Rheumatoid Arthritis: Miller E

Miller E, Roposch A, Uleryk E, Doria AS. · Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hamilton Health Science, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Room 2SRAD, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada. · Acad Radiol. · Pubmed #19427982 No free full text.

Abstract: RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to systematically review the quality of papers on the clinimetric properties of magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in peripheral joints. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of Medline, EMBASE, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, and the Cochrane Library was performed by using a systematic search strategy. Two independent reviewers evaluated selected articles by using Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) and Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) tools. Items were reported independently for STARD and QUADAS. RESULTS: Eighteen studies (validity, n = 18; reliability, n = 3; responsiveness, n = 3) were included. Their overall quality of reporting of methods was fair. Methodological problems with the STARD system included a lack of reporting of exclusion criteria (n = 14), partial or no information on operators' expertise (n = 14) or blinding (n = 18), and deficient information on study time frames (n = 12), treatments (n = 10), or indeterminate results (n = 18). The distribution of QUADAS scores was heterogeneous, with overall scores ranging between 3.5 (poor) and 16.5 (excellent) (maximum score, 17.5). CONCLUSIONS: The quality of reporting of methods in studies on the magnetic resonance imaging assessment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis is heterogeneous and fair overall. Further methodological refinement of research design should be sought in future studies to provide stronger evidence for the value of novel techniques in clinical settings.

Miller E, Uleryk E, Doria AS. · Department of Radiology, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. · AJR Am J Roentgenol. · Pubmed #19380543 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to semiquantitatively evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for evaluation of synovium and cartilage of peripheral joints in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) according to the levels of evidence and recommendations of the Canadian Task Force on Periodic Health Examination guidelines. CONCLUSION: Articles were screened using MEDLINE, EMBASE, DARE, and the Cochrane Library. Two independent reviewers assessed whether the currently available MRI techniques are accurate for diagnosis of synovial hypertrophy and cartilage degeneration in children with JIA. Overall, there is fair (grade B) strength of evidence that MRI is an accurate diagnostic method for evaluating synovium and cartilage and for assessing clinical responsiveness to treatment in peripheral joints in JIA.

Mrowicka M, Gałecka E, Miller E, Garncarek P. · Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi, Wydział Fizjoterapii, Katedra Chemii i Biochemii Klinicznej, Zakład Chemii i Biochemii Klinicznej. · Pol Merkur Lekarski. · Pubmed #18942334 No free full text.

Abstract: Since now researches claimed that rheumatoid arthritis was not characterized with an inflammatory process due to the lack of vessel in the cartilaginous tissue. Nevertheless, an inflammation of synovial membrane and a reduction of activity of articulation co-exist with rheumatoid arthritis. Recent results have proved that the above disease is connected with an oxidative stress. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this investigation was to estimate changes of nitric oxide (NO) in plasma and malondialdehyd (MDA) concentration in red blood cells of patients suffering from an alloplastic of the hip joint. We also measured how physical activity in a reduced motor activity influences the NO and MDA concentration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) concentration in RBCs was assayed with Placer method, nitrogen concentration in blood plasma was determined using the Griess indirect method. Biochemical tests have been performed on a group of 36 patients with osteoarthritis hospitalised at the Traumatic-Orthopaedic Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration Hospital in Lodz, Poland. A control group included 21 subjects with normal physical activity. RESULTS: The concentration of nitric oxide in plasma of patients that were operated was lower than in a healthy control group. Ten days after the operation it decreased, but after a month it was higher than before the operation. The concentration of MDA in red blood cells was higher before and after the alloplastic than in the healthy control group. Ten days after operation the concentration of MDA was lower about 15.8% but after 30 days it lowered up to about 26.3% in comparison to the concentration before the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are not the same as those shown by other researches which suggest increased production of nitric oxide. Reduction of the motor activity due to degenerative joint disease and alloplastic causes reduction in lipid peroxidation of red blood cells.