Environmental triggers for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: unravelling the known and unknown.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a heterogeneous group of rare connective tissues diseases that usually share the common feature of immune-mediated muscle or lung injury. Whereas their pathogenesis is widely recognised as multifactorial, the specific triggers initiating their onset remain largely elusive. Factors such as infections, inhalants, or geoclimatic variables are implicated, yet due to the limitations inherent in studies involving small and non-homogeneous cohorts, findings often appear fragmented and inconclusive.

The Economic Impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Patients with Systemic Autoimmune Diseases During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The present work aimed to estimate the economic impact of PTSD following COVID-19 in a population of patients affected by systemic autoimmune disease (SAD) using a cost-of-illness approach and accounting for the perspective of society.

Methods: Considering data collected from SAD patients enrolled in a specialized outpatient clinic in the Tuscany region, Italy, generalized linear models and LASSO logistic regression were used to evaluate the impact of PTSD on costs and its relevance as a possible predictor of being a high-cost patient, respectively.

Results: Considering 301 SAD patients, 161 (51.

Anifrolumab in Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Real-World, Multicenter Study.

Objective: To report real-world experience on the use of anifrolumab (ANI) in refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: The present study is a multicenter, retrospective study involving 9 Italian SLE referral centers participating in a compassionate use program for the use of ANI in adult patients with active SLE in whom all the available treatment choices failed, were not tolerated, or were contraindicated. At baseline and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment, overall and organ-specific disease activity, flares, daily glucocorticoid (GC) dose, and adverse events were recorded.

Disease evolution and organ damage accrual in patients with stable UCTD: a long-term monocentric inception cohort.

Objectives: Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTDs) are systemic autoimmune conditions that cannot be diagnosed nor classified as defined CTD; the majority maintains an undifferentiated profile (stable UCTD, sUCTD) over time. Data on long-term outcomes of sUCTD are lacking.

Methods: Retrospective longitudinal analysis of an inception cohort of 141 patients with sUCTD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic stress symptoms in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The COVID-19 outbreak led to an increase in mental disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in the general population and especially in high-risk populations such as patients with rheumatologic conditions. Although these latters are considered vulnerable to developing PTSD, few specific data have been particularly reported in the framework of the pandemic. The aim of the present study was to investigate PTSD and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in a sample of patients with systemic autoimmune disease (SAD), followed in the framework of a prospective observational study during the pandemic.

The Reporting of Somatic Sensory Training Interventions in Individuals After a Stroke Is Suboptimal: A Systematic Review and Meta-research Study.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review is to assess adherence to the "template for intervention description and replication" checklist among all published randomized controlled trials of sensory retraining strategies for patients with a history of stroke.

Methods: Medline, the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database were investigated, without time restrictions, until September 1, 2021. In addition, a search for additional studies was carried out using the included studies' reference list.

Exercise for Depressive Symptoms in Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of physical exercise in improving depressive symptoms in Parkinson disease (PD).

Data Source And Study Selection: We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) following a prespecified protocol guidance (PROSPERO CRD42021243142). Two independent authors searched for studies in MEDLINE, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Embase, PsycINFO, and Sports Discus from database inception to June 2022.

Self-Reported Anxiety and Depression in a Monocentric Cohort of Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Analysis of Prevalence, Main Determinants, and Impact on Quality of Life.

Aims Of The Study: To analyze the prevalence of self-reported anxiety and depression in a monocentric cohort of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE); to study the main determinants and the impact on quality of life (QoL).

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study including adult outpatients with SLE. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed: indices of disease activity (SELENA-SLEDAI); damage (SLICC-DI); comorbidities and concomitant therapies.

The effectiveness of median nerve electrical stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness: a systematic review.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of median nerve electrical stimulation on consciousness level in subjects with disorders of consciousness.

Methods: Electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and PEDro, as well as manual search and gray literature were searched from inception until May 2019. We included only randomized controlled trials.

One year in review 2020: systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a relapsing-remitting course that can affect various organs or systems, leading to a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. In the past year, many studies have been published on SLE, providing a significant advancement in disease knowledge and patient management. The aim of this review is to summarise the most relevant scientific contributions on SLE pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and comorbidities, biomarkers and treatment strategies published in 2019.

One year in review 2020: vasculitis.

Systemic vasculitides are a group of diseases that could potentially affect any organ with heterogeneous clinical manifestations that usually depend on the size of the most involved vessels. These diseases could be associated with a relevant burden of mortality and morbidity if not early recognised and treated. Moreover, even if they are usually rare diseases, their incidence and prevalence seem to be increasing in the last decade, partially because of improved awareness and management of vasculitis from physicians.

Correction to: Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Belimumab in Patients with Refractory SLE: a Review of Observational Clinical-Practice-Based Studies.

The following changes are made for this article: (1.) Maddalena Larosa's given name and surname were inadvertently interchanged. The authorgroup section is now corrected.

Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Belimumab in Patients with Refractory SLE: a Review of Observational Clinical-Practice-Based Studies.

To date, belimumab is the only biological drug approved for the treatment of patients with active refractory SLE. We compared and critically analyzed the results of 11 observational clinical-practice-based studies, conducted in SLE referral centers. Despite the differences in endpoints and follow-up duration, all studies remarked that belimumab provides additional benefits when used as an add-on to existing treatment, allowing a higher rate of patients to reach remission and to taper or discontinue corticosteroids.