Increased sputum peripheral helper T cells are associated with the severity of rheumatoid arthritis but not with the severity of airway disease.

Objective: Peripheral helper T (Tph) cells, together with plasma cells, are the major pathogenic lymphocytes in the synovium in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, whether these cells are involved in RA-associated lung and/or airway disease is unknown.

Methods: Tph cells in sputum were analyzed by flow cytometry and compared with those in synovial fluid and synovial tissue.

Association of spinal ankylosis with spinal mobility and functional impairment in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: A computed tomography study.

Objective: This study aimed to examine relationships of the degree and level of spinal ankylosis with spinal mobility and functional impairment in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) using computed tomography (CT).

Methods: This retrospective study involving 27 patients examined the number of fused intervertebral segments in the whole, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine using CT as a measure of spinal ankylosis, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) as a measure of spinal mobility, and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) as a measure of functional impairment.

Results: Significant positive correlations were found between both BASMI and BASFI and the number of fused intervertebral segments in the whole, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.

The association between difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis and probable sarcopenia.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with probable sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Probable sarcopenia was diagnosed using the SARC-F questionnaire. Patients with difficult-to-treat RA (D2T-RA) were defined as those with a history of using ≥2 biological/targeted synthetic (b/ts) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) who had moderate or high disease activity.

Clinical effectiveness of baricitinib and abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: The objective of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness of baricitinib and abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This study included 274 patients treated with abatacept and 241 treated with baricitinib who were followed for >52 weeks. Potential treatment selection bias was addressed by using inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Verification of grip strength as an evaluation tool for locomotive syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Locomotive syndrome (LS) leads to reduced physical function and a high risk of becoming bedridden. Grip strength serves as an indicator of upper limb and overall physical function. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with reduced grip strength frequently show finger and wrist joint inflammation.

Clinical features of juvenile onset ankylosing spondylitis in Japanese patients.

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to examine the clinical features of juvenile onset ankylosing spondylitis (JoAS) in Japanese patients.

Methods: We examined clinical symptoms (including initial symptoms) and the progression to diagnosis of AS in 17 Japanese JoAS patients at Nagoya university hospital between January 2004 and May 2023. Initial symptoms considered were pain at axial joints and/or extra-axial joints.

Prevalence of social frailty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Data from a multicentre observational study (T-FLAG study).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of social frailty and associated factors.

Methods: A total of 655 consecutive patients who were able to complete the Kihon Checklist (KCL) and the Questionnaire on Social Frailty between June and August 2022 were enrolled. Social frailty was assessed using the Makizako Social Frailty Index.

Factors associated with discrepancies in disease activity as assessed by SDAI and RAPID3 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Data from a multicentre observational study (T-FLAG).

Objectives: The present study aimed to examine discrepancies between assessments based on Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) and Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with controlled disease activity.

Methods: Data from 464 RA patients in SDAI remission or low disease activity (REM/LDA) were analysed. Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures, including Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25), and Kihon checklist (KCL), were assessed.

Association between laughter, frailty, and depression in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether there are associations between laughter, disease activity, frailty, and depression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: A total of 240 patients were included in this prospective cohort study on frailty in RA patients between March 2021 and June 2022. Patients were divided into the following four groups according to the frequency of laughter: "almost every day," "1-5 days per week," "1-3 days per month," and "never or almost never.

Associations of frailty with RA-ILD and poor control of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A multi-center retrospective observational study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with frailty in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: A total of 656 RA patients were evaluated using data from an observational study in 2022. Among these patients, 152 with frailty were assigned to the frailty group, and 504 without frailty were assigned to the non-frailty group.

Well-controlled disease activity with drug treatment will not improve the frailty status of RA patients to robust state: A multicenter observational study (T-FLAG).

Objectives: To investigate a plateau in treatment enhancement for improving the frailty status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: A total of 345 RA patients who were not robust in 2021 were assigned to the improved ("robust 2022," n = 51) and non-improved ("pre-frailty/frailty 2022," n = 294) groups. Factors associated with "robust 2022" were examined by logistic regression analysis.

Intervertebral fusion sites in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A computed tomography study.

Objectives: To examine intervertebral fusion sites along the whole spine of patients with ankylosing spondylitis using computed tomography.

Methods: This retrospective study examined intervertebral fusion of five sites (anterior/posterior vertebrae, left/right zygapophyseal joints, and spinous process) on 23 vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine in 40 patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis at our institute between January 2004 and December 2022.

Results: Mean age [± standard deviation (SD)] was 40.

Sacroiliac joint fusion in patients with ankylosing spondylitis is associated with hip involvement.

Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive inflammatory disease that affects the axial skeleton, and often associated with hip involvement. However, the causative factors for radiological hip involvement in patients with AS are not well characterized. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with hip involvement in patients with AS.

Relationship between frailty and methotrexate discontinuation due to adverse events in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Introduction: Methotrexate (MTX) is an anchor drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Frailty is the intermediate condition between being healthy and disabled, and can lead to negative health outcomes. Adverse events (AEs) due to RA drugs are expected to be higher in frail patients.

Choice of and response to treatment in patients with early-diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis: Real-world data from an inception cohort in Japan (NICER-J).

Objective: Various guidelines recommend that patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) try to achieve clinical remission within 6 months, and early therapeutic intervention is important to this end. This study aimed to investigate short-term treatment outcomes of patients with early-diagnosed RA in clinical practice and to examine predictive factors for achieving remission.

Methods: Of the 210 patients enrolled in the multicenter RA inception cohort, 172 patients who were followed up to 6 months after treatment initiation (baseline) were included.

Late-onset rheumatoid arthritis registry study, LORIS study: study protocol and design.

Background: Although drug treatment strategies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are relatively well established, there is a paucity of evidence on the treatment in older patients. The purpose of this study is to build a registry for late-onset RA (LORA), which is expected to increase rapidly worldwide. In addition, we aim to propose optimal treatment strategies according to the patient background including frailty, thereby contributing to improving the quality of treatment and daily living in patients with RA.

Locomotive syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study aimed to longitudinally evaluate the development of locomotive syndrome (LS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic using the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25). Subjects were 286 RA patients (female, 70.6%; mean age, 64.

Validation of grip strength as a measure of frailty in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients often exhibit finger/wrist joint symptoms and reduced grip strength. This study aimed to validate grip strength as a measure of frailty in RA patients. Subjects were 424 female RA patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 66.

Disease activity at baseline is an independent predictor of frailty at one year in pre-frail patients with rheumatoid arthritis; a multicenter retrospective observational study.

Objectives: To investigate factors predicting frailty for one year in pre-frail patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Method: A total of 298 RA patients who were pre-frail in 2020 were evaluated in this structured, retrospective observational study. Of the 298 patients, 42 who were frail and 256 who were not in 2021 were assigned to the frailty and non-frailty groups, respectively.