Position-Cortical Coherence as a Marker of Afferent Pathway Integrity Early Poststroke: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background. Addressing the role of somatosensory impairment, that is, afferent pathway integrity, in poststroke motor recovery may require neurophysiological assessment. Objective. We investigated the longitudinal construct validity of position-cortical coherence (PCC), that is, the agreement between mechanically evoked wrist perturbations and electroencephalography (EEG), as a measure of afferent pathway integrity. Methods. PCC was measured serially in 48 patients after a first-ever ischemic stroke in addition to Fugl-Meyer motor assessment of the upper extremity (FM-UE) and Nottingham Sensory Assessment hand-finger subscores (EmNSA-HF, within 3 and at 5, 12, and 26 weeks poststroke. Changes in PCC over time, represented by percentage presence of PCC (%PCC), mean amplitude of PCC over the affected (Amp-A) and nonaffected hemisphere (Amp-N) and a lateralization index (L-index), were analyzed, as well as their association with FM-UE and EmNSA-HF. Patients were retrospectively categorized based on FM-UE score at baseline and 26 weeks poststroke into high- and low-baseline recoverers and non-recoverers. Results. %PCC increased from baseline to 12 weeks poststroke (β = 1.6%, CI = 0.32% to 2.86%, P = .01), which was no longer significant after adjusting for EmNSA-HF and FM-UE. A significant positive association was found between %PCC, Amp-A, and EmNSA-HF. Low-baseline recoverers (n = 8) showed longitudinally significantly higher %PCC than high-baseline recoverers (n = 23). Conclusions. We demonstrated the longitudinal construct validity of %PCC and Amp-A as a measure of afferent pathway integrity. A high %PCC in low-baseline recoverers suggests that this measure also contains information on cortical excitability. Use of PCC as an EEG-based measure to address the role of somatosensory integrity to motor recovery poststroke requires further attention.

Evidence for Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID12) as Core Instrument to Measure Health-Related Quality of Life in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Review of Psychometric Properties

Objective: To evaluate and update the evidence for the measurement properties of the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID12) questionnaire to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods: The PsAID12 psychometric evidence was gathered in a systematic literature review in PsA (registration number: CRD42016032546). The study quality was appraised using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments–Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (COSMIN-OMERACT) good methods check-list. Content validity, test–retest reliability, construct validity, longitudinal construct validity, discrimination, and thresholds of meaning were appraised. Additional analyses for construct validity, responsiveness, and sensitivity to change were conducted in available observational data sets after prespecified hypotheses were formulated. Results: Eight publications (129-474 patients) were analyzed. The PsAID12 fulfilled OMERACT criteria for content validity (patients and physicians endorsed content match with PsA HRQoL domain), feasibility (endorsed by patients and physicians), and test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.91-0.95). A priori construct validity hypotheses were mostly met: Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease had high correlation with generic ( r = 0.76-0.87) and PsA-specific HRQol measures (0.8), and with measures of physical function (0.66-0.72), work productivity (0.69-0.75), pain (0.83), and fatigue (0.84). Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease had moderate-high correlation with measures of patient global (0.49-0.84) and dermatologic HRQoL (0.36-0.53). Correlations were higher with generic HRQoL measured by short form-36 physical component score (0.47-0.73) versus short form-36 mental component score (0.22-0.60). Three studies confirmed known group validity of PsAID12 according to PsA disease activity. Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease discriminated between change groups in 2 longitudinal studies (standardized response mean: 0.74-0.91, 53 and 105 patients). The minimal clinically important improvement was 3 and 1.4 points. Conclusion: Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease had evidence for good content and construct validity, reliability, and longitudinal construct validity and is ready to evaluate in clinical trials.

Longitudinal validity of using digital hand photographs for assessing hand osteoarthritis progression over 7 years in community-dwelling older adults with hand pain

Background To determine the longitudinal construct validity of assessing hand OA progression on digital photographs over 7 years compared with progression determined from radiographs, clinical features and change in symptoms. Methods Participants were community-dwelling older adults (≥50 years) in North Staffordshire, UK. Standardized digital hand photographs were taken at baseline and 7 years, and hand joints graded for OA severity using an established photographic atlas. Radiographic hand OA was assessed using the Kellgren and Lawrence grading system. Hand examination determined the presence of nodes, bony enlargement and deformity. Symptoms were reported in self-complete questionnaires. Radiographic and clinical progression and change in symptoms were compared to photographic progression. Differences were examined using analysis of covariance and Chi-Square tests. Results Of 253 individuals (61% women, mean age 63 years) the proportion with photographic progression at the joint and joint group-level was higher in individuals with radiographic or clinical progression compared to those without, although differences were not statistically significant. At the person-level, those with moderate photographic progression over 7 years had significantly higher summed radiographic and clinical scores (adjusted for baseline scores) compared to those with no or mild photographic progression. Similar findings were observed for change in symptoms, although differences were small and not statistically significant. Conclusion Assessing hand OA on photographs shows modest longitudinal construct validity over 7 years compared with change in radiographic and clinical hand OA at the person-level. Using photographs to assess overall long-term change in a person with hand OA may be a reasonable alternative when hand examinations and radiographs are not feasible.

Longitudinal validity of using digital hand photographs for assessing hand osteoarthritis progression over 7 years in community-dwelling older adults with hand pain

Background : To determine the longitudinal construct validity of assessing hand OA progression on digital photographs over 7 years compared with progression determined from radiographs, clinical features and change in symptoms. Methods: Participants were community-dwelling older adults (≥50 years) in North Staffordshire, UK. Standardized digital hand photographs were taken at baseline and 7 years, and hand joints graded for OA severity using an established photographic atlas. Radiographic hand OA was assessed using the Kellgren and Lawrence grading system. Hand examination determined the presence of nodes, bony enlargement and deformity. Symptoms were reported in self-complete questionnaires. Radiographic and clinical progression and change in symptoms were compared to photographic progression. Differences were examined using analysis of covariance and Chi-Square tests. Results: Of 253 individuals (61% women, mean age 63 years) the proportion with photographic progression at the joint and joint group-level was higher in individuals with radiographic or clinical progression compared to those without, although differences were not statistically significant. At the person-level, those with moderate photographic progression over 7 years had significantly higher summed radiographic and clinical scores (adjusted for baseline scores) compared to those with no or mild photographic progression. Similar findings were observed for change in symptoms, although differences were small and not statistically significant. Conclusion: Assessing hand OA on photographs shows modest longitudinal construct validity over 7 years compared with change in radiographic and clinical hand OA at the person-level. Using photographs to assess overall long-term change in a person with hand OA may be a reasonable alternative when hand examinations and radiographs are not feasible.

Longitudinal validity of using digital hand photographs for assessing hand osteoarthritis progression over 7 years in community-dwelling older adults with hand pain

Background : To determine the longitudinal construct validity of assessing hand OA progression on digital photographs over 7 years compared with progression determined from radiographs, clinical features and change in symptoms. Methods: Participants were community-dwelling older adults (≥50 years) in North Staffordshire, UK. Standardized digital hand photographs were taken at baseline and 7 years, and hand joints graded for OA severity using an established photographic atlas. Radiographic hand OA was assessed using the Kellgren and Lawrence grading system. Hand examination determined the presence of nodes, bony enlargement and deformity. Symptoms were reported in self-complete questionnaires. Radiographic and clinical progression and change in symptoms were compared to photographic progression. Differences were examined using analysis of covariance and Chi-Square tests. Results: Of 253 individuals (61% women, mean age 63 years) the proportion with photographic progression at the joint and joint group-level was higher in individuals with radiographic or clinical progression compared to those without, although differences were not statistically significant. At the person-level, those with moderate photographic progression over 7 years had significantly higher summed radiographic and clinical scores (adjusted for baseline scores) compared to those with no or mild photographic progression. Similar findings were observed for change in symptoms, although differences were small and not statistically significant. Conclusion: Assessing hand OA on photographs shows modest longitudinal construct validity over 7 years compared with change in radiographic and clinical hand OA at the person-level. Using photographs to assess overall long-term change in a person with hand OA may be a reasonable alternative when hand examinations and radiographs are not feasible.

Longitudinal validity of using digital hand photographs for assessing hand osteoarthritis progression over 7 years in community-dwelling older adults with hand pain

Background: To determine the longitudinal construct validity of assessing hand OA progression on digital photographs over 7 years compared with progression determined from radiographs, clinical features and change in symptoms. Methods: Participants were community-dwelling older adults (≥50 years) in North Staffordshire, UK. Standardized digital hand photographs were taken at baseline and 7 years, and hand joints graded for OA severity using an established photographic atlas. Radiographic hand OA was assessed using the Kellgren and Lawrence grading system. Hand examination determined the presence of nodes, bony enlargement and deformity. Symptoms were reported in self-complete questionnaires. Radiographic and clinical progression and change in symptoms were compared to photographic progression. Differences were examined using analysis of covariance and Chi-Square tests. Results: Of 253 individuals (61% women, mean age 63 years) the proportion with photographic progression at the joint and joint group-level was higher, though not statistically significantly, in those with radiographic or clinical progression compared to those without. At the person-level, those with moderate photographic progression over 7 years had significantly higher summed radiographic and clinical scores after adjustment for baseline scores compared to those with no or mild photographic progression. Similar findings were observed for change in symptoms, although differences were small and not statistically significant. Conclusion: Assessing hand OA on photographs shows modest longitudinal construct validity over 7 years compared with change in radiographic and clinical hand OA at the person-level. Using hand photographs for determining long-term change may be a reasonable alternative when hand examinations and radiographs are not feasible.

Feasibility and Construct Validation of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System in Systemic Vasculitis

Objective.The Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is a collection of item banks of self-reported health. This study assessed the feasibility and construct validity of using PROMIS instruments in vasculitis.Methods.Data from a multicenter longitudinal cohort of subjects with systemic vasculitis were used. Instruments from 10 PROMIS item banks were selected with direct involvement of patients. Subjects completed PROMIS instruments using computer adaptive testing (CAT). The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) was also administered. Cross-sectional construct validity was assessed by calculating correlations of PROMIS scores with SF-36 measures and physician and patient global scores for disease activity. Longitudinal construct validity was assessed by correlations of between-visit differences in PROMIS scores with differences in other measures.Results.During the study period, 973 subjects came for 2306 study visits and the PROMIS collection was completed at 2276 (99%) of visits. The median time needed to complete each PROMIS instrument ranged from 40 to 55 s. PROMIS instruments correlated cross-sectionally with individual scales of the SF-36, most strongly with subscales of the SF-36 addressing the same domain as the PROMIS instrument. For example, PROMIS fatigue correlated with both the physical component score (PCS; r = −0.65) and with the mental component score (MCS; r = −0.54). PROMIS physical function correlated strongly with PCS (r = 0.81) but weakly with MCS (r = 0.29). Weaker correlations were observed longitudinally between change in PROMIS scores with change in PCS and MCS.Conclusion.Collection of data using CAT PROMIS instruments is feasible among patients with vasculitis and has some cross-sectional and longitudinal construct validity.

Validity of the rheumatoid arthritis MRI score applied to the forefeet using the OMERACT filter: a systematic literature review

ObjectiveMRI depicts inflammation and structural damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The validity of MRI-scoring of wrist-joints and metacarpophalangeal-joints according to the RA MRI score(RAMRIS) has been demonstrated. The Outcomes in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) RAMRIS Working Group recently called for validation of the RAMRIS of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP)-joints. Therefore, a systematic literature review was performed to test if the RAMRIS applied to the MTP-joints meets the OMERACT Filter of Truth, Discrimination and Feasibility.MethodsMedical literature databases up to January 2018 were systematically reviewed for studies reporting on RAMRIS applied to MRI of the MTP-joints in RA. To be included, an article had to contain at least one MRI-feature (synovitis, bone marrow oedema (BME), tenosynovitis, erosion, joint space narrowing (JSN)) and one item from the OMERACT Filter: Truth (face, content and construct validity), Discrimination (test-retest reliability, ability to discriminate in trials, longitudinal construct validity and thresholds of meaning) and Feasibility.ResultsOf the 749 retrieved studies, 13 were included, of which 9 provided data on construct validity, 4 on discrimination (3 on reliability, 2 on longitudinal construct validity and 1 on ability to discriminate in trials) and none on feasibility. Construct validity was suggested for BME and erosions, but lacking for synovitis, tenosynovitis and JSN. Data for discrimination remain to be developed for all outcomes.ConclusionAccording to the OMERACT Filter, the validity of the RAMRIS of the forefeet is insufficient in different aspects. A research agenda was determined.