RESUMO
Objective: To evaluate serum and synovial fluid levels of osteoprotegerin [OPG] in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA]; to correlate these values with disease activity variables, radiological bone damage, and DEXA results
Methodology: Twenty female RA patients and ten age-matched healthy female subjects were enrolled in this study. Serum and synovial fluid OPG levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bone status was evaluated using dual x-ray absorptiometry [DEXA] and plain X-ray of the affected joints
Results: RA patients had significantly higher levels of serum OPG than controls [p<0.001]. No significant correlation was found between serum OPG and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor and disease duration [p>0.05]. OPG serum levels were positively correlated with age in both groups [p<0.001]. A significant difference in serum OPG level was found between patients with and without erosions [p=0.008]. RA patients had significantly lower BMD values than controls [p< 0.05]. There was a highly significant correlation between serum OPG level and BMD values [p<0.001]. Mean synovial fluid. OPG level was higher than serum OPG level obtained from the same patient, but with no statistical significance [p>0.05]
Conclusion: Bone loss in RA patients is associated with higher serum and synovial fluid levels of OPG than in healthy subjects, which might be the result of a compensatory production of OPG, yet there was lack of compensatory age-related increase of OPG serum levels
RESUMO
Hypothesis: Pulmonary involvement in ankylosing spondylitis [AS] is often asymptomatic and chest radiographs may be insensitive to early changes
Objective: To study the distribution of pulmonary lesions in AS patients with high resolution computed tomography [HRCT] and to correlate findings with disease duration and pulmonary function tests [PFTs]
Methodology: The study was conducted on 18 AS patients. PFTs and HRCT of thorax were performed on same day chest x-ray was taken
Results: 9 patients had interstitial lung abnormalities on HRCT. Only 3 out of 18 patients had abnormal findings on plain chest x-ray. PFTs showed a restrictive process in 4 patients and obstructive pattern in 2 patients
Conclusion: No correlation was found between HRCT abnormalities and either PFTs or disease duration. As HRCT findings did not correlate with PFTs impairments, so this impairment could be a sequel of stiffness of thoracic cage in AS patients
RESUMO
Background: Adequate and intensive rehabilitation is an important requirement for successful total knee arthroplasty. The primary focus of early rehabilitation is ambulation of patients and regaining range of motion in the knee. Although many studies suggested that continuous passive motion should be implemented in the first rehabilitation phase following surgery, others concluded that the use of continuous passive motion was of no added benefit
Objective: The aim of our study was to compare the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs with and without continuous passive motion for range of motion in knee flexion and knee extension, functional ability and length of stay after primary total knee arthroplasty
Methodology: Forty patients suffered from osteoarthritis who underwent unilateral total knee arthroplasty were selected. Immediately after total knee arthroplasty, they were subdivided into two groups. Group 1 of 20 patients who received conventional physical therapy only and group 2 of another 20 patients who received conventional physical therapy with two hours of continuous passive motion applications daily. All subjects were evaluated once before total knee arthroplasty and at discharge. The primary outcome measures was active range of motion in knee flexion at discharge. Active range of motion at knee extension, timed "Up and Go" test results, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire scores, and length of stay were the secondary outcome measures
Results: The characteristics of and outcome measurement for the subjects in the two groups were similar at baseline. No significant difference between the two groups was demonstrated in primary or secondary outcomes at discharge
Conclusion: The results of this study do not support the addition of continuous passive motion application to conventional physical therapy in rehabilitation program after primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty. It did not further reduce knee motion impairments or disability or reduce the length of the hospital stay