Lack of a difference in increased capillary blood cell velocity in the skin over proximal interphalangeal joints between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Early detection of synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and distinction from osteoarthritis (OA) are important to establish the most appropriate treatment. Increased perfusion over affected joints observed by laser Doppler perfusion imaging was supposed to arise from the underlying joint, because it was detected only by a near-infrared laser and not by a less penetrating red laser source. Using laser Doppler anemometry, this study addressed two questions: (1) whether capillary blood cell velocity (CBV) is increased in the skin over finger joints affected by RA or OA; (2) whether there is a difference between RA and OA in CBV above affected proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. Levels of soluble adhesion molecules were measured, because they indicate rheumatoid vasculitis raising flow resistance. Thirty-one patients with RA and 20 with OA were investigated. Compared to 18 controls, CBV (mean+/-SEM) was elevated above PIP joints clinically affected by RA (0.35+/-0.06 mm/s vs. 0.21+/-0.02 mm/s; P<0.05) and over PIP (0.27+/-0.02 mm/s vs. 0.21+/-0.02 mm/s; P<0.05) and distal interphalangeal joints (0.27+/-0.02 mm/s vs. 0.17+/-0.01 mm/s; P<0.001) affected by OA. Levels of soluble adhesion molecules were not correlated with CBV over PIP joints in RA. These observations demonstrated that elevated blood cell velocity is detectable by laser Doppler anemometry in skin capillaries over interphalangeal joints affected by RA or OA and contradict the previous assumption that there is hyperemia only in the affected joint. The lack of a significant difference in CBV over PIP joints between RA and OA patients might be due to some inflammation also occurring in OA rather than to vasculitic processes in RA associated with elevated levels of soluble adhesion molecules.     

Comparison of patient reported outcomes after Triathlon? and Kinemax Plus prostheses

INTRODUCTION

The Triathlon^® (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, US) total knee replacement was designed to improve patient function and survivorship. The aim of this study was to determine whether the Triathlon^® prosthesis produces better patient reported outcomes than a previous design by the same manufacturer, the Kinemax Plus.

METHODS

The outcome of 233 knees of patients with a mean age of 68 years (range: 40–80 years) who received the Kinemax Plus prosthesis were compared with the outcomes of 220 knees of patients with a mean age of 70 years (range: 42–90 years) who received the Triathlon^® prosthesis. Data were collected via postal questionnaire prior to surgery as well as at 8–12 weeks and at 1 year following surgery. Validated questionnaires were used including the WOMAC^® (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) pain and function scales, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score quality of life scale and the self-administered patient satisfaction scale.

RESULTS

This study found that patients who had the Triathlon^® prosthesis had significantly better pain relief (p<0.0001), function (p=0.028), knee related quality of life (p<0.0001) and satisfaction (p=0.0003) at three months after surgery than those who received the Kinemax Plus prosthesis. In addition, knee related quality of life (p=0.002) and satisfaction (p=0.021) were significantly higher at one year after surgery in Triathlon^® patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that return to function and reduction in pain may occur more quickly in patients with a Triathlon^® prosthesis than in those with the Kinemax Plus.     

Fatty acid ethanolamide levels are altered in borderline personality and complex posttraumatic stress disorders

Borderline personality (BPD) and complex posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) are both powerfully associated with the experience of interpersonal violence during childhood and adolescence. The disorders frequently co-occur and often result in pervasive problems in, e.g., emotion regulation and altered pain perception, where the endocannabinoid system is deeply involved. We hypothesize an endocannabinoid role in both disorders. We investigated serum levels of the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol and related fatty acid ethanolamides (FAEs) in BPD, PTSD, and controls. Significant alterations were found for both endocannabinoids in BPD and for the FAE oleoylethanolamide in PTSD suggesting a respective link to both disorders.