Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, and Risk of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the Black Women's Health Study

The Journal of Rheumatology. Jun, 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 12784393

Several case-control studies, mostly of prevalent disease, have suggested that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is positively associated with cigarette smoking and inversely associated with alcohol consumption. We prospectively investigated the associations of smoking and alcohol consumption with incident SLE in the Black Women's Health Study (BWHS).

Considerations in the Treatment of Early Osteoarthritis

Current Rheumatology Reports. Mar, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 15760578

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and it is one of the leading causes of disability in all elderly populations. It results in enormous societal burden, including the need for joint replacement at an annual cost to the community of billions of dollars. Two factors that predicate the formulation of a treatment strategy for an individual with "early" osteoarthritis include the risk for toxicity from long duration of exposure to pharmaceuticals and the desirability of a treatment with the potential to reduce the rate of disease progression. These considerations favor approaches that avoid or minimize chronic pharmaceutical use in favor of safer interventions, especially ones where current evidence suggests the potential of a disease-modification effect. These should include socio-behavioral interventions that promote weight optimization and exercise, consideration of orthotics, general dietary recommendations to increase vitamin D and C intake, and an emphasis towards topical or intermittent use of pharmaceutical agents rather than long term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use.

Nutritional Factors and Osteoarthritis: Recent Developments

Current Opinion in Rheumatology. Sep, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16093847

The role of nutrition and nutritional supplements in the development and progression of osteoarthritis is now a topic of considerable public, industry, and academic interest. This review focuses on how the evidence for a role of nutritional factors or nutritional supplements in the management of knee osteoarthritis has been changed by recent research.

Nutraceuticals: Do They Work and when Should We Use Them?

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology. Feb, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 16483910

There are numerous biological mechanisms by which nutritional factors might be expected to exert favorable influences on pathophysiological processes in osteoarthritis. Such processes include oxidative damage, cartilage matrix degradation and repair, and chondrocyte function and responses in adjacent bone. Micronutrients for which preliminary evidence of benefit exists include vitamin C and vitamin D. In addition, numerous nutraceuticals that may influence osteoarthritis pathophysiology--including glucosamine, chondroitin, S-adenosylmethionine, ginger and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables--have been tested in clinical trials. These products are safe and well tolerated, but interpretation of the collective results is hampered by heterogeneity of the studies, inconsistent results, and the conundrum of how to reconcile an apparent structural benefit with absence or modest effect on symptoms.

Small Vessel Vasculitis in a Patient with Botryomycosis

The Journal of Rheumatology. Dec, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 17143990

We describe a 53 year-old woman with primary biliary cirrhosis presenting with left ankle swelling and a purpuric rash. The skin biopsy of the rash revealed a small vessel vasculitis and a botryomycosis with Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon. Botryomycosis is an uncommon histologic finding of a chronic suppurative bacterial infection whereby bacteria form aggregates, which are surrounded by an eosinophilic matrix. With guidance from the skin biopsy findings, the patient was appropriately treated with antibiotics, resulting in complete resolution of symptoms.

Alcohol Consumption As a Trigger of Recurrent Gout Attacks

The American Journal of Medicine. Sep, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 16945617

Alcohol consumption has long been considered a trigger for recurrent gout attacks; however, this hypothesis has not been formally tested.

Effect of Glutathione S-transferase Polymorphisms and Proximity to Hazardous Waste Sites on Time to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Diagnosis: Results from the Roxbury Lupus Project

Arthritis and Rheumatism. Jan, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17195228

The high prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among African American women may be due to environmental exposures, genetic factors, or a combination of factors. Our goal was to assess association of residential proximity to hazardous waste sites and genetic variation in 3 glutathione Stransferase (GST) genes (GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1) with age at diagnosis of SLE.

Glucosamine for Pain in Osteoarthritis: Why Do Trial Results Differ?

Arthritis and Rheumatism. Jul, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17599746

Investigators in trials of glucosamine report a range of estimates for efficacy, making conclusions difficult. We undertook this study to identify factors that explain heterogeneity in trials of glucosamine.

Changes in Serum Levels of Glucosamine and Sulphate After Ingestion of Glucosamine Sulphate with and Without Simultaneous Ingestion of Glucose

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Oct, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17881667

Association of Periodontal Disease and Tooth Loss with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the US Population

The Journal of Rheumatology. Jan, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18050377

To test for an association of periodontitis and tooth loss with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Is Lipstick Associated with the Development of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)?

Clinical Rheumatology. Sep, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18523821

Lipstick use has been hypothesized to be a risk factor of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The objective of this study was to investigate the association between lipstick use and risk of SLE. We performed an Internet-based case-control study of SLE with Google users searching on medical key terms as the source population. Cases were diagnosed within 5 years and met > or =4 ACR criteria for SLE by medical record review. Controls were matched to cases on age, gender, race, ethnicity, region of residence, reference year, education, and income using propensity score. Demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors were collected using an online questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression models were used for the analyses with smoking, alcohol consumption, permanent hair dye use, and chemical hair straightener use adjusted. The analysis included 124 cases and 248 matched controls of whom 96% were females and 81% were whites. The median of disease duration was 2 years (range 0-4 years). Using lipstick at least 3 days/week was significantly associated with increased risk of SLE (adjusted OR = 1.71, 95%CI = 1.04-2.82). There was a trend of greater risk with earlier age of initiation of lipstick use (<16 years vs. never use; OR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.01-3.76, p trend = 0.02) and with increased frequency of use (7 days/week vs. never use; OR = 1.75, 95%CI = 0.89-3.44, p trend = 0.07). Biologic effects of chemicals present in lipsticks absorbed across the buccal mucosa and confounding from unmeasured lifestyle factors could be the explanation of this association. Epidemiologic studies of SLE should include this exposure in exploring its environmental triggers.

Therapeutic Trajectory of Hyaluronic Acid Versus Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Arthritis and Rheumatism. Dec, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19950318

To compare the efficacy of intraarticular hyaluronic acid with corticosteroids for knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Validity of Self-reported Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Large Cohort: Results from the Black Women's Health Study

Arthritis Care & Research. Feb, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20191523

To evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) of 3 case definitions of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on self-reported data on RA diagnosis and use of arthritis medications, and to determine whether a validated screening survey would increase the PPVs in the 3 groups.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Weight-bearing Subchondral Trabecular Bone in the Knee

Skeletal Radiology. Jan, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 20449585

Changes in weight-bearing subchondral bone are central to osteoarthritis (OA) pathophysiology. Using MR, knee trabecular bone is typically assessed in the axial plane, however partial volume artifacts limit the utility of MR methods for femorotibial compartment subchondral bone analysis. Oblique-coronal acquisitions may enable direct visualization and quantification of the expected increases in femorotibial subchondral trabecular bone.

Quantitative Bone Marrow Lesion Size in Osteoarthritic Knees Correlates with Cartilage Damage and Predicts Longitudinal Cartilage Loss

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21961433

Bone marrow lesions (BMLs), common osteoarthritis-related magnetic resonance imaging findings, are associated with osteoarthritis progression and pain. However, there are no articles describing the use of 3-dimensional quantitative assessments to explore the longitudinal relationship between BMLs and hyaline cartilage loss. The purpose of this study was to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal descriptive characteristics of BMLs with a simple measurement of approximate BML volume, and describe the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between BML size and the extent of hyaline cartilage damage.

Associations of Varus Thrust and Alignment with Pain in Knee Osteoarthritis

Arthritis and Rheumatism. Feb, 2012  |  Pubmed ID: 22307813

OBJECTIVE: To compare associations of varus thrust and varus static alignment with pain in those with knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study of participants from a randomized controlled trial of vitamin D for knee OA. Participants were video recorded walking and scored for presence of varus thrust. Standard PA knee X-rays were measured for static alignment. Pain questions from the Western Ontario McMasters Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) questionnaire assessed symptoms. We calculated means for total WOMAC pain by varus thrust and varus alignment (i.e. corrected anatomic alignment < 178°). We performed ordinal logistic regressions; outcomes: individual WOMAC pain questions; predictors: varus thrust and varus alignment. RESULTS: There were 82 participants, mean age 65.1 (±8.5), mean body mass index 30.2 (±5.4), and 60% female. Total WOMAC pain was 6.3 versus 3.9, p = 0.007 in those with versus without definite varus thrust. For varus alignment, total WOMAC pain was 5.2 versus 4.2, p = 0.30. Odds ratios for pain with walking and standing were 5.5 (95%CI 2.0 - 15.1) and 6.0 (95%CI 2.2 - 16.2) in those with versus without definite varus thrust. There were no significant associations between varus alignment and individual WOMAC pain questions. Sensitivity analyses suggested a more stringent definition of varus might have been associated with walking and standing pain. CONCLUSION: In those with knee OA, varus thrust and possibly varus static alignment, were associated with pain, specifically during weight-bearing activities. Treatment of varus thrust (e.g. via bracing or gait modification) may lead to improvement of symptoms.