Training in Capsule Endoscopy: Are We Lagging behind?

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a new modality to investigate the small bowel. Since it was invented in 1999, CE has been adopted in the algorithm of small bowel investigations worldwide. Reporting a CE video requires identification of landmarks and interpretation of pathology to formulate a management plan. There is established training infrastructure in place for most endoscopic procedures in Europe; however despite its wide use, there is a lack of structured training for CE. This paper focuses on the current available evidence and makes recommendations to standardise training in CE

Cross-sectional DXA and MR measures of tibial periarticular bone associate with radiographic knee osteoarthritis severity

SummaryObjectiveWe evaluated the relationship of medial proximal tibial periarticular areal bone mineral density (paBMD) and trabecular morphometry and determined whether these bone measures differed across radiographic medial joint space narrowing (JSN) scores.Methods482 participants of the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) Bone Ancillary Study had knee dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and trabecular bone 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams assessed at the same visit. Medial proximal tibial paBMD was measured on DXA and apparent trabecular bone volume fraction (aBV/TV), thickness (aTb.Th), number (aTb.N), and spacing (aTb.Sp) were determined from MR images. Radiographs were assessed for medial JSN scores (0–3). We evaluated associations between medial paBMD and trabecular morphometry. Whisker plots with notches of these measures versus medial JSN scores were generated and presented.ResultsMean age was 63.9 (9.2) years, BMI 29.6 (4.8) kg/m2, and 53% were male. The Spearman correlation coefficients between DXA-measured medial paBMD and aBV/TV was 0.61 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55–0.66]; between paBMD and aTb.Th was 0.38 (95%CI 0.30–0.46); paBMD and aTb.N was 0.65 (95%CI 0.60–0.70); paBMD and aTb.Sp was −0.65 (95%CI −0.70 to −0.59). paBMD and the trabecular metrics were associated with medial JSN scores.ConclusionThe moderate associations between periarticular trabecular bone density and morphometry and their relationship with greater severity of knee OA support hypotheses of remodeling and/or microscopic compression fractures in the natural history of OA. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess whether knee DXA will be a predictor of OA progression. Further characterization of the periarticular bone in OA utilizing complementary imaging modalities will help clarify OA pathophysiology

Correlates of hyaluronic acid and corticosteroid injections among patients with radiographically confirmed osteoarthritis

Objective: Despite the rapid proliferation of hyaluronate (HA) and corticosteroid (CO) injections and clinical guidelines regarding their use in osteoarthritis (OA), information on the characteristics of people receiving them is scarce. We described use of injections among adults with radiographically confirmed knee OA and identified correlates of injection use. Methods: We used publicly available data from Osteoarthritis Initiative and included participants with ≥ one radiographically confirmed knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade (K-L) \u3e 2) at baseline. We matched 415 participants reporting HA and/or CO during the 6 month before one of the first 7 annual follow-up assessments to 1,841 non-injection users by randomly selecting a study visit to match the distribution observed in the injection users. Multinomial logistic regression models identified correlates of injection use including sociodemographics and clinical/functional factors. Results: Injections were common (16.9% -year 1, 13.7% -year 2, 16.6 % -year 3, 13.5% - year 4, 15.9% -year 5, 13.5 % -year 6 and 9.9% -year 7) with corticosteroid injections most common (68.4%). HA and CO were more commonly reported by those with higher income (e.g. adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) HA \u3e $50k versus \u3c$25k: 3.63; (95% CI: 1.20-10.99)) and less common among blacks (aOR HA: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.06-0.55). Greater K-L grade (grade 4 versus 2) was associated with increased odds of HA (aOR: 4.79; 95% CI: 2.47-9.30), CO (aOR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.04-2.34), or both (aOR: 4.94; 95% CI: 1.99-12.27). Conclusion: Hyaluronic acid or corticosteroid injections are associated with higher socioeconomic positioning and indicators of greater disease severity

Long-term Effects of Use of Prescription Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents on Symptoms and Disease Progression among Patients with Radiographically Confirmed Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Objective: To estimate the extent to which long-term use of prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) relieve symptoms and delay disease progression among patients with radiographically confirmed osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Methods: Using Osteoarthritis Initiative data, we identified participants with confirmed OA at enrollment and evaluated changes in symptoms measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, WOMAC (n=1,846) and joint space width measured using serial x-rays and a customized software tool (n=1,116) over 4 years. Covariates included sociodemographics, OA clinical characteristics, indices of general health status, body mass index, and use of other treatments. We adjusted for baseline and time-varying confounders using marginal structural modeling. Results: Six percent initiated NSAID treatment at year one, with half of the initiators being regular users. After adjusting for time-varying confounders with marginal structural models, we found that compared to participants who never reported use of prescription NSAIDs, those reporting use for 3 years had on average 0.88 point decrease (95% Confidence Interval (CI): -0.46 to 2.22) in WOMAC Pain, 0.72 point decrease (95% CI: -0.12 to 1.56) in WOMAC Stiffness, 4.27 points decrease (95% CI: 0.31 to -8.84) in WOMAC Function, and 0.28mm increase (95% CI: -0.06 to 0.62) in joint space width. Conclusions: Long term NSAID use was associated with a priori defined minimally important clinical improvements in stiffness, function and structural degeneration, but not in pain

A Decline in Walking Speed is Associated with Incident Knee Replacement in Adults with and at Risk for Knee Osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a one-year change in walking speed is associated with receiving an incident knee replacement during the following year in adults with and at risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, we determined a one-year change in 20- meter walk speed from three observation periods (i.e., 0-12, 12-24, and 24-36 month). We operationally defined one-year change in walking speed as either: 1) decline: \u3c -0.1 m/s change, 2) no change: between -0.1 and 0.1 m/s change, 3) increase: \u3e 0.1 m/s change. Incident knee replacement was defined using each subsequent one-year period (i.e., 12-24, 24- 36, and 36-48 month). Combining data from the three observation periods, we performed a Poisson regression with robust error variance to determine the relative risk between a change in walking speed (exposure) and incident knee replacement over the following year (outcome). RESULTS: Of the 4,264 participants included within this analysis (11,311 total person visits), 115 (3%) adults received a knee replacement. Decline in walking speed was associated with a 104% increase in risk [adjusted relative risk (RR)=2.04; 95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.40-2.98], while an increase in walking speed associated with a 55% decrease in risk (RR=0.45; 95% CI=0.22-0.93) of incident knee replacement in the following year compared to a person with no change in walking speed. CONCLUSION: A one-year decline in walking speed is associated with an increased risk, while one-year increase in walking speed is associated with a decreased risk of future incident knee replacement

Dietary garlic and hip osteoarthritis: evidence of a protective effect and putative mechanism of action

Background Patterns of food intake and prevalent osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee were studied using the twin design to limit the effect of confounding factors. Compounds found in associated food groups were further studied in vitro. Methods Cross-sectional study conducted in a large population-based volunteer cohort of twins. Food intake was evaluated using the Food Frequency Questionnaire; OA was determined using plain radiographs. Analyses were adjusted for age, BMI and physical activity. Subsequent in vitro studies examined the effects of allium-derived compounds on the expression of matrix-degrading proteases in SW1353 chondrosarcoma cells. Results Data were available, depending on phenotype, for 654-1082 of 1086 female twins (median age 58.9 years; range 46-77). Trends in dietary analysis revealed a specific pattern of dietary intake, that high in fruit and vegetables, showed an inverse association with hip OA (p = 0.022). Consumption of 'non-citrus fruit' (p = 0.015) and 'alliums' (p = 0.029) had the strongest protective effect. Alliums contain diallyl disulphide which was shown to abrogate cytokine-induced matrix metalloproteinase expression. Conclusions Studies of diet are notorious for their confounding by lifestyle effects. While taking account of BMI, the data show an independent effect of a diet high in fruit and vegetables, suggesting it to be protective against radiographic hip OA. Furthermore, diallyl disulphide, a compound found in garlic and other alliums, represses the expression of matrix-degrading proteases in chondrocyte-like cells, providing a potential mechanism of action

The discordance between clinical and radiographic knee osteoarthritis: A systematic search and summary of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies have suggested that the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA) are rather weakly associated with radiographic findings and vice versa. Our objectives were to identify estimates of the prevalence of radiographic knee OA in adults with knee pain and of knee pain in adults with radiographic knee OA, and determine if the definitions of x ray osteoarthritis and symptoms, and variation in demographic factors influence these estimates.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic literature search identifying population studies which combined x rays, diagnosis, clinical signs and symptoms in knee OA. Estimates of the prevalence of radiographic OA in people with knee pain were determined and vice versa. In addition the effects of influencing factors were scrutinised.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportion of those with knee pain found to have radiographic osteoarthritis ranged from 15–76%, and in those with radiographic knee OA the proportion with pain ranged from 15% – 81%. Considerable variation occurred with x ray view, pain definition, OA grading and demographic factors</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Knee pain is an imprecise marker of radiographic knee osteoarthritis but this depends on the extent of radiographic views used. Radiographic knee osteoarthritis is likewise an imprecise guide to the likelihood that knee pain or disability will be present. Both associations are affected by the definition of pain used and the nature of the study group. The results of knee x rays should not be used in isolation when assessing individual patients with knee pain.</p

Individual patient data meta-analysis of trials investigating the effectiveness of intra-articular glucocorticoid injections in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis:an OA Trial Bank protocol for a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Based on small to moderate effect sizes for the wide range of symptomatic treatments in osteoarthritis (OA), and on the heterogeneity of OA patients, treatment guidelines for OA have stressed the need for research on clinical predictors of response to different treatments. A meta-analysis to quantify the effect modified by the predictors using individual patient data (IPD) is suggested. The initiative to collect and analyze IPD in OA research is commenced by the OA Trial Bank. The study aims are therefore: to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular glucocorticoids for knee or hip OA in specific subgroups of patients with severe pain and (mild) inflammatory signs, over both short-term and long-term follow-up, using IPD from existing studies; to reach consensus on the rules for cooperation in a consortium; and to develop and explore the methodological issues of meta-analysis with individual OA patient data. METHODS/DESIGN: For the current IPD analysis we will collect and synthesize IPD from randomized trials studying the effect of intra-articular glucocorticoid injections in patients with hip or knee OA. Subgroup analyses will be performed for the primary outcome of pain at both short-term and long-term follow-up, in the subgroups of patients with and without severe pain and with and without inflammatory signs. DISCUSSION: This study protocol includes the first study of the OA Trial Bank, an international collaboration that initiates meta-analyses on predefined subgroups of OA patients from existing literature. This approach ensures a widely supported initiative and is therefore likely to be successful in data collection of existing trials. The collaboration developed (that is, the OA Trial Bank) may also lead to future IPD analyses on subgroups of patients with several intervention strategies applied in OA patients