Effect of cholecalciferol versus calcifediol on serum 25(OH)D concentrations: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Deficiency in vitamin D is widely prevalent around the world. Oral vitamin D supplementation is suggested for older adults to sustain appropriate 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels throughout the year. At present, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) are the most commonly used compounds.

Physical activity assessment in rheumatoid arthritis: a 120-patient cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease frequently associated with comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases. RA patients are more prone to physical inactivity than the general population.

Aim: Our study aimed to evaluate physical activity (PA) in patients with RA and to assess barriers that influence it in RA characteristics.

Assessment of rheumatoid arthritis patients' knowledge about foot problems related to their illness and foot care practice.

Introduction: Foot problems are very common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Podiatric intervention through therapeutic education of RA patients on the different potential foot problems could improve patients' knowledge and management of their foot problems. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of RA patients on podiatric problems related to their illness and foot care practices.

Ultrasound Assessment of Psoriatic Arthritis Patients With Clinically Normal Nails and Evaluation of its Correlation With the Disease Activity: A Case-Control Study.

Objectives: Nail unit is one of the targets of ultrasound (US) assessment. We aimed to compare ultrasound parameters of clinically normal nail unit in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with healthy controls (HC) and evaluate their correlations with disease activity.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including patients with PsA and matched HC.

Burden of disease, pain catastrophizing, and central sensitization in relation to work-related issues in young spondyloarthritis patients.

Introduction: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a common rheumatic inflammatory disease and can impact patients' work productivity. We aimed to evaluate the impact of pain catastrophizing and central sensitization on work outcomes in young SpA patients and determine the predictive factors of work productivity loss.

Material And Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study over 6 months.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous Zolidronic acid in the treatment of pediatric osteogenesis imperfecta: a systematic review.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is an inherited clinically heterogeneous disorder of bone metabolism characterized by bone and skeletal fragility and an increased risk of fractures. Pamidronate infusion was the standard treatment, but zoledronic acid is increasingly used to treat children with osteogenesis imperfecta. We conducted a systematic literature review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous zoledronic acid in the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta in pediatric patients.

Psoriatic Arthritis Quality of Life questionnaire: Translation, cultural adaptation and validation into Arabic language.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a multifaceted inflammatory disease that has a strong negative impact on the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The Psoriatic Arthritis Quality of Life (PsAQoL) questionnaire was the first disease-specific patient-derived instrument developed to measure the QoL in patients with PsA. Our objective was to translate the PsAQol into Arabic language and evaluate its reliability and validity in patients with PsA.

Assessment of self-esteem and community integration in spondyloarthritis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify the associated factors with lower self-esteem and restriction in community reintegration in SpA patients.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study including SpA patients (ASAS criteria) aged 18-50 years. The level of self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES).

Screening of silent myocardial ischaemia using a stress test in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Association with traditional risk factors and disease activity.

Introduction: We aimed to screen the presence of silent myocardial ischaemia, in established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, using a stress test then to evaluate its association with the disease activity and the cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and Heartscore.

Methods: It is a transversal study in a rheumatologic centre in Tunisia. One hundred three RA patients, asymptomatic for CV diseases, were submitted to a stress test.

Central Sensitization in Spondyloarthritis: The Crossroads between Disease Activity, Health-related Quality of Life and Fibromyalgia.

Objective: To assess central sensitization in young patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to study the associated factors with higher central sensitization scores.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including patients with SpA (ASAS criteria) aged less than 50 years. For all patients, we collected the sociodemographic and disease characteristics data.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Associated Factors Among Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis, a chronic degenerative disease, is becoming a public health problem around the world due to increasing life expectancy.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the impact of knee osteoarthritis on the quality of life (QoL) of the patients and to identify factors associated with impaired QoL.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional monocentric study including patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Spinal radiographic progression is correlated with preclinical atherosclerosis in spondyloarthritis.

Background: A higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk was observed in spondyloarthritis (SpA). The relationship between disease-related factors structural damage and subclinical atherosclerosis is still unknown.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the association of subclinical atherosclerosis with radiographic structural damage in patients with SpA.

Association between Rheumatic Disease Comorbidity Index and factors of poor prognosis in a cohort of 280 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is commonly associated with higher rates of comorbidities. Recent recommendations highlight screening comorbidities during the disease course because of their impact on patients' ability to function, on disease outcome, but also on treatment choices. Hence the interest of our study that aimed to quantify the impact of comorbidities among RA patients using a validated tool the Rheumatic Disease Comorbidity Index (RDCI) and to explore the association between comorbidities and disease characteristics.

Risk factors for atlantoaxial dislocation in rheumatoid arthritis: A comparative study.

Background: The objective of the study was to assess clinical and imaging features of rheumatoid arthritis associated with atlantoaxial dislocation (RA-AAD) in comparison to RA without AAD (RA-C) and to identify the associated factors to AAD.

Methods: This was a retrospective comparative study including RA patients over 18 years old. The control group of RA-C was matched according to age (±2 years), gender, and RA duration (±2 years).

Foot function in rheumatoid arthritis: Correlation between the Rheumatoid and Arthritis Outcome Score and performance-based physical tests.

Background: Foot function is usually assessed using self-reported outcome measures which remain subjective in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Physical performance tests were recommended for functional assessment in lower limb osteoarthritis. However, foot function assessment's guidelines in RA are lacking.

Lumbar Spinal Involvement in Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Disease: A Systematic Literature Review.

Background: Calcium-pyrophosphate-dihydrate-disease (CPPD) is a crystal-induced arthropathy. The lumbar-spinal involvement is rare and often under-diagnosed. This study aimed to report the case of a lumbar spine CPPD involvement and to perform a systematic review of clinical, imaging features of lumbar involvement in CPPD patients, and treatments that have been implemented.

Synovial Chondromatosis of the Shoulder in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature.

Background: Synovial chondromatosis is an uncommon benign condition characterized by synovial membrane proliferation and metaplasia. Synovial chondromatosis cases in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been reported. However, involvement of the glenohumeral joint is rare.

Tophaceous gout in a young man with Gitelman syndrome: a case report with an overview.

Gitelman syndrome represents the clinical manifestations of inactivation of the Slc12a3 genes encoding the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride cotransporter and the Trpm6-Mg genes encoding the magnesium transporters in the distal convoluted tubule. In fact, the biochemical findings resemble those with thiazide diuretics such as hypokalemia, hypomagnesaemia, hypocalciuria, metabolic alkalosis, and low normal blood pressure. He is usually associated with calcium pyrophosphate deposition.

Fibromyalgia in Spondyloarthritis: Prevalence and Effect on Disease Activity and Treatment.

Background: Fibromyalgia may be associated to Spondyloarthritis with which it shares some common symptoms such as sleep disorders, fatigue and diffuse pain, leading to diagnostic and treatment dilemmas.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia in axial spondyloarthritis and to determine how fibromyalgia might influence the assessments of disease activity and how it might impact treatment.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted.

Therapeutic drug monitoring of teriflunomide: do plasma concentrations predict response to leflunomide in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

Objectives: Leflunomide is a commonly used treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. It acts by inhibiting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase through its active metabolite teriflunomide. The objective of the study was to investigate the relation between plasma-concentration of teriflunomide and disease-activity in rheumatoid arthritis.