Impaired coagulation parameters in early RA are restored by effective antirheumatic therapy: a prospective pilot study.

Objectives: To assess the effect of treatment on haemostatic parameters in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed RA started methotrexate and were randomised to additional conventional treatment, certolizumab pegol, abatacept or tocilizumab. Several biomarkers for haemostasis were analysed including parameters of the two global haemostatic assays-overall haemostatic potential (OHP) and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), as well as single haemostatic factors-fibrinogen, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), D-dimer, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and clot lysis time (CLT) in 24 patients at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks after the start of the treatment.

The role of pediatric subspecialists in adolescent contraceptive care: knowledge, attitudes, and barriers.

Study Objective: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with chronic medical conditions (CMC) have similar sexual behaviors to their healthy peers but are less likely to use contraception. Provision of CMC-specific sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care within pediatric subspecialty clinics may improve access for this population, although system and provider level barriers exist. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the attitudes, practices, and knowledge of SRH among providers in a variety of pediatric subspecialities.

Management of spontaneous liver hemorrhage in vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome: A case report.

Introduction: Vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a heritable connective tissue disorder characterized by vascular, solid organ, and hollow viscus fragility. Herein we report a patient with vEDS who presented with a large spontaneous subcapsular liver hemorrhage. This case highlights the challenges associated with managing vEDS patients and discusses approaches to optimize their care.

Course of hand pain over four years in patients with hand osteoarthritis depends on BMI, employment and mental wellbeing: The Hand OSTeoArthritis in Secondary care cohort study.

Objective: We aimed to characterize hand osteoarthritis (OA) patients with deteriorating or improving hand pain, and to investigate patients achieving good clinical outcome after four years.

Methods: We used four year annual Australian/Canadian hand osteoarthritis index (AUSCAN) pain subscale (range 0-20) measurements from the HOSTAS cohort (hand OA patients). Pain changes were categorized as deterioration, stable and improvement using the Minimal Clinical Important Improvement (MCII).

Sitting pressure during wheelchair propulsion and handcycling: effects of backrest angle, movement intensity and cushion type.

The main aim of this study was to compare sitting pressure (peak pressure index (PPI) and peak pressure gradient (PPG)) between a daily wheelchair and fixed-frame handcycle, thereby assessing the effect of handcycle backrest angle, movement intensity and cushion type. Twenty able-bodied participants performed static and dynamic (two intensities) tests in a wheelchair and handcycle. A honeycomb wheelchair cushion and standard foam handcycle cushion were used.

Consensus-Based Recommendations for Designing, Delivering, Evaluating, and Reporting Exercise Intervention Research Involving People Living With a Spinal Cord Injury.

Objectives: To establish recommendations for designing, delivering, evaluating, and reporting exercise intervention research to improve fitness-related outcomes in people living with spinal cord injury (PwSCI).

Design: International consensus process.

Setting: (1) An expert panel was established consisting of 9 members of the governing panel of the International Spinal Cord Society Physical Activity Special Interest Group and 9 additional scientists who authored or co-authored ≥1 exercise randomized controlled trial paper involving PwSCI.

Evaluation of participation in a former rehabilitation population: a comparison between USER-Participation Restriction and Satisfaction subscales and PROMIS Ability to Participate and PROMIS Satisfaction with participation 8-item short forms in a cross-sectional multicentre study.

Background: Several Patient Reported Outcome Measurements (PROMs) can be used to quantify participation in rehabilitation patients, yet there is limited comparative research on their content and psychometric properties to make an informed decision between them.

Objective: To compare the content and several psychometric properties of the Restriction and Satisfaction subscales of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation - Participation (USER-P) with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities (PROMIS-APS) and Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities (PROMIS-SPS) v2.0 8-item short forms.

The longitudinal association of hand osteoarthritis with paid and unpaid work restrictions and related societal costs: The Hand Osteoarthritis in Secondary Care cohort.

Objectives: To investigate the course of restrictions in paid and unpaid work and corresponding societal costs in patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Patients with data of at least baseline and one follow-up moment (year one up to year eight) of the Dutch Hand OSTeoArthritis in Secondary care cohort (HOSTAS) were included. The Health and Labour Questionnaire was used to assess over the last two weeks hand OA-related restrictions for paid and unpaid work.

Adherence to Physical Activity Guidelines in Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury and the Association With Shoulder Pain.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the association between adherence to spinal cord injury-specific physical activity guidelines in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury and shoulder pain prevalence.

Design: This is a cross-sectional analysis of the SwiSCI Community Survey 2022 data, assessing aerobic activity and muscle strength training adherence in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury and shoulder pain prevalence. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between meeting the physical activity guidelines and shoulder pain.

Future implications of artificial intelligence in lung cancer screening: a systematic review.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to assess the application of AI-based interventions in lung cancer screening, and its future implications.

Methods: Relevant published literature was screened using PRISMA guidelines across three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Search terms for article selection included "artificial intelligence," "radiology," "lung cancer," "screening," and "diagnostic.

Development of the Pulmonary Embolism Progression (PEP) score for predicting short-term clinical deterioration in intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism: a single-center retrospective study.

Accurate risk stratification in acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) is essential. Current prediction scores lack the ability to forecast impending clinical decline. The Pulmonary Embolism Progression (PEP) score aims to predict short-term clinical deterioration (respiratory failure or hemodynamic instability within 72 h) in patients with intermediate-risk PE.

Effect of a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention on body composition in people with osteoarthritis: Secondary analysis of the "Plants for Joints" randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The Plants for Joints (PFJ) intervention significantly improved pain, stiffness, and physical function, and metabolic outcomes, in people with metabolic syndrome-associated osteoarthritis (MSOA). This secondary analysis investigated its effects on body composition.

Method: In the randomized PFJ study, people with MSOA followed a 16-week intervention based on a whole-food plant-based diet, physical activity, and stress management, or usual care.

Evidence of Site-Specific Mucosal Autoantibody Secretion in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) have been detected in sputum and saliva, indicating that anti-modified protein antibodies (AMPA) can be produced at mucosal sites in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the body's largest mucosal compartment, the gut, has not yet been examined. We therefore investigated the presence of several AMPA (ACPA, anti-carbamylated protein antibodies [anti-CarP], and anti-acetylated protein antibodies [AAPA]) at different mucosal sites, including the intestinal tract.

Circulating Baseline CXCR3Th2 and Th17 Cell Proportions Correlate With Trabecular Bone Loss After 48 Weeks of Biological Treatment in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: The high prevalence of osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is due to inflammation that stimulates differentiation of osteoclasts, a process involving circulating monocytes and T cell-derived factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate relations between circulating monocytes, T cell subsets, and changes in bone characteristics before and after treatment with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in RA.

Methods: Thirty patients with untreated early RA who met the American College of Rheumatology/EULAR 2010 criteria were included.

Cost-utility analysis of longstanding exercise therapy versus usual care in people with rheumatoid arthritis and severe functional limitations.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of longstanding personalized exercise therapy compared with usual care in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and severe functional disability.

Method: In this cost-utility analysis of a randomized controlled trial (n = 215), with 1 year follow-up, the study population comprised individuals with RA and reported severe difficulties in performing basic daily activities. Assessments were at baseline, 12, 26, and 52 weeks, with measurements of costs including medical and non-medical costs as recorded by patients and healthcare providers.

Comparative Analysis of Coagulation Activation in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated With TNF Inhibitors Versus JAK Inhibitors: A Prospective Study.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the activation of the coagulation system of RA patients and assess changes during anti-inflammatory treatment with tumor necrosis factor blockers (anti-TNF) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi).

Methods: Biomarkers for the coagulation system, including D-dimer, fibrinogen, prothrombin time, activated partial thrombin time, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), activated factor IX, antithrombin complex, and von Willebrand factor (vWF), were longitudinally measured in 83 RA patients treated with anti-TNF and 38 RA patients with JAKi. Data were collected at baseline, after 1, 3, and 6 months.

Low-dose clonidine infusion to improve sleep in postoperative patients in the high-dependency unit. A randomised placebo-controlled single-centre trial.

Purpose: Dexmedetomidine increases sleep and reduces delirium in postoperative patients, but it is expensive and requires a monitored environment. Clonidine, another 2-agonist, is cheaper and is used safely for other purposes in wards. We assessed whether clonidine would improve sleep in postoperative high-dependency unit (HDU) patients.

Systematic development of an injury and illness prevention programme for athletes with a physical impairment: the TIPAS study.

Background/aim: The participation of individuals with physical impairment in sports has numerous benefits, yet there is also the risk of sustaining sport-related injuries or illnesses. Therefore, prevention programmes of these problems are needed to ensure that individuals can maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Currently, very few prevention interventions are accessible for these athletes.

The Fracture Phenotypes in Women and Men of 50 Years and Older with a Recent Clinical Fracture.

Purpose Of Review: We review the literature about patients 50 years and older with a recent clinical fracture for the presence of skeletal and extra-skeletal risks, their perspectives of imminent subsequent fracture, falls, mortality, and other risks, and on the role of the fracture liaison service (FLS) for timely secondary fracture prevention.

Recent Findings: Patients with a recent clinical fracture present with heterogeneous patterns of bone-, fall-, and comorbidity-related risks. Short-term perspectives include bone loss, increased risk of fractures, falls, and mortality, and a decrease in physical performance and quality of life.