Rheum Round-up: Vitamin D, Omega-3s, and Strength Training All Come Up Short, and Much More

Vitamin D, Omega-3 Fatty Acid, or Strength Training: Which Is Best for Healthy Older Adults? The Answer, None of the Above

A study questioning which intervention—vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acid, or strength training, alone or in combination—was best for older adults without existing comorbidities to improve clinical outcomes found that none of the interventions were effective. The six primary outcomes were change in systolic and diagnostic blood pressure (BP), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and incidence rates (IRs) of nonvertebral fractures and infections. In both the vitamin D versus no vitamin D and omega-3s versus no omega-3s, the difference in mean change in systolic BP was –0.8 mm Hg, while for diastolic BP, the difference in mean change between omega-3s versus no omega-3s was –0.5 mm Hg. The difference in mean change in IR of infections between omega-3s versus no omega-3s was –0.13; the IR ratio was 0.89. The interventions did not appear to impact SPPB, MoCA, and IR of nonvertebral fractures. Twenty-five patients died, with similar mortality rates among all the treatment groups.

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https://www.docwirenews.com/condition-center/orthopedicscc/orthopedics-center-picks/vitamin-d-omega-3-fatty-acid-or-strength-training-which-is-best-for-healthy-older-adults-the-answer-none-of-the-above/

Twitter Became A Platform for Patients with Arthritis During the COVID-19 Pandemic

A group of researchers analyzed how people with arthritis have utilized Twitter to discuss how they’re feeling during the pandemic. The researchers searched Twitter for publicly available tweets posted in English that used hashtag combinations pertaining to arthritis and COVID-19 The hashtags that garnered the most tweets were #coronavirus, #covid19, #arthritis, and #spoonie. (According to the researchers, #spoonie was “coined by people living with chronic illness to describe various methods of pain management.”) Seven themes were identified: (1) healthcare experiences; (2) personal stories; (3) links to, or advertisements of, relevant blogs and forums; (4) discussion of arthritis-related symptoms; (5) advice seeking and sharing; (6) messages of positivity; and (7) stay-at-home messaging.

https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/twitter-became-a-platform-for-patients-with-arthritis-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Racial Disparities in TKA Complications May Differ Between Unilateral Versus Bilateral Surgeries

The researchers of a study presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting found that while disparities persisted in utilization of bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between Black and White patients, they may not in terms of complication rates. “In our retrospective analysis, we found the utilization rate of bilateral knee replacement was much lower in African American patients compared to white patients,” said Bella Mehta, MBBS, a rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, who presented the findings, according to a press release. “On the other hand, although African Americans having unilateral knee replacement have been shown to have higher in-hospital complication rates compared to white patients, this pattern was not consistent for bilateral knee replacement during the time period we studied.”

https://www.docwirenews.com/urban-health-today/urban-health-picks/racial-disparities-in-tka-complications-may-differ-between-unilateral-versus-bilateral-surgeries/

Interview: How CITRELOCK Uses Cutting Edge Technology to Improve Orthopedic Surgery

The FDA recently approved Acuitive Technology’s CITRELOCK Interference Screw System with CITREGEN material technology, a new generation thermoset bioresorbable synthetic polymer. The system is designed to attach tissue during orthopedic surgery. What makes the CITRELOCK system unique is the use of CITREGEN material technology, Mike McCarthy, managing partner, Acuitive, explained to DocWire News. “This is the most exciting technology we have affiliated with,” McCarthy said. “We think this by far has so much potential beyond what we’ve done in the past.”

https://www.docwirenews.com/condition-center/orthopedicscc/orthopedics-center-picks/interview-how-citrelock-uses-cutting-edge-technology-to-improve-orthopedic-surgery/