Ultrasound joint examination by an automated system versus by a rheumatologist: from a patient perspective.

Background: The Arthritis Ultrasound Robot (ARTHUR) is an automated system for ultrasound scanning of the joints of both hands and wrists, with subsequent disease activity scoring using artificial intelligence. The objective was to describe the patient's perspective of being examined by ARTHUR, compared to an ultrasound examination by a rheumatologist. Further, to register any safety issues with the use of ARTHUR.

Fibrocytes in early and long-standing rheumatoid arthritis: a 6-month trial with repeated synovial biopsy, imaging and lung function test.

Objectives: To correlate the level of fibrocytes in peripheral blood, synovial tissue and in vitro culture in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with changes in disease activity, imaging and pulmonary function.

Methods: Twenty patients with early RA (ERA) and 20 patients with long-standing RA (LRA) were enrolled in a 6-month prospective study. Sixteen patients undergoing wrist arthroscopy were healthy controls.

Spen deficiency interferes with Connexin 43 expression and leads to heart failure in zebrafish.

Genome-wide association studies identified Spen as a putative modifier of cardiac function, however, the precise function of Spen in the cardiovascular system is not known yet. Here, we analyzed for the first time the in vivo role of Spen in zebrafish and found that targeted Spen inactivation led to progressive impairment of cardiac function in the zebrafish embryo. In addition to diminished cardiac contractile force, Spen-deficient zebrafish embryos developed bradycardia, atrioventricular block and heart chamber fibrillation.

Fibrocyte measurement in peripheral blood correlates with number of cultured mature fibrocytes in vitro and is a potential biomarker for interstitial lung disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) can be a severe extra-articular disease manifestation in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). A potential role of fibrocytes in RA associated ILD (RA-ILD) has not previously been described. We present a modified faster method for measuring circulating fibrocytes, without intracellular staining.