Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Stanford Prison Experiment

The Stanford Prison Experiment

The famous and controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by social psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues at Stanford University, demonstrated the power of social roles, social norms, and scripts.

Trial and Error and Algorithm

Trial and Error and Algorithm

A problem-solving strategy is a plan of action used to find a solution. Different strategies have distinct action plans. Trial and error involves trying different solutions until one works. For instance, to fix a broken printer, you might check ink levels, ensure the paper tray isn't jammed, and verify the printer's connection to your laptop. This method can be time-consuming but is commonly used. Thomas Edison, for example, used trial and error to find a suitable filament for the light bulb,...

The Bell Curve

The Bell Curve

The normal probability distribution, often depicted as a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve, is fundamental in statistics and the study of natural phenomena. This pattern, famously described by mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss, shows how data points are distributed around a central mean, with most values near the average and fewer observations occurring as they deviate further from it.
This pattern applies to many human characteristics beyond intelligence, such as height. For example, if you...

Eyewitness Memory

Eyewitness Memory

Eyewitness memory refers to the recollection of events by someone who has directly witnessed them, often serving as critical evidence in legal settings. This type of memory is commonly used in criminal cases where a witness describes details like a suspect's appearance, clothing, or behavior during a crime. However, despite its perceived reliability, eyewitness memory is prone to significant errors.
One such error is memory distortion, which occurs because human memory does not function like a...

Cochran's Q Test

Cochran's Q Test

Cochran's Q Test is a nonparametric statistical test used to determine if there are potential differences in the outcomes of three or more related groups on a binary (yes/no) or dichotomous outcome. It is essentially an extension of the McNemar Test, which is limited to two related samples - Cochran's Q test can handle three or more related samples, making it more versatile in scenarios where subjects are measured under multiple conditions. The test statistic follows a Chi-Square distribution,...

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A multidisciplinary lifestyle programme for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and metabolic syndrome-associated osteoarthritis: economic evaluation alongside the 'Plants for Joints' randomized controlled trials.

Scandinavian journal of rheumatology·2025

Same author

Ratio between biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and glucocorticoid use in various countries: results from METEOR.

Scandinavian journal of rheumatology·2025

Same author

At the core of measurement - What do you want to measure? And how do you want to measure it? A COSMIN perspective.

Journal of clinical epidemiology·2025

Same author

Longitudinal Speech Outcome at 5 and 10 Years in UCLP: Influence of Speech Therapy and Secondary Velopharyngeal Surgery.

The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association·2024

Same author

Scandcleft randomized trials of primary surgery for unilateral cleft lip and palate: Speech proficiency at 10 years of age.

International journal of language & communication disorders·2022

Same author

In RA patients without prevalent CVD, incident CVD is mainly associated with traditional risk factors: A 20-year follow-up in the CARRÉ cohort study.

Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Setup and Execution Of the Blindfolded Code Training Exercise

Setup and Execution Of the Blindfolded Code Training Exercise

Published on: March 29, 2019

The COBRA trial 20 years later.

¹Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. eb@vumc.nl

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology

|October 25, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment combining prednisolone, methotrexate, and sulfasalazine (COBRA) showed sustained joint protection over 10 years. This intensive therapy offers a cost-effective alternative to biologics.

More Related Videos

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

Published on: October 18, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

Setup and Execution Of the Blindfolded Code Training Exercise

Setup and Execution Of the Blindfolded Code Training Exercise

Published on: March 29, 2019

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

Published on: October 18, 2011

Area of Science:

Rheumatology
Clinical Trials
Immunology

Background:

Early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management aims to control inflammation and prevent joint damage.
The COBRA trial investigated a step-down combination therapy versus sulfasalazine monotherapy in early RA.
Understanding the long-term efficacy and safety of intensive early RA treatment is crucial.

Observation:

The COBRA regimen provided rapid symptom relief in early RA patients.
Clinical benefits were largely attributed to initial low-dose glucocorticoid therapy, discontinued at 28 weeks.
Joint damage progression was significantly slowed by the COBRA combination therapy.

Findings:

The joint-sparing effect of the COBRA regimen persisted for over 10 years, despite subsequent non-controlled treatment.
COBRA demonstrated favorable toxicity compared to monotherapy, with long-term safety comparable to non-glucocorticoid regimens.
This study validated the 'reverse-pyramid' concept, highlighting a 'window of opportunity' for intensive early RA intervention.

Implications:

Intensive early RA treatment, like the COBRA approach, can alter long-term prognosis and joint damage.
The COBRA regimen is feasible, patient-acceptable, and offers comparable efficacy to TNF inhibitors at lower costs.
Findings support the strategic use of combination therapy in early RA to achieve sustained disease control and joint preservation.