Methotrexate promotes the release of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor from rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes via autocrine interleukin-1 signaling.

Background: Activated fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are drivers of synovitis and structural joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Despite the use of disease-modifying drugs, only about 50% of RA patients reach remission in real-world settings. We used an unbiased approach to investigate the effects of standard-of-care methotrexate (MTX) and a Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib (TOFA), on gene expression in RA-FLS, in order to identify untargeted disease mediators.

Cartilage destruction in early rheumatoid arthritis patients correlates with CD21 double-negative B cells.

Background: Involvement of B cells in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is supported by the presence of disease-specific autoantibodies and the efficacy of treatment directed against B cells. B cells that express low levels of or lack the B cell receptor (BCR) co-receptor CD21, CD21 B cells, have been linked to autoimmune diseases, including RA. In this study, we characterized the CD21 and CD21 B cell subsets in newly diagnosed, early RA (eRA) patients and investigated whether any of the B cell subsets were associated with autoantibody status, disease activity and/or joint destruction.

Escape to the future - a qualitative study of physicians' views on the work environment, education, and support in a digital context.

Background: The use of remote services such as video consultations (VCs) has increased significantly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Sweden, private healthcare providers offering VCs have grown substantially since 2016 and have been controversial. Few studies have focused on physicians' experiences providing care in this context.

Radiographic airway abnormalities in untreated early rheumatoid arthritis are associated with peripheral neutrophil activation.

Background: The role of the lung for the initiation and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still unclear. Up to 10% of RA patients develop interstitial lung disease which remains a clinical challenge. Understanding early disease mechanisms is of great importance.

Development of outcomes for evaluating emergency care triage: a Delphi approach.

Background: Triage is used as standard of care for prioritization and identification of time-critical patients in the emergency department (ED) globally, but it is unclear what outcomes should be used to evaluate triage. Currently used outcomes do not include important time-critical diagnoses and conditions.

Method: We used 18 Swedish triage experts to collect and assess outcomes for the evaluation of 5-level triage systems.