S100A12 Is Associated with Response to Therapy in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Objective: Around one-third of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) fail to respond to first-line methotrexate (MTX) or anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, with even fewer achieving ≥ American College of Rheumatology Pediatric 70% criteria for response (ACRpedi70), though individual responses cannot yet be accurately predicted. Because change in serum S100-protein myeloid-related protein complex 8/14 (MRP8/14) is associated with therapeutic response, we tested granulocyte-specific S100-protein S100A12 as a potential biomarker for treatment response.

Methods: S100A12 serum concentration was determined by ELISA in patients treated with MTX (n = 75) and anti-TNF (n = 88) at baseline and followup.

Effect of prednisone on type I interferon signature in rheumatoid arthritis: consequences for response prediction to rituximab.

Introduction: Elevated type I interferon (IFN) response gene (IRG) expression has proven clinical relevance in predicting rituximab non-response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Interference between glucocorticoids (GCs) and type I IFN signaling has been demonstrated in vitro. Since GC use and dose are highly variable among patients before rituximab treatment, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of GC use on IRG expression in relation to rituximab response prediction in RA.

Quality indicators for physiotherapy care in hip and knee osteoarthritis: development and clinimetric properties.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to develop process quality indicators for physiotherapy care based on key recommendations of the Dutch physiotherapy guideline on hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Guideline recommendations were rated for their relevance by an expert panel, transformed into potential indicators and incorporated into a questionnaire, the Quality Indicators for Physiotherapy in Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis (QIP-HKOA). Adherence with each indicator was rated on a Likert scale (0 = never to 4 = always).

Overlap of cognitive concepts in chronic widespread pain: an exploratory study.

Background: A wide variety of cognitive concepts have been shown to play an important role in chronic widespread pain (CWP). Although these concepts are generally considered to be distinct entities, some might in fact be highly overlapping. The objectives of this study were to (i) to establish inter-relationships between self-efficacy, cognitive coping styles, fear-avoidance cognitions and illness beliefs in patients with CWP and (ii) to explore the possibility of a reduction of these cognitions into a more limited number of domains.

Diagnostic accuracy of range of motion measurements in early symptomatic hip and/or knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To examine the diagnostic accuracy of hip internal rotation, hip flexion, and knee flexion measurements for the presence of osteophytosis and joint space narrowing (JSN) in early symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: The baseline data for 598 participants of the Cohort Hip & Cohort Knee study were used. Participants underwent a standardized physical and radiographic examination.

Synovitis in psoriatic arthritis: immunohistochemistry, comparisons with rheumatoid arthritis, and effects of therapy.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthropathy associated with psoriasis that affects the peripheral joints, spine, and entheses. Most patients with PsA present with peripheral synovitis of the oligoarticular or polyarticular subtype. As one of the targets of this disease, studies on the synovium may provide insight into the mechanisms involved in this condition.

Best candidates for cognitive treatment of illness perceptions in chronic low back pain: results of a theory-driven predictor study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify treatment-specific predictors of the effectiveness of a method of evidence-based treatment: cognitive treatment of illness perceptions. This study focuses on what treatment works for whom, whereas most prognostic studies focusing on chronic non-specific low back pain rehabilitation aim to reduce the heterogeneity of the population of patients who are suitable for rehabilitation treatment in general.

Design: Three treatment-specific predictors were studied in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain receiving cognitive treatment of illness perceptions: a rational approach to problem-solving, discussion skills and verbal skills.

Factors predicting the outcome of customised foot orthoses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Conservative management of foot problems in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may consist of the prescription of customised foot orthoses. Indications for foot orthoses are not clear and the effectiveness of the intervention is highly variable among patients. Knowledge on which patients benefit the most from foot orthoses can help to select patients eligible for this type of intervention.

Determinants of range of joint motion in patients with early symptomatic osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee: an exploratory study in the CHECK cohort.

Objective: Reduced range of motion (ROM) is supposed to be a characteristic feature of osteoarthritis (OA). Because little is known about determinants of ROM, the objective of the present study was to explore the association between demographic, articular, and clinical factors and ROM in patients with early symptomatic knee and/or hip OA.

Design: Baseline data of 598 participants of the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK) study were used in this cross-sectional study.

High incidence of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in the OSTRA cohort study: a 5-year follow-up study in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Unlabelled: A 5-year follow-up study was performed in female RA patients with established disease looking at vertebral fractures, scored on spinal X-rays, and non-vertebral fractures. We found a high incidence rate of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in these patients compared to population-based studies.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures over a 5-year period in a cohort of postmenopausal patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Predictors of stenosing tenosynovitis in the hand and hand-related activity limitations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To identify early predictors of stenosing tenosynovitis in the hand and hand-related activity limitations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Design: A longitudinal study of an inception cohort.

Setting: A large outpatient clinic.

Surprising negative association between IgG1 allotype disparity and anti-adalimumab formation: a cohort study.

Introduction: The human monoclonal antibody adalimumab is known to induce an anti-globulin response in some adalimumab-treated patients. Antibodies against adalimumab (AAA) are associated with non-response to treatment. Immunoglobulins, such as adalimumab, carry allotypes which represent slight differences in the amino acid sequences of the constant chains of an IgG molecule.

The presence or absence of antibodies to infliximab or adalimumab determines the outcome of switching to etanercept.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the reason for non-response (caused by immunogenicity or not) to a first tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor defines whether a second TNF inhibitor will be effective.

Methods: This cohort study consisted of 292 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), all treated with etanercept. A total of 89 patients (30%) were treated previously with infliximab or adalimumab ('switchers'), and the remaining 203 (70%) were anti-TNF naive.

Adaptations to pain rehabilitation programmes for non-native patients with chronic pain.

Purpose: (i) To determine whether adaptations for non-native patients have been implemented in pain rehabilitation programmes; (ii) to determine whether characteristics of the rehabilitation institute are related to having adaptations for non-native patients in place.

Subjects: Rehabilitation institutes and rehabilitation departments of general hospitals in The Netherlands who offer a pain rehabilitation programme.

Method: A questionnaire was handed over in person or by e-mail to the rehabilitation physicians of the participating institutes.

Prevalence of hand symptoms, impairments and activity limitations in rheumatoid arthritis in relation to disease duration.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hand and wrist symptoms and impairments, and the resulting activity limitations in relation to disease duration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Design And Patients: A cross-sectional study included 200 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis in 4 categories of disease duration: 2-4, 4-6, 6-8 and ≥ 8 years. Patients were asked about the presence of various hand and wrist symptoms, and underwent a standardized physical examination.

The effect of immunomodulators on the immunogenicity of TNF-blocking therapeutic monoclonal antibodies: a review.

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have revolutionized the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. Immunogenicity against these antibodies has been shown to be clinically important: it is associated with shorter response duration because of diminishing concentrations in the blood and with infusion reactions. Concomitant immunomodulators in the form of methotrexate or azathioprine reduced the immunogenicity of therapeutic antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn disease, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and apoptosis in diabetes mellitus.

Endothelial dysfunction is regarded as an important factor in the pathogenesis of vascular disease in obesity-related type 2 diabetes. The imbalance in repair and injury (hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia) results in microvascular changes, including apoptosis of microvascular cells, ultimately leading to diabetes related complications. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which the interplay between endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and apoptosis may cause (micro)vascular damage in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Reasons of drop-out from rehabilitation in patients of Turkish and Moroccan origin with chronic low back pain in The Netherlands: a qualitative study.

Objective: To explore which factors led to drop-out in patients of Turkish and Moroccan origin with chronic non-specific low back pain who participated in a rehabilitation programme.

Subjects: Patients of Turkish or Moroccan origin with chronic non-specific low back pain (n = 23) from 2 rehabilitation centres and 4 rehabilitation departments of general hospitals in the Netherlands.

Methods: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients of Turkish and Moroccan origin (n = 23), rehabilitation physicians (n = 8) and rehabilitation therapists (n = 2).

Prediction of walking disability by disease-related factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between disease-related factors and walking disability in different phases of rheumatoid arthritis; and to predict future walking disability in rheumatoid arthritis, using disease-related factors assessed 2 years after diagnosis.

Methods: A cohort of 848 newly diagnosed patients with rheumatoid arthritis was followed up for a maximum of 8 years. Walking disability and several disease-related and demographic factors were recorded during follow-up.

Beneficial effect of 1-year etanercept treatment on the lipid profile in responding patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the ETRA study.

Background: Effective anti-inflammatory treatment with tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors may have favourable effects on the lipid profile. Available evidence is derived from short-term studies, and it is not clear whether TNFα inhibitors have a similar effect on the lipid profile in responders and non-responders to the treatment.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of long-term etanercept treatment on the lipid profile in a large sample of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), stratified for European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response.

Prognostic factors for the two-year course of activity limitations in early osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee.

Objective: To predict the 2-year course of activity limitations in patients with early knee and/or hip osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: The Cohort Hip & Cohort Knee (CHECK) study is a prospective followup study. The CHECK cohort, comprising participants (n = 1,002) with early OA-related knee and/or hip symptoms, was followed for 2 years.

The value of ultrasonography in predicting arthritis in auto-antibody positive arthralgia patients: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Ultrasonography (US) has better sensitivity than clinical evaluation for the detection of synovitis in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients presenting with arthralgia and a positive anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and/or Rheumatoid Factor (IgM-RF) status are at risk for developing RA. In the present study, US utility and predictive properties in arthralgia patients at risk for the development of arthritis were studied.

Reasons for drop-out in rehabilitation treatment of native patients and non-native patients with chronic low back pain in the Netherlands: a medical file study.

Aim: Drop-out of rehabilitation treatment in non-native patients with chronic low back pain has been reported to be higher than in native Dutch patients. It was expected that drop-out in non-native patients would be due to different expectations on the content of rehabilitation treatment and due to language or communication problems. Aim of this study was to determine differences in reasons for drop-out between native patients and non-native patients with chronic non-specific low back pain participating in a rehabilitation program.

Benefits of treatment theory in the design of explanatory trials: cognitive treatment of illness perception in chronic low back pain rehabilitation as an illustrative example.

Background: Evidence-based treatment is not effective for all patients. Research must therefore be carried out to help clinicians to decide for whom and under what circumstances certain treatment is effective. Treatment theory can assist in designing research that will provide results on which clinical decision-making can be based.