Universal School-Based Intervention Does Not Reduce Socioeconomic Inequalities in Weight Status among Adolescents

Background: Differences in weight status by socioeconomic position occur during adolescence and is known as weight social gradient (WSG). The PRALIMAP (Promotion de l'ALIMentation et de l'Activité Physique) trial highlighted that a universal intervention was effective in reducing overweight and obesity prevalence among adolescents. However, its ability to reduce the WSG is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the PRALIMAP intervention on the WSG among adolescents. Methods: Data were obtained from 3504 adolescents who participated in the school-based PRALIMAP trial between 2006 and 2009. The PRALIMAP study consisted of three interventional strategies: educational, environmental, screening and care. Weight status was assessed by body mass index (BMI) z-score and overweight and obesity prevalence. The "indice de position sociale des élèves" was used to measure adolescents' socioeconomic status. Linear regression and hierarchical models were used to assess the WSG and its evolution, respectively. Results: Among all adolescents (14-18 years old), significant WSG was identified at baseline: BMI z-score (β = -0.06; p < 0.0001), overweight and obesity prevalence (β = -2.86; p < 0.0001). Overall, the intervention conferred no significant reduction in the WSG: BMI z-score (β = -0.01 [-0.02 to 0.01], p = 0.48), overweight and obesity prevalence (β = -0.01 [-0.07 to 0.05], p = 0.73). Similar results were observed for adolescents whatever the interventional strategy they benefited from in the PRALIMAP trial. Conclusions: This study provided no evidence that the PRALIMAP universal intervention was effective in reducing the socioeconomic inequalities in weight status among adolescents. Different interventions that account for social differences should be considered to tackle these inequalities.

Ocular Toxoplasmosis: Therapy-Related Adverse Drug Reactions and Their Management

Background There are different treatment options for ocular toxoplasmosis (OT). "Classic" therapy consists of pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine and folinic acid combined with systemic steroids and is still widely used. However, potentially severe side effects of this therapy have been reported. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the incidence and types of adverse drug reactions in patients treated for OT. Clinical management of each adverse drug reaction was assessed. Patients and Methods In this retrospective analysis, we reviewed data of patients with OT, who were consecutively examined between December 2011 and December 2015 at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich. Results In total, 49 patients had at least one episode of active OT. In 54 (83.0 %) of 65 treated episodes, the classic regimen was used. Of the 37 patients who received classic treatment, 9 (24.3 %) developed at least one adverse drug reaction which led to drug discontinuation, including elevated creatinine (5.4 %), elevated liver enzymes (5.4 %), vomiting (5.4 %), rash (5.4 %) and facial swelling (2.7 %). In 5 patients, treatment was switched to another drug, while in the other 4 patients, therapy was stopped. In these 9 patients, inflammation was well controlled 8 weeks after onset of therapy. No patient suffered from severe side effects, such as potentially life-threatening allergic reactions or pancytopenia. Conclusions In OT patients who were treated with classic therapy, adverse drug reactions are common. Therefore, clinical and laboratory monitoring is mandatory. Adverse drug reactions may require interdisciplinary management.

[Diagnosis and pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment of fibromyalgia. Compendium of the best evidence]

Chronic generalized musculoskeletal pain is one of the most common reasons for consultation in daily medical practice, and it poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Fibromyalgia is one of the so-called central sensitization syndromes, mainly characterized by generalized pain in the musculoskeletal system. Fibromyalgia diagnosis is basically clinical, and it should be considered whenever patients complain of generalized pain. Patients with chronic inflammatory diseases may also suffer from fibromyalgia, and this condition may be the reason for the pain they complain of in medical consultations. The aim of this review paper has been to provide our readers with a summary of the best available evidence about this disease based upon an updated review of scientific literature on fibromyalgia aspects, such as its diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, clinical profile and differential diagnosis, followed by an ample systematic review of its pharmacological and non-pharmacological aspects. This systematic review analyses the multidisciplinary aspects in which sufficient evidence was found in the two strongest types of clinical research design, 1) controlled clinical trials and 2) systematic reviews or meta-analysis. This review was developed by a group of Latin American specialists from several countries, recognized as a group of experts in fibromyalgia study.

A double-blind, randomized, controlled study of amitriptyline, nortriptyline and placebo in patients with fibromyalgia. An analysis of outcome measures

OBJECTIVE

To study the efficacy and tolerability of amitriptyline and nortriptyline in a Brazilian population with fibromyalgia and to evaluate the instruments used to measure the efficacy of the treatment.

METHODS

A total of 118 fibromyalgia patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: amitriptyline (AM, n = 40), nortriptyline (NOR, n =38) and placebo (PL, n = 40), and were blindly given 25 mg at bedtime of the assigned treatment for 8 weeks. Clinical evaluation before and at the end of the study included the number of tender points (NTP), FIQ score (FIQ), and global improvement as reported by the patients on a verbal scale (VSGI).

RESULTS

The 3 groups were comparable at baseline for all the parameters studied. After 8 weeks, the 3 groups improved in all parameters: (36.5% AM, 26.7% NOR and 24% PL patients improved on FIQ; 13.9% AM, 19.5% NOR and 8.57% PL patients improved on NTP; 86.5% AM, 72.2% NOR and 57.6% PL patients improved on VSGI). Only the AM group differed from the PL group on VSGI. Side effects were noted among the groups, but none were serious (16 in the AM group, 31 in the NOR group, and 25 in the PL group).

CONCLUSION

All three groups improved after treatment. Only the patient's subjective global assessment of improvement differed between the AM patients and the PL group (p < or = 0.03). In fibromyalgia, placebo groups are important in drug trials. Different measures of therapeutic effect are not better than the patient's self assessment.

The pervasiveness of the illness suffered by workers seeking compensation for disabling arm pain

Disability from work-related arm pain has become prevalent in several countries in recent years. Many of these individuals present with chronic musculoskeletal symptoms that, for lack of a more specific diagnosis, are often labeled as a repetitive strain injury or cumulative trauma disorder. Indemnity for such conditions can be contentious; many of these sufferers are involved in litigation in their quest for financial compensation for temporary or permanent disability. This article describes our experience with 103 patients referred to a Health Reference Center for Workers for the management of repetitive strain injury. Their illness is far more global than the work-related arm pain that such labeling implies. From the total group, 73 fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia Syndrome. This means that they were suffering pain above and below the diaphragm, far from the arm pain for which they were referred. These 73 patients were clinically and psychologically indistinguishable from 165 patients followed in our clinic at the Federal University of São Paulo, Rheumatology Division, who also fulfilled these criteria but did not consider their illness work-related. This observation calls for longitudinal investigations that might offer insights as to whether the more global aspects of the illness are antecedent, coincident, or confounding aspects of the illness experience labeled repetitive strain injury or cumulative trauma disorder.

Upper-extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in Keyboard Operators in Brazil: A Cross-sectional Study

This study sought to determine the prevalence of upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) among keyboard operators in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and to compare this prevalence with that among other office workers. One hundred and thirty keyboard operators (mean age 33 years, 60 male/70 female) and 138 office workers (mean age 35 years, 82 male/56 female) from two computing centers were interviewed by a research assistant using a standardized questionnaire. Symptomatic subjects, defined as those who reported upper extremity pain or lost work time due to pain in the preceding 12 months, were examined by a rheumatologist. Mean (SD) lengths of employment were 9 (6) years for keyboard operators and 8 (6) years for office workers. Upper-extremity pain during the preceding seven days was reported by 66 keyboard operators (51%) and by 18 office workers (13%) (p < 0.0001); during the preceding 12 months, by 90 keyboard operators (69%) and by 26 office workers (19%) (p < 0.0001). UEMSDs were diagnosed following physical examination in 50 keyboard operators and in 12 office workers (9%) (p < 0.0001). Tenosynovitis was the most common disorder diagnosed among the keyboard operators (n = 23). Among the keyboard operators the prevalence of UEMSDs was significantly lower for males (p = 0.017, OR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.17-0.86). The presence of a diagnosed UEMSD was significantly associated with duration of employment (p = 0.005) and lack of or insufficient rest breaks (p = 0.012). Keyboard operators had significantly more UEMSDs than did office workers. Strategies aimed at the reduction of repetitive strain injuries among keyboard operators, such as the provision of adequate work breaks, should be evaluated.

Combination therapy with methotrexate and chloroquine in rheumatoid arthritis. A multicenter randomized placebo-controlled trial

To compare the efficacy of the combination therapy Methotrexate (MTX) and Chloroquine (CHLO) with MTX and Placebo (PLA) in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. A total of 82 patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria, received orally either MTX 7.5 mg/week and CHLO 250 mg/day or MTX 7.5 mg/week and PLA 1 tablet/day. Adverse effects (AE) were monitored monthly and disease activity was assessed at 0, 2, 4 and 6 months. Sixty-eight patients completed the study. All outcome measures improved significantly in both treatment groups. Patients receiving MTX/CHLO ended the study with a significantly lower joint count, greater grip strength and better functional ability the patients in the MTX/PLA group, respectively; 4.5 vs 7.5 (P < 0.05), 113.3 vs 89.1 (P < 0.05) and 0.636 vs 0.811 (P < 0.05). Mild AE were more frequently observed in the MTX/CHLO, 17 events in 15 patients, compared to 9 events in 8 patients in the MTX/PLA group (NS). These data indicate that MTX/CHLO is slightly more efficacious and toxic than is MTX/PLA in the treatment of RA.