The role of mild systemic heat and physical activity on endothelial function in patients with increased cardiovascular risk: results from a systematic review.

Background/aims: In various animal models the application of systemic heat and physical activity (PA) has induced an up-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Several experts in the field suggest shear stress as the main mechanism. A review was performed to summarize the results from clinical studies investigating the effect of mild systemic heat (MSH) and PA on endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDD) in persons at increased cardiovascular risk.

The future of physical & rehabilitation medicine as a medical specialty in the era of evidence-based medicine.

Ebenbichler G, Kerschan-Schindl K, Brockow T, Resch KL: The future of physical & rehabilitation medicine as a medical specialty in the era of evidence-based medicine.

A pragmatic randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of highly concentrated saline spa water baths followed by UVB compared to UVB only in moderate to severe psoriasis.

Background: There is a lack of sufficiently large randomized trials evaluating the effectiveness of saline spa balneophototherapy compared to ultraviolet B (UVB) only.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate whether highly concentrated saline spa water baths followed by UVB (HC-SSW-UVB) are superior to UVB only in moderate to severe psoriasis.

Methods: One hundred and sixty (160) adults with a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of >10 from 4 German spa centers were randomly allocated to HC-SSW-UVB (local sodium chloride concentration between 25% and 27%) or UVB only 3 a week until remission (PASI < 5) or for a maximum of 6 weeks.

Are the contents of treatment outcomes in fibromyalgia trials represented in the International Classification Of Functioning, Disability, and Health?

Objectives: To identify the concepts contained in treatment outcomes of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for interventions in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) as external reference.

Methods: RCTs between 1992 and 2001 were located in MEDLINE and selected according to predefined eligibility criteria. The outcome measures were extracted and the concepts within the outcome measures were identified and linked to the ICF using a content-analytical approach.

Evaluation of the efficacy of subcutaneous carbon dioxide insufflations for treating acute non specific neck pain in general practice: A sham controlled randomized trial.

Background: Subcutaneous carbon dioxide insufflations are a safe and inexpensive treatment modality in complementary medicine and are used mainly in musculoskeletal pain and vascular conditions. However, no rigorous trial exists on their efficacy.

Aims: To evaluate whether patients with acute non specific neck pain get pain free sooner, if treated with subcutaneous carbon dioxide insufflations compared to sham ultrasound.

Bath PUVA and saltwater baths followed by UV-B phototherapy as treatments for psoriasis: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of psoralens dissolved in a warm-water bath followed by exposure to UV-A irradiation (bath PUVA) or saltwater phototherapy (SW UV-B) compared with tap-water phototherapy (TW UV-B) or UV-B irradiation alone in psoriasis.

Design: Multisite, prospective, randomized, controlled trial with 4 parallel groups.

Setting: Total of 102 dermatologic outpatient clinics.

A randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of mild water-filtered near infrared whole-body hyperthermia as an adjunct to a standard multimodal rehabilitation in the treatment of fibromyalgia.

Objectives: To evaluate whether mild water-filtered near infrared whole-body hyperthermia (NI-WBH) produces an additional benefit when applied as an adjunct to a standard multimodal rehabilitation (MR) compared with MR only in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: One hundred thirty-nine patients of a German inpatient rehabilitation hospital meeting the ACR 1990 criteria for FM were randomly allocated to NI-WBH (heating-up to 38.1 degrees C body core temperature followed by a 15 min heat retention period) and MR or MR only, twice a week over 3 weeks.

Content comparison of low back pain-specific measures based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the content covered by the North American Spine Society Lumbar Spine Outcome Assessment Instrument, the Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire, and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Methods: The linkage of items of the three measures to the ICF involved three steps, which were performed by two different health professionals and in which 10 different linking rules were applied.

Results: In the 48 items of the three instruments, a total of 123 concepts were identified and linked to the ICF.

Cross-cultural adaption of the Manniche questionnaire for German-speaking low back pain patients.

Objective: To develop and validate a cross-cultural version of the Manniche Low Back Pain Rating Scale (MRS) for use in German-speaking low back pain patients.

Background: Clinical intervention research in back pain would be enormously facilitated if a small number of relevant, patient-centred questionnaires became internationally used. MRS seems to be particularly suitable for cross-cultural adaptation due to its coverage of multidimensional back pain-specific health domains.

Identifying the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical trials on stroke using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a reference.

Objectives: To systematically identify and quantify the concepts contained in outcome measures in stroke trials using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a reference.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials between 1992 and 2001 were located in MEDLINE and selected according to predefined criteria. Outcome measures were extracted and concepts contained in the outcome measures were linked to the ICF.

Identifying the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical trials on depressive disorders using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a reference.

Objectives: First, to systematically identify the concepts contained in outcome measures of trials on depressive disorders using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a reference. Secondly, to explore differences in the use of ICF categories across different intervention types. Thirdly, to examine which and how often health status measures have been applied in trials on depressive disorders.

Identifying the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical trials on breast cancer using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a reference.

Objectives: To systematically identify and quantify the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical breast cancer trials using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a reference.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials between 1991 and 2000 were located in MEDLINE and selected according predefined criteria. The outcome measures were extracted and the concepts contained in the outcome measures were linked to the ICF.

Identifying the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical trials on four internal disorders using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a reference.

Objectives: To systematically identify and compare the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical trials on chronic ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and obstructive pulmonary disease, including asthma using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a reference.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials between 1993 and 2003 were located in MEDLINE and selected according predefined criteria. The outcome measures were extracted and the concepts contained in the outcome measures were linked to the ICF.

Identifying the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical trials on musculoskeletal disorders and chronic widespread pain using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a reference.

Objectives: To systematically identify and compare the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical trials on low back pain, chronic widespread pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a reference.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials carried out between 1991 and 2000 were identified using MEDLINE and selected according predefined criteria. The outcome measures were extracted and the concepts contained in the outcome measures were linked to the ICF.

Linking health-status measurements to the international classification of functioning, disability and health.

With the approval of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health by the World Health Assembly in May 2001, the concurrent use of both health-status measures and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health is expected. It is therefore important to understand the relationship between these two concepts. The objective of this paper is to provide a systematic and standardized approach when linking health-status measures to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.