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 Osteoarthritis • Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2005 Sep;2(3):301-8.
  September 1, 2005
Author / Title Biological basis for the use of botanicals in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a review.  / Ahmed S, Anuntiyo J, Malemud CJ, Haqqi TM.
Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip is a debilitating disease affecting more women than men and the risk of developing OA increases precipitously with aging. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common form of inflammatory joint diseases, is a disease of unknown etiology and affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide, and unlike OA, generally involves many joints because of the systemic nature of the disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first drugs of choice for the symptomatic treatment of both OA and RA. Because of the risks associated with the use of NSAIDs and other limitations, the use of alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and medicinal herbs, is on the rise and according to reports approximately 60-90% of dissatisfied arthritis patients are likely to seek the option of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This paper reviews the efficacy of some of the common herbs that have a history of human use and their anti-inflammatory or antiarthritic properties have been evaluated in animal models of inflammatory arthritis, in studies employing well defined and widely accepted in vitro models that use human chondrocytes/cartilage explants or in clinical trials. Available data suggests that the extracts of most of these herbs or compounds derived from them may provide a safe and effective adjunctive therapeutic approach for the treatment of OA and RA. This, in turn, argues for trials to establish efficacy and optimum dosage of these compounds for treating human inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases.
Conclusion Available data suggests that the extracts of most of these herbs or compounds derived from them may provide a safe and effective adjunctive therapeutic approach for the treatment of OA and RA. This, in turn, argues for trials to establish efficacy and optimum dosage of these compounds for treating human inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases.
Local
Web http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16136208&query_hl=21
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 Osteoarthritis • Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Aug;35(1 Suppl):1-10.
  August 1, 2005
Author / Title Osteoarthritis: an overview of the disease and its treatment strategies.  / Sarzi-Puttini P, Cimmino MA, Scarpa R, Caporali R, Parazzini F, Zaninelli A, Atzeni F, Canesi B.
Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is currently defined by the American College of Rheumatology as a "heterogeneous group of conditions that leads to joint symptoms and signs which are associated with defective integrity of articular cartilage, in addition to related changes in the underlying bone at the joint margins." Its prevalence after the age of 65 years is about 60% in men and 70% in women. The etiology of OA is multifactorial, with inflammatory, metabolic, and mechanical causes. A number of environmental risk factors, such as obesity, occupation, and trauma, may initiate various pathological pathways. OA indicates the degeneration of articular cartilage together with changes in subchondral bone and mild intraarticular inflammation. The principal treatment objectives are to control pain adequately, improve function, and reduce disability. Acetaminophen is frequently used for symptomatic OA with mild to moderate pain. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are more effective in the case of moderate-severe pain, but they have an increased risk of serious upper gastrointestinal adverse events. The newer cyclooxygenase COX-2 specific inhibitors (Coxibs) are as efficacious as traditional NSAIDs and have a better gastrointestinal safety profile. Other compounds (eg, chondroitin sulfate, diacerein, glucosamine sulfate) have a symptomatic effect that is slower and less than that of NSAIDs. The structure-modifying effects of drugs are currently being evaluated, and both glucosamine sulfate and diacerein have been shown in some trials to have a beneficial structural effect. Nonpharmacological interventions are frequently and widely used in the management of OA patients, but there is little evidence that they are effective: the best studied and most successful nonpharmacological interventions are patient education, self-management, and exercise. There is some evidence for the pain-relieving efficacy of thermotherapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) but not of electrotherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, or manual therapy. The value of interventions aimed at improving function and maximizing independence (occupational therapy, walking aids, workplace adaptation) is also unclear. The disease course and patient's requirements often change over time, thus requiring a periodic review and readjustment of therapy rather than the rigid continuation of a single treatment.
Conclusion The disease course and patient's requirements often change over time, thus requiring a periodic review and readjustment of therapy rather than the rigid continuation of a single treatment.
Local Division of Rheumatology, Rheumatology Unit. L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan-Italy.
Web http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16084227&query_hl=1
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 Osteoarthritis • Lancet. 2005 Jul 9-15;366(9480):136-43.
  July 1, 2005
Author / Title Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomised trial.  / Witt C, Brinkhaus B, Jena S, Linde K, Streng A, Wagenpfeil S, Hummelsberger J, Walther HU, Melchart D, Willich SN.
Abstract BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is widely used by patients with chronic pain although there is little evidence of its effectiveness. We investigated the efficacy of acupuncture compared with minimal acupuncture and with no acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. METHODS: Patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the knee (Kellgren grade < or =2) were randomly assigned to acupuncture (n=150), minimal acupuncture (superficial needling at non-acupuncture points; n=76), or a waiting list control (n=74). Specialised physicians, in 28 outpatient centres, administered acupuncture and minimal acupuncture in 12 sessions over 8 weeks. Patients completed standard questionnaires at baseline and after 8 weeks, 26 weeks, and 52 weeks. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index at the end of week 8 (adjusted for baseline score). All main analyses were by intention to treat. RESULTS: 294 patients were enrolled from March 6, 2002, to January 17, 2003; eight patients were lost to follow-up after randomisation, but were included in the final analysis. The mean baseline-adjusted WOMAC index at week 8 was 26.9 (SE 1.4) in the acupuncture group, 35.8 (1.9) in the minimal acupuncture group, and 49.6 (2.0) in the waiting list group (treatment difference acupuncture vs minimal acupuncture -8.8, [95% CI -13.5 to -4.2], p=0.0002; acupuncture vs waiting list -22.7 [-27.5 to -17.9], p<0.0001). After 52 weeks the difference between the acupuncture and minimal acupuncture groups was no longer significant (p=0.08). INTERPRETATION: After 8 weeks of treatment, pain and joint function are improved more with acupuncture than with minimal acupuncture or no acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. However, this benefit decreases over time.
Conclusion After 8 weeks of treatment, pain and joint function are improved more with acupuncture than with minimal acupuncture or no acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. However, this benefit decreases over time.
Local Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Economics, Charite University Medical Centre, Berlin, Germany.
Web http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16005336&query_hl=23
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 Osteoarthritis • Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2004 Feb;6(1):20-30.
  February 1, 2004
Author / Title Outcome measures in osteoarthritis: randomized controlled trials.  / Strand V, Kelman A.
Abstract Accepted outcome measures in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in osteoarthritis (OA) include patient-reported assessments of physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Available data can inform treatment decisions when statistically significant changes are viewed in terms of clinically important improvements. Patient-reported outcomes validated in OA include global assessments of pain, disease activity, and disease-specific and generic measures of physical function and HRQOL. Definitions of minimum clinically important differences (MCID) have been derived from RCTs with physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and cyclooxygenase-2 selective agents. Definitions of MCID should serve only as guidelines based on mean changes in a treatment group, and do not necessarily reflect clinically meaningful improvements for an individual patient. They help to interpret data across treatments and patient populations. Definitions of MCID may differ for the type of intervention assessed; additional methodologic issues must be addressed when evaluating nonpharmacologic treatments. Based on RCTs in OA evaluating physical therapy, cyclooxygenase-2 agents, and NSAIDs, the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index is valid, reliable, sensitive to change, and correlates closely with the generic Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form 36 measure of HRQOL. When evaluating RCT data, understanding derivation and MCID values of outcome measures facilitates informed therapeutic decisions regarding therapeutic interventions.
Conclusion Accepted outcome measures in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in osteoarthritis (OA) include patient-reported assessments of physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
Local Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, 306 Ramona Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028, USA.
Web http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14713399&query_hl=1
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 Osteoarthritis • J Pain Symptom Manage. 2002 Apr;23(4 Suppl):S24-30; discussion S31-4.
  April 1, 2002
Author / Title Update of ACR guidelines for osteoarthritis: role of the coxibs.  / Schnitzer TJ; American College of Rheumatology.
Abstract The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recently provided an update to the guidelines published in 1995 on the management of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip. Members of the Ad Hoc Committee on OA Guidelines followed an evidence-based medicine approach to revise the guidelines by reviewing an extensive literature search of the Cochrane and Medline databases and published abstracts, and discussing evidence with expert rheumatologists. The goal of the guidelines is to provide recommendations to control patients' OA pain, improve function and health-related quality of life, and avoid therapeutic toxicity. As in the original guidelines, nonpharmacologic interventions involving patient education and physical measures are recommended following initial diagnosis of OA. The pharmacologic algorithm was updated to include currently available therapeutic agents. Acetaminophen remains first-line therapy because of its cost, efficacy, and safety profiles. Cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitors (coxibs) have been included as an alternative to nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients at risk for upper gastrointestinal adverse events. Tramadol is an available alternative for patients who have a contraindication to coxibs or nonselective NSAIDs or for those who have not responded to previous oral therapy. Intra-articular injections or topical therapy may be used as monotherapy, or as an adjunct to oral analgesia. Surgical treatment of OA remains a last resort for patients who have failed to respond to nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment approaches, and have progressive limitation in their activities of daily living. Several therapies for the prevention or treatment of OA are currently under investigation, including nutritional supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, disease-modifying OA drugs, and devices, such as acupuncture and electromagnetic therapy. It is anticipated that the guidelines for the management of OA will continue to evolve as new therapies become available.
Conclusion The intended outcome is that interventions in controlled trials of acupuncture will be more adequately reported, thereby facilitating an improvement in critical appraisal, analysis and replication of trials.
Local Office of Clinical Research and Training, Northwestern University Medical School, Evanston, IL 60611, USA.
Web http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11992747&query_hl=1
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