Clin Exp Rheumatol 2017 Jun 16. Epub 2017 Jun 16.

Department of Public Health and Clinical, Medicine/Rheumatology, Umeå University, Sweden.

Objectives: To describe treatment patterns in the Swedish early psoriatic arthritis cohort (SwePsA) of the mono-/oligo-arthritic (M/O) and polyarthritis (P) and identify early predictive factors for treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic (DMARD), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), and tumour necrosis factor inhibition (TNFi) after 5 years.

Methods: Data for 198 M/O and P PsA were obtained within the programme for SwePsA. Multinomial and binary logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between early predictive factors and treatment after 5 years adjusted for age at inclusion. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 Jun 17;19(1):143. Epub 2017 Jun 17.

Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: To understand the impact of yet undiagnosed non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) on work outcomes in a cohort of patients with long-lasting chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Methods: Data were used from a primary care CLBP cohort that was established to understand the prevalence of nr-axSpA and AS. Clinical characteristics comprised measures of back pain (visual analogue scale), inflammation (C-reactive protein) and physical functioning (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ)). Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2017 Jun 7. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College, Chengde 067000, China. Electronic address:

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels as a diagnostic marker for septic arthritis (SA) via meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library, as well as the reference lists of relevant articles, for studies published up to May 21, 2015 and did not impose language restrictions. We selected original studies reporting the usefulness of PCT or C-reactive protein (CRP) as a diagnostic marker for SA. Read More

Arthritis Rheumatol 2017 Jun 16. Epub 2017 Jun 16.

Epidemiology Group, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, UK.

Objective: To estimate the proportion of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) who meet criteria for fibromyalgia (FM) and to characterise such patients.

Methods: The British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register of Ankylosing Spondylitis (BSRBR-AS) recruits two cohorts of patients who meet ASAS criteria for axSpA across 83 centres in the United Kingdom. Patients are either newly starting (biologic cohort) or naïve (non-biologic cohort) to biologic therapy and are followed prospectively. Read More

Biochimie 2017 Jun 12. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

Genome Biology Lab, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India.

Under physiological conditions, reactive nitrogen and oxygen species are produced continuously. However, excess of these radicals may damage biomolecules like lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. These reactive species have been implicated in many disease conditions including acute/chronic inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), neurodegenerative diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 Jun 15;19(1):140. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany.

Background: Previous research indicates a role of adipokines in inflammation and osteogenesis. Hence adipokines might also have a pathophysiological role in inflammation and new bone formation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of adipokine serum levels as predictors of radiographic spinal progression in patients with AS. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2017 Jun 15;42(2):651-659. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Background/aims: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) compose a large class of RNAs that can be used as biomarkers in clinical blood samples. This study aimed to determine the expression of circRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to identify novel biomarkers for RA screening.

Methods: We started with a microarray screening of circRNA changes in PBMCs from 5 RA patients and 5 healthy controls. Read More

Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2017 Jun 29;188:21-26. Epub 2017 Apr 29.

Veterinary Clinical Immunology Research Group, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil.

The exact influence of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) infection on blood and milk polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) and monocyte/macrophages of goats remains unclear. Thus, the present study sought to explore the blood and milk PMNL and monocyte/macrophage functions in naturally CAEV-infected goats. The present study used 18 healthy Saanen goats that were segregated according to sera test outcomes into serologically CAEV negative (n=8; 14 halves) and positive (n=10; 14 halves) groups. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2017 Jun 14;15(1):51. Epub 2017 Jun 14.

Federal State Autonomous Institution "National Scientific and Practical Center of Children's Health" Of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of etanercept treatment and to identify predictors of response to therapy within 12 months in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) without systemic manifestations.

Methods: A total of 197 juvenile patients were enrolled in this study. Response to therapy was assessed using the ACRPedi 30/50/70/90 criteria, the Wallace criteria, and the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score 71 (JADAS-71). Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2017 Jun 14. Epub 2017 Jun 14.

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

Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the pathophysiology of RA. Moderate intensity exercises have been reported to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2017 Jun 13. Epub 2017 Jun 13.

Department of Rheumatology and the Joint Disease Clinic, ISIC Superspeciality Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, 110070, India.

The objective of this study was to characterise the peripheral arthritis of spondyloarthritis (pSpA) excluding psoriatic-, inflammatory enteropathy-related, post-infectious reactive-SpA and arthritis associated with axial SpA/ankylosing spondylitis (axSpA/AS). Patients presenting with the clinical features of the broad spectrum of SpA were screened for the presence of peripheral arthritis using the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria. The other conditions that could cause pSpA, e. Read More

BioDrugs 2017 Jun 13. Epub 2017 Jun 13.

School of Medicine, IN-HA University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.

Background: CT-P10 is a biosimilar of innovator rituximab (RTX), a biological therapy used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have responded inadequately to anti-tumor necrosis factor agents.

Objective: Our objective was to compare the clinical profile of CT-P10 versus RTX in patients with RA who received up to two courses of treatment and were followed for up to 72 weeks.

Methods: In this multicenter double-blind phase I study, patients were randomized 2:1 to receive CT-P10 1000 mg or RTX 1000 mg at weeks 0 and 2. Read More

Case Rep Dermatol 2017 May-Aug;9(2):26-29. Epub 2017 May 22.

aDepartment of Dermatology, Shonan Fujisawa Tokushukai Hospital, Fujisawa, Japan.

A 42-year-old Japanese man presented with persistent headache during treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with infliximab. Treatment with infliximab was initiated 3 years before and the psoriatic skin lesions with arthritis were well controlled. However, after 21 doses of infliximab, the skin lesions and joint pain exacerbated and became intractable. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2017 Jun 13;2017. Epub 2017 Jun 13.

Botnar Research Centre (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Pericardial effusions arise as an extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Pericardial effusions are often asymptomatic, particularly in the early phase, but patients are at risk of cardiac tamponade as the effusion progresses. We discuss the case of a 40-year-old male ultramarathon runner with RA who presented with mild pleuritic chest pain and exertional dyspnoea after a recent long-haul flight. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2017 Jun 13. Epub 2017 Jun 13.

Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Glostrup, Denmark.

Objectives: To examine whether MRI assessed inflammation and damage in the wrist of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Methods: Wrist and hand MRIs of 210 patients with early RA from two investigator-initiated, randomised controlled studies (CIMESTRA/OPERA) were assessed according to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology RA MRI score (RAMRIS) for synovitis, tenosynovitis, osteitis, bone erosions and joint space narrowing (JSN) at baseline, 1 and 5 years follow-up. These features, and changes therein, were assessed for associations with health assessment questionnaires (HAQ), patient global visual analogue scales (VAS-PtGlobal) and VAS-pain using Spearman's correlations, generalised estimating equations and univariate/multivariable linear regression analyses. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2017 Jun 12. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

Department of Rheumatology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background/purpose: To compare the performance of Disease Assessment Score of 28 joints - C-reactive protein (DAS-28-CRP), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) composite measures to assess status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on methotrexate, versus DAS-28 CRP as the gold standard.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-five patients with RA as per the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria were included in the prospective study. The disease activity was assessed at baseline and at every 6 weeks for 24 weeks, by DAS-28-CRP, CDAI and SDAI. Read More

Case Rep Rheumatol 2017 21;2017:3293060. Epub 2017 May 21.

Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cumhuriyet University Hospital, Sivas, Turkey.

Reactive arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease that develops after an infection and it usually occurs following a gastrointestinal or genitourinary system infection and it belongs to the family of arthritis called "spondyloarthritis." We wanted to represent a rare case of reactive arthritis secondary to Echinococcus infestation. Cyst hydatid disease is common in endemic regions like Turkey. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2017 Jun 12. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Objectives: Obesity has been proposed as a risk factor for refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated the impact of obesity on achieving clinical and imaging definitions of low disease activity.

Methods: This study evaluated 470 patients with RA from GO-BEFORE and GO-FORWARD randomised clinical trials. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2017 Jun 12. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

Department of Rheumatology, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Objective: Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) are effective in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but disadvantages include adverse events (AEs) and high costs. This can be improved by disease activity-guided dose reduction (DR). We aimed to assess long-term outcomes of TNFi DR in RA by using 3-year data from the DRESS study (Dose REduction Strategy of Subcutaneous TNF inhibitors study). Read More

BMC Res Notes 2017 Jun 12;10(1):203. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Poncet's disease is a rare reactive polyarthritis associated with active tuberculosis and no evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the affected joint.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 35 year old Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive Kenyan male of Kikuyu ethnicity from Kiambu County who presented to hospital with a 6 day history of bilateral knee pain and swelling, bilateral ankle pain with right ankle swelling. The patient reported 6 months history of cough and weight loss. Read More

Psychosom Med 2017 Jun 10. Epub 2017 Jun 10.

1 Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. 2 Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. 3 MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Objective: Higher wellbeing is associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers in healthy populations; however, it is unclear whether this association translates into a reduced risk of disease. In the current study, we tested whether the association between wellbeing and inflammation results in a lower risk of arthritis.

Methods: The sample consisted of 5,622 participants aged ≥ 50 from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and included 6 waves of data collection. Read More

PLoS One 2017 8;12(6):e0178879. Epub 2017 Jun 8.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines have been believed to be involved in the etiopathogenesis of the disease. The aim of the study was to determine the correlation of inflammatory cytokines with 25-hydroxy vitamin D and ROS. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2017 Jun 7. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University; PhD Royal College of Surgeons, London University, London, UK.

The study aims to evaluate the clinical significance of serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and -308 A/G promoter polymorphism in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients and find any association to the subsets, clinical and laboratory features, disease activity, and damage as well as functional disability. Forty-eight JIA children and 30 controls were included in the present study. Juvenile arthritis disease activity score in 27 joints (JADAS-27) was calculated, juvenile arthritis damage index (JADI) was assessed, and Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) measured the functional status. Read More

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 2017 Jun;56(6):477-480

Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.

A 54-year-old man was admitted to the Department of Rheumatology in Peking Union Medical College Hospital due to polyarthritis, back pain and multiple subcutaneous masses. He had symmetrical polyarthritis at onset, which was diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis. His follow-up and treatment were irregular. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2017 Jun 6. Epub 2017 Jun 6.

Department of Rheumatology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

We report here on four cases of patients with strongly positive anti-citrullinated cyclic peptides (anti-CCP) antibodies and clinical features of seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA) and reactive arthritis. The four patients had various clinical presentations: one had an initial diagnosis of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with involvement of the sacroiliac joints (similar to previous reports of the association of two diseases); one had a clinical picture of reactive arthritis following an episode of an Escherichia coli positive urinary tract infection; and two had asymmetrical sacroiliitis (SII), but no evidence of peripheral joint involvement (never reported before). In all cases, high titers of anti-CCP antibodies were found. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2017 Jun 5. Epub 2017 Jun 5.

Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California, USA.

Objectives: ABP 501 is a Food and Drug Administration-approved biosimilar to adalimumab; structural, functional and pharmacokinetic evaluations have shown that the two are highly similar. We report results from a phase III study comparing efficacy, safety and immunogenicity between ABP 501 and adalimumab.

Methods: In this randomised, double-blind, active comparator-controlled, 26-week equivalence study, patients with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite methotrexate were randomised (1:1) to ABP 501 or adalimumab (40 mg) every 2 weeks. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2017 Jun 2;92:615-633. Epub 2017 Jun 2.

Drug and Herbal Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address:

An autoimmune disease is defined as a clinical syndrome resulted from an instigation of both T cell and B cell or individually, in the absence of any present infection or any sort of distinguishable cause. Clonal deletion of auto reactive cells remains the central canon of immunology for decades, keeping the role of T cell and B cell aside, which are actually the guards to recognize the entry of foreign body. According to NIH, 23. Read More

Curr Clin Pharmacol 2017 Jun 4. Epub 2017 Jun 4.

Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and migraine are both common disorders which are caused by a faulty immune system and autonomic nervous system dysfunction, respectively. Although current treatment outlook has been shown a great improvement in these two diseases, however many side effects have been reported.

Case Report: We report a case of 43-years-female that has been suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for 3 years with a 6 years history of migraine. Read More

Sex Transm Infect 2017 Jun;93(4):233

Microbiology Laboratory, National Institute of Pathology (ICMR), Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi, India.

J Rheumatol 2017 Jun 1. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

From the Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center | VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. R. Agca, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center | VU University Medical Center; M. Heslinga, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center | VU University Medical Center; E.L. Kneepkens, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center| Reade; C. van Dongen, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center| Reade; M.T. Nurmohamed, MD, Professor, Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center | VU University Medical Center. Address correspondence to Dr. M. Heslinga, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center| Reade, Dr. Jan van Breemenstraat 2, 1056 AB, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. E-mail: Accepted for publication March 22, 2017.

Objective: To investigate the effects of etanercept (ETN) on lipid metabolism and other known cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: In an observational cohort of 118 consecutive patients with PsA, CVD risk factors were assessed over 5 years. Mixed-model analyses were performed to investigate the effects of ETN therapy on CVD risk factors over time. Read More

Clin Med (Lond) 2017 Jun;17(3):280-281

Department of Rheumatology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Septic arthritis represents 8-27% of cases of monoarthritis presenting to the emergency department. Tocilizumab is an interleukin-6 blocking monoclonal antibody with the mechanistic potential to interfere with the body's normal inflammatory response to an infectious insult. We present a case of septic arthritis with a normal white cell count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen in a patient treated with tocilizumab. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2017 Jun 1:1-8. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

a Rheumatology Division , Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) , Brazil.

Aim: To evaluate the performance of four different classification criteria for spondyloarthritis (SpA) in patients with late-onset symptoms and to compare the clinical, laboratory and radiographic outcomes among the patients with symptoms before and after 45 years of age.

Patients And Methods: A total of 329 patients with SpA were enrolled in this prospective cohort. Patients with psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, colitis associated arthritis and peripheral or undifferentiated SpA were excluded. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 May 31;19(1):118. Epub 2017 May 31.

Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Background: The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) definition of a positive family history (PFH) of spondyloarthritis (SpA) includes the following diseases in first- or second-degree relatives: ankylosing spondylitis (AS), acute anterior uveitis (AAU), reactive arthritis (ReA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and psoriasis. However, it is not known if a PFH for each of these diseases contributes to making a diagnosis of axSpA, sacroiliitis on imaging, or fulfilling the ASAS criteria in patients presenting with chronic back pain (CBP). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess which SpA diseases in family members are associated with human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in CBP patients. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 May 31;19(1):119. Epub 2017 May 31.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, Korea.

Background: Exosomes are thought to play an important role in exchanging information between cells. The proteins and lipids in exosomes play roles in mediating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to identify exosomal candidate proteins that are related to other inflammatory parameters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Read More

Biomed Res Int 2017 3;2017:6509754. Epub 2017 May 3.

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.

Introduction. Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are a major cause of death in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Novel biomarkers [B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP); osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) ratio; and dickkopf-1 (DKK-1)] have been used in CV risk assessment. Read More

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2017 Apr 25. Epub 2017 Apr 25.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.

Objective: To assess the impact of switching tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors on patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: PubMed literature searches were conducted using combinations of search terms including ankylosing spondylitis, spondyloarthropathy, spondyloarthritis, switch/switching, drug survival, and TNF/tumor necrosis factor to identify published articles with data on outcomes related to switching biologic therapies in patients with axSpA.

Results: Of the 134 studies screened, 21 were identified as reporting data on switching TNF inhibitors in patients carrying a diagnosis of axSpA or ankylosing spondylitis. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2017 Jul 27;36(7):1561-1568. Epub 2017 May 27.

State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

The study aimed to determine whether unique clinical patterns of AS may exist in China, specifically to explore the different clinical manifestations caused by gender, HLA-B27 status, and age at disease onset. The multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted and 1251 patients were enrolled across China, representing a broad spectrum of Chinese AS patients. The mean age at onset and diagnosis were 29. Read More

Joint Bone Spine 2017 May 23. Epub 2017 May 23.

Research Laboratory and Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, IRCCS San Martino, Largo R. Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy.

Objectives: To assess the validity of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) for measuring disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to determine cut-off values for defining the disease activity states.

Methods: 622 RA patients from an European database have been included. Cross-validation was based on assessment of convergent and discriminant validity. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2017 May 26;15(1):46. Epub 2017 May 26.

Division of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is considered to be an autoimmune disease, but the etiology is unknown. We decided to study the influence of early nutrition on later development of JIA.

Methods: All parents with children born between October 1, 1997 and October 1, 1999 in Southeast Sweden were asked to participate in the ABIS prospective cohort study (All Babies in Southeast Sweden), At 1 year, questionnaires with information on breastfeeding and introduction of foods were completed by 10,565 families. Read More

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 2017 May 25. Epub 2017 May 25.

Department of Orthopaedics, Denver Health Medical Center, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, 777 Bannock Street, Denver, CO, 80204, USA.

Background: Long bone posttraumatic osteomyelitis (PTOM) is a relatively common complication following surgical fixation of open fractures. There is a lacking consensus on ideal strategies for diagnostic evaluation of long bone PTOM. While open bone biopsy and culture is considered the 'gold diagnostic standard,' its cost and invasiveness are often prohibitive and have prompted the search for alternate diagnostic methods. Read More

Orphanet J Rare Dis 2017 May 25;12(1):99. Epub 2017 May 25.

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center. Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.

Background: Whipple's disease, a rare chronic infectious disorder caused by Tropheryma whipplei, may present with predominant joint manifestations mimicking rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A retrospective single-center cohort study of seven patients was performed. Clinical symptoms were assessed by review of medical charts and Whipple's disease was diagnosed by periodic-acid-Schiff-stain and/or Tropheryma whipplei-specific polymerase-chain-reaction. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2017 May 23. Epub 2017 May 23.

Rheumatology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Objectives: In current management paradigms of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), patient global assessment (PGA) is crucial to decide whether a patient has attained remission (target) or needs reinforced therapy. We investigated whether the clinical and psychological determinants of PGA are appropriate to support this important role.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, single centre study including consecutive ambulatory RA patients. Read More

Arthritis Rheumatol 2017 May 23. Epub 2017 May 23.

Division of Rheumatology and Center of Inflammation, Immunology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0133, USA.

Objective Development of proteinuria in lupus nephritis (LN) is associated with podocyte dysfunction. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been implicated in the pathogenesis of LN. This study investigates whether NLRP3 inflammasome activation is involved in the development of podocyte injury in LN. Read More

Reumatologia 2017 28;55(2):94-99. Epub 2017 Apr 28.

Department of General and Experimental Pathology, CEPT Laboratory, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.

Inflammatory response is accompanied by changes in cellular energy metabolism. Proinflammatory mediators like plasma C-reactive protein, IL-6, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, TNF-α or monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 released in the site of inflammation activates immune cells and increase energy consumption. Increased demand for energy creates local hypoxia and lead in consequence to mitochondrial dysfunction. Read More

Reumatologia 2017 28;55(2):59-64. Epub 2017 Apr 28.

Department of Rheumatology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.

Objectives: Report on one-year results from the Polish Spondyloarthritis Initiative registry (PolSPI), containing the cross-sectional analysis of clinical and imaging data as well as database methodology.

Material And Methods: The PolSPI registry includes patients with axial (axSpA) and peripheral (perSpA) spondyloarthritis according to ASAS classification criteria, and/or patients with ankylosing spondylitis according to modified New York criteria, psoriatic arthritis according to CASPAR criteria, arthropathy in inflammatory bowel disease, reactive arthritis, juvenile spondyloarthritis or undifferentiated spondyloarthritis. Epidemiologic data and history of signs, symptoms and treatment of spondyloarthritis are collected and assessment of disease activity is performed. Read More

Rev Bras Reumatol Engl Ed 2017 May - Jun;57(3):238-244. Epub 2017 Jan 4.

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of periodontal treatment on rheumatoid arthritis activity.

Methods: MEDLINE/PUBMED, The Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials, SciELO and LILACS were searched for studies published until December 2014. Included articles were: prospective studies; including patients older than 18 years, diagnosed with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis submitted to non-surgical periodontal treatment; with a control group receiving no periodontal treatment; with outcomes including at least one marker of rheumatoid arthritis activity. Read More

Neuroimmunomodulation 2017 May 24. Epub 2017 May 24.

Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Neuroendocrine Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have sleep problems, and inflammation influences sleep. We demonstrated that sleep quality improves during intensified treatment with methotrexate (MTX) or etanercept (ETA). Since the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is involved in sleep regulation, this study investigated the interrelation between sleep parameters, inflammation as objectified by C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. Read More

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2017 Apr 28. Epub 2017 Apr 28.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, 2-17-6 Ohashi, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8515, Japan. Electronic address:

Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the factors associated with clinical remission of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in daily clinical practice.

Methods: This analysis was based on the data of 304 RA patients in our center between May 2014 and March 2015. The following information was included: tender, swollen, and symptomatic joint counts, patient's and physician's global assessments, functional disability, laboratory and radiographic data, and RA treatments received. Read More

Joint Bone Spine 2017 May 18. Epub 2017 May 18.

UPMC University Paris 06, institut Pierre-Louis d'épidémiologie et de santé publique, GRC-UPMC 08 (EEMOIS), Sorbonne universités, 75005 Paris, France; Department of Rheumatology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, 75013 Paris, France. Electronic address:

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic auto-inflammatory disorder (SAID). Although the pathogenesis of the disease is complex and far from being fully understood, recent progresses in pathophysiological knowledge have paved the way to new diagnostic approaches. Indeed, AOSD diagnosis can be a real challenge, owing to its infrequency, and to the lack of specificity of the principal clinical features (high fever, arthralgia or arthritis, skin rash) and laboratory findings (elevated acute phase reactants, hyperleukocytosis ≥ 10,000 cells/mm(3) with neutrophils ≥80%). Read More