Joint space width of the tibiofemoral and of the patellofemoral joint in chronic knee pain with or without radiographic osteoarthritis: a 2-year follow-up

AbstractObjectives: To assess the interval change of the minimal joint space width (MJS) in radiographs of the tibiofemoral (TF) joint and of the patellofemoral (PF) joint with a 2-year follow-up in middle-aged people with longstanding knee pain with or without radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) and to study the precision of the MJS measurements.Design: In the format of a prospective study of early OA the signal knee in 55 people, 28 men and 27 women (aged 41–57 years, median 50), with chronic knee pain at inclusion was examined with a 2-year interval (median 25 months, range 21–30). The MJS of the TF joint was measured using a flexed PA view in weightbearing and the MJS of the PF joint using an axial view in standing.Results: The MJS of the TF joint decreased medially by 0.056±0.44mm (n.s.) and increased laterally by 0.080±0.51mm (n.s.) during the time of observation. In knees with an MJS medially that was less or the same as compared with the lateral compartment, the MJS decreased by 0.14±0.38mm (p=0.038) and in a subgroup of these knees, without osteophytes, the MJS decreased by 0.14±0.27mm (p=0.018). The MJS of the PF joint decreased by 0.019mm (n.s.) during the time of observation. The coefficient of variation for intra- and interobserver MJS measurements of the TF joint was 1.0 and 1.1% medially and 2.3 and 2.7% laterally, and for measurement error 6.9% medially and 4.8% laterally, respectively. The coefficient of variation for intra- and interobserver MJS measurements of the PF joint was 8.1 and 5.8% medially and 7.5 and 10.1% laterally and for the measurement error it was 8.1% medially and 8.5% laterally, respectively.Conclusions: A statistically significant reduction of the MJS was only demonstrated in the medial compartment of the TF joint in those individuals who had an MJS in this compartment which was less or the same as compared with the lateral compartment as well as in a subgroup of these knees without osteophytes. The radiographic examinations and the MJS measurements were reproducible

High and rising burden of hip and knee osteoarthritis in the Nordic region, 1990�2015: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

Background and purpose � Osteoarthritis (OA) imposes a substantial burden on individuals and societies. We report on the burden of knee and hip OA in the Nordic region. Patients and methods � We used the findings from the 2015 Global Burden of Diseases Study to explore prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of OA in the 6 Nordic countries during 1990�2015 (population of about 27 million in 2015). Results � During 1990�2015, the number of prevalent OA cases increased by 43 to 1,507,587 (95 uncertainty interval UI 1,454,338�1,564,778) in the region. OA accounted for 1.3% (UI 1.0�1.7) of YLDs in 1990, increasing to 1.6% (UI 1.2�2.0) in 2015. Of 315 causes studied, OA was the 15th leading cause of YLDs, causing 52,661 (UI 34,056�77,499) YLDs in 2015; of these 23% were attributable to high body mass index. The highest relative importance of OA was reported for women aged 65�74 years (8th leading cause of YLDs in 2015). Among the top 30 leading causes of YLDs in the region, OA had the 5th greatest relative increase in total YLDs during 1990�2015. From 1990 to 2015, increase in age-standardized YLDs from OA in the region was slightly lower than increase at the global level (7.5% vs. 10.5%). OA was, however, responsible for a higher proportional burden of DALYs in the region compared with the global level. Interpretation � The OA burden is high and rising in the Nordic region. With population growth, aging, and the obesity epidemic, a substantial rise in the burden of OA is expected and should be addressed in health policies. © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis on behalf of the Nordic Orthopedic Federation

High and rising burden of hip and knee osteoarthritis in the Nordic region, 1990�2015: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

Background and purpose � Osteoarthritis (OA) imposes a substantial burden on individuals and societies. We report on the burden of knee and hip OA in the Nordic region. Patients and methods � We used the findings from the 2015 Global Burden of Diseases Study to explore prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of OA in the 6 Nordic countries during 1990�2015 (population of about 27 million in 2015). Results � During 1990�2015, the number of prevalent OA cases increased by 43 to 1,507,587 (95 uncertainty interval UI 1,454,338�1,564,778) in the region. OA accounted for 1.3% (UI 1.0�1.7) of YLDs in 1990, increasing to 1.6% (UI 1.2�2.0) in 2015. Of 315 causes studied, OA was the 15th leading cause of YLDs, causing 52,661 (UI 34,056�77,499) YLDs in 2015; of these 23% were attributable to high body mass index. The highest relative importance of OA was reported for women aged 65�74 years (8th leading cause of YLDs in 2015). Among the top 30 leading causes of YLDs in the region, OA had the 5th greatest relative increase in total YLDs during 1990�2015. From 1990 to 2015, increase in age-standardized YLDs from OA in the region was slightly lower than increase at the global level (7.5% vs. 10.5%). OA was, however, responsible for a higher proportional burden of DALYs in the region compared with the global level. Interpretation � The OA burden is high and rising in the Nordic region. With population growth, aging, and the obesity epidemic, a substantial rise in the burden of OA is expected and should be addressed in health policies. © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis on behalf of the Nordic Orthopedic Federation

Association of STAT4 with rheumatoid arthritis:A replication study in three European populations

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the previously reported association of the STAT4 polymorphism rs7574865 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 3 different European populations from Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands, comprising a total of 2,072 patients and 2,474 controls. METHODS: Three different cohorts were included in the study: 923 RA patients and 1,296 healthy controls from Spain, 273 RA patients and 285 healthy controls from Sweden, and 876 RA patients and 893 healthy controls from The Netherlands. DNA from patients and controls was obtained from peripheral blood. Samples were genotyped for the STAT4 single-nucleotide polymorphism rs7574865 using a TaqMan 5'-allele discrimination assay. The chi-square test was performed to compare allele and genotype distributions. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: We observed a significantly increased frequency of the minor T allele in RA patients compared with healthy controls in the Spanish population (24.8% versus 20.8%; P = 0.001, OR 1.26 [95% CI 1.09-1.45]). This association was confirmed in both the Swedish population (P = 0.03, OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.03-1.77]) and the Dutch population (P = 0.03, OR 1.45 [95% CI 1.21-1.73]). The overall P value for all 3 populations was 9.79 x 10(-6) (OR 1.25 [95% CI 1.13-1.37]). No association between rs7574865 and the presence of rheumatoid factor or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide autoantibodies was observed. A meta-analysis of all published STAT4 associations revealed an OR of 1.25 (95% CI 1.19-1.33) (P = 1 x 10(-5)). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate an association between the STAT4 polymorphism rs7574865 and RA in 3 different populations, from Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands, thereby confirming previous data