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Background: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) presents atheroprotective functions not readily reflected by plasma HDL-cholesterol levels. The aim of this study was to investigate HDL antioxidant function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)., Methods: This pilot and cross-sectional study included 50 RA patients and 50 controls matched by age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors and drug therapy. The antioxidant capacity of HDL was assessed by the total radical-trapping antioxidative potential test (TRAP-assay) and the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation by the Conjugated Dienes Assay (D max ). A carotid ultrasound was performed in all participants to detect subclinical atherosclerosis., Results: High-density lipoprotein from RA patients showed lower antioxidant capacity than those from controls [oxidized-LDL%: 35.8 (27-42) vs. 24.4 (20-32), p < .001] when analysed with the TRAP-assay. In addition, the time to achieve 50% of maximal LDL oxidation (Lag-time) was shorter in RA-patients than in matched controls [57.2 (42-71) vs. 69.5 (55-75) minutes, (p = .003)]. RA patients showed a higher atherosclerotic burden than controls. The pro-oxidant pattern in RA was irrespective of the presence of carotid atherosclerosis. On the contrary, there was a positive correlation between inflammatory parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein and fibrinogen) and the loss of HDL-anti-oxidant capacity measured by the TRAP-assay (rho = .211, p = .035; rho = .231, p = .021 and rho = .206, p = .041, respectively). Furthermore, the glucocorticoid dose at recruitment was negatively associated with the Lag-time in RA patients (rho = -.387, p = .026)., Conclusion: Rheumatoid arthritis patients present reduced HDL antioxidant capacity and a lower resistance of LDL particles to oxidation, mainly related to the degree of inflammation., (© 2023 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To determine the most frequently used outcome measures in total knee replacement rehabilitation trials., Literature Survey: Systematic review of randomized trials searched in five databases: Web of Science, MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Scopus, and Cochrane Library., Methodology: Trials were included if participants underwent total knee replacement rehabilitation and outcome measures were used to assess rehabilitation outcomes. A descriptive synthesis determined the frequency of using outcome measures and preferred assessment time points. Outcomes were classified into eight categories: patient- and clinician-reported function, performance-based function, balance, anxiety and depressive symptoms, quality of life, and others., Synthesis: Eighty-one trials were included and 102 different outcome measures were classified. The most frequently reported outcome was knee range of motion, used in 54% of trials, followed by a visual analog scale of pain (43%) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC; 40%). Patient- and clinician-reported function were the categories most frequently assessed (74%), whereas performance-based measures were implemented by 56% of trials. The most frequent assessment time points were 1 week presurgery (52%) and 3 months postsurgery (39%)., Conclusions: There is consensus regarding the need to evaluate functional outcomes in total knee replacement rehabilitation trials but none regarding the outcome measure that should be used. These findings suggest that most trials include patient- and clinician-reported functional measures, along with pain and performance-based measures in trial designs., (© 2019 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.)