Disease-specific definitions of new bone formation on spine radiographs: a systematic literature review.

Objectives: We aimed to explore the radiographic definitions of types of New Bone formation (NBF) by focusing on the terminology, description and location of the findings.

Methods: Three systematic literature reviews were conducted in parallel to identify the radiographic spinal NBF definitions for spondyloarthritis (SpA), Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) and Osteorathritis (OA). Study characteristics and definitions were extracted independently by two reviewers.

Anti-inflammatory effect of biologic therapy in patients with psoriatic disease: A prospective cohort FDG PET study.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in central vascular inflammation measured by FDG PET and myocardial blood flow reserve (MFR) determined by Rb PET following therapy with biologic agents for 6 months in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and/or cutaneous psoriasis (PsO) (group 1) and compare with PsO subjects receiving non-biologic therapy (group 2) and controls (group 3).

Methods And Results: Target-to-background ratio (TBR) by FDG PET in the most diseased segment of the ascending aorta (TBR) was measured to assess vascular inflammation. Rb PET studies were used to assess changes in left ventricular MFR.

Amplification of Inflammation by Lubricin Deficiency Implicated in Incident, Erosive Gout Independent of Hyperuricemia.

Objective: In gout, hyperuricemia promotes urate crystal deposition, which stimulates the NLRP3 inflammasome and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-mediated arthritis. Incident gout without background hyperuricemia is rarely reported. To identify hyperuricemia-independent mechanisms driving gout incidence and progression, we characterized erosive urate crystalline inflammatory arthritis in a young female patient with normouricemia diagnosed as having sufficient and weighted classification criteria for gout according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/EULAR gout classification criteria (the proband).

Limited added value of whole spine MRI in spondyloarthritis for disease activity assessment.

Objective: To evaluate the added value of whole spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for disease activity assessment in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Method: Spine and sacroiliac joint (SIJ) MRI scans requested by rheumatologists between 2012 and 2018 were screened retrospectively, and patients who had known diagnosis of AS or PsA were included, if the MRI was done for disease activity assessment. All MRI scans were reviewed by two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists independently, blinded to patients' diagnosis and to the other MRI.

Canadian Rheumatologists' Perspectives on Moderate Psoriatic Arthritis and Oligoarticular Psoriatic Arthritis.

Objective: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) substantially impairs quality of life. Clinical trials generally focus on polyarticular PsA, but less is known about the assessment and management of oligoarticular and moderate PsA. An online survey was conducted to determine Canadian rheumatologists' perspectives on the definition and treatment of oligoarticular and moderate PsA.

Accuracy of Physical Examination to Detect Synovial and Extra-Synovial Pathologies in Psoriatic Arthritis in Comparison to Ultrasonography.

We aimed to explore the accuracy of physical examination (PE) to detect the synovial and extra-synovial pathologies in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in comparison to ultrasonography (US). Twenty-nine PsA patients with hand pain were included in the study. A detailed PE of the hands was performed and US scans were performed for the joints, extensor and flexor tendons, and entheses of the second to fifth fingers of both hands.

Psoriasis is an independent risk factor for entheseal damage in axial spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: To understand whether psoriasis has disease modifying effects on disease features and/or severity of enthesitis and spine disease in axial SpA (axSpA).

Methods: Patients with a diagnosis axSpA were included. Demographics, patient and physician reported outcomes were collected.

Evidence that systemic therapies for psoriasis may reduce psoriatic arthritis occurrence.

Objectives: Contemporary biologic therapies for psoriasis are independently licensed for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Since skin disease generally predates PsA and PsA has a subclinical phase, we investigated the pattern of PsA evolution in psoriasis treated with biologic agents compared to other medications including oral therapy, topical agents or no treatments.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed in psoriasis patients with musculoskeletal symptoms referred for rheumatological assessment.

Comparison of Female Sexual Function Index in patients with psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls.

Objective: The aim of the recent study was to identify and compare the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) of three female populations: those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and healthy individuals.

Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, convenience sampling was used to recruit 50 female RA patients, 36 female PsA patients and 50 healthy women between June and September 2018.

Results: The mean ages of the RA patients, PsA patients and healthy controls were, respectively, 53.

What does evidence-based medicine tell us about treatments for different subtypes of psoriatic arthritis? A systematic literature review on randomized controlled trials.

Objective: PsA is a heterogeneous disease with various subtypes of joint manifestations, which can affect the homogeneity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The aim of this systematic literature review was to evaluate the inclusion criteria, demographics and outcomes of RCTs to see whether the whole spectrum of PsA was represented.

Methods: Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were screened for RCTs on the efficacy of any treatment for PsA up to 4 October 2016 to investigate the inclusion criteria, demographics, outcomes and efficacy.

Autoimmune arthritis in Ménière's disease: A systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: Successful management of patients with Ménière's disease (MD) involves understanding the pathophysiology of the disease and its comorbidities. The role of autoimmune diseases (AD) in MD remains unclear. The aim of this study was to further investigate the association between MD and AD.

Efficacy, Tolerability, and Safety of Cannabinoid Treatments in the Rheumatic Diseases: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: To assess the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of cannabinoids (phyto- and syntheto-) in the management of rheumatic diseases.

Methods: Multiple databases, including Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL, were searched. Randomized controlled trials with outcomes of pain, sleep, quality of life, tolerability (dropouts due to adverse events), and safety (serious adverse events), with comparison of cannabinoids with any type of control, were included.

Rheumatologists lack confidence in their knowledge of cannabinoids pertaining to the management of rheumatic complaints.

Background: Arthritis pain is reported as one of the most common reasons for persons using medical herbal cannabis in North America. "Severe arthritis" is the condition justifying legal use of cannabis in over half of all authorizations in Canada, where cannabis remains a controlled substance. As champions for the care of persons with arthritis, rheumatologists must be knowledgeable of treatment modalities both traditional and non-traditional, used by their patients.

The prophylactic use of C1 inhibitor in hereditary angioedema patients undergoing invasive surgical procedures: a retrospective study.

Background: Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant condition characterized by episodic angioedema, which may be triggered by invasive procedures and surgery. C1 inhibitor (C1 INH) was approved in the United States and Canada in 2009 and 2010, respectively, for the treatment of acute attacks. Most recently in April 2013, it was approved in Europe for short-term prophylaxis (STP), prior to medical, dental, or surgical procedures, to prevent HAE attacks in both children and adults.

Celecoxib modifies glomerular basement membrane, mesangium and podocytes in OVE26 mice, but ibuprofen is more detrimental.

The role of COXs/PGs (cyclo-oxygenases/prostaglandins) in diabetic kidneys remains unclear. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that inhibit COXs/PGs are known for their renal toxicity, and COX-2 inhibitors worsen cardiovascular outcomes in susceptible individuals. Given the renal controversies concerning COX-2 inhibitors, we compared the effect of chronic NSAIDs (non-selective, ibuprofen; COX-2-selective, celecoxib) on diabetic kidneys in OVE26 mice from 8 weeks of age.