Are ultrasound salivary parenchymal lesions more severe in primary Sjögren patients with a longer disease duration? A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Salivary gland ultrasound (SGUS) has an interest in primary Sjögren's disease (pSD) for diagnosis, but the evolution of parenchymal lesions over time is unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the severity of ultrasound abnormalities in relation to pSD duration from the time of buccal dryness onset.

Methods: In this cross-sectional international multicentre study, patients with pSD according to the 2002 or 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria were included.

Advancements in Imaging Techniques for Early Diagnosis and Management of Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Purpose Of Review: We aimed to introduce recent finding of imaging studies used in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Recent Findings: Using low-dose whole spine CT (CT syndesmophyte score [CTSS]) improved diagnostic accuracy for evaluating spinal structural progression than previous method (modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score [mSASSS]) in axSpA. The novel definition of positive finding of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) and spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enabled to diagnose axSpA earlier than plain radiography.

Assessment of small fiber neuropathy and distal sensory neuropathy in female patients with fibromyalgia.

Background/aims: We investigated sudomotor dysfunction, small fiber neuropathy (SFN), and their clinical significance in female fibromyalgia patients.

Methods: Fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Clinical and laboratory data were measured.

Risk factors for interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort study from the KOBIO registry.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a critical extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, little is known about the risk factors of RA-ILD.

Objectives: Here, we examined the effect of demographic, clinical, therapeutic, and environmental factors on the incidence of ILD in RA patients using the Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics and Targeted Therapy (KOBIO) registry.

Suppressing anti-citrullinated protein antibody-induced osteoclastogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis using anti-CD64 and PAD-2 inhibitors.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of Fcγ receptors (FcγR) and peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) in anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-induced fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs)-mediated osteoclastogenesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: FLSs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from patients with RA. We stimulated RA-FLS with ACPA (100 ng/ml) with and without anti-cluster of differentiation (CD)32a/CD64 (FcγRIIA/FcγRI) antibody and PAD-2/4 inhibitors.

Interleukin-18 binding protein regulates mast cell activation and mast cell induced osteoclastogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Mast cell activation induces pathological responses, including increased osteoclastogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Interleukin (IL)-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) has anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we evaluated the effect of IL-18BP on mast cell activation and mast cell induced osteoclastogenesis.

Risk of disease flare in spondyloarthritis patients after tapering tumor necrosis factor inhibitors: A meta-analysis and literature review.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) have shown dramatic benefit in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). Tapering of TNFi medication may be considered in patients with sustained low disease activity because continued use of TNFis at standard doses may increase the risk of side effects including infections and impose an economic burden. However, the optimal TNFi tapering strategy for SpA patients with inactive disease has not been established.

Costotransverse joint ankylosis and their association with syndesmophyte progression in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Background: Abnormal new bone formation can occur not only in the vertebral body but also can occur in facet, costovertebral, and costotransverse joints in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) patients. Little is known about the association between syndesmophyte progression and paravertebral joint ankylosis in r-axSpA.

Objectives: Costotransverse joint ankylosis in r-axSpA patients was measured.

Reliability Exercise of Ultrasound Salivary Glands in Sjögren's Disease: An International Web Training Initiative.

Introduction: Major salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) demonstrated its good metric properties as an outcome measure for diagnosing primary Sjögren's disease (SD). The objective was to assess SGUS reliability among sonographers with different levels of experience, using web training.

Methods: Sonographers from expert centers participated in the reliability exercise.

Nailfold capillaroscopy findings of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features.

Background/aims: We evaluated nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) and compared it with that of patients with connective tissue disease-interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP).

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed as ILD were evaluated using NFC. Baseline demographic, clinical, serological, and high-resolution CT findings were collected.

Identification of gut dysbiosis in axial spondyloarthritis patients and improvement of experimental ankylosing spondyloarthritis by microbiome-derived butyrate with immune-modulating function.

Introduction: Dysbiosis is an environmental factor that affects the induction of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) pathogenesis. In the present study, we investigated differences in the gut microbiota of patients with axSpA and revealed an association between specific gut microbiota and their metabolites, and SpA pathogenesis.

Method: Using 16S rRNA sequencing data derived from feces samples of 33 axSpA patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs), we examined the compositions of their gut microbiomes.

Interleukin-18 binding protein regulates the apoptosis and necroptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and chondrocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Interleukin (IL)-18 plays a pro-inflammatory role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and its soluble inhibitor IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) has a potential therapeutic role. We investigated the role of IL-18BP on the joint destruction process of RA by accessing the effects of IL-18BP on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and chondrocytes.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with RA and healthy controls were cultured under T cell proliferative conditions with 10, 50, or 100 ng/mL of IL-18BP.

Dasatinib, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, prevents joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis animal model.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the preventive role of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib in an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: DBA/1J mice were injected with bovine type II collagen to induce arthritis (collagen-induced arthritis [CIA]). There were four experimental groups of mice, namely negative control (non-CIA), vehicle-treated CIA, dasatinib-pretreated CIA, and dasatinib-treated CIA.

Proposal of simplified CT syndesmophyte score (sCTSS) and comparison with CTSS in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

The CT syndesmophyte score (CTSS) can evaluate spinal progression more precisely than mSASSS in ankylosing spondylitis (AS); however, it is complex and time consuming. Here, we propose a simplified CTSS (sCTSS) for measuring spinal structural changes in AS. Patients with AS were recruited from a single tertiary hospital.

Therapeutic Utility and Adverse Effects of Biologic Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs in Inflammatory Arthritis.

Targeting specific pathologic pro-inflammatory cytokines or related molecules leads to excellent therapeutic effects in inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. Most of these agents, known as biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), are produced in live cell lines and are usually monoclonal antibodies. Several types of monoclonal antibodies target different pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-6, and IL-23/12.

Baseline bony erosions and time-averaged DAS28 predict discontinuation of TNF inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis.

The present study evaluated the predictive role of baseline radiographic change and disease activity on drug retention and clinical response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi). Korean Observational Study Network for Arthritis (KORONA) registry was evaluated to identify RA patients treated with a TNFi. Disease activity score-28 (DAS28) was evaluated at baseline and 1 year after TNFi initiation or at termination of TNFi due to inefficacy (within 1 year).

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.

Effect of Janus kinase inhibitors on T cell responses to herpes zoster in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objectives: The incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is greater than that in healthy controls (HC), particularly in RA patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi). Here, we examined the effect of JAKi on CD4+/CD8+ T cells, cytokine production, and regulation of transcriptional factors in RA patients and HC.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from RA patients (n=14) and HCs (n=7) were stimulated with varicella zoster virus lysates and exposed to three JAKi inhibitors (ruxolitinib [JAK1/2 inhibitor]; AG490 [JAK2 inhibitor]; and WHI-P154 [JAK3 inhibitor]) in the presence/absence of methotrexate.

DJ-1 controls T cell differentiation and osteoclastogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis.

Herein, we investigated the effect of DJ-1 on helper T cell differentiation, fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) activation, and osteoclastogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Serum and synovial fluid (SF) of RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients were collected, and DJ-1 and HO levels were investigated. CD4 cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured under type 17 helper T cell (Th17) polarization conditions, and CD4 T cell differentiation, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) were assessed.

A pilot study of nailfold capillaroscopy in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis.

Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a safe and non-invasive imaging tool for evaluating microvascular abnormalities. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the NFC outcomes and clinical characteristics in patients and an asymptomatic carrier with transthyretin (TTR) gene mutation. The participants consist of eight patients with genetically and clinically confirmed hereditary amyloidogenic transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis and one asymptomatic carrier.