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Pan Afr Med J 2020 9;36:74. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Department, Hotel Dieu de France University Hospital, Saint Joseph University, School of Medicine, Alfred Naccache Street, Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon.

Cricoarytenoid joint arthritis is most frequently reported in Rheumatoid Arthritis and in other systemic diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Ankylosing Arthritis, Juvenile Chronic Arthritis, and autoimmune hepatitis but it has not been reported in dermatomyositis. In this paper, we report the case of a 43 years-old woman treated for dermatomyositis who presented with hoarseness and severe odynophagia. The laryngoscopy revealed the presence of an extensive white swelling of the left cricoarytenoid joint with reduced mobility of the left vocal cord, consistent with left cricoarytenoid joint arthritis, which has not previously been described in dermatomyositis to our knowledge. Read More

Arthritis Rheumatol 2020 Aug 2. Epub 2020 Aug 2.

EULAR Patient Research Partner, Netherlands.

A Treat to Target (T2T) approach is gaining ground as an effective and efficient treatment strategy for a range of rheumatic diseases (1-4). It is assumed that a treatment persistently aimed at a single target - abrogation of inflammation leading to remission - will have 'domino effects' on all other treatment goals as well (1). Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020 Jul;24(13):7320-7323

Department of Emergency Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a life-threatening condition and a medical emergency with a high-risk of mortality. It belongs to a group of diseases known as "hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis", characterized by a cytokine storm, with secretion of tumor necrosis factor, interleukins and interferon-gamma, and an inappropriate activation of macrophages and T-lymphocytes. Some inflammatory and systemic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Still's disease and systemic lupus erythematosus, can develop into macrophage activation syndrome. Read More

Rheumatol Ther 2020 Sep 23;7(3):649-656. Epub 2020 Jul 23.

Pediatric Rheumatology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-organ inflammatory disease associated with autoimmune diseases. The aim of the study is to assessed the frequency of celiac disease (CD) in adults and children with SLE (aSLE and cSLE, respectively) and compare them with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients; the study also explored the clinical impact of CD serologic markers on SLE disease activity and severity.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Read More

Curr Vasc Pharmacol 2020 Jul 21. Epub 2020 Jul 21.

Department of Pathophysiology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens. Greece.

In Part 1 of this Thematic Issue entitled "Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases and Cardiology", a panel of specialists and experts in cardiology, rheumatology, immunology and related fields discussed the cardiovascular complications of spondyloarthritides, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome and vasculitides, as well as relevant cardiovascular issues related to non-biologic and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and provided their recommendations for prevention and management of these complications. In part 2 of this Thematic Issue, experts discuss the enhanced cardiovascular risk conferred by additional autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs), including systemic lupus erythematosus, the antiphospholipid syndrome, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. These, and the previous articles, place inflammation as the key common link to explain the enhanced risk of cardiovascular complications in patients with ARDs. Read More

Turk Pediatri Ars 2020 19;55(2):157-165. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey.

Aim: To demonstrate the demographic data, subgroup distributions, responses to treatment and outcomes of long-term follow-up in patients who were followed up and treated in our clinics with a diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and to compare these data with national and international data.

Material And Methods: The files of 116 patients who had been diagnosed as having juvenile idiopathic arthritis, were initiated on treatment and presented for regular follow-up visits between January 2012 and January 2018, were examined. Their demographic findings, treatments, active/inactive disease states (on-medication and off-medication) and treatment response states were evaluated. Read More

Dermatol Ther 2020 Jul 16. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a debilitating chronic inflammatory skin disease. Biological therapy has revolutionized it's the treatment. Paradoxical HS occur with various biological and targeted agents. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2020 Jul 13;18(1):57. Epub 2020 Jul 13.

Division of Rheumatology, Children's Mercy Kansas City, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.

Background: Inflammatory arthritis in children with Down syndrome (DS) was first described in 1984 and is now termed Down syndrome-associated arthritis (DA). Studies have shown that DA is under-recognized with a 19-month average delay in diagnosis. Additionally, most patients present with polyarticular, rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) negative disease. Read More

Joint Bone Spine 2020 Jul 9. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Department of Rheumatology, Lyon University Hospital and University of Lyon 1, France. Electronic address:

Objectives: To determine the characteristics of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients seen during the transition period in order to compare paediatric classification criteria with those for adults.

Methods: Patients with JIA according to the ILAR classification and who had a consultation at transition between 2010 and 2017 were included in a retrospective bi-centre (Lyon, Lausanne) study. JIA classification criteria were compared to ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Yamaguchi criteria for adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), ASAS criteria for spondyloarthritis and CASPAR criteria for psoriatic arthritis. Read More

Eur J Clin Invest 2020 Jul 9:e13342. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Division of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.

COVID-19 pandemia is a major concern for patients and healthcare systems. The fear of infection by patients with concomitant rheumatic diseases (either adult or children) and connective tissue diseases is arising worldwide, because of their immunological background and immunological therapies. Analysing the basic biology of single diseases, the data suggest that there is an "immunological umbrella" that seems to protect against the infection, through IFN type 1 and NK cell function. Read More

Ter Arkh 2020 Jun 5;92(5):39-45. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology.

Aim: Analysis of survival on biological therapy in previously bionaive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the first year of therapy in real clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: The retrospective study included 204 adult patients with RA. In the hospital, patients were first prescribed therapy with various biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs): infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept, certolizumab pegol, tocilizumab, abatacept (ABA), rituximab (RTM). Read More

Ter Arkh 2019 May 15;91(5):54-60. Epub 2019 May 15.

V.A. Nasonova Scientific and Research Institute of Rheumatology, Pediatric Department.

Aim to analyze demographic data, clinical features and results of laboratory and instrumental examinations in children with primary and secondary Sjögren syndrome (SS).

Materials And Methods: The study included all consequently patients, who hospitalized to the pediatric department of V.A. Read More

Int J Pharm 2020 Aug 25;586:119580. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Methotrexate (MTX) is one of the mainstays of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and it is mainly administered either orally or by subcutaneous (SC) injection, which are not so satisfactory. While orally administered MTX is associated with variable bioavailability and causes gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea and vomiting, SC injection is painful and produces high peak blood levels of MTX. Transdermal delivery presents an attractive alternative administration route. Read More

RMD Open 2020 06;6(2)

Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon Academic Medical Centre, Lisbon, Portugal

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has come with many challenges for healthcare providers and patients alike. In addition to the direct burden it has placed on societies and health systems, it had a significant impact in the care of patients with chronic diseases, as healthcare resources were deployed to fight the crisis, and major travel and social restrictions were adopted. In the field of rheumatology, this has required notable efforts from departments and clinicians to adapt to the novel and assure the follow-up of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Read More

Int J Rheumatol 2020 5;2020:6542965. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Monash Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Cabrini Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

Objectives: To describe oral complementary medicine (CM) use in people with inflammatory arthritis, associations with use, and changes in use over time.

Methods: Demographic, clinical, and patient-reported outcome data from 5,630 participants with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) were extracted from the Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD), a national observational database. CM use at entry into ARAD was ascertained for participants recruited between 2002 and 2018. Read More

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2020 Jun 17. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.

Type I interferons (IFN-Is) are a very important group of cytokines that are produced by innate immune cells but also act on adaptive immune cells. IFN-Is possess antiviral, antitumor, and anti-proliferative effects, as well are associated with the initiation and maintenance of autoimmune disorders. Studies have shown that aberrantly expressed IFN-Is and/or type I IFN-inducible gene signatures in the serum or tissues of patients with autoimmune disorders are linked to their pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and disease activity. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020 Aug 2;251:199-205. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Department of Reproductive Medicine, Toulouse University Hospital, France; Groupe de Recherche en Fertilité Humaine (Human Fertility Research Group) EA 3694, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. Electronic address:

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the four main types of inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PA), juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA)) on female fertility.

Design: We performed a monocentric observational study, which took place in the Reproductive Medicine Department and the Rheumatology Department of the Toulouse University Hospital. An anonymous questionnaire was sent to patients aged 18-50 with RA, AS, PA or JCA who were diagnosed before the age of 40 and who consented to participate in the study. Read More

World J Pediatr 2020 Jun 12. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Rheumatology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) characterized by arthritis of unknown origin is the most common childhood chronic rheumatic disease, caused by both host genetic factors and environmental triggers. Recent evidence has mounted to focus on the intestinal microbiota, a potentially recognized set of environmental triggers affecting JIA development. Here we offer an overview of recently published animal and human studies that support the impact of intestinal microbiota in JIA. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2020 Jun 8. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Firenze, Via delle Oblate 4, 50141, Florence, Italy.

Objective: SB5 showed comparable efficacy and safety profile in respect to adalimumab originator (ADA) in randomized clinical trials of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis. We aimed to describe the efficacy and safety of SB5 after switching from ADA in RA, axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients.

Method: Adult RA, PsA, axSpA, JIA patients treated with ADA for at least 6 months, switched to SB5 in stable clinical conditions, were eligible. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2020 May 12;18(1):37. Epub 2020 May 12.

Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8BJ, UK.

Background: STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) is a type 1 interferonopathy manifesting as a pulmonary and vascular syndrome resulting from gain-of-function mutations in TMEM173, the gene encoding STING. Familial reports in the literature are sparse.

Case Presentation: We report a case series of SAVI in a three generation kindred, with a phenotype of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and rheumatoid factor positive polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Read More

Lancet Rheumatol 2020 May 4. Epub 2020 May 4.

Department of Rheumatology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Foundation trust, Sheffield, UK.

The term cytokine storm syndromes describes conditions characterised by a life-threatening, fulminant hypercytokinaemia with high mortality. Cytokine storm syndromes can be genetic or a secondary complication of autoimmune or autoinflammatory disorders, infections, and haematological malignancies. These syndromes represent a key area of interface between rheumatology and general medicine. Read More

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2020 Feb;58(222):115-118

Tuberculosis Care and Control Project, Nepal CRS Company, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Adult-onset Still's Disease is a rare auto inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology characterized mainly by high spiking fever, arthritis, evanescent rash and lymphadenopathy. It is a form of systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis that is encountered in adults, typically between 15-25 years and 36-45years. We here describe a 28 years lady with fever, arthritis of multiple large joints, lymphadenopathy and rash, with negative Rheumatoid factor and evidence of past infection with Ebstein-Barr virus and Parvovirus B19. Read More

Nat Rev Rheumatol 2020 06 23;16(6):335-345. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Laboratory of Immune Regulation, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.

In 1973, IL-6 was identified as a soluble factor that is secreted by T cells and is important for antibody production by B cells. Since its discovery more than 40 years ago, the IL-6 pathway has emerged as a pivotal pathway involved in immune regulation in health and dysregulation in many diseases. Targeting of the IL-6 pathway has led to innovative therapeutic approaches for various rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, adult-onset Still's disease, giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis, as well as other conditions such as Castleman disease and cytokine release syndrome. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2020 Mar 23;18(1):26. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

Department of Lifetime Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIA-U) is a serious condition associated with the risk of blindness. However, pediatric rheumatologists rarely encounter cases of blindness, because most patients reach adulthood during the course of follow-up before blindness occurs. Here, we report the progress of 9 patients with JIA-U, including 2 patients who became blind after the transition period. Read More

Lancet Rheumatol 2020 Apr 9;2(4):e217-e226. Epub 2020 Mar 9.

Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.

Background: Information is scarce about biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) switching patterns in children and young people (aged ≤16 years) with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in an era of many biologic therapies. The best choice of biologic to use if the first biological DMARD is not beneficial also remains unclear. We aimed to quantify and characterise biologic switching patterns in children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and to compare the effectiveness of using a second tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) versus non-TNF is following failure of a first TNFi biologic in routine clinical practice. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2020 Apr 7;20(1):153. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Department of Rheumatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wan-yuan Road, Shanghai, 201102, China.

Background: Felty's syndrome (FS) is characterized by the triad of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), splenomegaly and neutropenia. The arthritis is typically severe and virtually always associated with high-titer rheumatoid factor. The presence of persistent neutropenia is generally required to make the diagnosis. Read More

North Clin Istanb 2020 14;7(2):118-123. Epub 2019 Nov 14.

Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Health Sciences University Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Objective: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common cause of chronic arthritis in children. Biologics have changed the faith of children with rheumatic diseases. The main objective of this study was to demonstrate the rate of usage, efficacy and safety of biologics in JIA subtypes. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2020 Jun 16;18:100669. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

University of Nebraska Medical Center, S 42nd St & Emile St, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.

Purpose: This report will describe a case of orbital pseudotumor that is associated with underlying Crohn's disease in a pediatric patient.

Observations: An 8-year-old male with a past medical history of chronic constipation who presented to the ophthalmologist in July 2017 with a 7-month history double vision, left upper lid ptosis, left abducens nerve palsy, and an abnormal thyroid test. The patient's family history was negative for any autoimmune disease including, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus or inflammatory bowel disease. Read More

J Transl Med 2020 03 17;18(1):131. Epub 2020 Mar 17.

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Xinmin Street 71#, Changchun, 130021, China.

Transitional B cells (TrB cells) represent a crucial link between immature B cells in the bone marrow and mature peripheral B cells. Although TrB cells represent one of the regulatory B cell subpopulations in healthy individuals, the frequency of CD24CD38 TrB cells in circulation may be altered in individuals with autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitisoptica spectrum disorders, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, and juvenile dermatomyositis. Although TrB cells play regulatory roles under inflammatory conditions, consequences of their functional impairment vary across autoimmune diseases. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2020 May 12;19(5):102509. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Experimental Laboratory of Immuno-rheumatology, Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Italy.

Up to 40% of patients treated with tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors (TNFi) do not respond to therapy. Testing drug bioavailability and/or anti-drug antibody (ADAb) levels may justify dosage adjustment or switch to different drugs, enabling a personalized medicine approach. We report a multicenter cross-sectional study on different methods [ELISA and a cell based functional assay (reporter gene assay - RGA)] for drug/ADAb detection, and on the relationship between drug bioavailability and ADAb. Read More

Profiles Drug Subst Excip Relat Methodol 2020 12;45:159-197. Epub 2019 Dec 12.

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Meloxicam, an oxicam derivative: 4-Hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(5-methyl-2-thiazolyl)-2H-1,2- benzothiazine-3-carboxamide 1,1-dioxide, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). It is used in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, acute exacerbations of osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Read More

Br J Biomed Sci 2020 Jul 13;77(3):123-128. Epub 2020 May 13.

Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University , Fayoum, Egypt.

Background: Certain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes such as (coding for peptidyl arginine deiminase 4), (coding for programmed cell death 1), and (coding for cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) are linked to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, links between SNPs rs2240340, rs10204525 and rs231775 in and respectively, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the commonest type of childhood arthritis, are unclear. We aimed to determine whether any of these SNPs are associated with JIA, and to clinical indices disease activity score (JADAS 71) and functional disability score (CHAQ). Read More

Sao Paulo Med J 2019 Nov-Dec;137(6):517-522

MD. Physician, Professor, Pediatric Nephrologist and Rheumatologist, Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, Dr. Sami Ulus Kadin Doğum Çocuk Sağliği ve Hastaliklari Eğitim ve Araştirma Hastanesi, Sağlik Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the commonest chronic rheumatic disease among children. When not treated effectively, JIA can lead to functional disability, due to joint damage, along with long-term morbidities.

Objectives: To describe the use of tocilizumab therapy for 11 patients with polyarticular JIA (pJIA) and systemic JIA (sJIA) who presented inadequate response or were refractory to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and/or other biological therapies; and to evaluate its benefits, safety and tolerability. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2020 Feb 26. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.

Objective: Adalimumab is approved for treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Thus, we postulated that exacerbation or new-onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) would be rare events in patients treated with adalimumab for non-IBD indications. This analysis evaluated the incidence of IBD adverse events (AEs) across adalimumab trials. Read More

Cells 2020 02 18;9(2). Epub 2020 Feb 18.

Rheumatology Unit, Autoimmunity Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer 52621, Israel.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs), affecting ~1-1.5% of all humans, are associated with considerable life long morbidity and early mortality. Early studies in the 1990s showed numerical changes of the recently discovered γδ T cells in the peripheral blood and in affected tissues of patients with a variety of ARDs, kindling interest in their role in the immuno-pathogenesis of these chronic inflammatory conditions. Read More

J Orofac Orthop 2020 May 20;81(3):163-171. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate facial growth in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) by means of lateral head cephalometric radiographs and relate the findings to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condylar changes on panoramic radiographs.

Methods: Radiographic and medical records were evaluated in 65 children with JIA. Cephalometric and panoramic analyses were performed for the impact of condylar changes on facial growth. Read More

ACR Open Rheumatol 2020 Feb 6;2(2):84-91. Epub 2020 Jan 6.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Objective: To assess the current state of knowledge for the utility of coronary calcium scoring (CCS) in connective tissue disorders (CTDs) as it relates to the presence and quantification of coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a literature search via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Review retrieved 1019 studies (since database inception on May 7, 2018) from which 121 manuscripts were eligible for review. Inclusion criteria consisted of studies that investigated CCS in adults with respective CTDs. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2020 Mar;47(3):197-201

U.S. Dermatology Partners, Silver Spring, Maryland.

Eur J Immunol 2020 03 10;50(3):418-425. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.

To investigate the role of lymphotoxin (LT) in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and in mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-lymphoma, we made transgenic mice (Amy1-LTαβ) that targeted LTα and LTβ to the salivary and lacrimal glands. Amy1-LTαβ mice developed atrophic salivary and lacrimal glands that contained tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) and had reduced tear production. Amy1-LTαβ mice developed cervical lymphadenopathy but not MALT-lymphoma. Read More

PeerJ 2020 15;8:e8234. Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Department of Cell Biology, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis are two types of autoimmune diseases with inflammation at the joints, occurring to adults and children respectively. There are phenotypic overlaps between these two types of diseases, despite the age difference in patient groups.

Methods: To systematically compare the genetic architecture of them, we conducted analyses at gene and pathway levels and constructed protein-protein-interaction network based on summary statistics of genome-wide association studies of these two diseases. Read More

Hip Int 2020 Jan 23:1120700020901685. Epub 2020 Jan 23.

Lower Limb Arthroplasty Unit, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, England, UK.

Background: Data on the outcome of THA in patients under the age of 30 years is sparse. There is a perceived reluctance to offer surgery to young patients on the basis of potential early failure of the implant. The aim of this study was to review clinical and radiological outcomes of THA in patients under the age of 30 years in a high-volume specialist arthroplasty unit. Read More

Immunol Rev 2020 03 16;294(1):48-62. Epub 2020 Jan 16.

Departement of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.

Inflammasomes are intracellular multiprotein signaling platforms that initiate inflammatory responses in response to pathogens and cellular damage. Active inflammasomes induce the enzymatic activity of caspase-1, resulting in the induction of inflammatory cell death, pyroptosis, and the maturation and secretion of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. Inflammasomes are activated in many inflammatory diseases, including autoinflammatory disorders and arthritis, and inflammasome-specific therapies are under development for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Read More

J Pharm Sci 2020 Apr 26;109(4):1493-1497. Epub 2019 Dec 26.

Alpha MOS Inc, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061.

Hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) is a quinoline used for the prevention and treatment of uncomplicated malaria, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. For each indication, HCQ is an option for treatment of pediatric and juvenile patients on a weight basis; however, no tailored pediatric product is available on the market. Preliminary research confirmed that a slightly buffered, ion-pairing system significantly reduces the bitterness of HCQ, suggesting a high likelihood that a pediatric taste-masking system could be interwoven into an adult immediate-release formulation allowing the creation of a palatable suspension with water using common excipients. Read More

BMC Oral Health 2019 12 19;19(1):285. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Department of Clinical Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, The Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway, Årstadveien 19, N-5009, Bergen, Norway.

Background: Observational studies examining the association between oral health and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) among children and adolescents have reported inconsistent findings. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to ascertain a potential difference in oral health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among children and adolescents with JIA and healthy peers, and to assess the association of prevalence of oral diseases/conditions, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases, in relation to activity and severity of JIA.

Method: Medline Ovid, Embase, CINAHL, SweMed+ and Cochrane Library were searched up to 25 November 2018. Read More

Reumatologia 2019 31;57(5):257-263. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

Department of Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases, Biological Therapy Center, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of switching an etanercept originator to an etanercept biosimilar in rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Material And Methods: In 162 patients etanercept originator treatment had been replaced with the biosimilar (Group 1), and in six patients the biosimilar was initiated as the first biological agent (Group 2). The efficacy and safety of the treatment were monitored at 3-6 months. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 12 15;9(12):e027952. Epub 2019 Dec 15.

Centre for Pain Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland.

Introduction: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) negatively affects adolescents' everyday activities. To address the need for innovative, effective, convenient, low-cost psychosocial self-management programmes, we developed an Irish version of Canadian Teens Taking Charge (TTC) and integrated it with Skype-based peer support iPeer2Peer (iP2P).

Objectives: To explore the feasibility and preliminary outcome impact (effectiveness) of an integrated iP2P and Irish TTC, via three-arm (treatment as usual, TTC and iP2P-TTC) pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT); and determine feasibility and sample size for a full RCT. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2019 Dec 16;17(1):81. Epub 2019 Dec 16.

Seattle Children's Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.

Background: The oral microbiota has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis through activation of mucosal immunity. This study tested for associations between oral health, microbial communities and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: A cross-sectional exploratory study of subjects aged 10-18 years with oligoarticular, extended oligoarticular and polyarticular JIA was conducted. Read More

Open Access Rheumatol 2019 6;11:253-267. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Center and University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a common rheumatic disease that presents as chronic childhood arthritis. JIA is considered a multifactorial disease that may result from diverse genetic and environmental risk factors. A minority of the population-attributable risk of JIA is estimated to be due to familial factors. Read More