[Herpes zoster incidence in persons above 50 years of age].

Introduction: Following the development of herpes zoster vaccines and the potential socio-economic benefits hereof, it is relevant to conduct a study concerning epidemiological aspects of the disease based on a Danish population.

Material And Methods: Structured telephone interviews with 1207 persons above 50 years of age were conducted in order to determine the cumulated incidence proportion of herpes zoster in the age groups 50-66 years, 66-70 years and 71+.

Results: The cumulated incidence proportion of herpes zoster was 8.

Evaluation of GW406381 for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: two randomized, controlled studies.

Context: GW406381 is an investigational, highly selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor that is effective in animal models of central sensitization and of inflammatory pain.

Objective: To examine dose response for efficacy and safety of GW406381 in adults with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

Design: Two randomized, double-blind, placebo- and positive-control studies: Study A, a 6-week nonflare design; Study B, a 12-week flare design.

[The effect of glucosamine sulphate on the blood levels of cholesterol or triglycerides--a clinical study].

Introduction: This study was conducted in order to determine if glucosamine sulphate taken by patients as treatment for chronic joint pain influences the fasting blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

Materials And Methods: A 3 months', post-marketing, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was performed with parallel groups of 66 patients over 40 years of age with joint pain of long duration receiving either recommend dosage (1500 mg per day) of glucosamine sulphate or placebo. The primary outcome measures were cholesterol levels (total cholesterol, LDL (low density lipoprotein)-cholesterol and HDL (high density lipoprotein)-cholesterol) and triglycerides in fasting blood (plasma levels).

Topographic and zonal distribution of tenascin in human articular cartilage from femoral heads: normal versus mild and severe osteoarthritis.

Objective: The extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin (TN) is upregulated in articular cartilage with severe osteoarthritis (OA). This study gives a detailed description of TN expression in areas of articular cartilage from femoral heads with mild OA showing structural lesions and in structurally normal areas of the same femoral heads compared with normal cartilage and cartilage with severe OA.

Methods: Immunohistochemical evaluation was performed on cryosections stained with antibodies against TN.

[Osteoarthritis. Pathogenesis, clinical features and treatment].

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease and one of the most common diseases altogether. Everybody above 60 years of age has pathological features of OA in at least one joint. Loss of articular cartilage is a crucial event in OA.

[Training of back and neck in the year of 2002].

The aim of this review was to determine the relevance of exercise therapy in the total treatment strategy of low back pain (LBP). The review is based on the results of randomised clinical trials, meta-analysis, consensus reports, and medical technology assessments. There is strong evidence for the effectiveness of exercise therapy for subacute and chronic LBP.