Optimizing the protocol for retinal vascular permeability mapping from fluorescein videoangiography data.

An intact blood-retinal barrier is critical to maintaining the function of the retina. Many diseases of the eye have been directly associated with impairment in vascular permeability, and methods to measure vascular permeability could offer a window into early detection of disease; however, there exist no direct measures of vascular permeability that have be translated to the clinic. This work details a complete clinical workflow to quantify vascular permeability and volumetric blood flow from fluorescein videoangiography data, with validation through realistic simulations.

A review on applications of abatacept in systemic rheumatic diseases.

Abatacept is a CTLA-4Ig fusion protein that selectively modulates the CD80/CD86:CD28 costimulatory pathway required for full T-cell activation. The FDA has approved it to be used to treat adult rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and adult active psoriatic arthritis. Considering the vital pathogenic role of the CTLA-4 pathway in autoimmune diseases, abatacept could efficiently treat other systemic rheumatic diseases.

Acute effects of air pollution on lupus nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A multicenter panel study in China.

Air pollution may trigger systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, few studies have investigated the associations between air pollution and complications of SLE, such as lupus nephritis (LN). In this study, multicenter longitudinal data from 13 hospitals in China, including 8552 SLE patients with 24,762 visits, were used.

Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalized Patients Infected with COVID-19 from Wuhan, China: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Since the first diagnosed case of infection with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), there has been a rapid spread of the disease with an increasing number of cases confirmed every day, as well as a rising death toll. An association has been reported between acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, our study was conducted to explore possible risk factors of AKI as well as whether AKI was a risk factor for worse outcome, especially mortality among patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Platelet Distribution Width Level in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Its Diagnostic Value.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the platelet distribution width (PDW) level in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SLE-PAH) with that in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus alone (SLE-non-PAH) and to evaluate the clinical value of the PDW level in the early diagnosis of SLE-PAH.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed 80 SLE-PAH patients (1 males, 79 females; 34.9±12.

Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: an overview of epidemiology, pathogenesis and management.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) accounts for the major cause of morbidity and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, little is known of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of RA-associated ILD. In this review, we describe our present understanding and ongoing research in RA-ILD.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody predicts the development of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with undifferentiated arthritis.

Background: Clinical outcomes of undifferentiated arthritis (UA) are diverse, and only 40% of patients with UA develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after 3 years. Discovering predictive markers at disease onset for further intervention is critical. Therefore, our objective was to analyze the clinical outcomes of UA and ascertain the predictors for RA development.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Non-Inferiority Study of Febuxostat Versus Allopurinol in Hyperuricemic Chinese Subjects With or Without Gout.

Introduction: This 24-week randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority study compared the efficacy and safety of febuxostat, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, with allopurinol using an up-titration method in hyperuricemic Chinese subjects with or without gout.

Methods: Eligible adults (serum uric acid [SUA] > 7.0 mg/dl with a history of gout, SUA ≥ 8.

Evaluation of 12 different assays for detecting ANCA in Chinese patients with GPA and MPA: a multicenter study in China.

Objective: Due to lack of comprehensive evaluation for various detection methods for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) in Chinese population, we evaluate the diagnostic performance of 12 established analysis methods in Chinese patients having granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).

Methods: Sera were collected from 209 patients with GPA or MPA and 243 diseases controls from 15 centers. Twelve different reagents were employed for C-ANCA, P-ANCA, myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA, and proteinase 3(PR3)-ANCA detection.

The presence of P2RX7 single nuclear polymorphism is associated with a gain of function in P2X7 receptor and inflammasome activation in SLE complicated with pericarditis.

Objectives: A case control study was conducted to evaluate the possible influence of P2RX7 single nuclear polymorphism and P2X7 receptor activity in the susceptibility of SLE with pericarditis in Chinese Han population.

Methods: We studied a cohort of SLE patients with (SLE+PCS) or without (SLE-PCS) history of pericarditis and demographic, therapeutic and clinical data were retrospectively collected. P2RX7 489 C>T (His155Tyr) genotype of each subject was analysed and classified as CC or C>T (CT and TT) variant.

α-Difluoromethylornithine suppresses inflammatory arthritis by impairing myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Objectives: The chemopreventive drug α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) has been shown to have an antinociceptive effect on mechanical allodynia in inflammatory arthritis by directly inhibiting ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and decreasing polyamine production in inflammatory sites. However, little is known about the effect of DFMO on the immune system of inflammatory arthritis. Here, we investigated the effect of DFMO in a well-established collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model and explored its effect on the immune system.

Efficacy and Safety of Loxoprofen Hydrogel Transdermal Patch Versus Loxoprofen Tablet in Chinese Patients with Myalgia: A Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Parallel-Group, Randomized, Controlled, Non-Inferiority Trial.

Background And Objective: Loxoprofen (LOX) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Although oral administration of LOX has been widely prescribed, clinical guidelines for osteoarthritis generally recommend topical rather than oral NSAIDs in specific patients. However, there is limited information on the effects of loxoprofen sodium oral (LOX-O) versus loxoprofen sodium hydrogel transdermal patch (LOX-T) in myalgia patients.

Increased Autophagy Enhances the Resistance to Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis Human Fibroblast-Like Synovial Cell.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-) was reported to increase autophagy in rheumatoid arthritis human fibroblast-like synovial cell (RA-HFLS). We investigated different levels of TNF- exposed to RA-HFLS by focusing on the relationship of autophagy and apoptosis. RA-HFLS and normal human fibroblast-like synovial cell (HFLS) were stimulated by TNF- in the presence or the absence of 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or chloroquine (CQ).

Disability and health-related quality of life in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in China.

Method: A cross-section survey was conducted in 21 general hospitals in China. Eight hundred and seven patients were recruited.

Tocilizumab and the risk of respiratory adverse events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relative risk (RR) of respiratory adverse events (AEs) among patients with RA treated with TCZ.

Methods: Databases (PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library) were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing the use of TCZ with placebo (PBO) or active comparator agents in adults with RA published until October 28, 2017. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate the RR of infectious and non-infectious respiratory AEs and severe AEs (SAEs) using random-effects or fixed-effects models based on the heterogeneity of the included studies.

Prevalence of psychological disorders, sleep disturbance and stressful life events and their relationships with disease parameters in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of psychological disorders, sleep disturbance, and stressful life events in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and healthy controls, to assess the correlation between psychological and disease-related variables, and finally to detect powerful factors in predicting anxiety and depression. AS patients diagnosed with the modified New York criteria and healthy controls were enrolled from China. Participants completed a set of questionnaires, including demographic and disease parameters, Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire (PSQI), and the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS).

Remission assessment of rheumatoid arthritis in daily practice in China: a cross-sectional observational study.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the remission rate and describe the current use of medication in a large cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under routine clinical care in China. RA patients were recruited from 40 large teaching hospitals nationwide in China. Data regarding RA disease activity, medication treatment, and adverse events were recorded using a standardized clinical data questionnaire.

Retrospective analysis of plasma exchange combined with glucocorticosteroids for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus-related acute pancreatitis in central China.

Systemic lupus erythematosus-related acute pancreatitis (SLEAP) has a poor prognosis with a high mortality. We described the clinical features of SLEAP, and discussed the feasibility of plasma exchange (PE) combined with glucocorticosteroids (GC) in short-term prognosis and possible mechanism in reducing serum inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and removing serum lipids. A retrospective study was performed by an independent rheumatologist.

Human brucellosis mimicking axial spondyloarthritis: a challenge for rheumatologists when applying the 2009 ASAS criteria.

Although the development of the 2009 SpA classification criteria by Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) represents an important step towards a better definition of the early disease stage particularly in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), the specificity of the criteria has been criticized these days. As the commonest zoonotic infection worldwide, human brucellosis can mimic a large number of diseases, including SpA. This study was performed to determine the frequency of rheumatologic manifestations in patients with brucellosis and the chance of misdiagnosing them as having axSpA in central China.

A randomized, controlled trial of efficacy and safety of Anbainuo, a bio-similar etanercept, for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis inadequately responding to methotrexate.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept (Anbainuo) treatment in Chinese moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX-IR); 600 patients (360 in phase III-1 and 240 in phase III-2) poorly responding to MTX were enrolled in the study and randomized at a ratio of 2:1 into an Anbainuo treatment or control group. The study was designed as a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled period followed by a 12-week open-label study. The primary endpoint was the ACR20 response rate at week 12.

Recent insights into the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Autophagy appears to play a dual role in eukaryotic cells. It manifests cytoprotective effects through the regulation of catabolic processes and the clearance of pathogens; however, a correlation between autophagy and the pathogenesis of autoimmune/autoinflammatory conditions has recently been described. Autophagy has emerged as a mediator in the pathogenesis of RA.

Combination Therapies of Diacerein and Febuxostat Inhibit IL-1β Responses and Improve Clinical Symptoms in Patients With Refractory Gout.

There are several therapeutic strategies available for the treatment of an acute gout attack and the prevention of recurrent gout flares, and they include nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs. This prospective study was aimed at evaluating the efficiency and safety of diacerein in combination with febuxostat on urate control, global assessments of disease activity, self-monitored gouty acute flare times, inflammatory markers, and clinical symptoms associated with their life quantity in patients with refractory gout. A total of 64 patients with refractory gout were sequentially recruited and prescribed with oral febuxostat alone or febuxostat plus diacerein daily for 12 weeks.

Primary Sjögren syndrome in Han Chinese: clinical and immunological characteristics of 483 patients.

The epidemiological characteristics of Sjögren syndrome (SS) are significantly varied in different countries. We conducted the present study to survey the epidemiological characteristics of primary SS in China. We recruited 483 primary SS patients from 16 Chinese medical centers nationwide from January 2009 to November 2011 and assessed salivary and lacrimal gland dysfunction, organ involvement, and autoimmunity in these patients.

The impact of rheumatoid arthritis on work capacity in Chinese patients: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of RA on work capacity and identify factors related to work capacity impairment in patients with RA.

Methods: A cross-sectional multicentre study was performed in 21 tertiary care hospitals across China. A consecutive sample of 846 patients with RA was recruited, of which 589 patients of working age at disease onset constituted the study population.