Implications of thyroid-related autoantibodies in patients with Sjögren's syndrome without overt thyroid diseases.

Objectives: We investigated the prevalence of anti-thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid dysfunction, and their association with clinical and laboratory features in Korean patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) without overt thyroid illnesses.

Methods: We consequently included 196 pSS patients (190 women) and cross-sectionally collected clinical and laboratory data including the EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) and Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI). The fatigue-dominant group was defined as those in the highest quartile of the fraction of fatigue, calculated as the ESSPRI fatigue score divided by the total ESSPRI score.

Application of disease activity index in rheumatoid arthritis management in Korea.

Effective management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) necessitates the accurate measurement of disease activity using a treat-to-target strategy established as a cornerstone approach. Disease activity assessment tools such as the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), Simplified Disease Activity Index, Clinical Disease Activity Index, and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 have been internationally validated and recognised. In Korea, the government initiated a quality assessment program mandating routine measurement of DAS28 to ensure high-quality RA management.

Clinical characteristics and courses of Korean patients with giant cell arteritis: a multi-center retrospective study.

Objective: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large-vessel vasculitis that primarily affects elderly individuals. However, data regarding Korean patients with GCA are scarce owing to its extremely low prevalence in East Asia. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of Korean patients with GCA and their outcomes, focusing on relapse.

SLIRP promotes autoimmune diseases by amplifying antiviral signaling via positive feedback regulation.

The abnormal innate immune response is a prominent feature underlying autoimmune diseases. One emerging factor that can trigger dysregulated immune activation is cytosolic mitochondrial double-stranded RNAs (mt-dsRNAs). However, the mechanism by which mt-dsRNAs stimulate immune responses remains poorly understood.

All-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with Behçet disease versus the general population.

Background: The comparative risk of cause-specific mortality in patients with Behçet disease (BD) vs. the general population is not known.

Objectives: To compare the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with BD vs.

Factors for achieving target serum uric acid levels after initiating urate-lowering therapy in patients with gout: results from the ULTRA registry.

Achieving target serum uric acid (SUA) levels is important in gout management. Guidelines recommend lowering SUA levels to < 6 mg/dL; however, many patients fail to reach this target, even with uric acid-lowering therapy (ULT). This study investigated clinical characteristics of target SUA achievers among Korean patients with gout.

Comparative risk of infections between JAK inhibitors versus TNF inhibitors among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort study.

Background: To compare infectious risk between JAK inhibitors (JAKis) versus TNF inhibitors (TNFis) among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in Korea.

Methods: Using 2009-2019 Korea National Health Insurance Service database, we conducted a cohort study on RA patients initiating a JAKi or TNFi. The primary outcomes were herpes zoster (HZ), serious bacterial (SBI), and opportunistic infections (OI).

Risk of Bloodstream Infection in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Exposed to Prolonged Medium-to-High-Dose Glucocorticoids.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the incidence rate and risk factors of bloodstream infection (BSI) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exposed to medium to high doses of glucocorticoids.

Methods: This study included 1109 treatment episodes with prolonged (≥4 weeks) medium-to-high-dose glucocorticoids (≥15 mg/day prednisolone) in 612 patients with SLE for over 14 years. Clinical features regarding systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), immunosuppressant use, and laboratory results were obtained from the electronic medical database.

Performance of cut-offs adjusted with positive control band intensity in line-blot assays for myositis-specific antibodies.

The diagnostic performance of band intensity (BI) cut-offs, adjusted by a positive control band (PCB) in a line-blot assay (LBA) for myositis-related autoantibodies (MRAs) is investigated. Sera from 153 idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) patients with available immunoprecipitation assay (IPA) data and 79 healthy controls were tested using the EUROLINE panel. Strips were evaluated for BI using the EUROLineScan software, and the coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated.

Comparative risk of blindness and vision-threatening ocular comorbidities in patients with Behçet's disease versus the general population.

Objective: To compare the risk of blindness and vision-threatening ocular comorbidities in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) vs the general population.

Methods: Using 2002-2017 Korea National Health Insurance Service database, we did a population-based cohort study comparing newly diagnosed BD patients and age- and sex-matched non-BD controls at a 1:5 ratio. The primary outcome was blindness, defined as a best-corrected visual acuity of ≤20/500 in the better-seeing eye.

Association between sarcopenia defined as low lean mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and comorbidities of rheumatoid arthritis: Results of a nationwide cross-sectional health examination.

Background: To examine the association between sarcopenia and comorbidities among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We selected RA patients and age- and sex-matched non-RA controls at a 1:5 ratio from 2008-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. Sarcopenia was defined by appendicular skeletal muscle mass.

A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized, Parallel-Group Trial on the Effects of Temporary Methotrexate Discontinuation for One Week Versus Two Weeks on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: This clinical trial was conducted to investigate whether discontinuing methotrexate (MTX) for 1 week after seasonal influenza vaccination is noninferior to discontinuing for 2 weeks after vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In this multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel-group noninferiority trial, RA patients receiving a stable dose of MTX were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to discontinue MTX for 1 week or for 2 weeks after they received the quadrivalent 2021-2022 seasonal influenza vaccine containing H1N1, H3N2, B/Yamagata, and B/Victoria strains. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with a satisfactory vaccine response, which was defined as ≥4-fold increase in antibody titers, as determined with the hemagglutination inhibition assay, against ≥2 of the 4 vaccine strains at 4 weeks after vaccination.

A Case of Overlap Syndrome of Systemic Sclerosis and Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis With Central Nervous System Involvement.

Mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) is occasionally caused by autoimmune diseases including systemic sclerosis. Multiorgan involvement such as skin, kidney, and peripheral nerve involvement is common in mixed CV. However, central nervous system (CNS) involvement is extremely rare.

Initial methotrexate dosage is not associated with an increased risk of liver toxicity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether an initial methotrexate (MTX) dosage is associated with an increased risk of liver toxicity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This retrospective study included 730 RA patients who started MTX treatment between 2004 and 2019 at the rheumatology clinic at Seoul National University Hospital. The patients were divided into three groups according to the initial dosage of MTX they received: low (MTX ≤ 7.

Porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus showing partial remission by topical photodynamic therapy.

Porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus (PEODDN) is an uncommon, benign dermatosis and is characterized by asymptomatic grouped keratotic papules and plaques with a linear pattern on the extremities. Various treatments, including topical steroids, topical calcipotriol, topical 5-fluorouracil, retinoid, cryotherapy, and carbon dioxide laser ablation have been tried for PEODDN, but the results were unsatisfactory. Recently, topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been shown to be effective for various cutaneous disorders.

Congenital syphilis presenting with a generalized bullous and pustular eruption in a premature newborn.

Congenital syphilis occurs when Treponema pallidum crosses the placenta during pregnancy or from contact with an infectious genital lesion during delivery. Cutaneous manifestations of congenital syphilis are relatively common, occurring in approximately 30% to 70% of patients. Maculopapular lesions, vesiculobullous lesions, condylomata lata lesions, annular lesions, and erythema multiforme-like targetoid lesions have been reported.

A case of tuberculosis cutis orificialis with perianal involvement.

Tuberculosis cutis orificialis (TCO) is a rare manifestation of cutaneous tuberculosis that is caused by auto-inoculation of mycobacteria in patients with advanced internal tuberculosis. TCO occurs in oral, perianal, or genital mucosa and adjacent skin. The tongue is the most frequently affected site, but the perianal area can also be affected.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate suppresses galactose-alpha1,4-galactose-1beta,4-glucose ceramide expression in TNF-alpha stimulated human intestinal epithelial cells through inhibition of MAPKs and NF-kappaB.

Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) have been known to produce galactose-alpha1,4-galactose-beta1,4-glucose ceramide (Gb3) that play an important role in the mucosal immune response. The regulation of Gb3 is important to prevent tissue damage causing shiga like toxin. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been studied as anti-carcinogenic, anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenic, and anti-viral activities, and anti-diabetic.