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- Andersson-Gäre, Boel, et al.
(författare)
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The Swedish version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ)
- 2001
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Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. - 0392-856X .- 1593-098X. ; 19:4, Suppl 23, s. S146-50
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report herein the results of the cross-cultural adaptation and validation into the Swedish language of the parent's version of two health related quality of life instruments. The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) is a disease specific health instrument that measures functional ability in daily living activities in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) is a generic health instrument designed to capture the physical and psychosocial well-being of children independently from the underlying disease. The Swedish CHAQ CHQ were already published and therefore were revalidated in this study. A total of 129 subjects were enrolled: 69 patients with JIA (13% systemic onset, 39% polyarticular onset, 25% extended oligoarticular subtype, and 23% persistent oligoarticular subtype) and 60 healthy children. The CHAQ clinically discriminated between healthy subjects and JIA patients, with the systemic, polyarticular and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a higher degree of disability, pain, and a lower overall well-being when compared to their healthy peers. Also the CHQ clinically discriminated between healthy subjects and JIA patients, with the systemic onset, polyarticular onset and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a lower physical and psychosocial well-being when compared to their healthy peers. In conclusion the Swedish version of the CHAQ-CHQ are reliable, and valid tools for the functional, physical and psychosocial assessment of children with JIA.
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- Segelmark, Mårten
(författare)
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How and why should wedetect ANCA?
- 2000
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Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. - : Pacini Editore SpA. - 0392-856X .- 1593-098X. ; Sep-Oct:18(5), s. 629-35
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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- Sällfors, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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Well-being in children with juvenile chronic arthritis
- 2004
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Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. - Pisa : Pacini. - 0392-856X .- 1593-098X. ; 22:1, s. 125-130
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe a model for predicting well-being in children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). METHODS: 125 children (43 boys) (median age 14.1 yrs; range 10.3-17.8) rated disability and discomfort (Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire). Pain control, pain reduction and fatigue were evaluated (visual analogue scales). In addition, variation of pain intensity was rated by a pain intensity scale. Analysis by the stepwise regression technique was used to explain the variability in well-being. Eight independent variables were included as possible predictors in the model (p < 0.1). RESULTS: The analyses indicated that well-being in children with JCA is related to three clusters of variables; pain "as it normally is", number of pain-free days and attending physical education classes. The analysis explained a substantial portion of the total variance in the children's well-being (55.1%). CONCLUSION: Pain is a robust predictor of well-being in children with JCA. This supports the concept of the benefits of reducing chronic joint pain as a major goal in caring of these children.
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- Westermark, T, et al.
(författare)
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Increased content of bombesin/GRP in human synovial fluid in early arthritis : different pattern compared with substance P
- 2001
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Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. - 0392-856X .- 1593-098X. ; 19:6, s. 715-720
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Bombesin (BN) and the mammalian homologue gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) are known trophic factors, neurotransmitters and paracrine hormones. BN/GRP has not previously been demonstrated in synovial fluid. In this study, the amounts of BN/GRP and substance P (SP) present in synovial fluid from the knee joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and of healthy, controls were measured. Methods Synovial fluid from the knee joint was collected from patients with either longstanding RA (n = 32) or early arthritis (symptoms for < 12 months; n = 9) and from control subjects, i.e., individuals without known joint disease (n = 10). These samples were analyzed using radioimmunoassays. Results Levels of BN/GRP-like peptide were below the assay detection limits in synovial fluid from controls. Detectable levels of immunoreactive BN/GRP were present in the majority of patients with either longstanding RA or early arthritis. The levels were significantly higher in the synovial fluid from patients classified as having early, arthritis compared with those with longstanding RA (p < 0.05). There was a strong correlation between BN/GRP levels and the number of leukocytes in the synovial fluid in the patients with early arthritis. The levels of SP-like peptide in the patients, whether with early arthritis or longstanding RA, were significantly elevated compared with controls. However there was no difference in the levels between these two patient groups. Conclusions These observations show that BN/GRP-like peptide is present in the synovial fluid of joints affected by arthritis and that the pattern of BN/GRP increase differs from that of SP It appears as if the presence of BN/GRP is particularly related to the early processes of joint involvement. These observations are of interest because BN/GRP has well-known trophic and paracrine effects and chondrocytes have recently been shown to produce neuropeptides such as BN/GRP.
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| 7. |
- Carlsson, A, et al.
(författare)
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Pseudomonas-induced lung damage in cystic fibrosis correlates to bactericidal-permeability increasing protein (BPI)-autoantibodies
- 2003
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Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. - 1593-098X. ; 21:Suppl. 32, s. 95-100
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. Lung damage is the most common cause of death in cystic fibrosis (CF). It is induced by bacterial colonization and inflammatory activity perpetuates its course. Autoantibodies directed against BPI (bactericidal permeability increasing protein), called BPI-ANCA, have recently been associated with cystic fibrosis. Here we confirm this association and evaluate the relation between ANCA and total IgG level as they relate to bacterial colonization, pulmonary function, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Methods. BPI-ANCA, MPO-ANCA, and PR3-ANCA were measured with ELISA in 46 adult patients with CF Total IgG was determined by immunoturbidimetry. Results were correlated to bacterial colonization, lung function and musculoskeletal symptoms. Results. BPI-ANCA was found in 33 patients. In the whole group, both BPI-ANCA and total IgG were inversely correlated to lung function, but in patients chronically colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), BPI-ANCA alone was correlated to lung damage (p = 0.01). Median lung function, measured as forced expiratory volume in I second, in P. aeruginosa colonized patients with high levels of BPI-ANCA was 43% of the predicted value. In BPI-ANCA negative, the corresponding figure was 83%. In patients not colonized with P. aeruginosa, this relation was less evident. No correlation between ANCA and musculoskeletal symptoms was seen. Conclusion. P. aeruginosa induced lung damage in CF patients is associated with the presence of BPI-ANCA. P. aeruginosa colonized patients without BPI-ANCA have almost normal lung function. We suggest that BPI-ANCA discriminate P. aeruginosa colonized CF patients with severe lung damage from those whose disease is less destructive. Vasculitis like symptoms in CF are not ANCA associated.
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- Hesselstrand, Roger, et al.
(författare)
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The association between changes in skin echogenicity and the fibroblast production of biglycan and versican in systemic sclerosis
- 2002
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Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. - 1593-098X. ; 20:3, s. 301-308
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To investigate a possible association between the longitudinal changes in skin involvement and the fibroblast production of proteoglycans in vitro, among patients with early and untreated systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods In 11 patients, 6 with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dSSc) and 5 with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lSSc), and in 6 controls skin thickness and skin echogenicity, of the forearm was measured by high frequency (20 MHz) ultrasound, A skin biopsy was taken from the area of the ultrasound measurements, and from cultivated fibroblasts the production of the proteoglycans versican, perlecan, biglycan and decorin were measured. To investigate longitudinal changes in skin involvement, the ultrasound examination was repeated after 1-3 years. Results Compared to controls, SSc Patients had increased skin thickness at the first evaluation. Patients with dSSc had lower skin echogenicity than both patients with ISSc and the controls. Patients with greater changes in skin thickness and skin echogenicity produced more versican, whereas the production of biglycan and decorin was higher only, in patients with greater changes in skin echogenicity. There was a negative correlation between fibroblast production of biglycan and disease duration. Conclusion High fibroblast synthesis of the proteoglycans versican and biglycan is associated with changes in skin echogenicity and may predict more progressive skin sclerosis in SSc.
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