The association of obesity and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis according to abdominal obesity status: a nationwide population-based study in Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the association between obesity or changes in body mass index (BMI) and the risk of RA considering the abdominal obesity status.

Methods: We included individuals aged 23 to 60 who underwent a national health examination in 2012-2013 (baseline) and four years prior. Obesity was defined by a BMI  ≥ 25 kg/m.

Post-hoc analysis of the CARES trial suggests delayed progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with gout during urate-lowering therapy.

Based on the hypothesis that hyperuricemia is a modifiable risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, there is an expectation that urate-lowering therapy (ULT) could delay the progression of CKD. Here, we investigated changes in kidney function and the association of the serum uric acid (sUA) level and kidney function during ULT in patients with gout. To do this we conducted post-hoc analysis on patients who received ULT with either febuxostat or allopurinol for more than six months in the CARES trial.

Lupus flare and recurrent lupus nephritis following kidney transplantation in patients with lupus nephritis.

Background: Clinical manifestations and risk factors associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares, including recurrent lupus nephritis (LN), in patients with LN who undergo kidney transplantation have been unclear.

Methods: Kidney transplant recipients with LN from January 1995 to December 2021 were included in this study. A disease flare was defined as either an increase in the non-renal SLE disease activity index score or the presence of biopsy-proven recurrent LN.

Anti-protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1A-IgM levels in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: a potential biomarker.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has been known to have auto-inflammatory nature; hence, the efficacy of autoantibodies is low. However, studies on autoantibodies are ongoing, with some studies showing associations. Previous studies showed that anti-protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1A (PPM1A) IgG was increased in patients with AS and associated with radiographic progression.

Characterization of high-affinity antibodies against the surface Gc protein of / severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) or is an emerging pathogen responsible for SFTS. It is considered a novel threat to human health, given the high associated fatality. SFTSV is a segmented negative-strand RNA virus containing three single-stranded RNAs, with the M segment encoding the glycoproteins Gn and Gc.

Prognostic Factors for Chronic Thrombocytopenia in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Immune Thrombocytopenia.

Introduction: We aimed to identify the clinical characteristics and risk factors for chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with SLE-associated ITP between January 2000 and December 2021. Patient characteristics were analyzed according to the progression of chronic thrombocytopenia.

Progression to ANCA-associated vasculitis in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and positive ANCA.

Objective: This study explored the development of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) and its risk factors in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and positive ANCA results.

Methods: Data of patients diagnosed with IIP with positive ANCA results at a single tertiary center in South Korea were retrospectively reviewed from January 2013 to August 2023. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with AAV occurrence following IIP diagnosis.

Ethanol purification enables high-quality α-phase FAPbI perovskite microcrystals for commercial photovoltaic applications.

Reliable quality and sustainable processes must be developed for commodities to enter the commercial stage. For next-generation photovoltaic applications such as perovskite solar cells, it is essential to manufacture high-quality photoactive perovskites eco-friendly processes. We demonstrate that ethanol, an ideal green solvent, can be applied to yield efficient alpha-phase FAPbI perovskite microcrystals.

Drug survival and change of disease activity using a second janus kinase inhibitor in patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis who failed to a janus kinase inhibitor and subsequent biologics.

Background: To assess the drug survival and change of disease activity using a second Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) after failure to a JAKi and subsequent biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 32 patients with difficult-to-treat RA who failed to a JAKi and subsequently to one or more bDMARDs and then switched to a second JAKi. To assess drug survival, electronic medical records of each patient were reviewed.

Optimizing Binding Site Spacing in Fluidic Self-Assembly for Enhanced Microchip Integration Density.

This manuscript presents a comprehensive study on the assembly of microchips using fluidic self-assembly (FSA) technology, with a focus on optimizing the spacing between binding sites to improve yield and assembly. Through a series of experiments, we explored the assembly of microchips on substrates with varying binding site spacings, revealing the impact of spacing on the rate of undesired chip assembly across multiple sites. Our findings indicate a significant reduction in incorrect assembly rates as the spacing increases beyond a critical threshold of 140 μm.

Relapse in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis undergoing dialysis: a single-centre retrospective study in South Korea.

Objectives: The disease activity of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) can decrease after dialysis, and relapse after dialysis is not well-studied. We investigated the clinical manifestations and factors associated with relapse in patients with AAV undergoing dialysis.

Methods: This retrospective study included data of patients with AAV undergoing dialysis due to renal involvement from July 2005 to March 2021 in a single tertiary centre in Seoul, Korea.

Clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with splenomegaly: focussed on the cytopenias.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of splenomegaly, mainly focussing on cytopenia, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Cytopenia was commonly observed in 111 SLE patients with splenomegaly (n = 79, 71.2%).

Febuxostat dose requirement according to renal function in patients who achieve target serum urate levels: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To determine the febuxostat dose requirement according to renal function in patients who achieve target serum urate (SU) levels.

Methods: Of 3153 gout patients who underwent febuxostat treatment, 873 patients with an initial SU level>6mg/dL were included and categorized by the estimated glomerular filtration rate: normal, chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3, and stages 4-5. Ninety-five patients with insufficient follow-up were further excluded.

Effect of belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with low dose or no corticosteroids.

Background/aims: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) responder index (SRI)-4 response has been achieved with belimumab treatment in patients with moderate disease activity in cornerstone clinical trials and following studies. However, most studies involved patients treated with a mean prednisolone-equivalent dose of approximately 10 mg/d and focused on the steroid-sparing effect of belimumab. We aimed to identify the effect of belimumab in patients with mild-to-moderate SLE who were treated with low-dose or no corticosteroids.

The Expression of the Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor and the Effect of Smoking in Curdlan-Administered SKG Mice.

Nicotine, an abundant molecule in tobacco, has immunomodulatory effects on inflammatory diseases, primarily due to the activation of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR). We aim to evaluate the expression of the α7 nAChR cells in joint tissue and the effect of smoking on immune cells and peripheral arthritis in curdlan-administered SKG mice, a murine model of spondyloarthropathy (SpA). The SKG mice were injected with curdlan two times at 2-week intervals and were divided into two groups; one exposed to cigarette smoke and the other not exposed.

Clinical effect of progressive pulmonary fibrosis on patients with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease: a single center retrospective cohort study.

The concept of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) has been introduced to predict the diverse prognosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, the incidence and effect of PPF on outcomes in patients with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) need to be elucidated. This study reviewed 197 patients with CTD-ILD.

Urine SERPINC1/ORM1 as biomarkers for early detection of lupus nephritis in MRL-lpr mice.

Background: To evaluate the usefulness of urine SERPINC1 and ORM1 as biomarkers for early detection of lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: Using proteomics, we screened for potential urine biomarkers that differentiate LN from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without nephritis. In addition, urine levels of target biomarkers were measured by ELISA in 13- and 23-week-old MRL-lpr (murine model for LN) and MRL/MpJ mice.

Recovery and long-term renal outcome of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis who are on dialysis at presentation.

Objective: Renal involvement in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) can lead to severe renal dysfunction requiring dialysis at diagnosis. We aimed to study the clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients with AAV dependent on dialysis at presentation and the long-term renal outcomes of patients who recovered from dialysis.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data of patients diagnosed with AAV who were on dialysis from July 2005 to May 2021 at a single tertiary center in Korea.

When MRI would be useful in patients without evidence of sacroiliitis on radiographs?

We aimed to identify when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would be useful to diagnose patients with suspected axial spondyloarthropathy (AxSpA) without evidence of sacroiliitis on radiographs. We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of patients who underwent pelvis MRI after radiographs at the rheumatology clinic in a single tertiary center in Korea. Patients underwent imaging from January 2020 to July 2022.

Long-term renal outcomes of patients with non-proliferative lupus nephritis.

Background/aims: Although non-proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) (class I, II or V) has been considered as a less severe type of LN, data on long-term renal prognosis are limited. We investigated the long-term outcomes and prognostic factors in non-proliferative LN.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who were diagnosed with LN class I, II, V, or II + V by kidney biopsy from 1997 to 2021.

Incidence of and risk factors for myelodysplastic syndrome in patients with rheumatologic diseases.

Objective: We investigated the incidence of and risk factors for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in patients with rheumatologic disease.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who were diagnosed with rheumatologic diseases at a tertiary care hospital between May 2009 and July 2022 and identified the patients who were subsequently diagnosed with MDS. Each patient with MDS was matched with five age- and sex-matched controls chosen from the cohort of patients with each specific rheumatologic disease.

Prognostic value of proteinuria monitoring in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Objective: To determine the prognostic significance of proteinuria monitoring in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of kidney biopsy-confirmed patients with AAV. Proteinuria was evaluated by a urine dipstick test.