[Abdominal obesity--factor contributing to osteoarthrosis of the knee joints].

AIM: To compare clinical picture of osteoarthrosis (OA) in subjects with abdominal obesity (AO), gluteofemoral obesity (GO) and normal body mass (NBM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination including assessment of anthropometric parameters, clinical characteristics of the joints, total cholesterol (TC), C-reactive protein (CRP), ultrasonography of the joints was made in 123 females aged 40-80 years with primary OA. RESULTS: OA characteristics did not differ much in GO and NBM women, while these differences were obvious in AO women who had TC and CRP much higher than NBM women. Also, AO patients had a significantly higher periarticular index, thinner cartilage, thicker synovial membrane. CONCLUSION: Manifestation of clinical OA characteristics depends rather on a phenotypical variant of fat deposition than on overweight.

[Arthrosonography as a method to assess the degenerative and inflammatory components of knee osteoarthrosis].

Ultrasound examination of the knee joints was performed in 254 patients with Kellgren-Lawrence I to III stage osteoarthrosis using Aloha Pro Sound 5500 device (Japan) and Philips Envision device with 7.5 to 12 MHz linear sensors. Bone contours, the height of the cartilage, the degree of the marginal osteophytosis, the structure of periarticular formations--the bursae, the tendons and their vaginas--as well as the presence and the quantity of articular excaudate, the thickness and changes in the synovian membrane, were evaluated. The degree of marginal osteophytosis detected by ultrasonography in manifest osteoarthrosis was in a direct correlation with the radiological picture. A decrease in cartilage height is an ultrasonographic sign of osteoarthrosis, while detailed evaluation of the stage of the degenerative process using ultrasonography should be based upon the revealing and evaluation of osteophytosis. An increase in the thickness of the knee joint synovian membrane by more than 2 mm according to ultrasound examination in case of prolonged secondary synoviitis evidences both the presence of an inflammatory process and the length of the osteoarthritic disease.

[Alflutop in local therapy of shoulder periarthritis].

AIM: To study efficacy of a compound biological preparation alflutop in local therapy of shoulder periarthritis (SP), to compare its efficacy with that of periarticular diprospan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial included 54 patients with SP. Clinical SP forms consisted of subacromial and subdeltoid bursitis (SSB) (42.6%), tendinitis (57.4%). Acute disease was diagnosed in 35.2% patients, chronic one--in 64.8%. Alflutop and diprospan were injected periarticularly. The patients were divided into three groups. Patients of group 1 (n = 15) received alflutop monotherapy (2 ml, 5 injections). Group 2 (n = 24) received a single injection of diprospan (7 mg). Group 3 (n = 15) patients were given combined treatment: a single injection (7 mg) of diprospan followed by alflutop infiltrations (2 mg, 5 injections). The efficacy of the treatment was judged by some score clinical parameters, dynamometrical findings, SDQ score set, thermographic and ultrasonic signs of periarticular inflammation. RESULTS: A course of periarticular alflutop infiltrations in SP demonstrated the same efficacy as a single dose diprospan. However, in acute SP with bursitis diprospan produced a significantly better results while alflutop was better in chronic SP with tendinitis. Diprospan combination with alflutop produced the highest therapeutic effect irrespective of the disease course and clinical SP course. CONCLUSION: Local administration of alflutop in SP as monotherapy alternative to glucocorticosteroids or in combination with diprospan is effective. A differentiated approach allowing for a clinical form and course of SP raises therapeutic efficacy noticeably.

The use of homeopathic preparation Vozraston in the therapy of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We studied clinical and psychosomatic characteristics in 34 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Sixteen patients received Vozraston (without considering the individual sensitivity) in addition to standard therapy. No changes in clinical and psychoemotional parameters were revealed. Vozraston reduced pain syndrome and increased the tone of the sympathetic nervous system.