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Biomedical subjects

A Bjelle

Publications and source records attributed to A Bjelle.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

A randomized, controlled clinical trial of education and physical training for women with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of self-management education and physical training in decreasing fibromyalgia (FMS) symptoms and increasing physical and psychological well being. METHODS: A pretest-posttest control group design was used. Ninety-nine women with FMS were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups; 86 completed the study. The education only group received a 6-week self-management course. The education plus physical training group received the course and 6 h of training designed to assist them to exercise independently. The control group got treatment after 3 months. RESULTS: The experimental programs had a significant positive impact on quality of life and self-efficacy. Helplessness, number of days feeling bad, physical dysfunction, and pain in the tender points decreased significantly in one or both of the treated groups when retested 6 weeks after the end of the program. Longterm followup of 67 treated subjects showed significant positive changes on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire primarily in the physical training group. Among all subjects, 87% were exercising at least 3 times/week for 20 min or more; 46% said they had increased their exercise level since participating in the program; 70% were practicing relaxation strategies as needed; 46% were working at least half time as opposed to 37% at pretest. CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy of the treated groups was enhanced significantly by the program. Other changes were smaller and more delayed than had been expected. Recommendations for future trials include a longer education program, more vigorous physical training, and longterm followup.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Viscosity of plasma and blood in rheumatoid arthritis.

Blood rheology was studied in 130 consecutive RA outpatients, 33 with and 97 without extra-articular disease (EAD), and compared with that in 88 blood donors. All rheological variables were significantly elevated in the RA patients compared with the controls. Painful joint count (PJC), morning stiffness (MS) and radiographic changes (RC) correlated significantly with plasma viscosity (PV), CRP, ESR and fibrinogen concentration (FC), but only in the group without EAD. Corrected blood viscosity (CBV) at a shear rate of 92/s correlated significantly only with MS. Multiple regression with PJC, MS and RC as dependent variables showed significant associations of PJC with PV, MS and CRP and RC with PV. Multiple regression with PV as the dependent variable showed significant associations with FC and IgG. RA patients with EAD had higher PV (P < 0.01), CBV at 92/s (P < 0.05) and ESR (P < 0.05) than the RA patients without EAD. Differences in profiles of viscosity variables between subgroups of EAD in RA patients were observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Plasma viscosity in giant cell arteritis as a predictor of disease activity.

Thirty one patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) receiving standardised prednisolone treatment were followed up for one year with analyses of plasma viscosity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen concentration. On the day of diagnosis all patients had an increased plasma viscosity and ESR, whereas the concentration of CRP was normal in three patients and fibrinogen concentration and haptoglobin values were normal in one patient. IgG levels were increased in two patients. Plasma viscosity correlated significantly with the ESR, IgG level, and fibrinogen concentration. Laboratory variables in subgroups of patients with GCA proved by biopsy were not different from the whole group of patients with GCA. The follow up showed that CRP normalised faster than the ESR, plasma viscosity, and fibrinogen concentration. Plasma viscosity and the ESR paralleled clinical findings more closely and predicted flare ups better than the other variables. Plasma viscosity had advantages over the ESR for predicting flare ups and in the clinical monitoring of treatment with glucocorticoids.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Plasma, serum and whole-blood viscosity variations with age, sex, and smoking habits.

To study the influence of age, sex, and smoking habits on rheology, the authors measured plasma (PV), serum (SV), native (NBV), and corrected (CBV) blood viscosity with a computerized rotational viscometer in 152 blood donors (86 men and 66 women) and in 20 healthy persons (4 men and 16 women) attending smoke aversion treatment. None of the viscosity measures or erythrocyte sedimentation rate changed significantly with age, whereas hematocrit (HC) and fibrinogen concentration (FC) both increased with ageing (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Higher (p < 0.001) values of NBV and HC were found in men than in women, whereas higher values were found in women than in men for FC (p < 0.01) and ESR (p < 0.001). In blood donors, moderate smoking (mean twelve cigarettes/day) significantly influenced only ESR, which was higher (p < 0.001) in smokers than in nonsmokers. In heavy smokers (mean twenty-one cigarettes/day), however, higher (p < 0.001) PV, SV, and NBV were found, as well as higher (p < 0.01) FC and HC as compared with nonsmoking blood donors.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Proresid therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. A comparison with injectable gold using life-table analysis.

Proresid, mainly consisting of podophyllotoxin derivatives and two glycosides thereof, has been used as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in Sweden since the late 1960s. A life-table analysis of Proresid treatment averaging 41 months (range 4-144) in 79 rheumatoid arthritis patients showed a termination rate of 40, 56, 75 and 85% after 1/2, 1, 2 and 4 years, respectively. Dominant reasons for discontinuing therapy were inefficacy (37%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (35%). The risk of discontinuation of therapy due to inefficacy was constant over time, while the risk due to other causes, including side effects, gradually decreased. A comparison with injectable gold therapy showed, after adjusting for confounding factors, that the total termination incidence was higher (p < 0.05) in the Proresid-treated patients. A comparison with the regional cancer register of 334 patients exposed to Proresid for a mean time of 2.2 years showed no increased cancer risk after a mean observation time of 6.1 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Health status assessment in rheumatoid arthritis. II. Evaluation of a modified Shorter Sickness Impact Profile.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a shortened form of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) for routine practice. METHODS: We used data from a study of health status in 99 women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A stepwise analysis model used physical discomfort (global rating), self-assessed pain (Body Symptom Scale), mental well-being (Mood Adjective Check List) and joint function (Keitel Index) to define important aspects of health. RESULTS: Short forms of the SIP for discrimination (53 items), evaluation (25 items) and prediction (28 items) compared well in validity to the original 136-item SIP. The discriminative short form showed excellent reliability (internal consistency), matching the level of the generic SIP. The evaluative and predictive short forms had acceptable but lower internal consistency than the original Profile. CONCLUSION: We suggest a 64-item core health status questionnaire (SIP-RA) to be included and further tested in the arsenal of routine measurements in outpatients with RA. The questionnaire should include physical (Body care and movement, Mobility), psychosocial (Emotional behavior, Social interaction, Alertness behavior, Communication) and free-standing (Sleep and rest, Home management, Recreation and past-times, Eating) SIP categories, and it will improve the description of patients with RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Quality of life of women with systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparison with women with rheumatoid arthritis.

We assessed the quality of life and health status of 50 women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and compared them with 50 age matched women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using open ended questions, the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS-S), Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS), Rheumatology Attitudes Index, and 2 measures of disease activity. The patients with SLE expressed more concerns about their disease and potential for managing it than the patients with RA. However, there were no differences between the groups on the QOLS-S. Both were highly satisfied with many aspects of their lives. The best predictor of life quality in both groups was psychological distress followed by social and physical functioning in the group with RA and perception of global impact of the disease in the group with SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of active hand exercise and wax bath treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The effect of active hand exercise and warm wax treatment was evaluated in 52 rheumatoid arthritis patients randomized into four groups: (1) both exercise and wax bath, (2) exercise only, (3) wax bath only, and (4) controls. Treatment was given three times a week for 4 weeks. Deficits in flexion and extension in digits II-V bilaterally, grip function, grip strength, pain, and stiffness were measured before and after the treatment period. The control group was measured at corresponding times. Wax bath treatment followed by active hand exercise resulted in significant improvements of range of motion (ROM) and grip function. Active hand exercise alone reduced stiffness and pain with nonresisted motion and increased ROM. Wax bath alone had no significant effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis in two elderly European populations.

Was compared the prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) in two elderly populations, one in Göteborg (Sweden) and one in Zoetermeer (The Netherlands). The comparison was preceded by an inter-observed analysis of 150 films, revealing lower percentage agreements and kappa values when analysing the films on a five-point scale compared to the analysis in a dichotomy of "abnormal" and "normal" films. An intra-observer analysis of 50 films revealed higher percentage agreement and kappa values of well over 0.75, suggesting that radiographs could be read by one observer when different populations are being compared. The prevalence of hand ROA was higher in the Göteborg population, while the prevalence of knee ROA showed no significant differences. No significant increase with age of the cohorts was found for hand ROA in either population and no increase with age for knee ROA was found in the Swedish population. In the Zoetermeer population, knee ROA increased with age in both sexes.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Radiographic osteoarthritis in the elderly. A cohort comparison and a longitudinal study of the "70-year old people in Göteborg".

The prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis in hand and knee joints was studied in representative subsamples of the 75 and 79 year old population of Göteborg, Sweden. A comparison between two cohorts of 79-year-olds, revealed no significant difference between them. A longitudinal study within one of these cohorts including those aged between 75 and 79 showed a modest but not statistically significant progression of osteoarthritis in hand and knee joints. The results suggest a reduced progression of osteoarthritis after 75 years of age.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

A longitudinal study of the occurrence of joint complaints in elderly people.

Joint complaints were studied in two cohorts longitudinally followed at 4-5 year intervals between the ages of 70 and 79, representative of the elderly population of Göteborg, Sweden. Joint complaints were reported by 30-43% of the women and by 15-25% of the men. A significant increase of joint complaints was found in both sexes between the ages of 70 and 75 but not thereafter. The knee joints were the most common site of complaints in both sexes. Complaints were not consistently reported by the probands at all examinations, however, and a 'disappearance' of complaints with age was found. Complaints on all three occasions were reported by 15% of the women and 3% of the men. An association was observed between repeatedly reported complaints and radiographic osteoarthritis as well as with self-reported rheumatoid arthritis.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Measuring the quality of life of women with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus: a Swedish version of the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS).

The Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) was translated into Swedish and reliability and validity was studied. The Swedish version (QOLS-S) was given to 100 women with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus along with the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales and a visual analog pain scale. Disease activity was also measured using the Ritchie Articular Index and a patient version of the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure. Results indicated that the QOLS-S had high test-retest reliability (r = .84 for a 4-week interval) and internal consistency reliability (alpha = .82 at Time 1 and .88 at Time 2). An hypothesis that the QOLS-S would have low to moderate correlations with measures of health status and disease activity was supported. We conclude that the QOLS-S is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life in Swedish women with RA and SLE and that it provides a measure of quality of life that is distinct from health status and disease activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Outcome of parenteral gold therapy in RA patients: a comparison between two periods using life-table analysis.

Tolerance and outcome of parenteral gold therapy were compared using life-table analysis and ARA remission criteria between 151 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated in 1983 and in 210 patients treated in 1985. The total risk of termination of therapy was significantly higher in patients treated in 1983 than those treated in 1985. The most common causes were mucocutaneous reactions (41 and 25% in 1983 and 1985, respectively), unsatisfactory effect (15 and 25%) and practical problems (14 and 26%). The outcome regarding all ARA remission criteria except for fatigue (not systematically registered) was significantly more favourable in patients treated in 1985 than in those treated in 1983.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Functional status assessment.

Methodology of functional status assessment for musculoskeletal disorders has developed considerably in recent years. Reliability and sensitivity of measurements of physical functions are studied more systematically, and observer tests of activities of daily living functions have been developed with increased accuracy. A major area of interest, however, is reflected in studies of multidimensional assessments of functional limitations and the development of arthritis-specific questionnaires. The importance and difficulties of assessing function in clinical practice have been emphasized. Increasing interest among health planners and health economists in outcome measurements utilizing multidimensional functional assessments is evolving.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

Rheumatic symptoms following an outbreak of campylobacter enteritis: a five year follow up.

Eighty six of 106 (81%) guests attending a party were followed up after an outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni enterocolitis. Acute diarrhoeal illness was reported in 35 subjects (33%), of whom seven showed acute rheumatic symptoms either alone or with other symptoms of infection with C jejuni. The antibody response to C jejuni corresponded well with the intensity of the disease. In the early phase of the gastrointestinal disease the patients with acute rheumatic symptoms displayed significantly higher IgM antibody levels in serum samples than the other patients in this study. Levels of antibodies to C jejuni were increased in serum samples from 31 patients (29%) without symptoms of infection with C jejuni. At a follow up after five and a half years, four of these patients suffered from chronic rheumatic disorders. One HLA-B27 positive woman developed reactive arthritis with a relapse seven years later. The remaining 20 subjects (19%) remained healthy and their antibody tests and stool cultures were negative for C jejuni. It is concluded that C jejuni enterocolitis is significantly associated with rheumatic symptoms in the early phase and may also cause chronic rheumatic disorders.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Osteoarthritis in the elderly: clinical and radiological findings in 79 and 85 year olds.

The prevalence of joint complaints and clinical and radiological findings of osteoarthritis in wrist, hand, and knee joints was studied in representative population subsamples of 79 and 85 year olds. Joint complaints, clinical findings of osteoarthritis, and radiographic osteoarthritis were more common in women. Age related differences in the prevalence of osteoarthritis were not found. Although there was a correlation between clinical signs of osteoarthritis and radiographic osteoarthritis, clinical signs were often present without radiographic evidence and moderate and severe radiographic osteoarthritis was often present without clinical signs.

Aged↗