Findings on serial thigh MRI can identify individuals with inflammatory myositis who recover sub-optimally: A 6-month follow-up study.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thigh is used in diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) diagnosis due to its high sensitivity in detecting muscle oedema and to localize the site for muscle biopsy. At the same time, dual energy absorptiometry (DXA) is an accepted method in clinical practice to measure muscle mass and change in body composition. In this longitudinal study of patients with active IIM we sought to correlate muscle findings on serial thigh MRI and body composition assessed using DXA with six-month clinical outcomes, we also studied correlation of thigh MRI scores with body composition parameters.

Synovial-fluid-derived microparticles express vimentin and GRP78 in their surface and exhibit an in vitro stimulatory effect on fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To investigate the hypothesis that microparticles (MP) may be a source of autoantigens and drive disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium.

Methods: Synovial fluid (SF) was collected from the knee joints of 41 disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug-naive RA patients and 30 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Samples were stained with either anti-vimentin-AlexaFluor-488 or anti-glucose-regulated protein-78-Dylight-488 (GRP78) and Annexin-V-allophycocyanin for flow cytometry analysis.

Management of Takayasu arteritis.

This review overviews the challenges in the assessment of disease activity, damage, and therapy of Takayasu arteritis (TAK). Recently developed disease activity scores for TAK are more useful for follow-up visits and require validation of cut-offs for active disease. A validated damage score for TAK is lacking.

Semi-quantitative thigh magnetic resonance imaging scores in assessing disease activity and determining long-term clinical outcome in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a causal mediation analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship of thigh MRI (t-MRI) with manual muscle testing-8 (MMT-8), muscle enzymes and autoantibodies. To determine the causal and mediating factors resulting in poor recovery of MMT-8 in inflammatory myositis (IIM).

Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective study in IIM patients.

Metabolic inflammatory volume and total inflammatory glycolysis: novel parameters to evaluate PET-CT disease activity in Takayasu arteritis.

Objectives: To evaluate diagnostic accuracy for active Takayasu arteritis (TAK) for two novel F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT parameters, the inflammatory volume (MIV) and total inflammatory glycolysis (TIG), to quantitate volume of metabolically-active arterial tissue.

Methods: From a cohort of TAK (n = 36, 35 immunosuppressive-naïve), images of PET-CTs were reviewed for mean and maximum standardized uptake value (SUV and SUV), target-to-blood pool ratio (TBR), target-to-liver ratio (TLR), and PET Vasculitis Activity Score (PETVAS). Regions of interest were drawn to semiautomatically calculate MIV in areas of F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake ≥ 1.

Validation of the 2022 American College of Rheumatology/EULAR classification criteria for Takayasu arteritis.

Objectives: The present study validates the 2022 ACR/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) classification criteria for Takayasu's arteritis (TAK), compared with the 1990 ACR TAK classification criteria.

Methods: The fulfilment of 2022 ACR/EULAR and 1990 ACR TAK criteria from four referral centres was assessed for TAK compared with extracranial giant cell arteritis (EC-GCA) and other controls. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), likelihood ratio of a positive test (LR+) or negative test (LR-), and area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) were calculated.

Effect of skin phototype on quantitative nailfold capillaroscopy.

Objectives: To determine the impact of Fitzpatrick scale-based skin phototype on visualization of capillary density using nailfold capillaroscopy in healthy Indian adults.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, healthy adults were examined for nailfold capillaroscopy findings utilizing a portable capillary microscope at 800× magnification. Photographs of two contiguous areas measuring 1 mm each of the distal row of capillaries were captured.

Comparison between leflunomide and sulfasalazine based triple therapy in methotrexate refractory rheumatoid arthritis: an open-label, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.

To compare efficacy and safety of two different combination csDMARD therapy in Methotrexate-failed Rheumatoid arthritis patients. In this 24-week open-label, parallel-group non-inferiority, single-center clinical trial, Methotrexate-failed Rheumatoid arthritis patients with disease duration < 2 years, were randomized to either of the two treatment regimens-Methotrexate + Leflunomide + Hydroxychloroquine or Methotrexate + Sulfasalazine + Hydroxychloroquine. Primary endpoint was proportion of patients achieving EULAR good response at 12 weeks.

Spondyloarthritis and the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-B27 Connection.

Heritability of Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is highlighted by several familial studies and a high association with the presence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27. Though it has been over four decades since the association of HLA-B27 with SpA was first determined, the pathophysiological roles played by specific HLA-B27 allotypes are not fully understood. Popular hypotheses include the presentation of arthritogenic peptides, triggering of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by misfolded HLA-B27, and the interaction between free heavy chains or heavy chain homodimers of HLA-B27 and immune receptors to drive IL-17 responses.

Cultural adaptation, translation and validation of Cochin Hand Function Scale and evaluation of hand dysfunction in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Hand dysfunction causes significant reduction in quality of life in systemic sclerosis. We assessed the validity and reliability of the culturally adapted Indian version of Cochin Hand Function Scale (I-CHFS). We determined the factors contributing to hand dysfunction and its burden on quality of life.

Clinical correlates of HLA-B*27 and its subtypes in enthesitis-related arthritis variant of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in south Indian Tamil patients.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the distribution of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*27 subtypes and its correlation with disease phenotypes in children with enthesitis-related arthritis variant of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA-ERA).

Method: One hundred and sixty patients (132 males, 28 females) satisfying the International League Against Rheumatism (ILAR) classification criteria for JIA-ERA were assessed and relevant demographic, clinical and radiographic data were documented. HLA-B*27 typing was done for all the patients and B*27 positive samples were subjected to high-resolution gene sequencing.

Early onset neutropenia and thrombocytopenia following rituximab in lupus nephritis.

Biologics have emerged as an important modality of treatment in rheumatic diseases and have allowed the rheumatologist to explore varied therapeutic uses of these drugs. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against CD20 receptor is an important member of the biologic armamentarium for the treatment of various refractory autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The drug is now widely used in systemic lupus erythematosus for several complications which are refractory to conventional therapy.