Baseline serum levels of IgA anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies in early rheumatoid arthritis predict radiographic progression after 11 years of treatment: a secondary analysis of the CIMESTRA study.

Objective: Smoking and periodontitis are risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), suggesting a break of tolerance on mucosal surfaces. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies are part of the mucosal immune system. The dominant autoantibodies in RA are anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), and IgG and IgA subclasses exist simultaneously.

Increased serum levels of microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) are not associated with clinical synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis but may reflect underlying cardiovascular comorbidity.

Objectives: To study circulating MFAP4 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its associations with clinical phenotype.

Methods: Early RA (ERA): 47 patients with newly diagnosed, treatment naïve RA were included. Serum MFAP4, clinical and laboratory disease variables were recorded serially during 12 months of intensive synovitis suppressive treatment.

Sleep problems and fatigue as predictors for the onset of chronic widespread pain over a 5- and 18-year perspective.

Background: Previous research suggests that sleep problems may be an important predictor for chronic widespread pain (CWP). With this study we investigated both sleep problems and fatigue as predictors for the onset of CWP over a 5-year and an 18-year perspective in a population free from CWP at baseline.

Methods: To get a more stable classification of CWP, we used a wash-out period, including only individuals who had not reported CWP at baseline (1998) and three years prior baseline (1995).

Predictive value of a multi-biomarker disease activity score for clinical remission and radiographic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: a post-hoc study of the OPERA trial.

Objectives: Measurement of serum biomarkers at disease onset may improve prediction of disease course in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated the multi-biomarker disease activity (MBDA) score and early changes in MBDA score for prediction of 28-joint Disease Activity Score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) remission and radiographic progression in the double-blinded OPERA trial.

Method: Treatment-naïve RA patients (N = 180) with moderate or high DAS28 were randomized to methotrexate (MTX) + adalimumab (n = 89) or MTX + placebo (n = 91) in combination with glucocorticoid injection into swollen joints.

Mortality and its predictors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a Danish population-based inception cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate mortality and its predictors in a retrospectively defined population-based rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inception cohort Method: We included patients ascertained with incident RA from a region in the southern part of Denmark from 1995 to 2002. All patients fulfilled the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA. The patients were followed from RA classification until death, emigration, or end of follow-up on 31 December 2013.

Circulating serum interleukin-6, serum chitinase-3-like protein-1, and plasma vascular endothelial growth factor are not predictive for remission and radiographic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: post-hoc explorative and validation studies based on the CIMESTRA and OPERA trials.

Objective: To investigate serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum chitinase-3-like protein-1 (YKL-40), and plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as measures of disease activity and predictors of clinical remission and radiographic progression in two early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Method: Treatment-naïve patients with early RA (< 6 months' duration) and active disease, participating in two investigator-initiated RCTs, were treated according to a predefined treat-to-target algorithm aiming at inflammatory control, using methotrexate (MTX) + cyclosporine versus MTX + placebo (CIMESTRA study, n = 150, 5 year follow-up) or MTX + adalimumab versus MTX + placebo (OPERA study, n = 180, 2 year follow-up). The 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and conventional radiography [bilateral hands and feet at baseline, 2 years and 5 years (only CIMESTRA)] were obtained at baseline and during follow-up.

Galectin-3 is Persistently Increased in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Associates with Anti-CCP Seropositivity and MRI Bone Lesions, While Early Fibrosis Markers Correlate with Disease Activity.

Galectin-3 has been suggested as a pro-inflammatory mediator in animal arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to study the serum level of galectin-3 in patients with newly diagnosed RA and associations with disease profile, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and seromarkers of synovial matrix inflammation. One hundred and sixty DMARD naïve patients newly diagnosed with RA were included (CIMESTRA study).

Increased galectin-3 may serve as a serologic signature of pre-rheumatoid arthritis while markers of synovitis and cartilage do not differ between early undifferentiated arthritis subsets.

Background: Undifferentiated arthritis (UA) is a label applied to patients with joint complaints which cannot be classified according to current criteria, which implies a need for precision diagnostic technologies. We studied serum galectin-3, a proinflammatory mediator, and seromarkers of structural joint elements in patients with early, UA and their associations with disease profile and biochemical and imaging findings.

Methods: One hundred and eleven UA patients were followed-up for at least 12 months and reclassified according to appropriate criteria (TUDAR).

Hand bone loss in early rheumatoid arthritis during a methotrexate-based treat-to-target strategy with or without adalimumab-a substudy of the optimized treatment algorithm in early RA (OPERA) trial.

This study aims to investigate 1-year hand bone loss (HBL) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with a methotrexate (MTX) and intra-articular triamcinolone treat-to-target strategy +/- adalimumab and to determine if HBL is associated with radiographic progression after 2 years. In a clinical trial (OPERA) of 180 treatment-naive early RA patients, bone mineral density (BMD) was estimated from hand radiographs with digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) at baseline, after 6 (n = 90) and 12 months (n = 70) of follow-up. Baseline and 2-year radiographs were scored according to the Sharp/van der Heijde method.

The discriminative value of inflammatory back pain in patients with persistent low back pain.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of inflammatory back pain (IBP) characteristics and analyse the discriminative value of IBP relative to axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) criteria.

Method: Patients who had low back pain for > 3 months were selected from a cohort of secondary care patients aged 18-40 years. Data included information on SpA features, human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 typing, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sacroiliac joints, and self-reported IBP questions covering the pain characteristics included in the Calin, Berlin, and ASAS IBP definitions.

Mycobacterium alsense sp. nov., a scotochromogenic slow grower isolated from clinical respiratory specimens.

The name 'Mycobacterium alsiense', although reported in 2007, has not been validly published. Polyphasic characterization of three available strains of this species led us to the conclusion that they represent a distinct species within the genus Mycobacterium. The proposed novel species grows slowly and presents pale yellow-pigmented colonies.

Phenothiazines as a solution for multidrug resistant tuberculosis: From the origin to present.

Historically, multiplicity of actions in synthetic compounds is a rule rather than exception. The science of non-antibiotics evolved in this background. From the antimalarial and antitrypanosomial dye methylene blue, chemically similar compounds, the phenothiazines, were developed.

Within-day variation and influence of physical exercise on circulating Galectin-3 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy individuals.

Galectin-3 has been suggested as a pro-inflammatory mediator in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous studies have reported overexpression of Galectin-3 in RA synovitis and increased levels in synovial fluid and serum in long-standing RA compared with osteoarthritis and healthy controls. Our objectives were to study whether serum Galectin-3 (1) exhibits circadian variation and/or (2) responds to exercise in RA and controls.

It means everything: continuing normality of everyday life for people with rheumatoid arthritis in early remission.

Objective: The aim of this follow-up study was twofold: firstly, to explore how people who were clinically regarded to be in a state of remission experienced their everyday lives with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); secondly, to explore the experiences of people in early remission with healthcare provision and their perceived support needs.

Methods: Two focus group interviews were conducted with 11 participants in total. Interview data were analysed using content analysis methods.

Everyday life with rheumatoid arthritis and implications for patient education and clinical practice: a focus group study.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore how everyday life is affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in order to inform patient education and clinical practice and generate further research.

Methods: Six focus group interviews were conducted with, in total, 32 participants. Interview data were analysed using content analysis methods.

Incidence of rheumatoid arthritis from 1995 to 2001: impact of ascertainment from multiple sources.

The aim of this study was to describe the mean incidence rate of rheumatoid arthritis over a 7-year period from 1995 to 2001 in a population in the southern part of Denmark, using the data from several sources. Cases fulfilling the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria for rheumatoid arthritis were identified at hospitals and private practising rheumatologists (referral centres), and in general practice. The observed incidence was 32/100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval 29-35).

Incidence of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Southern part of Denmark from 1995 to 2001.

We estimated the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in the southern part of Denmark from 1995 to 2001. At a rheumatology hospital serving a population of about 200 000 people over the age of 15, medical records were scrutinized. As case definition we used the tree and list format of 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria for rheumatoid arthritis.