Lifestyle discussions facilitate self-management in RA: a qualitative study of patients' perceptions.

Background: Healthy lifestyle habits (regular physical activity, a healthy diet, no smoking and non-hazardous alcohol consumption) alongside pharmacological treatment can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, healthcare professionals in rheumatology care are urged to discuss lifestyle habits with all patients. The aim of this study was to explore patients' perceptions of lifestyle discussions in early rheumatology care.

Predictors at diagnosis for start of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate the relation between patient characteristics at rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis and subsequent initiation of treatment with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) or targeted synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARDs).

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting And Participants: Consecutive patients (N=330) with early RA (symptom duration <12 months) diagnosed at Skåne University Hospital, Malmö/Lund, Sweden, from 2012 to 2016, were included.

Serologic immunogenicity and safety of herpes zoster subunit vaccine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving Janus kinase inhibitors.

Objective: Patients with RA treated with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) are at increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ). The objective of this study was to investigate the serological immunogenicity and safety of the HZ subunit (HZ/su) vaccine in RA patients treated with JAKi, for which little is known.

Methods: RA patients treated with JAKi (n = 82) at the Department of Rheumatology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund and Malmö, Sweden, and healthy controls (n = 51) received two doses of the HZ/su vaccine (Shingrix).

Sustained Remission in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving Triple Therapy Compared to Biologic Therapy: A Swedish Nationwide Register Study.

Objective: To compare the real-life effectiveness of biologic therapy (a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug plus methotrexate [MTX]) versus triple therapy (MTX plus sulfasalazine plus hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine) for sustained remission of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: RA patients who were registered in the nationwide Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register between 2000 and 2012 and were receiving biologic or triple therapy as a first treatment strategy after MTX monotherapy were included. Sustained remission was defined as a Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) of <2.

Secular trends of sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis, a nationwide study in Sweden.

Objectives: The aim of this study of patients with RA in Sweden was to investigate secular trends in achieving sustained remission (SR), i.e. DAS28 <2.

Prevalence of sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis: impact of criteria sets and disease duration, a Nationwide Study in Sweden.

Objectives: The aims of this national study in Sweden of patients with RA were to: examine the prevalence of sustained remission (SR), that is, remission lasting for at least 6 months; compare the prevalence of SR in patients with early RA and established RA; study the timing of onset of and time spent in SR; and study possible predictors of SR.

Methods: Adult patients with RA included in the Swedish Rheumatology Quality registry were studied. The registry was searched for patients fulfilling remission criteria: DAS28-ESR, Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and ACR/EULAR remission for at least 6 months.

Rituximab in clinical practice: dosage, drug adherence, Ig levels, infections, and drug antibodies.

The objective of this study is to explore the following: (1) the impact of two different initial doses and cumulative 2-year dose of rituximab (RTX) on drug adherence and predictors of adherence to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in an observational clinical setting, (2) immunoglobulin levels (IgG/IgM/IgA) during repeated treatment and their relation to infections, and (3) development of anti-rituximab antibodies (ADA). All RA patients receiving RTX from January 2003 to April 2012 at the department were included. The initiating doses were 500 or 1000 mg intravenously days 1 and 15.

Sustained Remission Improves Physical Function in Patients with Established Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Should Be a Treatment Goal: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study from Southern Sweden.

Objective: It has been proposed that remission should be maintained throughout the course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, the evidence supporting this is limited. Physical function measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) is a major outcome in RA, and HAQ is shown to be one of the strongest predictors of longterm outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical function over a long time in patients with RA who achieved sustained remission (SR) compared with that of patients occasionally achieving remission [non-sustained remission (NSR)].

Sustained Remission in Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor-treated Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Objective: To study frequency, possible baseline predictors, timing, and duration of sustained remission [SR; defined as 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) < 2.6 for at least 6 mos] in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with different tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors [etanercept (ETN), infliximab (IFX), adalimumab (ADA)]. In addition, the aim was to compare (head-to-head) the effectiveness of individual drugs in patients receiving their first anti-TNF treatment.

[Constrictive pericarditis with severe heart failure - a case report and review of the literature].

Constricitve pericarditis is an uncommon condition, often of unknown etiology but can be caused by infections, such as tuberculosis, inflammation of the pericardium, radiation therapy or asbestos exposure. Constrictive pericarditis is characterized by fibrosis and often severe calcifications of the pericardial sac which eventually restricts normal diastolic filling of the heart. This consequently leads to a combination of left and right heart failure, often with prominent jugular venous distentsion, liver enlargement, peripheral edema and lethargy.

Middle lobe syndrome: a nationwide study on clinicopathological features and surgical treatment.

Introduction: Middle lobe syndrome (MLS) is a relatively uncommon lung disease that is characterized by damage to the middle lobe and often needs surgical intervention.

Objective: To study clinical, radiological and histological features of all patients who underwent surgical resection for MLS in Iceland over a 13-year period, including evaluation of surgical outcome.

Methods: Information on patients who underwent surgery of the right middle lobe in Iceland from 1984 to 2006 was obtained from a centralized diagnosis and pathology registry.

[Attitudes and knowledge on sexual matters among 16-year old teenagers].

Objective: Sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies are social and health issues among Icelandic teenagers and are more prevalent than in neighbouring countries. In 2001 knowledge and attitudes to sexual education, sexually transmitted disease and contraception among 16-year olds were investigated by questionnaire. Knowledge was defective.