The COVID-19 Pandemic Heightens Interest in Cytokine Storm Disease and Advances in Machine Learning Diagnosis, Telemedicine, and Primordial Prevention of Rheumatic Diseases.

Insights gained during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has underscored the critical role played by both innate and adaptive immune responses in determining the severity of diseases. This newfound understanding holds significant potential to bring about a paradigm shift in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of autoimmune conditions. Advanced technologies that are emerging in the field are expected to play a pivotal role in this transformation.

Platelet count and hypertension as indicators of height loss in the general population: A prospective study.

Circulating CD34-positive cell count is inversely associated with height loss. It acts as an indicator of endothelial repair activity. In conjunction with CD34-positive cells, platelets contribute to endothelial repair.

Analysis of musculoskeletal ultrasound findings and cytokines/growth factors in glucocorticoid-resistant polymyalgia rheumatica.

We sought to clarify the musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) findings and serum concentrations of cytokines/growth factors in glucocorticoid-resistant polymyalgia rheumatica (GC-R PMR). Patients with PMR admitted to Nagasaki University Hospital ( = 41) were enrolled. MSUS of both shoulder joints was performed in 36 patients.

Preferable effect of CTLA4-Ig on both bone erosion and bone microarchitecture in rheumatoid arthritis revealed by HR-pQCT.

This exploratory study aimed to examine the impact of abatacept treatment on bone structure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT). RA patients initiating either abatacept or newly introduced csDMARDs were enrolled in this prospective, non-randomized, two-group study. Bone structure in the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal heads was assessed using HR-pQCT at 0, 6, and 12 months after enrollment.