Gone are the days when the physician could act as God, the orthopaedic surgeon as the Lord God and the nurses as minister ing angels. The concept of a team approach with each discipline supplying special yet overlapping skills is accepted in principle, although not always in practice. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists resist integration of their training among the hierarchy; however, on the ground, these remedial therapists often do each other's jobs with remarkable amity. Elsewhere I have discussed whether we need multipurpose professionals or multiprofessional persons (Wright 1982). At Leeds the close collaboration that exists between rheumatol ogists and non-medically qualified professionals has resulted in a productive Bioengineering Group for the Study of Human Joints, a Clinical Pharmacology Unit of international renown and a Rehabilitation Unit that consistently produces bricks without straw. One aspect of this combined approach to patient care has been the development of the discipline of clinical nurse metrology (Bird et al. 1980). Skilled nursing sisters have worked in this capacity for a decade in Leeds. Their contribution has not only enhanced the reliability of the results of clinical trials in which they have been engaged, but it has been highly s;ost effective and greatly appreciated by patients. It has also measurably improved our patient education programme. Moreover, the posts have provided considerable job satisfaction. This book arises from the expertise gained during these pioneer years.

Musculoskeletal foot pathology is endemic in patients with rheumatological conditions, with up to 90% of patients reporting current foot pain. However, foot pathology is often trivialised, despite the strong body of evidence showing foot problems are associated with reduced quality of life. The Foot and Ankle in Rheumatology is a unique, comprehensive, and detailed guide to all aspects of the management of foot and ankle pathologies in rheumatic conditions. Written by a team of leading experts, this title provides international perspectives and current state of the art information on foot and ankle pathology across a range of conditions. With over 170 colour images and photographs, practical diagnostic and management techniques are clearly explained with references to the latest guidelines. Rheumatology is a fast-evolving field, with major advances in treatment and management strategies. As the effective management of rheumatological foot and ankle disorders requires and integrated, disease-stage approach across a multidisciplinary team, the Foot and Ankle in Rheumatology has been designed to provide clear, practical, and evidence-based advice for a wide range of health professions, from podiatrists, rheumatologists, and orthopaedic surgeons to occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

In this issue, guest editors bring their considerable expertise to this important topic. - Contains 15 practice-oriented topics including how treatment approaches should change when there is arthritis, myositis, and/or sicca syndrome; the roles of occupational therapy, physical therapy, wound care, and nutritional support; mental health considerations in patients with scleroderma; the best approaches to vaccination, bone health, and cancer screening; the best ways to teach the next generation of rheumatologists about scleroderma; and more. - Provides in-depth clinical reviews on scleroderma, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. - Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

A strong clinical emphasis is present throughout this volume from the first section of commonly presenting problems through to the section addressing problems shared with a range of other clinical sub-specialties.

Edited by Drs. Juergen Braun and Joachim Sieper, this issue of Rheumatic Disease Clinics comprehensively reviews the state of the art of spondyloarthritis (SpA) diagnosis, prognosis, pathogenesis and genetic insights, and treatment. The worldwide burden of SpA now exceeds that of rheumatoid arthritis. General topics covered include inflammatory back pain, pathophysiology, imaging techniques, and therapeutic strategies.

This issue of Rheumatic Disease Clinics, guest edited by Drs. Laura Schanberg and Yukiko Kimura, will focus on Pediatric Rheumatology. This issue is one of four selected each year by our series Consulting Editor, Dr. Michael Weisman. Part II, also edited by Drs. Kimura and Schanberg, will publish subsequently and cover additional topics relevant for pediatric rheumatologists. Topics discussed in this issue include but are not limited to: TMJ, CNO (CRMO), Update JIA treatment, Pharmacology of biologics in kids, Juvenile Spondylitis, Juvenile fibro update, JDM update, Pediatric Sjogrens, Localized scleroderma, Systemic Sclerosis, Uveitis, COVID-19 in pediatrics, Recent advances in pediatric vasculitis, and Autoinflammatory diseases. Provides in-depth, clinical reviews on the latest updates in Pediatric Rheumatology, providing actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field; Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create these timely topic-based reviews.

Rheumatic Diseases: Advances in Research and Treatment: 2011 Edition is a ScholarlyEditions™ eBook that delivers timely, authoritative, and comprehensive information about Rheumatic Diseases. The editors have built Rheumatic Diseases: Advances in Research and Treatment: 2011 Edition on the vast information databases of ScholarlyNews.™ You can expect the information about Rheumatic Diseases in this eBook to be deeper than what you can access anywhere else, as well as consistently reliable, authoritative, informed, and relevant. The content of Rheumatic Diseases: Advances in Research and Treatment: 2011 Edition has been produced by the world’s leading scientists, engineers, analysts, research institutions, and companies. All of the content is from peer-reviewed sources, and all of it is written, assembled, and edited by the editors at ScholarlyEditions™ and available exclusively from us. You now have a source you can cite with authority, confidence, and credibility. More information is available at http://www.ScholarlyEditions.com/.