Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) are a novel class of drugs interfering with intracellular signaling of type I and type II cytokines, which play a crucial role in immune dysregulation associated with several chronic inflammatory diseases. Filgotinib (FIL), in particular, is the newest member of the JAKi class and exerts its therapeutic effects by selectively targeting and inhibiting the kinase activity of JAK1. While the efficacy of FIL in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been confirmed in clinical trials, real-world evidence may provide better insights into its effectiveness and safety in routine clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe functional derangement affecting human chondrocytes during osteoarthritis (OA) onset and progression is sustained by the failure of major homeostatic mechanisms. This makes them more susceptible to oxidative stress (OS), which can induce DNA damage responses and exacerbate stress-induced senescence. The knockdown (KD) of IκB kinase α (IKKα), a dispensable protein in healthy articular cartilage physiology, was shown to increase the survival and replication potential of human primary OA chondrocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecent advancements in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have improved patient outcomes, but many still experience disease progression, potentially leading to joint replacement surgery. In this scoping review, we examine the relationship between PsA and orthopedic surgery, focusing on the risks and temporal trends of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the prevalence of postoperative complications, and the effectiveness of these procedures in PsA. The included studies suggest that PsA patients have an overall higher risk of undergoing THA and TKA compared to the general population, but with temporal trends showing a decreased risk for patients diagnosed in recent years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic non-inflammatory disorder mainly characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and a constellation of other symptoms. For this reason, delineating a clear distinction between pure FM and FM-like picture attributable to other common diseases can be extremely challenging. Physicians must identify the most significant confounders in individual patients and implement an appropriate diagnostic workflow, carefully choosing a minimal (but sufficient) set of tests to be used for identifying the most plausible diseases in the specific case.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: to summarize the evidence on the efficacy of minimally invasive interventional procedures such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in patients with osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis.
Methods: a literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science databases. Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies of interventions (NRSI) were included.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional structural deformity of the spine that affects 2-3% of adolescents under the age of 16. AIS etiopathogenesis is not completely understood; however, the disease phenotype is correlated to multiple genetic loci and results from genetic-environmental interactions. One of the primary, still unresolved issues is the implementation of reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRheumatology (Oxford)
April 2024
The Proviral Integration site for the Moloney murine leukemia virus (PIM)-1 kinase and its family members (PIM-2 and PIM-3) regulate several cellular functions including survival, proliferation, and apoptosis. Recent studies showed their involvement in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis RA, while no studies are available on psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The main objective of this study is to assess the expression of PIM kinases in inflammatory arthritides, their correlation with proinflammatory cytokines, and their variation after treatment with biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or JAK inhibitors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPsoriasis is a chronic inflammatory cutaneous condition characterized by several comorbidities, including musculoskeletal disorders. While the association with psoriatic arthritis has been widely addressed in literature, the aim of the present systematic review was to identify all available evidence on the relationship between psoriasis and fibromyalgia, a musculoskeletal syndrome primarily characterized by chronic widespread pain. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and MedLine and Web of Science (WOS) databases were searched for literature up to March 2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Published AOSD data are limited, and clinical guidelines were lacking until recently. Managing AOSD remains largely empirical with uncertainties and high variability about the optimal care pathway.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResearch biobanks are non-profit structures that collect, manipulate, store, analyze and distribute systematically organized biological samples and data for research and development purposes. Over the recent years, we have established a biobank, the Rheumatology BioBank (RheumaBank) headed by the Medicine and Rheumatology unit of the IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli (IOR) in Bologna, Italy for the purpose of collecting, processing, storing, and distributing biological samples and associated data obtained from patients suffering from inflammatory joint diseases. RheumaBank is a research biobank, and its main objective is to promote large-scale, high-quality basic, translational, and clinical research studies that can help elucidate pathogenetic mechanisms and improve personalization of treatment choice in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and other spondyloarthritides (SpA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Conventional therapies (CTs), pharmacological (PH) and non-pharmacological (NPH), do not always achieve benefits in the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP). We assessed efficacy and safety of acupuncture for CLBP as alternative or addition to CT.
Methods: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture alone or in combination with CT to CT.
Background And Aim: Iloprost is recommend worldwide for the treatment of RP and the healing of DUs. The aim of this study is to report the regimens of Iloprost administered in different rheumatological centers within the same regional Health System Methods: A questionnaire exploring different items related to the use of Iloprost was developed and reviewed by three expert rheumatologists. The questionnaire was distributed as an online survey to all local SSc referral centers in Emilia-Romagna (Italy).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Obesity can worsen fibromyalgia (FM) and very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is a potential therapeutic option for diseases that share clinical and pathophysiological features with FM. In this pilot interventional study, we investigated the effects of VLCKD in obese women with FM.
Methods: Female patients with FM and a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m were eligible for VLCKD.
Objectives: To better define the spectrum of new-onset post-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 vaccine inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) from a large multicentric observational study.
Methods: Consecutive cases of IRD encountered during a 12-month period and satisfying one of the following inclusion criteria: (a) onset of the rheumatic manifestations within 4 weeks from SARS-CoV-2 infection or (b) onset of the rheumatic manifestations within 4 weeks from the administration of one of the COVID-19 vaccines ws recruited.
Results: The final analysis cohort comprised 267 patients, of which 122 (45.
As the number of reports of post-acute COVID-19 musculoskeletal manifestations is rapidly rising, it is important to summarize the current available literature in order to shed light on this new and not fully understood phenomenon. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to provide an updated picture of post-acute COVID-19 musculoskeletal manifestations of potential rheumatological interest, with a particular focus on joint pain, new onset of rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases and presence of autoantibodies related to inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies. We included 54 original papers in our systematic review.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Immunol
May 2023