Association between obstructive sleep apnea and hyperuricemia/gout in the general population: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to various health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Hyperuricemia and gout may be associated with OSA, but large-scale studies on this are limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between hyperuricemia/gout and OSA using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES).

Effect of abatacept versus conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs on rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Background/aims: To compare the effects of abatacept and conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) on the progression and development of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).

Methods: This multi-center retrospective study included RA patients receiving abatacept or csDMARDs who underwent at least two pulmonary function tests and/or chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). We compared the following outcomes between the groups: progression of RA-ILD, development of new ILD in RA patients without ILD at baseline, 28-joint Disease Activity Score with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), and safety.

Corrigendum: Computed tomography-based assessment of radiographic progression in spine and sacroiliac joints after pregnancy in women with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.

Clinical course and risk factors for development and progression of interstitial lung disease in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

This single-center, retrospective study aimed to investigate the course and prognostic factors of patients with primary Sjögren syndrome-associated interstitial lung disease (pSS-ILD). We included 120 pSS patients who underwent at least two high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans between 2013 and 2021. Clinical symptoms, laboratory data, HRCT findings, and pulmonary function test results were collected.

Visual Scoring of Sacroiliac Joint/Sacrum Ratios of Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography Images Affords High Sensitivity and Negative Predictive Value in Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is characterized by inflammatory back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was the earlier gold standard technique for detecting early inflammatory change. We reassessed the diagnostic utility of sacroiliac joint/sacrum (SIS) ratios of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) for identifying sacroiliitis.

Comparison of predictive value of FRAX, trabecular bone score, and bone mineral density for vertebral fractures in systemic sclerosis: A cross-sectional study.

Assessing fracture risk is important for managing patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Vertebral fracture (VF) is the most common fracture and is associated with future VF and non-VF. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of FRAX, trabecular bone score (TBS), and bone mineral density (BMD) for VFs, compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and postmenopausal women, and to identify risk factors for VFs in SSc.

Computed tomography-based assessment of radiographic progression in spine and sacroiliac joints after pregnancy in women with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Background: Mechanical stress are one of the pathogenesis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). During pregnancy, the mechanical overload on the spine and pelvis increases due to gravid uterus. We aimed to investigate whether pregnancy affects radiographic progression in patients with radiographic axSpA (r-axSpA) based on computed tomography (CT) evaluations.

Characteristic alterations of gut microbiota in uncontrolled gout.

Microbiome research has been on the rise recently for a more in-depth understanding of gout. Meanwhile, there is a need to understand the gut microbiome related to uric acid-lowering drug resistance. In this study, 16S rRNA gene-based microbiota analysis was performed for a total of 65 stool samples from 17 healthy controls and 48 febuxostat-treated gout patients (including 28 controlled subjects with decreased uric acid levels and 20 uncontrolled subjects with non-reduced uric acid levels).

Impact of age on the diagnostic performance of unstimulated salivary flow rates and salivary gland ultrasound for primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Background: Age-related changes and different patterns of salivary gland abnormalities according to age may affect the diagnostic performance of unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR) and salivary gland ultrasound (SGUS) for primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). We aimed to evaluate the threshold and diagnostic performance of USFR and whether incorporating SGUS or replacing USFR with SGUS affects the performance of the ACR/EULAR criteria for pSS according to age.

Materials And Methods: This medical chart review study included patients with suspected pSS who completed evaluations for pSS.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of lacrimal glands in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objectives: This study focused on distinguishing the characteristic ultrasonographic findings of lacrimal glands in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) from those in idiopathic sicca syndrome. We aimed to set up a semi-quantitative scoring system of lacrimal gland ultrasonography (LGUS) for patients with pSS.

Methods: Fifty-six patients with pSS and 40 patients with idiopathic sicca syndrome were evaluated.

Clinical significance of quantitative bone SPECT/CT in the evaluation of hand and wrist pain in patients with rheumatic disease.

We investigated the diagnostic value of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) at hand and wrist joints for differentiating rheumatic diseases via bone single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT). A total of 84 patients manifesting hand and wrist pain (58 women; age, 49.8 ± 15.

Correlation between salivary gland ultrasonography and scintigraphy in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: To compare findings on salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) and salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) in patients with primary SS (pSS).

Methods: The study cohort included patients newly diagnosed with pSS who underwent SGUS and SGS at the same time at our tertiary care hospital. Baseline demographics, laboratory data, clinical data and SGUS and SGS findings were collected.

Ultrasonographic characteristics of major salivary glands in anti-centromere antibody-positive primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Purpose: To investigate salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) findings in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients positive for the anti-centromere antibody (ACA) and compare these with those in ACA-negative pSS patients.

Methods: We analyzed demographic, clinical, laboratory, and SGUS data of pSS patients who fulfilled the 2002 American-European Consensus Group classification criteria for pSS. SGUS findings of four major salivary glands (bilateral parotid and submandibular glands) were scored in five categories and compared between ACA-positive and ACA-negative pSS patients.

Discriminative ability of trabecular bone score over bone mineral density for vertebral and fragility fracture in patients treated with long-term and low-dose glucocorticoid.

Aim: To evaluate the ability of the trabecular bone score (TBS) to discriminate vertebral fracture (VF) and fragility fracture (FF) in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases on long-term and low-dose glucocorticoid (GC) treatment and those without exposure to GC.

Methods: This study assessed TBS and bone mineral density (BMD) in chronic GC users, defined as ≥2.5 mg/d of prednisone for >3 months (n = 89, mean age: 62.

Regulation of osteoclastogenesis by mast cell in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: In the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the role of mast cells has not been revealed clearly. We aimed to define the inflammatory and tissue-destructive roles of mast cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Serum and synovial fluid (SF) concentration levels of tryptase, chymase, and histamine were quantified using ELISA.

Pregnancy-associated risk factors and incidence of systemic sclerosis in primiparous women: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Objectives: To evaluate the pregnancy-related risk factors and incidence rate (IR) of systemic sclerosis (SSc) in primipara using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database, covering all medical claims in South Korea.

Methods: From the database, 2,260,952 primipara aged 18-49 years from 2008 to 2018 were identified. The patients were followed up after their index delivery until December 2019.

Reliability and validity of the Korean version of the University of California-Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract instrument in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background/aims: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a wide range of gastrointestinal (GI) changes. The University of California-Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract (UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0) instrument is a self-administered GI assessment instrument for patients with SSc.

Immunosuppressant treatment for IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis: A case report.

Background: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a multi-system fibroin-flammatory disorder that can involve any organ, including the salivary glands, pancreas, and biliary tree. Treatment of immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) is similar to that for IgG4-RD, but progression is irreversible in some cases. We present a case of IgG4-SC in which an immuno-suppressant induced marked clinical and radiologic improvement.