A patient centered assessment of the 2016 ACR-EULAR Myositis Response Criteria: evaluating the meaningfulness of response.

Objectives: The ACR-EULAR Myositis Response Criteria (Total Improvement Score [TIS]) is a composite measure calculated using changes in myositis core set measures. It is unclear if achieving improvement per TIS reflects improvement in any symptoms of myositis patients. In this study, we examined the association between achieving TIS improvement and patient-centered outcome measures (PCOMs).

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Arthritis Pain: A Randomized Withdrawal Trial.

Importance: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed for knee osteoarthritis. However, they are associated with uncertain long-term clinical benefit and significant toxic effects.

Objective: To evaluate whether discontinuing NSAIDs and engaging in a telephone-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program is noninferior to continuing NSAIDs for patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Characterisation of the nasal microbiota in granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Objectives: Prior studies have suggested a potential link between nasal microbes and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; Wegener's), but these studies relied on culture-dependent methods. This study comprehensively examined the entire community of nasal microbiota (bacteria and fungi) in participants with GPA compared with healthy controls using deep sequencing methods.

Methods: 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer gene sequencing were performed on nasal microbial DNA isolated from nasal swabs of 60 participants with GPA and 41 healthy controls.

Intra cranial granulomatous disease in common variable immunodeficiency: Case series and review of the literature.

Background/purpose: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is typically characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and often but not always recurrent infections. Paradoxically, 8-22% of patients with CVID develop granulomatous disease. Granulomata have been described in many organs including the lungs, skin, liver, spleen, kidneys, eyes, lymph nodes, and intestines.

New-onset hepatitis C virus-associated glomerulonephritis following sustained virologic response with direct-acting antiviral therapy .

Glomerulonephritis (GN) is an important extra-hepatic manifestation of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV-associated GN occurs due to HCV-induced lymphoproliferation, leading to the generation of pathogenic immune complexes, including complexes containing cryoglobulins. The management of HCV-associated extra-hepatic disease is focused on viral eradication, with direct-acting antiviral agents leading to high rates of sustained virologic remission.

Successful use of Rituximab in a patient with recalcitrant multisystemic eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare eosinophil-rich disorder characterised by necrotising granulomatous inflammation affecting small to medium sized vessels. Extrapulmonary manifestations can be life-threatening when heart, central nervous system (CNS), gastrointestinal tract or kidneys are affected. We describe a case of a 56-year-old woman with a long-standing history of asthma, who presented with an acute sudden painless loss of vision after she had been recently diagnosed with EGPA and induced with pulse steroids and cyclophosphamide.

Depressive symptoms among surrogate decision makers in Lebanese ICUs.

Surrogate decision making is advocated to protect the vulnerable patient. Family members of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are prone to develop depressive symptoms which may undermine their decisional capacity. Lebanon is a multicultural country where paternalism still dominates the physician-patient relationship and ethics are far from being the subject of research and studies.