Evaluation of efficacy and safety of diacerein in knee osteoarthritis in Chinese patients / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of diacerein in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 223 patients satisfying the American College of Rheumatology criteria for knee OA were chosen for this 17-week, randomized, double-dummy, diclofenac sodium-controlled trial, with diacerein dosage of 100 mg/d and diclofenac sodium of 75mg/d. Efficacy and safety of both drugs were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 106 patients in the diacerein group and 107 patients in the diclofenac group were considered qualified for the evaluation. After 12 weeks of treatment, the total effective rates of patients/physicians' overall assessment in diacerein and diclofenac groups were 65.4%/61.6% and 61.2%/61.2%, respectively (P > 0.05). The primary efficacy parameter [visual analog scale (VAS) assessment of pain on 20 metres walking] and the secondary efficacy parameters [tenderness on palpation, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and 36-item Short-Form (SF-36) Health Survey] significantly improved compared with baseline in both groups (P < 0.05). In the follow-up period, there were no obvious changes in above parameters in diacerein group. However, in diclofenac group, pain on 20 metres walking, tenderness on palpation, and WOMAC became aggravated after withdrawing the drug for 4 weeks (P < 0.05). Moreover, the consumption of paracetamol was significantly lower in diacerein group than in diclofenac group during follow-up (P < 0. 001). The incidences of related adverse events were 35.7% in diacerein and 45.1% in diclofenac group, respectively. Mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal disorders were the most frequent adverse events.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Diacerein is as effective as diclofenac sodium in treating patients with knee OA. Furthermore, it has better extended effect and a good safety profile. It is generally well tolerated and has no severe adverse effect.</p>

Clinical research of correlation between osteonecrosis and steroid / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between the dosage of corticosteroid, time of onset and incidence of osteonecrosis (ON) in patients with SARS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From July 2003 to January 2004, general survey carried out for ON in 551 patients with SARS. Five hundred and fifty-one patients except 12 were administrated by corticosteroid from 80 mg to 30 000 mg. The age of patients was (33 +/- 9) years old ranging from 19 to 59 years old. One hundred and thirty-one were male, and four hundred and twenty were female. MRI and X-ray film were taken in all patients including both hips, knees, shoulders, ankles and wrists. CT scan was taken in partial patients. Common classification system were used for staging of hip (ARCO), knee (Lotka) and shoulder (Cruess). Independent test, rank-sum test and multiple factor logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No osteonecrosis was detected in 12 patients without corticosteroid. Osteonecrosis was detected in 176 patients (32.7 percent) among 539 patients. There were ON of femoral head in 130 cases (210 hips), ON of knee in 98 cases (130 knees), ON of humeral head in 21 cases (36 shoulders), ON of talus and calcaneus in 16 cases (26 ankles), ON of scaphoid and lunate in 11 cases (17 wrists), ON of patella in 3 cases (4 patella), ON of ilium in 1 case and bone infarction (femur, tibia) in 18 cases. One hundred and nineteen cases (195 hips) with ONFH were in stage I (IA 45 hips, IB 77 hips, IC 73 hips). Eleven cases (15 hips) were in stage II. All osteonecrosis of the knee and humoral head was stage I. Thirty-four patients with ON had one joint affected, 45 patients had 2 joints, 93 patients had more than 3 joints. The dosage of corticosteroid was (5842 +/- 4988) mg in ON group and (2719 +/- 2571) mg in non-ON group (P < 0.0001). The duration of steroid was (38 +/- 17) d in ON group and (27 +/- 15) d in non-ON group (P < 0.01). The dosage of pulse treatment was (340 +/- 207) mg/d in ON group and (211 +/- 160) mg/d in non-ON group (P < 0.01). The duration of pulse treatment was (28 +/- 13) d in ON group and (18 +/- 11) d in non-ON group (P < 0.01). All patients with ON were detected within 6 months from administration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>About one-third patients with SARS who were treated with a high dose of corticosteroid occurred osteonecrosis. ON is frequently multiple focuses. The actual time of onset of ON is early of steroid used. MRI is golden standard for early diagnosis of ON. The patients who were treated with a high dose of corticosteroid should be inspected initially by MRI.</p>

Acetabular retroversion in hip dysplasia / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the occurrence and radiograph features of the acetabular retroversion in hip dysplasia, and to evaluate the effects on the retroversion by the traditional maneuvers in the periacetabular osteotomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bernese periacetabular osteotomy was performed to 45 continuous dysplastic hips (43 patients) from December 2001 to November 2003. There were 37 female (39 hips) and 6 male (6 hips), average age was 28.9 (range, 15-45). The diagnosis of acetabular retroversion was based on the "cross-over" and "posterior wall" signs on the standard radiographs of the patients pre- or postoperatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among total 45 hips, the "cross-over" sign was positive in 8 hips, whereas including the "posterior wall" sign positive in 5 hips. The occurrence of retroversion was 17.8%. And the cross-over points were located within the superior 1/3 of the acetabulums in all cases. After the osteotomy, all the cross-over points moved to the inferior 1/3 of the acetabulums, and the "posterior wall" sign was seen in all 8 cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Approximately one sixth of the patients with acetabular dysplasia have retroversion in which the superior 1/3 of the acetabulum faces posterolaterally. The retroversion can be identified with the standard AP pelvic radiographs. With the traditional maneuvers in periacetabular osteotomy, the retroversion will be aggravated in these patients.</p>