The diagnostic performances of the Atellica® 1500 automated urinalysis system for ruling out bacterial urinary tract infection.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common diseases occurring in both hospitalized and community subjects. Urine culture is the gold standard test for the diagnosis of UTI, but approximately 80% are negative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the automated urinalysis system Atellica® 1500 (Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany) as screening tool for ruling out UTI.

Long-term Outcome of Children Born to Women with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: A Multicentre, Nationwide Study on 299 Randomly Selected Individuals.

The concern about the offspring's health is one of the reasons for a reduced family size of women with rheumatic diseases (RD). Increased risk of autoimmune diseases (AD) and neurodevelopmental disorders (ND) has been reported in children born to patients with RD. Within a nationwide survey about reproductive issues of women with RD, we aimed at exploring the long-term outcome of their children.

B cell activating factor (BAFF): Structure, functions, autoimmunity and clinical implications in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

The B cell activating factor (BAFF), or B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), is a B cell survival factor which supports autoreactive B cells and prevents their deletion. BAFF expression is closely linked with autoimmunity and is enhanced by genetic alterations and viral infections. Furthermore, BAFF seems to be involved in adipogenesis, atherosclerosis, neuro-inflammatory processes and ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Therapy: The Old and the New.

Despite recent improvements in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), disease activity, comorbidities and drug toxicity significantly contribute to the risk of progressive irreversible damage accrual and increased mortality in patients with this chronic disease. Moreover, even lupus patients in remission often report residual symptoms, such as fatigue, which have a considerable impact on their health-related quality of life. In recent decades, SLE treatment has moved from the use of hydroxychloroquine, systemic glucocorticosteroids and conventional immunosuppressive drugs to biologic agents, of which belimumab is the first and only biologic agent approved for the treatment for SLE to date.

Omalizumab in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: friend or foe? A systematic literature review.

Objectives: To systematically evaluate, through a Medline search, the role of omalizumab in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).

Methods: A systematic review was performed with the following inclusion criteria: original articles and case reports written in English and reporting an association between omalizumab and EGPA.

Results: We found 18 papers on EGPA (14 case reports, 3 retrospective cohort studies, 1 prospective cohort study).

The association between duration of remission, fatigue, depression and health-related quality of life in Italian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of duration of remission on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We conducted a 5-year retrospective study on two Italian cohorts. Remission was defined as a continuative period of no clinical disease activity, according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2 K, and a permitted maximum prednisone dose of 5 mg/day.

Clinical features of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus according to health-related quality of life, entity of pain, fatigue and depression: a cluster analysis.

Objectives: To identify the distribution of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in clusters according to the levels of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), entity of pain, fatigue and depression.

Methods: We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis. The following measures were used as clustering variables, after canonical transformation: the SF36 physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS), the Beck Depression Inventory II (entity of depression), the Facit-Fatigue, all assessed during the last visit.

Pattern of sleep dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus: a cluster analysis.

Objectives: To investigate how the different components of sleep dysfunction described in SLE patients combine together in sleep clusters.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a perspective cohort of 79 SLE patients (mean age 8.2 ± 14.

Factors related to alexithymia in patients with systemic sclerosis: a tight relationship with facial image dissatisfaction.

To assess clinical and psychosocial factors related to alexithymia in systemic sclerosis (SSc). We enrolled 40 consecutive SSc patients in a cross-sectional study evaluating alexithymia with Toronto Alexithymia scale (TAS-20). We measured Beck Depression inventory (BDI), Hamilton Anxiety rating scale (HAM-H), 36-Items Short-Form Healthy Survey (SF-36), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Satisfaction with Appearance Scale (SWAP), and Mouth Handicap in Systemic Sclerosis (MHISS).

Is fatigue a cause of work disability in systemic lupus erythematosus? Results from a systematic literature review.

Objective: Fatigue affects the almost totality of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) patients impairing physical function and leading to a strong reduction of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Similarly, SLE patients have an increased rate of work loss and work limitations. The aim of our paper was to systematically assess the relationship between fatigue and work disability in SLE.

Ultrasound detection of subclinical synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients in clinical remission: a new reduced-joint assessment in 3 target joints.

Objectives: The ability of ultrasound (US) to identify subclinical joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in remission has been already reported. Nonetheless, current studies present a lack of homogeneity in patient's characteristics and number of joints assessed by US. The aim of this study was to identify a reduced set of target joints to be scanned in RA patients in clinical remission in order to detect subclinical synovitis.

Endocannabinoid system in systemic lupus erythematosus: First evidence for a deranged 2-arachidonoylglycerol metabolism.

The endocannabinoid (eCB) system plays a key role in many physiological and pathological conditions and its dysregulation has been described in several rheumatological and autoimmune diseases. Yet, its possible alteration in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has never been investigated. Here, we aimed filling this gap in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with SLE and age- and sex- matched healthy subjects (HS).

Belimumab and low-doses of mycophenolate mofetil as induction therapy of class IV lupus nephritis: case series and literature review.

Background: The treatment of Lupus Nephritis (LN) is an unmet need in the management of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). CASE PRESENTATION : We report two cases of women affected by Lupus Nephritis (LN) ISN/RNP Class IV with serological active disease, high disease activity and marked fatigue. In both cases, Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), as induction therapy, was poorly tolerated because of gastrointestinal toxicity.

Physical activity and sedentary behavior in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) who did not met the WHO recommendations for physical activity and to evaluate the amount of time spent in sedentary behavior.

Methods: SLE patients were consecutively enrolled in a cross sectional study. The type and the time spent in physical activity and sedentary behavior were evaluated using the IPAQ short form questionnaire.

Fatigue in systemic sclerosis: a systematic review.

Objectives: To systematically review fatigue in systemic sclerosis (SSc) in terms of prevalence, features, correlates, predictors and management.

Methods: We performed a literature search in PubMed (Medline), EBSCO and COCHRANE databases up to June 2017 selecting articles regarding fatigue in SSc. The articles finally selected fulfilled the following eligibility criteria: written in English, referred to fatigue in SSc, reporting original data, including validated questionnaires measuring fatigue.

The relation between, metabolic syndrome and quality of life in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is associated to an increased prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MeS) and to a reduction of Quality of Life (QoL). The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between MeS and QoL in SLE.

Methods: SLE patients were consecutively enrolled in a cross sectional study.

Levels of Vitamin D, Disease Activity and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Post-menopausal Women with Sjögren's Syndrome: Does a Link Exist?

Background/aim: Low levels of vitamin D play a role progression of cardiovascular diseases. Knowledge lacks whether a relationship exists between vitamin D levels and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Patients And Methods: We evaluated vitamin D levels and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in 25 patients with pSS compared to 22 mild ostheoarthritic control patients (OCp).

The IL33/ST2 axis in Sjogren syndrome in relation to disease activity.

Objective: Primary Sjogren's Syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by infiltration of the exocrine glands leading to secretory insufficiency. Despite the progress made in understanding the pathogenesis of the SS, many aspects remain to be clarified. Interleukin-33 (IL33) is a recently discovered cytokine, belonging to IL-1 superfamily.

Relationship between leptin and regulatory T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: preliminary results.

Objective: Crescent literature data demonstrated a role of adipokines in immune responses, particularly leptin is involved in wide spectrum of pro-inflammatory functions. Several evidences suggested that leptin is able to inhibit T regulatory cells proliferation and function in vitro models. In the present study, we investigate the relationship between leptin and circulating T regulatory cells (Tregs) in patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in elderly patients with primary Sjögren syndrome: a duplex Doppler sonographic study.

A growing body of evidence presents a link between chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases and atherosclerosis. To evaluate subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in an elderly group of patients with primary Sjögren syndrome compared with a control group matched for age, sex, ethnicity and cardiovascular risk factors, we enrolled 18 patients with Primary Sjögren Syndrome (mean age 65 ± 5.93 SD) and 18 mild Ostheoarthritic patients (mean age 66 ± 5.