Blood DNA virome associates with autoimmune diseases and COVID-19.

Aberrant immune responses to viral pathogens contribute to pathogenesis, but our understanding of pathological immune responses caused by viruses within the human virome, especially at a population scale, remains limited. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing datasets of 6,321 Japanese individuals, including patients with autoimmune diseases (psoriasis vulgaris, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) or multiple sclerosis) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), or healthy controls. We systematically quantified two constituents of the blood DNA virome, endogenous HHV-6 (eHHV-6) and anellovirus.

Clinical practice pattern of Pneumocystis pneumonia prophylaxis in systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study from lupus registry of nationwide institutions (LUNA).

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic infection in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, such as glucocorticoid (GC) medication, for systemic autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Despite the confirmed effectiveness of PCP prophylaxis, its clinical administration, especially in conjunction with GC dosage, remains unclear. We aimed to describe the clinical practice of PCP prophylaxis in association with SLE in Japan, evaluate the relationship between GC dosage and PCP prophylaxis, and explore the practice patterns associated with PCP prophylaxis.

Use of Upadacitinib to Treat a Severe Flare-Up of Rheumatoid Arthritis During Anti-PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy for Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is becoming the standard of care for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. However, T-cell activation by ICIs frequently induces a flare-up of preexisting autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are increasingly used in the treatment of RA, but they could interfere with the efficacy of ICIs by inhibiting interferon signaling.

Effects of cyclophosphamide administration on ovarian dysfunction in pediatric patients with connective tissue diseases: A systematic scoping review.

Objective: This systematic scoping review assess the effect of cyclophosphamide (CY) administration during childhood on ovarian function in patients with juvenile-onset connective tissue diseases.

Methods: A MEDLINE database search was conducted using terms related to CY, juvenile-onset connective tissue diseases, and ovarian function. Studies were included if they met specific criteria.

Relationship Between Ultrasound and Physical Examination in the Assessment of Enthesitis in Patients With Spondyloarthritis: Results From the DEUS Multicenter Study.

Objective: The study objectives were (i) to explore the agreement between the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) ultrasound lesions of enthesitis and physical examination in assessing enthesitis in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and (ii) to investigate the prevalence and clinical relevance of subclinical enthesitis in this population.

Methods: Twenty rheumatology centers participated in this cross-sectional study. Patients with SpA, including axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), underwent both ultrasound scan and physical examination of large lower limb entheses.

Additional Value of Ultrasound in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis within Treatment Target.

In psoriatic arthritis (PsA), musculoskeletal ultrasound is a complementary tool to physical examination, useful even in patients in remission to detect subclinical activity. The objective of the study was to assess the ultrasound prevalence of active enthesitis and synovitis in patients who reached the therapeutic target. This cross-sectional study included patients with at least 6 months of therapy with a targeted synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug who were in treatment target (i.

Safety of baricitinib in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis in clinical use: 3-year data of all-case post-marketing surveillance study.

Objective: To assess safety of baricitinib in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis in real-world clinical practice.

Methods: This all-case post-marketing surveillance study included patients initiating baricitinib for rheumatoid arthritis from September 2017 to April 2019. Treatment duration was recorded.

Treatment selection in the clinical practice of systemic lupus erythematosus: Results from the Kyushu Collagen Disease Network for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (KCDN-SLE) registry.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the treatment selection for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using data from the Kyushu Collagen Disease Network for SLE (KCDN-SLE) registry, a multicentre prospective registry in Japan.

Methods: This study used data from patients registered between August 2022 and November 2023. Clinical characteristics, purpose of agent initiation, other candidate agents, and short-term efficacy and safety were evaluated.

Effectiveness of secukinumab in radiographic and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: a European routine-care observational study.

Objectives: To compare the treatment effectiveness of secukinumab in radiographic (r) versus non-radiographic (nr) axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients treated in routine care across Europe.

Methods: Prospectively collected data on secukinumab-treated axSpA patients with known radiographic status were pooled from nine countries.Remission rates based on patient-reported outcomes (PROs; Numeric Rating Scale (0-10), for example, pain ≤2/Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) ≤2 and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) inactive disease (ID) <1.

Impact of anti-human IgG hinge peptide antibodies on identification of patients with early seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: The early diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (SNRA), characterised by the absence of rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated antibody, involves a greater challenge compared to seropositive RA (SPRA). This study aimed to assess the discriminatory potential of anti-human IgG hinge antibodies (AHAs) for patients with early SNRA.

Methods: DMARDs-naive patients with SPRA (n=43), SNRA (n=21), and non-RA (n=49), with disease duration < 2 years, were included.

Adjunct role of potassium-rich vegetarian diet and a novel potassium food supplement to improve pain in chronic rheumatoid arthritis on supervised standard care: a randomised controlled study.

Introduction: An earlier food survey showed dietary potassium deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objective: To evaluate an adjunct role of oral potassium to reduce joint pain in RA.

Methods: 172 consenting eligible symptomatic patients (median duration 6.

Aseptic pyomyositis in rheumatoid arthritis treated with corticosteroid and DMARDs.

Pyomyositis is a purulent infection of skeletal muscle that is mostly observed in tropical countries. Aseptic pyomyositis is a rare, potentially life-threatening disorder characterized by the formation of sterile pus in muscle. We present a case of 53-years old female, diagnosed case of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, presented with pain and swelling of the right calf muscle for 2 weeks.

Psychological distress over 12 months post-diagnosis in an early inflammatory arthritis cohort.

Objectives: People with inflammatory arthritis (IA) experience worsened mental wellbeing alongside disease progression. Using the National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA), we assessed trends in psychological distress during 12-months following IA diagnosis, mapping these against clinical outcomes to identify associations.

Methods: This is a prospective study of people recruited to NEIAA receiving an IA diagnosis and completing the baseline patient survey.

Headache in systemic lupus erythematosus: The LUNA registry cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study investigated the clinically relevant factors for headaches in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using a registry from a Japanese multicenter cohort.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed the clinical information of patients with SLE who experienced headache episodes using the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire. Significant findings in the comparisons between patients with headache (HA patients) and those without headache (non-HA patients) and in the comparisons depending on the grades of headache-induced disability in daily life based on the MIDAS scores were evaluated.

Large-vessel vasculitis possibly induced by BRAF and MEK inhibitors for BRAF V600E positive lung adenocarcinoma.

The combination therapy of v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors is approved for treating patients with BRAF V600E-positive tumours, including melanoma and lung cancer. Several case reports indicated autoimmune side effects associated with the use of BRAF and MEK inhibitors. Still, the effects of these drugs on the immune system were not fully elucidated.

Development of quality indicators for pregnancy and childbirth in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: A quality indicator (QI) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during pregnancy and childbirth that is useful for sharing standard treatment policies has not yet been developed. This study aimed to develop a QI for SLE associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

Methods: To identify candidate QIs, we conducted a systematic literature review on the development of QIs for SLE related to pregnancy and childbirth and on clinical practice guidelines.