.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between children's arthritis self-efficacy, trait-anxiety, depression, clinical state of the disease (pain, disability, number of somatic complaints and active joints) and age of the child.

Methods: Trait anxiety and depression of JIA patients were measured by standardized scales (STAIC and CDI). For assessing self-efficacy CASE-scale was used.

Drug survival of the first and second course of anti-tumour necrosis factor agents in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives: To evaluate drug survival (continuation rates on drug) of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and predictors for treatment discontinuation.

Methods: A retrospective observational study on JIA patients taking etanercept (n = 105) or infliximab (n = 104) with at least one year follow-up. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank statistics were used to compare treatments and a proportional hazards model to assess risk factors for discontinuation.

Adalimumab in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated chronic anterior uveitis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of adalimumab in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of 20 patients with JIA and chronic uveitis on adalimumab treatment. The ocular inflammation and improvement was assessed according to the Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature criteria.

Effects of infliximab on cytokines, myeloperoxidase, and soluble adhesion molecules in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: Infliximab is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The aim of the present study was to measure circulating levels of inflammatory mediators in patients with JIA during treatment with infliximab.

Methods: Eight patients with active JIA refractory to standard treatments were treated with infliximab (3-4 mg/kg) at weeks 0, 2 and 6 and thereafter at approximately 6-week intervals up to 24 weeks.

Improved factor structure for self-efficacy scales for children with JIA (CASE) and their parents (PASE).

Objective: Self-efficacy is an important factor in helping children to cope with a chronic disease. In order to study it, we have to be able to develop a valid and reliable scale. We validated and further developed the CASE (Children's Arthritis Self-Efficacy) and PASE (Parent's Arthritis Self-Efficacy) scales in a Finnish juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patient and parent population.

Infliximab and etanercept in the treatment of chronic uveitis associated with refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis.

Methods: 24 patients with uveitis taking etanercept and 21 taking infliximab were studied. The endpoint ophthalmological evaluation was at 24 months or at the termination of the first biological agent.

Impact of anti-TNF treatment on growth in severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) treatment on growth and to identify the predictors for the change in growth in severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: Data from 71 JIA patients (43 on etanercept, 28 on infliximab) were reviewed two years before and two years on the anti-TNF treatment. The patients had polyarticular disease course (48 polyarthritis, 19 extended oligoarthritis, two systemic arthritis, and two enthesitis related arthritis).

Biological treatment in rheumatic diseases: results from a longitudinal surveillance: adverse events.

The objective of this study was to assess the long-term safety and tolerability of biologicals in a clinical setting. Data on adverse events (AEs) have been collected over a 5-year period by means of detailed reports sent in to the National Register of Biological Treatment in Finland (ROB-FIN) and validated by information collected by the National Agency for Medicines. Three hundred and eight reports on AEs were filed, concerning a total of 248 patients; this corresponds to 17% of all patients in the ROB-FIN register who started biological treatments.

Classic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in combination with infliximab. The Finnish experience.

To assess the performance of infliximab in a clinical setting, 364 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from the National Register of Biological Treatment in Finland (ROB-FIN) were analysed. Corticosteroid usage and dose diminished (p<0.05 and 0.

Intra-articular steroids in radiologically confirmed tarsal and hip synovitis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: To estimate the value of MRI or US imaging in the diagnosis of synovitis and the response to local steroid therapy in tarsal and hip synovitis.

Methods: 32 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), 19 of them with 22 tarsal and 13 of them with 20 hip synovitis, were followed up for 12 months after intra-articular corticosteroid treatment (IAST). MRI was taken from swollen ankles/feet to target the inflamed area before IAST.

Infliximab or etanercept in the treatment of children with refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis: an open label study.

Objective: To study infliximab and etanercept in the treatment of refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: In a non-randomised, prospective, open label study, 24 patients (mean age 10.2 years, range 3.

Clinical relevance of the risk factors for coronary artery inflammation in Kawasaki disease.

The objective of this study was to determine predictive factors in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) with which we could distinguish the patients with KD who are either at very low risk or at very high risk for coronary artery inflammation (i.e., either patients who do not need intravenous immunoglobulin treatment or patients in whom more aggressive or even experimental therapies should be considered).

A three-stage clinical trial design for rare disorders.

Many clinical trials of uncommon diseases are underpowered because of the difficulty of recruiting adequate numbers of subjects. We propose a clinical trial design with improved statistical power compared to the traditional randomized trial for use in clinical trials of rare diseases. The three-stage clinical trial design consists of an initial randomized placebo-controlled stage, a randomized withdrawal stage for subjects who responded, and a third randomized stage for placebo non-responders who subsequently respond to treatment.

The Finnish version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ).

We report herein the results of the cross-cultural adaptation and validation into the Finnish language of the parent's version of two health related quality of life instruments. The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) is a disease specific health instrument that measures functional ability in daily living activities in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) is a generic health instrument designed to capture the physical and psychosocial well-being of children independently from the underlying disease.