Predictive factors for interstitial lung disease progression in a Singapore systemic sclerosis cohort: a multicentre study.

Introduction: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is heterogeneous with varied progression rate. This study aimed to identify the baseline clinical characteristics associated with ILD progression within 1, 3 and 5 years of the diagnosis of ILD.

Methods: This was a prospective, multicentre study - Systematic Sclerosis Cohort Singapore - conducted from January 2008 to February 2021, which included SSc patients with ILD diagnosed by high-resolution computed tomography.

The Pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis: The Origin of Fibrosis and Interlink with Vasculopathy and Autoimmunity.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease associated with increased mortality and poor morbidity, impairing the quality of life in patients. Whilst we know that SSc affects multiple organs via vasculopathy, inflammation, and fibrosis, its exact pathophysiology remains elusive. Microvascular injury and vasculopathy are the initial pathological features of the disease.

Toward Molecular Stratification and Precision Medicine in Systemic Sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc), a complex multi-systemic disease characterized by immune dysregulation, vasculopathy and fibrosis, is associated with high mortality. Its pathogenesis is only partially understood. The heterogenous pathological processes that define SSc and its stages present a challenge to targeting appropriate treatment, with differing treatment outcomes of SSc patients despite similar initial clinical presentations.

The microbiome and systemic sclerosis: A review of current evidence.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by immune dysregulation, vasculopathy, and fibrosis of multiple organs. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the most common internal organ manifestation, which contributes to significant morbidity and mortality in patients with SSc. Emerging reports have identified unique microbial taxa alterations in the GI microbiome of patients with SSc as compared to healthy controls (HC).

Choosing the right treatment for patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory condition with articular and extra-articular manifestations: peripheral arthritis, axial disease, enthesitis, dactylitis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and uveitis. Anti-tumour necrosis factors (anti-TNFs) have demonstrated clinical efficacies exceeding those of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). New understanding in pathogenic pathways have led to novel therapeutic targets.

Mortality and hospitalization outcomes of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension in the Singapore systemic sclerosis cohort.

Objectives: We compared mortality and hospitalization rates in four groups of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) [isolated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or interstitial lung disease (ILD), concomitant ILD-pulmonary hypertension (PH), and no/mild pulmonary involvement].

Methods: In the Systemic Sclerosis Cohort Singapore (SCORE), ILD was diagnosed by HRCT and significant ILD was defined by forced vital capacity <70% predicted. Patients were classified as PAH if echocardiographic systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) ≥50 mmHg or right heart catheterization (RHC) mean PAP ≥25 mmHg.

Validation of screening questionnaires for evaluation of knee osteoarthritis prevalence in the general population of Singapore.

Background: The prevalence of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in Singapore is unknown. We aimed to: (i) validate questionnaires to screen for symptomatic KOA; and (ii) estimate the prevalence of symptomatic KOA in Singapore using the validated algorithms.

Methods: Subjects aged ≥50 years were evaluated for symptomatic KOA based on American College of Rheumatology clinical and radiographic criteria in a rheumatology clinic, and completed three sets of adapted screening questionnaires.

Point-of-care seeding of nitinol stents with blood-derived endothelial cells.

Nitinol-based vascular devices, for example, peripheral and intracranial stents, are limited by thrombosis and restenosis. To ameliorate these complications, we developed a technology to promote vessel healing by rapidly seeding (QuickSeeding) autologous blood-derived endothelial cells (ECs) onto modified self-expanding nitinol stent delivery systems immediately before implantation. Several thousand micropores were laser-drilled into a delivery system sheath surrounding a commercial nitinol stent to allow for exit of an infused cell suspension.

Point-of-Care Rapid-Seeding Ventricular Assist Device with Blood-Derived Endothelial Cells to Create a Living Antithrombotic Coating.

The most promising alternatives to heart transplantation are left ventricular assist devices and artificial hearts; however, their use has been limited by thrombotic complications. To reduce these, sintered titanium (Ti) surfaces were developed, but thrombosis still occurs in approximately 7.5% of patients.

Increased yield of endothelial cells from peripheral blood for cell therapies and tissue engineering.

Aim: Peripheral blood-derived endothelial cells (pBD-ECs) are an attractive tool for cell therapies and tissue engineering, but have been limited by their low isolation yield. We increase pBD-EC yield via administration of the chemokine receptor type 4 antagonist AMD3100, as well as via a diluted whole blood incubation (DWBI).

Materials & Methods: Porcine pBD-ECs were isolated using AMD3100 and DWBI and tested for EC markers, acetylated LDL uptake, growth kinetics, metabolic activity, flow-mediated nitric oxide production and seeded onto titanium tubes implanted into vessels of pigs.