Methotrexate to treat hand osteoarthritis with synovitis (METHODS): an Australian, multisite, parallel-group, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Hand osteoarthritis is a disabling condition with few effective therapies. Hand osteoarthritis with synovitis is a common inflammatory phenotype associated with pain. We aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of methotrexate at 6 months in participants with hand osteoarthritis and synovitis.

METHODS - A randomised controlled trial of METhotrexate to treat Hand Osteoarthritis with Synovitis: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Hand osteoarthritis is a common and disabling problem without effective therapies. Accumulating evidence suggests the role of local inflammation in causing pain and structural progression in hand osteoarthritis, and hand osteoarthritis with synovitis is a commonly encountered clinical phenotype. Methotrexate is a well-established, low-cost, and effective treatment for inflammatory arthritis with a well-described safety profile.

Effect of low-dose amitriptyline on reducing pain in clinical knee osteoarthritis compared to benztropine: study protocol of a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a major cause of pain and disability. Pain control is poor, with most patients remaining in moderate to severe pain. This may be because central causes of pain, a common contributor to knee pain, are not affected by current treatment strategies.

The bulge sign - a simple physical examination for identifying progressive knee osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objective: To examine whether the presence of bulge sign or patellar tap was associated with frequent knee pain, progression of radiographic OA (ROA) and total knee replacement (TKR).

Methods: This study included 4344 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants examined at baseline for bulge sign and/or patellar tap. The clinical signs were categorized as no (none at baseline and 2 years), resolved (present at baseline only), developed (present at 2 years only) and persistent (present at both time points).

High baseline fat mass, but not lean tissue mass, is associated with high intensity low back pain and disability in community-based adults.

Objectives: Low back pain is the largest contributor to disability worldwide. The role of body composition as a risk factor for back pain remains unclear. Our aim was to examine the relationship between fat mass and fat distribution on back pain intensity and disability using validated tools over 3 years.

Associations of Joint Line Tenderness and Patellofemoral Grind With Long-Term Knee Joint Outcomes: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objective: To examine whether joint line tenderness and patellofemoral grind from physical examination were associated with cartilage volume loss, worsening of radiographic osteoarthritis, and the risk of total knee replacement.

Methods: This study examined 4,353 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants. For each measurement of joint line tenderness and patellofemoral grind, the patterns were defined as no (none at baseline and at 1 year), fluctuating (present at either time point), and persistent (present at both time points).

Knee effusion volume assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and progression of knee osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objective: To examine whether baseline knee joint effusion volume and the change in effusion volume over 1 year are associated with cartilage volume loss, progression of radiographic OA (ROA) over 4 years and risk of total knee replacement over 6 years.

Methods: This study included 4115 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants with knee joint effusion volume quantified by MRI at baseline. The change in effusion volume over 1 year was assessed.

Patients' perceived needs of osteoarthritis health information: A systematic scoping review.

Background: Optimal management of osteoarthritis requires active patient participation. Understanding patients' perceived health information needs is important in order to optimize health service delivery and health outcomes in osteoarthritis. We aimed to review the existing literature regarding patients' perceived health information needs for OA.

Associations between systemic bone mineral density and early knee cartilage changes in middle-aged adults without clinical knee disease: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Osteoarthritis has a high prevalence in people with high bone mineral density (BMD). Nevertheless, whether high systemic BMD predates early structural features of knee osteoarthritis is unclear. This study examined the association between systemic BMD and knee cartilage defect progression and cartilage volume loss in middle-aged people without clinical knee disease.

Patients' perceived health service needs for osteoarthritis (OA) care: a scoping systematic review.

Objective: To identify and synthesise evidence regarding patients' perceived health service needs related to osteoarthritis (OA).

Design: A comprehensive systematic scoping review of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE and CINAHL (1990-2016) was performed to capture information regarding patient perceived health service needs related to OA. Risk of bias and quality of included articles were assessed.

Meniscal extrusion and bone marrow lesions are associated with incident and progressive knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: Whether meniscal extrusion and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are independently associated with the risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA) is unknown.

Methods: Data was extracted from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort. Participants were grouped according to the absence (Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade ≤ 1, n = 2120) or presence (KL ≥ 2, n = 2249) of radiographic OA (ROA).

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease: A case-control study.

Introduction And Objectives: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic fungal infection that affects the immunocompromised. Patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease are increasingly recognised as an at-risk clinical population with a high mortality. This case-control study examined differences in the characteristics and peripheral blood parameters between patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease who developed PJP and gender, age and disease-matched controls.

Lumbar disc degeneration is associated with modic change and high paraspinal fat content - a 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is common, with severe disease increasing the risk for chronic low back pain. This cross-sectional study examined whether disc degeneration is representative of a 'whole-organ' pathology, by examining its association with bone (vertebral endplate) and soft tissue (paraspinal muscle fat) abnormalities.

Methods: Seventy-two community-based individuals unselected for low back pain, had Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder, is associated with an increasing socioeconomic impact owing to the ageing population and mainly affects the diarthrodial joints. Primary OA results from a combination of risk factors, with increasing age and obesity being the most prominent. The concept of the pathophysiology is still evolving, from being viewed as cartilage-limited to a multifactorial disease that affects the whole joint.

Association Between Dietary Intake of Antioxidants and Prevalence of Femoral Head Cartilage Defects and Bone Marrow Lesions in Community-based Adults.

Objective: Although there is evidence for a beneficial effect of dietary antioxidants on knee joint health, the data are sparse for the hip. Our aim was to examine the relationship between dietary antioxidants and early hip structural abnormalities in community-based adults.

Methods: The study included 214 participants without diagnosed hip osteoarthritis (OA) who underwent hip magnetic resonance imaging in 2009-2010.

The natural history of Modic changes in a community-based cohort.

Background: Vertebral endplate (Modic) lesions are gaining interest, with varied phenotypes recognised to have distinct clinical and histological correlates. Nevertheless, the natural history of these lesions is unclear. This study examined the natural history of Modic changes and their potential relationship to the intervertebral disc.

Management options for femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review of symptom and structural outcomes.

Objective: The optimal therapy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the evidence for surgical and non-surgical treatment of FAI on symptom and structural outcomes.

Design: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched electronically.

The Association Between Obesity and Low Back Pain and Disability Is Affected by Mood Disorders: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Study of Men.

Low back pain (LBP) and obesity are major public health problems; however, the relationship between body composition and low back pain in men is unknown. This study aims to examine the association between body composition and LBP and disability in a population-based sample of men, as well as the factors that may affect this relationship. Nine hundred seventy-eight male participants from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study were invited to participate in a follow-up study in 2006.

Shorter Lumbar Paraspinal Fascia Is Associated With High Intensity Low Back Pain and Disability.

Study Design: A cross-sectional, community-based study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between structural features of the thoracolumbar fascia and low back pain and disability.

Summary Of Background Data: The thoracolumbar fascia plays a role in stabilization of the spine by transmitting tension from the spinal and abdominal musculature to the vertebrae.

The interaction between physical activity and amount of baseline knee cartilage.

Objectives: Conflicting reports of the effect of physical activity on knee cartilage may be due to the heterogeneity of populations examined and, in particular, the underlying health of the knee joint. This study examined the influence of recreational and occupational physical activity on cartilage volume loss.

Methods: A total of 250 participants with no significant musculoskeletal disease were recruited.

Modic changes in the lumbar spine and their association with body composition, fat distribution and intervertebral disc height - a 3.0 T-MRI study.

Background: Vertebral endplate (Modic) abnormalities are important structural lesions in the spine, but their association with body composition and fat distribution have not been examined. Moreover, no study has examined whether Modic change are related to other structural features of low back pain, such as reduced intervertebral disc height.

Methods: Seventy-two community-based individuals not selected for low back pain had lumbar vertebral Modic change and intervertebral disc height assessed from MRI.

Statins and tendinopathy: a systematic review.

Objectives: To systematically review the evidence on whether statin therapy, commonly used in clinical practice to treat hypercholesterolaemia for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, contributes to tendinopathy; and to examine causality according to the Bradford Hill criteria.

Study Design: A systematic review of studies examining the relationship between statin therapy and tendinopathy. Included studies were rated based on their methodological quality.