There were 1,153 patients with 231, 532 and 390 in groups I, II and III, respectively. The mean disease durations were 25, 12 and 4.8 years, respectively. The majority was female (84.1 %) and Chinese (76.6 %) with no socio-demographic

differences across the three periods. The age of onset rises and the prevalence of rheumatoid factor falls with the proximity of disease onset. Patients with most recent disease onset had the earliest access to the rheumatologist. They also had the highest tender and swollen CHIR-99021 mw joint counts, lowest deformed joint count and highest remission rate. Patients in group I report better mental and emotional QoL though many developed marked disability. We have documented changes of the manifestations of RA that are dependent and independent of improved treatment. Significant differences in accessibility to the rheumatologist, RA activity, functional capacity, quality of life and comorbidities were seen in subsequent cohorts due to treatment evolution and more efficient healthcare delivery.”
“To evaluate bone loss in the early- and late-stage ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients using posteroanterior (PA) and lateral lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) measurement methods. Eighty-six AS patients and 50 this website control

subjects were enrolled. PA spine, lateral spine, and femur BMD values of patients and controls were measured. The presence of any syndesmophytes or compression fractures was determined. Patients were divided as early (< 10 years) and late stage (a parts per thousand yen10 years) according to the onset of the inflammatory pain. Mean PA spinal BMD was similar in patients and controls (p = 0.460). Femoral and lateral spine BMD

values were significantly lower in patients (p = 0.012 and p = 0.001). When comparing early- and late-stage AS groups, mean PA spinal BMD was found to be lower in the early group (p = 0.005), while femoral and lateral spinal values were lower (although statistically not significant) in the late group. At least one compression fracture was present in 28 % of patients. Although not statistically significant, mean PA spinal BMD was higher in those with fractures. Femoral and lateral spinal BMD values were significantly lower 10058-F4 in the fracture group (p = 0.034 and p = 0.004). Lateral spinal BMD values were significantly lower in patients with syndesmophytes (p = 0.004). Bone loss is increased in AS compared with control subjects. The BMD measurement at the lateral lumbar spine reflects bone loss and fracture risk better than PA spine and femoral measurements.”
“We assessed quality of life (QOL) and disease activity in patients with Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) of Turkish ancestry living in Germany or Turkey and conducted a correlation with FMF disease activity.