Faecal incontinence is likely to occur after PRT and TME, especially when the perineum is irradiated.

In this article the outcomes of three indices for the assessment of reliable change (RCIs) are compared: the null hypothesis method of Chelune, Naugle, Luders, Sedlak, and Awad (1993), the regression-based method of McSweeny, Naugle, Chelune, and Luders (1993), and a recently proposed adjustment to the latter procedure (Maassen, 2003). Simulated data demonstrated the importance of using large control samples. The regression-based method proved to be the most lenient in designating individuals as reliably changed, resulting in the most correct and the most incorrect designations. The adjusted procedure resulted in fewer correct designations and the lowest numbers of incorrect designations. Real-world data showed the same patterns.

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No specific restorative effect of CEA on cognitive functioning was observed. The preoperative impairment in several cognitive domains might be caused by factors that patients with various types of vascular disease might have in common, such as small-vessel disease or other undetected abnormalities within the brain.

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Psychological distress and disease activity are positively associated when measured at the same time as well as when measured 6 months apart. While some support was found for the idea that a higher level of disease activity is a risk factor for an increase in psychological distress, the results do not support the notion that psychological distress is a risk factor for future exacerbation of disease activity.

The study showed no differences in health-related quality of life, but a stronger relation between disease acceptance and health-related quality of life for people without a stoma than for people with a stoma. If this relation is causal, people with negative illness cognitions after rectal cancer treatment might be identified and offered help.

Objective. To clarify whether increase of body weight in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) upon administration of prednisone is a side effect of prednisone or a result of better control of disease activity, we examined the association of prednisone and disease activity with a subsequent change in body mass index (BMI). Methods. In the Computer Assisted Management in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial-II, patients ages >18 years with early RA (disease duration <1 year and no prior use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) had been randomized to a methotrexate (MTX)-based tight control strategy with either 10 mg of prednisone (MTX ؉ prednisone) or placebo (MTX ؉ placebo). The MTX ؉ prednisone group had lower disease activity, but gained more weight than the MTX ؉ placebo group (mean ؎ SD 2.9 ؎ 4.2 kg versus 1.3 ؎ 5.3 kg; P ‫؍‬ 0.03). Data from patients with monthly measurements of disease activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28]) and BMI were analyzed with a longitudinal regression (mixed model) analysis with BMI as the dependent variable and treatment strategy and DAS28 as the independent variables, correcting for baseline BMI and possible confounders (sex, age, and rheumatoid factor status). Results. There was no independent association of glucocorticoid therapy with a change in BMI, but a lower DAS28 was associated with an increased BMI 6 months later. The association of the DAS28 with BMI was most strongly present in postmenopausal women. Clinical cutoff points showed a clear association between DAS28 level and the change in BMI 6 months later. Conclusion. Weight gain during treatment with prednisone seems attributable to a reduction of disease activity and is probably, at least partly, regained weight.