Tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections in Patients with Spondyloarthritis: A Population-Based Study.

: Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), while nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) encompass a group of mycobacterial species that are distinct from the MTB complex and leprae. Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic inflammatory diseases with shared clinical characteristics and is treated with biological agents; however, their use may elevate the risk of MTB and NTM infections. This study aimed to compare the incidence and risk of MTB and NTM infections in patients with SpA, including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), using a population-based approach.

Cancer risks in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and the effects of biologic agents: a population-based study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct a population-based analysis of the malignancy risks of patients with AS.

Methods: A total of 1796 patients with AS and 7184 age- and sex-matched controls (1:4 ratio) were selected from the Korea National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database. Data of patients diagnosed with AS (code M45) according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10th edition, between 2002 and 2019, were reviewed.

Factors for achieving target serum uric acid levels after initiating urate-lowering therapy in patients with gout: results from the ULTRA registry.

Achieving target serum uric acid (SUA) levels is important in gout management. Guidelines recommend lowering SUA levels to < 6 mg/dL; however, many patients fail to reach this target, even with uric acid-lowering therapy (ULT). This study investigated clinical characteristics of target SUA achievers among Korean patients with gout.

Effectiveness of antidepressant repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in a patient with refractory psychogenic dysphagia: A case report and review of literature.

Background: Dysphagia is a common condition in older as well as young patients, and a variety of treatments have been reported depending on the cause. However, clinicians are challenged when the cause is unclear. This is the case with psychogenic dysphagia, which has typically been treated with supportive psychotherapy, medication, swallowing exercise, and dysphagia rehabilitation therapy.

Systemic sclerosis and risk of bronchiectasis: a nationwide longitudinal cohort study.

Background: The association between systemic sclerosis and the development of bronchiectasis is unclear. This study aimed to compare the risk of bronchiectasis between individuals with systemic sclerosis and those without using a nationwide longitudinal dataset.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service dataset between 2010 and 2017, we identified 4845 individuals aged ≥ 20 years with systemic sclerosis and 24,225 without systemic sclerosis who were matched 1:5 by age and sex.

Isolated Tuberculous Myositis: A Systematic Review and Multicenter Cases.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and associated underlying conditions of isolated tuberculous myositis (ITBM), a rare extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: A systematic literature search and a multicenter survey were performed using a triangulation strategy. Data from the identified ITBM cases were extracted and analyzed to determine the underlying conditions, clinical presentations, treatments, and outcomes.

Nationwide Trends in Osteoporosis in Koreans With Disabilities From 2008 to 2017.

This study examined the 10-year trends in the prevalence of osteoporosis according to disability grade and type compared with those without disabilities in South Korea. We linked national disability registration data with the National Health Insurance claims data. Age- and sex-standardized prevalence of osteoporosis were analyzed from 2008 to 2017 according to sex, disability type, and disability grade.

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Autoimmune-Like Hepatitis Induced by COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, BNT162b2): A Case Report and Literature Review.

Widespread use of vaccinations worldwide in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in various side effects. Here, we presented a 27-year-old man with autoimmune-like hepatitis after the first dose of the BNT162b2 (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine and reviewed previous reports. He presented with sweating, febrile sensations, and general weakness.

Association between SYVN1 and SEL1 genetic polymorphisms and remission in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with TNF-α inhibitors: a machine learning approach.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a severe chronic inflammatory condition that affects joint synovium. Suppressor/enhancer of lin-12-like (SEL1L)-Synoviolin 1 (SYVN1)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) is highly associated with RA development. Although targeting SEL1L-SYVN1-mediated ERAD can be beneficial, studies that evaluate the association between polymorphisms in their genes and remission from the disease in RA patients taking tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors have yet to be carried out.

Gout as a risk factor for osteoporosis: A Korean population-based study.

Uric acid acts as both an antioxidant and a pre-oxidant that induces oxidative stress; thus, it plays a paradoxical role in inflammation. However, the effect of gout, a hallmark of hyperuricemia, on osteoporosis remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between gout and osteoporosis.

Effects of RETN polymorphisms on treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors and utilization of machine-learning algorithms.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of polymorphisms in RETN on remission in RA patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors. In addition, machine learning algorithms were trained to predict remission. Ten single-nucleotide polymorphisms were investigated.

Impact of Clinical Association Between Gout and Dementia: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Korea.

Objective: Hyperuricemia might have neuroprotective or neurodegenerative effects on dementia via oxidative stress or inflammatory response regulation. Few studies have explored the association of hyperuricemia or gout with dementia. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between gout and dementia in Korea.

Patient perspectives on biological treatments for inflammatory arthritis: A multi-center study in Korea.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the patient's perception of the use of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and provide a basis for physicians to understand the patient's perspective.

Patients And Methods: Between December 2018 and June 2019, a total of 307 patients (162 males, 145 females; mean age: 48 years; range, 18 to 81 years) were included in this investigator-initiated, multi-center, observational, and cross-sectional study in six rheumatology centers. We asked patients using bDMARDs to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) to complete a questionnaire regarding major considerations and satisfaction with bDMARDs, preferred administration route, knowledge about bDMARDs, experiences of adverse events, non-adherence, and expectations of their healthcare provider.

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Inflammatory Myositis Induced by COVID-19 Vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2): A Case Report.

As more individuals were coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinated, unexpected side effects appeared. Herein, we present the case of a 30-year-old man with myopathy in both extremities after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) COVID-19 vaccine. Symptoms, swelling and pain, started from the proximal upper and lower extremities and extended to the distal parts.

Clinical Association between Gout and Parkinson's Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Korea.

: This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between gout and Parkinson's disease (PD) in Korea. : Overall, 327,160 patients with gout and 327,160 age- and sex-matched controls were selected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database. PD incidence was evaluated by reviewing NHIS records during the period from 2002 to 2019.

Association between dementia and systemic rheumatic disease: A nationwide population-based study.

Objectives: Systemic rheumatic disease is characterized by autoimmunity and systemic inflammation and affects multiple organs. Few studies have investigated whether autoimmune diseases increase the risk of dementia. Herein, we evaluate the relationship between systemic rheumatic disease and dementia through a population-based study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) claims database.

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with spondyloarthritis: A meta-analysis.

Aim: Cardiovascular (CV) risk and mortality associated with spondyloarthritis (SpA) remain controversial. Herein, we performed a meta-analysis of the latest large-scale population-based studies to demonstrate the elevated risk of CV disease and mortality in patients with SpA than in the general population.

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched systematically for population-based studies published between January 1997 and September 2019.

Performance of the 2015 American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism Classification Criteria for Gout in Korean Patients with Acute Arthritis.

Background: We aimed to assess the performance of the 2015 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria for gout in Korean patients with acute arthritis and to compare the performance of the ACR/EULAR criteria to that of other sets of criteria for gout classification.

Methods: Patients with acute arthritis who underwent diagnostic arthrocentesis at one of the four participating rheumatology clinics were consecutively enrolled between February and December 2017. Crystal-proven gout was diagnosed upon confirming the presence of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in patients with a clinical impression of gout as judged by the rheumatologist.

Association between socioeconomic status and comorbidities among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results of a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: We examined the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and comorbidity distribution among patients with RA.

Methods: Information on comprehensive health status of 1088 RA patients (weighted n = 612 303) was obtained from the 2007-2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. SES components were household equivalence income, education and area of residence.

Circulating Semaphorin 4D as a Marker for Predicting Radiographic Progression in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) and semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) are molecules which regulate immune responses as well as bone remodeling process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of Sema3A and Sema4D and to investigate their clinical significance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The serum levels of Sema3A and Sema4D were measured in 130 patients with RA and 65 sex- and age-matched healthy individuals.