Effects of an original training program in healthy elderly subjects

in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2010, June), 69(Suppl 3), 313

Long-term effect of strontium ranelate on serum C-terminal propeptide of type I Procollagen (PICP) and urine cross-linked N-telopeptide (U-NTX) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis

in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2010, June), 69(Suppl.3), 602

Health-related quality of life after total knee or hip replacement: a 7-year prospective study

in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2010, June), 69(Suppl.3), 469

Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups modulate the serum levels of biomarkers in patients with osteoarthritis.

in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2010), 69(5), 910-7

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the influence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups on serum levels of molecular biomarkers in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Serum levels of molecular biomarkers of ... [more ▼]

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the influence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups on serum levels of molecular biomarkers in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Serum levels of molecular biomarkers of cartilage metabolism (collagen type II markers: C-terminal neoepitope generated by the collagenase-mediated cleavage of collagen type II triple helix (C2C), collagen type II (Coll2-1, and its nitrated form, Coll2-1NO(2)), procollagen type II (CPII)), synovial metabolism (hyaluronic acid (HA)) and cartilage and synovial turnover (cartilage glycoprotein 39 (YKL-40)) were analysed in 73 patients with OA and 77 healthy controls using ELISAs. All participants had been previously genotyped for the mtDNA haplogroups J, U and H. Non-parametric and multivariate analysis were performed to test the effects of the clinical variables, including gender, age, smoking status, diagnosis, mtDNA haplogroups and radiological Kellgren and Lawrence (K/L) grade on the serum levels of the molecular markers. RESULTS: Non-parametric analysis found increased serum levels of HA in patients with OA, while the values for C2C and the C2C/CPII ratio were significantly higher in the healthy controls. A multiple regression analysis showed a relationship between the mtDNA haplogroups and serum levels of the typical collagen type II markers. Carriers of the mtDNA haplogroup H had higher levels while carriers of the mtDNA haplogroup J showed lower levels. Statistically significant interactions between mtDNA haplogroups and diagnosis and between mtDNA haplogroups and radiological K/L grade in the serum levels of molecular markers were also found. CONCLUSION: A new role for mtDNA haplogroups emerges from this work. The results suggest that the mtDNA haplogroups interact significantly with the serum levels of OA-related molecular markers, suggesting the possibility of their use as a complementary assay with these molecular markers. [less ▲]

Inhibition of radiographic progression with combination etanercept and methotrexate in patients with moderately active rheumatoid arthritis previously treated with monotherapy

in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2009), 68(7), 1113-1118

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of changing from etanercept or methotrexate monotherapy to etanercept plus methotrexate combination therapy on radiographic progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA ... [more ▼]

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of changing from etanercept or methotrexate monotherapy to etanercept plus methotrexate combination therapy on radiographic progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: Patients enrolled in this 1-year open-label study previously completed a 3-year blinded study in which they received methotrexate or etanercept monotherapy or the combination of both. All patients received the combination of etanercept 25 mg subcutaneously twice weekly plus oral methotrexate up to 20 mg/week. The primary radiographic endpoint was a change in modified total Sharp score (TSS), as assessed by blinded readers. RESULTS: At baseline, patients previously receiving methotrexate monotherapy (etanercept-added, n = 52) or etanercept monotherapy (methotrexate-added, n = 68) had moderate disease activity levels (mean disease activity score (DAS) of 2.6 and 2.5, respectively), whereas patients previously receiving combination therapy (n = 90) had a low disease activity level (mean DAS of 2.0). The addition of etanercept to methotrexate monotherapy resulted in a significant reduction in radiographic progression (p<0.05). Mean TSS changes in the previous year versus the current year were +1.79 versus +0.25 for the etanercept-added group (p<0.05); +0.51 versus -0.18 for the methotrexate-added group (NS) and +0.42 versus +0.24 for the combination group (NS). CONCLUSION: In these RA patients with on average moderate disease activity despite previous methotrexate monotherapy, combination treatment with etanercept and methotrexate inhibited radiographic progression and improved radiographic outcomes. These data, in conjunction with the previously published clinical data, support the use of combination therapy in RA patients with moderate disease activity. [less ▲]

Effects of iron depletion on articular biomarkers and joint symptoms in patients with genetic hemochromatosis: a prospective, longitudinal study.

in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2009), 68(Suppl 3), 679

The serum levels of biomarkers are related with mitochondrial DNA haplogroups in knee OA patients

in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2009), 68(Suppl 3), 290

Relationship between long-term changes in femoral neck bone mineral density and hip fracture incidence in untreated postmenopausal osteoporotic women

in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2008, June), 67(Suppl.II), 403

Prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy in institutionalized osteoporotic postmenopausal women

in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2008, June), 67(Suppl.II), 403

Effects of a single 5 mg infusion of zoledronic acid and oral risedronate (5 mg/day) on bone remodeling over one year in patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2008, June), 67(Suppl.II), 542