Identifying damage clusters in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Aim: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) causes irreversible damage to organ systems. Recently, evidence has been obtained for subphenotypes of SLE. This study aimed to identify damage clusters and compare the associated clinical manifestations, SLE disease activity, mortality, and genetic risk scores (GRS).

Update on the prevalence and incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in Korea and an analysis of medical care and drug utilization.

The objectives of this study are to identify the prevalence and incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to investigate the patterns of medical care and drug utilization by RA patients in Korea. Korean National Health Insurance claims data were used for analysis. RA patients were defined as those having an RA code from 2009 to 2012 and using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) within 1 year after the code.

Factors associated with time to diagnosis from symptom onset in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Background/aims: To identify the factors associated with time to diagnosis after symptom onset in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Early RA patients with ≤ 1 year of disease duration in the KORean Observational study Network for Arthritis (KORONA) database were included in this analysis. Patients were further divided into two groups according to the time to diagnosis from symptom onset: the early diagnosis group (time to diagnosis ≤ 1 year) and the late diagnosis group (time to diagnosis > 1 year).

Impact of anti-rheumatic treatment on cardiovascular risk in Asian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To estimate the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Asian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to evaluate the impact of anti-rheumatic treatment on the development of CVD.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of Asian patients with RA was established to identify the incidence rate (IR) of CVD in RA patients. The cohort was generated using the Korean National Healthcare claims database, which contained claims from Jan 2009 to Dec 2013.

Isoniazid treatment for latent tuberculosis infection is tolerable for rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy.

Background/aims: To evaluate the impact of isoniazid (INH) treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) on the development of liver function test (LFT) abnormality and the persistence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with RA who were treated with TNF inhibitors at a university hospital between December 2000 and November 2011. After dividing the patients into two groups based on the occurrence of LFT abnormality during follow-up, we compared demographic and clinical features between the two groups.

Safety of resuming biologic DMARDs in patients who develop tuberculosis after anti-TNF treatment.

Objectives: To estimate the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with tumor necrotizing factor inhibitor (TNFI) and evaluate the safety of resuming biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients who developed TB after anti-TNF treatment.

Methods: We conducted an inception cohort study of RA patients in the Korean Healthcare Claims Database who started TNFI as the first biologic DMARD between January 2009 and December 2013. The incidence rate (IR) of TB was estimated among total TNFI starters and a nested case-control analysis was performed to compare the characteristics of patients who developed TB and those did not.

Characteristics and outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis patients who started biosimilar infliximab.

To compare the characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving either biosimilar or originator infliximab and to identify the effectiveness and safety of biosimilar infliximab in RA patients in real-world practice. RA patients who started either biosimilar or originator infliximab were selected using the prospective biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) registry: BIOlogics Pharmacoepidemiologic StudY (BIOPSY). Baseline characteristics of the two groups were compared, and short-term treatment outcomes, including DAS28-ESR and HAQ-DI scores, were compared after initiation of biosimilar or originator infliximab.

Comparative effectiveness of treatment options after conventional DMARDs failure in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To compare the clinical effectiveness of two treatment strategies for active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refractory to conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs): starting TNF inhibitors (TNFIs) or changing csDMARDs.

Methods: We used two nationwide Korean RA registries for patient selection. TNFI users were selected from the BIOPSY, which is an inception cohort of RA patients starting biologic DMARDs.

Impact of early diagnosis on functional disability in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background/aims: To determine whether early diagnosis is beneficial for functional status of various disease durations in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: A total of 4,540 RA patients were enrolled as part of the Korean Observational Study Network for Arthritis (KORONA). We defined early diagnosis as a lag time between symptom onset and RA diagnosis of ≤ 12 months, whereas patients with a longer lag time comprised the delayed diagnosis group.

Drug retention and safety of TNF inhibitors in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: The concerns about the development of adverse events (AEs) in elderly RA patients as a result of age-related changes in drug metabolism and the presence of comorbid illnesses are emphasizing due to increasing prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in old age. However, they tend to be inadequately represented in RA clinical trials because of the exclusion criteria that are commonly applied. The tolerability and safety of TNF inhibitors in elderly patients have not been also evaluated in clinical practice.

Differences in Clinical Features and Mortality between Childhood-onset and Adult-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Prospective Single-center Study.

Objective: To compare clinical features and mortality between childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) and adult-onset SLE (aSLE) in a prospective single-center cohort.

Methods: A total of 1112 patients with SLE (133 cSLE and 979 aSLE) were enrolled and followed from 1998 to 2012. The 2 groups were compared regarding American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for SLE, autoantibodies, disease activity measured by the Adjusted Mean SLE Disease Activity Index (AMS), damage measured by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index (SDI), and medication.

Factors Associated with the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Korean Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is often painful and debilitating. Patients with RA are increasingly receiving complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). We aimed to identify the patient characteristics and disease-specific factors associated with Korean patients with RA who decide to start treatment with CAM.

Evaluation of the usefulness of interferon-gamma release assays and the tuberculin skin test for the detection of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections in Korean rheumatic patients who are candidates for biologic agents.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of active tuberculosis (TB) in patients who received both an interferon-gamma release assay (the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test [QFT-GIT]) and tuberculin skin test (TST) in comparison with those who received QFT-GIT or TST alone for the detection of latent TB infection (LTBI).

Methods: In total, 842 patients who received QFT-GIT or TST and used biologic agents between January 2007 and December 2012 were recruited to determine the usefulness of LTBI screening tests. The incidence of active TB was calculated relative to the LTBI screening method as the number of events per 100 000 person-years exposure.

A comparison of incidence and risk factors for serious adverse events in rheumatoid arthritis patients with etanercept or adalimumab in Korea and Japan.

Objective: To compare the incidence and risk factors of serious adverse events (SAEs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with etanercept (ETN) or adalimumab (ADA) between Korean and Japanese registries.

Methods: We recruited 416 RA patients [505.2 patient-years (PYs)] who started ETN or ADA from Korean registry and 537 RA patients (762.

Effects of a combined lifestyle score on 10-year mortality in Korean men and women: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Most studies that have evaluated the association between combined lifestyle factors and mortality outcomes have been conducted in populations of Caucasian origin. The objective of this study was to examine the association between combined lifestyle scores and the risk of mortality in Korean men and women.

Methods: The study population included 59,941 Koreans, 30-84 years of age, who had visited the Severance Health Promotion Center between 1994 and 2003.

Simultaneous detection of antibacterial sulfonamides in a microfluidic device with amperometry.

A highly sensitive and robust method for simultaneous detection of five sulfonamide drugs is developed by integrating the preconcentration and separation steps in a microfluidic device. An ampetrometry is performed for the selective detection of sulfonamides using an aluminum oxide-gold nanoparticle (Al(2)O(3)-AuNPs) modified carbon paste (CP) electrode at the end of separation channel. The preconcentration capacity of the channel is enhanced by using the field amplified sample stacking and the field amplified sample injection techniques.

Physical activity level and risk of death: the severance cohort study.

Background: Physical activity decreases deaths from cardiovascular disease and other causes; however, it is unclear whether physical activity is associated with cancer incidence and death in Asian populations.

Methods: Data from 59 636 Koreans aged 30 to 93 years were collected using a questionnaire and medical examination at the Severance Hospital Health Promotion Center between 1994 and 2004. Study participants were followed for a mean duration of 10.

Impact of metabolic syndrome independent of insulin resistance on the development of cardiovascular disease.

Background:  It is controversial as to whether metabolic syndrome is a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of insulin resistance (IR). The aim of this study was to determine the independent and combined effects of metabolic syndrome and IR on the incidence of CVD in a prospective cohort study.

Methods And Results:  A total of 6,430 healthy subjects who underwent a health check-up were enrolled.

Association of the leptin to high-molecular-weight adiponectin ratio with metabolic syndrome.

Recent studies have reported that leptin and adiponectin are associated with metabolic syndrome. The leptin/adiponectin ratio has been suggested as an atherosclerotic index. The objective of this study was to compare the degree of association of metabolic syndrome with adiponectin levels, leptin levels, leptin/adiponectin ratio, and leptin/high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin ratio.

Electrophoretic total analysis of trace tetracycline antibiotics in a microchip with amperometry.

The preconcentration, separation, and electrochemical detection of a series of tetracycline (TC) antibiotics in a microfluidic channel were preformed. The electrophoretic experimental parameters to analyze TC, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline antibiotics were investigated with a cellulose-dsDNA-modified carbon paste electrode. Modification of the electrode improved detection performance by enhancing the signal-to-noise characteristics without surface fouling of the electrode.

Anti-inflammatory and related pharmacological activities of cultured mycelia and fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militaris.

This study aimed to elucidate pharmacological activities of Cordyceps militaris. The 70% ethanolic extracts of cultured mycelia (CME) and fruiting bodies (FBE) of Cordyceps militaris were prepared. CME was able to directly scavenge the stable free radical diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), indicating its antioxidant activity.