Correlations between changes in cytokines and clinical outcomes for early phase (proof of concept) trials in active diffuse systemic sclerosis using data from an imatinib study.

Objective: Data from a small study testing imatinib to treat SSc were used to determine if cytokine changes were related to differences in clinical parameters to model future early phase trials pairing cytokine changes and clinical parameters.

Methods: Plasma and punch skin biopsy specimens collected at baseline and 6 months were analysed for levels of 26 fibrotic and inflammatory cytokines using multiplexed immunoassays and ELISA. Seven of nine patients on active treatment had paired data.

Quality assurance study of the use of preventative therapies in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in early inflammatory arthritis: results from the CATCH cohort.

Objective: To characterize steroid use and compliance with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) guidelines within a large early inflammatory arthritis cohort.

Methods: Using the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH) database, patients with inflammatory arthritis on glucocorticoids (oral, IA and i.m.

Low prevalence of work disability in early inflammatory arthritis (EIA) and early rheumatoid arthritis at enrollment into a multi-site registry: results from the catch cohort.

We determined the prevalence of work disability in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and undifferentiated early inflammatory arthritis (EIA) patients at first enrollment into the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH) who met the 2010 ACR criteria versus those not meeting criteria, to determine the impact of meeting new criteria on work disability status. Data at first visit into the cohort were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association of other variables in our database with work disability.

Imatinib in active diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: Results of a six-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept pilot study at a single center.

Objective: To better understand the feasibility of using imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, to treat active diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc).

Methods: We performed a 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept pilot study of imatinib in patients with active dcSSc. Data on safety, modified Rodnan skin thickness scores (MRSS), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores, patient's and physician's global assessments (100-mm visual analog scale), and biomarkers in serum and skin biopsy samples were collected.

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study of probiotics in active rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: To examine the effect of probiotics as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A sample size of 30 subjects was calculated to determine a moderate effect.

Material/methods: A three month double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed using probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 capsules administered orally.

Clinical features and prognosis of late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: results from the 1000 faces of lupus study.

Objective: There is controversy whether older-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with a different, more benign disease course than in younger-onset SLE. Our objective was to characterize the clinical features and prognosis of late-onset SLE in a large, multicenter cohort.

Methods: We studied adult-onset lupus in the 1000 Canadian Faces of Lupus cohort (n = 1528) of whom 10.