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

Heart Lung Circ 2017 Apr 24. Epub 2017 Apr 24.

Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Medical Statistics, (ICMR), Delhi, India.

Background: The objective of the study was to describe the clinical characteristics of atypical articular presentations during the initial outbreak and recurrence in patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in the paediatric age group.

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study conducted between January 2012 and December 2014 on all suspected cases of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) fulfilling either WHO 2004 or Australian guidelines with atypical articular manifestations ie, presence of at least one of the following features: duration of symptoms more than three weeks; monoarthritis/arthralgia; involvement of small joints of hand and feet and/or cervical spine and/or hip joint; and, not responding to salicylates in one week.

Results: 'Atypical' pattern was present in 63% (39/62) of patients with articular manifestations, of which arthralgia was a common manifestation (57%). Read More

Immunol Lett 2017 May 16. Epub 2017 May 16.

Centre for Immune Regulation and Department of Immunology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.

Early diagnosis and immediately started appropriate treatment are mandatory for the prevention of radiographic progression, functional disability and unfavourable disease outcome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The current classification criteria for RA include two different types of biomarkers representing inflammatory processes, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or immune processes including autoantibodies, such as rheumatoid factor (RF) and antibodies against citrullinated proteins (ACPA). After the discovery of RF, the recent recognition of various autoantibodies against post-translationally modified proteins opened new avenues to diagnosing RA and predicting the course of the disease. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2017 May 19. Epub 2017 May 19.

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China.

Aim: This study aims to discuss risk factors associated with cervical spine involvement (CSI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A literature search was performed in Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science and CBMdisc databases for potential studies published before October 2016. The clinical and laboratory data were extracted, and a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors for CSI in RA patients. Read More

Cell Immunol 2017 May 10. Epub 2017 May 10.

Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmacy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States. Electronic address:

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is the most toxic enzyme found in the azurophilic granules of neutrophils. MPO utilizes H2O2 to generate hypochlorous acid (HClO) and other reactive moieties, which kill pathogens during infections. In contrast, in the setting of sterile inflammation, MPO and MPO-derived oxidants are thought to be pathogenic, promoting inflammation and causing tissue damage. Read More

Semin Immunopathol 2017 May 15. Epub 2017 May 15.

The Department of Molecular Rheumatology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Synovial immunopathology in rheumatoid arthritis is complex involving both resident and infiltrating cells. The synovial tissue undergoes significant neovascularization, facilitating an influx of lymphocytes and monocytes that transform a typically acellular loose areolar membrane into an invasive tumour-like pannus. The microvasculature proliferates to form straight regularly-branching vessels; however, they are highly dysfunctional resulting in reduced oxygen supply and a hypoxic microenvironment. Read More

Molecules 2017 May 14;22(5). Epub 2017 May 14.

Laboratory of Signal Transduction and Disease Biomarker Discovery, Department of Senior Healthcare, BK21 Plus Program, Graduate School, Eulji University, Daejeon 34824, Korea.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that progresses into systemic inflammation and joint deformity. RA diagnosis is a complicated procedure, and early diagnostic methods are insufficient. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to identify new markers to improve the accuracy of RA prescreening. Read More

Intern Med 2017 15;56(10):1239-1242. Epub 2017 May 15.

Department of Rheumatology and General Internal Medicine, Nagasaki Medical Center, Japan.

We report a case of reactive arthritis (ReA) triggered by Yersinia enterocolitica enteritis. A 24-year-old Japanese man developed polyarthritis in the lower limbs. Two weeks prior to these symptoms, he noted diarrhea, right lower abdominal pain and a fever. Read More

Presse Med 2017 May 10. Epub 2017 May 10.

Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, université de Strasbourg, faculté de médecine, clinique dermatologique, 1, place de l'Hôpital, 67091 Strasbourg, France.

Egypt J Immunol 2016 Jun;23(2):97-108

Department of Internal Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.

Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are increasingly recognised complications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Angiopoietin 2 (Ang-2) levels have been associated with clinically overt CVD in general population; we assessed serum Ang-2 levels and its correlation with Echocardiographic abnormalities and carotid intima-media thickness in RA patients. 44 RA patients without clinically overt CVD and 44 healthy controls were assessed by questionnaire and clinical examination. Read More

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2017 May 13. Epub 2017 May 13.

U1227, INSERM, Ion channels and Cancer-"Canceropole Grand Ouest", University of Brest, Brest, France.

Maintenance of self-tolerance of auto-reactive lymphocytes is a fundamental mechanism to prevent the onset of autoimmune diseases. Deciphering the mechanisms involved in the deregulations leading to tolerance disruption and autoimmunity is still a major area of interest to identify new therapeutic targets and options. Ca(2+) signaling plays a major role in B cell normal development and is therefore finely tuned by B cell receptor (BCR)-dependent and independent pathways. Read More

Immunology 2017 May 12. Epub 2017 May 12.

Division of Medical Inflammation Research, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-17177, Stockholm, Sweden.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4)-mediated regulation of already tolerized autoreactive T cells is critical for understanding autoimmune responses. While defects in CTLA-4 contribute to abnormal FOXP3(+) regulatory T cell (Treg) function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) its role in autoreactive T cells remains elusive. We studied immunity towards the dominant collagen type-II (CII) T cell epitope in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) both in the heterologous setting and in the autologous setting where CII is mutated at position E266D in mouse cartilage. Read More

BioDrugs 2017 May 11. Epub 2017 May 11.

Division of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, 222-1 Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.

Background: During two pivotal clinical trials of the infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 (PLANETAS and PLANETRA), antidrug antibodies (ADAs) and neutralising antibodies (NAbs) were detected in the sera of patients treated with CT-P13 and the reference product (RP; Remicade).

Objective: The aim was to assess the comparability of Remicade- and CT-P13-tagged immunoassays for the detection of ADAs and NAbs using data from these trials, in order to determine the cross-reactivity of CT-P13 and RP ADAs.

Methods: Sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis were analysed using an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) bridging assay or Gyros immunoassay, tagged with Remicade or CT-P13 at screening, weeks 14, 30 and 54, and the end of study visit. Read More

Front Immunol 2017 27;8:476. Epub 2017 Apr 27.

Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia.

Introduction: Both reactive arthritis (ReA) and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (uSpA) belong to the group of autoinflammatory diseases called spondyloarthritis (SpA). Hypotheses have been proposed about a relationship between the intestinal mucosa and inflammation of joint tissues. The role of immunoglobulin IgA or secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in the inflammatory and/or clinical activity of patients with SpA remains poorly understood. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 May 12;19(1):90. Epub 2017 May 12.

Human Biology, J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla, 92092, CA, USA.

Background: An individual patient's response to a particular drug is influenced by multiple factors, which may include genetic predisposition. Pharmacogenetic studies attempt to discover and estimate the contributions of genetic variants to the variability in response to a drug treatment. The task of identifying the genetic contribution is often complicated by response phenotypes that are based on imprecise or subjective clinical observations. Read More

J Dermatol 2017 May 11. Epub 2017 May 11.

Department of Dermatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Recent studies indicate the presence of systemic inflammation in psoriatic patients, and this inflammatory status is significantly associated with a range of comorbidities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of novel inflammatory biomarkers, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) in Japanese patients with plaque-type psoriasis (PsV) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). One hundred and eighty-six patients with PsV and 50 patients with PsA treated with biologics, including infliximab, adalimumab and ustekinumab, were retrospectively analyzed before and after treatment. Read More

Nat Rev Rheumatol 2017 Jun 11;13(6):327-328. Epub 2017 May 11.

Department of Clinical Immunology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rae Bareilly Road, Lucknow 226014, India.

Heart 2017 May 10. Epub 2017 May 10.

Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Objective: Increasing evidence indicates systemic inflammation as a new potential cause of acquired long QT syndrome (LQTS), via cytokine-mediated changes in cardiomyocyte ion channels. Torsade de pointes (TdP) is a life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia occurring in patients with LQTS, usually when multiple QT-prolonging factors are simultaneously present. Since classical risk factors cannot fully explain TdP events in a number of patients, we hypothesised that systemic inflammation may represent a currently overlooked risk factor contributing to TdP development in the general population. Read More

Br J Nutr 2017 May 11:1-8. Epub 2017 May 11.

2Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases,Kashan University of Medical Sciences,Kashan PO Box 8715988141,Iran.

Synbiotic intake may be associated with reduced inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) due to optimised inflammatory markers, oxidative stress and insulin resistance. This research was conducted to assess the effects of synbiotic supplementation on the clinical and metabolic parameters of patients with RA. A total of fifty-four patients with RA were allocated into two groups to receive either a synbiotic capsule (n 27) or a placebo (n 27) for 8 weeks in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Read More

Cornea 2017 May 8. Epub 2017 May 8.

*Department of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; †Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; and ‡Department of Biomedical Sciences, The City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Purpose: To compare tear osmolarity (TO) and other dry eye parameters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with or without secondary Sjogren syndrome (sSS).

Methods: Consecutive patients with RA were divided into a sSS group and no-sSS group using conventional diagnostic criteria by rheumatologists using symptomatology, Schirmer test score, and anti-Ro or anti-La autoantibody status. The TO, Ocular Surface Disease Index, dry eye disease (DED) parameters [such as tear breakup time (TBUT) and corneal staining score] and the systemic inflammatory markers [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] were compared. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2017 9;4(1):ofx013. Epub 2017 Feb 9.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Departments of Orthopaedics.

Background: Prior studies of pediatric musculoskeletal infection have suggested that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections result in worse outcomes compared with infections with methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA) strains. Based on these results, clinical prediction algorithms have been developed to differentiate between MRSA and MSSA early in a patient's clinical course. This study compares hospital outcomes for pediatric patients with MRSA and MSSA musculoskeletal infection presenting to the emergency department at a large tertiary care children's hospital. Read More

Pharmacogn Mag 2017 Jan 7;13(Suppl 1):S26-S32. Epub 2017 Apr 7.

Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.

Background: ellular damage initiated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the main cause of numerous severe diseases and therefore for this reason, the natural antioxidants have note worthy significance in human health. Capsaicin possesses noteworthy analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It also possesses healing effects for treatment of arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, gastric lesions, and cardiac excitability that is why it is incorporated in creams and gels. Read More

BMC Neurol 2017 May 5;17(1):85. Epub 2017 May 5.

Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, 710038, China.

Background: Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is widely considered to be a distinct clinical entity, and now divided into two subgroups: stable UCTD and early UCTD. The most frequent onset symptoms of UCTD include arthralgias, arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, mucocutaneous involvement, and sicca symptoms. However, Neurologic involvement is rare, and intracranial lesion as onset symptom in a patient with early UCTD has not yet been reported. Read More

Inflammation 2017 May 4. Epub 2017 May 4.

Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.

RANKL and RANK are potential contributors of inflammatory cascade in human and animal model of arthritis. The current study aims to investigate the effect of N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide (NA-2) on regulation of RANKL pathway in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model in rats. CIA was induced using bovine type II collagen in female Wistar rats. Read More

Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2017 May 2. Epub 2017 May 2.

Lund University, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Section for Rheumatology and Molecular Skeletal Biology, BMC-C12, 22184 Lund, Sweden. Electronic address:

Objective: To develop automated immunoassays for the quantification of Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) and a COMP neoepitope in synovial fluid and to investigate their diagnostic potential in different joint conditions.

Methods: Two sandwich immunoassays were developed for the quantification of COMP and a COMP neoepitope, using an automated analyser (IDS-iSYS, Immunodiagnostic Systems, Boldon, UK). Assay performance was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, recovery, linearity, and intra- and inter-assay precision. Read More

Arthritis Rheumatol 2017 May 4. Epub 2017 May 4.

Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642.

Objective - BMSCs create a special microenvironment for hematopoiesis and immunity and also display robust immunomodulatory properties which are impaired in SLE. This study was undertaken to define the mechanisms of defects in human SLE BMSCs. Methods - Patients fulfilling SLE classification criteria and healthy controls were recruited under an Institutional Review Board approved protocol (n=6 each). Read More

Z Rheumatol 2017 May 3. Epub 2017 May 3.

Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann gemeinnützige GmbH, Potsdam, Deutschland.

The histopathological synovitis score evaluates in a graded approach, as is largely usual for diagnostic histopathological scores, the immunological and inflammatory changes caused by synovitis. A synovitis score of between 1 and ≤ 4 is classified as low-grade (osteoarthritis-related synovitis, post-traumatic synovitis, meniscopathy-related synovitis and synovitis in hemochromatosis). Synovitis scores of between ≥ 5 and 9 are classified as high-grade synovitis (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Lyme's arthritis, post-infection/reactive arthritis and peripheral arthritis in Bechterew disease); sensitivity is 61. Read More

Antioxid Redox Signal 2017 May 3. Epub 2017 May 3.

Turun Yliopisto, 8058, Medicity Research Laboratory, Turku, Finland.

Aims: Neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 (NCF1) is a key regulatory component of the phagocytic NOX2 complex, which produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). Polymorphism of the Ncf1 gene is associated with increased arthritis severity. In this study, we generated targeted Ncf1 knock-in mice with inducible Ncf1 expression and determined the critical time window during which the NOX2-derived ROS protect the mice from arthritis. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 May 2;19(1):85. Epub 2017 May 2.

Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology", Novosibirsk, Russia.

Background: Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is crucial to providing effective therapy and often hampered by unspecific clinical manifestations. Elevated levels of extracellular circulating DNA (cirDNA) in patients with autoimmune disease were found to be associated with etiopathogenesis. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the putative diagnostic use of cirDNA in RA and its association with disease activity. Read More

Health Qual Life Outcomes 2017 May 2;15(1):89. Epub 2017 May 2.

Department of Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20th Xisi Road, 226001, Nantong, People's Republic of China.

Background: As an important outcome measure among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, functional disability may contribute to unemployment, loss of work productivity, and impaired quality of life. However, little is known about the risk factors of functional disability in Chinese RA patients. This study aimed (1) to examine the prevalence of functional disability in Chinese RA patients; (2) to explore factors associated with the health assessment questionnaire-disability index (HAQ-DI). Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2017 Apr 29;48:61-66. Epub 2017 Apr 29.

Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, No. 26 Heping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. Electronic address:

Caffeic acid (CA) is a phenolic acid widely found in fruits and plants, which exhibits anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory properties. Because increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is related to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we treated RA-derived fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) with CA, and investigated its effects on cytokine production, expression levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1. Our results showed that high level of CA induced cell apoptosis in RA-FLS. Read More

Clin Immunol 2017 Apr 28. Epub 2017 Apr 28.

Zabludowicz Center For Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer 5262100, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6997801, Israel; Department of Medicine 'B', Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer 5262100, Israel.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by pronounced inflammation and leukocyte infiltration in affected joints. Tofacitinib is new agent, a selective inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK) signaling pathways mediated by JAK1 and JAK3 and inhibits the key transcription factors STAT1 and STAT3. We investigated the action mechanisms of tofacitinib in rats with adjuvant-induced-arthritis (AIA). Read More

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 2017 May;56(5):388-392

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

A 53-year-old woman presented with arthralgia and dyspepsia on exertion.Symmetrical joint swelling and pain of bilateral hands with pigmentation sedimentation in the articular surfaces, dry cough and short of breath were the main clinical manifestations.Elevated levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate(89 mm/1 h), C-reactive protein (64. Read More

Acta Biomater 2017 Apr 27. Epub 2017 Apr 27.

Department of Analytical and Bioinorganic Chemistry, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Misasagi-Nakauchicho 5, Yamashinaku, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.

Although local anesthesia is commonly applied for pain relief, there are several issues such as its short duration of action and low effectiveness at the areas of inflammation due to the acidic pH. The presence of excessive amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is known to induce inflammation and aggravate pain. To resolve these issues, we developed a redox-active injectable gel (RIG) with ROS-scavenging activity. Read More

Virus Res 2017 Apr 25;236:1-8. Epub 2017 Apr 25.

Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, NUPEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address:

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is a neglected tropical arbovirus that causes a febrile syndrome that is sometimes accompanied by incapacitating arthritis/arthralgia. The pathogenesis of MAYV has not been completely defined and oxidative stress mediated by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or depletion of antioxidant defences has been found to contribute to several aspects of viral disease. To investigate whether MAYV induced oxidative stress in host cells, we monitored ROS production, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant defences at different time points after infection. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2017 Apr 27. Epub 2017 Apr 27.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, 896, Pyongchon, Anyang Kyunggi, 431-070, Republic of Korea.

We investigated the contributions made by the subjective components of the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) to the treatment response of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, factors associated with poor response to treatment at 6 months, despite normalization of objective measures, were examined. A total of 426 newly diagnosed RA patients were included. Read More

Rheumatol Int 2017 Apr 26. Epub 2017 Apr 26.

Department of Rheumatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 180, Road Fenglin, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.

Reduction of urate depositions in the joints, on dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), in patients with gout during urate-lowering therapy (ULT) was demonstrated in previous studies. The aim of this study was to further investigate the changes in distribution of urate deposits during ULT. This randomized controlled trial enrolled 46 patients diagnosed with gout from Zhongshan Hospital, China, between October 2013 and June 2014. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2017 Apr 26;19(1):79. Epub 2017 Apr 26.

Institute of Rheumatology, Na Slupi 4, 12850, Prague, Czech Republic.

Background: Calgizzarin (S100A11) is a member of the S100 protein family that acts in different tumors by regulating a number of biologic functions. Recent data suggest its association with low-grade inflammation in osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of our study is to compare S100A11 expression in the synovial tissues, synovial fluid and serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) and to characterize the potential association between S100A11 and disease activity. Read More

Nutrients 2017 Apr 26;9(5). Epub 2017 Apr 26.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Asahi 3-1-1, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan.

The aim of this 12-month retrospective study was to evaluate differences in the outcomes of denosumab alone or denosumab combined with vitamin D and calcium supplementation in patients having osteoporosis (OP) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients were divided into the denosumab monotherapy group (denosumab group, 22 cases) or denosumab plus vitamin D supplementation group (combination group, 21 cases). We measured serum bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), N-terminal propeptide of type 1 collagen (P1NP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP)-5b, and urinary N-terminal telopeptide of type-I collagen (NTX) at baseline, 1 week, and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 months. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Apr;96(17):e6780

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.

To analyze the alteration of lipid profile and inflammatory markers in the serum of patients with gouty arthritis (GA), the levels of serum lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs) were measured in the serum of 69 gout patients, 35 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 23 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS)/spondyloarthropathy (SpA), and 25 patients with osteoarthritis (OA). The serum levels of apoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) were significantly decreased in patients with gout when compared with RA, AS/SpA, and OA patients. The serum levels of CRP were significantly increased in gouty patients when compared with RA, AS/SpA, and OA patients. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2017 Apr 25. Epub 2017 Apr 25.

Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Objectives: Over 50% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) harbour a variety of anti-modified protein antibodies (AMPA) against different post-translationally modified (PTM) proteins, including anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies. At present, it is unknown how AMPA are generated and how autoreactive B cell responses against PTM proteins are induced. Here we studied whether PTM foreign antigens can breach B cell tolerance towards PTM self-proteins. Read More

Braz J Phys Ther 2017 Apr 13. Epub 2017 Apr 13.

Polyclinic of Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address:

Objectives: To investigate the effects of underwater ultrasound (US) therapy in 48 patients with moderately active rheumatoid arthritis (disease activity score in 28 joints [DAS28]>3.2 and<5.1). Read More

Allergol Int 2017 Apr 22. Epub 2017 Apr 22.

Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Saitama Children's Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.

Background: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and post-streptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA) are immune-mediated consequences of group A streptococcal pharyngitis. ARF has declined in developed nations. No prevalence survey of PSRA has been conducted. Read More

J Immunotoxicol 2017 Dec;14(1):103-108

a Pharmacy Department, Immunotoxicology Research Group , National University of Colombia, and Foundation Institute of Immunology of Colombia , Bogota , Colombia.

The present study was undertaken to detect antibodies against etanercept (ETN) in a group of Colombian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and being treated with Enbrel(®) vs. Etanar(®). From these patients with RA, clinical and laboratory data were collected and serum taken for anti-drug antibody (ADAb) analysis. Read More

Lasers Med Sci 2017 Apr 21. Epub 2017 Apr 21.

Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro 235, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by chronic and systemic inflammation, which leads to the destruction of the cartilage and bone and affects tissues in multiple joints. Oxidative stress has been implicated with regards to involvement in various disease conditions, such as diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative, respiratory, cardiovascular, and RA diseases. In vivo experimental studies using photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) have shown positive effects in reducing lipid peroxidation and in increasing antioxidant activity. Read More

Genome Announc 2017 Apr 20;5(16). Epub 2017 Apr 20.

School of Veterinary Medicine, 100K Pathogen Genome Project, UC Davis, Davis, California, USA

Shigella is a major foodborne pathogen that infects humans and nonhuman primates and is the major cause of dysentery and reactive arthritis worldwide. This is the initial public release of 16 Shigella genome sequences from four species sequenced as part of the 100K Pathogen Genome Project. Read More

Postgrad Med 2017 Apr 24:1-7. Epub 2017 Apr 24.

a Department of Rheumatology , Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases , Seoul , Korea.

Objective: We evaluated the relationship between calprotectin levels and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the correlation between plasma/serum calprotectin and RA activity.

Methods: We searched PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases and performed meta-analyses comparing plasma/serum or synovial fluid calprotectin levels in RA patients and controls, and correlation coefficients between calprotectin levels and disease activity for 28 joints (DAS28) as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) in RA patients.

Results: Sixteen studies including 849 RA patients and 266 controls were available for meta-analysis. Read More

J Rheumatol 2017 Apr 15. Epub 2017 Apr 15.

From the Rheumatology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre; INSERM UMR-S 1136, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière; Rheumatology A Department, Hôpital Cochin, University Paris Descartes; Rheumatology, Groupe Hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint Simon; Rheumatology Department B, Hôpital Cochin, Paris; Internal Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Timone, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille; Rheumatology, CHU H. Mondor, Créteil; Rheumatology, Centre hospitalier Le Mans; Rheumatology, Hôpital Salengro, Lille; Rheumatology, GH Pellegrin, Bordeaux; Rheumatology, CHU Gabriel Montpied, Clermont Ferrand, France. E. Rivière, MD, Rheumatology, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris- Sud, Université Paris-Sud; L. Arnaud, MD, PhD, INSERM UMR-S 1136, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière; Rheumatology A Department, Hôpital Cochin, University Paris Descartes; M. Ebbo, MD, Internal Medicine, CHU Timone, Aix Marseille Université; Y. Allanore, MD, PhD, Rheumatology A Department, Hôpital Cochin, University Paris Descartes; P. Claudepierre, MD, Rheumatology, CHU H. Mondor; E. Dernis, MD, Rheumatology, Centre hospitalier Le Mans; J.M. Ziza, MD, Rheumatology, Groupe Hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint Simon; C. Miceli-Richard, MD, PhD, Rheumatology, Department B, Hôpital Cochin; P. Philippe, MD, Rheumatology, Hôpital Salengro; C. Richez, MD, PhD, Rheumatology, GH Pellegrin; M. Soubrier, MD, PhD, Rheumatology, CHU Gabriel Montpied; R. Belkhir, MD, Rheumatology, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Sud; R. Seror, MD, PhD, Rheumatology, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Sud; X. Mariette, MD, PhD, Rheumatology, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Sud; S. Pavy, MD, Rheumatology, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Sud. Address correspondence to Dr. S. Pavy, Rheumatology, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Hôpital Bicêtre, 78 rue du Général Leclerc, 94270 Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. E-mail: Accepted for publication February 23, 2017.

Objective: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) and Takayasu arteritis (TA) are 2 chronic inflammatory diseases; their coexistence in a single patient is uncommon. The aims of our study were to describe clinical features of patients having SpA associated with TA and to identify some characteristics of the types of patients with SpA associated with TA. We also analyzed treatments used in this context. Read More