High inflammatory burden predicts cardiovascular events in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a long-term follow-up study.

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients are at higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) than the general population, partly due to consequences of inflammation or its treatment. But relationship between inflammation in axSpA and cardiovascular events (CVE) is unknown.

Objectives: To examine whether inflammatory burden over time can predict CVE independent of baseline CV risk factors in axSpA patients.

Serum Calprotectin Level Is Independently Associated With Carotid Plaque Presence in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis.

Background: Whether calprotectin could play a role in augmenting cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) remains uncertain. The aim of this study is to elucidate the association between serum calprotectin level and subclinical atherosclerosis in patient with PsA.

Method: Seventy-eight PsA patients (age: 52 ± 10 years, 41 [52.

Association of C-reactive protein and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with cardiovascular events in patients with psoriatic arthritis: a time-dependent Cox regression analysis.

Aims: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis due to underlying inflammation. Whether inflammatory burden and drugs used to suppress inflammation over time are associated with cardiovascular (CV) events remained unclear. This study aims to examine the time-varying effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the use of drugs, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, on the risk of CV events independent of traditional CV risk factors in PsA patients.

Effects of RANKL inhibition on promoting healing of bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis using HR-pQCT: a 2-year, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of denosumab on erosion healing at 2-4 metacarpophalangeal (MCP) head as determined by high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with stable disease.

Methods: This was a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Patients with RA with disease activity score 28 joints (DAS28) ≤5.

The causal effect of interleukin-17 on the risk of psoriatic arthritis: a Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: To determine causal associations between genetically predicted TNF-α, IL-12p70 and IL-17 levels and risk of PsA.

Methods: The publicly available summary-level findings from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) was used to identify loci influencing normal physiological concentrations of TNF-α, IL-12p70 and IL-17 (n = 8293) among healthy individuals as exposure and a GWAS for PsA from the UK Biobank (PsA = 900, control = 462 033) as the outcome. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median and MR-Egger regression methods.

DAPSA, carotid plaque and cardiovascular events in psoriatic arthritis: a longitudinal study.

Objective: To examine whether Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) reflecting the inflammatory component of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can predict cardiovascular (CV) events independent of traditional CV risk factors and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: A cohort analysis was performed in patients with PsA who had been followed since 2006. The outcome of interest was first CV event.

Treat to target and prevention of subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriatic arthritis-which target should we choose?

Objective: PsA patients who achieved sustained minimal disease activity (sMDA) had less subclinical atherosclerosis progression. The vascular effects of achieving other potential treatment targets, including the PsA Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) and the Disease Activity in PsA (DAPSA) score, remained uncertain. This study aimed to compare the vascular effects of achieving different treatment targets in PsA patients.

Progressive structural bone changes and their relationship with treatment in patients with psoriatic arthritis: a longitudinal HR-pQCT study.

Background: Although the short-term effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibition on the structural changes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) have been reported, no studies have investigated the long-term structural changes in PsA patients receiving routine care. We reported longitudinal changes of erosions and enthesiophytes using HR-pQCT and their relationship with treatments in PsA patients over a 5-year period.

Methods: HR-pQCT examination at the second and third metacarpal heads (MCH2 and MCH3) was performed in 60 PsA patients at baseline and after 5 years.

Circulating miR-99b-5p as a novel predictor of erosion progression on high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography in early rheumatoid arthritis: A prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To compare micro RNA (miRNA) expression: (a) between healthy individuals and early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) patients with and without erosion on high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) at baseline; and (b) to explore whether these miRNAs could inform a signature predictive of erosion progression despite treatment with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs).

Methods: The second metacarpophalangeal head (MCP2) was scanned by HR-pQCT at baseline and 1 year in 117 ERA patients. We performed global profiling of 377 miRNAs in 10 ERA patients with and without erosion on HR-pQCT at baseline and six healthy controls.

Effect of Achieving Minimal Disease Activity on the Progression of Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Arterial Stiffness: A Prospective Cohort Study in Psoriatic Arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the effects of achieving minimal disease activity (MDA) on the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: A total of 101 consecutive patients with PsA were recruited for this prospective cohort study. All patients received protocolized treatment targeting MDA for a period of 2 years.

Effect of treat-to-target strategies on bone erosion progression in early rheumatoid arthritis: An HR-pQCT study.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of two tight-control treatment strategies aimed at simplified disease activity score [SDAI] remission (SDAI ≤ 3.3) compared to DAS28 remission (DAS28 < 2.6) on progression of bone erosions in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) patients using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT).

Effect of Treat-to-target Strategies Aiming at Remission of Arterial Stiffness in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of 2 tight control treatment strategies aiming at Simplified Disease Activity Score (SDAI) remission (SDAI ≤ 3.3) compared to 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) remission (DAS28 < 2.6) in the prevention of arterial stiffness in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Underestimation of Risk of Carotid Subclinical Atherosclerosis by Cardiovascular Risk Scores in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis.

Objective: To test the performances of established cardiovascular (CV) risk scores in discriminating subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA) in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Methods: These scores were calculated: Framingham risk score (FRS), QRISK2, Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE), 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk algorithm (ASCVD) from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)-recommended modified versions (by 1.5 multiplication factor, m-).

Increased prevalence of coronary plaque in patients with psoriatic arthritis without prior diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Objectives: To evaluate coronary atherosclerosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and control subjects using coronary CT angiography (CCTA).

Methods: Ninety consecutive patients with PsA (male: 56(62.2%); 50.

Repair of Bone Erosion in Rheumatoid Arthritis by Denosumab: A High-Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography Study.

Objective: To compare the bone healing effects of denosumab and alendronate in female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography.

Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Forty patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either subcutaneous denosumab (60 mg) once or oral alendronate (70 mg) weekly for 6 months.

Carotid plaque and bone density and microarchitecture in psoriatic arthritis: the correlation with soluble ST2.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients have increased risk of both atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. Previous studies revealed that IL-33/ST2 axis may be related to both conditions; however, these associations were never evaluated in a single patients' group. Here we explored the association among plasma levels of IL-33 and its decoy receptor soluble ST2 (sST2), carotid plaque determined by ultrasound, and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD)/microstructure of distal radius measured by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in 80 PsA patients (55% male; 53.

Cumulative inflammatory burden is independently associated with increased arterial stiffness in patients with psoriatic arthritis: a prospective study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine whether the cumulative inflammatory burden is associated with an increase in arterial stiffness in a prospective cohort of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients.

Methods: In total, 72 PsA patients were followed for a median of 6.5 years.

IL-33 and soluble ST2 levels as novel predictors for remission and progression of carotid plaque in early rheumatoid arthritis: A prospective study.

Objectives: To study the association between the baseline IL-33 and soluble ST2 (sST2) levels with disease remission and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) patients.

Methods: A total of 98 ERA patients were enrolled. Disease activity and the presence of carotid plaque were evaluated at baseline and 12 months later.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging of the wrist in rheumatoid arthritis: dedicated low-field (0.25-T) versus high-field (3.0-T) MRI.

Objective: To compare the assessment of wrist synovitis severity, synovial volume and synovial perfusion parameters on a dedicated low-field (0.25-T) to that of a high-field (3-T) whole-body MR system in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Twenty-one patients (mean age 50.

Plasma DNA aberrations in systemic lupus erythematosus revealed by genomic and methylomic sequencing.

We performed a high-resolution analysis of the biological characteristics of plasma DNA in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients using massively parallel genomic and methylomic sequencing. A number of plasma DNA abnormalities were found. First, aberrations in measured genomic representations (MGRs) were identified in the plasma DNA of SLE patients.

A pilot evaluation of Arthritis Self-Management Program by lay leaders in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis in Hong Kong.

The objectives of this paper are to evaluate the efficacy of a community-based lay-led Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP) among patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis and evaluate the effectiveness of "shared care collaboration" between hospital and community. We trained 17 lay leaders and recruited patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis via a new shared-care model between hospital rheumatology centers and community organizations. Participants were allocated to interventional group or a wait list control group.

Predictors of functional deterioration in Chinese patients with psoriatic arthritis: a longitudinal study.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) disease activities at baseline may determine physical function over time. There is no longitudinal data on course of physical function in PsA patients from Asia. We aim to describe variables associated with a deterioration of physical function in PsA in Chinese over a 6-year period.

Bone mineral density change in systemic lupus erythematosus: a 5-year followup study.

Objective: To determine changes of bone mineral density (BMD) over a 5-year period in a cohort of female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to identify factors predictive of BMD loss.

Methods: Our longitudinal study involved 125 female patients with SLE with a mean (SD) age of 46.5 years (10.

Alterations of bone density, microstructure, and strength of the distal radius in male patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control study with HR-pQCT.

In this cross-sectional study, we investigated volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), bone microstructure, and biomechanical competence of the distal radius in male patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study cohort comprised 50 male RA patients of average age of 61.1 years and 50 age-matched healthy males.