Real-Life Use of Filgotinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) are a novel class of drugs interfering with intracellular signaling of type I and type II cytokines, which play a crucial role in immune dysregulation associated with several chronic inflammatory diseases. Filgotinib (FIL), in particular, is the newest member of the JAKi class and exerts its therapeutic effects by selectively targeting and inhibiting the kinase activity of JAK1. While the efficacy of FIL in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been confirmed in clinical trials, real-world evidence may provide better insights into its effectiveness and safety in routine clinical practice.

Development and internal-external cross-validation of a patient-reported definition for acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis.

Objective: To develop and validate a patient-reported definition of acute calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal arthritis in people with crystal-proven CPP deposition (CPPD) disease.

Methods: Consecutive patients with crystal-proven CPPD disease from seven centres across four countries were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. In each centre, patient-reported outcomes on the features of acute CPP crystal arthritis were collected.

Frequency of Renal Function Parameter Abnormalities in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Real-World Evidence from Clinical Practice.

Objective: Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) commonly develop renal dysfunction due to either systemic inflammation or drug-related nephrotoxicity. This study compared renal function parameters in patients with PsA versus those with RA and examined the impact of clinical remission or disease relapse on renal function.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study was conducted at the University Hospital of Messina, Italy.

The Neuropathic Pain Features in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Cross-sectional Evaluation of Prevalence and Associated Factors.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with the neuropathic pain features in a cohort of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: A cross-sectional evaluation was conducted in consecutive patients having PsA with prevalent peripheral joint involvement, referred to 3 rheumatological centers. For each patient, a comprehensive assessment of disease activity, physical function, and disease effect was carried out.

Looking for Lepidic Component inside Invasive Adenocarcinomas Appearing as CT Solid Solitary Pulmonary Nodules (SPNs): CT Morpho-Densitometric Features and 18-FDG PET Findings.

Objective: To investigate CT morphologic and densitometric features and 18-FDG PET findings of surgically excised lung adenocarcinomas "mixed subtype" with predominant lepidic component, appearing as solid solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) on CT scan.

Materials And Methods: Approval for this study was given from each local institutional review board according to its retrospective nature. Nodules pathologically classified as lung adenocarcinoma mixed subtype with bronchioloalveolar otherwise lepidic predominant component, in three different Italian institutions (Napoli; Varese; Parma), were retrospectively selected.

Association between left ventricular perfusion defects and myocardial deformation indexes in heart transplantation recipients.

The aim of the study was to analyze possible correlations between strain echocardiography (STE) and PET myocardial perfusion in a population of heart transplantation (HTx) recipients showing preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction. By STE, LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) was lower in HTx. PET showed no transient or chronic ischemia in 83 of 115 HTx (73%).

Assessment of Standardised Uptake Values in PET Imaging Using Different Software Packages.

Background: This study investigated whether the follow-up by means of positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) is reliable when using different software packages for image reviewing.

Methodology: This study explored the influence of software on patient follow up by analysing images acquired by means of PET/CT equipment. Images were analysed using three software packages.

Non-small cell lung cancer evaluated with quantitative contrast-enhanced CT and PET-CT: net enhancement and standardized uptake values are related to tumour size and histology.

Background: Personalized cancer therapy remains a challenge. In this context, we attempted to identify correlations between tumour angiogenesis, tumour metabolism and tumour cell type. To this aim, we used single=phase multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and hybrid positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) to determine whether net enhancement and standardized uptake value (SUVmax) were correlated with tumour size and cytology in patients affected by non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Right ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular dyssynchrony by 3D echo correlate with functional impairment in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: The aim of the study was to detect if right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction assessed by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) could predict patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with greater functional impairment in response to cardiopulmonary exercise.

Methods And Results: Seventy chronic heart failure patients with DCM (55.5 ± 9.

Preliminary study on the correlation between grading and histology of solitary pulmonary nodules and contrast enhancement and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose standardised uptake value after evaluation by dynamic multiphase CT and PET/CT.

Aim: To evaluate whether the histology and grading of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) correlated with the results of dynamic multiphase multidetector CT (MDCT) and the [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose standardised uptake value (SUV) in 30 patients.

Methods: Chest x-rays of 270 patients with incidentally detected SPNs were retrospectively evaluated. Thirty patients with histologically proven SPNs were enrolled.

Somatostatin analogs and prednisone in advanced refractory thymic tumors.

Background: Therapeutic options to cure advanced, recurrent, and metastatic thymic tumors are limited. Evidence of a high uptake of indium-labeled octreotide ((111)In-DTPA-D-Phe(1)-octreotide) in thymic tumors and the curative application of somatostatin analogs and prednisone in one patient with thymoma and pure red cell aplasia led the authors to start a Phase II study.

Methods: Sixteen patients with advanced thymic tumors, unresponsive to conventional chemotherapeutic regimens, were enrolled in the study.

Functional imaging of Langerhans cell histiocytosis by (111)In-DTPA-D-Phe(1)-octreotide scintigraphy.

Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare group of diseases of unknown pathogenesis, variable clinical presentation, and behavior. It encompasses highly aggressive, often fatal, and indolent diseases, with a variety of intermediate forms between the two extremes. Localization and monitoring of Langerhans cell histiocytosis deposits are based on the combined use of different imaging modalities, which include magnetic resonance, computed tomography, and nuclear medicine procedures.