Differences in the expression of the phosphatase PTP-1B in patients with localized prostate cancer with and without adverse pathological features.

Introduction: Patients with adverse pathological features (APF) at radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PC) are candidates for adjuvant treatment. Clinicians lack reliable markers to predict these APF preoperatively. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B) is involved in migration and invasion of PC, and its expression could predict presence of APF.

Phenotypic and functional characteristics of murine CD11c+ B cells which is suppressed by metformin.

Since the description of age-associated or autoimmune-associated B cells (ABCs), there has been a growing interest in the role of these cells in autoimmunity. ABCs are differently defined depending on the research group and are heterogenous subsets. Here, we sought to characterize ABCs in Sle1/2/3 triple congenic (TC) mice, which is a well accepted mouse model of lupus.

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: Real-life Screening Practice and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Notwithstanding the frequent coexistence of autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) and primary Sjögren's Syndrome (SS), it is still unknown how often this association is studied along with its clinical impact.

Objective: This study aimed to describe real-world screening practices for ATD in patients with SS and evaluate clinical outcomes of patients with both diagnoses using validated activity and chronicity indexes.

Methods: It is a retrospective study of 223 patients with SS attending a tertiary referral center.

Meant to B: B cells as a therapeutic target in systemic lupus erythematosus.

B cells have a prominent role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They are mediators of inflammation through the production of pathogenic antibodies that augment inflammation and cause direct tissue and cell damage. Multiple therapeutic agents targeting B cells have been successfully used in mouse models of SLE; however, these preclinical studies have led to approval of only one new agent to treat patients with SLE: belimumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting B cell-activating factor (BAFF).

Immunosenescence profile and expression of the aging biomarker (p16) in testicular cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy.

Background: Cytotoxic chemotherapy can cure advanced germ cell tumors. Nevertheless, cancer treatment may induce cellular senescence and accelerate molecular aging. The aging process implies an increase of cells expressing p16 and changes in lymphocyte subpopulations.

Phase II Randomized Trial of Rituximab Plus Cyclophosphamide Followed by Belimumab for the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis.

Objective: To assess the safety, mechanism of action, and preliminary efficacy of rituximab followed by belimumab in the treatment of refractory lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: In a multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial, 43 patients with recurrent or refractory LN were treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide (CYC), and glucocorticoids followed by weekly belimumab infusions until week 48 (RCB group), or treated with rituximab and CYC but no belimumab infusions (RC group). Patients were followed up until week 96.

Patterns of ANA+ B cells for SLE patient stratification.

IgG antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are a dominant feature of several autoimmune diseases. We previously showed that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by increased ANA+ IgG plasmablasts/plasma cells (PCs) through aberrant IgG PC differentiation rather than an antigen-specific tolerance defect. Here, we aimed to understand the differentiation pathways resulting in ANA+ IgG PCs in SLE patients.

Loss of an IgG plasma cell checkpoint in patients with lupus.

Background: IgG antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are a feature of several autoimmune diseases. These antibodies arise through defects in central or peripheral tolerance checkpoints. The specific checkpoints breached in patients with autoimmune disease are not fully understood.

Do antimalarials protect against damage accrual in primary Sjögren's syndrome? Results from a Latin-American retrospective cohort.

Objectives: To assess the use of antimalarials and to evaluate their association with damage accrual in a Latino-American cohort of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Methods: We included 377 patients attending three tertiary referral centers from: Argentina (n=110), Brazil (n=49) and Mexico (n=218). We retrospectively registered demographics, disease duration and use of prednisone (PDN), immunosupressors and antimalarials.

Tuberculosis and systemic lupus erythematosus: a case-control study in Mexico City.

To determine, among systemic lupus erythematosus patients, factors associated with active tuberculosis. We performed a case-control study, in a tertiary-care center in Mexico City. We defined cases as systemic lupus erythematosus patients with active tuberculosis and matched them 1:1 with systemic lupus erythematosus patients without tuberculosis (controls) by age, date of systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosis, and disease duration.

C-reactive protein (CRP) polymorphisms and haplotypes are associated with SLE susceptibility and activity but not with serum CRP levels in Mexican population.

To evaluate the association of C-reactive protein (CRP) polymorphisms with risk of development SLE in a group of Mexican individuals. Five CRP polymorphisms (rs3093059, rs3093062, rs1800947, rs1130864, and rs1205) were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and SNP rs3093061 by refractory mutation system PCR assay in 126 SLE patients and 131 controls. Four of the polymorphisms showed differences between patients and controls.

Plasma Cell Differentiation Pathways in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Plasma cells (PCs) are responsible for the production of protective antibodies against infectious agents but they also produce pathogenic antibodies in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Traditionally, high affinity IgG autoantibodies are thought to arise through germinal center (GC) responses. However, class switching and somatic hypermutation can occur in extrafollicular (EF) locations, and this pathway has also been implicated in SLE.

Perioperative management of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome: a single-center experience.

The objective was to describe the management and risk factors for complications of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients who underwent a surgical procedure in a single center. We reviewed medical records of all patients with primary or secondary APS who underwent an elective surgery during a 6-year period. Demographical data, management of anticoagulation and complications were recorded.

[Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity predicts function of ABCB1 (P-gp) and ABCG2 (BCRP1) drug-efflux transporters].

Background: P-gp and BCRP1 are transporter proteins that may confer drug resistance.

Objective: To compare P-gp and BCRP1 function in rheumatoid arthritis patients with active and inactive disease and to define their relation with disease activity.

Methods: We included 17 active patients paired (age, gender, disease duration) to 17 inactive patients.

Refractory ascites in systemic lupus erythematosus: further biological support of intraperitoneal steroid treatment as a suitable therapeutical option.

The objective of this report was to evaluate the ascitic fluid of a patient with refractory lupus ascites (proband) at different time points-pre- and post-intraperitoneal treatment with dexamethasone-using a multiparametric approach which included the presence of autoantibodies and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and a proteomic analysis. As controls, we studied two additional patients also with lupus ascites (only at basal evaluation) and two patients with ascites due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis. High levels of anti-dsDNA and anti-nucleosomes autoantibodies were detected in the ascitic fluid of all lupus patients and remained elevated in the proband throughout the follow-up.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Is Determinant for ABCB1 and ABCG2 Drug-Efflux Transporters Function.

Objective: To compare drug efflux function of ABCB1 and ABCG2 transporters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with active disease and in remission.

Methods: Twenty two active RA patients (DAS28 ≥3.2) and 22 patients in remission (DAS28<2.

Main causes and risk factors for hospitalisation in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objectives: To identify the causes and risk factors for hospitalisation in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Methods: We included 170 pSS patients who regularly attended our Institution (2000-2013) and retrospectively collected demographic, clinical (glandular and extraglandular features) and serological (anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, RF, low C3 or C4 and immunoglobulin levels) data. If they were hospitalised, a rheumatologist determined the primary cause.

Plasmapheresis therapy in ANCA-associated vasculitides: A single-center retrospective analysis of renal outcome and mortality.

Background: The evidence of the benefit of plasmapheresis in renal and survival outcomes in patients with severe manifestations of ANCA-associated vasculitides is inconsistent.

Purpose: To address whether plasmapheresis is associated with improvement in renal function and survival at 12 months in patients with severe manifestations of ANCA-associated vasculitides.

Patients And Methods: Single-center retrospective comparative cohort of 24 patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis that received plasmapheresis adjunctive to conventional therapy (steroids and immunosuppressants), matched 1:1 according to age, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and disease activity with 24 patients treated with standard treatment only.

Sarcoidosis: a single hospital-based study in a 24-year period.

Background: Clinical presentation of sarcoidosis varies according to race and geographical area. We describe the clinical spectrum and outcome of sarcoidosis in Mexican patients compared with other populations.

Methods: We reviewed the medical charts of 21 patients with sarcoidosis seen at a referral hospital in 1989-2012; organ involvement was assessed using the ACCESS instrument.

Refractory primary Sjögren syndrome successfully treated with bortezomib.

Primary Sjögren syndrome (PSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by sicca complex and various systemic manifestations. Although it is well accepted to use corticosteroids for the treatment of systemic manifestations, there is scarce information available regarding the use of targeted therapy for refractory cases. We describe a case of a severe PSS patient refractory to conventional treatment with a response to bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor commonly used for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Acute onset polymyositis after prolactinoma extirpation.

Hyperprolactinemia has been related to autoimmune diseases. Herein, we describe a case of a female with a prolactin producer pituitary macroadenoma who developed severe polymyositis one month after its removal. The patient had very high levels of CPK and muscle biopsy showed remarkable inflammatory infiltration.

Pulmonary hypertension secondary to hyperviscosity in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and acquired von Willebrand disease: a case report.

Introduction: Acquired von Willebrand disease is initiated by autoantibodies and hyperviscosity syndrome caused by a massive polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Acquired von Willebrand disease associated with autoimmune disease in addition to pulmonary hypertension during emergency room presentation is a rare condition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case reported in the literature treated with success; the first one was reported in 1987.

Inflammatory profile in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with headache as a manifestation of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: The objective of this study was to define the cytokine and chemokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with headache as neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE).

Methods: In a post hoc analysis, seven patients hospitalized because of headache were included. Patients were evaluated at hospitalization and 6 months later and a CSF sample was obtained.