Herbal Formula SS-1 Increases Tear Secretion for Sjögren's Syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects the exocrine glands, leading to glandular dysfunction. The hallmark symptoms of SS are dry eyes and mouth, compromising the quality of life of patients and decreasing their capacity to perform their daily activities. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the herbal formula SS-1 for its potential therapeutic benefits for patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

Chinese herbal medicine SS-1 inhibits T cell activation and abrogates T responses in Sjögren's syndrome.

Background/purpose: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease and its conventional treatment has exhibited limited therapeutic efficacy. Traditional Chinese medicine has been demonstrated to ameliorate the sicca symptoms of SS by decreasing the level of T1 and T2 cytokines and increasing salivary flow rate. A newly designed traditional Chinese medicine, SS-1, showed improved efficacy in alleviating the dryness symptoms of SS patients in the National Taiwan SS cohort investigation.

Changes in hepatitis B virus surface antibody titer and risk of hepatitis B reactivation in HBsAg-negative/HBcAb-positive patients undergoing biologic therapy for rheumatic diseases: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Our aim was to investigate dynamic changes in hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antibody (HBsAb) titer and the associated risk of HBV reactivation and clinical course in patients with HBV surface antigen negative/core antibody positive (HBsAg/HBcAb) serostatus during antirheumatic therapy with biologic agents.

Methods: In a prospective study from January 2013 to June 2017, we monitored the HBV serostatus of HBsAg/HBcAb patients undergoing biologic therapy for rheumatic diseases. From HBsAb titers at baseline and subsequent time points, we calculated the person-years (PY) contributed by patients with different HBsAb levels: < 10 mIU/mL (negative); 10-100 mIU/mL (low); and > 100 mIU/mL (high).

Modulation of Endothelial Injury Biomarkers by Traditional Chinese Medicine LC in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Receiving Standard Treatments.

LC is an herbal remedy effectively reduced therapeutic dosage of glucocorticoid for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in clinical trial (ISRCTN81818883). This translational research examined the impact of LC on biomarkers of endothelial injury in the enrolled subjects. Fifty seven patients with SLE were randomized to receive standard treatment without or with LC supplements.

Better short-term clinical response to etanercept in Chinese than Caucasian patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors including etanercept have been demonstrated to be very effective in severe ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Caucasian patients. However, clinical efficacy of etanercept to treat active AS in Chinese patients has not been reported. In this study, a prospective, open-label trial of etanercept (25 mg BIW), involving 46 AS patients from 16 medical centers of Taiwan, was conducted.

Role of new population of peripheral CD11c(+)CD8(+) T cells and CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells during acute and remission stages in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background And Purpose: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a CD4(+)-dependent chronic systemic inflammatory disease with autoimmune features. Autoreactive CD4(+) T-cell activation can result in autoimmune diseases. One of the key regulators is the CD4(+)CD25(high) regulatory T (Treg) cell.