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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
25963842 Association of PTPN22 rs2476601 and STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthriti 2015 Aug BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease with a complex genetic background. The genes encoding protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) have been reported to be associated with RA in several ethnic populations. OBJECTIVES: This work aims to assess the association between PTPN22 rs2476601 and STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphisms with RA susceptibility through an updated meta-analysis of available case-control studies. METHODS: A literature search of all relevant studies published from January 2007 up to December 2014 was conducted using Pubmed and Science Direct databases. The observed studies that were related to an association between PTPN22 rs2476601 and STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphisms with RA susceptibility were identified. Meta-analysis of the pooled and stratified data was done and assessed using varied genetic models. RESULTS: Thirty-seven case-control studies with a total of 47 comparisons (29 for PTPN22 rs2476601 polymorphism and 18 for STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphism) met our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed an association between PTPN22 T allele, CT+TT and TT genotypes with RA susceptibility. Furthermore, The meta-analysis showed an association between STAT4 T allele, GT+TT and TT genotypes with RA susceptibility. Stratification of RA patients according to ethnic groups showed that PTPN22 T allele, CT+TT genotypes, STAT4 T allele and STAT4 GT+TT were significantly associated with RA in European, Asian, African subjects, while PTPN22 TT genotype was significantly associated with RA in European but not in Asian and African subjects and STAT4 TT genotype was significantly associated with RA in European and Asian but not in African subject. A subgroup analysis according to the presence or absence of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies revealed that the association between PTPN22 rs2476601 and STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphisms with RA susceptibility may not be dependent on RF and anti-CCP antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that PTPN22 rs2476601 and STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphisms confers susceptibility to RA in total subjects and in major ethnic groups. The association may not be dependent on RF and anti-CCP antibodies.
27165456 [A woman with speech and swallowing disorder]. 2016 A 78-year-old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis has been developing progressive speech and swallowing problems since 3 weeks. A CT scan of her head and neck showed a subluxation of the dens, which caused basilar invagination. This severe complication of rheumatoid arthritis is rare. Dynamic imaging and neurologic survey are recommended in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
27908302 Rituximab increases peripheral natural killer cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 2017 Mar OBJECTIVES: The clinical response of rituximab (RTX) is related to the degree of B cell depletion, although other circulating lymphocytes may be affected. We investigated the changes in lymphocyte sub-populations in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with RTX and their relationship with the therapeutic response, with attention to natural killer (NK) cells. METHODS: In fifty-one RA patients peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes and NK cells subtypes were counted by flow cytometry before and 3, 6 and 12 months after RTX administration. Patients were evaluated for disease activity with DAS28-CRP and EULAR response criteria at each visit. RESULTS: RTX significantly increased from baseline values CD56+3- cells (28 %, 19 % and 25 %; p<0.001, p=0.009 and p=0.004 respectively for month 3, 6 and 12) and CD56dimCD16+ cells (41%, 24% and 36%; p<0.001, p=0.001 and p<0.001 respectively for month 3, 6 and 12). CD56bri16- cells were unaffected by RTX treatment. The increase in both CD56+3- and CD56dimCD16+ cells was significantly greater in patients who were re-treated with another course of RTX at month 6 (p=0.046 and p=0.010 respectively). An inverse correlation between disease activity score and increase in NK cells was demonstrated. No significant changes were observed in CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells during the whole observation period. CONCLUSIONS: In RA patients, RTX treatment is associated with significant and persistent increase in CD56+3- and CD56dimCD16+ NK cells. A correlation with disease activity is probable, although the association with clinical response remains to be proved.
27829535 A critical role of transcription factor YY1 in rheumatoid arthritis by regulation of inter 2017 Feb Previous studies have revealed a critical role of YY1, a "Yin Yang" transcription factor, in cancer development and progression. However, whether YY1 has any role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unknown. This study aims to explore the potential role of YY1 in RA pathogenesis. In this study, we found that YY1 was over-expressed in RA patients and CIA mice. Blocking of YY1 action with YY1 shRNA lentivirus ameliorated disease progression in CIA mice. We further analyzed the signaling pathway involved by ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA), results showed IL-6 signaling and JAK/Stat signaling pathway was significantly inhibited by LV-YY1-shRNA treatment. Moreover, we observed that blocking of YY1 reduced IL-6 production and downregulated Th17 population. Finally, we showed YY1 positively regulated IL-6 transcription by binding to the promoter region of the IL-6 gene. In conclusion, YY1 plays a critical role in promoting IL-6 transcription in RA which contribute to the inflammation of RA via stimulation of Th17 differentiation. Thus, YY1 is likely a key molecule involved in the inflammation process of RA. Targeting of YY1 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for RA.
27252420 Costs in Relation to Disability, Disease Activity, and Health-related Quality of Life in R 2016 Jul OBJECTIVE: To compare how costs relate to disability, disease activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF)-treated patients with RA in southern Sweden (n = 2341) were monitored 2005-2010. Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), and EQ-5D scores were linked to register-derived costs of antirheumatic drugs (excluding anti-TNF agents), patient care, and work loss from 30 days before to 30 days after each visit (n = 13,289). Associations of HAQ/DAS28/EQ-5D to healthcare (patient care and drugs) and work loss costs (patients < 65 yrs) were studied in separate regression models, comparing standardized β coefficients by nonparametric bootstrapping to assess which measure best reflects costs. Analyses were conducted based on both individual means (linear regression, comparing between-patient associations) and by generalized estimating equations (GEE), using all observations to also account for within-patient associations of HAQ/DAS28/EQ-5D to costs. RESULTS: Regardless of the methodology (linear or GEE regression), HAQ was most closely related to both cost types, while work loss costs were also more closely associated with EQ-5D than DAS28. The results of the linear models for healthcare costs were standardized β = 0.21 (95% CI 0.15-0.27), 0.16 (0.11-0.21), and -0.15 (-0.21 to -0.10) for HAQ/DAS28/EQ-5D, respectively (p < 0.05 for HAQ vs DAS28/EQ-5D). For work loss costs, the results were standardized β = 0.43 (95% CI 0.39-0.48), 0.27 (0.23-0.32), and -0.34 (-0.38 to -0.29) for HAQ/DAS28/EQ-5D, respectively (p < 0.05 for HAQ vs DAS28/EQ-5D and for EQ-5D vs DAS28). CONCLUSION: Overall, HAQ disability is a better marker of RA costs than DAS28 or EQ-5D HRQOL.
25790671 [Effect of Sanhuang Yilong Decoction combined MTX on the expression of serum IL-1, IL-6, a 2015 Jan OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of bitter-cold herbs easing dampness method (BCHEDM) plus Sanhuang Yilong Decoction (SYD) combined with methotrexate (MTX) on expression levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and IL-17 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of accumulated dampness-heat syndrome (ADHS). METHODS: From January 2011 to January 2013 recruited were 90 RA inpatients of ADHS at Department of Integrative Medicine on Rheumatoid Disease, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region. They were assigned to the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (45 cases) according to the random digit table produced by SPSS 11.5 Software. Patients in the treatment group were treated by heavy bitter-cold herbs plus SYD combined with MTX, while those in the control group were treated by MTX alone. Expressional levels of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before treatment, at week 2 and 4 after treatment. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) were detected as well. RESULTS: After two or four weeks of treatment, ESR, CRP, and DAS28 decreased more in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After four weeks of treatment, IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, ESR, CRP, and DAS28 in the treatment group were all lower than before treatment and those of the control group at corresponding time points with statistical difference (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SYD combined MTX could play roles of improving inflammatory indices within 2 weeks, and inhibiting the expression of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 within 4 weeks.
26245885 Autoantibodies in prediction of the development of rheumatoid arthritis among healthy rela 2015 Nov OBJECTIVE: Although blood bank-based studies have shown that rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related autoantibodies are present before the onset of RA, information on their positive predictive value (PPV) for development of RA in healthy individuals is scarce. This study was undertaken to assess the 5-year PPV of serum IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) for the development of RA among healthy relatives of patients with RA. METHODS: Healthy relatives of RA patients were invited to participate in a cohort study. At baseline, information on participants' medical history was obtained, and serum levels of IgM-RF and anti-CCP antibodies were determined (by nephelometry and second-generation anti-CCP enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively). The subjects were followed up every 4 months via a structured interview (Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases [COPCORD] questionnaire). When the COPCORD questionnaire indicated possible arthritis, subjects underwent an in-office rheumatology assessment including joint count. The study end point was defined as fulfillment of the American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA. RESULTS: Eight hundred nineteen initially healthy relatives of 252 patients with RA were included (69% female, 41% offspring, mean ± SD age 35 ± 12 years). Eleven (1.3%) were positive for both anti-CCP-2 and RF, 12 (1.5%) only for anti-CCP-2, and 16 (2%) only for RF. RA developed in 17 (2.1%) of the relatives during the 5-year followup (3,313 person-years for the seronegative group and 60.8 person-years for the anti-CCP-2-positive group). The PPV was 64% when both anti-CCP-2 and RF were positive and 58% when only anti-CCP-2 was positive. Offspring of patients with RA had an independent 3-fold increased risk of developing RA. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study indicate that the magnitude of risk for developing RA in healthy relatives of patients with RA can be estimated using simple routine laboratory tests.
27887659 Fab glycosylation of immunoglobulin G does not associate with improvement of rheumatoid ar 2016 Nov 25 BACKGROUND: Changes in immunoglobulin G (IgG) constant domain (Fc) glycosylation are associated with changes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity in response to pregnancy. Here, we sought to determine whether the same holds true for variable domain (Fab) glycosylation. METHODS: IgGs were captured from RA and control sera obtained before (RA only), during and after pregnancy, followed by Fc and Fab separation, glycan release, and mass spectrometric detection. In parallel, glycans from intact IgG were analysed. The data was used to calculate glycosylation traits, and to estimate the level of Fab glycosylation. RESULTS: The overall level of Fab glycosylation was increased in RA patients compared to controls, while no differences in Fab glycosylation patterns were found. For the Fc and intact IgG (Total) previously observed differences in galactosylation and bisection were confirmed. Furthermore, increased galactosylation of Fc and Total were associated with lower disease activity and autoantibody positivity. In addition, the change in Fc galactosylation associated with the change in disease activity during pregnancy and after delivery, while this was not the case for Fab. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to changes in Fc glycosylation, changes in Fab glycosylation are not associated with improvement of RA during pregnancy and arthritis flare after delivery.
26122950 Rheumatoid arthritis: Predicting mortality in RA: the quest for useful information. 2015 Sep A new study suggests that rheumatoid arthritis does not increase cancer-related mortality in patients with cancer, particularly in those with advanced stage malignancies. Could the inclusion of quantitative measures of inflammation, physical function or socioeconomic status have changed these findings?
26136482 Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Australian OPAL Cohort Show Significant Improvem 2015 Sep OBJECTIVE: To evaluate disease activity trends in a large cohort of Australian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from 2009 to 2014. METHODS: This is a multicenter, cross-sectional, noninterventional study of patients with RA treated in Australia. Patients with RA treated at participating OPAL (Optimising Patient outcome in Australian RheumatoLogy) clinics were included in the study. Data, deidentified by patient, clinic, and clinician, were identified using a purpose-written electronic medical record. Patient demographics, disease onset, medications, and disease measures were analyzed. The Disease Activity Score at 28 joints (DAS28) was used to classify patients into the disease activity states of remission: low disease activity, moderate disease activity (MDA), and high disease activity. Choice of therapy was at the discretion of the treating clinician. RESULTS: At the time of analysis, the database contained 15,679 patients with RA, 8998 of whom fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 63.2 years, mean disease duration was 13.8 years, and the majority were women (72.4%). A total of 37,274 individual DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate scores were recorded for the 8998 patients. The frequency of remission increased significantly from 36.7% in 2009 to 53.5% in 2014 (p < 0.001), and that of MDA decreased from 33% (2009) to 22.2% (2014). The use of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for the patients in remission increased from 17% in 2009 to 36.9% in 2014. CONCLUSION: Contemporary management of RA in Australia shows improvements in disease activity toward the target of remission over a 5-year period.
27564223 Secular Changes in Clinical Features at Presentation of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Increase in 2017 Jan OBJECTIVE: To examine secular trends in demographics, clinical manifestations, and comorbidity on first presentation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prior to disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment. METHODS: A total of 2,701 patients were recruited over 25 years to 2 UK-based RA inception cohorts: the Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Study (9 centers; 1986-2001) and the Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Network (23 centers; 2002-2012). Trends in demographic and baseline clinical/laboratory and radiographic variables and comorbidities were estimated using mixed-effects models, including random effects for recruitment center. RESULTS: Age at onset increased from 53.2 to 57.7 years in 1990 and 2010, respectively (2.6 months/year; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2, 4.1). Sex ratio, the proportion living in deprived areas, and smoking status were unchanged (P > 0.05) and there were no changes in the proportion seropositive or erosive at baseline (P > 0.05). After controlling for treatment at the time of assessment, erythrocyte sedimentation rate decreased and hemoglobin increased over time (P > 0.05); however, the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), the Disease Activity Score (DAS), the DAS in 28 joints, and joint counts were unchanged (P > 0.05). The overall prevalence of comorbidity increased from 29.0% in 1990 to 50.7% in 2010, mainly due to cardiovascular and non-cardiac vascular conditions, including hypertension. There was a significant increase in body mass index (0.15 units/year; 95% CI 0.11, 0.18), resulting in an increase in the prevalence of obesity from 13.3% in 1990 to 33.6% in 2010. CONCLUSION: Age at onset and comorbidity burden, especially obesity, have increased at RA presentation over 25 years, reflecting wider demographic trends at the population level. In contrast, there were no accompanying changes in disease severity assessed by composite markers of disease activity, radiographic erosions, seropositivity, or HAQ at presentation. Treatment strategies in early RA should take greater account of the impact of comorbidity on outcomes.
28164544 Clinical Significance of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Inflammatory Factors for th 2016 Dec 1 BACKGROUND: To evaluate the significance of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and other factors for the disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Each patient underwent clinical examination and blood sampling for assessment of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), RDW, and other erythrocyte parameters (mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean cell Hb [MCH], mean corpuscular Hb concentration [MCHC]). Rheumatoid factors (RF-IgA, -IgG, -IgM) and anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies (anti-CCP) were purified from the plasma and detected by ELISA. RA patients were divided into two groups based on DAS28 scores: active RA group (DAS28 > 5.1) and inactive RA group (DAS28 2.6 - 3.2). RESULTS: Patient samples were within normal ranges for Hb (15.2 ± 1.3 g/L), HCT (29.9 ± 2.2%), and other red blood cell (RBC) parameters (MCV 80.3 ± 12.1 fL, MCH 26.6 ± 3.5 pg, MCHC 323 ± 25 g/L). The RDW was higher in the active RA group than in the inactive group (16.5 ± 3.2 vs. 13.9 ± 1.5%, p < 0.01). Similarly, the proportion of patients positive for RF and anti-CCP was higher in the active group than in the inactive group (RF 62 vs. 53%, CCP 83 vs. 61%). RF and anti-CCP were present at higher titers in patients with active RA. The bone erosion rate in the 110 RA patients was 67%. Patients with erosion had higher RDW than those without erosion (17.1 ± 2.2 vs. 13.9 ± 3.5%). High titers of anti-CCP and RF-IgM, -IgG, and -IgA were also associated with high bone erosion rates (67%, 77%, 67%, and 73%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest an association between RDW and levels of inflammatory factors and autoantibodies in RA. This association may be linked to the underlying proinflammatory state and increased oxidative stress, both of which correlate with impaired erythrocyte maturation. RDW, RF, and anti-CCP are key players in the proinflammatory and proatherogenic status of RA, and they may represent useful markers to improve characterization of disease activity in RA patients, thereby helping the clinician to define more appropriate therapeutic strategies.
26414238 Intra-Articular Transplantation of Allogeneic BMMSCs Rehabilitates Cartilage Injury of Ant 2015 Nov Apart from the immunosuppressive property, which has been widely investigated in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) also exhibit the chondrogenic capacity. Recently, BMMSCs have attracted more and more attention in the remission of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the reconstruction of cartilage injury. In addition to the significant regulatory hurdles of systemic treatment by BMMSCs, the poor inhibitory efficiency on articular inflammatory reaction and the inferior result of preventing the persistent destruction of cartilage were observed. Herein, toward the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced arthritis in rabbits, the in situ transplantation of fibrin gel-encapsulated BMMSCs to osteochondral defect was confirmed to result in the decreased levels of cytokines, such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and anti-OVA antibody, in the serum. What is more, the implantation of BMMSCs also inhibited the proliferation of antigen-specific lymphocytes. Meanwhile, the fibrin gel-encapsulated BMMSCs performed outstanding capacity of cartilage repair, resulted in the remission of local joint inflammatory condition, and prevented further articular cartilage damage. The results demonstrated that the transplantation of BMMSCs in fibrin gel to osteochondral defect under arthritic condition could effectively stimulate BMMSCs to exhibit the immunosuppression and cartilage protection capability, as well as cartilage repair. This study provided a new therapeutic strategy for RA-induced cartilage injury through the local transplantation of BMMSCs.
26298417 Performance of computer-based analysis using temporal subtraction to assess joint space na 2016 Jan Our computer-based method can detect the chronological change in joint space width between baseline and follow-up images as the joint space difference index (JSDI). The aim of this study was to verify the sensitivity and specificity of our computer-based method in assessment of joint space narrowing progression in rheumatoid patients. Twenty-seven patients (24 women and 3 men) with rheumatoid arthritis underwent radiography of the bilateral hand at baseline and at 1 year. The joint space narrowing (JSN) of a total of 252 metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints and 229 carpal joints was assessed by our computer-based method, setting the Sharp/van der Heijde method as the gold standard. We constructed a receiver operating characteristic curve by using the Sharp/van der Heijde method as the gold standard and set the optimal cutoff on JSDI for MCP, carpal, and MCP/carpal joints. We then calculated the sensitivity and specificity for each cutoff in assessment of JSN progression. At the most discriminant cutoff, the sensitivity and specificity of the computer-based method for MCP joints was 78.6 versus 85.3 %, respectively (AUC = 0.837; P < 0.001). Carpal joints revealed a lower sensitivity and specificity with 64.7 and 86.8 % (AUC = 0.775; P < 0.001). Furthermore, the sensitivity and specificity for MCP/carpal joints was 71.0 versus 83.6 %, respectively (AUC = 0.778; P < 0.001). The computer-based method presented a reliable assessment of JSN progression with high sensitivity and specificity and may be useful in follow-up assessment of the joint damage in rheumatoid patients.
25641885 Response to tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis is not influenced by the body mass index o 2015 Apr OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and the efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in 222 patients with RA followed by 5 centers. The European League Against Rheumatism response was evaluated at 6 months. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS: No significant association between the BMI and the response to TCZ at 6 months was found after adjustment for potential confounding factors (adjusted OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.16-1.24, p = 0.13 and OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.31-4.48, p = 0.78 for BMI 25-30 kg/m(2) and BMI > 30 kg/m(2), respectively, compared to BMI < 25 kg/m(2)). CONCLUSION: Response to TCZ in patients with RA is not influenced by the baseline BMI, in contrast to anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs.
26356713 A Large-Scale Study Indicates Increase in the Risk of Epilepsy in Patients With Different 2015 Sep Peripheral neuropathy and inflammatory reactions of the central nervous system may accompany rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Inflammatory processes play a critical role in epilepsy. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the risk of epilepsy in patients with RA.The RA cohort comprised patients ages 20 years and older who were newly diagnosed with RA between 2000 and 2011, with data obtained from the Registry of Catastrophic Illnesses Patient Database. Patients without RA were frequency matched with an RA cohort at a 1:1 ratio according to age, sex, and year of RA diagnosis.The overall crude hazard ratio (HR) for epilepsy was 1.27-fold higher in the RA cohort compared with that in the controls. After adjustment for age, sex, comorbidities, and medications, the patients with RA were associated with an increased risk of epilepsy compared with those without RA (adjusted HR [aHR] = 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12-2.07). Compared with the RA patients with ≤ 560 days of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, the RA patients with 1181 to 2145 and >2145 days of NSAID use had a significantly lower risk of epilepsy (aHR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.24-0.52 and aHR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.09-0.24, respectively).This study provides compelling evidence of an increased risk of epilepsy in patients with RA. The period of NSAID treatment is negatively associated with the risk of epilepsy in RA patients.
26142942 Acute-onset paralysis in a patient of rheumatoid arthritis. 2015 Jan Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a disorder of renal acidification characterized by inability to acidify urine to pH < 5.5 despite the presence of severe systemic metabolic acidosis and hypokalemia. Hypokalemia leads to acute-onset paralysis and may be a presenting manifestation of RTA. Its association with various autoimmune disease has been reported previously in published reports, but has not been much emphasized. We, hereby, report a case of RTA that presented during the flare of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A 42-year-old female, a known case of RA for 5 years, presented with persistent joint pain for 1 week and acute-onset quadriparesis for 3 days. Primary investigations revealed hypokalemia with metabolic acidosis. She was managed conservatively with potassium supplements and bicarbonate supplements along with steroids and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Such a presentation of renal tubular acidosis in a patient during the flare of rheumatoid arthritis is distinctly rare and previously unreported in published studies.
27699655 Serum level of neopterin is not a marker of disease activity in treated rheumatoid arthrit 2017 Sep Neopterin has been measured in many autoimmune diseases and was reported as a marker of cellular immunity activation in rheumatoid asthritis (RA). The aim of this work was to assess serum neopterin as a marker of disease activity in treated RA patients. We measured serum level of neopterin in 120 treated RA patients and 100 age- and sex-matched controls by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, and disease activity score was calculated in all patients by DAS28-CRP score. Significantly higher levels of neopterin were observed in RA patients (11.46 ± 3.56 nmol/L) compared to healthy controls (4.74 ± 1.98 nmol/L), P < 0.0001. Significantly higher neopterin levels were observed among male RA patients [median (IQR), 13.44 (12.65-16.21)] than female RA patients [median (IQR), 11.86 (7.91-13.44)], P <0.0001. No significant correlations between neopterin and age, age of disease onset, disease duration, or any of the disease activity parameters were found. Moreover, no significant difference regarding neopterin levels in different disease activity phases was identified. Our results indicated that neopterin is a marker of RA but not a marker of disease activity in treated RA patients.
25741130 Lipid peroxidation-mediated inflammation promotes cell apoptosis through activation of NF- 2015 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of multiple joints. The central pathogenesis of RA is the proliferation of synovial fibroblasts in response to inflammatory cytokines. However, some of the targeted therapies for inflammation reactions do not display significant clinical improvement after initiation of therapy. Thus, the relationship between inflammatory responses and RA therapy is still incompletely understood. In the present study, we proposed to determine whether enhanced inflammations may lead to cell apoptosis in rheumatoid arthritis synoviocytes. Our results indicated that products of lipid peroxidations, 4-HNE, may induce synovial intrinsic inflammations by activating NF-κB pathways and it may lead to cell apoptosis. Pharmacological inhibition of NF-κB activation may reduce the 4-HNE mediated inflammation responses and subsequent cell apoptosis. Our results may help to clarify the role of inflammations on RA development and imply that blocking NF-κB activation may be partly beneficial for human RA therapy. These findings might provide a mechanism-based rationale for developing new strategy to RA clinical therapy.
27145430 Drug breakthrough offers hope to arthritis sufferers: qualitative analysis of medical rese 2017 Apr BACKGROUND: Newspaper stories can impact behaviours, particularly in relation to research participation. It is therefore important to understand the narratives presented and ways in which these are received. Some work to date assumes journalism transmits existing medical knowledge to a passive audience. This study aimed to explore how newspaper articles present stories about medical research and how people interpret and use them. DESIGN: Qualitative research methods were employed to analyse two data sets: newspaper articles relating to 'rheumatoid arthritis' and 'research' from UK local and national news sources; and existing transcripts of interviews with patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their carers. RESULTS: Newspapers present a positive account of medical research, through a simple narrative with three essential components: an 'innovation' offers 'hope' in the context of 'burden'. Patients frequently feature as passive subjects without attributed opinions. Few articles include patients' experiences of research involvement. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their carers read articles about medical research critically, often with cynicism and drawing on other sources for interpretation. CONCLUSIONS: An understanding of the simple, positive narrative of medical research found in newspaper articles may enable researchers to gain mass media exposure for their work and challenge this typical style of reporting. The critical and cynical ways patients and carers read stories about medical research suggest that concerns about newspaper articles misinforming the public may be overstated, but any effect on research engagement is unknown. Newspaper articles rarely present patients' views or their experiences of research, and this can be conceptualized as 'depersonalization bias'.