Perspectives of Patients and Providers on the Use of Telemedicine for Chronic Disease Specialty Care in the Alaska Tribal Health System.

There are disparities in access to specialty care for chronic diseases in rural populations. Telemedicine has been proposed to improve access. The objective of this study was to identify predictors of telemedicine use for chronic disease specialty care in the Alaska Tribal Health System.

Outcomes and Quality of Care in Rheumatoid Arthritis With or Without Video Telemedicine Follow-Up Visits.

Objective: Telemedicine has been proposed to improve access to care in rheumatology, but few studies of telerheumatology have been published. The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes and quality of care for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients seen by video telemedicine follow-up compared to in-person only.

Methods: Individuals in the Alaska Tribal Health System with a diagnosis of RA were recruited when seeing a rheumatologist either in-person or by video telemedicine, both of which were offered as part of usual follow-up care.

Factors Associated With Use of Telemedicine for Follow-up of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Telemedicine is increasingly being offered to patients for rheumatology care, but few studies have examined factors associated with telemedicine use or outcomes of telemedicine in rheumatology. The objective of this analysis was to determine factors associated with the use of video telemedicine when offered as part of usual care for follow-up of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Individuals in the Alaska Tribal Health System with a diagnosis of RA were recruited when seeing a rheumatologist either in-person or by video telemedicine, both of which were offered as part of usual care.

Prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus-associated inflammatory arthritis in a population-based cohort.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus-associated inflammatory arthritis, to describe its clinical and immunologic correlates, and to identify features that are characteristic of arthritis in chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Participants with chronic hepatitis C infection enrolled in a population-based cohort study in Alaska and who had not received anti-viral treatment for hepatitis C were recruited. In a cross-sectional study, we assessed joint symptoms and signs, performed autoantibody and cytokine testing, and abstracted medical records for features of hepatitis C and arthritis.

A Longitudinal Hepatitis B Vaccine Cohort Demonstrates Long-lasting Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Cellular Immunity Despite Loss of Antibody Against HBV Surface Antigen.

Background: Long-lasting protection resulting from hepatitis B vaccine, despite loss of antibody against hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (anti-HBs), is undetermined.

Methods: We recruited persons from a cohort vaccinated with plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine in 1981 who have been followed periodically since. We performed serological testing for anti-HBs and microRNA-155 and assessed HBV-specific T-cell responses by enzyme-linked immunospot and cytometric bead array.

Autoimmune hepatitis in the Alaska Native population: autoantibody profile and HLA associations.

Background & Aims: The Alaska Native population is one of few populations in the world with a high prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and HLA and clinical associations of autoantibodies in Alaska Native people with autoimmune hepatitis.

Methods: Alaska Native individuals with autoimmune hepatitis were recruited in clinics conducted statewide.

Prevalence and incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus in a population-based registry of American Indian and Alaska Native people, 2007-2009.

Objective: Few studies have investigated the epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and incidence of SLE in the Indian Health Service (IHS) active clinical population in 3 regions of the US.

Methods: For this population-based registry within the IHS, the denominator consisted of individuals in the IHS active clinical population in 2007, 2008, and/or 2009 and residing in a community in 1 of 3 specified regions.

Prevalence of anti-peptidylarginine deiminase type 4 antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis and unaffected first-degree relatives in indigenous North American Populations.

Objective: To determine whether anti-peptidylarginine deiminase type 4 (PAD4) antibodies were present in first-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2 indigenous North American populations with high prevalence of RA.

Methods: Participants were recruited from 2 indigenous populations in Canada and the United States, including patients with RA (probands), their unaffected FDR, and healthy unrelated controls. Sera were tested for the presence of anti-PAD4 antibodies, anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies, and rheumatoid factor (RF).