Publications by authors named "Molad Y"
Article Synopsis
- - The CLASS project aims to develop data-driven classification criteria for anti-synthetase syndrome (ASSD) by assessing the effectiveness of local immunoassays for detecting anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase antibodies (anti-ARS) in real-world settings.
- - Researchers collected 787 serum samples from various centers and compared local testing results with a central standard using immunoprecipitation and other methods to evaluate tests' sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values.
- - While local detection of anti-Jo1 antibodies showed high reliability, the agreement for anti-non-Jo1 antibodies varied, indicating some local tests may not align well with central definitions.
Objectives: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) has been shown to improve long-term survival for early diffuse progressive SSc compared with CYC. CYC, however, does not provide a long-term benefit in SSc. The combination of MMF and rituximab is a potent alternative regimen.
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- The study investigated how COVID-19 affected patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) in Israel, particularly during different outbreaks and after vaccination.
- The research showed that the first three COVID-19 outbreaks resulted in higher severity and mortality among AIIRD patients compared to the fourth outbreak, which came after vaccination started.
- Ultimately, finding revealed that vaccination significantly reduced severe outcomes from COVID-19, while the disease did not notably worsen AIIRD conditions in the months following recovery.
Article Synopsis
- Epidemiological studies indicate a link between a patient's ethnic origin and the occurrence and outcomes of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- A retrospective study analyzed 570 patients from different ethnic backgrounds—Ashkenazi Jews, non-Ashkenazi Jews, and Arabs—to evaluate their SLE outcomes, including mortality and kidney disease development.
- The findings revealed that Arab patients had more severe SLE symptoms, a significantly higher risk of mortality compared to Ashkenazi Jews, and lower levels of disease activity at their last visit, highlighting the importance of considering ethnicity in patient care.
Objectives: To determine the value of plasma and urine sTREM-1 levels as a biomarker of lupus nephritis (LN) as well as extra-renal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods: Consecutive adult patients with SLE attending a tertiary lupus clinic in 2016-2018 were prospectively divided into 3 groups according to SLEDAI-2K and renal-SLEDAI scores: active renal lupus (ARL), active non-renal lupus (ANL), and inactive lupus (IL). Blood and spot urine samples from each group and matched healthy subjects were analysed by means of ELISA for plasma and urine sTREM-1 levels.
Article Synopsis
- Diagnosing adult-onset Still disease (AOSD) is difficult due to unclear symptoms and lack of specific blood tests, leading this study to assess the diagnostic value of clinical signs and high serum ferritin levels in patients.
- The research involved examining patients aged over 18 with serum ferritin above 1000 ng/mL at two medical centers from 2003 to 2019, ultimately identifying 36 AOSD cases and 144 matched controls for comparison.
- The study found that joint pain (arthralgia/arthritis) was the most reliable indicator for diagnosing AOSD, outperforming serum ferritin levels, which varied in effectiveness, supporting the idea that
Article Synopsis
- Socioeconomic status (SES) is linked to worse outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with this study specifically investigating the effect of national health insurance on these outcomes.
- A cohort of 617 SLE patients was analyzed, showing that those in the lower SES group had younger disease onset and higher rates of lupus nephritis compared to higher SES groups, which also had lower mortality and end-stage kidney disease rates.
- The study concludes that low SES negatively impacts SLE outcomes, even in a healthcare system with equal access, highlighting the need for policymakers to address barriers faced by lower SES patients.
Objective: Multiple guidelines recommend continuing hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for SLE during pregnancy based on observational data. The goal of this individual patient data meta-analysis was to identify the potential benefits and harms of HCQ use within lupus pregnancies.
Methods: Eligible studies included prospectively collected pregnancies in women with lupus.
Objective: We sought to determine the association of anti-Ro/SS-A antibody with organ involvement and disease outcome in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
Methods: A retrospective, long-term study of a cohort of incident patients diagnosed with SSc and continuously followed at our rheumatology clinic during 1990-2018.
Results: Included were 105 patients with known anti-Ro/SS-A antibody status, 92.
Large vessel vasculitis (LVV) is composed of conditions in which inflammation of blood vessel walls affects mainly large arteries, such as the aorta and its main branches, and in some cases the coronary arteries. Coronary artery involvement in systemic vasculitis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We present a case of a young patient diagnosed with extensive coronary disease diagnosed as Takayasu arteritis, when whom a concomitant diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma was made.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurologic symptoms are an extremely rare presentation of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. We report a case of a young female patient diagnosed with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, presenting with neurologic symptoms compatible with aseptic meningitis, along with radiographic findings which improved with steroidal treatment. Despite the rarity of these findings, they were reported as part of the disease manifestation, however, since Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is associated with other diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), other diagnoses cannot be ruled out.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Plasma levels of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (sTREM-1) reflect innate immune cell activation. We sought to evaluate sTREM-1 levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and their predictive value for disease severity and outcome.
Methods: Plasma sTREM-1 levels were prospectively measured by ELISA in 121 consecutive patients with new-onset (≤24 h) chest pain at arrival to the emergency department (ED) and 73 healthy controls.
Background: Tocilizumab is an interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist used treat moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Both intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) routes are approved for the treatment of adults with RA.
Objectives: To evaluate SC tocilizumab in a real-life clinical setting.
Background: Rheumatic diseases have many hematological manifestations. Blood dyscrasias and other hematological abnormalities are sometimes the first sign of rheumatic disease. In addition, novel antirheumatic biological agents may cause cytopenias.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, are extremely prevalent among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we assessed the impact of treatment with tocilizumab (TCZ), an IL-6 antagonist, upon anxiety and depressive symptoms in a cohort of RA patients.
Materials And Methods: Study participants were adults diagnosed with RA who received a weekly subcutaneous injection of tocilizumab for 24 weeks.
Background: Guidelines recommend initiation of parenteral biologic or oral target-specific disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs/tsDMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who do not adequately respond to conventional DMARDs.
Objectives: To compare the preferred route of administration of bDMARDs or tsDMARDs in RA patients who were previously treated with at least one type.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of consecutive RA patients previously prescribed bDMARDs or tsDMARDs.
Objective: To amass all available evidence from randomized controlled trials regarding the safety of pulse corticosteroids therapy, in order to establish its safety.
Patients And Methods: All electronic databases from 1/1966 up to 02/2019 were reviewed to find all randomized controlled trials comparing pulse corticosteroids to oral corticosteroids or to placebo/no treatment. Two reviewers independently extracted and recorded data regarding type of corticosteroid treatment, dosages, length of treatment and follow-up.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examines the epidemiology of cutaneous porphyrias (CPs) in Israel, focusing on four main types: porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), variegate porphyria (VP), and hereditary coproporphyria (HCP).
- - Over a 30-year period, data collected showed that VP (38%) and PCT (36%) were the most common types among 173 diagnosed patients, with varying incidence and prevalence rates per million population.
- - The research reveals that patients with PCT had distinct characteristics, such as being older at diagnosis and having no family history, highlighting the need for greater awareness and diagnosis
Background: Uncontrolled gout can cause significant joint and organ damage and has been associated with impairments in quality of life and high economic cost. Gout has also been associated with other comorbid diseases, such as chronic kidney disease. The current study explored if healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and survival differs between patients with incident gout in the presence or absence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
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- Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) is a biomarker that indicates innate immune activation, and this study focused on its levels in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS).
- In a case-control study, plasma sTREM-1 levels were significantly higher in patients with PAPS compared to controls and asymptomatic carriers of antiphospholipid antibodies, suggesting it may play a role in thrombotic events associated with the syndrome.
- The research indicated that plasma sTREM-1 levels could differentiate patients with current thrombotic PAPS from asymptomatic APLA carriers, making it a potential marker for identifying
Background: Chronic fatigue is common among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), affecting quality of life. Osteoporosis is a prevalent co-morbidity in RA patients.
Objectives: To assess the effect of long-term treatment with tocilizumab on fatigue and bone mineral density (BMD) in RA patients with inadequate response to synthetic or biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
Response to the letter to the editor by Gkougkourelas et al - EJCI-2017-0361.
Eur J Clin Invest
December 2017
IgG4-related disease is a syndrome of unknown etiology, which can affect any organ. It is characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the affected organs that is rich in IgG4-positive plasma cells, fibrosis, and sometimes increased blood levels of IgG4. Treatment is determined according to the organs involved and the severity of involvement.
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- Corneal melting and perforation can occur in autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, necessitating quick medical intervention to protect vision and the eye's structure.
- A study involving three patients showed that applying a fresh-tissue corneolimbal graft during emergency surgery effectively sealed the perforation and helped heal the cornea without complications.
- The findings suggest that fresh-tissue corneolimbal grafts are a viable treatment option for severe corneal issues related to rheumatoid arthritis.