Monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis: a patient survey on disease insight and possible added value of an innovative inflammation monitoring device.

To enable patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their healthcare professionals to choose the optimal treatment, it is crucial to accurately assess the current state of inflammatory activity. The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the perspective of RA patients on their insight into the current status of their disease, and to (2) investigate the patients' perspective on the possible added value of a monitoring device based on optical spectral transmission-called the HandScan-that measures the location and severity of joint inflammation. A survey was distributed online among patients with RA in the Netherlands.

Behavioural, psychiatric and psychosocial factors associated with aggressive behaviour in adults with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review and narrative analysis.

Background: Aggressive behaviour is prevalent in people with intellectual disabilities. To understand the aetiology, it is important to recognize factors associated with the behaviour.

Method: A systematic review was conducted and included studies published between January 2002 and April 2017 on the association of behavioural, psychiatric and psychosocial factors with aggressive behaviour in adults with intellectual disabilities.

Challenging behaviours: Views and preferences of people with intellectual disabilities.

Background: Challenging behaviour is a common problem among people with ID and in services for people with ID. This paper aims to provide an overview of the views and preferences of people with ID on challenging behaviour.

Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen adults with mild to moderate ID and seven proxies (family or close associates of adults with ID who were unable to communicate and/or with severe or profound ID) in the Netherlands.

Reduced Voluntary Activation During Brief and Sustained Contractions of a Hand Muscle in Secondary-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Background: Secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients have structural cortical damage resulting in increased compensatory cortical activity during (submaximal) performance. However, functional effects of changed cortical output are difficult to measure. The interpolated-twitch technique allows for measurement of voluntary activation (VA) necessary for force production.

Muscle Fatigability During a Sustained Index Finger Abduction and Depression Scores Are Associated With Perceived Fatigue in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

Introduction: Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Self-reported levels of perceived fatigue are associated with both patient characteristics and clinical measures. Pilot analysis indicated that muscle fatigability combined with depression scores was highly associated with perceived fatigue in patients with MS.

Reduced Dual-Task Performance in MS Patients Is Further Decreased by Muscle Fatigue.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be accompanied by motor, cognitive, and sensory impairments. Additionally, MS patients often report fatigue as one of their most debilitating symptoms. It is, therefore, expected that MS patients will have difficulties in performing cognitive-motor dual tasks (DTs), especially in a fatiguing condition.

Increased reaction times and reduced response preparation already starts at middle age.

Generalized slowing characterizes aging and there is some evidence to suggest that this slowing already starts at midlife. This study aims to assess reaction time changes while performing a concurrent low-force and high-force motor task in young and middle-aged subjects. The high-force motor task is designed to induce muscle fatigue and thereby progressively increase the attentional demands.