Different prevalence and spectrum of malignancy between Chinese patients and American patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a comparative study.

Objective: To characterize the epidemiological characteristics of malignancy in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) American patients and investigate their associated factors.

Methods: Data were collected from a real-world Chinese RA population and American patients with RA from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. The prevalence and subtypes of malignancy and their potential associated factors were investigated in both populations.

[Clinical characteristics of overlapping syndromes of low muscle mass in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their impact on physical function].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of overlapping syndromes of low muscle mass in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their impact on physical function.

Methods: Consecutive patients with RA were recruited from September 2019 to April 2024 at Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital. Clinical data including disease acti-vity, physical function and radiographic assessment were collected.

Cross-sectional associations of low body mass index and being underweight with joint damage in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To characterize BMI in Chinese patients with RA US patients and examine its association with joint damage in Chinese patients.

Methods: Each of the 1318 patients from a real-world Chinese RA population was first stratified by gender and then individually age-matched with one American RA patient from the US National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 1999-2018. Data on BMI, bilateral hand radiographs and risk factors at enrolment were collected but radiographs were unavailable for the American patients.

Association of serum concentrations of remnant cholesterol with incident cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A real-world data from 2001 to 2022.

Background: Remnant cholesterol (RC) promotes cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population, but its role among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients remains unknown. We aimed to investigate circulating RC levels associated with incident CVD among Chinese patients with RA.

Methods: A total of 1018 RA patients free of baseline CVD were included and followed up in a prospective RA CVD cohort from 2001 to 2022.

Geriatric nutrition risk index: a more powerful index identifying muscle mass loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To explore the association of geriatric nutrition risk index (GNRI), a traditional albumin-body weight calculation, with myopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compare its ability to identify myopenia with protein indicators.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out based on a Chinese RA cohort. Clinical data and protein indicators (including albumin, globulin, albumin to globulin ratio, prealbumin, hemoglobin) were collected.

Muscle mass loss is associated with physical dysfunction in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Muscle mass loss is common in long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim was to explore the prevalence and effects of RA disease characteristics in patients with early RA.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out based on a Chinese RA cohort and control subjects.

Prevalence and influence of hypouricemia on cardiovascular diseases in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Serum uric acid (SUA) acts as an antioxidant and abnormally low SUA may raise the risk of developing atherosclerotic disorders. There is a U-shaped association between SUA with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in general population. However, the prevalence of hypouricemia and its influence on CVDs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear.

Myokine myostatin is a novel predictor of one-year radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Associations between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and reduced skeletal muscle have been studied, and we firstly reported myopenia independently predict one-year radiographic progression in RA. Myokine myostatin can negatively regulate skeletal muscle mass and promote osteoclast differentiation. However, there is no report about their relationships in RA patients.

Development and validation of equations for conversion from DAS28ESR and DAS28CRP to the SDAI in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28) with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28ESR), DAS28 with C-reactive protein (DAS28CRP), and simplified disease activity index (SDAI) are widely used to assess disease activity as low, moderate, or high or in remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, these indicators can generate inconsistent results, influencing treatment decisions and limiting comparisons across studies. We aimed to establish equations for conversion from DAS28ESR and DAS28CRP to SDAI.

Association Between Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study of Chinese Cohort.

Background: The nomenclature from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is considered to identify more cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks in the general population. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) carry an excess risk for CVD. However, the prevalence of MAFLD and its relationship with CVD risks in RA have not been reported.

Elevated serum cholesterol levels are associated with proteinuria over 0.5 g/day in premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) commonly occurs in premenopausal women and is associated with elevated estrogen levels. Patients with SLE may have abnormal serum triglyceride (TG) levels, and lipid reportedly promotes kidney damage in patients with nephrosis. Since estrogen regulates lipid levels, we investigated the serum lipid levels of premenopausal women with SLE and their relationship with proteinuria.

Gasdermin-E Mediated Pyroptosis-A Novel Mechanism Regulating Migration, Invasion and Release of Inflammatory Cytokines in Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes.

Synovium fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) are important participants in the pathogenesis of synovitis and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Pyroptosis is a pro-inflammatory and cell lytic programmed cell death mechanism mediated by gasdermin (GSDM) family proteins. In this study, we demonstrated the increased expression of GSDME and increased levels of GSDME-mediated pyroptosis in RA synovial tissues.

Addition of Fibroblast-Stromal Cell Markers to Immune Synovium Pathotypes Better Predicts Radiographic Progression at 1 Year in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate if addition of fibroblast-stromal cell markers to a classification of synovial pathotypes improves their predictive value on clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Active RA patients with a knee needle synovial biopsy at baseline and finished 1-year follow-up were recruited from a real-world prospective cohort. Positive staining for CD20, CD38, CD3, CD68, CD31, and CD90 were scored semiquantitatively (0-4).

Euphoesulatin A prevents osteoclast differentiation and bone loss via inhibiting RANKL-induced ROS production and NF-κB and MAPK signal pathways.

Euphoesulatin A (Eup A), a new jatrophane diterpenoid isolated from the Euphorbia esula L. (Euphorbiaceae), was reported to inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. However, the underlying mechanism and the effect in osteoporosis mouse model are still unclear.

Low expression of estrogen receptor β in renal tubular epithelial cells may cause hyperuricemia in premenopausal patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We investigated the impact of estrogen receptor (ER) expression in renal tubular epithelial cells on serum uric acid (UA) levels in premenopausal patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thirty patients underwent renal biopsy: 18 with SLE (LN group) and 12 with IgA nephritis (IgAN group). ERs (ERα and ERβ) in renal tubular epithelial cells were measured using immunohistochemistry.

Neglected extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis patients with normal body mass index: reduced skeletal muscle overlapping overfat.

Background: Chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can induce reduced muscle mass (myopenia) and ectopic fat deposition probably showing normal body mass index (BMI). We aimed to investigate their body composition (BC) characteristics and clinical significance.

Methods: BMI and BC were collected in consecutive RA patients and control subjects.

Reduced skeletal muscle independently predicts 1-year aggravated joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Numerous cross-sectional studies have reported the associations between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and reduced skeletal muscle. We firstly explored the dynamic change of skeletal muscle and its effect on RA clinical outcomes in a real-world prospective cohort.

Methods: Consecutive RA patients were treated according to the treat-to-target strategy and completed at least 1-year follow up.

A novel function of artesunate on inhibiting migration and invasion of fibroblast-like synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Introduction: Anti-malarial drug artesunate can suppress inflammation and prevent cartilage and bone destruction in collagen-induced arthritis model in rats-suggesting it may be a potent drug for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy. We aimed to investigate its effect on the invasive property of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from patients with RA.

Methods: Synovial tissues were obtained by closed needle biopsy from active RA patients, and FLS were isolated and cultured in vitro.

Impaired Tip60-mediated Foxp3 acetylation attenuates regulatory T cell development in rheumatoid arthritis.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), imbalanced T cells subsets play a critical role in sustaining chronic inflammatory responses in the synovium. Naïve T cells in RA patients undergo maldifferentiation, including an increase in the effector Th1/Th17 lineage and a reduction in regulatory T (Treg) cells. Upon stimulation, naïve CD4CD45RO T cells from RA patients exhibited insufficient expression of Foxp3, which induced a deficiency in Tregs production and an imbalance of Treg/Th17 differentiation.

Activation of the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Coactivator 1β/NFATc1 Pathway in Circulating Osteoclast Precursors Associated With Bone Destruction in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Activation of osteoclastogenesis at the bone site in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well established. The mechanisms by which circulating osteoclast precursors contribute are still unclear. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1β (PGC-1β) is implicated in transcriptional regulation of osteoclastogenesis in mouse models.

Myopenia is associated with joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The link between body mass index (BMI) and disease characteristics in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains controversial. Body composition (BC) has been more frequently recommended to be used instead of BMI for more accurate assessment. Our study aimed to investigate the characteristics of BC in RA patients and their associations with disease characteristics.

A Novel Hypothesis on Excessive Activation of Residual B Lymphocytes in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Concurrent with Aseptic, Erosive Polyarthritis.

The aim of this study was to report aseptic, erosive polyarthritis in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), which is quite different from the vastly more common nonerosive form. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patient were isolated. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the proportion and function of lymphocytes.

Presence of hepatitis B virus in synovium and its clinical significance in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Previous studies have revealed that hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may be related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but there are no studies on the presence of HBV antigens or nucleic acid in synovium from patients with RA with HBV infection. In the present study, we investigated the presence of HBV in the synovium and its clinical significance in RA.

Methods: Fifty-seven consecutive patients with active RA (Disease Activity Score 28-joint assessment based on C-reactive protein ≥ 2.

Deleterious role of hepatitis B virus infection in therapeutic response among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a clinical practice setting: a case-control study.

Background: Previous studies have revealed that hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while there are no further clinical studies regarding the role of HBV infection in RA progression during disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. Here, we aimed to explore the influence of HBV infection on radiographic and clinical outcomes among patients with RA in a clinical practice setting.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients with RA (Disease Activity Score 28-joint assessment based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) ≥2.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Bilateral Hands Is More Optimal Than MRI of Unilateral Hands for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: To explore the advantages of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of bilateral hands in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Consecutive patients with active RA were recruited for clinical assessments, radiographs, and MRI of bilateral hands. Bilateral hands were scanned simultaneously on 3.