Fish Oil in Rheumatic Diseases
In current practice, dietary interventions and over-the-counter dietary supplements, including fish oil, vitamins, and others, comprise a significant proportion of alternate therapy use. The aim of this article is to…
RHEUMATOLOGY
Mindfulness Meditation: A Primer for Rheumatologists
Over the past decade, there has been an increasing interest in meditation as a mind-body approach, given its potential to alleviate emotional distress and promote improved well being in a…
The Role and Effect of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially those with active disease who often have poorer quality of life and…
Yoga for Arthritis: A Scoping Review
This article reviews the existing literature on using yoga for arthritis. It includes peer-reviewed research from clinical trials (published from 1980 to 2010) that used yoga as an intervention for…
Tai Chi and Rheumatic Diseases
Tai chi is a complex multicomponent mind-body exercise. Many studies have provided evidence that tai chi benefits patients with a variety of chronic disorders. This form of mind-body exercise enhances…
Effectiveness of CAM Therapy: Understanding the Evidence
By definition, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) attempts to diagnose and treat illnesses in unconventional ways. CAM has been classified as: (1) alternative medical systems (eg, traditional Chinese medicine [including…
Perspectives About Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Rheumatology
Complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments are considered nonmainstream therapies. The popularity and widespread usage of CAM reflects the inadequacies of the current understanding and management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal…
Essential Muscle Pathology for the Rheumatologist
This review introduces/refreshes some basic histopathologic methods and findings of skeletal muscle biopsies with emphasis on those diseases commonly encountered in a rheumatologist’s practice. The 3 general areas of myopathology…
Molecular Diagnosis of Myopathies
Neuromuscular diseases (NMD) constitute a group of phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous disorders, characterized by (progressive) weakness and atrophy of proximal and/or distal muscles. The objective of molecular testing is to…
A Primer on Electrophysiologic Studies in Myopathy
Electromyography and nerve conduction studies are the primary electrodiagnostic studies employed in the evaluation of patients with weakness and suspected myopathy. This article discusses the physiologic principles that serve as…
