Subclinical dactylitis is linked with active phenotype of psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: Dactylitis has been identified as an important feature of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with poorer prognosis. Moreover, ultrasound can reveal subclinical dactylitis, however its significance is unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the impact of subclinical dactylitis on PsA severity.

B cell pathway dual inhibition for systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective single-arm cohort study of telitacicept.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease associated with B-cell hyperactivity. Telitacicept is a transmembrane activator, calcium modulator, and cyclophilin ligand interactor-Fc fusion protein, which can neutralize both B-cell lymphocyte stimulator and a proliferation-inducing ligand. Patients with active SLE who received telitacicept were prospectively followed at month 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 after telitacicept initiation.

Real-World Clinical Equivalence of Generic and Branded Tofacitinib: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objectives: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of generic tofacitinib vs brand name tofacitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a single-center comparative study based on a prospective real-world cohort.

Methods: Patients with RA receiving tofacitinib, either generic (Kelejia) or branded (Xeljanz), from March 2017, to December 31, 2022, were enrolled. The primary outcome was the simplified disease activity index (SDAI)-defined remission rate at month 6.

The Recent Outbreak of COVID-19 in China During the Omicron Variant Predominance: Clinical Features and Outcomes in Patients with Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases.

Introduction: The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on vulnerable populations with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs) has been variable with variants and of great concern. Here we report the clinical features, outcomes, and risk factors for infection and hospitalization in patients with AIIRDs in the first wave of infection in China in December 2022.

Methods: A real-world survey was conducted in Chinese patients with AIIRDs from 8 December 2022 to 13 January 2023.

Presence of tophi and carotid plaque were risk factors of MACE in subclinical artherosclerosis patients with gout: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Patients with gout carry an excess risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the contribution of subclinical atherosclerosis to the CVD risk has never been reported. In this study, we aimed to explore the predictive factors for incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in gout patients without a previous history of CVD or cerebral vascular disease.

Methods: A single-center, long-term follow-up cohort analysis was performed to assess subclinical atherosclerosis at baseline since 2008.

Flare and change in disease activity among patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis following coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination: A prospective Chinese cohort study.

Background: Vaccination has been shown effective in controlling the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and reducing severe cases. This study was to assess the flare and change in disease activity after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A prospective cohort of RA patients in remission or with low disease activity was divided into a vaccination group and a non-vaccination group based on their COVID-19 vaccination status.

Association between triglyceride-glucose index and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the association of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index with atherosclerotic risk among patients with PsA.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 165 consecutive PsA patients receiving carotid ultrasonography with integrated TyG index, calculated as ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dl)  × fasting glucose (mg/dl)/2]. Logistic regression models were applied to analyse the association of TyG index as continuous variables and tertiles with carotid atherosclerosis and carotid artery plaque.

Improved diagnostic performance of CASPAR criteria with integration of ultrasound.

Background: The difficulty in determining synovitis, tenosynovitis, or enthesitis by physical examination (PE) has limited the diagnostic capability of CASPAR for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of CASPAR with the integration of ultrasound (US).

Methods: Patients with a hint of PsA were enrolled.

Discrepancy in Metabolic Syndrome between Psoriatic Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Direct Comparison of Two Cohorts in One Center.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the discrepancy in metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) between patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients with PsA and RA were enrolled between 1 December 2018 and 31 December 2021. Data on their demographics, height, weight, waist circumference, clinical and laboratory data, and comorbidities were collected.

The correlation of ultrasound-detected synovitis in an individual small joint with overall clinical disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To explore the correlation between the ultrasound-detected synovitis in each individual joint at metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) regions and the clinical disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Clinical disease activity was assessed by disease activity score (DAS) based on 28-joint count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI). Gray scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) synovitis was assessed by ultrasound semi-quantitatively.

Low-dose glucocorticoids withdrawn in systemic lupus erythematosus: a desirable and attainable goal.

Objectives: To assess the risk of flare in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients after low-dose glucocorticoid (GC) discontinuation and to evaluate the risk factors of flare.

Methods: SLE patients who ever discontinued GCs were identified from the Peking University First Hospital SLE cohort. The disease flare profile after GC discontinuation was analysed.

Risk factors associated with osteoporosis and fracture in psoriatic arthritis.

Background: Although there are few studies mentioned there may be some relationship between psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and osteoporosis, clinical data in real world still need to be clarified in China. The aim of this study was to assess the areal and volumetric bone mineral density (BMD), frequency of fracture, and risk factors in patients with PsA.

Methods: A total of one hundred PsA patients who visited Peking University First Hospital and one hundred age- and sex-matched healthy controls with DXA data were enrolled in the study.

Clinical Characteristics of Psoriatic Arthritis in Chinese Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: The clinical features of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) varied in different studies from different countries, nevertheless rarely reported from China. We aimed to show the portraits of Chinese PsA patients.

Methods: Demographics as well as clinical and laboratory data at the first visit of a PsA cohort were collected.

The performance of the diagnostic scoring system or criteria for macrophage activation syndrome in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis for adult-onset Still's disease. A multicentre case-control study in China.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of the diagnostic scoring system/criteria for macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) used in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) for adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD).

Methods: This retrospective case-control study included AOSD patients with and without MAS from six hospitals in China. The cut-off values that best discriminated MAS from active AOSD were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Dynamical trajectory of glucocorticoids tapering and discontinuation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis commencing glucocorticoids with csDMARDs: a real-world data from 2009 to 2020.

Objective: To unravel the dynamical trajectory and features of glucocorticoids (GC) tapering and discontinuation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) commencing GC with concomitant conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs).

Methods: We used data from longitudinal real-world Treat-to-TARget in RA cohort. Patients with RA who started GC and contaminant csDMARDs therapy were included.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors therapies in patients with cancer and preexisting autoimmune diseases: A meta-analysis of observational studies.

Introduction: Immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) are associated with frequent immune-related adverse events (irAEs), but patients with preexisting autoimmune disease (PAD) have been excluded from clinical trials, leaving serious gaps in knowledge.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ICIs in PAD patients and cancer and explore the impact of different PAD types and baseline receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

Methods: Systematic searches were performed of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library from inception through August 2019 for observational studies reporting safety and efficacy data among ICI-treated patients with cancer and PAD.

Modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors associated with onset of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a progressive joint disease associated with psoriasis.

Objectives: To investigate the association of modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors with PsA risk among people with psoriasis.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library through May 2, 2020, for observational studies reporting lifestyle or environmental factors for PsA onset in patients with psoriasis.

Treat-to-target strategies aiming at additional ultrasound remission is associated with better control of disease activity and less flare in rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Treat-to-target (T2T) strategy has greatly improved the prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the additional benefit of targeting ultrasound (US) remission in addition to clinical remission has been debated.

Methods: RA patients in clinical remission or low disease activity were enrolled.

Intensive therapy alleviates subclinical synovitis on ultrasound and disease activity and reduces flare in rheumatoid arthritis patients who have achieved clinical target - a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Whether intensive therapy can alleviate subclinical synovitis and reduce flare in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in clinical remission remains unclear. We designed a 1-year open-labelled, randomized controlled clinical trial to elucidate this question.

Methods: RA patients in clinical remission/low disease activity (defined by DAS28-CRP≤ 3.

Salivary gland ultrasound integrated with 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria improves the diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate the utility of salivary gland ultrasound (SGUS) in the diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) singly or integrated with 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria.

Methods: Patients with suspected pSS were enrolled in the study. SGUS semi-quantitative scoring was used to assess salivary gland.

The agreement between ultrasound-determined joint inflammation and clinical signs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Ultrasound (US) is sensitive for detecting joint and tendon inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). So far, which grade of abnormalities on US corresponds to clinical manifestations is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the agreement between US-detected joint inflammation and clinical signs (joint swelling and tenderness).

Performance of routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID3) in monitoring disease activity of Chinese rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Aim: To explore the performance of routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID3) in reflecting disease activity in Chinese rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Method: The clinical data of 189 consecutive RA patients, including RAPID3 questionnaire, Disease Activity Score based on 28-joint count (DAS28), clinical disease activity index (CDAI) and simplified disease activity index (SDAI), and ultrasonography of hand and wrist joints were collected. The consistency between RAPID3 and DAS28, CDAI, SDAI in RA patients with different disease activities was performed by Spearman's correlations, kappa and/or weighted kappa coefficients.

Detection of uric acid crystal deposition by ultrasonography and dual-energy computed tomography: A cross-sectional study in patients with clinically diagnosed gout.

The aim of our study was to compare the performance of ultrasonography (US) and dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in detecting the crystal deposition at lower extremity joints in patients with gout. The correlation of imaging findings with microscopic findings was further assessed whenever aspiration is available.We recruited consecutive patients who were presented with arthritis of lower extremity from January 2012 to December 2014.