Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5726/1510007
Individualized Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient Care Means more than Achieving a Number
Burkhard F. Leeb
Article Type: Commentary | First Published: March 03, 2015
The therapeutic scope of inflammatory rheumatic diseases and of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in particular, has increased dramatically over the last twenty years leading to incredibly better chances for the patients. Simultaneously disease activity assessment has become more and more important, not only to document the patient's disease course, but also for justifying the application of potentially dangerous and expensive remedies....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5726/1510005
Suppression of Experimental Arthritis through AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation and Autophagy Modulation
Huimin Yan, Hui-Fang Zhou, Ying Hu and Christine T.N. Pham
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: February 28, 2015
Autophagy plays a central role in various disease processes. However, its contribution to inflammatory arthritides such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unclear. We observed that autophagy is engaged in the K/BxN serum transfer model of RA but autophagic flux is severely impaired. Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug that has been shown to stimulate autophagy. Induction of autophagic flux, through metformin-mediated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and interruption of mammalian target...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5726/1510004
Non-Operative Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Fear the Future?
Eduardo Branco de Sousa
Article Type: Editorial | First Published: February 23, 2015
Non-operative treatment of knee osteoarthritis has gained special interest between patients and orthopedic surgeons, not only to alleviate pain and improve function, but also to postpone joint replacements. Projections showed an increase of 673% in the number of arthroplasties to be performed in the United States through 2030....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5726/1510003
Differential Diagnosis in Upper Back Pain
Nihal Ozaras
Article Type: Editorial | First Published: February 21, 2015
Upper back pain (UBP) is the pain experienced at the thoracic spine region. Spinal pain prevalence is 66 per 100 people and15% them is UBP. Although it is so frequent, it is less studied than neck or low back pain.It can be seen at any period of life, from childhood to elderly.This article briefly describes differential diagnosis in UBP....
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5726/1510002
Difficulties in Defining a Clinical Score for Acute Flare-Ups in an Osteoarthritic Knee
Hassan M Bassiouni and Ahmed A Negm
Article Type: Editorial | First Published: February 19, 2015
The basic idea of this editorial was to try to propose new techniques and laboratory measurements for future incorporation into a new score for identifying an acutely inflamed osteoarthritic knee joint. In the area of research, defining clinical status was always a hurdle to proper patient recruitment because working on quiet cases of OA with minimal to moderate pain is totally different from working on acute cases of OA with a lot of pain. Hence the problem of defining the clinical status at ti...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5726/1510001
Subchondral Bone: An Emerging Target for Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Lukas A. Holzer
Article Type: Editorial | First Published: February 15, 2015
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term chronic disease that is characterized by the deterioration of cartilage in joints resulting in stiffness, pain and impaired range of motion. OA is a disease that is associated with ageing. However, there are various factors e.g. obesity, lack of exercise, genetical abberations, occupation, trauma and gender that contribute to progression of OA. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. The World Health Organization estimates that globally 25% of adul...