Gut Inflammation in Axial Spondyloarthritis Patients is Characterized by a Marked Type 17 Skewed Mucosal Innate-like T Cell Signature.

Objective: Patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) often present with microscopic signs of gut inflammation, a risk factor for progressive disease. We investigated whether mucosal innate-like T cells are involved in dysregulated interleukin-23 (IL-23)/IL-17 responses in the gut-joint axis in SpA.

Methods: Ileal and colonic intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs), and paired peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from treatment-naive patients with nonradiographic axial SpA with (n = 11) and without (n = 14) microscopic gut inflammation and healthy controls (n = 15) undergoing ileocolonoscopy.

Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy and incisional biopsy of the parotid gland are comparable in diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objectives: Salivary gland lymphocytic infiltrates are a hallmark of primary SS (pSS), but traditional biopsy techniques hold several disadvantages. Ultrasound-guided core needle (US-guided CN) parotid gland biopsy is minimally invasive and reliable for diagnosis of lymphoma in pSS. This proof-of-concept study aimed to explore this technique in the diagnostic work-up of pSS and is the first to address its value in a consecutive cohort independently of the presence of salivary gland swelling.

Selection of study endpoints and patients for clinical trials in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

In the last decade, many randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) have been performed in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Unfortunately, no bDMARD has yet been approved for systemic treatment of pSS. The heterogeneity of disease manifestations raises two essential questions: 1) which outcome measure is valid, reliable and responsive to demonstrate treatment efficacy and should be used as primary study endpoint? and 2) which pSS patients should be included in clinical trials? Both the selection of the primary study endpoint and the selection of patients are crucial and evolving issues in clinical trial design in pSS.

The value of separate detection of anti-Ro52, anti-Ro60 and anti-SSB/La reactivities in relation to diagnosis and phenotypes in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objectives: Autoantibody detection is an essential step in pSS diagnosis. However, the value of separate anti-Ro52, anti-Ro60 and anti-SSB/La detection in pSS diagnosis and phenotyping has not been extensively studied. This study aimed to explore disease characteristics of anti-SSA/Ro positive, suspected and definite pSS patients, in relation to serological profiles based on anti-Ro52, anti-Ro60 and anti-SSB/La reactivity.

Work participation is unaffected in Belgian spondyloarthritis patients: data from the BelGian Inflammatory Arthritis and SpoNdylitis cohorT.

Objectives: This study aimed to (i) investigate actual work participation in Belgian spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients compared with the general population, and (ii) identify determinants of work-related outcomes.

Material And Methods: Adult SpA patients from the Ghent University Hospital based Be-GIANT cohort (fulfilling ASAS classification criteria) were cross-sectionally questioned on their socio-economic status and completed a Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (May 2018 to May 2019). Results were compared with national and regional data on the general population using indirect standardization.

Discriminative power of salivary gland ultrasound in relation to symptom-based endotypes in suspected and definite primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Objectives: Salivary gland ultrasound (SGUS) is emerging as essential tool in primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS), but its link to symptom-based endotypes is unknown. Therefore, we explored SGUS outcomes in relation to endotypes in patients with definite and suspected pSS.

Methods: Definite pSS patients (n = 171) fulfilling the 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria, and suspected pSS patients (n = 119), positive for at least one criterion, were included in the Belgian Sjögren's Syndrome Transition Trial (BeSSTT).

Progressive Increase in Sacroiliac Joint and Spinal Lesions Detected on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Healthy Individuals in Relation to Age.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role in spondyloarthritis (SpA) diagnosis. However, a detailed description of MRI findings of the sacroiliac (SI) joints and spine in healthy individuals is currently lacking. This study was undertaken to evaluate the occurrence of MRI-detected SI joint and spinal lesions in healthy individuals in relation to age.

Association of active coping to unfair treatment with perceived stress and depressive symptoms in African Americans: mh-grid study.

Background: Unfair treatment such as discrimination and racism contribute to depression and perceived stress in African Americans. Although studies have examined how responding to such treatment is associated with ameliorating depressive symptoms and levels of perceived stress, most do not focus on African Americans. The purpose of this study is to assess how talking to others in response to unfair treatment is associated with self-reported depressive symptoms and perceived stress levels in African Americans.

Peripheral manifestations are major determinants of disease phenotype and outcome in new onset spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: To delineate the impact of peripheral musculoskeletal manifestations on stratification of disease phenotype and outcome in new-onset spondyloarthritis (SpA), using a prospective observational nationwide inception cohort, the BelGian Inflammatory Arthritis and spoNdylitis cohorT (Be-Giant).

Methods: Newly diagnosed adult SpA patients, fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria for axial or peripheral SpA, were included in Be-Giant and prospectively followed every six months. Peripheral involvement (defined as arthritis, enthesitis and/or dactylitis) was determined in relation to clinically similar patient subsets at baseline and disease activity patterns during two-year follow-up, identified through K-means cluster analysis and latent class growth analysis.

The Costs of Introducing the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Vaccine into the National Immunization Programme in Senegal (NéoVac Study).

Some African countries are still reluctant to introduce the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose (HepB-BD) into their expanded program of immunization (EPI), partly because of logistical, economic, and cost information constraints. To assist decision-makers in these countries, we assessed the economic and financial costs of HepB-BD introduction in Senegal in 2016. We performed a micro-costing study in a representative sample of Senegal's EPI sites at all levels in 2018.

The Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Assessing Disease Extent and Prediction of Relapse in Early Peripheral Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the inflammatory burden in peripheral spondyloarthritis (SpA) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the legs in an early remission-induction strategy study of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockade. Furthermore, we sought to determine the value of MRI to predict disease relapse versus sustained remission after treatment discontinuation.

Methods: Thirty-two patients with early peripheral SpA with involvement of the legs determined on clinical examination and confirmed by ultrasonography (US) participated in a remission-induction trial of a TNF inhibitor (TNFi).

Axial involvement in patients with early peripheral spondyloarthritis: a prospective MRI study of sacroiliac joints and spine.

Objectives: To assess axial involvement on MRI in early peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) and to evaluate whether axial inflammation predicts relapse on treatment withdrawal.

Methods: Fifty-six patients with early, active, newly diagnosed pSpA underwent MRI of the sacroiliac joints (SIJs) and spine prior to golimumab initiation. At sustained clinical remission of pSpA, treatment was withdrawn and a second MRI was performed.

High prevalence of spondyloarthritis-like MRI lesions in postpartum women: a prospective analysis in relation to maternal, child and birth characteristics.

Objectives: Bone marrow oedema (BMO) on MRI of sacroiliac joints (SIJs) represents a hallmark of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA), yet such lesions may also occur under augmented mechanical stress in healthy subjects. We therefore sought to delineate the relationship between pregnancy/delivery and pelvic stress through a prospective study with repeated MRI. Results were matched with maternal, child and birth characteristics.

Lipid levels after childbirth and association with number of children: A population-based cohort study.

Objective: Low parity women are at increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. Unfavourable lipid profiles have been found in one-child mothers years before they conceive. However, it remains unclear whether unfavourable lipid profiles are evident in these women also after their first birth.

Unexplained fever in a young man with Crohn's disease: a case report and review of literature.

A 23-year-old man with a known history of Crohn's disease (CD), who underwent an ileocaecal resection for localized disease activity three months ago, suffered from persistent fever with chills since 10 days. Despite the empirical antibiotic therapy that was started, his fever remained. A computed tomography (CT) angiography of the thorax and abdomen revealed a thrombosis of the iliacal veins bilateral and a pulmonary embolism (PE) in the right lower lobe with adjacent infiltrate.

Risk of having one lifetime pregnancy and modification by outcome of pregnancy and perinatal loss.

Introduction: With increasing cesarean section rates, adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery and small-for-gestational-age continue to be public health challenges. Besides having high co-occurrence and interrelation, it is suggested that these outcomes, along with preeclampsia, are associated with reduced subsequent fertility. On the other hand, the loss of a child during the perinatal period is associated with increased reproduction.

Women's prepregnancy lipid levels and number of children: a Norwegian prospective population-based cohort study.

Objective: To study prepregnancy serum lipid levels and the association with the number of children.

Design: Prospective, population-based cohort.

Setting: Linked data from the Cohort of Norway and the Medical Birth Registry of Norway.

Factors associated with breast MRI use among women with a family history of breast cancer.

Although annual breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended for women at high risk for breast cancer as an adjunct to screening mammography, breast MRI use remains low. We examined factors associated with breast MRI use in a cohort of women with a family history of breast cancer but no personal cancer history. Study participants came from the Sister Study cohort, a nationwide, prospective study of women with at least 1 sister who had been diagnosed with breast cancer but who themselves had not ever had breast cancer (n = 17 894).

Communicating with Daughters About Familial Risk of Breast Cancer: Individual, Family, and Provider Influences on Women's Knowledge of Cancer Risk.

Introduction: Women facing complex and uncertain situations such as cancer in their families may seek information from a variety of sources to gain knowledge about cancer risk and reduce uncertainty. We describe and assess the relative importance of information sources about familial breast cancer at the individual, family, and healthcare provider levels influencing women's reporting they had enough information to speak with daughters about breast cancer. This outcome we refer to as being informed about breast cancer.

The Sister Study Cohort: Baseline Methods and Participant Characteristics.

Background: The Sister Study was designed to address gaps in the study of environment and breast cancer by taking advantage of more frequent breast cancer diagnoses among women with a sister history of breast cancer and the presumed enrichment of shared environmental and genetic exposures.

Objective: The Sister Study sought a large cohort of women never diagnosed with breast cancer but who had a sister (full or half) diagnosed with breast cancer.

Methods: A multifaceted national effort employed novel strategies to recruit a diverse cohort, and collected biological and environmental samples and extensive data on potential breast cancer risk factors.

Two years follow-up of an open-label pilot study of treatment with rituximab in patients with early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Following results in open-label studies of rituximab in patients with systemic sclerosis, a Belgian three-centre initiative was launched to explore safety and efficacy of rituximab in early, diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc).

Methods: Open-label study of 17 patients with early dcSSc, treated with two courses of rituximab, at month 0 and 6. Clinical examination, lung function testing, echocardiography, disease activity score (DAS) and functional status were performed at baseline and over 24 months of follow-up.