View clinical trials related to Joint Diseases.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to describe changes in vitamin D parameters before, during and after a well-defined elective surgical trauma (knee arthroplasty) and to compare these changes to other steroid hormones (testosterone and oestrogens). The hypothesis is that profound changes in free and total vitamin D will occur as a result of changes between intravascular vs extravascular protein compartments during surgical trauma.
This study evaluates the pathophysiological effects of a single dose methylprednisolone administered prior to total knee-arthroplasty surgery (TKA). The investigators examine the effect on the endothelial glycocalyx shedding due to surgical trauma. Half of participants will receive intravenous Solu-Medrol 125 mg, while the other half will receive placebo. The investigators hypothesize that the group receiving methylprednisolone will experience reduction in glycocalyx degradation compared to the placebo-group, early after TKA.
This study evaluates the pathophysiological effects of a single dose of methylprednisolone administered prior to total knee-arthroplasty surgery. The investigators examine the effect on complement activation. Half of participants will receive intravenous Solu-Medrol 125 mg, while the other half will receive placebo. The investigators hypothesize that the group receiving methylprednisolone will experience beneficial inhibition of the undesirable parts of the complement activation.
This study evaluates the pathophysiological effects of a single dose of Methylprednisolone administered prior to total hip- and knee-arthroplasty surgery. The investigators examine the effect on blood glucose homeostasis. Half of participants will receive intravenous Solu-Medrol 125 mg, while the other half will receive placebo. The investigators hypothesize that the glucose homeostasis remains equally stable in the group receiving Methylprednisolone as in the group receiving placebo.
Purpose: 1) To investigate differences in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in the circulating blood (and cytokine levels only in saliva) of patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) before and after acupuncture; 2) To determine differences in cytokine profiles between real and sham acupuncture in circulating blood of patients with chronic TMD; and 3) To explore correlations between these changes and clinical outcomes. Participants: Patients with chronic TMD pain recruited through the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Orofacial Pain Clinic. Procedures (methods): Participants will complete a self-administered questionnaire assessing TMD-related comorbidity. During the initial visit, study examiners will record clinical characteristics of muscles and joints of the head, neck and body according to newly recommended diagnostic criteria (DC) for TMD. Clinical outcomes include a pain index (computed from numeric rating scales) of masseter, temporalis and the supplemental painful muscles, and patient-reported symptoms (using the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile; MYMOP) and pain intensity (using the Pain Scale). Blood (5 cc) will be taken before and after acupuncture treatments. Participants will self-collect pre-treatment and post-treatment saliva samples. Patients will receive 4 acupuncture treatments, once per week for 4 weeks. The primary outcome measure is change in IL-8 levels in circulating blood and saliva after 4 weeks of real acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture. Secondary outcome measures include comparing changes in levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα),vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and IL-1α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10, before and after real acupuncture at Week 1 compared with sham acupuncture and before and after real acupuncture at Week 4 compared with sham acupuncture. The exploratory outcome measure is correlation between changes in cytokine levels and clinical variables after 4 weeks of real acupuncture compared with 4 weeks of sham acupuncture.
This study evaluates the pathophysiological effects of a single dose Methylprednisolone administered prior to total knee-arthroplasty (TKA). The investigators examine the effect on thigh muscle function to evaluate the efficacy of Methylprednisolone on knee-extension strength at discharge after TKA. Half of participants will receive intravenous Solu-Medrol 125 mg, while the other half will receive placebo. The investigators hypothesize that the group receiving Methylprednisolone will experience smaller loss of knee-extension strength compared to the placebo-group, early after TKA.
To assess the hypothesis that Charcot foot is associated with more vascular complications compared to matched diabetic patients without Charcot foot and to classify patients with Charcot foot according to the human genetic classification of the Qatari population.
Physical activity is an essential first-line treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, a 2013 systematic review found only 13% met the activity recommendation of 150 minutes or more per week. The primary goal of this randomized controlled trail is to assess the efficacy of a physical activity counseling model, involving a group education session, the use of Fitbit Flex (a wireless physical activity tracking device), and online/telephone coaching by a physiotherapist (PT), to improve physical activity and reduce sedentary time in patients with knee OA. Engaging in regular physical activity can have the additional benefit of improving cognitive functioning.
MicroPort Orthopedics (MPO) is conducting this PMCF study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its THA and resurfacing components marketed in the EU. These types of studies are required by regulatory authorities for all THA and resurfacing devices that do not have medium to long-term clinical evidence available at the time of gaining approval to market in the EU. This study has been designed in accordance with MEDDEV 2.12/2 rev 2.
MicroPort Orthopedics (MPO) is conducting this post market clinical follow-up (PMCF) study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its total hip arthroplasty (THA) and resurfacing components marketed in the European Union (EU). These types of studies are required by regulatory authorities for all THA and resurfacing devices that do not have medium to long-term clinical evidence available at the time of gaining approval to market in the EU. This study has been designed in accordance with the medial device directives (MEDDEV) 2.12/2 rev 2.