New from PubMed:

Researchers from the medicals schools of the University of Patras and the University of Ioannina in Greece analyzed studies of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) published between 1987 and 2006 to evaluate and compare methodologies and to investigate the possibility of geographic variation in the occurrence of PsA. The country in which the study took place, year of publication, study type, criteria of case identification, and incidence or prevalence rates were identified in order to assess methodological criteria for quality. The researchers found a wide range of study results, both in methodology and incidence rates, but ultimately concluded that the occurrence and epidemiologic profile of PsA likely vary among countries and areas of the world. However, methodological issues make interpreting data across studies difficult. Standardized criteria for diagnosing and classifying cases of PsA would be necessary for more accurate epidemiological investigation of the disease.

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