Serum Biomarkers of Pulmonary Damage and Risk for Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

Objective: To investigate baseline and change of pulmonary damage biomarkers (serum Krebs von den Lungen 6 [KL-6], human surfactant protein D [hSP-D], and matrix metalloproteinase 7 [MMP-7]) with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) progression.

Methods: In the Korean Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease (KORAIL) cohort, a prospective cohort, we enrolled patients with RA and ILD confirmed by chest computed tomography imaging and followed annually. ILD progression was defined as worsening in physiological and radiological domains of the 2022 American Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society, Japanese Respiratory Society, and Latin American Thoracic Society guideline for progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF).

Literature review of non-pharmacological treatment for patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the sacroiliac joints and axial spine. Along with pharmacotherapy, non-pharmacological interventions for axSpA are crucial and constitute the cornerstone of treatment. Here, we review the evidence for non-pharmacological treatment of axSpA as a basis for the 2023 Korean treatment recommendations for patients with axSpA.

Potential Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease Treatment and Computational Approach for Future Drug Development.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by swelling in at least one joint. Owing to an overactive immune response, extra-articular manifestations are observed in certain cases, with interstitial lung disease (ILD) being the most common. Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the interstitial space, which causes fibrosis and the scarring of lung tissue.

Corrigendum: Korean treatment recommendations for patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

[This corrects the article on p. 151 in vol. 30, PMID: 37476674.

Korean treatment recommendations for patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

We aimed to develop evidence-based recommendations for treating axial spondylarthritis (axSpA) in Korea. The development committee was constructed, key clinical questions were determined, and the evidence was searched through online databases including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, KoreaMed, and Kmbase. Systematic literature reviews were conducted, quality of evidence was determined, and draft recommendations were formulated according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluations methodology.

Korean treatment recommendations for patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

We aimed to develop evidence-based recommendations for treating axial spondylarthritis (axSpA) in Korea. The development committee was constructed, key clinical questions were determined, and the evidence was searched through online databases including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, KoreaMed, and KMbase. Systematic literature reviews were conducted, quality of evidence was determined, and draft recommendations were formulated according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluations methodology.

Comparative effectiveness of JAK inhibitors and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background/aims: We aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) vs. biologic disease- modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had an inadequate response to conventional synthetic DMARDs.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, multi-center, prospective, non-randomized study was conducted to compare response rates between JAKi and bDMARDs in patients with RA naïve to targeted therapy.

Lung function trajectory of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: To explore the course of lung function and RA disease activity and predictive factors for deteriorating lung function in patients with RA-interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: The Korean Rheumatoid Arthritis-Interstitial Lung Disease cohort is a multicentre, prospective observational cohort. Patients with RA-ILD were enrolled and followed up annually for 3 years for RA disease activity and ILD status assessment.

Safety and Effectiveness of Etanercept Biosimilar SB4 for Rheumatic Diseases in South Korea: Real-World Post-marketing Surveillance Data.

Introduction: SB4 is the first approved biosimilar of etanercept, a biologic tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, to treat various autoimmune diseases including axial spondylarthritis (axSpA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and plaque psoriasis (PsO). This post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study of SB4 investigated safety and effectiveness in routine clinical practice and is part of the drug approval process in Korea.

Methods: This prospective, multi-center, open-label, observational, phase IV PMS study was designed to enroll patients with axSpA, RA, PsA, and PsO in Korea from September 2015 to September 2019.

Methotrexate, leflunomide and tacrolimus use and the progression of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Objective: To examine the association between MTX, LEF and tacrolimus use and the progression of RA-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: The Korean RA-ILD cohort prospectively enrolled patients with RA-associated ILD at multiple centres from 2015 to 2018 and followed up with them for 3 years. ILD progression was defined by any of the followings: a decrease of ≥10% in forced vital capacity, a decrease of ≥15% in the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, or death from respiratory failure.

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) in a patient with lung cancer under treatment with pembrolizumab: a case study.

Pembrolizumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) against the programmed death-1 receptor. Herein, we introduce a rare adverse effect during using pembrolizumab. We present the case of an 80-year-old man with biopsy-proven unresectable double primary squamous cell carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung.

Association of Serum Biomarkers With Pulmonary Involvement of Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease: From KORAIL Cohort Baseline Data.

Objective: The increase in mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) is well known However, there are few studies on serum markers that can evaluate acute exacerbation or prognosis in RA-ILD patients The purpose of this study was to identify the association between biomarkers and lung lesions in patients with RA-ILD.

Methods: We analyzed 153 patients with serum samples in a prospective, multicenter cohort of Korean RA-ILD patients The serum levels of biomarkers, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-7), surfactant protein-D (SP-D), and Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) were measured and correlated with forced vital capacity (FVC), diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and the results of computed tomography (CT) CT results were interpreted semi-quantitatively according to the extent of lung lesions (grade 1, 0%∼25%; grade 2, 26%∼50%; grade 3, 51%∼75%; grade 4, 76%∼100%).

Results: MMP-7, SP-D, and KL-6 were negatively correlated with FVC (MMP-7, r=-0267, p=0001; SP-D, r=-0250, p=0002; KL-6, r=-0223, p=0006) and DLCO (MMP-7, r=-0404, p<0001; SP-D, r=-0286, p=0001; KL-6, r=-0226, p=0007) In addition, MMP-7, SP-D, and KL-6 tended to increase with higher grades of lung lesions on CT (MMP-7, p=0013; SP-D, p<0001; KL-6, p<0001).

Progress in Oral Microbiome Related to Oral and Systemic Diseases: An Update.

The human oral microbiome refers to an ecological community of symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms found in the oral cavity. The oral cavity is an environment that provides various biological niches, such as the teeth, tongue, and oral mucosa. The oral cavity is the gateway between the external environment and the human body, maintaining oral homeostasis, protecting the mouth, and preventing disease.

Clinical characteristics of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: Results of the Korean Nonradiographic Axial SPondyloArthritis (KONASPA) data.

Aim: To evaluate clinical characteristics and natural history of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) using KOrean Nonradiographic Axial SPondyloArthritis (KONASPA) data.

Methods: Data were collected from 11 centers in South Korea. A total of 278 patients with nr-axSpA from January 2018 to July 2020 were included.

Comparison of the 2017 EULAR/ACR Criteria with Clinicoserologic Criteria for the Classification of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies in Korean Patients.

Purpose: To investigate correlations between myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSA) or myositis-associated antibodies (MAA) and clinical features, thereby demonstrating the utility of clinicoserologic classification in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) patients.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a multicenter study of 108 adult patients (age ≥18 years) who were diagnosed with IIM by Peter and Bohan criteria or 2004 European Neuromuscular Centre (ENMC) criteria. Clinical data were obtained by medical record review.

The bone bridge significantly affects the decrease in bone mineral density measured with quantitative computed tomography in ankylosing spondylitis.

Introduction And Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has characteristics of spinal bone bridge and fusion. Although BMD reduction in AS may be presumed to be due to spinal inflammation, this study was designed to confirm whether immobilization of the spine due to syndesmophytes is related to BMD reduction, as immobilization itself is a risk factor for BMD reduction.

Methods: Among male patients diagnosed with AS according to the modified New York criteria, those who underwent bone density tests with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) were retrospectively analyzed through a chart review.

Predicting Imaging Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Case-control Ultrasound Study.

Background: To elucidate the achievement rates of imaging remission and to examine the characteristics associated with imaging remission status among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have attained clinical remission.

Methods: Ninety-seven patients with RA patients who had attained clinical remission, defined by DAS28-ESR < 2.6 were enrolled.

Frequency of peripheral diseases in Korean patients with ankylosing spondylitis and the effectiveness of adalimumab.

Aim: Peripheral features contribute to disease burden in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This study investigated the frequency of peripheral disease and effectiveness of adalimumab among Korean patients with AS.

Methods: Peripheral disease was evaluated in consecutively enrolled patients with active AS (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI] score ≥ 4).

Seasonal Variations and Associated Factors of Gout Attacks: a Prospective Multicenter Study in Korea.

Background: We purposed to evaluate the seasonality and associated factors of the incidence of gout attacks in Korea.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with gout attacks who were treated at nine rheumatology clinics between January 2015 and July 2018 and followed them for 1-year. Demographic data, clinical and laboratory features, and meteorological data including seasonality were collected.

Concurrent treatment with rituximab and plasma exchange for severe refractory granulomatosis with polyangiitis: A case report.

Rationale: Rituximab is recommended to induce remission of severe granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Plasma exchange (PE) may be considered in the setting of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) with a serum creatinine increase of more than 5.6 mg/dl or diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH).

Potential therapeutic antibodies targeting specific adiponectin isoforms in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Different adiponectin isoforms appear to be differentially involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The purpose of this study was to generate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to different adiponectin isoforms and investigate whether these mAbs have potential as therapeutic agents for such diseases.

Methods: Hybridoma cells producing monoclonal antibodies were generated and screened using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting for the production of mAbs recognizing human adiponectin isoforms.

Association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphisms and fibromyalgia in a Korean population: a multicenter study.

Background: Several lines of evidence imply that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia (FM); in this regard, patients with FM have altered blood and cerebrospinal fluid levels of BDNF. In this study, we explored the association between BDNF gene polymorphisms and FM susceptibility and the severity of symptoms.

Methods: In total, 409 patients with FM and 423 healthy controls in 10 medical centers were enrolled from the Korean nationwide FM survey.

Efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus combination therapy in patients with lupus nephritis: a nationwide multicentre study.

Objectives: Recent studies have shown that a combination treatment of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus (TAC) may be an option for lupus nephritis (LN) patients that do not adequately respond to initial treatment. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination treatment of MMF and TAC in LN patients with suboptimal response to prior MMF or TAC treatments.

Methods: In this multicentre study, we retrospectively enrolled 62 patients with class III, IV, or V LN who inadequately responded to MMF or TAC treatment.