Publications by authors named "Janak Goyal"
Introduction: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), combination treatment with methotrexate (MTX) and adalimumab is more effective than MTX monotherapy. From the patients' perspective, the impact of reduced MTX doses upon initiating adalimumab is not known. The objective was to evaluate the effects of low and high MTX doses in combination with adalimumab initiation on patient-reported outcomes (PROs), in MTX-inadequate responders (MTX-IR) with moderate-to-severe RA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To assess joint disease activity by ultrasound (US) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating treatment with adalimumab (ADA) plus methotrexate (MTX).
Methods: Data for this post hoc analysis originated from the MUSICA trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01185288), which evaluated the efficacy of initiating ADA (40 mg every other week) plus 7.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to set standards for musculoskeletal ultrasound competency focusing on knowledge and skills through testing methods.
- Two groups of rheumatology fellows underwent a standardized training program, followed by written and practical exams for evaluation, with comparison groups including varying skill levels.
- Results showed a majority of fellows passed the exams, and the testing methods were reliable, effective in differentiating competency levels, indicating that most fellows achieved basic competency in musculoskeletal ultrasound.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound objective structured clinical examination: an assessment of the test.
Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken)
January 2014
Objective: To determine the reliability and validity of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) for musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS).
Methods: A 9-station OSCE was administered to 35 rheumatology fellows trained in MSUS and to 3 expert faculty (controls). Participants were unaware of joint health (5 diseased/4 healthy).
Gout is an ancient disease. Last decade has brought about significant advancement in imaging technology and real scientific growth in the understanding of the pathophysiology of gout, leading to the availability of multiple effective noninvasive diagnostic imaging options for gout and treatment options fighting inflammation and controlling urate levels. Despite this, gout is still being sub-optimally treated, often by nonspecialists.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSelf-directed learning of basic musculoskeletal ultrasound among rheumatologists in the United States.
Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken)
February 2010
Objective: Because musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) is highly user dependent, we aimed to establish whether non-mentored learning of MSUS is sufficient to achieve the same level of diagnostic accuracy and scanning reliability as has been achieved by rheumatologists recognized as international experts in MSUS.
Methods: A group of 8 rheumatologists with more experience in MSUS and 8 rheumatologists with less experience in MSUS participated in an MSUS exercise to assess patients with musculoskeletal abnormalities commonly seen in a rheumatology practice. Patients' established diagnoses were obtained from chart review (gout, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and seronegative arthritis).