Evaluation of peripheral neuropathy in lower limbs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its relation to fall risk.

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic disabling systemic disease characterized by joint inflammation, and extra-articular manifestations, including peripheral neuropathy, a condition that can be associated with changes in muscle strength, proprioception and postural balance contributing for the risk of falls. The objective of this study is to analyze the incidence of peripheral neuropathy in patients with RA and its association with the occurrence of falls.

Methods: Patients were assessed by an electroneuromyography (ENMG) exam and by a questionnaire on accidental falls occurrence in the previous 12 months.

Treatment data from the Brazilian fibromyalgia registry (EpiFibro).

Background: EpiFibro (Brazilian Epidemiological Study of Fibromyalgia) was created to study patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Patients were included since 2011 according to the classification criteria for FM of the American College of Rheumatology of 1990 (ACR1990).

Objective: To analyze the therapeutic measures prescribed by Brazilian physicians.

Brazilian recommendations on the safety and effectiveness of the yellow fever vaccination in patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Background: In Brazil, we are facing an alarming epidemic scenario of Yellow fever (YF), which is reaching the most populous areas of the country in unvaccinated people. Vaccination is the only effective tool to prevent YF. In special situations, such as patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (CIMID), undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, as a higher risk of severe adverse events may occur, assessment of the risk-benefit ratio of the yellow fever vaccine (YFV) should be performed on an individual level.

Characterization of falls in adults with established rheumatoid arthritis and associated factors.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis patients may have an increased risk of falls due to changes caused by the disease such as muscle weakness, joint impairment, reduced mobility and postural instability. The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze the occurrence of falls in RA patients and its risk factors.

Methods: A cohort of 86 RA patients were assessed over 1 year for disease activity using the Disease Activity Score (DAS-28), for functionality using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), for the characterization of falls and for the use of medications, and they were subjected to the Berg Balance Scale (Berg), Timed Up and Go (TUG), 6-Minute Walk (6MWT) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) tests.

Hand strength in patients with RA correlates strongly with function but not with activity of disease.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints, especially of the hands. The evaluation of handgrip strength (HS) and pinch strength can be useful to detect reduction in hand function in RA patients. The aim of the study was to compare HS and pinch strength between RA patients (RA Group - RAG) and a non-RA control group (CG) and to relate HS and pinch strength to functional capacity, duration and disease activity in the RAG.

Strengths and weaknesses of the Brazilian regulation on biosimilars: A critical view of the regulatory requirements for biosimilars in Brazil.

Biological products or biopharmaceuticals are medicinal products derived from living systems and manufactured by modern biotechnological methods that differ widely from the traditional synthetic drugs. Monoclonal antibodies are the most rapidly growing type of biologic. They are much larger and more complex molecules with inherent diversity; therefore, different manufacturers cannot produce identical biological products, even with the same type of host expression system and equivalent technologies.

EFFECTS OF VITAMIN C SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE CHRONIC PHASE OF CHAGAS DISEASE.

Introduction: In order to examine the effectiveness of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in combating the oxidative insult caused by Trypanosoma cruzi during the development of the chronic phase of Chagas disease, Swiss mice were infected intraperitoneally with 5.0 × 104 trypomastigotes of T. cruzi QM1strain.

[Quality of life in adults and elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To analyze and compare quality of life (QoL) in adults and elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional quantitative study. The tools include the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36), the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS-28), the Assessment Health Questionnaire (HAQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT).

EpiFibro--a nationwide databank for fibromyalgia syndrome: the initial analysis of 500 women.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is a common painful condition of the musculoskeletal system that is typically accompanied by several symptoms in other systems. In Brazil, the prevalence of FS is estimated at 2.5%.

A Brazilian Portuguese version of the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR): a validation study.

The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) was specifically developed to assess disease severity and functional ability in fibromyalgia patients. In 2009, a revised version of the FIQ was published, the FIQR; this version achieved a better balance among different domains (function, overall impact, symptoms). Here, we present the validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR).

Assessment of different instruments used as outcome measures in patients with fibromyalgia.

Objective: To assess the different measure instruments used for patients with fibromyalgia.

Patients And Methods: This study assessed 60 individuals participating in a clinical trial of cross-sectional cohort comparing the effects of exercises performed in water and on land. The following instruments were used: the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) to assess the impact of the disease; the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to assess quality of life; the Beck Depression Inventory to assess depression; and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain.

Correlations of Egen Klassifikation and Barthel Index scores with pulmonary function parameters in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Purpose: This study investigated the correlations obtained by using the Egen Klassifikation (EK) and Barthel Index (BI) functional scales and respiratory function parameters in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Methods: Spirometry, maximal respiratory pressures, and arterial blood gases were analyzed and graded according to the EK and BI scales in 26 patients. They were classified as high or low risk for introduction of noninvasive ventilation according to the respiratory function.

[Validation of the EK functional motor scale in the Portuguese language].

Objective: To validate a Portuguese version of the EK scale (Egen Klassifikation), that was developed in Denmark for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and spinal muscular atrophy.

Methods: An English version of the EK scale was translated into the Portuguese language as spoken in Brazil. This scale was applied to 26 male patients (mean age = 12.

A randomized controlled trial of deep water running: clinical effectiveness of aquatic exercise to treat fibromyalgia.

Objective: To compare the clinical effectiveness of aerobic exercise in the water with walking/jogging for women with fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: Sixty sedentary women with FM, ages 18-60 years, were randomly assigned to either deep water running (DWR) or land-based exercises (LBE). Patients were trained for 15 weeks at their anaerobic threshold.