Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Combined with Multivariate Analysis for Fingerprinting Clinically Similar Fibromyalgia and Long COVID Syndromes.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic central sensitivity syndrome characterized by augmented pain processing at diffuse body sites and presents as a multimorbid clinical condition. Long COVID (LC) is a heterogenous clinical syndrome that affects 10-20% of individuals following COVID-19 infection. FM and LC share similarities with regard to the pain and other clinical symptoms experienced, thereby posing a challenge for accurate diagnosis.

Portable Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy Combined with Chemometrics to Diagnose Fibromyalgia and Other Rheumatologic Syndromes Using Rapid Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling.

The diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia (FM) have relied heavily on subjective reports of experienced symptoms coupled with examination-based evidence of diffuse tenderness due to the lack of reliable biomarkers. Rheumatic disorders that are common causes of chronic pain such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, osteoarthritis, and chronic low back pain are frequently found to be comorbid with FM. As a result, this can make the diagnosis of FM more challenging.

Early Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Combined with Chemometrics.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic muscle pain disorder that shares several clinical features with other related rheumatologic disorders. This study investigates the feasibility of using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a fingerprinting approach to diagnose FM and other rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), osteoarthritis (OA), and chronic low back pain (CLBP). Blood samples were obtained on protein saver cards from FM ( = 83), non-FM ( = 54), and healthy (NC, = 9) subjects.

Metabolic Fingerprinting for the Diagnosis of Clinically Similar Long COVID and Fibromyalgia Using a Portable FT-MIR Spectroscopic Combined with Chemometrics.

Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC or Long COVID) is characterized by lingering symptomatology post-initial COVID-19 illness that is often debilitating. It is seen in up to 30-40% of individuals post-infection. Patients with Long COVID (LC) suffer from dysautonomia, malaise, fatigue, and pain, amongst a multitude of other symptoms.

Rapid Biomarker-Based Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Related Rheumatologic Disorders by Portable FT-IR Spectroscopic Techniques.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM), one of the most common illnesses that cause chronic widespread pain, continues to present significant diagnostic challenges. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid vibrational biomarker-based method for diagnosing fibromyalgia syndrome and related rheumatologic disorders (systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)) through portable FT-IR techniques. Bloodspot samples were collected from patients diagnosed with FM (n = 122) and related rheumatologic disorders (n = 70), including SLE (n = 17), RA (n = 43), and OA (n = 10), and stored in conventional protein saver bloodspot cards.

Essential Oils and Neuropathic Pain.

Neuropathic pain is one of the most prominent chronic pain syndromes, affecting almost 10% of the United States population. While there are a variety of established pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options, including tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, anticonvulsants, trigger point injections, and spinal cord stimulators, many patients continue to have chronic pain or suboptimal symptom control. This has led to an increased interest in alternative solutions for neuropathic pain such as nutritional supplements and essential oils.

Nutritional Supplements for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain.

Neuropathic pain affects 7-10% of the population and is often ineffectively and incompletely treated. Although the gold standard for treatment of neuropathic pain includes tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, and anticonvulsants, patients suffering from neuropathic pain are increasingly turning to nonpharmacologic treatments, including nutritional supplements for analgesia. So-called "nutraceuticals" have garnered significant interest among patients seeking to self-treat their neuropathic pain with readily available supplements.

Intraepidermal Nerve Fiber Density as Measured by Skin Punch Biopsy as a Marker for Small Fiber Neuropathy: Application in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a type of peripheral neuropathy that occurs from damage to the small A-delta and C nerve fibers that results in the clinical condition known as SFN. This pathology may be the result of metabolic, toxic, immune-mediated, and/or genetic factors. Small fiber symptoms can be variable and inconsistent and therefore require an objective biomarker confirmation.

The Search for Biomarkers in Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is the most common of the central sensitivity syndromes affecting 2-5% of the adult population in the United States. This pain amplification syndrome has enormous societal impact as measured by work absenteeism, decreased work productivity, disability and injury compensation and over-utilization of healthcare resources. Multiple studies have shown that early diagnosis of this condition can improve patient outlook and redirect valuable healthcare resources towards more appropriate targeted therapy.

Vibrational Spectroscopy for Identification of Metabolites in Biologic Samples.

Vibrational spectroscopy (mid-infrared (IR) and Raman) and its fingerprinting capabilities offer rapid, high-throughput, and non-destructive analysis of a wide range of sample types producing a characteristic chemical "fingerprint" with a unique signature profile. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and an array of mass spectrometry (MS) techniques provide selectivity and specificity for screening metabolites, but demand costly instrumentation, complex sample pretreatment, are labor-intensive, require well-trained technicians to operate the instrumentation, and are less amenable for implementation in clinics. The potential for vibration spectroscopy techniques to be brought to the bedside gives hope for huge cost savings and potential revolutionary advances in diagnostics in the clinic.

Metabolomics in Central Sensitivity Syndromes.

Central sensitization syndromes are a collection of frequently painful disorders that contribute to decreased quality of life and increased risk of opiate abuse. Although these disorders cause significant morbidity, they frequently lack reliable diagnostic tests. As such, technologies that can identify key moieties in central sensitization disorders may contribute to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and more precise treatment options.

Fibromyalgia syndrome and small fiber, early or mild sensory polyneuropathy.

Introduction: Pain mechanisms in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are not clearly understood. Growing evidence appears to suggest a role for small fiber polyneuropathy (SFPN) in some FMS patients, as measured by epidermal nerve fiber density (ENFD). We aimed to better characterize and distinguish the subset of patients with both fibromyalgia and small fiber, early or mild sensory polyneuropathy (FM-SFSPN).

A group-mediated physical activity intervention in older knee osteoarthritis patients: effects on social cognitive outcomes.

The objective of the present study was to compare a group-mediated cognitive behavioral (GMCB) physical activity intervention with traditional exercise therapy (TRAD) upon select social cognitive outcomes in sedentary knee osteoarthritis (knee OA) patients. A total of 80 patients (mean age = 63.5 years; 84% women) were recruited using clinic and community-based strategies to a 12-month, single-blind, two-arm, randomized controlled trial.

A pilot study of health and wellness coaching for fibromyalgia.

Background: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a health and wellness coaching (HWC)-based intervention for fibromyalgia (FM) would result in sustained improvements in health and quality of life, and reductions in health care utilization.

Methods: Nine female subjects meeting American College of Rheumatology criteria for a diagnosis of primary FM were studied. The HWC protocol had two components, which were delivered telephonically over a twelve-month period.

Group-mediated physical activity promotion and mobility in sedentary patients with knee osteoarthritis: results from the IMPACT-pilot trial.

Objective: To compare the effects of a group-mediated cognitive behavioral exercise intervention (GMCB) with traditional center-based exercise therapy (TRAD) on objectively assessed levels of physical activity (PA) and mobility in sedentary patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: The Improving Maintenance of Physical Activity in Knee Osteoarthritis Trial-Pilot (IMPACT-P) was a 12-month, 2-arm, single-blind, randomized controlled pilot study designed to compare the effects of GMCB and TRAD on 80 sedentary patients with knee OA with self-reported difficulty in daily activities [mean age 63.5 yrs, 84% women, mean body mass index (BMI) 32.

Weight status and differences in mobility performance, pain symptoms, and physical activity in older, knee osteoarthritis patients.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of functional disability among American adults. Obesity is a strong independent risk factor for OA. While research emphasizes the role of obesity in the OA-physical function relationship, the extent to which weight status impacts salient physical, health, and pain measures in older, knee OA patients is not well delineated.

A bloodspot-based diagnostic test for fibromyalgia syndrome and related disorders.

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of a rapid biomarker-based method for diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) using mid-infrared microspectroscopy (IRMS) to differentiate patients with FM from those with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to identify molecular species associated with the spectral patterns. Under IRB approval, blood samples were collected from patients diagnosed with FM (n = 14), RA (n = 15), or OA (n = 12). Samples were prepared, placed onto a highly reflective slide, and spectra were collected using IRMS.

The large zinc finger protein ZAS3 is a critical modulator of osteoclastogenesis.

Background: Mice deficient in the large zinc finger protein, ZAS3, show postnatal increase in bone mass suggesting that ZAS3 is critical in the regulation of bone homeostasis. Although ZAS3 has been shown to inhibit osteoblast differentiation, its role on osteoclastogenesis has not been determined. In this report we demonstrated the role of ZAS3 in bone resorption by examining the signaling mechanisms involved in osteoclastogenesis.

Oral cyclophosphamide for lupus glomerulonephritis: an underused therapeutic option.

Background And Objectives: In our center, systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis is routinely treated with an oral cyclophosphamide (POCY) regimen. POCY is easy to administer and less expensive than intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) as it is currently used in the United States; however, the use of POCY has declined in favor of IVCY. Our experience with POCY suggests that it is well tolerated and consistently associated with good long-term outcomes.

Reactive arthritis associated with hidradenitis suppurativa.

This is a case report of a man with chronic hidradenitis suppurativa who developed reactive arthritis. He presented with swelling and pain in his larger joints, along with conjunctivitis involving his right eye. These symptoms coincided with a flare of the hidradenitis suppurativa.

D-dimer level and the risk for thrombosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background And Objectives: Patients who have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and manifest antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) are at increased risk for thrombosis; however, it is difficult to predict who will clot. This study tested the hypothesis that peak D-dimer level measured routinely during follow-up identifies whether a hypercoagulable state is developing and, therefore, the patient is at increased risk for thrombosis.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: One hundred consecutive patients who had SLE with recurrent activity (71% renal SLE) and were evaluated for or enrolled in the Ohio SLE Study were studied.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis with positive anticyclic citrullinated antibodies.

This is a case report of a woman with multicentric reticulohistiocytosis with positive anticyclic citrullinated antibodies. This patient had been misdiagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for many years. Recently, she presented with symmetric distal interphalangeal joint destruction and papules along her nail beds.