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Int Immunopharmacol 2019 Feb 15;69:368-372. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

5th Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty of Comenius University, University Hospital, Ružinovská 6, 826 06 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

The relationship between inflammation and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is still not completely understood and excessive inflammatory reaction is attributed to increased yet also to reduced ROS formation. To compare ROS formation in severe and low inflammation, neutrophil oxidative burst was analyzed in rheumatic patients before and during therapy with TNFα- or interleukin-6 receptor-neutralizing antibodies. Intracellular and extracellular ROS productions were evaluated on the basis of luminol- and isoluminol-enhanced chemiluminescence in isolated peripheral neutrophils. Read More

Patient Prefer Adherence 2019 22;13:187-194. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roma, Italy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the therapeutic strategies and estimate the health care resource consumption in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Patients And Methods: An observational retrospective cohort analysis of administrative databases of six Italian Local Health Units was performed. Patients ≥18 years with a hospitalization discharge diagnosis of PsA (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code: 696. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Institute for Ethnobotany and Zoopharmacognosy (IEZ) Rijksstraatweg 158A | 6573 DG | Beek | the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: There are insufficient safe and effective treatments for chronic pain in pets. In cases such as osteoarthritis there is no commercially available cure and veterinarians use NSAIDs to manage pain. Pet owners may have to plan for a lifetime of plant-based treatment for the conditions that lead to chronic pain in pets. Read More

J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2019 Feb;17(2):167-181

Department of Rheumatology and clinical Immunology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Medical Faculty, Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany.

Syndromes associated with concurrent skin and joint inflammation frequently pose a therapeutic challenge for both dermatologists and rheumatologists. In part 1 of this review, we discussed psoriatic arthritis as well as the autoinflammatory disorders SAPHO syndrome, Still's disease and Behçet's disease. Part 2 will address rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, Reiter's syndrome and Lyme borreliosis. Read More

Turk J Med Sci 2019 Feb 11;49(1):20-26. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Background/aim: We aimed to assess the association between retinal vascular caliber (RVC) scores and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven RA patients, 32 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and 45 healthy people were enrolled. RA and SLE patients were subdivided into groups according to C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, 126 Xiantai Street, Changchun, 130033, China.

Objectives: To investigate the effective serum level of etanercept biosimilar in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who achieve AS Disease Activity Score-C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) < 2.1, and the effect of antidrug antibodies on drug levels and clinical efficacy.

Methods: Our study enrolled 60 patients with AS who were treated with etanercept biosimilar. Read More

Adv Clin Exp Med 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Fırat University, Elazığ, Turkey.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory and systemic disease of unknown etiology that primarily affects synovial joints and involves progressive destruction around the joints. Inflammation starting in the joint synovium causes the destruction of cartilage, bone and other adjacent tissues with pannus formation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) levels and their clinical and radiological significance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Read More

Inflamm Res 2019 Feb 9. Epub 2019 Feb 9.

Immunology Clinical Development, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Spring House, PA, USA.

Objective/design: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-dose study, we assessed the molecular mechanism of action of the selective histamine-4-receptor antagonist toreforant.

Patients/treatment: Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite methotrexate were randomized (3:1) to toreforant 30 mg/day (weeks 0-52) or placebo (weeks 0-12) followed by toreforant 30 mg/day (weeks 12-52).

Methods: Primary biomarker analyses comprised 39 different proteins/mRNA transcripts measured in synovial biopsy (n = 39) and/or time-matched serum (n = 15) samples collected at baseline and week 6. Read More

J Pediatr Orthop 2019 Mar;39(3):130-135

Department of Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Maternal and Child Hospital, Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona.

Background: Early joint decompression associated to antibiotic therapy is the most important procedure to reduce joint damage in septic knee arthritis in children. Several joint decompression methods have been described such as arthrotomy with open debriding, arthroscopic drainage or needle joint aspiration. The aim of the present study was to determinate which patients with acute septic knee arthritis could be safely treated with needle joint aspiration. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Rheumatology, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.

Objective: Serum microRNA (miR) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients has been rarely identified. The objective of this study was to find AS-specific miR in sera of patients with AS.

Methods: Total RNAs were isolated from whole sera of patients with AS, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and healthy controls (HC) using miRNeasy Serum/Plasma Kit. Read More

J Inflamm (Lond) 2019 29;16. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

1Bone and Joint Research Unit, Rheumatology Department, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz UAM, Avenida Reyes Católicos, 2. 28040, Madrid, Spain.

Background: In order to gain insight into the early effects drawn by JAK inhibitors on intra-joint JAK/STAT-dependent signaling, we sought synovial activation of STATs and their end-products, along with their modification with tofacitinib (TOFA), at flare-up in antigen induced arthritis (AIA). New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to four groups -healthy controls, AIA, TOFA-treated AIA, or TOFA-treated controls-. AIA was induced with 4 weekly intra-articular ovalbumin injections in sensitized animals. Read More

Cell Rep 2019 Feb;26(6):1585-1597.e4

Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address:

Spondweni virus (SPOV) is the flavivirus that is most closely related to Zika virus (ZIKV). Although SPOV causes sporadic human infections in Africa, recently it was found in Culex mosquitoes in Haiti. To investigate the pathogenic spectrum of SPOV, we developed infection models in mice. Read More

Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis 2018 Oct 5;5(4):289-301. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville.

Autoimmune diseases are conditions caused by an over reactive immune system that attacks self-tissues and organs. Although the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease is complex and multi-factorial, inflammation is commonly involved. Therefore, anti-inflammatory therapies hold potential for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Read More

JAMA 2019 02;321(5):461-472

Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark.

Importance: Whether using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) improves disease activity and slows joint damage progression is unknown.

Objective: To determine whether an MRI-guided treat-to-target strategy vs a conventional clinical treat-to-target strategy improves outcomes in patients with RA in clinical remission.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Two-year, randomized, multicenter trial conducted at 9 hospitals in Denmark. Read More

Chem Rev 2019 Feb 5;119(3):2043-2086. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Département de Médecine Nucléaire et Radiobiologie, Faculté de Médecine des Sciences de la Santé , Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , J1H 5N4 Québec , Canada.

Singlet oxygen (O) is a biologically relevant reactive oxygen species capable of efficiently reacting with cellular constituents. The resulting oxidatively generated damage to nucleic acids, membrane unsaturated lipids, and protein components has been shown to be implicated in several diseases, including arthritis, cataracts, and skin cancer. Singlet oxygen may be endogenously produced, among various possibilities, by myeloperoxidase, an enzyme implicated in inflammation processes, and also efficiently in skin by the UVA component of solar radiation through photosensitization reactions. Read More

BioDrugs 2019 Feb;33(1):79-91

CELLTRION, Inc., Incheon, Republic of Korea.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate long-term clinical outcomes of extended treatment with CT-P10, a rituximab biosimilar, compared with rituximab reference products sourced from the USA and the EU (US-RTX and EU-RTX) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for up to 48 weeks.

Methods: In this multinational, randomized, double-blind trial, adults with active RA received up to two courses of CT-P10, US-RTX, or EU-RTX alongside methotrexate. Efficacy endpoints included Disease Activity Score 28-joint count (DAS28) and American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response rates. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 4;9(1):1283. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.

The importance of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is increasingly recognised. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) by activated neutrophils are both thought to contribute to pathology; although the underlying mechanisms, particularly the effects of IgG autoantibodies upon neutrophil function, are not fully understood. Therefore, we determined whether purified IgG from patients with SLE or RA have differential effects upon neutrophil activation and function. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2019 Feb 5;25:991-1000. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND Literature shows that serum selenium concentration is low in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Biochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) are depend in its medium dispersed. Biochemical properties could effectively alter the therapeutic potential of NPs. Read More

Immunol Med 2018 Dec 3;41(4):147-153. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

a Systemic Autoimmunity Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases , National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA.

Several autoantibodies against proteins with post-translational modifications have been detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are called anti-modified protein antibodies (AMPAs). Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies (Anti-CarP Ab) are the second most vigorously researched AMPAs following anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPA). Anti-CarP Ab and ACPA show cross-reactivity to some extent and frequently co-exist with each other in RA, but are two distinct antibodies. Read More

J Rheumatol 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

From the Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Crescendo Bioscience, South San Francisco, California, USA; Section of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. This work was supported in part by a grant from the Swedish Rheumatism Association. Some of the authors were supported by clinical research funds from Stockholm County (ALF funds). An annual unrestricted grant was provided by Schering-Plough Sweden, which was used to support a study coordinator and a medical monitor for the original clinical trial. RJB received consultancy fees from Crescendo Bioscience. K. Hambardzumyan, MSc, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital; R.J. Bolce, MSN, Crescendo Bioscience; J.K. Wallman, MD, PhD, Section of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University; R.F. van Vollenhoven, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, and Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center; S. Saevarsdottir, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, and Unit of Translational Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet. Address correspondence to Dr. S. Saevarsdottir, Unit of Translational Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, SE-17165, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: Accepted for publication October 9, 2018.

Objective: To investigate baseline levels of 12 serum biomarkers that constitute a multibiomarker disease activity test, as predictors of response to methotrexate (MTX) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA).

Methods: In 298 patients from the Swedish Pharmacotherapy (SWEFOT) clinical trial, baseline serum levels of 12 proteins were analyzed for association with disease activity based on the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) after 3 months of MTX monotherapy using uni-/multivariate logistic regression. Primary outcome was low disease activity (LDA; DAS28 ≤ 3. Read More

South Med J 2019 Feb;112(2):108-111

From Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, and Hull York Medical School, York, United Kingdom.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to establish whether C-reactive protein (CRP) could be used to predict native joint septic arthritis (SA) in the adult population.

Methods: All patients who underwent native joint aspiration in accident and emergency settings between April 2012 and September 2016 were identified from laboratory microbiology records. Patients were divided into three groups for analysis: patients with SA, patients with crystal arthropathy, and patients with normal or osteo/inflammatory arthritic joints. Read More

J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Background: The link between body mass index (BMI) and disease characteristics in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains controversial. Body composition (BC) has been more frequently recommended to be used instead of BMI for more accurate assessment. Our study aimed to investigate the characteristics of BC in RA patients and their associations with disease characteristics. Read More

Horm Metab Res 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain.

The aim of the work was to examine whether abnormalities in the lipid profile that tocilizumab (TCZ), an anti-IL-6 receptor Ab, exerts in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is related to changes in either proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-9 (PCSK9) serum concentrations or in serum cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC). TOCRIVAR is a one-year prospective clinical trial that analyzes the influence of TCZ on cardiovascular risk factors. Twenty-seven RA patients receiving TCZ (8 mg/kg IV/q4w) were assessed at baseline and weeks 12, 24, and 52. Read More

Br J Dermatol 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Dermatology, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI.

Psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are inflammatory disorders. Circulating biomarkers of inflammation such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with disease severity and progression of PsO and PsA. Adiponectin and leptin are adipose derived cytokines, recognized as key regulator of body weight and metabolism . Read More

Hosp Pract (1995) 2019 Feb 6:1-5. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

d Pathology , Lehigh Valley Health Network , Allentown , PA , USA.

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) is a chronic, progressive diffuse inflammatory condition that leads to thickening of the dura mater and can be idiopathic or associated with sarcoidosis among other disorders. In this case report, we present a rare case of cervical spine HP in a 29-year-old woman in the post-partum period, who had a history of pituitary adenoma and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine revealed a soft tissue mass and moderate cord compression. Read More

J Emerg Med 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri.

Background: Musculoskeletal (MSK) infections can be difficult to diagnose in acute care settings. The utility of clinical decision tools for pediatric MSK infections in an emergency department has not been well studied.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the performance of a septic hip clinical decision rule (CDR) in the evaluation of pediatric musculoskeletal infections. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2019 Jan 24. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Aim: Despite high clinical disease activity, some patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have normal acute phase reactant (APR) values. This study aimed to determine the clinical outcomes of active RA patients with normal APR values.

Method: Of 5376 patients with RA enrolled in the Korean observational study network for arthritis (KORONA) registry, 400 patients with disease duration of <2 years who had Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score of >2. Read More

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2019 Jan;23(1):58-66

Departments of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is commonly attributed to smoking, and other potential risk factors are ignored. We aimed to critically appraise the epidemiological credibility of the risk factors for COPD that have been examined in published meta-analyses. We performed a systematic search to capture systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies on environmental factors and biomarkers for risk of COPD. Read More

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2019 Jan;39(1):49-53

Yueyang Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200437, China.

Objective: To observe the difference in the therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) between the combined -deep needling and bloodletting technique and the regular needling technique.

Methods: A total of 70 patients were randomized into an observation group (35 cases) and a control group (35 cases, 4 cases dropped-out). Dazhui (GV 14), Shenzhu (GV 12), Zhiyang (GV 9), Jinsuo (GV 8), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Zhibian (BL 54), Weizhong (BL 40), Taixi (KI 3) and Tianzong (SI 11), etc. Read More

Free Radic Biol Med 2019 Feb 2;132:19-23. Epub 2018 Jul 2.

Department of Geriatric Medicine and the Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Oklahoma University Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. Electronic address:

Mice lacking Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Sod1 or Sod1KO mice) show high levels of oxidative stress/damage and a 30% decrease in lifespan. The Sod1KO mice also show many phenotypes of accelerated aging with the loss of muscle mass and function being one of the most prominent aging phenotypes. Using various genetic models targeting the expression of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase to specific tissues, we evaluated the role of motor neurons and skeletal muscle in the accelerated loss of muscle mass and function in Sod1KO mice. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2019 Jan 22;21(1):31. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Background: Childhood Takayasu's arteritis (c-TA) is scarcely reported but is characterized by devastating morbidity and mortality. This study aims to investigate the clinical course of c-TA and prognostic factors associated with rehospitalization and events including vascular complications, flares, and death.

Methods: An ambispective study of 101 c-TA patients satisfying the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and/or the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR)/Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO)/Pediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS) criteria was conducted from January 2002 to December 2017. Read More

Phytomedicine 2019 Feb 5;53:70-78. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. Electronic address:

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease which leads to bone and cartilage erosion. Oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines plays crucial role in the pathophysiology of RA. Cinnamaldehyde and eugenol have a long history of medical use in various inflammatory disorders. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 4;9:3033. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Center for Molecular Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associated anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies (ACPA) target a wide range of modified proteins. Citrullination occurs during physiological processes such as apoptosis, yet little is known about the interaction of ACPA with nuclear antigens or apoptotic cells. Since uncleared apoptotic cells and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) products have been postulated to be central sources of autoantigen and immunostimulation in autoimmune disease, we sought to characterize the anti-nuclear and anti-neutrophil reactivities of ACPA. Read More

Adv Ther 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.

Introduction: This study investigated the effectiveness of adalimumab treatment in improving Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in real-world settings in Japan.

Methods: This 24-week, single-arm, postmarketing surveillance study (2014-2017), conducted at 75 centers in Japan, enrolled adalimumab-naïve patients (paid workers, including part-time) meeting ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR). The primary endpoint was improvement in overall work impairment (OWI) scores from baseline to week 24. Read More

J Ayurveda Integr Med 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, Kerala, India. Electronic address:

Background: Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) mediates activation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) resulting in induction of proinflammatory genes such as that encoding tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) which played a significant role in cartilage destruction of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Low risk and better efficacy made herbal drugs more reliable than nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in RA treatment. Gugguluthiktam Kashayam (GuK), Punarnavadi Kashayam (PuK) and Balaguluchiadi Kashayam (BgK) are ayurvedic polyherbal formulations prescribed in classical ayurvedic texts Sahasrayogam and Ashtangahridayam as medicines for the treatment of RA. Read More

Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2019 Mar 17;136:84-92. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, CNBS, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

In the present work curcumin loaded hyalurosomes were proposed as innovative systems for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Vesicles were prepared using a one-step and environmentally friendly method. Aiming at finding the most suitable formulation in terms of size, surface charge and stability on storage, an extensive pre-formulation study was performed using different type and amount of phospholipids. Read More

J Investig Med 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

To investigate serum interleukin (IL)- 35 levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to describe the association between serum IL-35 levels and clinical parameters: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), global health on Visual Analog Scale, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints based on ESR (DAS28-ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPAs). The study included 129 patients with RA and 83 healthy controls. Serum IL-35 levels were detected by ELISA. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2019 Jan 18;21(1):27. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Spain.

Background: A high prevalence of periodontitis has been reported in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, although the strength of this association, its temporal link and the possible relationship between the severity of periodontitis and RA disease activity remain unclear. The objective of this work was to investigate whether periodontitis is associated with RA and whether periodontitis severity is linked to RA disease activity.

Methods: This case-control study included 187 patients diagnosed with RA and 157 control patients without inflammatory joint disease. Read More

Arthritis Rheumatol 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, United States.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of the anti-interleukin (IL)-1α/β dual variable domain immunoglobulin lutikizumab (ABT-981) in subjects with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and evidence of synovitis.

Methods: Subjects (N=350; 347 analyzed) with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2-3 knee OA and synovitis (determined by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] or ultrasound) were randomized to placebo or lutikizumab 25, 100 or 200 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks for 50 weeks. The co-primary endpoints were change from baseline in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) pain index at week 16 and change from baseline in MRI synovitis at week 26. Read More

Paediatr Child Health 2018 Aug 18;23(5):336-343. Epub 2018 Jul 18.

Canadian Paediatric Society, Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee, Ottawa, Ontario.

Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis and septic arthritis are not uncommon infections in children and should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis of limb pain and pseudoparalysis. Most bone infections in children arise secondary to hematogenous seeding of bacteria into bone. The most common pathogens are and . Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2019 Jan 16;21(1):24. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Rheumatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.

Aims: To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) for monitoring disease activity of Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Methods: TA patients were recruited in a Chinese TA clinical center from January 2016 to September 2017. The physician global assessment was used as the referential standard for disease activity. Read More

Reumatologia 2018 23;56(6):388-391. Epub 2018 Dec 23.

Department of Rheumatology and Balneology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.

Objective: Vitamin D plays an important role in mineral turnover and bone remodeling and there are increasing data about its immunomodulatory potential in different rheumatologic disorders. Deficiency of vitamin D is frequent in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and some data suggest its association with increased disease activity and structural damage. However, its exact role in the pathogenesis of SpA and its association with disease activity are still a matter of debate. Read More

J Rheumatol 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

From the Università degli Studi di Genova, and the Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa; Fondazione Institute for Research and Health Care (IRCCS) Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Instituto de Criança - Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil. MG has received speaking or consultant fees from Sobi. B. Saccomanno, MD, Research Fellow, Università degli Studi di Genova; J. Tibaldi, MD, PhD Student, Università degli Studi di Genova; F. Minoia, MD, Dirigente Medico, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; F. Bagnasco, PhD, Biostatistician, Istituto Giannina Gaslini; A. Pistorio, MD, PhD, Dirigente Medico, Istituto Giannina Gaslini; A. Guariento, MD, Research Fellow, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, and Instituto de Criança - FMUSP; R. Caorsi, MD, Dirigente Medico, Istituto Giannina Gaslini; A. Consolaro, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Università degli Studi di Genova and Istituto Giannina Gaslini; M. Gattorno, MD, Dirigente Medico, Istituto Giannina Gaslini; A. Ravelli, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Università degli Studi di Genova and Istituto Giannina Gaslini. Dr. Saccomanno and Dr. Tibaldi contributed equally to the study. Address correspondence to Dr. A. Ravelli, Clinica Pediatrica e Reumatologia, Istituto G. Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genoa, Italy. E-mail: Accepted for publication September 20, 2018.

Objective: To seek predictors of therapeutic response to the interleukin (IL)-1 inhibitor anakinra in children with systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA).

Methods: The clinical charts of all patients with sJIA who were newly treated with anakinra at our center between 2004 and 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. Predictors included baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables as well as previous or concomitant therapies. Read More

J Rheumatol 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

From the Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Research and Development, Inova Diagnostics Inc.; Research and Development, Inova Diagnostics Inc., San Diego, California, USA. E. Darrah is an author on licensed patent no. 8,975,033 entitled "Human Autoantibodies Specific for PAD3 which are Cross-reactive with PAD4 and their Use in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Related Diseases". Address correspondence to M. Mahler, Inova Diagnostics, 9900 Old Grove Road, San Diego, California 32131-1638, USA. E-mail: or

Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) are important biomarkers in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but leave a gap of > 50% seronegative in early RA In addition, there is marked clinical heterogeneity in the seropositive group, precluding the use of RF and ACPA alone as prognostic biomarkers. These characteristics drive the demand for novel diagnostic and prognostic markers in RA. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2019 Jan 15;21(1):22. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Centre de rhumatologie, CHU de Toulouse, UMR 1043, CPTP, Inserm, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Toulouse, France.

Background: To investigate the association between 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on ERAP1 and IL23R with the presence of inflammation on the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) or spinal magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) in an early onset spondyloarthritis (SpA) cohort.

Methods: All the patients included in the DESIR cohort with an axial SpA and available DNA at baseline were enrolled in this study (n = 645 patients) and underwent a clinical examination, CRP assay, SIJ and spinal MRI scans. Six SNPs located on ERAP1 (rs30187, rs27044, rs27434, rs17482078, rs10050860, rs2287987) and six SNPs located on IL23R (rs1004819, rs10489629, rs1343151, rs2201841, rs10889677, rs11209032) were genotyped. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2019 Jan 14;21(1):21. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department and Hiller Research Unit for Rheumatology, UKD, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate a simplified version of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (RAMRIS) for five joints of the hand (RAMRIS-5) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before and after the initiation of methotrexate (MTX) therapy using high-resolution, 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with a seropositive, early RA (disease duration of less than 6 months (range 2-23 weeks)) according to 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria (mean age 56.8 years, range 39-74) were prospectively assessed with a baseline investigation including clinical assessment (disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS-28) and C-reactive protein (CRP)) and 3-T MRI of the clinically dominant hand. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2019 Jan;99(1):20-24

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing 102206, China.

To investigate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in patients with inflammatory arthritis, and to compare the efficacy of tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) in screening for LTBI in these patients. Medical records of 149 patients with inflammatory arthritis admitted to inpatient of Peking University International Hospital from December 2015 to December 2017 (diagnosis with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, sero-negative spondyloarthropathy, psoriatic arthritis, or reactive arthritis) who accepted TST or QFT were collected. The information included gender, age, history of tuberculosis infection, calcifications presence in chest X-ray or chest CT, TST result, QFT result, medication history before test, and biological treatment and all the patients were made a follow-up. Read More

Acta Reumatol Port 2018 Oct-Dec;43(4):284-290

Adnan Menderes University.

Objective: Obesity is a moderate low-grade chronic inflammatory condition. The cause of low-grade inflammation in obese patients who have clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA) may be the subject of debate in clinical practice. Our aim is to determine whether inflammation is associated with obesity or rheumatic disease, and the association between leptin, chemerin, visfatin and inflammatory markers in obese patients with/without musculoskeletal symptoms. Read More

Clin Immunol 2019 Jan 11;200:19-23. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Central Research Laboratory, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia; Laboratory of Immunology and Immunotherapy, INSERM U1227, Hôpital Morvan, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire (CHU) de Brest, Brest, France. Electronic address:

Conflicting results have been reported regarding human herpes virus (HHV) reactivation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To explore this link, 74 RA patients were selected and compared to 42 first degree relatives (FDR) from probands with RA and 25 healthy controls from the Tatarstan women cohort. The serological analysis was done by testing anti-HSV/CMV/EBV IgM, IgG, plus the IgG avidity index, and completed by evaluating HSV/CMV/EBV DNA by PCR. Read More

J Transl Int Med 2018 Dec 31;6(4):185-188. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sütçü İmam University,Kahramanmaras, Turkey.

Background And Objective: Bilirubin (Bb) is the product of the intravascular compartment of catabolic pathway. In a small number of clinical trials, it has been shown that Bb molecules are associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis) diseases and schizophrenia. Behçet's disease is a chronic, multisystemic, inflammatory vasculitis that was first described by Hulusi Behçet in 1937, which affects almost all organs and systems without any known aetiology. Read More