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Biomedical subjects

U Simpson

Publications and source records attributed to U Simpson.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Running, osteoarthritis, and bone density: initial 2-year longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to present the 2-year follow-up results examining associations of repetitive long-term physical impact (running) with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis in 34 members of a running club now aged 52 to 74 years and 34 matched control subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Roentgenograms of the hands, lateral lumbar spine, and knees were assessed in pairs (1984 and 1986) without knowledge of running status. Computerized scans of the first lumbar vertebrae were obtained to quantify bone mineral. RESULTS: A decrease in bone density over the 2-year period was statistically significant for nearly all subjects, especially for runners who decreased their running habits. At the 2-year follow-up, runners maintained greater bone density. Progression of the roentgenographic scores for osteoarthritis demonstrated a statistically significant increase in almost all groups in this normative population over the 2-year period. Female runners had more spur formation in the weight-bearing knee roentgenograms than did control subjects. CONCLUSION: With the possible exception of spur formation in women, running did not appear to influence the development of radiologic osteoarthritis in the populations studied.

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Osteoarthritis in the hand: a comparison of handedness and hand use.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand has been suggested to be the result of "wear" and "tear." If so, OA should develop more frequently in the dominant hand. We compared dominant with nondominant hands of 134 consecutive community subjects aged 53-75 by questionnaire, radiographs of hands, and rheumatologic evaluation. Mean age was 60 years, 93% were right handed, and 95% were in occupations classified as nonphysical. Subjects estimated dominant hand use of 2-10 times the amount of the nondominant hand. OA was found in 133 of 134 subjects. No radiologic or clinical differences were found between the dominant and nondominant hands. Twenty-six subjects who self-reported heavier lifetime hand use had somewhat greater clinical and hand radiographic OA scores than the 36 subjects reporting lighter hand use (43.5 vs 34.5) (p less than 0.01). In our study population, OA was not more prevalent in the dominant hand.

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The social function of young adults who had arthritis in childhood.

One hundred twenty-one young adults 18 years of age or older who had been seen at this hospital with juvenile arthritis since 1955 were surveyed by a series of questionnaires to determine current social function and financial status. Chart reviews and patient questionnaires were used to determine modes of onset and the social circumstances of the family at the onset of the arthritis. The patients as a whole were functioning well: 45 were working full time, 25 were in school full time, 23 were in school and working, and 14 were married women at home. Females had a higher prevalence of persisting disability. Patients who had had a polyarticular onset had lower monthly salaries. No other disease or social variables at onset were statistically associated with any of the outcome variables measured. Fifty of the patients were compared to matched siblings and were found to have achieved comparable educations and salaries, and proportionate numbers of marriages and children.

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