Relationship Between Ultrasound and Physical Examination in the Assessment of Enthesitis in Patients With Spondyloarthritis: Results From the DEUS Multicenter Study.

Objective: The study objectives were (i) to explore the agreement between the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) ultrasound lesions of enthesitis and physical examination in assessing enthesitis in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and (ii) to investigate the prevalence and clinical relevance of subclinical enthesitis in this population.

Methods: Twenty rheumatology centers participated in this cross-sectional study. Patients with SpA, including axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), underwent both ultrasound scan and physical examination of large lower limb entheses.

Synovial fluid alpha-defensins in Lyme arthritis-a useful marker.

Lyme arthritis, one of the possible late manifestations of Lyme borreliosis, predominantly affects the supporting joints and in adults most often occurs in the form of monoarthritis of the knee. Early diagnosis is based on clinical findings and serology. PCR detection of Borrelia in synovial fluid has become an integral part of the laboratory testing algorithm.

Tumor-necrosis factor α-rich environment alters type-I interferon response to viral stimuli in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis by altering myeloid dendritic cell phenotype.

The balance between the tumor-necrosis factor α (TNFα) and type-I interferon (T1IFN) pathways is crucial for proper immune function. Dysregulation of either pathway can contribute to autoimmune diseases development. Even though TNFα blockade has shown promising results in various autoimmune diseases, the effect on the balance between TNFα and T1IFN is elusive.

Power Doppler signal at the enthesis and bone erosions are the most discriminative OMERACT ultrasound lesions for SpA: results from the DEUS (Defining Enthesitis on Ultrasound in Spondyloarthritis) multicentre study.

Objectives: To assess, in spondyloarthritis (SpA), the discriminative value of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) ultrasound lesions of enthesitis and their associations with clinical features in this population.

Methods: In this multicentre study involving 20 rheumatology centres, clinical and ultrasound examinations of the lower limb large entheses were performed in 413 patients with SpA (axial SpA and psoriatic arthritis) and 282 disease controls (osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia). 'Active enthesitis' was defined as (1) power Doppler (PD) at the enthesis grade ≥1 plus entheseal thickening and/or hypoechoic areas, or (2) PD grade >1 (independent of the presence of entheseal thickening and/or hypoechoic areas).

Expanded population of low-density neutrophils in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Introduction: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), a clinically variable disease characterized by autoimmune arthritis, affects children, and its immunopathology remains elusive. Alterations in neutrophil biology play an important role in this disease. In the present study, we aimed to explore the features of low-density neutrophils (LDNs) in patients with JIA.

Faecal Bacteriome and Metabolome Profiles Associated with Decreased Mucosal Inflammatory Activity Upon Anti-TNF Therapy in Paediatric Crohn's Disease.

Background And Aims: Treatment with anti-tumour necrosis factor α antibodies [anti-TNF] changes the dysbiotic faecal bacteriome in Crohn's disease [CD]. However, it is not known whether these changes are due to decreasing mucosal inflammatory activity or whether similar bacteriome reactions might be observed in gut-healthy subjects. Therefore, we explored changes in the faecal bacteriome and metabolome upon anti-TNF administration [and therapeutic response] in children with CD and contrasted those to anti-TNF-treated children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis [JIA].

Two phenotypes of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis with different patterns of bone involvement.

Introduction: Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis (CRMO) is an autoinflammatory bone disorder with predominantly paediatric onset. Children present with multifocal osteolytic lesions accompanied by bone pain and soft tissue swelling. Patients often exhibit extraosseous co-morbidities such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, and arthritis.

SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular immune responses to BNT162b2 vaccine in Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva patients.

Introduction: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is characterized by progressive heterotopic ossification triggered by various conditions, such as trauma, infection, including COVID-19 infection, and vaccination. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations prevent poor outcomes in the general population, there is limited evidence on safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for inpatients with FOP.

Methods: A case series of two patients with FOP focused on humoral, cellular post-vaccination response, and the incidence of adverse events after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine (Comirnaty).

Immunomodulation of neutrophils and platelets by TNF blockage in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease mediated by both adaptive and innate immunity. The role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases is well-established; however, in JIA they are still markedly understudied. Here, we explored the neutrophil features and role of platelet-neutrophil aggregates in JIA patients and assessed the effect of TNF inhibitor (TNFi) therapy.

Immunogenicity and safety of the booster BNT162b2 vaccine in patients with axial spondyloarthritis treated with biological disease-modifying drugs.

Background: Vaccination confers relatively short-term protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), indicating the need for booster doses. Immunocompromised individuals, including those with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), may have pronounced immune response waning. Vaccine-boosted humoral and T-cell responses minimize poor coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) outcome without increasing adverse events (AE).

Increased histone citrullination in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins are crucial for regulating various biological processes. However, protein alteration PTMs, and consequently, the creation of new epitopes, can induce abnormal autoimmune responses in predisposed individuals. Immunopathogenesis of several rheumatic diseases, including the most common childhood form, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), is associated with the generation of autoantibodies against such modified proteins.

Peripheral gene signatures reveal distinct cancer patient immunotypes with therapeutic implications for autologous DC-based vaccines.

Dendritic cells (DCs) have received considerable attention as potential targets for the development of novel cancer immunotherapies. However, the clinical efficacy of DC-based vaccines remains suboptimal, largely reflecting local and systemic immunosuppression at baseline. An autologous DC-based vaccine (DCVAC) has recently been shown to improve progression-free survival and overall survival in randomized clinical trials enrolling patients with lung cancer (SLU01, NCT02470468) or ovarian carcinoma (SOV01, NCT02107937), but not metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (SP005, NCT02111577), despite a good safety profile across all cohorts.

Current treatment options for monogenic periodic fever syndromes - the role of interleukin 1 inhibitors.

Monogenic periodic fever syndromes are heterogeneous group of autoinflammatory diseases including distinct syndromes, such as cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS), tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), mevalonate kinase deficiency/hyper IgD syndrome (MKD/HIDS), and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Individual diseases differ in pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and severity. However, cytokines from the interleukin 1 (IL-1) family play a key role in all of them.

Clinical effectiveness and safety of intra-articular injection of HYALGO in the management of knee osteoarthritis symptoms: A multicenter prospective study.

Background: The reduced concentration of hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid, leading to impairment of joint function and painful symptomatology during knee osteoarthritis (OA), can be restored by using injectable formulations of hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS), variable for relative composition, HA/CS molecular modifications, and injection protocols. The present study aims to assess the safety and performance of the intra-articular (IA) viscosupplementing agent HYALGO, a formulation combining 40 mg/mL HA (>1700 kDa) and 40 mg/mL CS, in the treatment of patients suffering from knee OA.

Methods: 74 patients affected by knee lesions classified as grade II and III according to Kellgren and Lawrence classification were prospectively recruited and treated with three HYALGO injections (2 mL) given one week apart.

Interleukin-1 Blockade in Polygenic Autoinflammatory Disorders: Where Are We now?

Polygenic autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs), such as systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA), adult-onset Still's disease, Kawasaki disease, idiopathic recurrent pericarditis (IRP), Behçet's Syndrome, Crystal-induced arthropatihes such as gout or Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease are characterized by the overexpression of inflammasome-associated genes, leading to a dysregulation of the innate immune response. The IL-1 cytokine family (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-18, IL-36Ra, IL-36α, IL-37, IL-36β, IL-36g, IL-38, IL-33) was defined to be principally responsible for the inflammatory nature of polygenic AIDs. Several clinical trials were initiated, and IL-1 blockade has been proven to cause a rapid reduction of clinical symptoms and normalization of laboratory parameters in the majority of cases.

IL-1 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Monogenic Periodic Fever Syndromes: From the Past to the Future Perspectives.

Autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs) represent a rare and heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation and a broad range of clinical manifestations. The most common symptoms involve recurrent fevers, musculoskeletal symptoms, and serositis; however, AIDs can also lead to life-threatening complications, such as macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) and systemic AA amyloidosis. Typical monogenic periodic fever syndromes include cryopyrin-associated periodic fever syndrome (CAPS), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), mevalonate kinase deficiency/hyper IgD syndrome (MKD/HIDS), and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

The identification and management of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis: evidence-based European consensus statements.

Background: Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) carries a high mortality risk; expert guidance is required to aid early recognition and treatment. We aimed to develop the first expert consensus and define an algorithm for the identification and management of the condition through application of well established methods.

Methods: Evidence-based consensus statements for systemic sclerosis-associated ILD management were established for six domains (ie, risk factors, screening, diagnosis and severity assessment, treatment initiation and options, disease progression, and treatment escalation) using a modified Delphi process based on a systematic literature analysis.

Prevalence and distribution of cartilage damage at the metacarpal head level in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: an ultrasound study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and distribution of US-detected qualitative cartilage damage at metacarpal heads of patients with RA and hand OA.

Methods: Fifty-two RA patients and 34 patients with hand OA were enrolled. US examination of the metacarpal head cartilage from the II to V finger of both hands was performed.

Bronchial Asthma and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness and Their Characteristics in Patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency.

Background: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is one of the most frequent primary immunodeficiencies and is characterized by disturbed immunoglobulin production and dysregulation of the immune system. Results of previous studies suggest a higher prevalence of bronchial asthma (BA) in CVID patients than in the general population. We initiated this study to evaluate lung functions and identify risk factors for BA and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in patients with CVID.

Entheseal involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: an ultrasound study.

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to explore the prevalence and distribution of entheseal US changes in a cohort of SLE patients, taking as controls a group including both PsA patients and healthy subjects. The secondary objective is to investigate the correlation between the US findings and the clinical and serological data in SLE patients.

Methods: Clinical and US assessment of quadriceps, patellar and Achilles tendons, and plantar fascia entheses were performed by independent rheumatologists on 65 patients with SLE, 50 patients with PsA and 50 healthy subjects.

Phase I/II trial of dendritic cell-based active cellular immunotherapy with DCVAC/PCa in patients with rising PSA after primary prostatectomy or salvage radiotherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Objective: Immunotherapy of cancer has the potential to be effective mostly in patients with a low tumour burden. Rising PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels in patients with prostate cancer represents such a situation. We performed the present clinical study with dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy in this patient population.

Generation of T cell effectors using tumor cell-loaded dendritic cells for adoptive T cell therapy.

Adoptive T cell transfer has been shown to be an effective method used to boost tumor-specific immune responses in several types of malignancies. In this study, we set out to optimize the ACT protocol for the experimental treatment of prostate cancer. The protocol includes a pre-stimulation step whereby T cells were primed with autologous dendritic cells loaded with the high hydrostatic pressure-treated prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP.