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Vopr Pitan 2017 27;86(2):84-90. Epub 2017 Feb 27.

I. Horbachevsky Ternopil State Medical University, Ukraine.

The use of additional treatment methods in inflammatory joints disease therapy is very important. But the main principles of diet therapy for patients with rheumatoid joint inflammation and reactive arthritis and possibility of focused impact on disease activity by means of alimentary factors have not still been formed out. The aim of the investigation was to study the effect of diet therapy including ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on joint syndrome evidence and on bone turnover markers of children with inflammatory joint diseases. Read More

Clin Immunol 2019 Jan 3;200:10-15. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

We evaluated the clinical performance of anti-CEP-1 in a Chinese rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cohort. A total of 264 subjects were tested, including 101 RA patients, 38 juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients, 46 disease control (DC) and 79 healthy controls (HC). The presence of anti-CEP-1 in patients with RA, JIA, DCs and HC were 61. Read More

Reumatol Clin 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Hospital Central del Instituto de Previsión Social, Asunción, Paraguay.

Objective: Analyze adverse events (AE) and survival associated with biologic therapies (BT) in the Biobadaguay, the Paraguayan Uruguayan registry of adverse events.

Methods: Prospective, observational study of undetermined duration. Patients on BT at initiation and controls were included. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2018 Dec 27;20(1):285. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Clinica Pediatrica e Reumatologia, PRINTO, Via Gaslini, 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy.

Background: The availability of methotrexate and the introduction of multiple biological agents have revolutionized the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Several international and national drug registries have been implemented to accurately monitor the long-term safety/efficacy of these agents. This report aims to present the combined data coming from Pharmachild/PRINTO registry and the national registries from Germany (BiKeR) and Sweden. Read More

Indian J Ophthalmol 2019 Jan;67(1):165-167

INSERM UMR1163, Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroinflammation, Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne-Paris-Cité, Institut Imagine, Paris, France; Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Blau syndrome (BS) is a rare autoinflammatory disorder characterized by the clinical triad of arthritis, uveitis, and dermatitis due to heterozygous gain-of-function mutations in the NOD2 gene. BS can mimic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ocular tuberculosis. We report a family comprising a mother and her two children, all presenting with uveitis and arthritis. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2018 Dec 14;16(1):79. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University of medical school, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea.

Tocilizumab, an anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) agent, is indicated as a treatment for several autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). IL-6 plays roles in both immune system dysregulation and inflammation, and thus efforts to extend the utility of tocilizumab in patients with autoinflammatory conditions are ongoing. Here, we survey the literature on the off-label use of tocilizumab in patients with juvenile-onset rheumatic diseases including juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), juvenile dermatomyositis (DM), vasculitis, juvenile scleroderma, and other autoinflammatory diseases. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2018 Dec 13;20(1):275. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Carrer Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.

Background: Calprotectin is a biomarker of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and predicts relapse in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Higher drug trough serum levels are associated with a good response in patients treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi). Power Doppler ultrasound synovitis is predictive of relapse and structural damage progression in patients in clinical remission. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2018 20;5:288. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.

Galectins are potent regulators of cell adhesion, growth and apoptosis in diverse cell types, including chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts. Elevations in synovial fluid galectin-3 have been observed in rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and experimental inflammatory arthritis in animal models, whereas galectin-1 is thought to be protective. Less is known about galectins-1 and-3 in osteoarthritis (OA). Read More

Minerva Pediatr 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea -

Introduction: To investigate the IL-10 polymorphisms (-1082 G/A, -819 C/T, and -592 C/A) were associated with susceptibility to JIA.

Evidence Acquisition: A meta-analysis was conducted after database search for relevant articles (MEDLINE and EMBASE).

Evidence Synthesis: A total of seven studies involving 1,495 patients and 1,670 controls were considered in the meta-analysis. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2018 Nov 30:1-15. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

a Department of Lifetime Clinical Immunology , Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) , Tokyo , Japan.

Objective: To evaluate the difference between adult juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA, starting at <16 years) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) .

Methods: Data on 128 adult JIA patients were from the National Database of Rheumatic Diseases in Japan (NinJa), 2014, divided into 4 groups by period of disease onset (Group 1: 2000-2013, n = 32; Group 2: 1981-1999, n = 32; Group 3: 1966-1980, n = 31; Group 4: ∼1965, n = 33). Disease activity, treatment and long-term prognosis of adult JIA patients was compared with RA patients matched for sex- and disease duration in each era. Read More

J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2018 Dec;24(12):1240-1246

1 The Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: FDA-required labeling summarizes certain data that the FDA relies on in its drug approval process. However, when determining coverage of specialty drugs, health care payers may consider dissimilar evidence.

Objective: To compare evidence cited by the largest U. Read More

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA.

Purpose: To describe the use of tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors (TNFis) among pregnancies ending in a live birth and with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Crohn's disease (CD), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: We identified pregnancies among women aged 15 to 54 years between 01/01/2004 and 09/30/2015 from 16 health plans participating in Sentinel. We inferred indication using ICD-9-CM codes in the 183-day period before conception. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Nov 9;19(11). Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Laboratory of Immune Regulation, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.

Interleukein-6 (IL-6), is produced locally from infectious or injured lesions and is delivered to the whole body via the blood stream, promptly activating the host defense system to perform diverse functions. However, excessive or sustained production of IL-6 is involved in various diseases. In diseases, the IL-6 inhibitory strategy begins with the development of the anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, tocilizumab (TCZ). Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2018 Nov 9;16(1):69. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Rheumatology, The Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Rd, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia.

Background: The advent of new treatments for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) has prompted interest in systematically studying the outcomes of patients treated in the 'modern era'. Such data provide both benchmarks for assessing local outcomes and important information for use in counselling families of newly diagnosed patients. While data are available for cohorts in Europe and North America, no such data exist for Australian patients. Read More

Eur J Rheumatol 2018 Nov 6:1-4. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Instituto de Rehabilitación Psicofísica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Objective: The blockade of inflammatory mediators produced by biological therapies is associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infections, as for example Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT). Given the endemic situation of tuberculosis (TB) in some countries and immunosuppression/anergy of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, we wonder whether it is necessary to monitor the MT infection after starting the biological treatment. To evaluate the frequency of the tuberculin skin test (TST) conversion and its association with an active TB infection and other disease variables. Read More

Curr Rheumatol Rep 2018 Nov 8;20(12):83. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UG12 8TA, UK.

Purpose Of Review: Given the recent increase in the profile and use of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKinibs) in adult patients with rheumatic diseases, we aimed to review the current evidence accruing for use in paediatric rheumatology patients.

Recent Findings: Significant advances have been made in the management of rheumatic diseases in the past two decades. The introduction of biologic agents in both adults and children has provided significant improvements to patient outcomes and led to better quality of life. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, PL 435, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.

Objectives: Across diagnosis groups, transition of adolescents and young adults from children's hospitals to adult care associates with decreased treatment adherence and suboptimal treatment results. Our aim was to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disease activity of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients after the transfer of care to the adult clinic and adult patients in the same outpatient clinic.

Methods: All consecutive JIA patients aged 16 to 20 years who visited the transition clinic between September 2016 and August 2017 and all consecutive adult onset arthritis patients between December 2016 and August 2017 in the rheumatology outpatient clinic of Helsinki University Hospital were evaluated. Read More

J Craniofac Surg 2019 Jan;30(1):169-174

OMFS-IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

The aim was to postoperatively evaluate a conservative treatment approach to bilateral condylar resorption after orthognathic surgery. A retrospective study was carried out on 730 consecutive patients undergoing sagittal split osteotomy, 2013 to 2016. The mean follow-up period was 2. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2018 Oct 24. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

University of Twente, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Enschede, The Netherlands.

Background: The implementation of value based healthcare (VBHC) in inflammatory arthritis (IA) requires a standardized set of modifiable outcomes and risk-adjustment variables that is feasible to implement worldwide.

Methods: The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) assembled a multidisciplinary working group, consisting of 24 experts from six continents, including six patient representatives, to develop a Standard Set of outcomes for IA. The process followed a structured approach using a modified Delphi process to reach consensus on 1) conditions covered by the set, 2) outcome domains, 3) outcome measures, 4) risk-adjustment variables. Read More

Quintessence Int 2018 ;49(10):855-861

A growing patient population is adolescents and young adults who have had one or more serious medical problems and are aging into adulthood. This group of patients has unique medical needs, which has resulted in the development of a specialized area of medicine: transitional care medicine. The case reviews of two of these patients are described. Read More

Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 2018 Nov;26(4):599-613

Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, 8440 - 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has traditionally only played a small role in the clinical care of most patients with arthritis. However, with modern therapeutic strategies, early diagnosis is now more important than ever before. Consequently, advanced MRI techniques and applications now play a crucial role in managing an increasing proportion of rheumatology patients. Read More

Clin Oral Investig 2018 Oct 11. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Laboratory of Oral Histopathology, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.

Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate evidence about the prevalence of degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ).

Materials And Methods: We performed search on electronic databases and gray literature from their inception to January 2018. Studies reporting prevalence data of DJD on TMJ were included. Read More

Rheumatol Int 2018 Nov 6;38(11):2157-2162. Epub 2018 Oct 6.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Alsancak Nevvar Salih Isgoren State Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a cytokine that plays a well-established, key role as a central mediator of inflammation and immune regulation. TNF-α and its receptors are suggested to play a critical role in a number of chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), juvenile chronic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). TNF-α inhibitors are currently used in the treatment of these diseases. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2018 Oct 5:1-20. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

b Departments of Orthopedics , Osaka Medical College , Osaka , Japan.

Objective: We researched the findings of musculoskeletal ultrasound sonography (MSUS) on primary Sjogren's syndrome in childhood (pSS-C) with articular manifestations. The correlation of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) were investigated to evaluate the usefulness of MSUS on their articular prognosis.

Method: The objective patients are pSS-C cases who visited our hospital complaining joint pain and/or joint swelling and for whom MSUS was performed. Read More

J Rheumatol 2018 Oct 1. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

From Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Direzione Scientifica; IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Clinica Pediatrica e Reumatologia, Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO), and Università degli Studi di Genova; IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Servizio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Genoa, Italy; University Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Department of Allergology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Alder Hey Children's National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust; Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Hospital General de Mexico, Departamento de Reumatología, Mexico City, Mexico; Hospital Pedro de Elizalde, Rheumatology Section, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Pediatrics, New Hyde Park, New York; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of Rheumatology, Cincinnati, Ohio; Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA; Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Department of Paediatrics, Mumbai, India; The Hospital for Sick Children, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; British Columbia Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology, Utrecht, the Netherlands. This project has been funded by the PRINTO research funding at the IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy. No external entity such as pharmaceutical companies has been involved at any stage of the project. A. Martini, MD, Professor, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Direzione Scientifica; A. Ravelli, MD, Professor, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Clinica Pediatrica e Reumatologia and Università degli Studi di Genova; T. Avcin, MD, PhD, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Department of Allergology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology; M.W. Beresford, MBChB, PhD, Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, and Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool; R. Burgos-Vargas, MD, Hospital General de Mexico, Departamento de Reumatología; R. Cuttica, MD, Hospital Pedro de Elizalde, Rheumatology Section; N.T. Ilowite, MD, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Pediatrics; R. Khubchandani, MD, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Department of Paediatrics; R.M. Laxer, MD, The Hospital for Sick Children, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto; D.J. Lovell, MD, MPH, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of Rheumatology; R.E. Petty, MD, PhD, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia; C.A. Wallace, MD, Seattle Children's Hospital; N.M. Wulffraat, MD, PhD, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology; A. Pistorio, MD, PhD, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Servizio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica; N. Ruperto, MD, MPH, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Clinica Pediatrica e Reumatologia, PRINTO. Address correspondence to Prof. A. Martini, Scientific Director, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genoa, Italy. E-mail: Full Release Article. For details see Reprints and Permissions at jrheum.org. Accepted for publication June 22, 2018.

Objective: To revise the current juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) classification criteria with an evidence-based approach, using clinical and routine laboratory measures available worldwide, to identify homogeneous clinical groups and to distinguish those forms of chronic arthritis typically seen only in children from the childhood counterpart of adult diseases.

Methods: The overall project consists of 4 steps. This work represents Step 1, a Delphi Web-based consensus and Step 2, an international nominal group technique (NGT) consensus conference for the new provisional Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization JIA classification criteria. Read More

Arch Dis Child 2018 Nov 27;103(11):1087-1089. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Cureus 2018 Jul 21;10(7):e3019. Epub 2018 Jul 21.

Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/Queens Hospital Center, New York, USA.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare diagnosis. In small percentage of cases, AOSD is associated with other autoimmune diseases including schizophrenia. Despite the lack of sufficient studies, both conditions may share similar autoimmune pathogenic pathways. Read More

BioDrugs 2018 Oct;32(5):507-510

Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand.

SB5 (Imraldi) is a biosimilar of the reference anti-TNF monoclonal antibody adalimumab. It is approved for use in the following indications for which reference adalimumab is approved: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis [polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) and enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA)], axial spondyloarthritis [ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)], psoriatic arthritis (PsA), psoriasis, pediatric plaque psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), Crohn's disease, pediatric Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis (UC), and non-infectious uveitis. SB5 has similar physicochemical and pharmacodynamic properties to those of reference adalimumab, and the pharmacokinetic similarity of these agents has been shown in healthy volunteers and patients with RA. Read More

Clin Rehabil 2018 Sep 19:269215518801430. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of backward walking in the treatment of people with gait impairments related to neurological and musculoskeletal disorders.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized control studies.

Data Sources: Searched from the date of inception to March 2018, and included PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, PEDro, CINAHL, and the MEDLINE databases. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2018 Sep 17. Epub 2018 Sep 17.

Children's Research Centre, Starship Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

Objective: To describe the incidence, demographics, diagnostic clinical manifestations and severity of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) in Maori and Pacific Island children compared to European children.

Method: A chart review was conducted of all children with JIA seen by Auckland Pediatric and Rheumatology services between 2000 and 2015. Demographic data and diagnostic clinical manifestations including poor prognostic features were collated. Read More

Rom J Ophthalmol 2018 Apr-Jun;62(2):105-113

"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.

Purpose: Non-infectious uveitis has been long controlled with the use of corticosteroids with many side effects and poor control in some cases. The purpose of this paper was to assess the different biologic agents (in this case infliximab and adalimumab) and to compare their efficacy in the treatment of uveitis.

Results: Adalimumab has been proven very successful in replacing or aiding corticosteroid therapy in different autoimmune mediated uveitis (Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis) whereas infliximab has been used intravenously and recently intravitreally with very promising results in controlling Behcet's related uveitis. Read More

Curr Sports Med Rep 2018 Sep;17(9):302-307

Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT.

Advances in pharmacologic management of inflammatory conditions have allowed those living with these conditions to pursue fitness activities previously difficult due to functional limitations. With that said, many patients with inflammatory arthritis are still not active enough. In this article, we review specific exercise recommendations for a number of inflammatory conditions with a focus on overall health promotion and cardiovascular disease risk reduction, discuss exercise as an adjunct to pharmacologic disease management, and review potential risks of sport participation for athletes with inflammatory arthritis conditions. Read More

Immunotherapy 2018 Sep;10(12):1033-1039

Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Number 197 Ruijin Second Road, Shanghai 200025, China.

Administration of anti-TNFα agents has become a mainstay in the treatment of chronic inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis. Adverse events, including infections and allergic reactions, have been reported. Malignancies are rare but potentially life threatening. Read More

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) 2018 Apr;64(4):311-314

Ambulatory of neuromuscular diseases.

As the celiac disease (CD), the non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) has also been associated with several autoimmune manifestations. It is rarely associated with myasthenia gravis (MG). This paper shall introduce the case of a young female patient, initially presenting a peripheral neuropathy framework. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2018 Aug 21. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Departments of Pediatrics and Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093.

Objective: Pregnant women with inflammatory arthritis may be at increased risk for preterm delivery (PTD), yet it is unclear what drives this risk. This prospective cohort study of pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), or healthier comparison women analyzed the independent effects of maternal disease activity, medication use, and comorbid pregnancy conditions on PTD risk.

Methods: Women were enrolled before 19 weeks' completed gestation as part of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) Autoimmune Disease in Pregnancy Project. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 6;9:1802. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

T cells are considered autoimmune effectors in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but the antigenic cause of arthritis remains elusive. Since T cells comprise a significant proportion of joint-infiltrating cells, we examined whether the environment in the joint could be shaped through the inflammatory activation by T cells that is independent of conventional TCR signaling. We focused on the analysis of synovial fluid (SF) collected from children with oligoarticular and rheumatoid factor-negative polyarticular JIA. Read More

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2019 Jan 24;127(1):19-23. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Objective: Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are at risk for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis. This can lead to pain, limited mouth opening, facial asymmetry, and malocclusion. Our objective was to characterize patients with JIA and TMJ involvement in a single center. Read More

J Rheumatol 2018 Nov 15;45(11):1581-1587. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

From the Clinica Pediatrica e Reumatologia, and the Department of Pediatric Radiology, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; Pediatric Rheumatology, Universitair Medisch Centrum (UMC) Utrecht, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Unité romande de rhumatologie pédiatrique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne; Pediatric Department of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland; Department of Pediatric Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine, Bergen, Norway; Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center Reade, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Riabilitazione, Oftalmologia, Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili, Università degli studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy.

Objective: To extend the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) score for assessment of wrist synovitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) by inclusion of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, and to compare the metric properties of the original and the extended score.

Methods: Wrist MRI of 70 patients with JIA were scored by 3 independent readers according to (1) the wrist component of the rheumatoid arthritis MRI synovitis score (comprising distal radioulnar, radiocarpal, and combined midcarpal and carpometacarpal joints); and (2) an extended score including the MCP joints. Thirty-eight patients had a 1-year MRI followup. Read More

Rheumatol Int 2018 Aug 9. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Department of Clinical Immunology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.

As a component of the innate immune system, macrophages play a crucial role in host defense against a variety of microbes. Conventionally, macrophages have been classified as M1 and M2 depending on their phenotype and role in immune regulation. M1 macrophages are generally pro-inflammatory, while M2 (also known as alternatively activated macrophages) are anti-inflammatory. Read More

Orthop Rev (Pavia) 2018 Jun 4;10(2):7542. Epub 2018 Jul 4.

Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht.

Total hip arthroplasty is one of the best treatments for restoring function and activity in young patients with advanced joint diseases. One-Stage Bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty (BTHA) offers many advantages, which are important to younger patients and diminished costs and time in comparison with sequential THA. There is currently much concern about the safety of this procedure. Read More

Reumatologia 2018 30;56(3):140-148. Epub 2018 Jun 30.

First Division of Rheumatology, Hospital for Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Goczałkowice Zdrój, Poland.

Objectives: Biologics are medications widely applied in the management of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The drugs were found to be effective but their application is associated with some disadvantages. Medication with biologics is relatively expensive, and in Poland, it is carried out in specialized centers. Read More

Pediatr Clin North Am 2018 08;65(4):711-737

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Indiana School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, 699 Riley Hospital Drive, Riley Research 307, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. Electronic address:

Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE), mixed connective tissue disease (jMCTD), and Sjögren syndrome (jSS) are systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders with distinct patterns of organ involvement. All are characterized by autoantibody formation, with antinuclear (ANA) and anti-double-stranded DNA common in jSLE, ANA with high-titer ribonucleoprotein antibody in jMCTD, and Sjögren syndrome A and Sjögren syndrome B antibodies + ANA in jSS. Recognition, monitoring, and management for primary care providers are discussed, focusing on the role of primary physicians in recognizing and helping maintain optimal health in children with these potentially life-threatening diseases. Read More

Photomed Laser Surg 2018 Aug 17;36(8):445-451. Epub 2018 Jul 17.

4 Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Umm Al-Qura University , Mecca, Saudi Arabia .

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of a pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser [high-intensity laser therapy (HILT)] in the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Materials And Methods: A sample of 30 children participated in this study (15 in the laser group and 15 in the placebo group), with a mean age of 10.53 ± 1. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2018 Jul 14. Epub 2018 Jul 14.

Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, CP 14000, Mexico City, Mexico.

We aimed to estimate the frequency of overlap of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) with systemic autoimmune diseases. Retrospective single-center study to identify patients with AAV diagnosis and concomitant autoimmune systemic diseases, simultaneously, before or after the diagnosis of AAV. Sociodemographic characteristics, such as comorbidities; follow-up time; type of AAV; disease duration; relapses; treatment and response; clinical, serological, and histological characteristics; disease activity and damage; prognosis; dialysis requirements, and death were assessed. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2018 Jun 7. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Department of Rheumatology, Central Hospital of Central Finland, Jyväskylä, Finland.

Objectives: To investigate the 10-year clinical course of patients with seronegative arthritis with the emphasis of reclassification of diagnoses when applicable.

Methods: A total of 1030 patients including 435 seronegative cases were classified as early RA in 1997-2005 at Jyväskylä Rheumatology Centre and prospectively scheduled for a ten-year follow-up. Clinical data from the follow-up visits and the case-reports until and including the 10-year visit or death, whichever happened earlier, were retrospectively collected and reviewed with re-classification of the cases when applicable. Read More

Drugs 2018 Jul;78(11):1073-1083

Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Koc University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

Interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-1β are proinflammatory cytokines that play a role in many diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and periodic inflammatory syndromes, including familial Mediterranean fever and Muckle-Wells syndrome. Drugs targeting IL-1 such as recombinant IL-1Ra (anakinra), neutralizing anti-IL-1β antibodies (canakinumab) and IL-1β traps (rilonacept) are in clinical use to treat these diseases. Additionally, experimental evidence suggests a role of IL-1 in kidney disease and hypertension and targeting IL-1 showed promising results in high cardiovascular risk patients, hemodialysis and renal transplantation patients. Read More

J Rheumatol 2018 Aug 1;45(8):1109-1115. Epub 2018 Jul 1.

From the Department of Allergy and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec; TRIO Fertility; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Objective: Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) are increasingly used in pregnancy but are frequently withheld in the second or third trimesters. We evaluated the maternal and fetal outcomes of women who continued their TNFi throughout pregnancy compared to women who interrupted TNFi during pregnancy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of women seen in clinic with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), or ankylosing spondylitis, who were exposed to TNFi during pregnancy. Read More