Effectiveness of different cryotherapies on pain and disease activity in active rheumatoid arthritis. A randomised single blinded controlled trial.

Objective: Local cryotherapy is used to relieve pain and inflammation in injuries and inflammatory conditions. Whole-body cryotherapy is an extreme method administered at -110 degrees C for 2 to 3 minutes. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of cryotherapies on pain and inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Association of reduced physical activity and quantitative ultrasound measurements: a 6-year follow-up study of adolescent girls.

Sonographic parameters of the heel were recorded in order to investigate the effects of changes in physical activities among 140 healthy growing peripubertal Caucasian girls. Calcaneal quantitative ultrasound measurements (Hologic Sahara) were recorded at baseline and 2- and 6-year follow-up. Broadband ultrasound attenuation, speed of sound (SOS), and T scores were documented.

Repeatability of a computerized muscle tonometer and the effect of tissue thickness on the estimation of muscle tone.

The aim of the present study was to assess the intrarater repeatability of the computerized muscle tonometer (CMT), which is a computer-driven device designed to measure and register the tone of connective tissues. The second aim was to evaluate the effect of muscle thickness on results and repeatability as well as sensitivity, which was done by comparison to a mechanical hand-held tonometer (HHT). Participants were ten healthy male volunteers.

Functioning and preferences for improvement of health among patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in early adulthood using the WHO ICF model.

Objective: To evaluate functioning and preferences for health among young adult patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and controls. The WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was used as a framework.

Methods: The patient files of a rheumatology hospital were screened to identify patients with juvenile arthritis born 1976 to 1980.

A long-term follow-up of 60 Lord total hip arthroplasties in rheumatic disease: a mean follow-up of 14 years.

The aim of the study was to analyse the survivorship of 60 total hip arthroplasties using the cementless Lord prosthesis in 51 patients with inflammatory joint disease. Patients were operated on between the years 1985 and 1988. The mean follow-up time was 13.

Effects of twelve-month strength training subsequent to twelve-month stretching exercise in treatment of chronic neck pain.

Previously, in a randomized study, we showed that women with chronic neck pain were able to perform intensive training for neck and shoulder muscles and that the increase in strength was accompanied by a reduction in pain and disability. The changes were significantly greater in the training groups compared with controls. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the controls would achieve similar results.

School fitness tests as predictors of adult health-related fitness.

Relationships between adolescent physical fitness and adult health-related fitness were investigated. Forty-five subjects (20 males, 25 females) participated in physical fitness tests in 1976 and again in 2001. The adolescent physical fitness tests were distance running (2,000 m for boys or 1,500 m for girls), 50 m run, pull-ups (boys) or flexed arm hangs (girls), shuttle run, a 30-sec sit-up test, standing broad jump, hand grip-test, and sit-and-reach test.

Polymorphism at position +896 of the toll-like receptor 4 gene interferes with rapid response to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the +896 A-->G substitution of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene, causing the Asp299-->Gly change in the extracellular domain of TLR4, influences treatment response in recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis. 169 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were genotyped from the Finnish Rheumatoid Arthritis Combination Therapy trial, in which they were treated either with only one disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) with or without prednisolone (single group), or with three DMARDs and prednisolone (combination group). Patients homozygotic for the wild-type +896A allele were compared with those having the polymorphic G allele in terms of early clinical response (at 6 months) by the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28).

Increased incidence of hip fractures. A population based-study in Finland.

In Central Finland, the age-specific incidence of hip fractures did not change between the years 1982-1983 and 1992-1993 though the total number of hip fractures increased by 11% due to population aging. The objective of this study was to define the current hip fracture rates and the characteristics of patients with hip fracture. The population at risk consisted of 240,000 persons living in the Central Finland Health Care District.

Effects of neck muscle training in women with chronic neck pain: one-year follow-up study.

Exercises are commonly recommended for chronic neck pain, but evidence-based guidelines do not explain what types of exercise. The aim of this randomized study was to evaluate the rate of change in neck strength following high- and low-intensity neck muscle training and their effects on pain and disability. One hundred eighty women with chronic neck pain were randomized into a high-intensity strength training group (STG), local muscle endurance training group (ETG), or control group (CG).

Prognosis and mortality of polymyositis and dermatomyositis patients.

The objective of this study was to assess the long-term outcome of polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) and the factors predictive of this outcome in a nationwide series in Finland. One hundred and seventy-six patients with PM and 72 patients with DM diagnosed in Finland in 1969-1985 were selected from the national hospital discharge register according to the diagnostic criteria of Bohan and Peter and followed up until death or till the end of August 1995. Gender, age, delay of therapy, serum creatine kinase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, initial dose of corticosteroids and duration of cytostatic therapy were assessed as factors prognostic of death.

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).

Adolescent flexibility, endurance strength, and physical activity as predictors of adult tension neck, low back pain, and knee injury: a 25 year follow up study.

Objective: To examine whether adolescent flexibility, endurance strength, and physical activity can predict the later occurrence of recurrent low back pain, tension neck, or knee injury.

Methods: In 1976, 520 men and 605 women participated in a sit and reach test (flexibility) and a 30 second sit up test (endurance strength). In 1976 and 2001 (aged 37 and 42 years) they completed a questionnaire.

Survival and complications are similar after Swanson and Sutter implant replacement of metacarpophalangeal joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We compared the survival, fracture, and deformation rates of Swanson and Sutter implants in a prospective series of 53 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fifty-eight hands were operated on with 215 silastic implants. The Swanson group comprised 25 hands and 89 implants, and the Sutter group 33 and 126, respectively.

Risk factors for traumatic and non-traumatic lower limb pain among preadolescents: a population-based study of Finnish schoolchildren.

Background: The child's lower limb is the most commonly reported musculoskeletal location with pain and also the most commonly injured site in sports. Some potential risk factors have been studied, but the results are inconsistent. We hypothesized that distinction of traumatic from non-traumatic pain would provide a clearer picture of these factors.

Oral and salivary parameters in patients with rheumatic diseases.

We studied the presence of secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and the composition of saliva, prevalence of oral pathogens, periodontitis, mouth mucosa, and teeth in patients with various rheumatic diseases and in healthy controls. The hypothesis was that different rheumatic diseases might cause differences in oral health characteristics because of the liability of secondary SS in the patients. The study involved 77 patients and 77 age-matched and sex-matched controls.

Turnip rape and oilseed rape are new potential food allergens in children with atopic dermatitis.

Background: When skin prick testing (SPT) young children with atopic dermatitis (AD) for suspected food allergy, we frequently found positive reactions with turnip rape (Brassica rapa) and oilseed rape (Brassica napus). We performed food challenge to examine whether these children react clinically to turnip rape.

Methods: A total of 1887 children were screened with SPTs for sensitization to turnip rape and oilseed rape.

Comparison of Swanson and Sutter metacarpophalangeal arthroplasties in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective and randomized trial.

Purpose: To perform a prospective and randomized comparison of the clinical outcome of patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had Swanson or Sutter implant replacement arthroplasty of the metacarpophalangeal joints.

Methods: There were 45 patients (3 men, 42 women) and 49 hands; a total of 75 Swanson and 99 Sutter implants were inserted. The mean time between surgery and the final follow-up control visit was 58 months (range, 37-80 mo).

Pharmacoeconomic study of patients with chronic inflammatory joint disease before and during infliximab treatment.

Objective: To evaluate medical and work disability costs for patients with chronic inflammatory joint disease during one year before and one year after institution of infliximab treatment in routine clinical practice.

Methods: Starting from 1999, clinical and laboratory variables for patients treated with biological agents for inflammatory rheumatic diseases were systematically recorded at Helsinki University Central Hospital. From this database clinical information was collected on 96 patients in whom infliximab was started during the period 1999 to 2001.

Role of mammography screening as a predictor of survival in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

We examined the effect of population-based screening programme on tumour characteristics by comparing carcinomas diagnosed during the prescreening (N=341) and screening (N=552) periods. We identified screen detected (N=224), interval (N=99) and clinical cancer (N=229) cases. Median tumour size and proportion of axillary lymph node negative cases were 1.

Monetary value of lost productivity over a five year follow up in early rheumatoid arthritis estimated on the basis of official register data on patients' sickness absence and gross income: experience from the FIN-RACo trial.

Objective: To explore the monetary value of rheumatoid arthritis related loss of productivity in patients with early active disease.

Methods: In a prospective cohort substudy of the FIN-RACo Trial, 162 patients with recent onset rheumatoid arthritis, aged 18 to 65 years and available to the workforce, were followed up for five years. Loss of work productivity in euros 2002 was estimated by data on absence for sickness and on income (human capital approach) from official databases.

Peripheral blood phagocyte CD14 and CD11b expression on admission to hospital in relation to mortality among patients with community-acquired infection.

Objective And Design: Prognostic value of markers of systemic inflammation were evaluated in patients admitted to hospital.

Material: The study comprises 327 patients with community- acquired infection verified on admission (n=290) or within 3-day follow-up (n=37).

Methods: On-admission levels of phagocyte CD11b/CD18 and CD14 expression were measured using whole blood flow cytometry.

Effect of long-term neck muscle training on pressure pain threshold: a randomized controlled trial.

Muscle tenderness has been measured in several studies to evaluate effectiveness of treatment methods, but only short-term results have been reported so far. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effects of two different muscle training methods on the pressure pain threshold of neck muscles in women with neck pain. Altogether 180 woman with chronic, non-specific neck pain were randomized into three groups: neck muscle endurance training, neck muscle strength training and control groups.

Circulating soluble interleukin-2 receptor level predicts remission in very early reactive arthritis.

Objectives: To assess the predictive value of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in patients with acute reactive arthritis (ReA).

Methods: The study includes 26 patients with acute ReA who had participated in a prospective population-based cohort study of very early arthritis. The patients had had arthritis of at least one joint with a maximum duration of 3 months.