Open access
Open access
Invited Commentary: Steroid injection or wrist splint for first-time carpal tunnel syndrome? (free)
“A single corticosteroid injection shows superior clinical effectiveness at 6 weeks compared with night-resting splints, making it the treatment of choice for rapid symptom response in mild or moderate carpal tunnel syndrome presenting in primary care.”
Association of Depression With Risk of Incident Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Women Assessed Across 2 Decades – JAMA Psychiatry (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Depression May Increase Risk of Developing an Autoimmune Disease – MedicalResearch.com (free) AND Depression Tied to Double the Risk for Lupus in Women – Medscape (free registration required)
Effects of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis – The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology: Vitamin D supplementation in adults does not prevent fractures, falls or improve bone mineral density – The Lancet (free) AND Vitamin D supplements don’t help bone health, major study concludes – The Guardian (free) AND Millions of Americans take vitamin D. Most should just stop – VOX (free)
Related: Vitamin D, the Sunshine Supplement, Has Shadowy Money Behind It (free commentaries and NICE Guideline) AND Vitamin D Not Linked to Fracture Risk (free study and commentaries)
Effect of Early Surgery vs Physical Therapy on Knee Function Among Patients With Nonobstructive Meniscal Tears: The ESCAPE Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Commentary: PT an Alternative to Surgery for Some Meniscal Tears – Physician’s First Watch (free)
Related: Adverse Outcomes After Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy (free study, commentary and guideline on the subject)
“Our Dutch multi center RCT demonstrates noninferiority of physical therapy compared with early surgery with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for improving self-reported knee function in patients with nonobstructive meniscal tears.” (via @RudolfPoolman see Tweet)
Efficacy of Low-Dose Amitriptyline for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Low-dose antidepressants ease back pain – Australian Hospital + Healthcare Bulletin (free) AND Antidepressant Amitriptyline Might Help Ease Low Back Pain – Physician’s First Watch (free)
Diclofenac use and cardiovascular risks: series of nationwide cohort studies – The BMJ (free)
Commentary: Diclofenac Again Tied to Major Cardiovascular Events – NEJM Physician’s First Watch (free) AND ‘A major safety concern’: World’s most common NSAID doubles CVD risk – Cardiovascular Business (free)
Related Guidelines: The British Society for Rheumatology guideline for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults (free) AND First Latin American clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: Latin American Group for the Study of Lupus (GLADEL, Grupo Latino Americano de Estudio del Lupus)–Pan-American League of Associations of Rheumatology (PANLAR) – Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (free)
Commentaries: Vitamin D: a pseudo-vitamin for a pseudo-disease – The Conversation (free) AND Fracture risk not linked to low vitamin D or calcium levels – OnMedica (free)
Related: Vitamin D, the Sunshine Supplement, Has Shadowy Money Behind It (free commentaries and NICE Guideline)
News Release: Updated osteoarthritis guideline designed to reduce unnecessary imaging and surgery (free)
Commentary: Australia hopes to reduce unnecessary imaging, surgery with updated osteoarthritis guidelines – Health Imaging (free)
““The Guideline for the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis,” offer up exercise and weight loss as a first line defense, and warn against costly treatments using glucosamine, opioids and arthroscopic surgery, said David Hunter, co-chair of the RACGP group responsible for the update.” (from Health Imaging)
Association of Statin Exposure With Histologically Confirmed Idiopathic Inflammatory Myositis in an Australian Population – JAMA Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Rare Inflammatory Muscle Inflammation Increased With Statin Exposure – MedicalResearch.com (free) AND Statin Associated with an Increase in Inflammatory Myopathy – RheumNow (free) AND Statin use may increase risk for idiopathic inflammatory myositis – Healio (free registration required)
Commentary: Latin American Clinical Practice Guidelines for Lupus – RheumNow (free)
Related Guideline: The British Society for Rheumatology guideline for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults (free) AND Executive Summary (free)
Commentaries: Osteoporosis Treatment After Hip Fracture: Bad News and Getting Worse – JAMA Network Open (free) AND Rate of Osteoporosis Drug Treatment to Prevent Recurrent Fractures Dropping – AJMC (free) AND Osteoporosis treatment often not started after hip fracture in elderly patients, study finds – ACP Internist (free)
Commentaries: Class of drugs used as alternative to opioids for back pain are ineffective, have potentially serious side effects: report – The Globe and Mail (free) AND Anticonvulsant drugs ineffective for low back pain and can cause harm, despite increased prescribing – CMAJ, via EurekAlert (free)
Related Meta-Analysis: Benefits and safety of gabapentinoids in chronic low back pain (free research and commentaries)
Related Guidelines: UK clinical guideline for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis – Archives of Osteoporosis (free) AND 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)
Editorials: Screening for Osteoporosis (free) AND Osteoporosis Screening—2 Steps May Be Too Much for Women Younger Than 65 Years (free)
Author Interview: USPSTF Recommendation Statement: Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures (free)
See also: USPSTF Final Recommendation Statement (free)
Commentaries: Long-term weight loss of at least 20% helps improve outcomes in overweight, obese patients with knee osteoarthritis – ACP Internist (free) AND When it comes to weight loss in overweight and obese adults with knee osteoarthritis, more is better – Wiley, via ScienceDaily (free) AND More weight loss tied to less knee pain for obese people – Reuters (free) AND More Weight Loss Linked To Greater Decrease in Knee Arthritis Pain – MedicalResearch.com (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)
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)
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)
State of the Art Review: Increased cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis: mechanisms and implications – The BMJ (free for a limited period)
Commentaries: Ethnicity Matters in Allopurinol Reactions – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Allopurinol: Extra Caution Urged in High-Risk Groups – Medscape (free registration required)
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)
Commentary: Behcet’s Syndrome: Treatment Guidelines Updated – MedPage Today (free registration required)
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”.
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)
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)
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Bisphosphonates in Multiple Myeloma – Cochrane Library (free summary)
Original article: Bisphosphonates in multiple myeloma: an updated network meta-analysis – Cochrane Library (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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Commentary: New USPSTF Draft Recommendations for Osteoporosis Screening – Medscape (free registration required)
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)
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.
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)
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)
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)
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”
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)
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)
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)
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)
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”
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)
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)
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”.
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 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)
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)
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)