Fibroblast-like synoviocyte targeting antibodies are associated with failure to reach early and sustained remission or low disease activity after first-line therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To discover antibody biomarkers that can predict a lack of response to first-line therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Two RA cDNA phage display libraries were screened for novel antibodies in baseline RA sera from the Care in early RA (CareRA) trial, differentiating between patients who did or did not reach remission after first-line therapy (n=20 each). Antibody reactivity to identified University Hasselt (UH)-RA antigens was validated in baseline samples from 136 additional CareRA participants.

Local application of melatonin associated or not to xenogeneic material, in critical defects of rat calvaria.

Melatonin (MLT) is a hormone that can stimulate bone formation and inhibit bone resorption, among other functions. Aim: To evaluate the effect on new bone formation of MLT applied locally to critical defects created in the calvaria of rats, compared to the effect of Bio-Oss® xenogeneic bone substitute (BO), by analyzing histomorphometry, microtomography and gene expression. Materials and Method: Two critical defects (5.

Treat-to-target fixed dose rituximab retreatment versus fixed interval retreatment with disease activity-guided rituximab dose optimisation for patients with rheumatoid arthritis: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled superiority trial focusing on long-term disease impact (RITUXERA).

Background: The optimal retreatment strategy with rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains a point of discussion. Depending on local guidelines, rituximab can either be administered at fixed intervals or when losing disease control, balancing therapeutic effectiveness with drug overexposure. However, treatment based on loss of disease control may significantly affect patients' lives, provoking uncertainty and potentially leading to progressive joint damage.

Intrinsic Proteolytic Activities from Cancer Cells Are Sufficient to Activate Alkoxyamine Prodrugs and Induce Cell Death.

In search of better specificity and lower chances of resistance, protease-activatable alkoxyamine prodrugs to fight cancer have been proposed. These molecules are made of a peptide linked to an alkoxyamine. Proteolysis of the peptide converts the stable prodrug at 37 °C to a metastable alkoxyamine that spontaneously homolyzes into two free radicals: a stable nitroxide and a very reactive alkyl radical.

Lip repositioning as a complement to gummy smile treatment - A case report.

The aim of this case report was to present an alternative therapeutic combination involving lip repositioning (LR) in the correction of gummy smile (GS). This treatment is less invasive than orthognathic surgery and is highly acceptable to patients, using a modified technique that combines myotomy with the insertion of polyester threads as a physical barrier against relapse.

Effectiveness of methotrexate and bridging glucocorticoids with or without early introduction of a 6-month course of etanercept in early RA: results of the 2-year, pragmatic, randomised CareRA2020 trial.

Objectives: To investigate if patients with early rheumatoid arthritis responding insufficiently to initial methotrexate (MTX) and bridging glucocorticoids (GCs) could benefit from early but temporary etanercept introduction as a second remission-induction attempt.

Methods: CareRA2020 (NCT03649061) was a 2-year, open-label, multicentre, pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Treatment-naïve patients started MTX and GC bridging (COBRA-Slim: CS).

Peptide-Alkoxyamine Drugs: An Innovative Approach to Fight Schistosomiasis: "Digging Their Graves with Their Forks".

The expansion of drug resistant parasites sheds a serious concern on several neglected parasitic diseases. Our recent results on cancer led us to envision the use of peptide-alkoxyamines as a highly selective and efficient new drug against schistosome adult worms, the etiological agents of schistosomiasis. Indeed, the peptide tag of the hybrid compounds can be hydrolyzed by worm's digestive enzymes to afford a highly labile alkoxyamine which homolyzes spontaneously and instantaneously into radicals-which are then used as a drug against Schistosome adult parasites.

Strategies and outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use in peripartum patients: a single institution experience.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in peripartum patients is rare, and there is a gap in the literature on the outcomes and guidance on using ECMO in peripartum patients. This study describes ECMO strategies our institution uses for peripartum patients and reports outcomes of ECMO use in peripartum patients with respiratory and/or cardiac failure.

Methods: A case series of all peripartum patients, defined as pregnant or up to 6 weeks after delivery of an infant >20 weeks gestation, from 2018 to 2023 from a single center requiring ECMO support.

Effects of implementing a vaccination tool in the electronic medical record on vaccination coverage of patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The rising incidence of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) requires innovative management strategies, including effective vaccination. We aimed to assess the impact of an electronic medical record (EMR)-integrated vaccination tool on vaccination coverage among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), rheumatological and dermatological conditions.

Methods: A prospective observational study compared vaccination coverage before (2018) and after (2021) implementing the module.

Iron Deficiency Among Hospitalized Patients With Congestive Heart Failure.

Introduction: Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of intravenous (IV) iron when administered to patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and iron deficiency (ID). We aimed to better understand the adherence of treatment for ID among a population with CHF, with particular interest in high-risk groups not often studied due to inadequate recruitment.

Methods: A retrospective chart review at our institution was conducted from January 1, 2012, to July 7, 2021.

Patients' and rheumatologists' perceptions on dose reduction of rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The recommended dose of a rituximab course for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) consists of two infusions of 1000 mg with a 2-week interval. Evidence is growing that a lower dose could be as effective. We aimed to investigate patients' and rheumatologists' perceptions on dose reduction of rituximab.

Hybrid Peptide-Alkoxyamine Drugs: A Strategy for the Development of a New Family of Antiplasmodial Drugs.

The emergence and spread of drug-resistant parasites shed a serious concern on the worldwide control of malaria, the most important tropical disease in terms of mortality and morbidity. This situation has led us to consider the use of peptide-alkoxyamine derivatives as new antiplasmodial prodrugs that could potentially be efficient in the fight against resistant malaria parasites. Indeed, the peptide tag of the prodrug has been designed to be hydrolysed by parasite digestive proteases to afford highly labile alkoxyamines drugs, which spontaneously and instantaneously homolyse into two free radicals, one of which is expected to be active against .

Efficacy of Intravenous Iron in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction and Iron Deficiency: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials.

Background: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) provided a focused update to the 2021 Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure, now providing a 1A recommendation for intravenous iron in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and iron deficiency (ID). However, the findings from randomized controlled trials (RCT) are mixed. This systematic review of RCTs aims to provide an update and synthesize the evidence addressing the association of intravenous iron with patient-based outcomes in patients with HFrEF and ID.

Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding Rates in Patients with Heart Disease.

Objective: To evaluate racial disparities in breastfeeding rates in patients with heart disease.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort of pregnant patients with maternal cardiac disease managed by a Cardio-Obstetrics program. Patients self-identifying as Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Non-Hispanic White (NHW), who attended ≥ 1 prenatal visit at the Cardio-Obstetrics Program and delivered at the same hospital between March 2015 and June 2019 were included.

To flare or not to flare: patients' and rheumatologists' perceptions on the on-flare retreatment strategy of rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Several retreatment strategies exist for rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In some countries, reimbursement criteria require a loss of disease control for rituximab retreatment. Understanding the patients' and rheumatologists' perceptions regarding this retreatment strategy would be informative in identifying the optimal treatment administration schedule.

Patient-physician discordance impairs outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis through less consistent treat-to-target implementation.

Objectives: We aimed to assess whether patient-physician discordance regarding disease activity affects T2T-implementation and clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This was an analysis of the 2-year T2T-guided trial Care in early RA (CareRA). During year 1, DMARD escalations were mandated by the protocol when DAS28-CRP was >3.

Critical-size defects reconstruction with four different bone grafts associated with e-PTFE membrane: A histomorphometric experimental in vivo study.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the newly formed bone and the remnant biomaterial by comparing four different bone grafts used to treat critical-size defects, associated or not with the non-resorbable membrane.

Materials And Methods: Two calvaria critical-size bone defects were created in 50 male Wistar rats. They were divided into blood (G1), autogenous (G2), bioglass (G3), hydroxyapatite (G4), and xenograft (G5) groups, associated or not with e-PTFE.

Survival analysis from the INCREASE study in PH-ILD: evaluating the impact of treatment crossover on overall mortality.

Objective: A post-hoc analysis of the INCREASE trial and its open-label extension (OLE) was performed to evaluate whether inhaled treprostinil has a long-term survival benefit in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD).

Methods: Two different models of survival were employed; the inverse probability of censoring weighting (IPCW) and the rank-preserving structural failure time (RPSFT) models both allow construction of a pseudo-placebo group, thereby allowing for long-term survival evaluation of patients with PH-ILD receiving inhaled treprostinil. Time-varying stabilised weights were calculated by fitting Cox proportional hazards models based on the baseline and time-varying prognostic factors to generate weighted Cox regression models with associated adjusted HRs.

Efficacy of Decision Aids in The Use of Left Ventricular Assist Device in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials.

Although left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation can improve survival in patients with end-stage heart failure, it is not without risk. Numerous complications are possible, and durable support requires substantial lifestyle changes. The use of various knowledge-assessment tools may allow for more informed patient decisions.

Biomechanical and histomorphometric analysis of osseodensification drilling versus conventional technique: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to search the literature for the answer to the following questions. In human studies: Does the osseodensification technique increase the resonance frequency analysis given in implant stability quotient value and the insertion torque value compared to the conventional technique? In animal studies: Does the osseodensification technique increase implant stability quotient, bone-to-implant contact, and bone area fraction occupancy values over the conventional technique?

Data Sources: A search for studies was carried out in eight databases until August 2021. Out of the 447 publications found, 11 were included.

Long-term stability of gingival margin and periodontal soft-tissue phenotype achieved after mucogingival therapy: A systematic review.

Background: The aim of this systematic review was two-fold: (i) to evaluate the long-term (≥5 years) stability of the gingival margin position, keratinized tissue width (KTW) and gingival thickness (GT) in sites that underwent root coverage (RC) or gingival augmentation (GA); and (ii) to assess the influence of different local variables on the long-term stability of dental and gingival tissues.

Materials And Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs reporting short-term (i.e.