Work disability from rheumatoid arthritis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
Biomedical subjects
Michael Ahern
Publications and source records attributed to Michael Ahern.
The use of combined immunohistochemical labeling and in situ hybridization to colocalize mRNA and protein in tissue sections.
This chapter explores the combination of a nonradioactive in situ hybridization technique to detect mRNA with an imunnohistochemical labeling technique for use in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, or frozen tissue sections. This technique allows the combination of detecting mRNA by in situ hybridization with immunohistochemical detection of a protein product or a cell surface marker without using any radioactive procedures. This technique is ideal for use on tissue sections when the aim is to identify which cells are producing a secreted protein product, such as a cytokine.
Fixatives↗
Treatment of cryoglobulinemia associated peripheral neuropathy with rituximab.
We describe a man with hepatitis C virus related cryoglobulinemic vasculitis that was resistant to combination treatment of prednisolone, interferon-alpha, and ribavirin, and that went into remission after treatment with rituximab.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
Measuring grip strength in normal adults: reference ranges and a comparison of electronic and hydraulic instruments.
PURPOSE: To determine reference ranges for peak, average, and final adult grip strength over 10 seconds by using an electronic dynamometer, and to compare results from hydraulic and electronic dynamometers. METHODS: The hand-grip strengths of 476 healthy adult subjects were tested using the electronic (Grippit; AB Detektor, Goteborg, Sweden) and hydraulic (Jamar; Smith and Nephew, Memphis, TN) dynamometers. RESULTS: Age- and gender-specific reference ranges for the Jamar and Grippit dynamometers are presented. Bland-Altman analysis of the differences between the results obtained using the 2 instruments revealed a bias (mean difference) of 22 N (Jamar - Grippit) and limits of agreement of -86 to 129 N (mean +/- 2 SD), which indicates that grip measurements may vary by up to 215 N between instruments. CONCLUSIONS: The study yielded population reference ranges of peak, average, and final strength over a 10-second grip assessment using an electronic dynamometer. Results from the Grippit and Jamar dynamometers are similar; however, the dynamometers cannot be interchanged. The Grippit provides information about endurance and fatigue of grip over 10 seconds, showing differences between right- and left-dominant adults.
Adolescent↗
Comparing the AUSCAN Osteoarthritis Hand Index, Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire, and Sequential Occupational Dexterity Assessment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE: The Australian Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN), Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ), and the Sequential Occupational Dexterity Assessment (SODA) are assessments of hand function. Investigation of psychometric properties, administration, acceptability, and content of an assessment add strength to the findings of research and treatment. We evaluated the validity and reliability of the AUSCAN, MHQ, and the SODA for assessing disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Sixty-two patients with RA completed the AUSCAN (visual analog scale version), the MHQ, and the SODA. Seventeen patients repeated the assessments within one week. RESULTS: The assessments recorded high variability within the sample of 62 patients with RA. The AUSCAN and MHQ provided patient and context-specific information, while the SODA provided more impairment information that could be readily compared between patients. Seventeen patients were tested twice within 5 days, showing good reliability of all assessments. Unlike the MHQ, AUSCAN and SODA do not provide information about individual hands or hand dominance. The physical function scales of the AUSCAN and the SODA were related (r = 0.81), and the AUSCAN and MHQ pain scales were related (r = 0.68). CONCLUSION: Clinicians and researchers should decide whether impairment, ability, or handicap outcome is the goal of assessment, and whether bilateral function or the function of one hand is of interest before choosing a hand assessment. The AUSCAN and MHQ are valid and reliable for assessment of hand disability in patients with RA, and they allow the patients to answer questions about their home environment. The SODA is also valid and reliable for assessing disability in a clinical situation that cannot be generalized to the home.
Activities of Daily Living↗
A visual analogue scale for assessment of the impact of rheumatoid arthritis in the hand: validity and repeatability.
A visual analogue scale was developed by French rheumatologists to measure the impact caused by rheumatoid arthritis of the hand (VAS-Hand). This article reports the use of the measure. First, the validity of the VAS-Hand was investigated by interviewing patients to understand how they interpreted and answered these questions. Second, the measure was compared with disability, pain, and impairment measures to determine whether it provided additional information. Finally, the repeatability of the measure was defined as within 1.5 points out of ten. The visual analogue scale of handicap from rheumatoid arthritis of the hand provides different information than do health status or disability questionnaires, or strength and motion assessment. The responsiveness of the VAS-Hand is under investigation in a longitudinal study.
Activities of Daily Living↗