Targeting motivation and self-regulation to increase physical activity among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised controlled trial.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of targeting both the motivation and action phases of behaviour change in a 5-week intervention to increase physical activity (PA) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not meeting current PA recommendations. In a randomised controlled trial, a control group—which received a group-based patient education session led by a physical therapist—was compared to a treatment group which received the education session plus a motivational interview from a physical therapist and two self-regulation coaching sessions from a rheumatology nurse. Outcomes included leisure-time PA, days per week with at least 30 min of moderate-intensity PA, self-efficacy and autonomous motivation (cognitions which predict PA initiation and maintenance), disease activity, functional status, depressive symptoms and fatigue.

Maintenance of physical activity after Internet-based physical activity interventions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To investigate the maintenance of physical activity 12 months after two 1-year Internet-based physical activity interventions in patients with RA.

Methods: This follow-up study was a randomized comparison of an Internet-based individualized training (IT) and a general training (GT) programme in sedentary RA patients. Outcome measures included physical activity (meeting public health recommendations for moderate physical activity, i.

The efficacy of anti-TNF in rheumatoid arthritis, a comparison between randomised controlled trials and clinical practice.

Background: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of antagonists to tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) showed high response percentages in the groups treated with active drugs.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of anti-TNF treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in RCTs and in daily clinical practice, with an emphasis on the efficacy for patients eligible and not eligible for RCTs of anti-TNF treatments.

Methods: First, randomised placebo-controlled trials written in English for etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab for patients with RA were selected by a systematic review.

Long term high intensity exercise and damage of small joints in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of long term high intensity weightbearing exercises on radiological damage of the joints of the hands and feet in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Data of the 281 completers of a 2 year randomised controlled trial comparing the effects of usual care physical therapy (UC) with high intensity weightbearing exercises were analysed for the rate of radiological joint damage (Larsen score) of the hands and feet. Potential determinants of outcome were defined: disease activity, use of drugs, change in physical capacity and in bone mineral density, and attendance rate at exercise sessions.

Evidence for familial aggregation of hand, hip, and spine but not knee osteoarthritis in siblings with multiple joint involvement: the GARP study.

Objective: To evaluate whether familial aggregation of osteoarthritis differs by joint site in a sibling pair study (GARP) of patients with osteoarthritis at multiple sites.

Subjects: White Dutch probands aged 40 to 70 years and their siblings with primary osteoarthritis at multiple sites.

Methods: The diagnosis of knee, hip, and spine osteoarthritis was based on a combination of pain or stiffness on most days of the previous month and osteophytes or joint space narrowing on x ray.

Differences between participants and nonparticipants in an exercise trial for adults with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the generalizability of the results of a randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of long-term, high-intensity exercises in the rheumatoid arthritis patients in training (RAPIT) trial by comparing the characteristics of the participants with the nonparticipants.

Methods: Participants and nonparticipants were mailed questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, reasons not to participate, and attitudes toward intensive exercise.

Results: The questionnaires from 892 (75%) nonparticipants and 299 (97%) participants were collected.

Slowing of bone loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by long-term high-intensity exercise: results of a randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more at risk for the development of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures than are their healthy peers. In this randomized, controlled, multicenter trial, the effectiveness of a 2-year high-intensity weight-bearing exercise program (the Rheumatoid-Arthritis-Patients-In-Training [RAPIT] program) on bone mineral density (BMD) was compared with usual care physical therapy, and the exercise modalities associated with changes in BMD were determined.

Methods: Three hundred nine patients with RA were assigned to an intervention group, either the RAPIT program or usual care physical therapy.

Is a long-term high-intensity exercise program effective and safe in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Results of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: There are insufficient data on the effects of long-term intensive exercise in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We undertook this randomized, controlled, multicenter trial to compare the effectiveness and safety of a 2-year intensive exercise program (Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients In Training [RAPIT]) with those of physical therapy (termed usual care [UC]).

Methods: Three hundred nine RA patients were assigned to either the RAPIT program or UC.

Lack of effect of doxycycline on disease activity and joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A double blind, placebo controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the effects of doxycycline on disease activity and joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A 36 week double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial was conducted. Patients (n = 66) received 50 mg doxycycline or placebo twice a day during 12, 24, or 36 weeks.

Catastrophic manifestation of the antiphospholipid syndrome.

We describe a young woman who displayed the "malignant" variant of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), also known as the "catastrophic APS." Renal insufficiency, retinopathy, cerebral infarcts, bone marrow necrosis, skin ulcers, and nasal septum perforation were the result of widespread thrombotic microangiopathy. She recovered during high intensity anticoagulation.