RheumatologyNetwork Staff

Analysis of thousands of hospital records from the UK suggests an increased cancer risk for patients with PMR, but only within six months after diagnosis and only for certain malignancies.

A comparison of six proposed classification systems for inflammatory myopathies finds those proposed by an NIH neuromuscular specialis tin 2003 to be closest in agreement with the judgments of specialists.

Diagnostic Champions’ Challenge on Musculoskeletal Network Designed to test the knowledge and medical diagnostic skills of physicians and other healthcare professionals, Musculoskeletal Network's Diagnostic Champions' Challenge was created to educate and entertain. Can you recognize and determine the appropriate treatment for a patient's malady quickly and correctly? Test your clinical knowledge and diagnostic skills by playing in previous rounds and see how your score matches up with other players!

In a pilot study, plasma fibrinogen appears at least as accurate as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) as a biomarker of disease activity in polymyalgia rheumatica – and more specific in confirming response to treatment.

This 6-month-old turned up in the emergency department with cough and fever. As a preemie, she had required lung ventilation and received CPR, according to her parents. Rib fractures were discovered, of which they claimed no knowledge. Suspicious?

After a quarter century as the pioneering journal in its field, the Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine has discontinued print publication. The same respected tradition of carefully chosen peer-reviewed content and news articles about rheumatology, sports medicine, and orthopedics continues here, on Musculoskeletal Network.

A new national campaign launched by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), A Nation in Motion, highlights the value of orthopedic care.

In this test, the patient’s forearm is placed in pronation. The examiner places pressure on the volar distal pole of the scaphoid and the dorsal lip of the radius, and moves the wrist from ulnar toradial deviation.

A slip on the grass sidelined a young football player 6 weeks after he sustained a complete tear of his medial collateral ligament. Learn how he added insult to the injury.

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var dialogLeft = (maskWidth/2) - ($jq('#dialog-box').width()/2); // assign values to the overlay and dialog box $jq('#dialog-overlay').css({height:maskHeight, width:maskWidth}).show(); //clear the form $jq('#from').clearForm(); $jq('#to').clearForm(); $jq('#name').clearForm(); $jq('#message_custom').clearForm(); //re-enable the fields $jq('.std_input').removeAttr('disabled'); //but lock out non-editable ones :-) $jq('#subject').attr('disabled','true'); $jq('#message_std').attr('disabled','true'); //hide the loading message $jq('.loading').hide(); $jq('.done').hide(); $jq("#tellfriend").fadeToggle('slow'); });}var hostname=window.location.hostname;var linkArray = new Array();linkArray['www.cancernetwork.com'] = "cn";//change these when we have final link valueslinkArray['www.consultantlive.com'] = "cl";linkArray['www.diagnosticimaging.com'] = "di";linkArray['www.psychiatrictimes.com'] = "pt";linkArray['www.physicianspractice.com'] = "p2";linkArray['mediakit.ubmmedica.com'] = "ubm";linkArray['hcp.obgyn.net'] = "hcp";linkArray['www.musculoskeletalnetwork.com'] = "msn";linkArray['www.pediatricsconsultantlive.com'] = "ped";//for testinglinkArray['localhost'] = "localhost";var refererrLink = "";try{ referrerLink = linkArray[hostname];}catch (err) //might not be in array{}$jq(document).ready(function() { $jq('#tellfriend').hide(); $jq('a.email').click(function() { //Overlay // get the screen height and width var maskHeight = $jq(document).height(); var maskWidth = $jq(window).width(); // calculate the values for center alignment var dialogTop = (maskHeight/3) - ($jq('#dialog-box').height()); var dialogLeft = (maskWidth/2) - ($jq('#dialog-box').width()/2); // assign values to the overlay and dialog box $jq('#dialog-overlay').css({height:maskHeight, width:maskWidth}).show(); //clear the form $jq('#from').clearForm(); $jq('#to').clearForm(); $jq('#name').clearForm(); $jq('#message_custom').clearForm(); //re-enable the fields $jq('.std_input').removeAttr('disabled'); //but lock out non-editable ones :-) $jq('#subject').attr('disabled','true'); $jq('#message_std').attr('disabled','true'); //hide the loading message $jq('.loading').hide(); $jq('.done').hide(); $jq("#tellfriend").fadeToggle('slow'); }); $jq('#tellfriend a.close').click(function() { //Overlay // get the screen height and width var maskHeight = $jq(document).height(); var maskWidth = $jq(window).width(); // calculate the values for center alignment var dialogTop = (maskHeight/3) - ($jq('#dialog-box').height()); var dialogLeft = (maskWidth/2) - ($jq('#dialog-box').width()/2); // hide the overlay $jq('#dialog-overlay').hide(); //clear the form $jq('#from').clearForm(); $jq('#to').clearForm(); $jq('#name').clearForm(); $jq('#message_custom').clearForm(); //re-enable the fields $jq('.std_input').removeAttr('disabled'); //but lock out non-editable ones :-) $jq('#subject').attr('disabled','true'); $jq('#message_std').attr('disabled','true'); //hide the loading message $jq('.loading').hide(); $jq('.done').hide(); $jq("#tellfriend").fadeToggle('slow'); });});$jq(document).ready(function() { //if submit button is clicked $jq('#submit').click(function () { //Get the data from all the fields var sn = $jq('input[name=sn]'); var se = $jq('input[name=se]'); var re = $jq('input[name=re]'); //remove extra spaces between emails var mc = $jq('textarea[name=mc]'); var ms = $jq('input[name=ms]'); var sub = $jq('input[name=sub]'); //Simple validation to make sure user entered something //If error found, add hightlight class to the text field //Also email address validation on sender and recipient fields var emailReg = /^([\w-\.]+@([\w-]+\.)+[\w-]{2,4})?$/; if (sn.val()=='') { sn.addClass('hightlight'); return false; } else sn.removeClass('hightlight'); if (se.val()=='') { se.addClass('hightlight'); return false; } else if(!emailReg.test(se.val())) { se.addClass('hightlight'); return false; } else se.removeClass('hightlight'); if (re.val()=='') { re.addClass('hightlight'); return false; } else re.removeClass('hightlight'); //strip out whitespace between address var re_clean = re.val().replace(/ /g,''); //need to split values first var recipient_emails = re_clean.split(';') for (i = 0; i< recipient_emails.length; i++) { if(!emailReg.test(recipient_emails[i])) { re.addClass('hightlight'); return false; } } //organize the data properly var data = 'sn=' + sn.val() + '&se=' + se.val() + '&re=' + re.val() + '&mc=' + mc.val() + '&sub=' + sub.val() + '&ms=' + ms.val() + '&referrer=' + referrerLink; //disabled all the text fields $jq('.std_input').attr('disabled','true'); //show the loading sign $jq('.loading').show(); //$jq('.loading').fadeIn('slow'); //start the ajax $jq.ajax({ //this is the php file that processes the data and send mail url: "http://www.musculoskeletalnetwork.com/all/emailfriend.php", //GET method is used type: "GET", //pass the data data: data, //Do not cache the page cache: false, //success success: function (html) { //if process.php returned 1/true (send mail success) //if (html==1) { //hide the form $jq('#tellfriend').fadeOut('slow'); //show the success message $jq('.done').fadeIn('slow'); //if process.php returned 0/false (send mail failed) //} else alert('Sorry, unexpected error. Please try again later.'); } }); //cancel the submit button default behaviours $jq('#dialog-overlay').hide(); return false; });});

Wearing a bicycle helmet is the single most effective safety measure you can take in bike riding. Make sure the helmet fits well and has a label indicating it meets safety requirements.

The STOP Sports Injuries campaign was launched recently by a coalition of organizations to educate athletes, parents, trainers, coaches, and health care professionals about the rapid increase in youth sports injuries currently taking place, the steps needed to reverse the trend, and the need to keep young athletes healthy. Program components include teaching proper prevention techniques and discussing the need for open communication. Featured are public service announcements; a Web site with information about sport-specific injuries; and “The Pledge” with which participants agree to become advocates for sports safety and adopt appropriate preventive measures.

With the introduction of the tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors for RA treatment, there is greater interest in securing the diagnosis early to ensure prompt initiation of therapy.

O'Toole RV, Castillo RC, Pollak AN, et al, University of MarylandSchool of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School ofPublic Health, Baltimore. Determinants of patient satisfactionafter severe lower-extremity injuries. J Bone Joint Surg. 2008;90A:1206-1211.

Many overweight and obese patients believe that they will be able to lose weight with symptom relief and increased activity after successful lumbar decompression surgery, but most maintain or increase their weight and body mass index (BMI). Weight loss may be an unrealistic expectation because obesity is an independent disease.

Corticosteroid injections into the flexor tendon sheath for the management of trigger finger are more effective in patients who do not have diabetes mellitus (DM) than in those who do.

Nishimagi E,Tochimoto A, Kawaguchi Y, et al,Tokyo Women’s Medical University School of Medicine and Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo. Characteristics of patients with early systemic sclerosis and severe gastro intestinal tract involvement.J Rheumatol. 2007;34:2050-2055.