Effect of topical capsaicin in the therapy of painful osteoarthritis of the hands.

Topical capsaicin 0.075% was evaluated for the treatment of the painful joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) in a 4 week double blind, placebo controlled randomized trial. Twenty-one patients were selected, all of whom had either RA (n = 7) or OA (n = 14) with painful involvement of the hands. Assessments of pain (visual analog scale), functional capacity, morning stiffness, grip strength, joint swelling and tenderness (dolorimeter) were performed before randomization. Treatment was applied to each painful hand joint 4 times daily with reassessment at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after entry. One subject did not complete the study. Capsaicin reduced tenderness (p less than 0.02) and pain (p less than 0.02) associated with OA, but not RA as compared with placebo. A local burning sensation was the only adverse effect noted. These findings suggest that topical capsaicin is a safe and potentially useful drug for the treatment of painful OA of the hands.     

Periodic breathing during sleep in patients affected by fibromyalgia syndrome.

Seventeen patients affected by fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) (16 females and one male) and 17 matched healthy subjects underwent formal polysomnography, a sleep questionnaire and lung function tests. FMS patients slept significantly less efficiently than the healthy controls (p<0.01), had a higher proportion of stage 1 sleep (mean+/-SD, 21+/-6% versus 11+/-4%; p<0.001), less slow wave sleep (p<0.01) and twice as many arousals per hour of sleep (p<0.001). The respiratory pattern of FMS patients showed a high occurrence of periodic breathing (PB) (15+/-8% of total sleep time) in 15/17 patients, versus 2/17 control subjects. The short length of apnoeas and hypopnoeas did not affect the apnoea/hypopnoea index (5.1+/-3.5 versus 3.2+/-1.6; NS), but FMS patients had a greater number of desaturations per hour of sleep (8+/-5 versus 3+/-3; p<0.01). Pulmonary volumes did not differ between the two groups, but FMS patients had a lower transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide (TL,CO (5.8+1 versus 7.7+1 mmol x min(-1) x kPa(-1); p=0.001). PB occurrence correlated with TL,CO (r=-0.62; p=0.01), number of desaturations (r=0.76, p=0.001) and carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood (Pa,CO2) (r=-0.50; p=0.05). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed desaturation frequency (p=0.0001) and TL,CO (p=0.029) to be the best predictors of PB percentage (R2 0.73; p=0.0001). Patients complaining of daytime hypersomnolence had a higher number of tender points, about twice as many arousals per hour and a lower sleep efficiency than patients who did not report this symptom. TL,CO was more impaired and the occurrence of PB was higher. The occurrence of periodic breathing in fibromyalgia syndrome patients, which was previously unreported, and is shown to be linked to a reduction of transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide could play a major role in the symptoms of poor sleep of these patients.     

Sensory testing and topical capsaicin can characterize patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical Rheumatology - Our study aimed at examining the long-time inflammatory effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as chronic immune-mediated disease on pain sensation and neuropathy development...     

Long-term efficacy of therapy in patients with fibromyalgia: a physical exercise-based program and a cognitive-behavioral approach

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the long-term efficacy of 2 interventions for female fibromyalgia (FM) patients: 1) cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and 2) a physical exercise (PE)-based strategy. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, long-term, randomized, parallel clinical trial. The outcome variables are physical activity, aerobic capacity, and results of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Short Form 36, Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventory, Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, and Chronic Pain Coping Inventory. All were measured at baseline, posttreatment, 6 months, and 1 year. The duration of both treatments was 8 weeks. RESULTS: Some items of the FIQ and some strategies to cope with pain improved significantly in both groups after treatment. All variables measuring functional capacity improved significantly in the PE group, whereas only physical activity of the vertebral column improved in the CBT group. There were no differences in anxiety, depression, and self efficacy after treatment in either group. After 1 year of followup, most of the parameters had returned to baseline values in both groups. However, in the PE group, functional capacity remained significantly better. CONCLUSIONS: PE and CBT improve clinical manifestations in FM patients only for short periods of time. Improvement in self efficacy and physical fitness are not associated with improvement in clinical manifestations.     

三联抗血小板药物对缺血性脑血管病患者冠状动脉介入治疗术后的近期疗效

目的探讨既往有缺血性脑血管事件发作史的冠心病患者行经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)后应用西洛他唑联合阿司匹林和氯吡格雷三联抗血小板治疗方案的近期疗效和安全性。方法回顾性分析有缺血性脑血管病史且接受PCI治疗的冠心病患者共216例,其中80例PCI后应用三联抗血小扳治疗(三联组),136例PCI后应用阿司匹林联合氯吡格雷两联抗血小板治疗(两联组)。观察两组PCI后30天主要不良心脑血管事件(MACCE)、亚急性血栓和出血发生率结果两组临床基线特征及PCI即刻结果无差异,术中均无死亡;三联组患者30天病死率、脑卒中发生率、MACCE发生率均显著低于两联组(P值分别<0．05,<0．05,<0．01)。两组亚急性血栓、30天主要出血事件、脑出血发生率差异均无显著性意义。结论有缺血性脑血管病史患者PCI后应用氯吡格雷、阿司匹林和西洛他唑三联抗血小板治疗后,可显著降低近期死亡、脑卒中及MACCE发生率,且不增加脑出血等副作用。     

规则性肝叶切除治疗复杂性肝内胆管结石患者疗效研究

目的 比较采取规则性肝叶切除与非规则性肝叶切除治疗复杂性肝内胆管结石患者的疗效。方法 2019年1月～2020年6月我院收治的298例复杂性肝内胆管结石患者,其中139例接受规则性肝叶切除术,另159例接受不规则性肝叶切除术,术后随访6个月。采用ELISA法或双抗体夹心免疫发光法检测血清白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、降钙素原(PCT)和C反应蛋白(CRP)。结果 观察组手术时间为(121.3±25.2)min,显著长于对照组【(116.7±22.8)min,P＜0.05】,而术中出血量、肛门排气和住院时间分别为(252.3±60.0)mL、(18.9±3.2)h和(11.2±2.3)d,均显著少于或短于对照组【分别为(301.7±70.2)mL、(20.1±4.1)h和(14.5±3.5)d,P＜0.05】;在术后7 d,观察组血清CRP、IL-6和PCT水平分别为(23.8±6.0)mg/L、(80.8±10.1)μg/L和(1.4±0.5)ng/mL,显著低于对照组【分别为(27.9±6.8)mg/L、(96.7±11.3)μg/L和(1.8±0.4)ng/mL,P＜0.05】;观察组血清ALB水平为(34.1±2.9)g/L,显著高于对照组【(32.5±2.7)g/L,P＜0.05】;在随访6个月末,观察组患者出现切口感染、胆漏、胆道出血和胸腔积液并发症发生率为7.9%,显著低于对照组的15.7%(P＜0.05】,观察组结石复发率为11.5%,显著低于对照组的23.9%(P＜0.05)。结论 采取规则性肝叶切除治疗复杂性肝内胆管结石患者可能更有利于患者康复,减少并发症的发生,其效果还需要进一步观察。     

Optimizing glucocorticoid replacement therapy in severely adrenocorticotropin-deficient hypopituitary male patients

Background The optimal replacement regimen of hydrocortisone in adults with severe ACTH deficiency remains unknown. Management strategies vary from treatment with 15–30 mg or higher in daily divided doses, reflecting the paucity of prospective data on the adequacy of different glucocorticoid regimens. Objective Primarily to define the hydrocortisone regimen which results in a 24 h cortisol profile that most closely resembles that of healthy controls and secondarily to assess the impact on quality of life (QoL). Design Ten male hypopituitary patients with severe ACTH deficiency (basal cortisol <100 nm and peak response to stimulation <400 nm ) were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, crossover study of 3 hydrocortisone dose regimens. Following 6 weeks of each regimen patients underwent 24 h serum cortisol sampling and QoL assessment with the Short Form 36 (SF36) and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) questionnaires. Free cortisol was calculated using Coolen’s equation. All results were compared to those of healthy, matched controls. Results Corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) was significantly lower across all dose regimens compared to controls (P < 0·05). The lower dose regimen C (10 mg mane/5 mg tarde) produced a 24 h free cortisol profile (FCP) which most closely resembled that of controls. Both regimen A(20 mg mane/10 mg tarde) and B(10 mg mane/10 mg tarde) produced supraphysiological post‐absorption peaks. There was no significant difference in QoL in patients between the three regimens, however energy level was significantly lower across all dose regimens compared to controls (P < 0·001). Conclusions The lower dose of hydrocortisone (10 mg/5 mg) produces a more physiological cortisol profile, without compromising QoL, compared to higher doses still used in clinical practice. This may have important implications in these patients, known to have excess cardiovascular mortality.     

The early efficacy of topical levocabastine in patients with allergic conjunctivitis.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the early efficacy of topical levocabastine, an H(1) histamine-receptor antagonist, in improving the clinical symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with allergic conjunctivitis were enrolled. One drop of levocabastine was instilled in one eye and one drop of artificial tears in the contralateral eye. Clinical examinations were performed before, and 15 and 30 minutes after instillation. Symptoms of itching and signs of injection were assessed at each time point. RESULTS: Both levocabastine and artificial tears resulted in a statistically significant reduction in ocular itching. However, levocabastine was significantly more effective. CONCLUSIONS: Although artificial tears had a positive effect in reducing symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, by the washing out of allergens, levocabastine was more effective than artificial tears in controlling acute symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, demonstrating that the selective H1 histamine-receptor antagonist action of levocabastine is rapidly effective in a clinical setting.     

Clinical features of early haemarthroses in severely affected adolescent haemophiliacs

Summary. Six hundred and ninety bleeds into the knees, ankles and elbows of severe haemophiliacs presenting for treatment within 3 h of the onset of symptoms have been studied with the aim of providing clinical information for the haemophiliac patient or his parent treating early bleeding episodes at home. Patients were resident at a boarding school and documentation and follow-up to complete resolution was possible. Stiffness was a presenting symptom in 61% of elbow bleeds, 49% of knee bleeds and 18% of ankle bleeds. Pain was a presenting feature in 79% of ankle bleeds, 55% of knee bleeds and 42% of elbow bleeds. Tenderness was a common feature of ankle bleeds (85%), less so in elbows (55%) and knees (69%). Swelling was a very common feature at all sites and the mean increases in girth of the knees, elbows and ankles were 1.42 cm, 0.88 cm, and 0.62 cm, respectively. All the knee and elbow bleeds and 85% of the ankle bleeds had demonstrable restriction of movement. There was a direct relationship between the degree of swelling, extent of movement restriction and time taken for complete restoration of function, the mean of which was 3.6 days for elbows, 2.5 for knees and 1.1 for ankles.     

依诺肝素治疗老年不稳定型心绞痛30例近期疗效观察

目的：观察依诺肝素治疗老年不稳定型心绞痛的近期疗效。方法：将55例老年不稳定心绞痛患者随机分为2组,分别观察依诺肝素组治疗前后心绞痛发作频率,心电图及动态心电图变化和急性心肌梗死,急性血管再通术,院内死亡发生率;并与普通肝素组相对照。结果：依诺肝素组患者心绞痛发作频率明显减少,心电图缺血明显改善;与对照组比较存在明显差异（P＜0．05）,急性心肌梗死,急性血管再通术,院内死亡主要事件总发生率为6．66％,对照组为16％,2组比较差异显著,2组均无严重出血,结论：依诺肝素治疗老年不稳定型心绞痛疗效确切。安全。     

纤维肌痛综合征疼痛症状临床疗效观察

目的比较阿米替林基础治疗,加用米氮平,加用白芍总苷胶囊及联合用药4组对纤维肌痛综合征(FS)的疗效。方法分别测定记录4组治疗前,治疗1、3个月末时,疼痛程度目测标尺法(VAS)评分、90项症状自评量表(SCL—90)、Hamilton焦虑量表(HAMA)、Hamilton抑郁量表(HAMD)的变化比较。结果①B组1、3个月末SCL—90下降值明显低于A组(P<0.05);②C组1个月末VAS下降值明显低于B组(P<0.05);③D组1、3个月末的VAS/SCL—90下降值明显低于A、B、C组(P<0.05);④本研究中使用的HAMA、HAMD量表,观察中与临床症状、体征变化缺乏一致性。结论①在阿米替林等药物治疗FS基础上,联合小剂量米氮平及白芍总苷胶囊能明显提高疗效,且较安全。②SCL—90量表引入FS疗效评定,对FS症状的量化、活动度观察可能有益。③HAMA和HAMD量表不适用于FS诊断及疗效观察。     

Behavioral insomnia therapy for fibromyalgia patients: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Insomnia is common and debilitating to fibromyalgia (FM) patients. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for many types of patients with insomnia, but has yet to be tested with FM patients. This study compared CBT with an alternate behavioral therapy and usual care for improving sleep and other FM symptoms. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial enrolled 47 FM patients with chronic insomnia complaints. The study compared CBT, sleep hygiene (SH) instructions, and usual FM care alone. Outcome measures were subjective (sleep logs) and objective (actigraphy) total sleep time, sleep efficiency, total wake time, sleep latency, wake time after sleep onset, and questionnaire measures of global insomnia symptoms, pain, mood, and quality of life. RESULTS: Forty-two patients completed baseline and continued into treatment. Sleep logs showed CBT-treated patients achieved nearly a 50% reduction in their nocturnal wake time by study completion, whereas SH therapy- and usual care-treated patients achieved only 20% and 3.5% reductions on this measure, respectively. In addition, 8 (57%) of 14 CBT recipients met strict subjective sleep improvement criteria by the end of treatment compared with 2 (17%) of 12 SH therapy recipients and 0% of the usual care group. Comparable findings were noted for similar actigraphic improvement criteria. The SH therapy patients showed favorable outcomes on measures of pain and mental well-being. This finding was most notable in an SH therapy subgroup that self-elected to implement selected CBT strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive-behavioral therapy represents a promising intervention for sleep disturbance in FM patients. Larger clinical trials of this intervention with FM patients seem warranted.     

Assessing depression in fibromyalgia patients

Purpose. This study investigated the relationships among four methods of detecting depression in patients with fibromyalgia. Methods. Data were obtained from 100 women (mean age 43 years) who had been diagnosed with fibro-myalgia. Instruments included a computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule (C-DIS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), an adjusted “disease-free” BDI (BDI-A), and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory depression subscale (MMPI-D). Chance-corrected concordance, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy among the four methods were calculated. Results. The C-DIS detected 22% and BDI-A 29% with current major depression. The BDI and MMPI-D yielded higher estimates of 55% of the 44%, respectively. Agreement on the diagnosis among the four methods was significantly greater than chance. When compared with the C-DIS, the BDI was the most sensitive instrument and the BDI-A most specific. Conclusions. The C-DIS and BDI-A appear to be more reliable methods for determining the presence of major depression in women with fibromyalgia than are the MMPI-D or standard BDI.     

Sexual dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in female patients with fibromyalgia (FM), the impact of FM on sexual activity and the factors associated with sexual dysfunction in these patients.METHODS:Thirty-one consecutive women with FM were enrolled; two groups of 20 aged-matched healthy women and 26 patients with rheumatoid arth-ritis (RA) were used as controls. Demographic features were recorded in all patients. A cross-sectional analysis of pain (100-mm VAS scale), anxiety and depression (as determined by the STAI and Beck Depression Inventory scales, respectively) was performed. Sexual function was assessed by the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ).RESULTS:FM and RA patients showed a significantly higher rate of sexual dysfunction compared to healthy controls. Sexual dysfunction was more frequent among FM patients (97%) than in RA patients (84%) but without statistical differences. A univariate analysis showed that age (p=0.0002), marital (p=0.036) and work status (p=0.048), pain intensity (p=0.007), level of anxiety (p=0.002), level of depression (p=0.0005), were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction in FM. However, only the intensity of depression was associated with the sexual dysfunction in patients with FM in the multivariate analysis (p=0.012).CONCLUSIONS:Sexual function was very frequently and severely affected in patients with FM and this impairment appeared to be particularly associated with the degree of depression. The recognition of this dysfunction and its inclusion for the multidisciplanary management of FM may contribute to improve quality of life of these patients.     

Cognitive function in fibromyalgia patients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate fibromyalgia (FM) patients for the presence of cognitive deficits and to test the hypothesis that abnormalities would fit a model of cognitive aging. METHODS: We studied 3 groups of patients: FM patients without concomitant depression and in the absence of medications known to affect cognitive function (n = 23), age- and education-matched controls (n = 23), and education-matched older controls who were individually matched to be 20 years older (+/- 3 years) than the FM patients (n = 22). We measured speed of information processing, working memory function, free recall, recognition memory, verbal fluency, and vocabulary. We correlated performance on cognitive tasks with FM symptoms, including depression, anxiety, pain, and fatigue. We also determined if memory complaints were correlated with cognitive performance. RESULTS: As expected, older controls performed more poorly than younger controls on speed of processing, working memory, free recall, and verbal fluency. FM patients performed more poorly than age-matched controls on all measures, with the exception of processing speed. FM patients performed much like older controls, except that they showed better speed of processing and poorer vocabulary. Impaired cognitive performance in FM patients correlated with pain complaints, but not with depressive or anxiety symptoms. FM patients reported more memory problems than did the older and younger controls, and these complaints correlated with poor cognitive performance. CONCLUSION: Cognitive impairment in FM patients, particularly memory and vocabulary deficits, are documented in the study. Nevertheless, the intact performance on measures of information processing speed suggests that the cognitive deficits are not global. FM patients' complaints about their memory are likely to be legitimate, since their memory function is not age appropriate.