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.

Bone Mass, Microstructure, and Strength Can Discriminate Vertebral Fracture in Patients on Long-Term Steroid Treatment.

Context: Measurement of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was able to predict fracture risk. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) yields additional information about volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), microarchitecture, and strength that may increase our understanding of fracture susceptibility.

Objective: To ascertain whether vBMD, microarchitecture, and estimated bone strength derived from HR-pQCT can discriminate vertebral fractures in patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) independent of aBMD.

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.

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.

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.

The effects of golimumab on subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in ankylosing spondylitis—a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Objective: Our aim was to ascertain the efficacy of golimumab compared with placebo in the prevention of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in AS.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study was performed in which AS patients were treated with golimumab (n = 20) and placebo (n = 21) for 12 months. Patients from the placebo group who failed to achieve a 20% response to Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria (ASAS20) at 6 months received open-label golimumab.

Infliximab is associated with improvement in arterial stiffness in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis -- a randomized trial.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) with infliximab (IFX) compared with MTX alone in the prevention of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A randomized, open-label study in which early RA patients with active disease were treated with MTX alone (n = 20) and MTX plus IFX (n = 20) for 6 months. Patients were assessed every 3 months.

Serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products levels and aortic augmentation index in early rheumatoid arthritis--a prospective study.

Objective: We assessed whether a serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product (sRAGE) levels were associated with a progression of carotid atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness indexes in a cohort of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: RA patients with symptoms onset <2 years were recruited. Vascular assessments and serum sRAGE levels were measured at baseline and 1 year later.

Increased organ damage associated with deterioration in volumetric bone density and bone microarchitecture in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus on longterm glucocorticoid therapy.

Objective: To evaluate bone quality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were undergoing longterm glucocorticoid (GC) therapy, and to focus on the correlation between bone quality and organ damage.

Methods: Seventy-eight female patients with SLE and organ damage taking longterm GC, and 72 age-matched SLE patients without damage taking longterm GC were recruited for study. Clinical variables of interest included disease activity, cumulative organ damage (by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index; SDI), major organ involvement (musculoskeletal damage and neuropsychiatric damage, etc.

Geriatric consultation service in emergency department: how does it work?

Background: Hong Kong is having a significant prevalence of geriatric patients who usually require admission after presentation to the hospital through emergency departments. The geriatric consultation programme 'We Care' aims at lowering acute geriatric medical admission.

Objectives: The study aims at analysing the impact of the geriatric consultation service on the acute medical admission, and to study the characteristics and outcome of geriatric patients.

Construct validity of the modified numeric rating scale of patient global assessment in psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: The construct validity of the patient global health assessment (PGA) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has not been analyzed, despite its common use. We evaluated the construct validity of a numeric rating scale (NRS) of the PGA in PsA.

Methods: Patients with PsA who fulfilled the ClASsification for Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR) criteria were recruited at a tertiary referral center.

Evaluation of spinal mobility measurements in predicting axial psoriatic arthritis.

Axial psoriatic arthritis (PsA) represents a more severe form of disease than peripheral PsA. We evaluate the usefulness of various spinal mobility measurements in predicting a radiographically defined axial PsA. A cross-sectional study on PsA patients with spinal mobility measurement performed.

Testing scaling assumptions, reliability and validity of medical outcomes study short-form 36 health survey in psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: The Medical Outcome Survey short-form 36 (SF-36) is widely used in studies of PsA. We test the fundamental scaling assumptions for the validity of SF-36 eight scales and two summary scores in PsA.

Methods: We tested the five scaling criteria according to the International Quality of Life Assessment project and the validity of the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores.

Socioeconomic burden of psoriatic arthritis in Hong Kong: direct and indirect costs and the influence of disease pattern.

Objective: To estimate the direct costs and indirect costs of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in Hong Kong.

Methods: A retrospective cost-of-illness study was performed on 125 patients with PsA. Participants completed questionnaires on demographics, employment status, and out of pocket expenses.

Evaluation of the CASPAR criteria for psoriatic arthritis in the Chinese population.

Objective: To evaluate and validate the Classification of Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) criteria for PsA in a Chinese population.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively from consecutive Han Chinese clinic attendees with PsA and other chronic inflammatory arthritis. Subjects were classified according to Moll and Wright, European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) criteria for PsA, Vasey and Espinoza or CASPAR criteria.

Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared with healthy controls, and to identify clinical and biologic markers for atherosclerotic disease in this patient population.

Methods: Subclinical atherosclerosis was defined as the average of intima-media thickness (IMT) measures in the common carotid artery, bifurcation, and internal carotid artery on both sides above the 95th percentile of healthy controls. IMT was measured using carotid ultrasonography in 82 consecutive PsA patients and 82 healthy controls matched on age, sex, and ethnicity.

Comparison of 4 functional indexes in psoriatic arthritis with axial or peripheral disease subgroups using Rasch analyses.

Objective: Rasch item response theory analysis is essential in evaluating measurement tools in specific disease cohorts. We compared the performance of 4 functional indexes in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in axial or peripheral disease subgroups.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in a single center.