Conventional and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials – Rheumatology (free)

Commentary: OA: DMARDs fail to relieve pain in meta-analysis – Univadis (free registration required)

NSAIDs Account for Large Part of Osteoarthritis-CVD Link, Study Suggests – TCTMD (free)

Association of Stress-Related Disorders With Subsequent Autoimmune Disease – JAMA (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Association of Stress-Related Disorders With Subsequent Autoimmune Disease – University of Iceland (free) AND Stress disorders tied to increased risk of autoimmune diseases – Reuters (free) AND Does Psychological Stress Trigger Autoimmune Disorders? – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Antiphospholipid Syndrome Nephropathy: From Pathogenesis to Treatment – Frontiers in Immunology (free)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Primary Care: An Update and Practical Messages for the General Practitioner – Frontiers in Medicine (free)

Hip arthroscopy versus best conservative care for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (UK FASHIoN): a multicentre randomised controlled trial – The Lancet (free)

Commentaries: Hip arthroscopy: an evidence-based approach – The Lancet (free) AND New surgery for groin pain found to be more effective than physiotherapy – University of Warwick (free)

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial of duloxetine in Japanese patients with knee pain due to osteoarthritis – Journal of Pain Research (free)

Hydroxychloroquine: An old drug with new relevance – Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine (free)

Source: Hospital Medicine Virtual Journal Club

Concomitant fibromyalgia complicating chronic inflammatory arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis – Rheumatology (free)

Commentary: Comorbid fibromyalgia common in patients with inflammatory arthritis – MedwireNews (free)

Effect of Usual Medical Care Plus Chiropractic Care vs Usual Medical Care Alone on Pain and Disability Among US Service Members With Low Back Pain: A Comparative Effectiveness Clinical Trial – JAMA Network Open (free)

Commentaries: Innovating to Improve Care for Low Back Pain in the Military: Chiropractic Care Passes Muster – JAMA Network Open (free) AND Chiropractic Care Improves Usual Management for Low Back Pain – Medscape (free registration required) AND Adding chiropractic to back pain care may reduce disability – Reuters (free)

Canakinumab for the Treatment of Autoinflammatory Recurrent Fever Syndromes – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Autoinflammatory Syndromes Show Dramatic Response to Canakinumab – RheumNow (free)

EULAR recommendations for the health professional’s approach to pain management in inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Commentary: EULAR Releases Recommendations for Pain Management in OA, Inflammatory Arthritis – Rheumatology Advisor (free)

Obesity, Weight Loss, and Progression of Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis – Arthritis Care & Research (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Obesity may hasten disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis – Wiley, via ScienceDaily (free) AND Obesity tied to worse disability in rheumatoid arthritis – Reuters (free)

The Role of Imaging in Diagnosing Axial Spondyloarthritis – Frontiers in Medicine (free)

Education plus exercise versus corticosteroid injection use versus a wait and see approach on global outcome and pain from gluteal tendinopathy: prospective, single blinded, randomised clinical trial – The BMJ (free)

Commentary: The ongoing reduction in pain became the inspiration to never go back to “ground zero” – The BMJ Opinion (free)

Goodpasture’s syndrome (anti-GBM disease): ED presentations, evaluation, and management – emDocs (free)

State of the Art Review: Increased cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis: mechanisms and implications – The BMJ (free for a limited period)

Drugs for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis – Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (free)

Source: EvidenceAlerts

Racial/ethnic variation and risk factors for allopurinol-associated severe cutaneous adverse reactions: a cohort study – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Commentaries: Ethnicity Matters in Allopurinol Reactions – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Allopurinol: Extra Caution Urged in High-Risk Groups – Medscape (free registration required)

Exercise interventions and patient beliefs for people with hip, knee or hip and knee osteoarthritis: a mixed methods review – Cochrane Library (free)

Association Between Glucocorticoid Exposure and Healthcare Expenditures for Potential Glucocorticoid-related Adverse Events in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis – The Journal of Rheumatology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: How Safe Are Low-Dose Steroids in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis? – NEJM Journal Watch (free for a limited period)

Musculoskeletal ultrasonography basics – Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine (free)

2018 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of Behçet’s syndrome – Annals of Rheumatic Disease (free)

Commentary: Behcet’s Syndrome: Treatment Guidelines Updated – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Diagnostic and management of life-threatening Adult-Onset Still Disease: a French nationwide multicenter study and systematic literature review – Critical Care (free)

Percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture – Cochrane Library (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Summary: Featured Review: Vertebroplasty for treating spinal fractures due to osteoporosis – Cochrane Library (free)

“High quality evidence shows that vertebroplasty does not provide more clinically important benefits than placebo but may cause people harm”.

Consensus-based recommendations for the management of uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: the SHARE initiative – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Efficacy of foot orthoses for the treatment of plantar heel pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis – British Journal of Sports Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Pricey orthotic insoles aren’t worth the cost – UPI (free) AND Custom-Made Foot Orthotics No Benefit for Plantar Heel Pain – Physician’s Briefing (free) AND Custom-made foot orthoses appear to be no better than over-the-counter insoles or other treatments – MedicalXpress (free) AND Foot orthotics may not be superior to conservative treatment for relieving plantar heel pain – ACP Internist (free)

Low Back Pain – New Series from The Lancet Journals

– Homepage and Executive Summary (free)

– Article 1: What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention (free registration required)

– Article 2: Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions (free registration required)

– Invited Commentary: Low back pain: a major global challenge (free registration required)

– Viewpoint: Low back pain: a call for action (free registration required)

Commentaries: Low Back Pain Affects 540 Million People Worldwide, but Too Many Patients Receive the Wrong Care – University of Warwick, via NewsWise (free) AND Lower back pain being treated badly on a global scale, study says – The Guardian (free)

Effect of tai chi versus aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia: comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial – The BMJ (free)

Commentaries: Time to rethink exercise for fibromyalgia care – The BMJ Opinion (free) AND The unintended consequences of tai chi for fibromyalgia – The BMJ Opinion (free) AND Tai chi may be as effective for fibromyalgia as standard exercise – NHS Choices (free) AND Tai chi at least as beneficial as aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia – OnMedica (free)

#ACC18 – Cardiovascular Safety of Febuxostat or Allopurinol in Patients with Gout – New England Journal of Medicine (free)

Commentaries: Gout Drug Febuxostat Linked to More CV Deaths Without Uptick in CV Events: CARES Trial – TCTMD (free) AND CARES: Increased Risk of Death With Febuxostat in Patients With Gout and CV Disease – American College of Cardiology (free) AND

Calcium and vitamin D supplementation and increased risk of serrated polyps: results from a randomised clinical trial – Gut (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Calcium and vitamin D supplements may raise risk of polyps – MedicalNewsToday (free) AND Calcium Supplements Up Risk for Precancerous Serrated Polyps – Medscape (free registration required)

See related meta-analysis of RCT showing calcium and vitamin D don’t prevent bone fractures

Relative efficacy and safety of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies – British Journal of Sports Medicine (free)

EVOLVE: The Australian Rheumatology Association’s ‘top five’ list of investigations and interventions doctors and patients should question – Internal Medicine Journal (free) (via @RSiemieniuk)

See other lists of low-value practices in Choosing Wisely U.S. / Choosing Wisely UK / Choosing Wisely Australia AND Choosing Wisely Canada

Another interesting list of commonly used low-value practices that should be questioned.

Comparative cardiovascular safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with hypertension: a population-based cohort study – British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Cardiovascular Risk Compared Among COX-2 Selective, Nonselective NSAIDs – MPR (free)

Posterior Cruciate Ligament: Current Concepts Review – The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery (free)

One year in review 2017: Behçet’s syndrome – Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology (free)

Controversies in diagnosis and management of Kawasaki disease – World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics (free)

Related guideline: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Long-Term Management of Kawasaki Disease: A Scientific Statement for Health Professionals From the American Heart Association (free)

Related reviews: Dissecting Kawasaki disease: a state-of-the-art review – European Journal of Pediatrics (free) AND Diagnosis and Management of Kawasaki Disease – American Family Physician (free)

Randomized double-blind controlled study of bedtime low dose amitriptyline in chronic neck pain – European Journal of Pain (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Low-dose amitriptyline reduces idiopathic chronic neck pain – Univadis (free registration required)

Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder: Synopsis of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes 2017 Clinical Practice Guideline Update – Annals of Internal Medicine (free)

Hydroxychloroquine Effectiveness in Reducing Symptoms of Hand Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Trial – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Hydroxychloroquine no more effective than placebo for relieving osteoarthritis hand pain – American College of Physicians, via EurekAlert (free)

Vitamin D Screening and Supplementation in Primary Care: Time to Curb Our Enthusiasm – American Family Physician (free)

Related: Your vitamin D tests and supplements are probably a waste of money – VOX (free) AND Why Are So Many People Popping Vitamin D? – The New York Times (free)

Long-term Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids in COPD and the Risk of Fracture – CHEST (free)

Commentary: Long-term usage of inhaled corticosteroids may increase risk of bone fractures in patients with COPD – American College of Chest Physicians, via EurekAlert (free)

The Science Behind Biosimilars: Entering a New Era of Biologic Therapy – American College of Rheumatology (free PDF)

News release: The American College of Rheumatology Recommends Biosimilar Use in New White Paper (free)

Stopping biological drugs for rheumatoid arthritis can lead to twice the relapse rate – NIHR Signal (free)

Original article: Risk of losing remission, low disease activity or radiographic progression in case of bDMARD discontinuation or tapering in rheumatoid arthritis: systematic analysis of the literature and meta-analysis – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Developments in rare bone diseases and mineral disorders – Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Diseases (free)

A surgical procedure for shoulder pain is less effective than previously thought – NIHR Signal (free)

Original article: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression for subacromial shoulder pain (CSAW): a multicentre, pragmatic, parallel group, placebo-controlled, three-group, randomised surgical trial – The Lancet (free) AND Editorial: No benefit of arthroscopy in subacromial shoulder pain (free)

EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Bisphosphonates for Paget’s disease of bone in adults – Cochrane Library (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Cyclophosphamide for connective tissue disease–associated interstitial lung disease – Cochrane Library (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Aspirin dose in Kawasaki disease – the ongoing battle – Arthritis Care & Research (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: High-Dose Aspirin Preferred for Kawasaki’s – MedPage Today (free registration required)

State of the Art Review: The role of the gut microbiome in systemic inflammatory disease – The BMJ (free for a period)

Myeloablative Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation for Severe Scleroderma – The New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Stem Cell Transplant for Severe Scleroderma Improves Survival, Quality of Life – NIH (free) AND Stem Cell Transplantation Offers Hope For Severe Scleroderma – MedicalResearch (free)

Screening in the community to reduce fractures in older women (SCOOP): a randomised controlled trial – The Lancet (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Screening could catch a quarter of hip fractures before they happen – University of Manchester (free) AND FRAX Screening Reduces Hip Fractures in Healthy Older Women – Medscape (free registration required)

Calcium channel blockers for primary and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon – Cochrane Library (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Cochrane Review: Calcium Channel Blocker Efficacy in Raynaud’s – RheumNow (free)

Frequency of Chronic Joint Pain following Chikungunya Infection: A Colombian Cohort Study – Arthritis & Rheumatology (link to abstract – $ for full-text) AND Related Study: A cross-sectional analysis of chikungunya arthritis patients 22-months post-infection demonstrate no detectable viral persistence in synovial fluid – Arthritis & Rheumatology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Arthritis in Chikungunya Patients Not Due to Persistent Virus – Medscape (free registration required) AND Arthritis Persists After Chikungunya – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Studies provide new insights on mosquito-borne chikungunya virus infection – Willey, via EurekAlert (free)

CT and MRI Techniques for Imaging Around Orthopedic Hardware – Rofo (free)

Bisphosphonates in Multiple Myeloma – Cochrane Library (free summary)

Original article: Bisphosphonates in multiple myeloma: an updated network meta-analysis – Cochrane Library (free)

Association Between Calcium or Vitamin D Supplementation and Fracture Incidence in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – JAMA (free)

Commentaries: Do Vitamin D, Calcium Supplements Cut Fracture Risk in Older Patients? – MPR (free) AND Vitamin D and Calcium Don’t Prevent Bone Fractures – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free) AND Calcium And Vitamin D Supplements Still Do Not Prevent Fractures – American Council on Science and Health (free)

Treating axial spondyloarthritis and peripheral spondyloarthritis, especially psoriatic arthritis, to target: 2017 update of recommendations by an international task force – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

News Release: AAOS approves diagnostic and treatment criteria for osteoarthritis of the hip – American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (free)

See Apropriate Use Criteria: Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip (free)

Related AAOS Guideline: Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip (free PDF)

Commentary: AAOS: Non-Surgical Tx Best for Hip OA – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Lessons Learned from Imaging on Enthesitis in Psoriatic Arthritis – Israel Medical Association Journal (free PDF)

Lessons Learned from Imaging on Rheumatoid Arthritis – Israel Medical Association Journal (free PDF)

Imaging in Axial Spondyloarthritis – Israel Medical Association Journal (free PDF)

Pharmacological Therapy of Osteoporosis: A Systematic Current Review of Literature – Frontiers in Pharmacology (free)

Evidence-based management of Raynaud’s phenomenon – Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease (free)

Lung Manifestations in the Rheumatic Diseases – Chest (free)

Source: Critical Care Reviews Newsletter

Updated treatment strategies for intestinal Behçet’s disease – Korean Journal of Internal Medicine (free)

2017 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for adult and juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and their major subgroups – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Two nerve drugs are not suitable for treating long-term low back pain – NIHR Signal (free)

Original Article: Benefits and safety of gabapentinoids in chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials – PLOS One (free)

“Evidence supports NICE guidance not to use two nerve drugs (gabapentin and pregabalin) to treat long-term lower back pain”. (RT @NIHR_DC see Tweet)

Oral Sex and Condom Use in a U.S. National Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults – Journal of Adolescent Health (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes morbidity and all-cause mortality among diverse chronic inflammatory disorders – Heart (free)

Bone turnover markers: are they clinically useful? – European Journal of Endocrinology (free)

Congenital myopathies: clinical phenotypes and new diagnostic tools – Italian Journal of Pediatrics (free)

Seven-year tolerability profile of glucocorticoids use in early rheumatoid arthritis: data from the ESPOIR cohort – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Commentaries: Long-Term Safety of Glucocorticoids in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis – Journal Watch (free) AND Long-term Low-dose Steroids OK in Early RA – MedPage Today (free registration required)

“Long-Term Safety of Glucocorticoids in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis. Stopping steroids completely is difficult in patients whose disease flares with tapering, but low-dose levels are relatively safe” (RT @JWatch see Tweet)

Arthroscopic subacromial decompression for subacromial shoulder pain (CSAW): a multicentre, pragmatic, parallel group, placebo-controlled, three-group, randomised surgical trial – The Lancet (free)

Editorial: No benefit of arthroscopy in subacromial shoulder pain (free)

Commentaries: Common shoulder surgery may offer little pain relief – OnMedica (free) AND Is a common shoulder surgery useless? – MedicalXpress (free) AND Popular Surgery To Ease Chronic Shoulder Pain Called Into Question – NPR (free)

Exercise for the Prevention of Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials – American Journal of Epidemiology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Exercise may help prevent low back pain or make it less severe – Reuters (free)

Related meta-analysis: Prevention of Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – JAMA Internal Medicine (free)

Draft Recommendation Statement: Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: Screening – U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (free)

Commentary: New USPSTF Draft Recommendations for Osteoporosis Screening – Medscape (free registration required)

Clinical guidelines for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis: summary statements and recommendations from the Italian Society for Orthopaedics and Traumatology – Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (free)

Approach to recurrent fever in childhood – Canadian medical Association Journal (free)

Pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis: different phenotypes – European Respiratory Review (free)

The British Society for Rheumatology guideline for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults (free)

See also: Executive Summary (free)

Medial elbow pain – Efort Open Reviews (free)

The British Society for Rheumatology guideline for the management of adults with primary Sjögren’s Syndrome – Rheumatology (free)

See also: Guideline Summary (free)

Commentary: Guidelines for treatment of primary Sjögren’s syndrome: a first useful stone but still much to do – Rheumatology (free)

Association of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder with incident systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a longitudinal cohort of women – Arthritis & Rheumatology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: A Stress Link to Lupus – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free) AND PTSD linked with increased lupus risk – Willey, via EurekAlert (free) AND Lupus risk almost three times higher after trauma – Medical News Today (free)

Behçet’s syndrome: providing integrated care – Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (free)

An Updated Overview of Low Back Pain Management in Primary Care – Asian Spine Journal (free)

ESVM guidelines: the diagnosis and management of Raynaud’s phenomenon (free PDF)

Romosozumab or Alendronate for Fracture Prevention in Women with Osteoporosis – New England Journal of Medicine (free)

Editorial: Romosozumab — Promising or Practice Changing? (free)

Position paper: Revised 2017 international consensus on testing of ANCAs in granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis – Nature Reviews Rheumatology (free) (RT @Abraham_RMI)

Corticosteroid or Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs for the Treatment of Acute Gout: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials – The Journal of Rheumatology (free)

Source: EvidenceAlerts

Corticosteroids and NSAIDs did not have different effects on pain scores, but there was a higher risk of indigestion, nausea and vomiting with NSAIDs.

Osteoporosis drug treatment: duration and management after discontinuation. A position statement from the SVGO/ASCO – Swiss Medical Weekly (free)

Management of Cardiac Involvement Associated With Neuromuscular Diseases: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (free PDF)

News release: Experts aim to improve treatment for heart complications in people with neuromuscular disorders (free)

Top Ten Things to Know: Management of Cardiac Involvement Associated With Neuromuscular Diseases (free PDF)

Commentary: Statement on the Management of Cardiac Involvement Associated With Neuromuscular Diseases – Practice Update (free registration required)

ANCA Glomerulonephritis and Vasculitis – Clinical Journal of The American Society of Nephrology (free)

Effect of vitamin D supplementation in chronic widespread pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis – Clinical Rheumatology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Vitamin D Supplementation Reduces Pain Scores in Chronic Widespread Pain – Practice Update (free registration required)

Mortality in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: results from a Swedish nationwide population-based cohort study – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy Quadruples Death Risk – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Inflammatory Myopathy Mortality Highest in First Year – Medscape (free registration required)

Brazilian guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis – Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia (free)

New guidelines for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia – Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia (free)

Guidelines of the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in men – Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia (free)

Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clical Care Standard – Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (PDF Guideline and other resources)

Source: Research Review Australia (free resource to find articles of interest)

Long-Term Effects of Repeated Injections of Local Anesthetic With or Without Corticosteroid for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Trial – Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (free)

Source: ACP Journal Wise ($)

“Epidural injections of corticosteroid plus lidocaine offered no benefits from 6 weeks to 12 months beyond that of injections of lidocaine alone”

EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in the clinical management of peripheral joint osteoarthritis – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Update of EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Is Weight Loss Associated with Less Progression of Changes in Knee Articular Cartilage among Obese and Overweight Patients as Assessed with MR Imaging over 48 Months? Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative – Radiology (free)

Commentaries: Weight Loss Can Slow Down Knee Joint Degeneration – RSNA Press Release (free) AND Osteoarthritis: Knee joint degeneration slowed with weight loss, study confirms – Medical News Today (free)

Benefits and Harms of Osteoporosis Medications in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Benefits and harms of osteoporosis medications unclear for patients with CKD – Medical News Today (free) AND Benefits and harms of osteoporosis medications unclear for patients with CKD – 2 Minute Medicine (free)

Source: ACP Journal Club ($)

Uric acid and incident dementia over 12 years of follow-up: a population-based cohort study – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Elevated Uric Acid Linked to Dementia in the Elderly – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Dementia risk may be higher in elderly patients with high serum uric acid levels – ACP Internist (free)

When Sports Injuries Lead to Arthritis in Joints – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)

Related guideline: The Role of Athletic Trainers in Preventing and Managing Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis in Physically Active Populations: a Consensus Statement of the Athletic Trainers’ Osteoarthritis Consortium (free)

Benefits and safety of gabapentinoids in chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials – PLOS Medicine (free)

Commentaries: Gabapentinoids Seem to Offer Little Benefit, Substantial Risks in Low Back Pain – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Evidence does not support the use of gabapentinoids for chronic low back pain – PLOS, via Science Daily (free) AND Gabapentinoids for Chronic Low Back Pain? Not So Fast – Practical Pain Management (free)

Pregabalin and gabapentin have significant risk of adverse effects without any demonstrated benefit in chronic low back pain.

Occupation and Risk of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From a Population-Based Case-Control Study – Arthritis Care & Research (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Certain occupations linked to an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis – Willey, via EurekAlert (free) AND Occupational Exposures Increase Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk – Medscape (free registration required) AND Some jobs tied to higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis – Reuters (free)

Case-control study suggests bricklayers, concrete workers, electricians and nurses are at increased risk.

Ibuprofen versus placebo effect on acute kidney injury in ultramarathons: a randomised controlled trial – Emergency Medicine Journal (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Ibuprofen linked to slight risk of kidney damage in ultramarathoners – Reuters (free) AND Study reveals harmful effects on kidney of Ibuprofen – Stanford Daily (free)

State of the Art Review: Advances in the diagnosis and management of neck pain – The BMJ (free)

Related guideline: Neck Pain: Revision 2017 – Clinical Practice Guidelines Linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (free)

Review: My Treatment Approach to Gout – Mayo Clinic Proceedings (free)

Review: Gout: An old disease in new perspective – Journal of Advanced Research (free)

Review: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of uric acid urolithiasis: A narrative review – Journal of Advanced Research (free)

Incidence of and risk factors for nephrolithiasis in patients with gout and the general population, a cohort study – Arthritis Research & Therapy (free)

Commentaries: Gout Patients Run Higher Risk of Kidney Stones – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Gout associated with elevated risk for kidney stones – MedWire News (free)

“60% increased risk of first-time nephrolithiasis versus general population, with little protection from allopurinol” (from MedPage Today)

Functional Gain and Pain Relief After Total Joint Replacement According to Obesity Status – The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Joint Replacement Weight Loss Requirements Challenged – Medscape (free registration required) AND Pain relief, functional outcomes after joint replacement similar in obese and normal-weight patients – News Medical (free)

Guideline: Hip Pain and Mobility Deficits-Hip Osteoarthritis: Revision 2017 – Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) (free)

Recommendations of the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology for the induction therapy of ANCA-associated vasculitis (free)

Review: An update on the use of biologic therapies in the management of uveitis in Behçet’s disease: a comprehensive review – Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (free)

A comprehensive guide to the new science of treating lower back pain – VOX (free)

“Mainstream medicine has failed people with chronic back pain”

Trial of Tocilizumab in Giant-Cell Arteritis – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Quick Take Video Summary: The GiACTA Trial (free)

Commentaries: Tocilizumab improves remission rates in giant-cell arteritis: The GiACTA trial – 2 Minute Medicine (free) AND Phase 3 trial confirms superiority of tocilizumab to steroids for giant cell arteritis – Massachusetts General Hospital, via EurekAlert (free) AND Tocilizumab With Steroid Taper Superior in GCA – Medscape (free registration required)

The 2016 HIGh Heels: Health effects And psychosexual BenefITS (HIGH HABITS) study: systematic review of reviews and additional primary studies – BMC Public Health (free)

Commentary: Are high heels bad for your health? Two experts review the evidence – The Conversation (free)

Atypical fracture with long-term bisphosphonate therapy is associated with altered cortical composition and reduced fracture resistance – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (free)

Commentaries: Long-Term Bisphosphonate Use Degrades Cortical Bone – Medscape (free registration required) AND How Do Bisphosphonates Cause Atypical Femoral Fractures? – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Study highlights underlying mechanisms of fractures associated with osteoporosis drug – Cornell University, via EurekAlert (free)

Subgroup analyses of the effectiveness of oral glucosamine for knee and hip osteoarthritis: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis from the OA trail bank – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text) (RT @PhysioMeScience see Tweet)

“Currently, there is no good evidence to support the use of glucosamine for hip or knee OA”

Neck Pain: Revision 2017 – Clinical Practice Guidelines Linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (free)

I.S.Mu.L.T. first-time patellar dislocation guidelines – Muscle, Ligaments and Tendons Journal (free)

New National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) Summaries in Low back, Cervical and Thoracic Spine Disorders with focus on occupational health.

Low Back Disorders – American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (free summary from NGC – $ see original guideline in ACOEM website)

Cervical and thoracic spine disorders – American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (free summary from NGC – $ see original guideline in ACOEM website)

One year in review 2017: systemic vasculitis – Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology (free PDF)

Review: Update on the Medical Management of Gastrointestinal Behçet’s Disease – Mediators of Inflammation (free)

Online education, pain coaching and advice by video conference can reduce knee pain – NIHR Signal (free)

Original article: Effectiveness of an Internet-Delivered Exercise and Pain-Coping Skills Training Intervention for Persons With Chronic Knee Pain: A Randomized Trial – Annals of Internal Medicine (free) AND Commentaries: Online Intervention Reduces Knee Pain, Improves Mobility – Medscape (free registration required) AND The Internet may be an effective tool for treating chronic knee pain – 2 Minute Medicine (free) AND Chronic knee pain eased with the help of Skype – CNN (free text and video)

“Reduced pain for 73% of knee pain patients receiving videoconference physio, pain coaching and online education” (RT @NIHR_DC see Tweet)

Effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of pain in knee and hip osteoarthritis: a network meta-analysis – The Lancet (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Diclofenac 150 mg/day is the most effective NSAID available at present (are the cardiac and renal risks worth it?) and Paracetamol does not seem to work for this condition.

Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s – NICE Quality Standard (free)

Related guideline: Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management – NICE (free)

One year in review 2017: fibromyalgia – Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology (free PDF)

A Prospective Study on the Effect of Sport Specialization on Lower Extremity Injury Rates in High School Athletes – American Journal of Sports Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Student Athletes Who Specialize Early Are Injured More Often, Study Finds – NPR (free)

Related Report and Consensus Statement: Sports Specialization and Intensive Training in Young Athletes – American Academy of Pediatrics (free) AND Overuse injuries and burnout in youth sports: a position statement from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (free)

Is cyclobenzaprine useful for pain? – Therapeutics Initiative (free)

“…cyclobenzaprine is a long-acting sedative, not a muscle relaxant, and questioning whether any potential benefits are worth the side effects”. (from TI Newsletter). “If prescribed, a dose of 5 mg at bedtime should be tried first.  Evidence suggests titration based on response and tolerability to a maximum dose of 15 mg/day, for no longer than one week”.

Review: New frontiers in the treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis – F1000 Research (free)

Review: Treatment of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease: the pulmonologist’s point of view – Korean Journal of Internal Medicine (free)

Review: Prediction of Response to Targeted Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis – Mayo Clinic Proceedings (free)

Treating axial spondyloarthritis and peripheral spondyloarthritis, especially psoriatic arthritis, to target: 2017 update of recommendations by an international task force – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Commentary: International Guidelines Say Use Treat-to-Target for SpA, PsA – Medscape (free registration required)

Clinical Review: Optimal diagnosis and disease activity monitoring of intestinal Behçet’s disease (free)

Clinical Review: Treatment and outcomes: medical and surgical treatment for intestinal Behçet’s disease (free)

Clinical Review: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis and Management in Young People: A Primer – Frontiers in Pediatrics (free)

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus – Seminars in Arthritis & Rheumatism (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Prompt Evaluation of Lung Bleeds Needed in Lupus – MedPage Today (free registration required)

“Low hemoglobin, low C4 and hypoxia are features of poor outcome” (from MedPage Today)

Association Between Alendronate Use and Hip Fracture Risk in Older Patients Using Oral Prednisolone – JAMA (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Alendronate Cuts Hip-Fracture Rates in High-Risk Elderly – Medscape (free registration required) AND Alendronate helps cut hip fracture risk with prednisolone – OnMedica (free) AND Alendronate Might Help Protect Against Hip Fracture in Patients Taking Prednisolone – Physician’s First Watch (free)

Retrospective cohort suggests alendronate might reduce fracture risk in the short term in elderly patients taking prednisolone.

Type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis: a guide to optimal management – Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Specific diabetes medications to protect bone health recommended – Endocrine Society, via ScienceDaily (free) AND Advice for Optimal Management of Diabetes and Osteoporosis – Medscape (free registration required)

Concordance of autoimmune disease in a nationwide danish systemic lupus erythematosus twin cohort – Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: SLE Concordance in Twins Lower than Previously Reported – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Review: Current status of lupus nephritis – Indian Journal of Medical Research (free)

Review: Basic radiological assessment of synovial diseases: a pictorial essay – European Journal of Rheumatology (free)

Review: Pre-rheumatoid arthritis and its prevention – European Journal of Rheumatology (free)

Review: Management of the temporomandibular joint in inflammatory arthritis: Involvement of surgical procedures – European Journal of Rheumatology (free)

Vitamin D levels and deficiency with different occupations: a systematic review – BMC Public Health (free)

News release: You need to get out more. Occupation could be a major risk factor in vitamin D deficiency (free)

What I Wish I’d Known About My Knees – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)

Related guideline: Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee arthritis and meniscal tears: a clinical practice guideline – The BMJ (free)

“There’s little evidence to support many of the procedures people undergo in the hopes of avoiding a knee replacement”. (RT @NYTHealth see Tweet)

Diagnosis and management of myocardial involvement in systemic immune-mediated diseases: a position statement of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardial Disease – European Heart Journal (free) (RT @rafavidalperez see Tweet)

Prevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis Among Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study With Application of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Classification Criteria – Arthritis Care & Research (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Does Fibromyalgia Mask Spondyloarthritis? – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Small study (99 patients) showed some patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia have imaging changes suggestive of axial Spondyloarthritis, suggesting that Fibromyalgia may mask an underlying Spondyloarthropathy.

KDIGO 2017 Clinical Practice Guideline Update for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) (free PDF) (RT @goKDIGO see Tweet)

Executive summary: 2017 KDIGO Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) Guideline Update: what’s changed and why it matters (free PDF)

News release and available resources: CKD-Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) (free)

Effectiveness of conservative interventions including exercise, manual therapy and medical management in adults with shoulder impingement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs – British Journal of Sports Medicine (free)

Guided graded exercise self-help plus specialist medical care versus specialist medical care alone for chronic fatigue syndrome (GETSET): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial – The Lancet (free)

Invited commentary: Guided graded exercise self-help as a treatment of fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome (free)

Commentary: Self-help graded exercise programme may curb CFS fatigue – OnMedica (free)

Yoga, Physical Therapy, or Education for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Yoga Vs. Physical Therapy For Chronic Low Back Pain: Which Is More Effective? – Forbes (free) AND Yoga Noninferior to Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Yoga as Good for Low Back Pain as Physical Therapy – Medscape (free registration required)

Your vitamin D tests and supplements are probably a waste of money – VOX (free)

Related: Why Are So Many People Popping Vitamin D? – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)

“Screening for vitamin D has exploded — with no good evidence that it helps people.”

2017 American College of Rheumatology/American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Guideline for the Perioperative Management of Antirheumatic Medication in Patients With Rheumatic Diseases Undergoing Elective Total Hip or Total Knee Arthroplasty (free)

Press release: New Guideline Aims to Reduce Infections in Total Hip & Knee Replacement Patients (free)

Commentaries: New medication guidelines for rheumatic disease patients having joint replacement – Hospital for Special Surgery, via EurekAlert (free) AND New Guidelines Issued on Antirheumatic Drugs for Patients Undergoing Knee or Hip Replacement – Physician’s First Watch (free)

EULAR/EFORT recommendations for management of patients older than 50 years with a fragility fracture and prevention of subsequent fractures (free)

EULAR recommendations for women’s health and the management of family planning, assisted reproduction, pregnancy and menopause in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and/or antiphospholipid syndrome (free)

Commentary: EULAR: Guidance for Managing Lupus Pregnancy – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Failure to warn: Hundreds died while taking an arthritis drug, but nobody alerted patients – STAT News (free)

Consensus-based recommendations for the management of juvenile dermatomyositis – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

2017 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis (free)

Commentary: ACR Releases Guideline on prevention & treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis – American College of Rheumatology, via EurekAlert (free)

Serum uric acid levels and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of evidence from observational studies, randomised controlled trials, and Mendelian randomisation studies – The BMJ (free)

Observational studies suggest that high serum uric acid levels are associated with multiple health outcomes, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This review findings suggest there is a clear association only for gout and nephrolithiasis.

Spondyloarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management – NICE Updated Guideline (free)

See also: 2016 update of the ASAS-EULAR management recommendations for axial spondyloarthritis (free)

Quantifying the hepatotoxic risk of alcohol consumption in patients with rheumatoid arthritis taking methotrexate – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Commentaries: RA, Methotrexate and Alcohol May Mix Well, to a Degree – Rheumatology Network (free) AND Moderate Alcohol Use Could Be Safe With Methotrexate for RA – Medscape (free registration required)

Practice guidelines for pharmacists: The management of osteoarthritis – Canadian Pharmacists Journal (free)

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, Western diet, and risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study – The BMJ (free)

See also: DASH Diet May Reduce Gout Risk – Medscape (free registration required)

The British Society for Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout – Rheumatology (free)

Source: BSR guideline: Urate-lowering drugs should be offered early in gout – Healio Rheumatology (free)

Triple Therapy Versus Biologic Therapy for Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: In Rheumatoid Arthritis, Adding a Biologic Agent Before Trying Triple Therapy Likely Not Cost-Effective – Physician’s First Watch(free) AND Biologics before triple therapy not cost effective for rheumatoid arthritis – MedicalXpress (free) Triple Therapy More Cost-Effective Than MTX + Biologic in RA – Medscape (free registration required)

Effect of Intra-articular Triamcinolone vs Saline on Knee Cartilage Volume and Pain in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (free)

Author interview video: Comparison of Intra-articular Triamcinolone vs Saline for Knee Osteoarthritis (free)

JAMA report video: Comparison of Intra-articular Triamcinolone vs Saline for Knee Osteoarthritis (free)

Source: Study: Intra-articular triamcinolone not effective for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis – Healio Rheumatology (free)

Switching from originator infliximab to biosimilar CT-P13 compared with maintained treatment with originator infliximab (NOR-SWITCH): a 52-week, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial – The Lancet (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Celltrion Healthcare: Lancet Publishes Full Data-Set from Influential NOR-SWITCH Study – Business Wire (free)

Guideline: Hip fracture: management – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE – UK) (free)

Review: Infection in systemic lupus erythematosus, similarities, and differences with lupus flare – Korean Journal of Internal Medicine (free)

Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee arthritis and meniscal tears: a clinical practice guideline – The BMJ (free)

Commentaries: This orthopedic surgery is the world’s most common. But patients rarely benefit, a panel says – STAT News (free) AND Guideline Recommends Against Arthroscopy for Most Cases of Degenerative Knee Disease – Journal Watch (free) AND Arthroscopic Surgery Doesn’t Help With Arthritis Knee Pain – NPR Health News (free)

Treatment of Low Bone Density or Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures in Men and Women: A Clinical Practice Guideline Update from the American College of Physicians – Annals of Internal Medicine (free)

Commentaries: ACP Updates Guidelines on Treating Low Bone Density, Osteoporosis – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND New ACP Guidelines on the Treatment of Osteoporosis  – Medscape (free registration required)

Related guideline: UK clinical guideline for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis – Archives of Osteoporosis (free)

UK clinical guideline for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis – Archives of Osteoporosis (free)

After Knee or Hip Replacement, No Place Like Home – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)

See also: Time to Rethink Inpatient Rehab After Knee Replacement? – The Rheumatologist (free)

Original article abstract ($ for full-text): Effect of Inpatient Rehabilitation vs a Monitored Home-Based Program on Mobility in Patients With Total Knee Arthroplasty: The HIHO Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (free)

The NYT commentary talks about the futility of some interventions currently used to postpone surgery and about the benefits of outpatient rehabilitation.

Preventing Sports Injury and Illness: Key Resources for Family Physicians – American Family Physician (free)

Selection of resources for primary care providers to improve their ability to prevent and treat injuries from sports and physical activity.

Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip – American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (free PDF)

Source: AAOS releases new clinical practice guideline for osteoarthritis of the hip – Medical Express (free)

EULAR revised recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

Source: EULAR Revised Recommendations for the Management of Fibromyalgia – Medscape (free registration required)

Why Are So Many People Popping Vitamin D? – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)

“Labs performing these tests are reporting perfectly normal levels of vitamin D — 20 to 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood — as “insufficient.” As a consequence, millions of healthy people think they have a deficiency”

Note: Some organizations still think appropriate levels would be above 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood, more details in the text.

The wound/burn guidelines – Japanese Dermatological Association (all guidelines are free)

Wounds in general / Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment for pressure ulcers / Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment for diabetic ulcer/gangrene / Guidelines for the management of skin ulcers associated with connective tissue disease/vasculitis / Guidelines for the management of lower leg ulcers/varicose veins / Guidelines for the management of burns

ACR Appropriateness Criteria Adds Topics, Covers More Clinical Variants Than Ever Before (free)

Browse Appropriateness Criteria Topics (free)

Source: Newswise

This comprehensive guide from American College of Radiology (ACR) covers 230 topics with more than 1,100 clinical indications and has just been updated. It is a very useful resource for doctors in all specialties to guide which exam is most appropriate in each clinical situation.

Impact of total knee replacement practice: cost effectiveness analysis of data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative – The BMJ (free)

See also: Knee Replacement Should Be Reserved for More Severe Osteoarthritis, Study Suggests – Physician’s First Watch (free)

Total knee replacement for patients with osteoarthritis had minimal effects on quality of life in this study. Severely affected patients seem to benefit the most from the procedure.

EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)

See also: EULAR Releases New RA Tx Recommendations: Focus is on conventional agents, biologics, and targeted synthetic drugs – MedPage Today(free registration required)

Source: EvidenceAlerts Newsletter

Prosthetic joint infection: development of an evidence-based diagnostic algorithm – European Journal of Medical Research (free)

Comprehensive review with practical algorithm.