Changes of patient-reported outcomes and protein fingerprint biomarkers after exercise therapy for axial spondyloarthritis

Clinical Rheumatology - The objective of this study was to investigate the patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) derived extracellular matrix (ECM) biomarkers in...     

Minimal-invasive versus open hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison of postoperative outcomes and long-term survivals using propensity score matching analysis

Background

Minimal-invasive hepatectomy (MIH) has been increasingly performed for benign and malignant liver lesions with most promising results. However, the role of MIH for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) needs further investigation.

National, multicentre, prospective study of quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee treated with hylane G-F 20

The efficacy of viscosupplementation for the relief of pain and disability caused by knee osteoarthritis has been demonstrated, but its effects on Quality of Life (QoL) are less well known. The aim of this study was to describe the changes in QoL in patients receiving hylane G-F 20 in routine practice for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and to determine the factors associated with changes in QoL. An observational, prospective, multicentre study was carried out in private ambulatory care patients. The study population consisted of patients receiving hylane G-F 20 injections for symptomatic, radiological Kellgren stage II or III knee osteoarthritis. The clinical and demographic data were recorded at inclusion and the QoL, SF36 and OsteoArthritis Knee and Hip Quality Of Life (OAKHQOL) questionnaires administered before the first injection and then during the 3- and 6-month visits. Three hundred patients were enrolled in the study (61% female, mean age 67?±?11 years, 45% Kellgren stage II). After 3 and 6 months, all the SF36 scores and three OAKHQOL scores had significantly improved. In the multivariate analysis, low QoL scores at inclusion were correlated with a more marked improvement (p?相似文献   

Central nervous system rather than immune cell-derived BDNF mediates axonal protective effects early in autoimmune demyelination

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in neuronal and glial development and survival. While neurons and astrocytes are its main cellular source in the central nervous system (CNS), bioactive BDNF is also expressed in immune cells and in lesions of multiple sclerosis and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Previous data revealed that BDNF exerts neuroprotective effects in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-induced EAE. Using a conditional knock-out model with inducible deletion of BDNF, we here show that clinical symptoms and structural damage are increased when BDNF is absent during the initiation phase of clinical EAE. In contrast, deletion of BDNF later in the disease course of EAE did not result in significant changes, either in the disease course or in axonal integrity. Bone marrow chimeras revealed that the deletion of BDNF in the CNS alone, with no deletion of BDNF in the infiltrating immune cells, was sufficient for the observed effects. Finally, the therapeutic effect of glatiramer acetate, a well-characterized disease-modifying drug with the potential to modulate BDNF expression, was partially reversed in mice in which BDNF was deleted shortly before the onset of disease. In summary, our data argue for an early window of therapeutic opportunity where modulation of BDNF may exert neuroprotective effects in experimental autoimmune demyelination.     

Patients and spouses coping with inflammatory arthritis: Impact of communication and spousal perceived social support and burden

ObjectivesTo guide Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) programs to improve patients’ and spouses’ perceived health, we aimed to analyze the effect of the spouse health state and patient–spouse relationship on functional impairment, mental health and self-efficacy of patients with RA or SpA.MethodsIn this observational cross-sectional study, inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years and diagnosis of RA or SpA. The outcome criteria were functional impairment and mental health measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 12-item version (SF-12-MCS); mental health measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12); and self-efficacy by the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE Scale). Caregiver–patient relationship was assessed by the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships (PAIR) questionnaire and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS); social support by the Social Support Questionnaire-6 and spousal burden by the Zarit questionnaire.ResultsA total of 88 patient–spouse couples were included. Patients were mostly female (n = 68, 77%), with mean age 59 (SD 12.6) years; 69% had RA. On bivariate analyses, only spousal burden was associated with patients’ functional impairment. Patients’ mental health was associated with satisfaction with social support and the dyad relationship. Self-efficacy of patients was associated with spousal burden, satisfaction with social support, spousal anxiety/depression and the dyad relationship. On multivariate analysis, improved mental health and perceived self-efficacy of patients were associated with spousal satisfaction with social support (Beta = 0.8, P = 0.1 with GHQ-12) good communication in the couple (Beta = 0.5, P = 0.04 with SF-12-MCS and Beta = 0.4, P = 0.04 with GSE Scale) and low spousal-assessed burden (Beta = ?0.2, P = 0.003 with GSE Scale).ConclusionThis study has identified potential focus for intervention. It has highlighted the importance of recognizing the role of couple communication (experiencing an open and fluent exchange of ideas) in the patient's mental health and self-efficacy but also perceived satisfaction with social support of both members of the couple on the patient's mental health.