Immunogenicity and safety of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in adult patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases and in the general population: a multicentre study.

Introduction: Vaccination represents a cornerstone in mastering the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on immunogenicity and safety of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) are limited.

Methods: A multicentre observational study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of the two-dose regimen BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in adult patients with AIIRD (n=686) compared with the general population (n=121).

Immunogenicity and safety of vaccination against seasonal 2012 influenza virus among patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of vaccination against seasonal influenza in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis (Pso) patients.

Methods: Patients with PsA or Pso and healthy controls were vaccinated with the Sanofi Pasteur vaccine recommended by the WHO in 2012. Clinical and laboratory assessments were performed on the day of the vaccination and 4-6 weeks later.

Prevalence of TNF-α blocker immunogenicity in psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: The longterm use of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α blockers is limited by the formation of neutralizing antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, immunogenicity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has not been investigated in depth. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence and significance of TNF-α blocker immunogenicity in PsA.

Learning and memory-related brain activity dynamics are altered in systemic lupus erythematosus: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Memory impairment is prevalent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); however, the pathogenesis is unknown.

Methods: We studied 12 patients with SLE without clinically overt neuropsychiatric manifestations and 11 matched healthy controls, aiming to characterize neural correlates of memory impairment, using structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The paradigm consisted of three encoding and free-recall cycles, allowing characterization of dynamics along consecutive retrieval attempts.

Vaccination against influenza in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of the influenza virus vaccine in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients compared to healthy controls.

Methods: Twenty-six SSc patients and 16 healthy controls were vaccinated with a trivalent influenza subunit vaccine (H1N1 A/Brisbane/59/2007(TGA 2008/81B) (H1N1), H3N2 A/Uruguay/716/2007 (A/Brisbane/10/2007-like, NIBSC8/124) (H3N2) and B B/Brisbane/60/2008 (TGA 2009/82/B) (B)). The subjects were evaluated on the day of vaccination and 6 weeks later.

Simvastatin induces apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

Background: Statins (3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors) exert favorable effects on lipoprotein metabolism, but appeared to possess anti-inflammatory properties among others, as suggested by their ability to inhibit collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Their activity in fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS) has not yet been studied.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of varying doses of simvastatin on apoptosis of FLS.

Pneumococcal vaccination of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: effects on generation of autoantibodies.

Objectives: To assess the effect of vaccination against streptococcus pneumoniae on the generation of autoantibodies in patients with SLE.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with SLE were vaccinated against streptococcus pneumoniae. Assessment was performed the day of vaccination and 2 months later and included evaluation of disease activity using the SLEDAI, serum levels of ESR, CRP, C3 and C4.