J Clin Pharmacol 2017 Sep;57(9):1107-1125

Division of Clinical Pharmacology II, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.

Population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) models were developed to quantitate the exposure-response relationships using continuous longitudinal data on American College of Rheumatology (ACR) subcomponents, that is, tender-joint count (TJC), swollen-joint count (SJC), C-reactive protein, patient's assessment of pain, patient's global assessment of disease activity, physician's global assessment of disease activity, and patient's assessment of physical function for 5 biologics approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis. The models were then used to simulate the time courses of clinical outcomes following different treatment regimens. The relative sensitivity of the 7 subcomponents was assessed using Monte Carlo simulation-based power analysis. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2017 Aug 16. Epub 2017 Aug 16.

Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Objectives: Calprotectin is an inflammatory marker of interest in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated whether the level of calprotectin was associated with disease activity, and if it was predictive of treatment response and radiographic progression in patients with early RA.

Methods: Plasma from disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naïve patients with RA fulfilling 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria with symptom duration <2 years was analysed for calprotectin at baseline, and after 1, 3 and 12 months. Read More

J Dent Child (Chic) 2017 May;84(2):72-79

Professor, in the Unit of Oral Basic Investigation, School of Dentistry, at the Universidad El Bosque, in Bogotá, Colombia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the periodontal status and the presence and concentration of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass against P. gingivalis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and its association with rheumatic clinical activity parameters. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2017 Aug 11;94:1002-1009. Epub 2017 Aug 11.

Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, 241000, PR China. Electronic address:

1,7-Dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyxanthone (XAN) is a bioactive compound isolated from Securidaca inappendiculata Hassk. and exerts the inhibitory effects on fibroblast-like synoviocytes by targeting NF-κB and p38. This study was designed to elucidate mechanisms underlying the divergent regulation on the two pathways in HFLS-RA cells by XAN. Read More

Reumatol Clin 2017 Aug 11. Epub 2017 Aug 11.

InMusc, Madrid, España.

Objective: To identify tools designed to evaluate the severity of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in order to use them in the investigation of prognostic markers in early arthritis.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies that developed/validated an index for RA disease severity. They were analyzed using the COSMIN checklist to assess their methodological quality. Read More

Int J Paleopathol 2015 Dec 17;11:70-74. Epub 2015 Nov 17.

Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, MS 1012, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, United States.

In this case study we report a unique modern case of severe reactive arthritis (Reiter's Syndrome) observed on an elderly Cypriot female from the St. Nicholas cemetery in Limassol, Cyprus and the successful differential diagnosis of the condition. The individual exhibited lesions specific to fusion of the thoracic and lumbar spinal column, primarily along the posterior aspect of the spine with sacroiliac fusion, fusion of the left femoral head within the acetabulum, no intervertebral fusion, and severe Launois's deformity with no corresponding fusion or arthritis mutilans of the hands. Read More

Int J Angiol 2017 Sep 15;26(3):165-169. Epub 2016 Dec 15.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in inflammatory joint disease and endothelial function. Endothelial dysfunction has been attributed to a reduction in NO bioactivity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the relationship of NO with inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in RA has not yet been investigated. Read More

Redox Biol 2017 Aug 2;13:588-593. Epub 2017 Aug 2.

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 982650 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-2265, United States. Electronic address:

Methotrexate (MTX) is an immunosuppressant commonly used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Recent observations have shown that patients treated with MTX also exhibit a reduced risk for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although MTX reduces systemic inflammation and tissue damage, the mechanisms by which MTX exerts these beneficial effects are not entirely known. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2017 Aug 11. Epub 2017 Aug 11.

The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.

Objective: The pathogenetic mechanisms by which HLA-DRB1 alleles are associated with anticitrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)-positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are incompletely understood. RA high-risk HLA-DRB1 alleles are known to share a common motif, the 'shared susceptibility epitope (SE)'. Here, the electropositive P4 pocket of HLA-DRB1 accommodates self-peptide residues containing citrulline but not arginine. Read More

Eur J Clin Invest 2017 Aug 10. Epub 2017 Aug 10.

Rheumatology Department of Lucania, "San Carlo" Hospital of Potenza and "Madonna delle Grazie" Hospital of Matera, Potenza, Italy.

Background: Recent evidence suggested a potential role of complement fraction C3 as a biomarker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the general population. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of C3 for prediction of NAFLD in RA patients.

Materials And Methods: For the present study, consecutive RA patients were recruited. Read More

PLoS One 2017 9;12(8):e0182751. Epub 2017 Aug 9.

Rheumatology Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, The University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown increased expression of stromal markers in synovial tissue (ST) of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, ST expression of stromal markers in early arthritis in relationship to diagnosis and prognostic outcome was studied.

Methods: ST from 56 patients included in two different early arthritis cohorts and 7 non-inflammatory controls was analysed using immunofluorescence to detect stromal markers CD55, CD248, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and podoplanin. Read More

J Physiol 2017 Aug 9. Epub 2017 Aug 9.

Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, MRC Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.

Skeletal muscle aging is characterised by atrophy, a deficit in specific force generation, increased susceptibility to injury, and incomplete recovery after severe damage. The hypothesis that increased generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in vivo plays a key role in the aging process has been extensively studied, but remains controversial. Skeletal muscle generates ROS at rest and during exercise. Read More

Rheumatol Int 2017 Aug 8. Epub 2017 Aug 8.

Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.

The objective of the study was to assess the incidence of inflammatory joint diseases and possible environmental factors contributing to their occurrence in a defined population in Finland. All rheumatologists practising in the Northern Savo rheumatological outpatient departments collected data on their newly diagnosed patients with an inflammatory joint disease in 2010. Antibodies to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) were determined from patients with various arthritides. Read More

Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc 2017 ;128:44-54

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and a significant cause of pain and disability in older adults. Among the risk factors for OA, age is the most prominent. This review will discuss the relationship between aging and the development of OA, with a particular focus on mechanisms relevant to cartilage degeneration and the role of excessive levels of reactive oxygen species. Read More

Isr Med Assoc J 2017 Jul;19(7):406-410

Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology Clinic, Department of Medicina dei Sistemi, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.

Background: Abatacept acts as a co-stimulation modulator preventing activation of T cells. Although it is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), its effects on adaptive immune response have not been fully elucidated.

Objectives: To observe, in a cohort study, based on a clinical practice setting, the variation of peripheral blood T cells, immunoglobulin levels, and autoantibodies in the serum of RA patients during abatacept therapy. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2017 12;2017:3710652. Epub 2017 Jul 12.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) being treated with biologics and those being treated without biologics.

Methods: From 8,630 patients with RA in our institution, we enrolled 24 patients who had developed PCP during the course of their treatment. They were divided into two groups according to the treatment they were receiving for RA: the biologics group (n = 12) and the nonbiologics group (n = 12). Read More

Br J Biomed Sci 2017 Aug 7:1-5. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

f Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Community Medicine Department , Menoufia University , Menoufia , Egypt.

Background: MicroRNAs play a crucial role in the regulation of immune response. We hypothesised roles for serum miR-210 and miR-155 in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and relationships with the clinical and laboratory variables including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β).

Methods: MiR-210 and miR-155 levels were identified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Read More

EBioMedicine 2017 Jul 26. Epub 2017 Jul 26.

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address:

In addition to the primary symptoms arising from inflammatory processes in the joints, muscle weakness is commonly reported by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Muscle weakness not only reduces the quality of life for the affected patients, but also dramatically increases the burden on society since patients' work ability decreases. A 25-70% reduction in muscular strength has been observed in pateints with RA when compared with age-matched healthy controls. Read More

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2017 Jul 10. Epub 2017 Jul 10.

Service de Médecine Interne and Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy Department (DHU i2B), AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University Paris 06, F-75012, Paris, France.

Introduction: Adult onset Still's disease is a rare affection classified among non-hereditary autoinflammatory diseases. We here report a case of AOSD revealed during pregnancy with a life-threatening presentation along with a review of 19 cases from literature.

Case: A 38-years old woman was treated in our department for diffuse systemic sclerosis and associated Sjögren syndrome. Read More

Ultrasound Med Biol 2017 Aug 2. Epub 2017 Aug 2.

Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address:

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has become a new therapeutic method because of its activation of certain sensitizers by ultrasound. Some studies have reported that indocyanine green (ICG) has the characteristics of a sonosensitizer and favorable fluorescence imaging in synovitis of early inflammatory arthritis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effect of ICG-mediated SDT on MH7A cells in vitro and the potential mechanisms involved. Read More

Free Radic Biol Med 2017 Jul 31;112:191-199. Epub 2017 Jul 31.

Department of Life Science and the Research Center for Cellular Homeostasis, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Excessive bone resorption caused by increased osteoclast number or activity leads to a variety of bone diseases including osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis. Thus, the therapeutic strategy for these diseases has been focused primarily on the inhibition of osteoclast formation and function. This study shows that euphorbia factor L1 (EFL1), a diterpenoid isolated from Euphorbia lathyris, inhibited osteoclastogenesis and induced osteoclast apoptosis. Read More

Radiol Clin North Am 2017 Sep 12;55(5):943-966. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto 1, Foggia 71100, Italy; Department of Radiology, Scientific Institute, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, Viale Cappuccini 1, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia 71013, Italy.

Spondyloarthritides are of a group of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, with negative rheumatoid factor, associated with the HLA-B27 gene. They comprise ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and enteropathic-related spondylitis. The presence of sacroiliitis represents the most characteristic feature of these disorders and is an important criterion in diagnosis. Read More

Thromb Haemost 2017 Aug 3;117(9). Epub 2017 Aug 3.

E. Dale Abel, MB.BS., DPhil., Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 4312 PBDB, 169 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1101, USA, Tel.: +1 (319) 353 3050, Fax: +1 (319) 335 8327, E-mail:

Increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote platelet activation. The sources of platelet-derived ROS are diverse and whether or not mitochondrial derived ROS, modulates platelet function is incompletely understood. Studies of platelets from patients with sickle cell disease, and diabetes suggest a correlation between mitochondrial ROS and platelet dysfunction. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2017 Jul 6. Epub 2017 Jul 6.

Dept. of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Medical Research Centre; and Division of Rheumatology, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Objectives: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, characterised by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, skin lesions, uveitis, and arthritis. It is regarded as vasculitis and anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) are found in patients with BD. One of the endothelial cell antibodies was reported to recognise alpha-enolase. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 Aug 2;19(1):180. Epub 2017 Aug 2.

Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.

Background: Few clinical trials have investigated the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells for the management of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The objectives of this pilot study were to determine the safety and tolerability and to explore the efficacy of a single intra-articular injection of allogeneic human mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) to improve clinical symptoms and retard joint structural deterioration over 24 months in patients following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods: In this phase Ib/IIa, double-blind, active comparator clinical study, 17 patients aged 18-40 years with unilateral ACL reconstruction were randomized (2:1) to receive either a single intra-articular injection of 75 million allogeneic MPCs suspended in hyaluronan (HA) (MPC + HA group) (n = 11) or HA alone (n = 6). Read More

APMIS 2017 Aug 2. Epub 2017 Aug 2.

Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.

This study was aimed to evaluate levels of neutrophil- (NLR), monocyte- (MLR), eosinophil- (ELR), and basophil-lymphocyte ratio (BLR) and their association with inflammatory markers in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). A total of 1139 SARD patients and 170 healthy individuals were enrolled. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted. Read More

J Rheumatol 2017 Aug 1. Epub 2017 Aug 1.

From the Hospital for Sick Children, Division of Rheumatology; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto; Public Health Ontario; Toronto Public Health, Toronto; McMaster University, McMaster Children's Hospital, Hamilton; School of Rural and Northern Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario; Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia; McGill University, Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK. Earlier phase of this study supported by Pfizer Inc. through an unrestricted research grant. E. Limenis, BSc, MD, University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children; B.M. Feldman, MD, MSc, FRCPC, University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children, Dalla Lana School of Public Health; C. Achonu, BSc, MHSc, Public Health Ontario; M. Batthish, MD, MSc, FRCPC, McMaster University, McMaster Children's Hospital; B. Lang, MD, FRCPC, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre; M. Mclimont, BSc, MSc, Hospital for Sick Children; S. Ota, BSc, MHSc, Toronto Public Health; A. Ramanan, FRCP, University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children; R. Scuccimarri, MD, FRCPC, McGill University, Montreal Children's Hospital; N.L. Young, BScPT, MSc, PhD, School of Rural and Northern Health, Laurentian University; R. Schneider, MBBCh, FRCPC, University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children. Address correspondence to Dr. B.M. Feldman, Division of Rheumatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada. E-mail: Accepted for publication May 10, 2017.

Objective: To date, there are no standardized disease activity tools for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). We developed a core set of disease activity measures for sJIA.

Methods: We conducted a validation study in patients with sJIA recruited from 3 Canadian institutions. Read More

Indian J Pediatr 2017 Jul 31. Epub 2017 Jul 31.

Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Objective: To evaluate the role of ultrasonographic indices (Color Fraction and Resistive Index) in assessing the effect of intra-articular steroid (IAS) injection on synovial inflammation in knee joints of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) patients and to determine the correlation between these ultrasonographic indices and clinical and laboratory parameters in JIA patients after IAS.

Methods: Twenty seven patients of JIA and equal number of age and sex matched healthy controls were enrolled. Thirty six knee joints were injected with IAS. Read More

Cranio 2017 Aug 1:1-2. Epub 2017 Aug 1.

a Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery , Texas A&M University School of Dentistry, Baylor University Medical Center , Dallas , TX , USA.

Mod Rheumatol 2017 Jul 31:1-7. Epub 2017 Jul 31.

a Orthopaedic Surgery and Rheumatology , National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center , Nagoya , Japan.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether the level of serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), a marker of synovium inflammation, is affected by clinical characteristics of patients in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: We analyzed data from 1087 female patients with RA. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to explore associations between variables. Read More

Sci Rep 2017 Jul 28;7(1):6779. Epub 2017 Jul 28.

Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences (IBMS), School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Tofacitinib (CP-690550), an oral Janus kinase inhibitor, has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis through blocking the signaling pathways of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, recent evidence suggests that long-term tofacitinib treatment is associated with increased risk of infection (e.g. Read More

Sci Rep 2017 Jul 28;7(1):6798. Epub 2017 Jul 28.

Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan.

A number of autoimmune diseases are associated with the genotypes of human leukocyte antigen class II (HLA), some of which present peptides derived from self-proteins, resulting in clonal expansion of self-reactive T cells. Therefore, selective inhibition of self-peptide loading onto such disease-associated HLA could ameliorate the diseases. To effectively identify such compounds, in this study, we established, for the first time, a cell- and 96-well microplate-based high-throughput screening system for inhibitors of antigen presentation. Read More

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2017 Jul 27. Epub 2017 Jul 27.

Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and various spondyloarthritides including psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease-associated spondyloarthritis often involve the skin and may occur before or after diagnosis of these rheumatic diseases. Cutaneous manifestations encompass a wide range of reactions that may have a notable negative impact not only on the physical but especially on the emotional and psychosocial well-being of these patients. Several cutaneous manifestations have been related to rheumatoid arthritis such as subcutaneous nodules including classical rheumatoid nodules, accelerated rheumatoid nodulosis, and rheumatoid nodulosis; vascular disorders like rheumatoid vasculitis, livedo racemosa, and Raynaud's phenomenon; and neutrophilic and/or granulomatous diseases like pyoderma gangrenosum, Sweet's syndrome, rheumatoid neutrophilic dermatitis, interstitial granulomatous dermatitis with arthritis, as well as palisaded neutrophilic and granulomatous dermatitis. Read More

Diabetes Metab Syndr 2017 Jul 20. Epub 2017 Jul 20.

Department of Medicine Unit IV, Pt. B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India.

Aims: Recent studies have shown increasing prevalence of dysglycemia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The present study was planned to study the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes in RA patients from a tertiary care centre in Haryana, India.

Methods: 150 diagnosed cases of rheumatoid arthritis which were on follow up in Rheumatology clinic from last one year and equal number of age, sex matched controls were recruited for the study. Read More

Reumatol Clin 2017 Jul 24. Epub 2017 Jul 24.

Unitat de Salut Internacional PROSICS Metropolitana Nord, Malalties Infeccioses, Servei de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, España.

Introduction: Chikungunya virus infection causes arthralgia and arthritis in the acute phase of the disease but, in more than half of the cases, musculoskeletal manifestations can be prolonged over time and, in some cases, become chronic. Although polyarthralgia is the most frequent chronic manifestation, forms with polyarthritis, tenosynovitis and enthesopathy are also common.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with persistent articular manifestations after infection with the Chikungunya virus. Read More

Food Funct 2017 Jul 27. Epub 2017 Jul 27.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.

Recent research supports a favorable role of cranberries on cardiometabolic health. Postprandial metabolism, especially hyperglycemia, has been shown to be an independent cardiovascular risk and few clinical studies have reported the role of berries in improving postprandial dysmetabolism. We investigated the postprandial effects of dried cranberries following a high-fat breakfast challenge in obese participants with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), in a randomized crossover trial. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2017 Jul 27. Epub 2017 Jul 27.

Third-Grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Chinese Medicine Approved by State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.

To assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of total glucoside of peony (TGP) and methotrexate (MTX) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Randomized controlled trial (RCT) data on the traditional Chinese active component TGP combined with MTX vs. MTX alone for the treatment of RA was collected by searching the Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP Journals database, and Wanfang database up to February 2017. Read More

J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2017 Jul 26. Epub 2017 Jul 26.

MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing, Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK.

Skeletal muscle is a major site of metabolic activity and is the most abundant tissue in the human body. Age-related muscle atrophy (sarcopenia) and weakness, characterized by progressive loss of lean muscle mass and function, is a major contributor to morbidity and has a profound effect on the quality of life of older people. With a continuously growing older population (estimated 2 billion of people aged >60 by 2050), demand for medical and social care due to functional deficits, associated with neuromuscular ageing, will inevitably increase. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2017 Jul 25. Epub 2017 Jul 25.

Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Department, Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology, Moscow, Russia.

Objective: To investigate the potential of the baseline gene expression in the whole blood of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug-naïve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients for predicting the response to methotrexate (MTX) treatment.

Methods: Twenty-six control subjects and 40 RA patients were examined. Clinical, immunological and radiographic parameters were assessed before and after 24 months of follow-up. Read More

Sci Rep 2017 Jul 24;7(1):6311. Epub 2017 Jul 24.

Bone and Joint Research Unit, Service of Rheumatology, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis may alter the regulation of muscle mass leading to a secondary sarcopenia, commonly termed rheumatoid cachexia (RC). We characterized alterations to muscle structure and various pro-inflammatory, catabolic and regenerative markers in an animal model of RC. Antigen induced arthritis (AiA) was performed in 20 male adult rabbits. Read More

Free Radic Biol Med 2017 Jul 21;112:84-92. Epub 2017 Jul 21.

MRC - Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8XL, UK. Electronic address:

Disruption of neuromuscular junctions and denervation of some muscle fibers occurs in ageing skeletal muscle and contribute to loss of muscle mass and function. Aging is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of redox homeostasis potentially occurs through increased mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). No specific link between increased mitochondrial ROS generation and denervation has been defined in muscle ageing. Read More

Health Qual Life Outcomes 2017 Jul 24;15(1):149. Epub 2017 Jul 24.

Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People's Republic of China.

Background: Positive psychological constructs that can moderate or mediate the negative impact of disease activity on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have not been explored widely. This study aimed to assess the associations of disease activity, resilience with HRQOL and the moderating and mediating roles of resilience among Chinese RA patients.

Methods: A multi-center, cross-sectional study was conducted in RA inpatients in northeast of China. Read More

J Oral Facial Pain Headache 2017 ;31(3):233-239

Aims: To assess the prevalence, 3-year course, and associated factors of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A total of 264 patients with newly diagnosed RA were included. Patients were assessed after 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 1. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2017 Jul 21;11(1):197. Epub 2017 Jul 21.

University Medical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo 10, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disorder where clinically significant renal involvement is relatively common. However, crescentic glomerular nephritis is a rarely described entity among the rheumatoid nephropathies. We report a case of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis presenting with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-negative crescentic glomerular nephritis. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2017 Jul 21. Epub 2017 Jul 21.

Coast Joint Care, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia.

Aim: To describe the treatment regimens, duration of therapy and reasons for disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) cessation in a large psoriatic arthritis (PsA) cohort.

Methods: A retrospective non-interventional multi-centre study using Audit4 electronic medical records, with de-identified, routinely collected clinical data from rheumatology practices in the OPAL consortium (Optimising Patient outcomes in Australian rheumatoLogy) during November 2015. Baseline characteristics, type and duration of conventional and biologic DMARDs (cDMARD and bDMARD, respectively), disease activity (Disease Activity Score of 28 joints C-reactive protein [DAS28-CRP]), and reasons for treatment cessation were recorded. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 Jul 20;19(1):169. Epub 2017 Jul 20.

Osteoarthritis Research Unit, University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM), 900 Saint-Denis, Suite R11.412, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada.

Background: There is an obvious need to identify biomarkers that could predict patient response to an osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. This post hoc study explored in a 2-year randomized controlled trial in patients with knee OA, the likelihood of some serum biomarkers to be associated with a better response to chondroitin sulfate in reducing cartilage volume loss.

Methods: Eight biomarkers were studied: hyaluronic acid (HA), C reactive protein (CRP), adipsin, leptin, N-terminal propeptide of collagen IIα (PIIANP), C-terminal crosslinked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-1), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), and MMP-3. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 Jul 19;19(1):164. Epub 2017 Jul 19.

Department of Rheumatology, Zurich University Hospital, Gloriastrasse 25, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.

Background: Few studies have investigated the impact of obesity on the response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of different body mass index (BMI) categories on TNFi response in a large cohort of patients with axSpA.

Methods: Patients with axSpA within the Swiss Clinical Quality Management (SCQM) program were included in the current study if they fulfilled the Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria for axSpA, started a first TNFi after recruitment, and had available BMI data as well as a baseline and follow-up visit at 1 year (±6 months). Read More

Chemotherapy 2017 Jul 19;62(6):343-349. Epub 2017 Jul 19.

Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Japan.

Introduction: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) can occur in HIV patients but also in those without HIV (non-HIV PCP) but with other causes of immunodeficiency including malignancy or rheumatic diseases.

Objective And Methods: To evaluate the clinical presentation and prognostic factors of non-HIV PCP, we retrospectively reviewed all patients diagnosed as having PCP without HIV at Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan, from January 2005 until June 2012. For the purpose of examining a prognostic factor for non-HIV PCP with 30-day mortality, we compared the characteristics of patients, clinical symptoms, radiological images, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS), and the time from the onset of respiratory symptoms to the start of therapy, in both survival and fatality groups. Read More

Int Orthop 2017 Jul 17. Epub 2017 Jul 17.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50, Hapsung 2-Dong, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea.

Purpose: Septic arthritis presents with good joint function, but sometimes leads to poor outcomes. Concurrent systemic sepsis has been regarded as the poor outcome, and the exact cause remains unclear. This paper was performed to identify factors associated with concurrent systemic sepsis and to research results to predict poor outcomes in patients with septic arthritis. Read More

Expert Rev Hematol 2017 Jul 26:1-8. Epub 2017 Jul 26.

a Department of Internal Medicine , American University of Beirut Medical Center , Beirut , Lebanon.

Introduction: Iron deficiency is a frequent comorbidity of chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease that can severely impact the health and quality of life of affected individuals. It can exist as a silent condition and manifest in non-specific symptoms even in the absence of anemia. Even though iron deficiency anemia is the most common complication and extra-intestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease, the majority of inflammatory bowel disease patients who are diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia are not treated. Read More