Sex difference in OA : Should we blame estrogen?

Funding: The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

6-Month Change in Pain and Function by Pre-Operative Pain and Function among Patients Selected for Total Knee Replacement in the United States

Background/Purpose: The increase in total knee replacements (TKRs) between 1979 and 2006 is staggering. Debate is growing regarding the appropriate utilization of TKRs. We examined pain, function, quality of life (QOL), and satisfaction at 6-month post-surgery by pain and function at time of surgery. Methods: Data came from the nationally representative FORCE-TJR cohort of patients from 150 surgeons. Participants had primary, unilateral TKRs due to osteoarthritis between 2011 and 2014. Their knee pain (KOOS), physical functions (SF36), and QOL were measured at pre- and 6 months post-surgery. We classified patients as having high or low pre-operative pain (KOOS Pain \u3c 70 vs. ≥70), low or high pre-operative physical function (SF-36 PCS \u3c 40 vs. ≥40), and grouped as: 1) Low pain-High function (LP-HF), 2) Low pain-Low function (LP-LF), 3) High pain-High function (HP-HF), and 4) High pain-Low function (HP-LF). We compared pre- and post-operative changes in pain and function scores among the four groups. Results: Of 4,563 participants, 5% had pre-operative LP-HF and 75% HP-LF. By 6-month post-surgery, 85% of LP-HF patients reported no change and 4% reported worse symptoms; the HP-LF group had 18% no change and 52% with large improvement. For function in the LP-HF group, mean 6-month change (SD) was 2.6 (7.8), with post-operative mean of 50.0 (7.4). Mean change for the HP-LF group was 11.9 (9.0), with post-operative mean of 42.0 (9.5). For pain score in the LP-HF group, mean 6-month change was 8.3 (14.6), with post-operative mean (SD) of 88.9 (13.0). The HP-LF group had average improvement of 37.2 (19.7), and post-operative mean of 79.9 (17.3). QOL was better among the LP-HF than HP-LF groups; satisfaction was similar. Conclusion: The majority of patients had appropriate TKR utilization and achieved large improvement in pain and function. Patients with pre-operative LP-HF achieved the smaller mean change, but better absolute outcomes

Total hip arthroplasty and mental health status

Purpose. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) effectively restores function and alleviates pain in patients with end-stage hip osteoarthritis. Pain affects mood through its effect on disability and fatigue. Few studies have examined mental health as a consequence of pain or function after THA. We assessed change in mental health 1-year post-surgery, and examined whether change in pain and function predict change in mental health. Methods. We used data from a prospective THA registry that began in 1996 at a large public Geneva University hospital. We included surgeries performed 2010 and 2012-2014, with demographic information, body mass index (BMI), co-morbidities, baseline and 1-year post-surgery WOMAC pain and function scores, and the SF-12 mental health component score (MCS). The pain, function, and MCS scores were normalized and ranged from 0-100; increasing score indicating better outcome. We calculated descriptive statistics, and used multivariable linear regression to predict 1-year change in MCS. Results. Of 610 participants, mean (SD) age was 68.5 (11.8) years and BMI of 26.9 (4.9), 53% were women. Mean MCS was 44.7 (11.2) at baseline and 47.5 (10.5) at 1-year post surgery; average 1-year change was 2.8 (95% CI 1.9-3.6). WOMAC pain score was 39.6 (18.3) at baseline and 83.8 (20.4) at 1-year post surgery; 1-year change was 44.2 (95% CI 42.4-46.0). Corresponding WOMAC function was 40.2 (18.8) and 78.3 (22.1); 1-year change was 38.1 (95% CIs 36.2-40.0). On average, a 10-point increase in 1-year change in pain score was associated with a 0.7 point increase in the adjusted 1-year change in MCS (95% CI 0.2-1.1). The change in function was associated with a 0.9 point increase in 1-year change in MCS (95% CI 0.5-1.4). Conclusion. Mental health significantly improved from baseline to 1-year post-surgery. Patients whose pain and function scores improved the most had also the greatest improvement in mental health

Improvement in mental health following total hip arthroplasty: the role of pain and function

BACKGROUND: Mental health has been shown to improve after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Little is known about the role of pain and function in this context. We assessed whether change in mental health was associated with improvement in pain and function 1 year post-surgery. METHODS: This prospective study included patients enrolled in a THA registry from 2010 to 2014. We examined the mental component score (MCS) before and 1 year post-surgery, and 1-year change, in association with Western Ontario McMaster Universities (WOMAC) pain and function scores. All scores were normalized, ranging from 0 to 100 (larger score indicating better outcome). Analyses were adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Our study included 610 participants, of which 53% were women. Descriptive statistics are as follows: the average (SD) for age (years) was 68.5 (11.8), and for BMI was 26.9 (4.9). In addition, the MCS average (SD) at baseline was 44.7 (11.2), and at 1-year after THA was 47.5 (10.5). The average change from baseline to 1-year post-THA in MCS was 2.8 (95% CI: 1.9, 3.6), for an effect size of 0.26. As for the WOMAC pain score, the average change from baseline to 1-year post-THA was 44.2 (95%CI: 42.4, 46.0), for an effect size of 2.5. The equivalent change in WOMAC function was 38.1 (95% CI: 36.2, 40.0), for an effect size of 2.0. Results from multivariable analysis controlling for covariates showed that an improvement of 10 points in the 1-year change in pain score resulted in a 0.78 point (95%: CI 0.40, 1.26) increase in the 1-year change in MCS, whereas a 10-point improvement in the 1-year change in function was associated with a 0.94 point (95% CI: 0.56, 1.32) increase. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health significantly improved from baseline to 1-year post-THA. Greater improvement in pain and function was associated with greater improvement in mental health 1 year post-THA

Racial Differences in the Effectiveness of Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) on Postoperative Pain and Function

Objective: African Americans are less likely than Caucasians to perceive TKA as an effective treatment option. We examined post-TKA pain and function by race, with and without adjusting for demographic and clinical factors on determining racial differences. Methods: We analyzed data from FORCE-TJR, a national cohort of TJR patients. Patients had primary and unilateral TKA surgeries 07/01/2011-12/31/2014, and completed surveys on demographic and clinical information, including a pre- and 6-month postoperative Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). The KOOS pain and function scores ranged from 0-100 (higher=better). We examined baseline, 6-month, and 6-month change in pain and function by race, and estimated the association between race and outcomes, adjusting for demographic and clinical factors. Results: Analyses included 5028 white (63% female, 65% income\u3e45k; mean age of 67. BMI of 31) and 270 black patients (80% female, 39% income\u3e45k; mean age of 63, BMI of 34). At baseline, black compared with white patients reported worse knee pain (mean: 39vs.48), and poorer function (mean: 46vs.54). While all patients reported significant gains at 6-month post-surgery, black patients had lower postoperative pain (mean: 71vs.82) and function scores (mean: 73vs.84) than white patients. Although not statistically significant, black patients on average had lower 6-month change than white patients in pain -1.9 (95%CI: -4.4, 0.6) and function -1.6 (95%CI: -3.9, 0.7). Adjusting for covariates, racial differences were significantly more pronounced in change in pain -5.5 (95%CI: -8.3, -2.7) and function -5.6 (95%CI: -8.2, -3.0). Conclusions: TKAs were as effective in reducing pain and improving functions in blacks as in whites. Adjusting for certain demographic and clinical factors can impact assessment of racial differences and the effectiveness of TKA on postoperative outcomes, as black patients were very different from white patients on these important factors

Knee Osteoarthritis, Potential Mediators, and Risk of All-Cause Mortality: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

ObjectiveTo assess the relation of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA), knee pain, and radiographic knee OA to All-cause mortality and to identify mediators in the causal pathway.MethodsParticipants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative were divided into 4 groups: 1) symptomatic knee OA (i.e., both radiographic knee OA [Kellgren/Lawrence grade ≥2] and knee pain); 2) knee pain only; 3) radiographic knee OA only; and 4) neither radiographic knee OA nor knee pain. We examined the relation of knee OA status to All-cause mortality using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model and assessed the extent to which the association was mediated by disability, physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores for quality of life (QoL), and use of oral pain-relief medications (i.e., nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and opioids).ResultsAmong 4,796 participants, 282 died over the 96-month follow-up period. Compared with those with neither radiographic knee OA nor knee pain, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality were 2.2 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.6-3.1) for symptomatic knee OA, 0.9 (95% CI 0.6-1.4) for knee pain only, and 2.0 (95% CI 1.4-2.9) for radiographic knee OA only, respectively. Indirect effects (HRs) of symptomatic knee OA on mortality via disability and PCS of QoL were 1.1 (95% CI 1.0-1.4) and 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.4), respectively. No apparent mediation effect was observed through either MCS of QoL or oral pain-relief medications use.ConclusionParticipants with either symptomatic or radiographic knee OA were at an increased risk of All-cause mortality. Increased risk of mortality from symptomatic knee OA was partially mediated through its effect on disability and PCS of QoL

The Smoking Paradox in the Development of Psoriatic Arthritis among Psoriasis Patients – A Population-Based Study

Objectives: Smoking is strongly associated with an increased risk of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the general population, but not among psoriasis patients. We sought to clarify the possible methodologic mechanisms behind this paradox. Methods: Using 1995-2015 data from The Health Improvement Network, we performed survival analysis to examine the association between smoking and incident PsA in the general population and among psoriasis patients. We clarified the paradox using mediation analysis and conducted bias sensitivity analyses to evaluate the potential impact of index event bias and quantify its magnitude from uncontrolled/unmeasured confounders. Results: Of 6.65 million subjects without PsA at baseline, 225,213 participants had psoriasis and 7,057 developed incident PsA. Smoking was associated with an increased risk of PsA in the general population (RR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.19-1.36), but with a decreased risk among psoriasis patients (RR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.99). Mediation analysis showed that the effect of smoking on the risk of PsA was mediated almost entirely through its effect on psoriasis. Bias sensitivity analyses indicated that even when the relation of uncontrolled confounders to either smoking or PsA was modest (both RRs = ~1.50), it could reverse the biased estimate of effect of smoking among psoriasis patients (RR=0.9). Conclusions: In this large cohort representative of the UK general population, smoking was positively associated with PsA risk in the general population, but negatively associated among psoriasis patients. Conditioning on a causal intermediate variable (psoriasis) can reverse the association between smoking and PsA, explaining the smoking paradox for the risk of PsA among psoriasis patients

Clinical Symptoms of Arboviruses in Mexico

Arboviruses such as Chikungunya (CHIKV), Dengue (DENV), and Zika virus (ZIKV) have emerged as a significant public health concern in Mexico. The existing literature lacks evidence regarding the dispersion of arboviruses, thereby limiting public health policy’s ability to integrate the diagnosis, management, and prevention. This study seeks to reveal the clinical symptoms of CHIK, DENV, and ZIKV by age group, region, sex, and time across Mexico. The confirmed cases of CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV were compiled from January 2012 to March 2020. Demographic characteristics analyzed significant clinical symptoms of confirmed cases. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between clinical symptoms and geographical regions. Females and individuals aged 15 and older had higher rates of reported significant symptoms across all three arboviruses. DENV showed a temporal variation of symptoms by regions 3 and 5, whereas ZIKV presented temporal variables in regions 2 and 4. This study revealed unique and overlapping symptoms between CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV. However, the differentiation of CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV is difficult, and diagnostic facilities are not available in rural areas. There is a need for adequately trained healthcare staff alongside well-equipped lab facilities, including hematological tests and imaging facilities

Thermal modeling of lesion growth with radiofrequency ablation devices

BACKGROUND: Temperature is a frequently used parameter to describe the predicted size of lesions computed by computational models. In many cases, however, temperature correlates poorly with lesion size. Although many studies have been conducted to characterize the relationship between time-temperature exposure of tissue heating to cell damage, to date these relationships have not been employed in a finite element model. METHODS: We present an axisymmetric two-dimensional finite element model that calculates cell damage in tissues and compare lesion sizes using common tissue damage and iso-temperature contour definitions. The model accounts for both temperature-dependent changes in the electrical conductivity of tissue as well as tissue damage-dependent changes in local tissue perfusion. The data is validated using excised porcine liver tissues. RESULTS: The data demonstrate the size of thermal lesions is grossly overestimated when calculated using traditional temperature isocontours of 42°C and 47°C. The computational model results predicted lesion dimensions that were within 5% of the experimental measurements. CONCLUSION: When modeling radiofrequency ablation problems, temperature isotherms may not be representative of actual tissue damage patterns

Trends in Diet Quality by Race/Ethnicity among Adults in the United States for 2011–2018

This study aimed to investigate time trends in diet quality and the consumption of major food groups and nutrients by race/ethnicity among adults in the United States. Dietary data from 19,192 adults aged ≥ 20 years from four National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) cycles (2011–2018) were included. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2015 scores (range: 0–100; higher scores indicate better diet quality) and dietary consumption of food groups and nutrients were estimated for each cycle. Linear regression was used to test trends. For the overall population, the estimated overall HEI-2015 scores significantly decreased (p for trend = 0.011). However, decreases were observed in the estimated consumption of added sugars and total carbohydrates, while the estimated consumption of soy products and polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly increased. A significant decrease in overall HEI-2015 score was observed in the non-Hispanic white group, but not in other racial/ethnic groups. Decreases in added sugar intake were found in the non-Hispanic black and Hispanic groups; sodium intake significantly decreased in the non-Hispanic Asian group. From 2011 to 2018, there was a decrease in estimated overall diet quality in US adults; however, there were improvements in certain nutrients and dietary components. Nevertheless, disparities in diet quality exist among racial/ethnic groups