Drug-free remission, functioning and radiographic damage after 4 years of response-driven treatment in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis

0.05, group 4 versus groups 1 and 2, group 3 versus group 2). Conclusions: In patients with recent-onset active RA, drug-free remission was achieved in up to 18% of patients. DAS-driven treatment maintained clinical and functional improvement, independent of the treatment strategy. Joint damage progression remained significantly lower after initial combination therapy compared with initial monotherap

A decrease in disease activity score (DAS) level is associated with a decrease in health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score, independent of follow-up duration, during 5 years of tightly controlled treatment: results from the BeSt study

This paper presents numerical and experimental studies on the performance of Hybrid Composite Plates (HCPs) as a shear strengthening technique for reinforced concrete (RC) beams. A HCP is a thin plate of Strain Hardening Cementitious Composite (SHCC) reinforced with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates applied according to the Near Surface Mounted technique (NSM). Due to the excellent bond conditions between SHCC and CFRP laminates, these reinforcements provide the necessary tensile strength capacity to the HCP. However, the shear behavior of SHCC material has not been yet fully understood due to lack of an appropriate and accurate direct shear test method. To characterize the behavior of SHCCs in shear, the Iosipescu shear test setup was used to test several specimens, in which the loads were applied in an antisymmetric four point bending configuration to assure a pure shear section. A special geometry for the specimens was chosen to assure a uniform shear stress distribution in the pure shear section. A numerical model is presented for predicting the strengthening effectiveness of HCPs in reinforced concrete beams. The numerical simulations were performed on FEMIX, a computer program that includes a shear crack softening law to simulate the stress transfer mechanism at the shear crack as the crack widens. The values of the parameters that define the shear crack softening law were derived based on simulations of Iosipescu shear tests performed as part of this study. The results of the numerical models for the reinforced concrete beams strengthened with HCPs are compared with the experimental data obtained for this beams. It is demonstrated that the numerical model can predict fairly well the behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with HCPs

A decrease in disease activity score (DAS) level is associated with a decrease in health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score, independent of follow-up duration, during 5 years of tightly controlled treatment: results from the BeSt study

Objective To assess the relationship between a decrease in disease activity score (DAS) and functional ability during 5 years of DAS-steered treatment in recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, taking into account absolute DAS levels and follow-up duration. Methods Data from the BeSt study were used, in which treatment was aimed at achieving DAS <= 2.4. The longitudinal relationship between 3-monthly measured DAS and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score was assessed using linear mixed modelling during 5 years of treatment, with DAS and HAQ 3 months earlier, change in DAS in last 3 months (delta DAS), time (log-transformed) and their interactions as determinants. Results Predictors for HAQ were: previous DAS, delta DAS, In time, the interaction previous DAS x delta DAS, and previous HAQ. The interaction In time x delta DAS was non-significant, indicating that the association between delta DAS and HAQ was independent of follow-up duration. A decrease from a higher DAS was associated with a smaller HAQ decrease than for a similar decrease from a lower DAS, indicating a non-linear relationship between DAS and HAQ. Conclusion At any time during 5 years of follow-up, a decrease in DAS was associated with a better functional ability. The magnitude of HAQ improvement depends on the DAS decrease and on the absolute DAS level.Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

Erosions in the Foot at Baseline Are Predictive of Orthopedic Shoe Use after 10 Years of Treat to Target Therapy

Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

Erosions in the Foot at Baseline Are Predictive of Orthopedic Shoe Use after 10 Years of Treat to Target Therapy

Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease