Depression/anxiety symptoms in axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients in Serbia: a pilot study.

To assess prevalence and change of depression/anxiety symptoms in spondyloarthritis patients and feasibility of depression/anxiety questionnaires. 43 Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and 27 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were consecutively recruited. There were 34 patients on biologics and 36 patients on nonbiologics.

Matrix Metalloproteinases-3 Baseline Serum Levels in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients without Initial Radiographic Changes: A Two-Year Ultrasonographic Study.

Objective: To investigate the association of high baseline serum levels of metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3) with structural damage to hand and feet joints, assessed by ultrasonography (US), in patients with early, treatment-naïve rheumatoid arthritis (RA), without initial X-ray-visible erosions, during 24 months follow-up.

Methods: Sixty-three early RA (European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology 2010), disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs/glucocorticoid naïve patients (mean age 53.4 ± 14.

Construct validity and sensitivity to change of Belgrade Ultrasound Enthesitis Score in patients with spondyloarthritis: a pilot study.

The objective of this study was to determine the construct validity and sensitivity to change of Belgrade Ultrasound Enthesitis Score (BUSES) in spondyloarthritis patients. Seventy-six spondyloarthritis patients with enthesitis were included in this pilot, prospective, double-blinded ultrasound study. Thirty-four patients received biological and forty-two patients received non-biological therapy.

Systemic sclerosis impacts right heart and cardiac autonomic nervous system.

Aim: To evaluate the influence of systemic sclerosis (SSc) on right ventricular (RV) remodeling by two- and three-dimensional echocardiography (2DE and 3DE) and heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods: Forty-five SSc patients and 35 age- and gender-matched healthy controls underwent clinical examination, 24-h Holter monitoring, and comprehensive 2DE and 3DE.

Results: 2DE RV global and RV free wall longitudinal strains, as well as 2DE RV endocardial, mid-myocardial, and epicardial longitudinal strains were lower in SSc subjects, who exhibited greater 3DE RV volumes but lower 3DE RV ejection fraction than controls.

Left atrial phasic function and heart rate variability in patients with systemic sclerosis: A new part of the old puzzle.

Objective: We aimed to research left atrial (LA) phasic function and heart rate variability (HRV), as well as their relationship, in subjects with uncomplicated systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: The investigation involved 44 SSc patients and 33 age-matched healthy controls. All participants underwent clinical examination, serological tests, 24-hours Holter monitoring, and echocardiographic examination including strain analysis.

The relationship between left ventricular deformation and heart rate variability in patients with systemic sclerosis: Two- and three-dimensional strain analysis.

Objective: We sought to investigate left ventricular (LV) function and deformation, as well as heart rate variability (HRV), and their relationship, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: The study included 49 SSc patients and 38 age-matched healthy subjects. All patients underwent clinical examination, serological tests, 24-h Holter monitoring, and comprehensive two- and three-dimensional echocardiography (2DE and 3DE).

Cardiac mechanics and heart rate variability in patients with systemic sclerosis: the association that we should not miss.

We aimed to determine left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) structure, function and mechanics, as well as heart rate variability (HRV), and their relationship, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The study included 41 SSc patients and 30 age-matched healthy volunteers. All the patients underwent clinical examination, serological tests, pulmonary function testing, 24-h Holter monitoring and complete two-dimensional echocardiography including strain analysis.

Activity and expression of dipeptidyl peptidase IV on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with early steroid and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs naïve rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV/CD26) plays an important role in T cell activation and immune regulation, however the role of this enzyme in early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) has not been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to determine the serum activity of DPPIV, its expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and to examine possible correlations with disease activity (DAS28) in untreated patients with eRA.

Methods: The study included 50 patients newly diagnosed with RA, who had not received any corticosteroid or disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) therapy and whose conventional radiographs of hands and feet showed no structural damage.

Which factors impact myocardial function in systemic sclerosis?

Background: The aim of our study was to determine clinical and echocardiographic parameters, which impacted the left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) diastolic and global function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: The study included 50 SSc patients and 48 age-matched healthy volunteers. All the patients underwent clinical examination, serological tests, pulmonary function testing, and complete two-dimensional echocardiography, which included pulsed and tissue Doppler.

Atypical Cogan's syndrome associated with coronary disease.

Cogan’s syndrome (CS) is a rare inflammatory disorder characterized by interstitial keratitis and vestibuloauditory abnormalities often associated with various systemic manifestations. Involvement of cardiovascular system resembling systemic vasculitis may lead to severe complications and death. The present report describes a case of a female patient with atypical Cogan's syndrome presented with systemic manifestations and severe coronary and femoral artery stenosis.

Pregnancy-associated spinal osteoporosis treated with bisphosphonates: long-term follow-up of maternal and infants outcome.

Pregnancy-associated spinal osteoporosis (PPSO) is a rare condition characterized by severe back pain occurring near the end of the first pregnancy or shortly afterward. The aim of this report is to present a 12-year follow-up of a patient with PPSO. Also, the outcomes of patient's two pregnancies and her infants after long-term treatment with bisphosphonates are assessed.

Watermelon stomach in a patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Introduction: Watermelon stomach (WS) or gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding described in a variety of autoimmune disorders. Association of watermelon stomach with Sjögren's syndrome is extremely rare. CASE REPORT; We presented a 67-year old female with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) who had developed a persistent severe iron-deficiency anemia.