Early medication use in new-onset rheumatoid arthritis may delay joint replacement: results of a large population-based study.

Introduction: Use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may prevent joint damage and potentially reduce joint replacement surgeries. We assessed the association between RA drug use and joint replacement in Quebec, Canada.

Methods: A cohort of new-onset RA patients was identified from Quebec's physician billing and hospitalization databases from 2002-2011.

Cross-sectional evaluation of brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation and C-reactive protein in healthy individuals.

Aims: The present study was designed to (a) examine the interrelationship between endothelial function and CRP in healthy individuals and (b) evaluate the relationship of each biomarker towards global Framingham risk scores.

Methods And Results: Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD), CRP, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors were measured in the Firefighters and Their Endothelium (FATE) study, which recruited 1154 male participants (mean age 47.4+/-9.

The fate of endothelial function testing: rationale and design of the Firefighters And Their Endothelium (FATE) study.

Endothelial dysfunction plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of atherosclerotic vascular disease. The endothelium is strategically located between blood and vascular smooth muscle, making it both vulnerable to a variety of injurious stimuli but also available for interrogation as a marker of vascular health. Firefighters And Their Endothelium (FATE) is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study designed to assess the relationship between endothelial function, emerging cardiovascular risk factors and ultimately atherosclerotic vascular disease.