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It is usually assumed that serial measurement in clinical trials should be performed by the same assessor because of concern regarding interobserver variability. However, the high levels of prestandardization interobserver reliability observed in this study indicate that, for these variables, serial measurements in a clinical trial could be made by different assessors, assuming they were equally skilled. This observation has important implications for outcome measurement in RA clinical trials. Although high levels of prestandardization reliability precluded the demonstration of any significant effect, we speculate that the videotape might be effective in training less-experienced assessors. Reductions in observer variability have the potential to diminish sample size requirements for RA antirheumatic drug studies. The use of a videotape to achieve this goal offers cost and convenience advantages over one-on-one training procedures, and this method should be further assessed in less-experienced assessors.

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3Cracoe House Cottage, Cracoe Near Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 6LB, UK This report describes the conduct and results of a double-blind trial comparing oral intake of 6 mg of boron per day to placebo in the treatment of arthritis. The resultsindicate that boron may well be beneficial. Of the 10 patients on boron, five improved and five did not, but only one of the I0 patients on the placebo improved. This was essentially a pilot trial which showed that a small quantity of boron would greatly relieve severe osteo-arthritis. Of those starting the trial, 50% using boron improved as compared with 10% on placebo; or if we consider those who completed the trial, 71% improved while using boron. There were no side-eflects and these were sought. The indication is that boron (as sodium tetraborate decahydrate) are safe and beneficial in the treatment of osteo-arthritis and that firther research is required.

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