Comparative safety of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for cardiovascular outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To assess the comparative safety of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi), non-TNFi, and Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) using US administrative claims data.

Methods: We performed a cohort study using MerativeTM Marketscan® Research Databases (2012-2021) of individuals aged 18-64 years with RA initiating b/tsDMARD treatment. We used Cox proportional hazard models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CI for developing MACE within 2 years of b/tsDMARD initiation, adjusting for potential confounders.

Association of Therapies for Axial Spondyloarthritis on the Risk of Hip and Spine Fractures.

Objective: People with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) have increased fracture risk relative to the general population, possibly related to those with chronic inflammation. We assessed the impact of treatment with receiving tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) and nonbiologic conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) on hip and spine fractures in patients with axSpA, relative to receiving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study using 2006 to 2021 data from the Merative MarketScan Database.

Use of Biologic or Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs and Cancer Risk.

Importance: The Oral Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial Surveillance demonstrated an increased cancer risk among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) taking tofacitinib compared with those taking tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis). Although international cohort studies have compared cancer outcomes between TNFis, non-TNFi drugs, and Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKis), their generalizability to US patients with RA is limited.

Objective: To assess the comparative safety of TNFis, non-TNFi drugs, and JAKis among US patients with RA (ie, the cancer risk associated with the use of these drugs among these patients).

Disparities in Time to Diagnosis of Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: Radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) has a 7-year average diagnostic delay. Although the effects of sex or gender on time to diagnosis have been evaluated, the role of social determinants of health remains understudied. We assessed whether time from initial clinical documentation of r-axSpA symptoms to r-axSpA diagnosis (diagnostic delay) varies based on sex, race, ethnicity, and/or the presence of social needs.

Prologue: Spondyloarthritis Unmet Research Needs Conference IV.

The Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) and the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) convened a conference on the campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on September 28 and 29, 2023, to identify unmet needs in spondyloarthritis (SpA) research. The conference featured presentations by experts in areas of disease endotypes, pain, innovative imaging in SpA, health disparities in rheumatic diseases, and therapeutics. Members of the conference planning committee moderated the sessions and led the development of manuscripts summarizing recommendations to address unmet research needs.

Enhancing Equity in Clinical Research: A Multifaceted Proposal for Spondyloarthritis.

Clinical research advances medical knowledge and improves healthcare outcomes. However, disparities in research participation hinder progress. The Unmet Research Needs in Spondyloarthritis Conference IV highlighted critical insights and strategies to enhance equity in clinical research.

Improved Pain, Morning Stiffness, and Fatigue With Bimekizumab in Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From the Phase III BE MOBILE Studies.

Objective: To assess the effect of bimekizumab on pain, morning stiffness, and fatigue in patients with nonradiographic and radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in the phase III BE MOBILE studies (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03928704 and NCT03928743).

Methods: Patients were randomized to bimekizumab 160 mg or placebo every 4 weeks; and all patients received bimekizumab from week 16.

The association of TNF inhibitor use with incident cardiovascular events in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Background: Whether tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) use is cardioprotective among individuals with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA), who have heightened cardiovascular (CV) risk, is unclear. We tested the association of TNFi use with incident CV outcomes in r-axSpA.

Methods: We identified a r-axSpA cohort within a Veterans Affairs database between 2002 and 2019 using novel phenotyping methods and secondarily using ICD codes.

Centralized Interactive Phenomics Resource: an integrated online phenomics knowledgebase for health data users.

Objective: Development of clinical phenotypes from electronic health records (EHRs) can be resource intensive. Several phenotype libraries have been created to facilitate reuse of definitions. However, these platforms vary in target audience and utility.

Year in Review in Axial Spondyloarthritis Clinical Research and Guidelines: SPARTAN 2023 Annual Meeting Proceedings.

Purpose Of Review: To highlight high impact clinical publications in spondyloarthritis from May 2022 to April 2023 that were summarized and presented at the SPARTAN annual meeting in May 2023.

Recent Findings: Publications included updated guidelines on management of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) by ASAS-EULAR and development of a modified Juvenile Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Index (JSpADA). Definitions were published for MRI lesions of the spine in axSpA and active and structural sacroiliac (SI) joint lesions in juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSpA).

Swept-wavelength null polarimetry for highly sensitive birefringence laser scanning microscopy.

We have recently demonstrated a high-speed null polarimeter [Opt. Express30, 18889 (2022)10.1364/OE.

Systematic errors in a swept-wavelength null polarimeter for weak linear retardance measurements.

We recently developed a high speed null polarimeter [Opt. Express30, 18889 (2022)OPEXFF1094-408710.1364/OE.

Mortality and Ankylosing Spondylitis in the US population: leading causes and associated factors.

Objective: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the axial skeleton. Recent studies have shown that mortality risk is higher in AS patients and that it is possibly related to disease activity and duration. Our aim was to investigate the leading causes and factors associated with mortality in hospitalized AS patients in the USA.

The role of upadacitinib for the treatment of axial spondyloarthritis.

Janus kinase inhibitors were recently approved for treatment of axial spondyloarthritis following clinical trials demonstrating benefit for symptom control. Upadacitinib treatment resulted in Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society 40 response improvement (defined as at least 40% improvement and an absolute improvement in global assessment of disease activity, patient assessment of back pain and other indices) in 45-52% of trial participants with axial spondyloarthritis. We review the data for efficacy and safety of upadacitinib in this patient population.

Trends in Fracture Rates Over Two Decades Among Veterans With Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Objective: There is an increased risk of fracture in individuals with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) compared to the general population, possibly due to systemic inflammatory effects. The use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) may reduce fracture risk by inhibiting inflammation. We assessed fracture rates in AS versus non-AS comparators and whether these rates have changed since the introduction of TNFi.

Pilot Study of Low-dose Naltrexone for the Treatment of Chronic Pain Due to Arthritis: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is commonly used to control pain and other symptoms, especially in patients with autoimmune diseases, but with limited evidence. This study tests the efficacy of LDN in reducing chronic pain in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and inflammatory arthritis (IA), where existing approaches often fail to adequately control pain.

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial, each patient received 4.

Delayed timing of physical therapy initiation increases the risk of future opioid use in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a real-world cohort study.

Objective: We assessed whether late versus early initiation of physical therapy (PT) was related to greater risk of future opioid use in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who receive PT.

Methods: We used Commercial and Medicare Advantage claims data from 1999 to 2018 from American adults with incident knee OA referred for PT within 1 year of diagnosis. We categorised people as opioid naïve or opioid experienced based on prior prescriptions.

Characteristics associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes in people with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis: data from the COVID-19 PsoProtect and Global Rheumatology Alliance physician-reported registries.

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with severe COVID-19 in people with psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: Demographic data, clinical characteristics and COVID-19 outcome severity of adults with PsO, PsA and axSpA were obtained from two international physician-reported registries. A three-point ordinal COVID-19 severity scale was defined: no hospitalisation, hospitalisation (and no death) and death.

Social Media Use Among Members of the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society: Results of a Web-Based Survey.

Background: The use of social media in health care may serve as a beneficial tool for education, information dissemination, telemedicine, research, networking, and communications. To better leverage the benefits of social media, it is imperative to understand the patterns of its use and potential barriers to its implementation in health care. A previous study in 2016 that investigated social media use among young clinical rheumatologists (≤45 years) and basic scientists showed that there was substantial social media use among them for social and professional reasons.

Swept-wavelength null polarimeter for high-speed weak anisotropy measurements.

Null-polarimeters provide the best sensitivity to anisotropy measurements and so far have been developed for the detection of small optical activities. This paper revisits null polarimetry through an original configuration based on the concept of spectrally encoded light polarization, in order to measure, with unprecedented speed, either linear or circular retardance with the same degree of sensitivity . Using passive polarization optics and a high speed wavelength swept laser source, the achieved single-pass sensitivity was 55nrad/Hz and 45nrad/Hz for respectively linear and circular retardance considering a minimum acquisition time of 10 µs.

Gastric cancer multicellular spheroid analysis by two-photon microscopy.

Gastric cancer (GC) is highly deadly. Three-dimensional (3D) cancer cell cultures, known as spheroids, better mimic tumor microenvironment (TME) than standard 2D cultures. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), a major cellular component of TME, promote or restrain cancer cell proliferation, invasion and resistance to drugs.