The Effect of a Skin Barrier Film on the Incidence of Dressing-Related Skin Blisters After Spine Surgery.

Tension blisters from adhesive dressings may lead to pain and delayed surgical wound healing for surgical patients and cause an institutional cost burden. Commercial skin barrier film products may reduce dressing-related postoperative skin blistering in surgical patients. Project investigators at an orthopedic specialty hospital randomized 185 surgical spine patients to receive either a standard wound dressing (ie, control group) or a dressing with the addition of a skin barrier film applied beneath it (eg, treatment group).

Real-World Persistence with Tocilizumab Compared to Other Subcutaneous Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Switching from Another Biologic.

Introduction: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have an inadequate response to or intolerance of their first biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD), guidelines recommend switching to a different biologic class. The objective of this study was to compare persistence with subcutaneous (SC) tocilizumab to persistence with other SC bDMARDs when these drugs are used as subsequent-line therapy in RA patients who previously received ≥ 1 bDMARD.

Methods: RA patients in a US administrative claims database who initiated a second- or subsequent-line SC bDMARD between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2017 (initiation date = index date) were included.

Comparative Cost per Response for 4 Clinical Endpoints with Tocilizumab Monotherapy vs Adalimumab Monotherapy in a Head-to-Head Randomized Double-Blind Superiority Trial (ADACTA) in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Introduction: The cost-effectiveness of different biologic therapies can be an important component in guiding treatment decisions for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to compare drug and adverse event costs and cost per successful clinical response with tocilizumab (TCZ) monotherapy vs adalimumab (ADA) monotherapy in patients with RA in a phase 4 clinical trial.

Methods: Patients received either TCZ intravenously every 4 weeks or ADA subcutaneously every 2 weeks for 24 weeks.

Risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus colonization in a presurgical orthopedic population.

Background: Preoperative colonization with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) increases risk of surgical site infection. Screening for SA followed by skin and nasal decolonization can help to reduce the risk of postoperative infections. Risk factors for colonization are, however, not completely understood.

Delayed ACL Reconstruction in Patients ≥40 Years of Age Is Associated With Increased Risk of Medial Meniscal Injury at 1 Year.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in the pediatric and young adult ACL-deficient knee are often associated with meniscal or chondral injury with delayed time to surgery. The incidence of ACL reconstruction performed in patients aged ≥40 years is rising, and it is unclear if delayed surgery in this cohort similarly affects the health of the meniscus and cartilage.

Purpose: To evaluate whether delayed reconstruction in a cohort of patients aged ≥40 years is associated with an increased risk of meniscal or chondral injury.

Prevalence of radiographic and symptomatic hip osteoarthritis in an urban United States community: the Framingham osteoarthritis study.

Objective: The last prevalence survey encompassing urban populations was part of the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted in the 1970s. The aim of the present study was to perform a prevalence survey of hip osteoarthritis (OA) among individuals in the Framingham Study Community cohort.

Methods: Individuals ages 50 years and older living in Framingham, Massachusetts in 2002-2005 were recruited by random digit dialing, with selection made regardless of whether joint pain or arthritis were reported.

No association between markers of inflammation and osteoarthritis of the hands and knees.

Objective: Local inflammation plays a prominent role in osteoarthritis (OA). This could be reflected in the presence of elevated soluble inflammatory markers. We conducted analyses to assess the association of inflammatory markers with radiographic OA of the hands and knees in a large community-based cohort.

Can health care databases be used to identify incident cases of osteonecrosis?

Introduction: Osteonecrosis (ON) is a rare disease associated with alcohol and glucocorticoid use. Identifying additional risk factors is difficult as the number of cases at any single center is small. We investigated whether data available in large health care databases can be used to identify incident ON cases.

Defining remission in rheumatoid arthritis: results of an initial American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism consensus conference.

Objective: Due to advances in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapies over the last few years, an increasing proportion of patients are able to achieve a state of remission. However, the definition of remission is unclear. Currently, randomized controlled trials around the world use different remission definitions and consequently measure different aspects of a patient's disease state.

Protective effects of NSAIDs on the development of Alzheimer disease.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may protect against Alzheimer disease (AD), but observational studies and trials have offered contradictory results. Prior studies have also been relatively short and small. We examined the effects on AD risk of NSAID use for >5 years and of NSAIDs that suppress formation of A beta (1-42) amyloid in a large health care database.

Classification criteria in rheumatic diseases: a review of methodologic properties.

Objective: To identify classification criteria for the rheumatic diseases and to evaluate their measurement properties and methodologic rigor using current measurement standards.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of published literature and evaluated criteria sets for stated purpose, derivation and validation sample characteristics, methods of criteria generation and reduction, and consideration of validity, and reliability.

Results: We identified 47 classification criteria sets encompassing 13 conditions.

Glucosamine for pain in osteoarthritis: why do trial results differ?

Objective: Investigators in trials of glucosamine report a range of estimates for efficacy, making conclusions difficult. We undertook this study to identify factors that explain heterogeneity in trials of glucosamine.

Methods: We searched for reports of trial results in Ovid Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and proceedings of scientific conferences.