Publications by authors named "Laas K"

Article Synopsis
  • - The research aimed to assess data collection practices for non-musculoskeletal manifestations (NMMs), comorbidities, and safety outcomes in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) across 17 European registries, emphasizing the need for international collaboration for better treatment strategies.
  • - A comprehensive survey with over 4,400 questionnaire items examined how 58 defined conditions were recorded in each registry, focusing on recording methods and the ability to link data to national registries.
  • - The study found that while many registries recorded a variety of conditions consistently, Nordic countries showed potential for data linkage but had limited recording practices, while other regions maintained thorough documentation, paving the way
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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to evaluate the retention rates and remission outcomes of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who started treatment with secukinumab over 24 and 48 months.
  • Data was collected from 13 European registries, revealing that retention rates were around 51%-64%, and patients with no prior biologic treatments showed better outcomes compared to those with previous treatments.
  • The findings suggest that secukinumab remains effective over four years, with higher success rates in treatment-naïve patients compared to those who had already tried other therapies.
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Objectives: To compare the treatment effectiveness of secukinumab in radiographic (r) versus non-radiographic (nr) axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients treated in routine care across Europe.

Methods: Prospectively collected data on secukinumab-treated axSpA patients with known radiographic status were pooled from nine countries.Remission rates based on patient-reported outcomes (PROs; Numeric Rating Scale (0-10), for example, pain ≤2/Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) ≤2 and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) inactive disease (ID) <1.

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Migraine is one of the most frequent and expensive neurological disease in the world. Non-pharmacological and digitally administered treatment options have long been used in the treatment of chronic pain and mental illness. Digital solutions increase the patients' possibilities of receiving evidence-based treatment even when conventional treatment options are limited.

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Objectives: In patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) initiating secukinumab, we aimed to assess and compare the proportion of patients achieving 6-, 12- and 24-month patient-reported outcomes (PRO) remission and the 24-month retention rates.

Patients And Methods: Patients with axSpA or PsA from 16 European registries, who initiated secukinumab in routine care were included. PRO remission rates were defined as pain, fatigue, Patient Global Assessment (PGA) ≤2 (Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 0-10) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) ≤0.

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Background: In European axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) clinical registries, we aimed to investigate commonalities and differences in (1) set-up, clinical data collection; (2) data availability and completeness; and (3) wording, recall period, and scale used for selected patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Methods: Data was obtained as part of the EuroSpA Research Collaboration Network and consisted of (1) an online survey and follow-up interview, (2) upload of real-world data, and (3) selected PROMs included in the online survey.

Results: Fifteen registries participated, contributing 33,948 patients (axSpA: 21,330 (63%), PsA: 12,618 (37%)).

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Article Synopsis
  • This report compares treatment recommendations for two types of arthritis, PsA and axSpA, in different European countries.
  • Rheumatologists from 15 countries answered a survey, showing that only a few countries fully followed the latest recommendations.
  • The findings suggest that some countries might need to change their treatment guidelines to match the newer international ones better.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to identify baseline predictors for remission and drug retention in bio-naïve patients with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) starting TNF inhibitors, analyzing data from 13 European registries.
  • In a pooled cohort of 13,369 patients, results showed that 25% achieved remission and 34% had a moderate response at 6 months, while 63% retained their medication at 12 months.
  • Five common baseline predictors, including age, disease duration, sex, CRP levels, and fatigue score, were identified as significant for all three outcomes, suggesting these findings are applicable across different populations.
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Objectives: In patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) initiating their first tumor necrosis factor alpha-inhibitor (TNFi), we aimed to identify common baseline predictors of Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS-CRP) inactive disease (primary objective) and clinically important improvement (CII) at 6 months, and drug retention at 12-months across 15 European registries.

Methods: Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Outcomes were investigated per registry and in pooled data using logistic regression analyses on multiply imputed data.

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In this article, we present the results of 30 ethnographic interviews in which we asked STEM graduate and undergraduate students at a Midwest university in the United States about topics related to the culture of their research group, how group members communicate and interact, and their experience with ethical issues that arise within the laboratory. Here we focus on the culture of research laboratories and describe the key categories that emerged through analysis, including communication, community structure, governance, and collaboration that influence and shape lab culture. We also consider the critical role of the principal investigator (PI) to influence conditions in the lab that facilitate or inhibit lab culture and the subsequent effects on student feelings and behaviors, interpersonal communication, collaboration, work output, and ethics.

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Objectives: To investigate time trends in baseline characteristics and retention, remission and response rates in bio-naïve axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients initiating TNF inhibitor (TNFi) treatment.

Methods: Prospectively collected data on bio-naïve axSpA and PsA patients from routine care in 15 European countries were pooled. Three cohorts were defined according to year of TNFi initiation: A (1999-2008), B (2009-2014) and C (2015-2018).

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In this article, we summarize the key findings of an exploratory study in which students and faculty completed a survey that sought to identify the most important ethical issues in STEM fields, how often these issues are discussed in research groups, and how often these ethical issues come up in the daily practice of research. Participants answered a series of open-ended and Likert-scale questions to provide a detailed look at the current ethical landscape at a private research university in the Midwest. The survey also looked at potential differences between faculty and undergraduate and graduate students' perceptions in answering these questions.

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Recently, , a gene encoding an RNA binding protein, has consistently been associated with aggressive and antisocial behavior. Several loci in the gene have been nominally associated with aggression in genome-wide association studies, the risk alleles being more frequent in the general population. We have hence examined the association of four single nucleotide polymorphisms, previously found related to aggressive traits, with aggressiveness, personality, and alcohol use disorder in birth cohort representative samples.

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Nitric oxide signalling has been implicated in impulsive and aggressive traits and behaviours in both animals and humans. In the present study, we investigated the effects of a functional variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in exon 1f (ex1f) of the nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) gene (NOS1 ex1f-VNTR) and stressful life events on aggressive behaviour in population representative sample of adolescents followed up from third grade to 25 years of age. We studied the younger cohort of the longitudinal Estonian Children Personality, Behaviour and Health Study (subjects in the last study wave n = 437, males n = 193; mean age 24.

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In this article, we present an educational intervention that embeds ethics education within research laboratories. This structure is designed to assist students in addressing ethical challenges in a more informed way, and to improve the overall ethical culture of research environments. The project seeks (a) to identify factors that students and researchers consider relevant to ethical conduct in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and (b) to promote the cultivation of an ethical culture in experimental laboratories by integrating research stakeholders in a bottom-up approach to developing context-specific, ethics-based guidelines.

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Orexins, alternatively called hypocretins, are neuropeptides with crucial role in maintaining wakefulness. The orexin system is thought to mediate a coordinated defense response but thus far investigated from the flight, but never fight, response perspective. An HCRTR1 gene variant (rs2271933 G > A) leading to amino acid substitution (Ile408Val) has been associated with migraine and mood disorders.

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Background: Corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptor-1 gene (CRHR1) variants have been implicated in mental health. However, little is known of the effects of CRHR1 on long-term mental health and behavior in presence of environmental stressors. We assess the effects of CRHR1 variant (rs17689918)-by-environment interactions on emotionality and behavioral traits, including anxiety, depression, aggression and antisocial behaviors.

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The problem of random motion of harmonically trapped charged particles in a constant external magnetic field is studied. A generalized three-dimensional Langevin equation with a power-law memory kernel is used to model the interaction of Brownian particles with the complex structure of viscoelastic media (e.g.

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Background: Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of serotonin. We examined whether the TPH2 polymorphism -703G/T (rs4570625) is associated with aggressiveness and impulsivity, and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, in a population-representative sample.

Methods: We used self and proxy reports on aggressive behaviour in the younger birth cohort of the longitudinal Estonian Children Personality, Behaviour and Health Study collected at age 25, and earlier collected impulsivity and related data of both ECPBHS cohorts.

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Research of GABRA2 gene in alcohol use and impulse control suggests its role in aggressive behaviour. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of GABRA2 genotype and stressful life events on aggressive behaviour, alcohol use frequency and occurrence of alcohol use disorder in a population representative sample of adolescents followed up from third grade to 25 years of age. The sample consisted of the younger cohort of the longitudinal Estonian Children Personality, Behaviour and Health Study.

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Article Synopsis
  • Impulsivity is a complex trait influenced by genetics and biology, specifically linked to the serotonin receptor gene (HTR2A) and cholesterol levels.
  • The study found that individuals with the A/A genotype of the HTR2A -1438A/G polymorphism exhibited higher maladaptive impulsivity, particularly influenced by elevated LDL and total cholesterol in females and specific cholesterol levels in males.
  • The research indicates that higher cholesterol levels can modify the relationship between impulsivity and the HTR2A gene, highlighting the need for future studies to examine the interplay between genetic factors and cholesterol in impulsivity.
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Background: Oxytocin is an important regulator of social relationships and has been implicated in development of substance use and addiction. We examined the association of a variance in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR rs53576 polymorphism) with alcohol use in a population-representative sample, and potential moderation by social functioning.

Methods: The analysis was carried out on the older birth cohort of the longitudinal Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study (ECPBHS), a cohort of initially 15 years old children (original n=593) recalled at ages 18 and 25.

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Background: The neuregulin 1 gene is a susceptibility gene for substance dependence. A functional polymorphism (SNP8NRG243177/rs6994992; C/T) in the promoter region of the brain-specific type IV neuregulin-1 gene ( NRG1) has been associated with psychiatric disorders (e.g.

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