RAPO Attenuates Dermal and Pulmonary Fibrosis in a Mouse Model of Systemic Sclerosis through Macrophage Modulation and Growth of Short-Chain Fatty Acid Producers.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease with an unclear etiology and no effective treatments. Recent research has suggested involvement of the microbiome in SSc pathogenesis. This study aimed to identify specific microbial species associated with SSc and explore their therapeutic potential.

DA-9601 has protective effects comparable to those of proton pump inhibitor and rebamipide against nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-induced upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A nationwide study using Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database.

DA-9601 extracted from Artemisia asiatica contains a bioactive compound - eupatilin - that can protect against gastric mucosal damage through anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties and is approved for treating acute and chronic gastritis in Korea, but their ability to protect gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is unclear. We aimed to compare the protective effects of DA-9601 to those of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and rebamipide against upper and lower GI bleeding in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing long-term NSAIDs therapy using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment database. In this nationwide retrospective cohort study, we evaluated patients with RA who concurrently received NSAIDs for >3 months with DA-9601, PPI, or rebamipide between January 2015 and December 2017.

extract ameliorates skin fibrosis in a bleomycin-induced mouse model of systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by skin and internal organ fibrosis and obliterative vasculopathy. Few effective treatments are currently available for fibrosis in SSc, therefore, demand persists for novel therapies. Although use of extract (GBE) has been reported to improve blood circulation and alleviate liver and lung fibrosis, its effect on skin fibrosis in SSc remains unclear.

A large pulmonary nodule in a rheumatoid arthritis patient treated with tofacitinib.

Pulmonary rheumatoid nodules are rare extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They are usually asymptomatic but may form cavities and cause clinical symptoms. These nodules are difficult to differentiate clinically and radiologically from tuberculosis, fungal infection, or lung malignancies.

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.

A Case of Palisaded Neutrophilic and Granulomatous Dermatitis Associated with an Initial Presentation in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Palisaded neutrophilic and granulomatous dermatitis (PNGD) is an inflammatory dermatosis associated with systemic immune-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, and ulcerative colitis. Histologically, serial development of leukocytoclastic vasculitis is shown from an early stage, which can progress to palisading granuloma in the fully developed stage and to fibrosis in the final stage. A 32-year-old man presented with ankylosing spondylitis showing multiple erythematous papules on his fingers, elbows, knees, and left auricle.

FAT10 differentially stabilizes MYPT2 isoforms.

Myosin phosphatase (MP) is an enzyme complex that regulates muscle contraction and plays important roles in various physiological and pathological conditions. Myosin phosphatase targeting subunit (MYPT) 2, a subunit of MP, interacts with protein phosphatase 1c to regulate its phosphatase activity. MYPT2 exists in various isoforms that differ in the composition of essential motifs that contribute to its function.

Analysis of appropriate duration of colchicine prophylaxis to maximize the persistence of xanthine oxidase inhibitors as the first-line urate-lowering therapy in patients with gout using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database.

Introduction: We investigated the appropriate duration of colchicine prophylaxis to maximize the persistence of xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs) as first-line urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in patients with gout. This was a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment database.

Methods: Patients with gout aged ≥20 years who were newly initiated on XOIs, such as allopurinol or febuxostat, from July 2015 to June 2017 and received these medications for ≥6 months were analyzed and followed up until June 2019.

Exosomal hsa-miR-335-5p and hsa-miR-483-5p are novel biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis: A development and validation study.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes cartilage and bone damage. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that play a critical role in intercellular communication and various biological processes by serving as vehicles for the transfer of diverse molecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, between cells. The purpose of this study was to develop potential biomarkers for RA in peripheral blood by performing small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) sequencing using circulating exosomes from healthy controls and patients with RA.

Erratum: Correction of Author's Affiliation in the Article "Changing Patterns of Medical Visits and Factors Associated With No-show in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis During COVID-19 Pandemic".

This corrects the article on p. e423 in vol. 35, PMID: 33316859.

FAT10 Induces cancer cell migration by stabilizing phosphorylated ABI3/NESH.

The WAVE regulatory complex (WRC) is involved in various cellular processes by regulating actin polymerization. The dysregulation of WRC components is associated with cancer development. ABI family member 3 (ABI3)/new molecule including SH3 (NESH) is one of the WRC components and it has been reported that ABI3 phosphorylation can affect WRC function.

Increased prevalence of periodontitis with hypouricemic status: findings from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2016-2018.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and the risk of periodontitis in Korean adults using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the KNHANES 2016-2018 and analysed 12,735 Korean adults aged ≥19 years who underwent oral examinations. Hypouricemia was defined as SUA <3 mg/dL in men and <2 mg/dL in women, and hyperuricemia was defined as SUA ≥7 mg/dL in men and ≥6 mg/dL in women.

Associations of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio with Osteoporosis and Incident Vertebral Fracture in Postmenopausal Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background and Objectives: We investigated whether nutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphoycte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) are associated with the presence of osteoporosis (OP) and vertebral fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 413 postmenopausal patients with RA and 200 healthy controls who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) between January 2005 and December 2017. DEXA examination data were defined as the index date, and all laboratory values were measured within one month from the index date.

Diagnostic Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte, Platelet-to-Lymphocyte, and Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratios for the Assessment of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients with Undifferentiated Inflammatory Arthritis.

Background: To investigate the diagnostic performance of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in subjects with undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis (UIA). Methods: This retrospective cohort study investigated 201 female patients with UIA (≥1 swollen joint) and 280 age-matched, healthy female controls. “Clinical RA” was defined based on the clinical judgment of a rheumatologist and “disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) RA” was defined as a case of initiating DMARDs treatment within 6 months after the first visit.

COVID-19 vaccination-related small vessel vasculitis with multiorgan involvement.

Since its first outbreak in 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has been ongoing, and the pandemic is not over yet. Vaccines developed against COVID-19 have been approved and widely used since 2020; however, vaccine safety concerns need to be addressed. Autoimmune symptoms have been reported as a side effect of many COVID-19 vaccines.

Status of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis Preventive Care in Korea: A Retrospective Cohort Study on the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database.

It is crucial to prevent osteoporosis in patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and associated factors of preventive care for glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in Korea. Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we identified 37,133 individuals aged ≥ 20 years who commenced long-term (≥90 days) oral GC between 2011 and 2012.

Mirodenafil ameliorates skin fibrosis in bleomycin-induced mouse model of systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Despite the recent advances in the pathogenesis and treatment of SSc, effective therapies for fibrosis caused by SSc have not yet been established. In this study, we investigated the potential role of mirodenafil, a potent phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, in the treatment of fibrosis in SSc.

Two-year clinical outcomes after discontinuation of long-term golimumab therapy in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to investigate long-term post-discontinuation outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had been treated with tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors (TNF-αi) which was then discontinued.

Methods: Sixty Korean patients with RA who participated in a 5-year GO-BEFORE and GO-FORWARD extension trials were included in this retrospective study. Golimumab was deliberately discontinued after the extension study (baseline).