The association between radiographic progression, functional impairment, markers of dyslipidaemia and inflammation in patients with hand osteoarthritis: a five-year longitudinal study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations between radiographic damage, serum biomarkers, and clinical assessments in Czech patients with hand osteoarthritis (HOA) over a five-year follow-up period.

Methods: The study cohort comprised 129 patients diagnosed with HOA, including 72 patients with an erosive subtype and 57 patients with a non-erosive subtype. Radiographs were evaluated using the Kallman scoring system by two independent readers.

Dexamethasone nanomedicines with optimized drug release kinetics tailored for treatment of site-specific rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases.

The application of polymer-based drug delivery systems is advantageous for improved pharmacokinetics, controlled drug release, and decreased side effects of therapeutics for inflammatory disease. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of linear N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide-based polymer conjugates designed for controlled release of the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone through pH-sensitive bonds. The tailored release rates were achieved by modifying DEX with four oxo-acids introducing reactive oxo groups to the DEX derivatives.

Clusterin is upregulated in serum and muscle tissue in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and associates with clinical disease activity and cytokine profile.

Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the circulating and skeletal muscle expression of clusterin (CLU) in inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and its potential implication in pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease.

Methods: A total of 85 IIM patients and 86 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. In addition, 20 IIM patients and 21 HC underwent a muscle biopsy.

Cytokines and inflammatory mediators as promising markers of polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

Purpose Of Review: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), known also as myositis, represent challenging group of heterogeneous muscle disorders characterized by symmetric proximal muscle weakness and evidence of muscle inflammation. The purpose of this review is to provide important updates on cytokines and inflammatory mediators related to myositis.

Recent Findings: In the past 5 years, multiple studies brought a fresh insight into the pathogenesis of myositis by introducing new factors or further characterizing the role of the well established mediators in myositis.

S100A4 is elevated in axial spondyloarthritis: a potential link to disease severity.

Background: S100A4 is a member of calcium binding S100 protein family well known for its role in cancer progression and metastasis. Nevertheless, S100A4 also serves as a negative regulator of bone formation. Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), marker of bone remodelling, is also implicated in the process of syndesmophyte formation in ankylosing spondylitis.

Circulating S100 proteins effectively discriminate SLE patients from healthy controls: a cross-sectional study.

S100 proteins are currently being investigated as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of several cancers and inflammatory diseases. The aims of this study were to analyse the plasma levels of S100A4, S100A8/9 and S100A12 in patients with incomplete systemic lupus erythematosus (iSLE), in patients with established SLE and in healthy controls (HCs) and to investigate the potential utility of the S100 proteins as diagnostic or activity-specific biomarkers in SLE. Plasma levels were measured by ELISA in a cross-sectional cohort study of 44 patients with SLE, 8 patients with iSLE and 43 HCs.

Progranulin Is Associated with Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Progranulin (PGRN) is implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between PGRN and disease activity in RA.

Methods: PGRN levels were evaluated in patients with RA (n = 47) and OA (n = 42) and healthy controls (n = 41).

High levels of metastasis-inducing S100A4 protein and treatment outcome in early rheumatoid arthritis: data from the PERAC cohort.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of S100A4 as a biomarker in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). S100A4 levels were measured in 59 patients with early RA and in 41 healthy controls. The association between the S100A4 levels and the treatment outcome after 12 months was determined using multivariate regression analysis.

S100A4 amplifies TGF-β-induced fibroblast activation in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: S100A4 is a calcium binding protein with regulatory functions in cell homeostasis, proliferation and differentiation that has been shown to promote cancer progression and metastasis. In the present study, we evaluated the role of S100A4 in fibroblast activation in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: The expression of S100A4 was analysed in human samples, murine models of SSc and in cultured fibroblasts by real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot.

The metastasis-associated protein S100A4 promotes the inflammatory response of mononuclear cells via the TLR4 signalling pathway in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: S100A4 has been implicated in cancer and several inflammatory diseases, including RA. The aim of the present study was to determine whether S100A4 can stimulate proinflammatory cytokine production in mononuclear cells.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from patients with RA were stimulated with S100A4, S100A8, S100A9 and S100A12.

Resistin in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the serum levels and local expression of resistin in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies to controls, and to determine the relationship between resistin levels, inflammation and disease activity.

Methods: Serum resistin levels were determined in 42 patients with inflammatory myopathies and 27 healthy controls. The association among resistin levels, inflammation, global disease activity and muscle strength was examined.

The metastasis promoting protein S100A4 is increased in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Objectives: The S100A4 protein is known as a metastasis promoting factor; however, its involvement in non-malignant diseases such as RA and psoriasis has been recently described. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and possible role of S100A4 in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Methods: S100A4 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in muscle tissue from control individuals (n = 11) and patients with PM and DM (n = 8/6).

The level of serum visfatin (PBEF) is associated with total number of B cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and decreases following B cell depletion therapy.

Objective: Visfatin, also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor, was recently characterized as a potent pro-inflammatory mediator in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of B cell depletion with rituximab on serum visfatin levels in patients with active RA.

Methods: We evaluated 31 patients with RA starting rituximab therapy at baseline and after 16 and 24 weeks using disease activity score (DAS28).