BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most prevalent joint disorder. Previous studies suggest that bromelain, a pineapple extract, may be a safer alternative/adjunctive treatment for knee OA than current conventional treatment. AIM To assess the efficacy of bromelain in treating OA of the knee. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. METHODS Subjects (n = 47)...

OBJECTIVE To analyze the association of weight status with anxiety, depression, quality of life and physical fitness in fibromyalgia (FM) patients. METHODS The sample comprised 175 Spanish female FM patients (51.2 ± 7 years). We assessed quality of life by means of the Short-Form-36 Health Survey (SF36) and anxiety and depression by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). W...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is no consensus on the impact of radiographic severity of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) on the clinical outcome of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We assessed whether preoperative radiographic severity of OA is related to improvements in functioning, pain, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 1 year after THA or TKA. PATIEN...

OBJECTIVES To assess whether or not patients receiving rhinoplasties following nasal trauma sought intervention for a functional or cosmetic reason and look at underlying psychosocial influences. METHODS A cross-sectional questionnaire study was performed in the setting of otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinics in the Cambridge University Hospitals. New patients referred to the clinic with na...

The impact on health status of hypnosis was investigated in a primary care NHS GP surgery clinic, with referrals from a Local Health Care Cooperative (LHCC) with 85,000 patients. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF36) pre and post treatment was completed by patients referred with mental health problems, medical problems and for smoking cessation. One hundred and fifteen p...

OBJECTIVE To translate, to make the cultural adaptation and to evaluate reproducibility and validity of the Portuguese version of the AQUAREL (Assessment of QUAlity of life and RELated events) questionnaire, which is a specific tool to assess quality of life in pacemaker patients. METHODS We evaluated 202 pacemaker patients: 63 patients during the cross-cultural adaptation stage and 139 durin...

Industrial wind turbines (IWTs) are a new source of noise in previously quiet rural environments. Environmental noise is a public health concern, of which sleep disruption is a major factor. To compare sleep and general health outcomes between participants living close to IWTs and those living further away from them, participants living between 375 and 1400 m (n = 38) and 3.3 and 6.6 km (n = 41...

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to present the results of the 2 year outcome of I-Stop TOMS™ transobturator sling for post-prostatectomy (UIPP) minor to moderate male urinary incontinence treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective, single center study, including 26 patients with minor to moderate IUPP and operated on using a suburethral sling (MS) TOMS™ (four arms) was performed. UIPP a...

Lifestyle issues including physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and self-reported stress have all been shown to predispose people to higher risk of cardiovascular disease. This study provides further psychometrics on the Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire (SLIQ), a short, easy-to-use instrument which measures all these lifestyle characteristics as a single construct. One...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of age following laparoscopic fundoplication (LF). METHODS From March 1993 to November 1998, 193 patients underwent LF. Patients comprised 150 young individuals (age<60; median 41) and 43 older individuals (age>60; median 68). Follow-up included heartburn scores, dysphagia scores, and quality of life determined b...