The clinical characteristics of pharyngeal and laryngeal lesions in anti-MDA5-positive dermatomyositis patients.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics of pharyngeal and laryngeal lesions in patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibodies-positive dermatomyositis (anti-MDA5-positive DM).

Methods: Serological indicators of 131 anti-MDA5-positive DM patients were analysed. All 35 patients with pharyngeal and laryngeal symptoms underwent electronic laryngoscopy examinations.

Clinical associations with thyroid disease in ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency and the clinical relevance of thyroid disease in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients.

Methods: A total of 305 AAV patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between October 2010 and December 2023 were analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were compared between AAV patients with and without thyroid disease.

Angiotensin-(1-7) Modulates the Warburg Effect to Alleviate Inflammation in LPS-Induced Macrophages and Septic Mice.

Purpose: Inflammation triggers a metabolic shift in macrophages from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. This metabolic reprogramming worsens inflammation and cascades into organ damage. Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)], a small molecule, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties.

The clinical characteristics of subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated 5 positive dermatomyositis associated with interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics of subcutaneous emphysema (SE) and mediastinal emphysema (ME) occurring in patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis associated with interstitial lung disease (anti-MDA5-positive DM-ILD).

Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 117 anti-MDA5-positive DM-ILD patients were admitted to our hospital. All patients underwent an assessment of autoantibodies, serum ferritin levels, and lung high-resolution CT scans.

Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice via restoration of Nox4-Nrf2 redox homeostasis.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease characterized by diffuse alveolar inflammation, fibroblast differentiation, and the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. During the progression of PF, redox imbalance caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production can result in further destruction of lung tissue. At present, data on the role of NADPH oxidase-4 (Nox4)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) redox imbalance in PF are limited.

Cause analysis of conversion to biologics in spondyloarthritis patients with poor response to conventional treatment.

Objective: We sought to investigate the reasons why spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients failed to respond to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) and the influences of different initial cDMARDs on the likelihood of a switch to biologics.

Methods: SpA patients were divided into a conventional drug maintenance group and a biologics conversion group to determine the causes of conversion to biologics. Then, we divided all patients into three groups according to different initial cDMARDs, NSAID monotherapy, NSAID + (sulfasalazine or thalidomide) double combination, and NSAID + sulfasalazine + thalidomide triple combination therapy groups, to clarify the influence of initial treatment on later conversion to biologics.

Measurement of superoxide dismutase: clinical usefulness for patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Objective: To investigate the clinical usefulness of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) measurement in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, demographic data, serum SOD levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), ANCA, organ involvement, and outcomes were analyzed for 152 AAV patients hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. Meanwhile, the serum SOD levels of 150 healthy people were collected as the control group.

Analysis of Risk Factors and the Establishment of a Predictive Model for Thrombosis in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

Purpose: To explore the risk factors for thrombi occurring in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) and establish a risk prediction model to better predict the risk of thrombosis in patients with AAV.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 117 AAV patients who had been hospitalized in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between October 2010 and December 2021. For all patients, we recorded demographic characteristics and clinical data, analyzed the risk factors for thrombosis in AAV patients and then developed a risk prediction model.

Evaluating the value of superoxide dismutase in anti-MDA5-positive dermatomyositis associated with interstitial lung disease.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) among patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody (MDA5)-positive DM.

Method: In this retrospective study, serum SOD of 90 health check-ups were tested in our hospital. A total of 94 hospitalized patients with anti-MDA5-positive DM had ILD.

Evaluation of Prognostic Factors in Anti-MDA5 Antibody-Positive Patients in Chongqing, China: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: The aim of our study was to elucidate the potential prognostic factors in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5)-positive patients.

Methods: We divided anti-MDA5-positive patients into death and survival groups. The differences in clinical characteristics were analyzed.

Clinical Characteristics of Lipid Metabolism in Untreated Patients with Anti-MDA5 Antibody-Positive.

Objective: Clinical characterization of lipid metabolism in untreated patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibodies-positive (anti-MDA5).

Methods: Body-mass index (BMI), autoantibodies, lipid levels, and serum ferritin levels in 57 anti-MDA5 patients were determined in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.

Results: Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) levels were significantly lower in deceased group than in the survival group (P < 0.

Characteristics of Ang-(1-7)/Mas-Mediated Amelioration of Joint Inflammation and Cardiac Complications in Mice With Collagen-Induced Arthritis.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disabling disease with a high incidence that is regularly accompanied by cardiovascular complications. Several studies have suggested that renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is closely associated with RA. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] and its Mas receptor agonist (AVE0991) on joint inflammation and cardiac complications in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model.

The ACE2-Ang-(1‑7)-Mas Axis Modulates M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization to Relieve CLP-Induced Inflammation via TLR4-Mediated NF-кb and MAPK Pathways.

Purpose: Angiotensin 1-7 [Ang-(1-7)] has been identified as an important anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic factor. This study determined how the ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas axis affected M1/M2 macrophage polarization and thus contributed to anti-inflammatory processes in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced inflammation model.

Materials And Methods: ELISA, western blotting, and qRT-PCR were used to verify that Ang-(1-7) decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines.

The characteristics of lymphocytes in patients positive for anti-MDA5 antibodies in interstitial lung disease.

Objective: The aim was to investigate the characteristics of blood lymphocytes in patients positive for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibodies (anti-MDA5+) in interstitial lung disease.

Methods: Thirty-eight anti-MDA5+ patients with interstitial lung disease were admitted to our hospital, and the lymphocyte count, lymphocyte subtypes and lung high-resolution CT were recorded. Some of the cases were examined by bone marrow aspiration.

Comparative analysis of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features.

Objective: This retrospective clinical study aimed to examine the similarities and differences between connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) and to identify the influencing factors of CTD-ILD, with a goal of early detection and active treatment of the disease.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 480 patients: 412 with CTD-ILD and 68 with IPAF. Demographic features, clinical characteristics, laboratory indicators, and chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging data were analyzed.

Clinical features of thirty-two patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibodies.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients positive for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibodies, and to analyse the potential pathogenesis of anti-MDA5 antibodies.

Methods: The clinical manifestations, serological tests, imaging features, treatments, and prognoses of 32 anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients diagnosed in the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from September 2015 to August 2018 were analysed.

Results: Of the 32 anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients, eleven patients were clinically diagnosed with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF), ten patients were diagnosed with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), six patients were diagnosed with dermatomyositis (DM) and five patients were diagnosed with anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS).

Anti-inflammatory effects of Ang-(1-7) via TLR4-mediated inhibition of the JNK/FoxO1 pathway in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

Targeting inflammation is considered a challenging pharmacological strategy to prevent or delay the development of inflammatory diseases, such as severe asthma, Crohn's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. The angiotensin-(1-7) -Mas axis ((Ang-(1-7)-Mas axis) was confirmed to antagonize the effects of the Angiotensin II-AT receptor axis and the latter is reported to regulate cardiovascular and renal function, as well as contribute to the inflammatory process. In this paper, we aim to explore the crucial effect of Ang-(1-7) in inflammation and disclose the mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophages RAW264.

Efficacy and safety of down-titration versus continuation strategies of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with low disease activity or in remission: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of down-titration (dose reduction/tapering) strategies compared with continuation of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who achieved and maintained low disease activity or remission.

Methods: We searched the following electronic database up to March 2016: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and conference proceedings of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League against Rheumatism (EULAR). Our meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of RA patients with low disease activity or in remission that compared down-titration treatment with continuation treatment.