Efficacy and safety of digital nerve block for pain management during sharp debridement of digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: A prospective observational study.

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis and vascular abnormalities, often leading to the development of digital ulcers (DUs). DUs are painful and debilitating, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Effective pain management during debridement is crucial, yet there is no consensus on the optimal approach.

Four-year effectiveness, safety and drug retention rate of secukinumab in psoriatic arthritis: a real-life Italian multicenter cohort.

Objectives: to evaluate over a 48-month follow-up period the: 1) long-term effectiveness and safety; 2) drug retention rate (DRR); 3) impact of comorbidities and bDMARDs line on MDA and DAPSA remission/low disease activity (LDA) of secukinumab in a multicenter Italian cohort of PsA patients.

Methods: Consecutive PsA patients receiving secukinumab were followed prospectively in Italian centers between 2016 and 2023. Disease characteristics, previous/ongoing treatments, comorbidities and follow-up duration were recorded.

Effects of tofacitinib on bone turnover markers and bone modulators in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by bone loss. It is unclear whether JAK inhibitors can attenuate bone loss in RA by modulating bone metabolism. The main objective of our study is to investigate the effects of tofacitinib on serum levels of bone turnover markers and modulators.

Glucocorticoid sparing effect of Janus Kinase inhibitors compared to biological Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs in rheumatoid arthritis, a single-center retrospective analysis.

Background: Glucocorticoid sparing in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment is crucial to minimizing adverse effects associated with long-term use. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) could potentially offer a more potent glucocorticoid-sparing effect than biological Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (bDMARDs).

Material And Methods: This is a single-center retrospective analysis of RA patients treated with JAKi or bDMARDs.

Four-year real-world experience of secukinumab in a large Italian cohort of axial spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate in a real-life Italian multicenter cohort of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) (1) the 4-year effectiveness and safety of secukinumab, (2) the drug retention rate (DRR), and (3) the impact of the line of bDMARDs treatment, subtype of axSpA, and sex on achieving low disease activity (LDA) and very low disease activity (VLDA).

Methods: Consecutive axSpA patients receiving secukinumab between 2016 and 2023 were prospectively evaluated. Data on disease characteristics, previous/ongoing treatments, comorbidities, and follow-up duration were collected.

Depression as a possible determinant of fatigue in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: Fatigue is a common comorbidity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), often reported also by those in clinical remission or with moderate disease activity. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of fatigue in patients with axSPA, and to investigate possible non-disease-related determinants, with a special focus on depression.

Methods: Patients with axSpA were assessed using the Chalder's Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ) for fatigue, and the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) for depression.

Comparison and potential determinants of health-related quality of life among rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and spondyloarthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the health-related quality of life scores among rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and spondyloarthritis and to evaluate socio-demographic and clinical determinantes of quality of life across diseases.

Methods: The sample comprised 490 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 198 with psoriatic arthritis, and 119 with spondyloarthritis who completed a series of health examinations and self-reported questionnaires. Quality of life was evaluated using the Short-Form 36 Health Survey, disease activity by DAS28-CRP, DAPSA, and ASDAS-CRP (for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and spondyloarthritis, respectively), depression and anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Changes in bone turnover markers and bone modulators during abatacept treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes bone loss, only partly related to inflammation. The impact of RA treatments on bone metabolism and their ability to mitigate bone loss remains uncertain. The primary goal of our study was to examine the influence of abatacept on serum levels of markers and regulators involved in bone turnover.

Clinical and psychological characteristics associated with negative beliefs and concerns about treatment necessity in rheumatic diseases.

Identifying factors that influence problematic beliefs and behaviors related to pharmacotherapy may be useful for clinicians to improve the patients' adherence. The study aims to assess patients' beliefs about the necessity and concerns regarding pharmacotherapy in rheumatic diseases and attitude styles, and to investigate the association between clinical factors and negative beliefs about medication. A sample of 712 patients affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis was enrolled.

Comparable long-term retention rates and effects on bone mineral density of denosumab treatment in patients with osteoporosis with or without autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases: real-life data.

Objectives: To investigate whether concomitant autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs) represent a risk factor for denosumab discontinuation and to explore other possible predictors.

Design: This is a real-life retrospective study conducted at our centre on consecutive patients who started treatment with denosumab from January 2014 to October 2021.

Methods: Data on patients' characteristics, denosumab prescriptions and reason for discontinuation were collected from their medical electronic records.

Coping strategies, emotional distress and perceived disease severity in a cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a mediation analysis.

Objectives: Few data are available on the role of emotional distress as a possible mediator of the relationship between coping strategies and the Patient Global Assessment (PGA). This study aims to investigate, in a large cohort of patients affected by RA, the relationship between specific copying strategies and PGA, and the role of emotional distress as a mediator.

Methods: A total of 490 patients with RA completed a set of standardized assessments including the self-reported PGA, the Coping Orientation to the Problems Experienced (COPE-NVI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Real-life short-term effectiveness of anti-osteoporotic treatments: a longitudinal cohort study.

Introduction: Randomized clinical trials have shown that anti-osteoporotic treatments can increase bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce the incidence of fragility fractures. However, data on the real-life effectiveness of anti-osteoporotic medications are still scarce.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study on women at high risk of fracture.

Effectiveness and safety of secukinumab in axial spondyloarthritis: a 24-month prospective, multicenter real-life study.

Objectives: To evaluate, in a multicentric Italian cohort of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients on Secukinumab (SEC) followed for 24 months: (1) the long-term effectiveness and safety of SEC; (2) the drug retention rate and low disease activity (LDA) measured as Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) < 4/Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) < 2.1 and very low disease activity (VLDA) measured as BASDAI < 2/ASDAS < 1.3; (3) any differences in outcomes according to line of biological treatment (naïve/non-naïve), gender (male/female), subtype of axSpA [radiographic axSpA (r-axSpA)/non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA)].

Association between long-term exposure to air pollution and immune-mediated diseases: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: Environmental air pollution has been associated with disruption of the immune system at a molecular level. The primary aim of the present study was to describe the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and risk of developing immune-mediated conditions.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study on a nationwide dataset of women and men.

Depression is associated with increased disease activity and higher disability in a large Italian cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Depression is a quite common comorbidity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is thought to influence its severity. This study aims to estimate, in a large cohort of Italian patients with RA, the prevalence of depression and to investigate the clinical correlates of depression in terms of disease activity and disability.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study enrolling 490 outpatients with RA (80% female, mean age 59.

Pharmacodynamics of Oral Cholecalciferol in Healthy Individuals with Vitamin D Deficiency: A Randomized Open-Label Study.

Comparative pharmacodynamic (PD) analyses on different dosing schedules for cholecalciferol supplementation are limited. This was an open-label, randomized, parallel-group study involving 75 healthy individuals deficient in vitamin D (baseline 25OHD < 20 ng/mL) receiving oral cholecalciferol with three different dosing regimens: Group A: 10,000 IU/day for 8 weeks followed by 1000 IU/day for 4 weeks; Group B: 50,000 IU/week for 12 weeks and Group C: 100,000 IU every other week for 12 weeks. Regulators of calcium and phosphate homeostasis, bone turnover markers and Wnt inhibitors were measured at baseline, Day 28, 53, 84, and 112.

Environmental Air Pollution Is a Predictor of Poor Response to Biological Drugs in Chronic Inflammatory Arthritides.

Background: There is increasing evidence that environmental air pollution is associated with the development of chronic inflammatory arthritides (CIA). The role of air pollutants on the biological treatment (biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs [bDMARDs]) response of CIA is still unclear.

Methods: We retrieved longitudinal data on patients affected by CIA on biological therapies and on the daily concentration of air pollutants in the Verona area.

Effectiveness and safety of secukinumab in 608 patients with psoriatic arthritis in real life: a 24-month prospective, multicentre study.

Objectives: To evaluate in a multicentric Italian cohort of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) on secukinumab followed for 24 months: (1) the long-term effectiveness and safety of secukinumab, (2) the drug retention rate and minimal disease activity (MDA), (3) differences in the outcomes according to the biological treatment line: biologic-naïve patients () versus multifailure () patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients with PsA receiving secukinumab were evaluated prospectively. Disease characteristics, previous/ongoing treatments, comorbidities and follow-up duration were collected.

Golimumab effectiveness in biologic inadequate responding patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis in real-life from the Italian registry GISEA.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of golimumab in biologic inadequate responder (IR) patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Spondyloarthritis (SpA), and Psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: We analyzed 1424 patients on golimumab from the GISEA registry. Drug survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis in biologic-naïve, 1-biologic IR, ≥2-biologics IR patients.

Disease Activity and Anticitrullinated Peptide Antibody Positivity Predict the Worsening of Ventricular Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: This prospective study was designed to analyze the incidence and the factors associated with impairment in left ventricular systolic function (LVSF) overtime in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) without overt cardiac disease. In particular, we verified the hypothesis that a relationship between worsening of LVSF and markers of RA disease activity exists.

Methods: One hundred forty outpatients with RA without overt heart disease underwent clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic evaluation at baseline and after 35 (interquartile range [IQR] 23-47) months of follow-up.

Usefulness of CHA DS -VASc score to predict mortality and hospitalization in patients with inflammatory arthritis.

Background: Inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are disorders at increased risk of morbidity and mortality for which a validated prognostic tool for facilitating clinical management is needed. CHA DS -VASc (congestive heart failure/hypertension/age diabetes/stroke/vascular disease/age/sex category) score was initially conceived and used to estimate thromboembolic risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and then successfully applied in community populations with sinus rhythm. We tested CHA DS -VASc-score as a prognosticator of adverse outcomes in patients in sinus rhythm with RA/AS/PsA.

Italian recommendations for influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in adult patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Objectives: To provide evidence-based recommendations for vaccination against influenza virus and S. pneumoniae in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs).

Methods: A Consensus Committee including physicians with expertise in rheumatic and infectious diseases was established by two Italian scientific societies, Società Italiana di Reumatologia (SIR) and Società Italiana di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali (SIMIT).

Treatment with secukinumab in multi-comorbid patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Patients with psoriasis may be at higher risk of . infection. Interleukin (IL)-17 acts in the prevention of those infections; it is also involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Permanent Discontinuation of Glucocorticoids in Polymyalgia Rheumatica Is Uncommon but May Be Enhanced by Amino Bisphosphonates.

Objective: The duration of treatment with glucocorticoids (GC) in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is often longterm. Amino bisphosphonates (N-BP) are used in PMR for the prevention of GC-induced osteoporosis, but they coulsd also have immunomodulatory properties. Whether they can be effective as an adjuvant treatment in PMR is unknown.

Titer-Dependent Effect of Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies On Systemic Bone Mass in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a key feature both local and systemic. Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) have recently been found to directly induce differentiation and activation of osteoclasts and therefore contribute to periarticular bone loss. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of ACPA on systemic bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with established RA.