Intracellular tubulo-reticular structures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells as an ultra-structural marker of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus: a pilot study.

Objective: Under physiological stress, the membranes of organelles undergo conformational change to tubulo-reticular structures (TRS) for gaining survival advantage. We aim to explore whether TRS formation in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) correlates with more active disease where physiological stress prevails.

Methods: To mimic the intracellular impact of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) on lymphocytes, human B-lymphocyte cell line was stimulated by recombinant IFN-α in concentrations of 100, 1000 and 10 000 IU/mL for 72 h.

Significantly higher estimated 10-year probability of fracture in lupus patients with bone mineral density comparable to that of healthy individuals.

This study aimed at comparing the FRAX 10-year fracture risk between SLE patients and demographically- and anthropometrically matched healthy individuals. Consecutive SLE patients aged ≥ 40 were analyzed for the FRAX 10-year probability of major osteoporotic and hip fractures and their risk was compared with healthy controls matched for age, gender and body mass index. Potential determinants associated with higher 10-year fracture probability in the SLE patients were studied by regression models.

A prospective functional MRI study for executive function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Objective: To study the functional brain activation signals before and after sufficient disease control in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without clinical neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Methods: Blood-oxygen-level-dependent signals during event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging brain were recorded, while 14 new-onset SLE patients and 14 demographically and intelligence quotient matched healthy controls performed the computer-based Wisconsin card sorting test for assessing executive function, which probes strategic planning and goal-directed task performance during feedback evaluation (FE) and response selection (RS), respectively. Composite beta maps were constructed by a general linear model to identify regions of cortical activation.

Clinical and psychosocial factors associated with depression and anxiety in Singaporean patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: To assess the frequency of, and factors associated with, depression and anxiety in Singaporean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Method: One hundred RA patients were recruited in a cross-sectional study. Socio-demographics, severity of anxiety and depression, disease activity, levels of serological markers and health-related quality of life were analyzed.

Damage accrual, cumulative glucocorticoid dose and depression predict anxiety in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The burden of anxiety in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to those with other inflammatory rheumatological conditions is unclear. We aimed to compare the frequency and level of anxiety between patients with SLE, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and gout and healthy individuals and explore independent predictors for anxiety in SLE patients. Consecutive patients with SLE, RA and gout and healthy individuals who were age and sex matched with the SLE group were evaluated for anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

The influence of childhood atopic dermatitis on health of mothers, and its impact on Asian families.

This study examines maternal perceptions of paediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) on family and determines risk factors including severity of AD, maternal physical and mental health (MH), quality of life of patients and sociodemographics which predict a negative family impact. A cross-sectional assessment using the Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire Scale to assess the impact of AD on family, Infant's Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (<5-yrs old) or Children's Dermatitis Life Quality Index (5-17 yrs old) was used to measure health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of paediatric patients with AD. A 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) was used to assess physical and MH of their mothers.

Research on psychoneuroimmunology: does stress influence immunity and cause coronary artery disease?

This review addresses the importance of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) studies in understanding the role of acute and chronic psychological stressors on the immune system and development of coronary artery disease (CAD). Firstly, it illustrates how psychological stressors change endothelial function and lead to chemotaxis. Secondly, acute psychological stressors lead to leukocytosis, increased natural killer cell cytotoxicity and reduced proliferative response to mitogens while chronic psychological stressors may lead to adverse health effects.

Combination of heparin and aspirin is superior to aspirin alone in enhancing live births in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss and positive anti-phospholipid antibodies: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and meta-regression.

Objective: The combination of heparin and aspirin was regarded as the 'standard therapy' for patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and positive aPL antibodies to enhance live births, but it largely stems from expert opinion. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess whether this combination works better than aspirin alone.

Methods: RCTs testing the efficacy of a combination of heparin and aspirin vs aspirin alone in patients with RPL and positive aPL antibodies were identified in electronic databases.

Bisphosphonates and atrial fibrillation: Bayesian meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials and observational studies.

Background: Occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) amongst bisphosphonate users has been increasingly reported but results are conflicting. We performed a Bayesian meta-analysis to address the possible association between the occurrence of AF and bisphosphonate use and estimated the posterior probability of development of AF with bisphosphonate use.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of bisphosphonates for treating and preventing osteoporosis, and observational studies investigating the incidence of AF amongst bisphosphonate users, were searched in electronic databases.

Mycophenolate mofetil is as efficacious as, but safer than, cyclophosphamide in the treatment of proliferative lupus nephritis: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Objective: Since mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has emerged as an immunosuppressant for treating proliferative lupus nephritis, the role of cyclophosphamide (CYC)-containing regimens is being challenged. Efficacy data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and previous meta-analyses comparing these two agents for treating lupus nephritis have been inconsistent as they were heterogeneous in design and of small sample size. An updated meta-analysis is therefore required.