What has brain diffusion magnetic resonance imaging taught us about chronic primary pain: a narrative review.

Chronic pain is a pervasive and debilitating condition with increasing implications for public health, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Despite its high prevalence, the underlying neural mechanisms and pathophysiology remain only partly understood. Since its introduction 35 years ago, brain diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a powerful tool to investigate changes in white matter microstructure and connectivity associated with chronic pain.

Age and biologic survival in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis: A cohort study from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR).

Background: The current management of psoriasis does not differentiate between young and old patients in selecting the safest and/or most effective biologic.

Objectives: To explore the effect of age at treatment initiation in response to biologics in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in the UK and Eire.

Methods: Data from patients registering to the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR) from 2007-2024 on first course of Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF), interleukin (IL) 12/13, IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors (i) with at least 6 months' follow-up were included.

Collapsing glomerulopathy associated with parvovirus B19 and systemic lupus erythematosus in a patient with APOL1 high-risk variant for nephropathy.

Collapsing glomerulopathy (CG) has a severe course typically associated with viral infections, especially HIV and parvovirus B19, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), among other etiologies. A 35-year-old woman with recent use of a JAK inhibitor due to rheumatoid arthritis presented with a 2-week history of fever, cervical adenopathy, and facial erythema. After admission, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, proteinuria, and severe acute kidney injury were noted.

Disseminated organ and tissue infection secondary to carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection for acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with ceftazidime-avibactam: Two case reports.

Rationale: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) bloodstream infections are a severe complication resulting from granulocyte deficiency following chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies and have a high mortality rate. However, reports of disseminated organ infections secondary to bloodstream infections are rare.

Patient Concerns And Diagnoses: We report 2 cases of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who both developed CRKP bloodstream infections during the granulocyte deficiency stage following chemotherapy, with 1 case of secondary bacterial liver abscess and 1 case of secondary septic arthritis.

Causal relationship between rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis and risk of prostate cancer: Multivariable and bidirectional Mendelian-randomization analyses.

Previous studies have suggested an association between autoimmune diseases (AIDs) and the risk of prostate cancer (PCa). However, the causal relationship between AID and PCa remained unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causal association between 3 common AIDs, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and the risk of PCa.

Self-Perceptions of Aging and Physical Activity in Older Adults with Arthritis: Impact of General Health.

How negative self-perceptions of aging relate to physical activity (PA) in older adults with arthritis is unclear. We examined whether general health mediated the relationship between Awareness of Age-Related change (AARC) losses and PA. We analyzed baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of a PA intervention for adults ≥60 years who self-reported PA, AARC, general health, pain, and social support.

Isolation, identification and genetic variation analysis of avian orthoreovirus in commercial broilers in China from 2016 to 2021.

In the last decade, the emergence of variant strains of avian orthoreovirus (ARV) has caused an enormous economic impact on the poultry industry across China and other countries. This study aimed to evaluate the molecular evolution of the ARV lineages detected in Chinese commercial broiler farms. Firstly, ARV isolation and identification of commercial broiler arthritis cases from different provinces in China from 2016 to 2021 were conducted.

MTHFR C677T rs1801133 and TP53 Pro72Arg rs1042522 gene variants in South African Indian and Caucasian psoriatic arthritis patients.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is involved in homocysteine and folic acid metabolism. Tumour suppressor protein TP53 gene maintains cellular and genetic integrity. To date, no studies associated the MTHFR C677T rs1801133 and TP53 Pro72Arg rs1042522 with CRP levels and methotrexate (a folic acid antagonist) treatment outcomes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients.

Unconventional Imaging Methods in Psoriatic Arthritis.

Purpose Of Review: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex heterogeneous inflammatory disease that affects about one-third of patients with psoriasis. PsA leads to significant physical impairment and reduced quality of life. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention are critical for improving long-term outcomes.

What is Rheumatoid factor-from screening to personalized management.

The rheumatoid factor (RF) is a representative autoantibody against the crystallizable fragment (Fc) of denatured immunoglobulin (Ig) G that are primarily detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although five types of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors can be used to treat RA, no guidelines are available for selecting the appropriate inhibitor for treatment. High serum RF levels are associated with high disease activity, progressive joint destruction, life prognosis associated with organ damage, decreased treatment responsiveness to TNF inhibitors and other drugs, and low treatment retention rates.

Comparison of Concentration- and Homology-Dependent Effects of the Proinflammatory Cytokine Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a Bovine Chondrocyte Inflammation Model.

Inflammation models with the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) are widely used in the in vitro investigation of new therapeutic approaches for osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to systematically analyze the influence of IL-1β in a 3D chondral pellet culture model. Bovine articular chondrocytes were cultured to passage 3 and then placed in pellet culture.

Harnessing the Power of Machine Learning Guided Discovery of NLRP3 Inhibitors Towards the Effective Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The NLRP3 inflammasome, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by activating inflammatory cytokines such as IL1β and IL18. Targeting NLRP3 has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for RA. In this study, a multidisciplinary approach combining machine learning, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling, structure-activity landscape index (SALI), docking, molecular dynamics (MD), and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area MM/PBSA assays was employed to identify novel NLRP3 inhibitors.

Exploring Patient Activation and Compliance in Patients with Different Rheumatological Disorders.

This study aimed to assess patient activation using patient activation measure 13 (PAM-13) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and axial spondyloarthritis (axSPA). A cross-sectional study was conducted involving patients with three rheumatological conditions (SLE, PsA, and axSPA). Patients were contacted either at the clinic or through social media platforms.

Association Between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Findings of the Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Airway inflammation is considered one of the pathogenic factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the role of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the development of RA remains unclear. We used cross-sectional studies and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the link between COPD and RA.

Methods: In National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2018, the association between COPD and RA was investigated using weighted logistic regression models.

Concurrent Phenylketonuria and Pyogenic Sacroiliitis: A Case Report Highlighting Rare Co-Occurrence.

A 19-year-old male patient with phenylketonuria (PKU) was presented to our clinic with complaints of left hip pain and fever for one week. Physical examination and MRI examination showed findings compatible with pyogenic sacroiliitis and an abscess in the left iliopsoas muscle. The patient's clinical and radiological findings improved markedly with empirical antibiotic treatment.

Diagnostic Value of Combined Test of Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody, AKA Antibody, Carp Antibody, and Rheumatoid Factor for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: To analyze the diagnostic value of a combined test of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (CCP), anti-keratin antibody (AKA), anti-carbamylated protein antibody (Carp antibody), and rheumatoid factor (RF) in the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Sixty cases of RA admitted to our hospital from 2021 to 2022 (observation group) were selected, along with 50 cases of healthy physical examiners (control group). The results of CCP antibody, AKA antibody, Carp antibody, and rheumatoid factor in both groups were analyzed: the concentration of CCP antibody, AKA antibody, Carp antibody, and rheumatoid factor in each group at different levels; the comparison of various testing methods with the "gold standard" test; and the ROC curve analysis of CCP antibody, AKA antibody, Carp antibody, and rheumatoid factor in each group.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Quality of Life of Knee Osteoarthritis in Urban Community in Indonesia: A COPCORD Study.

Aim: This study evaluates the prevalence, risk factors, and quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the Indonesian population.

Method: A cross-sectional study of 3597 adults (≥ 18 years old) was conducted in 2023 involving 15 different cities in Indonesia. Knee OA was classified according to the clinical ACR criteria.

Mortality and Survival Analysis in Patients With Cancer Occurrence After Sjögren's Syndrome: A Long-Term Cohort Study in China.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mortality, survival rates, and prognostic indicators of cancer occurrence after Sjögren's syndrome (SS-CA).

Methods: The medical records of patients with SS-CA at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) between January 2010 and August 2022 were retrieved. Clinical data and survival outcomes were compared to controls.

Low-dose methotrexate in Rheumatology: A reinvented drug.

Low-dose methotrexate (LD-MTX) is the anchor drug used in the treatment of various rheumatological illnesses. There are a lot of misconceptions associated with the long-term use of MTX in the minds of practitioners. The origin of most of these myths stems from the ill effects associated with high-dose MTX used in cancer chemotherapy.

Potential and challenges of utilizing exosomes in osteoarthritis therapy (Review).

Exosomes are integral to the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) due to their roles in mediating intercellular communication and regulating inflammatory processes. Exosomes are integral to the transport of bioactive molecules, such as proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, which can influence chondrocyte behavior and joint homeostasis. Given their properties of regeneration and ability to target damaged tissues, exosomes represent a promising therapeutic avenue for OA treatment.

A Case of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis Coexisting With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Cardiac amyloidosis is a rare but increasingly recognized cause of heart failure, often underdiagnosed until later stages of the disease. This report describes a case of transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) in a 68-year-old male patient with a significant medical history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a combination seldom documented in the literature. The patient presented with progressive symptoms of heart failure, and diagnostic testing confirmed ATTR cardiac amyloidosis through pyrophosphate (PYP) scanning.

Cryoglobulinemia Complicated by Pneumonia.

This study describes a 64-year-old female with a history of hepatitis C and cryoglobulinemia, who presented with respiratory symptoms, including dry cough, shortness of breath, and fever, alongside joint pain and fatigue. Initial workup revealed interstitial pneumonia, supported by chest imaging, and the patient was treated for pneumonia with standard antibiotic therapy. Despite no renal involvement, a hallmark of cryoglobulinemia, further testing confirmed elevated serum cryoglobulin levels.

Upper Arm Deep Vein Thrombosis in a Patient with Active Lupus.

Unlabelled: Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is relatively rare, and much less as an initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Primary UEDVT should be considered in individuals with unilateral arm swelling where the brachial, axillary, and subclavian veins are frequently involved. SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women of childbearing age and of African descent.