To update evidence for available therapies in the treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to examine whether research evidence has changed from 31 January 2006 to 31 January 2009.
A ...systematic literature search was undertaken using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, Science Citation Index and the Cochrane Library. The quality of studies was assessed. Effect sizes (ESs) and numbers needed to treat were calculated for efficacy. Relative risks, hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios were estimated for side effects. Publication bias and heterogeneity were examined. Sensitivity analysis was undertaken to compare the evidence pooled in different years and different qualities. Cumulative meta-analysis was used to examine the stability of evidence.
Sixty-four systematic reviews, 266 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 21 new economic evaluations (EEs) were published between 2006 and 2009. Of 51 treatment modalities, new data on efficacy have been published for more than half (26/39, 67%) of those for which research evidence was available in 2006. Among non-pharmacological therapies, ES for pain relief was unchanged for self-management, education, exercise and acupuncture. However, with new evidence the ES for pain relief for weight reduction reached statistical significance, increasing from 0.13 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.12, 0.36 in 2006 to 0.20 (95% CI 0.00, 0.39) in 2009. By contrast, the ES for electromagnetic therapy which was large in 2006 (ES=0.77, 95% CI 0.36, 1.17) was no longer significant (ES=0.16, 95% CI -0.08, 0.39). Among pharmacological therapies, the cumulative evidence for the benefits and harms of oral and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diacerhein and intra-articular (IA) corticosteroid was not greatly changed. The ES for pain relief with acetaminophen diminished numerically, but not significantly, from 0.21 (0.02, 0.41) to 0.14 (0.05, 0.22) and was no longer significant when analysis was restricted to high quality trials (ES=0.10, 95% CI -0.0, 0.23). New evidence for increased risks of hospitalisation due to perforation, peptic ulceration and bleeding with acetaminophen >3g/day have been published (HR=1.20, 95% CI 1.03, 1.40). ES for pain relief from IA hyaluronic acid, glucosamine sulphate, chondroitin sulphate and avocado soybean unsponifiables also diminished and there was greater heterogeneity of outcomes and more evidence of publication bias. Among surgical treatments further negative RCTs of lavage/debridement were published and the pooled results demonstrated that benefits from this modality of therapy were no greater than those obtained from placebo.
Publication of a large amount of new research evidence has resulted in changes in the calculated risk-benefit ratio for some treatments for OA. Regular updating of research evidence can help to guide best clinical practice.
Cerebral blood flow (CBF) in newborn infants is often below levels necessary to sustain brain viability in adults. Controversy exists regarding the effects of such low CBF on subsequent neurologic ...function. We determined the current childhood neurologic status and IQ in 26 subjects who had measurements of CBF performed with PET in the neonatal period between 1983 and 1989 as part of a study of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Follow-up information at ages 4 to 12 years was obtained on all 26 subjects. Ten subjects had died. All 16 survivors underwent clinical neurologic evaluation, and 14 also underwent intelligence testing. Eight had abnormal clinical neurologic evaluations; eight were normal. The mean neonatal CBF in those with abnormal childhood neurologic outcome was significantly higher than in those with normal childhood neurologic outcome (35.64 +/- 11.80 versus 18.26 +/- 8.62 mL 100 g(-1) min(-1), t = 3.36, p = 0.005). A significant negative correlation between neonatal CBF and childhood IQ was demonstrated (Spearman rank correlation r = -0.675, p = 0.008). Higher CBF was associated with lower IQ. The higher CBF in subjects with worse neurologic and intellectual outcome may reflect greater loss of cerebrovascular autoregulation or other vascular regulatory mechanisms due to more severe brain damage.
In 1994, a combined committee of the World Health Organization and the International League of Associations for Rheumatology published recommendations for clinical trials for 2 classes of agents for ...treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) that relieved symptoms but differed in their onset and duration of response, and a third class of agents that may alter the disease process. Recently, the European Group for the Respect of Ethics and Excellence in Science made recommendations for methods to be used in the registration of drugs for OA. Following the 2nd international meeting of the Osteoarthritis Research Society in December 1994, a task force was convened to develop recommendations for the design and conduct of clinical trials in patients with OA. The Task Force had several meetings over the past 16 months, resulting in the preliminary recommendations summarized here.
Low bone mass predicts future fracture risk as well as high cholesterol or high blood pressure can predict the risk of heart disease or stroke. Prevention of the first fracture should be a clinical ...goal. In patients without fractures, osteopenia and osteoporosis can be diagnosed based on the extent of reduction in bone mass below mean peak bone mass of young healthy individuals. As bone mass decreases, fracture risk increases exponentially. Clinical situations in which an assessment of bone mass and fracture risk affects therapeutic decisions include estrogen deficiency, vertebral abnormalities, radiographic osteopenia, asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism, and long-term corticosteroid therapy. Serial measurements can also be used to monitor the effects of osteoporosis treatments. The appropriate technique and skeletal site for bone mass measurements should be chosen based on the patient's circumstances and the precision of measurement. A clinical interpretation can enhance the value of computer generated bone mass measurement reports and improve decision making.
Anastomotic revision/resection procedures were carried out in five patients in whom refractory cholangitis jeopardized an apparently favorable surgical outcome after portoenterostomy for biliary ...atresia. Mobilization and displacement of the liver improves exposure of the porta hepatis. All five patients remain jaundice-free seven months to 4 yr after reoperation.
Clinical criteria for the classification of osteoarthritis (OA) in the knee have been developed and the use of algorithms has been proposed. Criteria for the classification of OA in the hand and hip ...are still being developed.
Osteoarthritis: definitions and criteria Altman, R D; Block, D A; Brandt, K D ...
Annals of the rheumatic diseases,
03/1990, Letnik:
49, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Two pediatric patients presented with long-term respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints after swallowing aluminum poptops. The delay in diagnosis was due in part to poor appreciation of the ...relative radiolucency of aluminum.
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