An evaluation of the activity related to inflammation of four plants used in Thailand to treat arthritis

The leaves of Acanthus ebracteatus, stembark of Oroxylum indicum and the stems of Cryptolepis buchanani and Derris scandens are used as traditional remedies in Thailand for arthritis. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts were tested using three different in vitro systems for effects relevant to anti-inflammatory activity. The aqueous extracts of O. indicum and D. scandens significantly reduced myeloperoxide release. Eicosanoid production was reduced only by the aqueous extracts of A. ebracteatus and D. scandens. D. scandens extract showed potent inhibitory activity against generation of leukotriene B-4 and also displayed antioxidant activity. In the rat hind paw edema test, D. scandens extract showed significant activity when given intraperitoneally but did not produce a significant reduction when given orally. The results therefore supported to some extent the traditional use of D. scandens for arthritic conditions and provided slight indication of activity which could explain the use of O. indicum and A. ebracteatus. No relevant activity was demonstrated in any of the tests for C buchanani extracts. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Interobserver reproducibility of the visual estimation of range of motion of the shoulder

Abstract Terwee CB, de Winter AF, Scholten RJ, Jans MP, Deville W, van Schaardenburg D, Bouter LM. Interobserver reproducibility of the visual estimation of range of motion of the shoulder. Objectives To assess interobserver reproducibility (agreement and reliability) of visually estimated shoulder range of motion (ROM) and to study the influence of clinical characteristics on the reproducibility. Design Test-retest analyses. Setting Various health care settings in the Netherlands. Participants Consecutive patients with shoulder complaints (N=201) referred by 20 general practitioners, 2 orthopedic physicians, and 20 rheumatologists. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Independent visual estimation by 2 physiotherapists of the ROM. Agreement was calculated as the mean difference in visual estimation between examiners +/-1.96 x standard deviations of this mean difference. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated as a measure of reliability, based on a 2-way random effects analysis of variance. Results The lowest level of agreement was for visual estimation of active and passive elevation (limits of agreement, -43.4 to 39.8 and -46.7 to 41.5, respectively, for the difference between the affected and contralateral sides), for which the level of agreement was most clearly associated with pain severity and disability. The ability to differentiate between subjects was acceptable for all movements for the difference between the affected and contralateral sides (ICCs, >.70) except for horizontal adduction (ICC=.49). Conclusions Interobserver agreement was low for the assessment of active and passive elevation, especially for patients with a high pain severity and disability. Except for horizontal adduction, visual estimation seems suitable for distinguishing differences between affected and contralateral ROM between subject