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- Ajeganova, S, et al.
(author)
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Team Rehabilitation in Inflammatory Arthritis Benefits Functional Outcomes Along With Improved Body Composition Associated With Improved Cardiorespiratory Fitness
- 2021
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In: The Journal of rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 48:9, s. 1371-1378
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We investigated the effect of team rehabilitation in inflammatory arthritis (IA) on body composition and physical function. Further, we examined whether body composition and physical function are associated with disability and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).MethodsThe participants were 149 patients (74% women) with chronic arthritis, a mean age of 53 (SD 13) years, and mean disease duration of 21 (SD 13) years. They participated in a 4-week team rehabilitation program and were evaluated at prerehabilitation, and at 3 and 12 months postrehabilitation. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and CRF by the Åstrand 6-minute cycle test. ANCOVA with Bonferroni correction and linear mixed models were applied.ResultsAfter 3 and 12 months, there were significant reductions in waist circumference and measures of fat, adjusted for age, sex, and baseline measures. The prevalence of adiposity and central obesity decreased after 12 months. Hand grip strength and timed sit-to-stand (TST) improved together with reduction in Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and increased VO2max after 3 and 12 months. HAQ reduction over time was associated with prerehabilitation measures of lean mass of legs, hand grip strength, TST, and physical activity, and changes in hand grip strength, physical activity, and sedentary time, but not with changes of body composition. VO2max improvement over time was associated with prerehabilitation BMI, waist circumference, measures of fat and lean mass, changes in BMI, waist circumference, and measures of fat.ConclusionIn patients with IA, 4-week team rehabilitation benefited body composition, level of physical functioning, activity, and CRF for up to 12 months. Measures of physical function and activity were linked to HAQ over time, whereas body composition was linked to CRF.
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2. |
- Antovic, Aleksandra, et al.
(author)
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Microparticles Expressing Myeloperoxidase and Complement C3a and C5a as Markers of Renal Involvement in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis
- 2020
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In: Journal of Rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 47:5, s. 714-721
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. To investigate expression of terminal complement components C3a and C5a on circulating myeloperoxidase (MPO)-positive microparticles (MPO+MP) in relation to disease activity and renal involvement in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods. Forty-six clinically well-characterized patients with AAV and 23 age-and sex-matched healthy controls were included. The concentration of MPO+MP expressing C3a and C5a was analyzed from citrate plasma by flow cytometry. Serum levels of C3a and C5a were determined using commercial ELISA. The assessment of vasculitis disease activity was performed using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS). Among patients, 23 had active disease with BVAS >= 2 and 14 patients had active renal flares. Results. AAV patients had significantly increased expression of C3a and C5a on MPO+MP compared to controls (both p < 0.0001). When the group of patients with active AAV was divided according to the presence of renal activity, the concentration of MPO+MP expressing C3a and C5a was significantly higher in patients with renal involvement compared to patients with nonrenal disease and controls (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The serum levels of C3a were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the renal subgroup, while there were no changes in serum levels of C5a comparing the renal and nonrenal groups. There was significant correlation between the disease activity measured by BVAS and the levels of C3a and C5a expressed on MPO+MP. Conclusion. Determination of C3a and C5a on MPO+MP might be considered as a novel biomarker of renal involvement in patients with AAV and may be of importance in the pathogenetic process.
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- Cagnotto, Giovanni, et al.
(author)
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Male Sex Predicts a Favorable Outcome in Early ACPA-Negative Rheumatoid Arthritis: Data From an Observational Study
- 2022
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In: The Journal of rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 49:9, s. 990-997
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the relationship between sex and clinical outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) varies by autoantibody status. METHODS: Two inception cohorts of consecutive patients with early RA (ie, symptom duration ≤ 12 months) in the southern region of Sweden were investigated. Patients were stratified by anticitrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) status. The primary outcome was remission (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28] < 2.6) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were remission at 6 months and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology good response at 6 and 12 months compared to baseline. In logistic regression models, which were adjusted for age, DAS28 values, and Health Assessment Questionnaire values at baseline, the relationship between sex and clinical outcomes, stratified by ACPA status, was investigated. RESULTS: In total, 426 patients with early RA were included: 160 patients were ACPA negative and 266 patients were ACPA positive. At 12 months, 27.1% (38/140) of females and 24.1% (13/54) of males with ACPA-positive RA achieved DAS28 remission. In ACPA-negative RA, 16.0% (13/81) of females and 48.6% (18/37) of males achieved DAS28 remission at 12 months. Males had higher odds of reaching remission at 12 months in the ACPA-negative patient group (pooled adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.79, 95% CI 1.97-11.6), but not in the ACPA-positive group (pooled adjusted OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.49-2.30). CONCLUSION: Male sex was associated with better clinical outcomes in ACPA-negative early RA, but not in ACPA-positive early RA. The poor outcomes in females with early seronegative RA suggest that this represents a difficult-to-treat patient group. Copyright © 2022 by the Journal of Rheumatology.
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- Chatzidionysiou, K., et al.
(author)
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Effectiveness of a Second Biologic After Failure of a Non-tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor As First Biologic in Rheumatoid Arthritis
- 2021
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In: Journal of Rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 48:10, s. 1512-1518
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), evidence regarding the effectiveness of a second biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) in patients whose first-ever bDMARD was a non-tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) bDMARD is limited. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the outcome of a second bDMARD (non-TNFi: rituximab [RTX], abatacept [ABA], or tocilizumab [TCZ], separately; and TNFi) after failure of a non-TNFi bDMARD as first bDMARD. Methods. We identified patients with RA from the 5 Nordic biologics registers who started treatment with a non-TNFi as first-ever bDMARD but switched to a second bDMARD. For the second bDMARD, we assessed drug survival (at 6 and 12 months) and primary response (at 6 months). Results. We included 620 patients starting a second bDMARD (ABA 86, RTX 40, TCZ 67, and TNFi 427) following failure of a first non-TNFi bDMARD. At 6 and 12 months after start of their second bDMARD, approximately 70% and 60%, respectively, remained on treatment, and at 6 months, less than one-third of patients were still on their second bDMARD and had reached low disease activity or remission according to the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints. For those patients whose second bMDARD was a TNFi, the corresponding proportion was slightly higher (40%). Conclusion. The drug survival and primary response of a second bDMARD in patients with RA switching due to failure of a non-TNFi bDMARD as first bDMARD is modest. Some patients may benefit from TNFi when used after failure of a non-TNFi as first bDMARD.
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6. |
- Che, WI, et al.
(author)
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Reproductive Pattern in Women with Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy: A Population-based Study
- 2020
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In: The Journal of rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 47:9, s. 1392-1396
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To examine the reproductive pattern of women with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) compared to the general population.Methods.Population-based, nationwide registers were used to identify offspring of women with IIM and comparators.Results.Women with IIM in general had similar reproductive patterns as the comparators, whereas in those diagnosed between 26 and 45 years of age, there was an overall trend for fewer children as well as a higher proportion of nulliparity and a lower fertility rate in women with dermatomyositis than their comparators.Conclusion.Reproductive attention should be paid to patients with IIM diagnosed during the childbearing period.
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- Colic, J, et al.
(author)
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Impaired Fibrinolysis Is Linked With Digital Vasculopathy and Onset of New Digital Ulcers in Systemic Sclerosis
- 2022
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In: The Journal of rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 1499-2752 .- 0315-162X. ; 49:6, s. 598-606
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To assess thrombin generation, fibrin formation, and structure together with the fibrinolytic status in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in relation to the occurrence of digital ulcers (DUs) during the course of disease.Methods.We studied variables of endothelial dysfunction, thrombin generation, overall hemostatic potential, and fibrin clot turbidity in plasma from 58 patients with SSc (39 with DU history and 19 DU-naïve) and 46 matched healthy controls (HCs). Fibrin structure was visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, 39 patients with a history of DUs were followed for 1.5 years and the predictive value of all investigated markers for new DU onset was explored.Results.Significantly enhanced endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) and prolonged clot lysis time (CLT) were found in patients with DUs compared to HCs. CLT was prolonged in patients with DUs compared to those without, showing good validity in identifying DUs with an area under the curve of 0.7 (95% CI 0.6–0.8). The levels of ETP and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 were independently associated with CLT. Over the follow-up period, 20 patients developed new DUs. CLT was prolonged (P < 0.001) in patients with new DU episodes, especially those with recurrent DUs. Regression analysis showed that the Raynaud phenomenon visual analog scale and CLT were predictors of new DUs (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0–1.1 and OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3, respectively). SEM confirmed denser fibrin clots in patients with new DUs.Conclusion.Our results suggest that impaired fibrinolysis might have an emerging role in underlying digital vasculopathy and its progression in SSc.
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8. |
- Elfishawi, Mohanad, et al.
(author)
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Lower Frequency of Comorbidities Prior to Onset of Giant Cell Arteritis : A Population-Based Study
- 2023
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In: The Journal of rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 50:4, s. 526-531
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of comorbidities and metabolic risk factors at and prior to giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis. METHODS: This is a retrospective case control study of patients with incident GCA between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2019, in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Two age- and sex-matched controls were identified, and each assigned an index date corresponding to an incidence date of GCA. Medical records were manually abstracted for comorbidities and laboratory data at incidence date, 5 years, and 10 years prior to incidence date. Twenty-five chronic conditions using International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, diagnosis codes were also studied at incidence date and 5 years prior to incidence date. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-nine patients with GCA (74% female) and 253 controls were identified. At incidence date, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was lower among patients with GCA (5% vs 17%; P = 0.001). At 5 years prior to incidence date, patients were less likely to have DM (2% vs 13%; P < 0.001) and hypertension (27% vs 45%; P = 0.002) and had a lower mean number (SD) of comorbidities (0.7 [1.0] vs 1.3 [1.4]; P < 0.001) compared to controls. Moreover, patients had significantly lower median fasting blood glucose (FBG; 96 mg/dL vs 104 mg/dL; P < 0.001) and BMI (25.8 vs 27.7; P = 0.02) compared to controls. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed negative associations for FBG with GCA at 5 and 10 years prior to diagnosis/index date. CONCLUSION: DM prevalence and median FBG and BMI were lower in patients with GCA up to 5 years prior to diagnosis, suggesting that metabolic factors influence the risk of GCA.
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- Ernste, FC, et al.
(author)
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Functional Index-3: A Valid and Reliable Functional Outcome Assessment Measure in Patients With Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis
- 2021
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In: The Journal of rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 48:1, s. 94-100
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) have reduced muscle endurance.The aim of this study was to streamline the Functional Index-2 (FI-2) by developing the Functional Index-3 (FI-3) and to evaluate its measurement properties, content and construct validity, and intra- and interrater reliability.Methods.A dataset of the previously performed and validated FI-2 (n = 63) was analyzed for internal redundancy, floor, and ceiling effects. The content of the FI-2 was revised into the FI-3. Construct validity and intrarater reliability of FI-3 were tested on 43 DM and PM patients at 2 rheumatology centers. Interrater reliability was tested in 25 patients. The construct validity was compared with the Myositis Activities Profile (MAP), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and Borg CR-10 using Spearman correlation coefficient.Results.Spearman correlation coefficients of 63 patients performing FI-3 revealed moderate to high correlations between shoulder flexion and hip flexion tasks and similar correlations with MAP and HAQ scores; there were lower correlations for neck flexion task. All FI-3 tasks had very low to moderate correlations with the Borg scale. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of FI-3 tasks for intrarater reliability (n = 25) were moderate to good (0.88–0.98). ICC of FI-3 tasks for interrater reliability (n = 17) were fair to good (range 0.83–0.96).Conclusion.The FI-3 is an efficient and valid method for clinically assessing muscle endurance in DM and PM patients. FI-3 construct validity is supported by the significant correlations between functional tasks and the MAP, HAQ, and Borg CR-10 scores.
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- Exarchou, Sofia, et al.
(author)
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Lifestyle Factors and Disease Activity Over Time in Early Axial Spondyloarthritis: The SPondyloArthritis Caught Early (SPACE) Cohort
- 2022
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In: Journal of Rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 49:4, s. 365-372
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. Our aim was to study the importance of baseline BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption (AC) for disease activity (DA) over 1 year in early axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), stratified by sex. Methods. In the SPondyloArthritis Caught Early cohort ( patients with chronic back pain onset at age < 45 yrs, with pain for >= 3 months and >= 2 yrs), the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) was recorded at inclusion, 3, and 12 months. All patients included in the analysis had axSpA based on a high physician's level of confidence at baseline. Differences in ASDAS over 1 year by BMI (normal < 25 kg/m(2), overweight 25-29.9 kg/m(2), and obese >= 30 kg/m(2)), smoking history (never/previous/current), and AC (none, 0.1-2 units/week, 3-5 units/week, and >= 6 units/week) at baseline were estimated using mixed linear regression models. Results. There were 344 subjects (mean age of 30.3 yrs; 49.4% men). In women, obesity was associated with 0.60 (95% CI 0.28-0.91) higher ASDAS compared to normal BMI. In both sexes, AC tended to be associated with lower DA over 1 year, with a significant association only in women with the highest AC (mean difference of -0.55, 95% CI -1.05 to -0.04). Smoking was associated with higher ASDAS over 1 year compared to never smoking in both sexes, although the difference reached statistical significance only in female former smokers. Results were similar in multivariable analysis, adjusted for all lifestyle factors and other confounders. Conclusion. In early axSpA, BMI and smoking are associated with higher DA over 1 year, and AC with lower DA. The magnitude of the modest associations may differ between men and women.
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