Pravastatin plus L-arginine prevents adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with uteroplacental vascular dysfunction.

Background: Uteroplacental vascular dysfunction, characterized by diminished uterine artery (UtA) blood flow in the second trimester is a clinically useful predictor of the further development of preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction and stillbirth. Efforts to develop effective treatments to protect pregnancies with abnormal UtA Dopplers would be of significant clinical benefit for mothers and their fetuses.

Objective: The aim of this pilot non randomized control study was to use pravastatin +L-arginine to improve uteroplacental haemodynamics and prevent adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with abnormal Dopplers and high risk for developing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Triple therapy with pravastatin, low molecular weight heparin and low dose aspirin improves placental haemodynamics and pregnancy outcomes in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome in mice and women through a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism.

Objectives: A previous pilot study showed that pravastatin supplementation improved pregnancy outcomes in women with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (OAPS) that developed placental insufficiency despite standard of care treatment low molecular weight heparin plus low dose aspirin (LMWH + LDA). In this study we investigated the mechanism behind the beneficial effects of the triple therapy LMWH + LDA + pravastatin in improving uteroplacental vascular function and reducing pregnancy complications in OAPS. We hypothesized that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the vasculoprotective effects of the triple therapy.

Chemosensory dysfunction, Oral disorders and Oral health-related quality of life in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate chemosensory function and oral disorders in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and to compare these findings with those of age- and gender-matched healthy controls.

Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study included 58 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and 55 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Olfactory and gustatory function, burning sensations in the tongue (BST) and halitosis were assessed.

Fenebrutinib versus Placebo or Adalimumab in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase II Trial (ANDES Study).

Objective: To evaluate fenebrutinib, an oral and highly selective non-covalent inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients with RA and inadequate response to methotrexate (cohort 1, n=480) were randomized to fenebrutinib (50 mg once daily, 150 mg once daily, 200 mg twice daily), 40 mg adalimumab every other week, or placebo. Patients with RA and inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (cohort 2, n=98) received fenebrutinib (200 mg twice daily) or placebo.

Standardisation of nailfold capillaroscopy for the assessment of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and systemic sclerosis.

Capillaroscopy is a non-invasive and safe tool which allows the evaluation of the morphology of the microcirculation. Since its recent incorporation in the 2013 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria for systemic sclerosis together with its assessed role to monitor disease progression, capillaroscopy became a 'mainstream' investigation for rheumatologists. Given its increasing use by a variety of physicians internationally both in daily practice to differentiate primary from secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, as well as in research context to predict disease progression and monitor treatment effects, standardisation in capillaroscopic image acquisition and analysis seems paramount.

Treat-to-target strategy for knee osteoarthritis. International technical expert panel consensus and good clinical practice statements.

Background: In this work, we aimed to establish a clinical target in the management of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to propose good clinical practice (GCP) statements for carrying out a treat-to-target strategy.

Methods: A steering committee of seven experts had formulated a provisional set of recommendations that were exposed for discussion and modification to a technical expert panel (TEP) of 25 multidisciplinary experts from Europe, North America, South America and Asia. The level of evidence and strength of each recommendation was discussed.

Impact of trainee involvement on the outcome of ERCP procedures: results of a prospective multicenter observational trial.

Background: Training in advanced endoscopic techniques such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) should be driven by key performance measures and standardized competence assessment in order to provide safe and high-quality interventions. We aimed to determine whether the involvement of trainees influences the outcome of the procedure and the incidence of ERCP-related adverse events.

Methods: This was an international, multicenter, prospective, observational study conducted at six high- and low-volume centers across Europe between October 2016 and October 2018, and included independent operators and their trainees.

Racial differences in systemic sclerosis disease presentation: a European Scleroderma Trials and Research group study.

Objectives: Racial factors play a significant role in SSc. We evaluated differences in SSc presentations between white patients (WP), Asian patients (AP) and black patients (BP) and analysed the effects of geographical locations.

Methods: SSc characteristics of patients from the EUSTAR cohort were cross-sectionally compared across racial groups using survival and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Performance of ultra-high-frequency ultrasound in the evaluation of skin involvement in systemic sclerosis: a preliminary report.

Objective: High frequency ultrasound allows visualization of epidermis, dermis and hypodermis, precise measurement of skin thickness, as well as assessment of skin oedema, fibrosis and atrophy. The aim of this pilot cross-sectional observational study was to assess the performance and multiobserver variability of ultra-high-frequency (UHF) (50 MHz) ultrasound (US) in measuring skin thickness as well as the capacity of UHF-derived skin features to differentiate SSc patients from healthy controls.

Methods: Twenty-one SSc patients (16 limited and five diffuse SSc) and six healthy controls were enrolled.

Depression/anxiety symptoms in axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients in Serbia: a pilot study.

To assess prevalence and change of depression/anxiety symptoms in spondyloarthritis patients and feasibility of depression/anxiety questionnaires. 43 Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and 27 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were consecutively recruited. There were 34 patients on biologics and 36 patients on nonbiologics.

Correction to: Endorsement by Central European experts of the revised ESCEO algorithm for the management of knee osteoarthritis.

In the Original Publication, the e-mail address of the author Milan Petronijević is incorrect. The correct e-mail address is milanpetronijevic@yahoo.com.

Endorsement by Central European experts of the revised ESCEO algorithm for the management of knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by deterioration of the joints and associated with considerable pain and disability. OA is a chronic disease that requires intervention with both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment modalities and, inevitably, disease progression may necessitate successive treatments throughout the course of the disease. There is increasing data on the shortfalls of current pharmacological treatment of OA, and safety concerns associated with analgesic therapy use in OA arising from increasing evidence of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hepatic and renal adverse events with paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

OMERACT agreement and reliability study of ultrasonographic elementary lesions in osteoarthritis of the foot.

Objective: To evaluate the level of agreement on ultrasonographic (US) lesions among highly experienced sonographers as well as the intraobserver and interobserver reliability of inflammatory and structural US lesions in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the foot.

Methods: After a systematic literature review, a Delphi survey was performed to test definitions of US lesions in OA of the foot, including inflammatory lesions (ie, synovial hypertrophy [SH], joint effusion [JE], power Doppler signal [PD]), and structural abnormalities (ie, cartilage damage [CD] and osteophytes). Subsequently, the reliability of US in assessing the aforementioned lesions was tested on static images as well as during a live exercise.

Quality in endoscopy training-the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography case.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is one of the most advanced therapeutic procedures in gastrointestinal endoscopy. It is highly operator-dependent procedure requiring specific, knowledge-based training in order to achieve competence. Strategies for assessing competency of trainees and those in practice include numbers of procedures performed, and subjective or objective assessment by a mentor or self-assessment by the trainee.

Pravastatin and-L-arginine combination improves umbilical artery blood flow and neonatal outcomes in dichorionic twin pregnancies through an nitric oxide-dependent vasorelaxant effect.

The increase in fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with twin pregnancies correlates with an increased risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Although the pathogenesis of IUGR is unclear and thus management remains a major challenge, feto-placental blood vessels are compromised, and altered umbilical blood flow is observed. In this pilot observational study we investigated the effects of pravastatin plus l-arginine on umbilical artery (umb art) blood flow.

Matrix Metalloproteinases-3 Baseline Serum Levels in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients without Initial Radiographic Changes: A Two-Year Ultrasonographic Study.

Objective: To investigate the association of high baseline serum levels of metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3) with structural damage to hand and feet joints, assessed by ultrasonography (US), in patients with early, treatment-naïve rheumatoid arthritis (RA), without initial X-ray-visible erosions, during 24 months follow-up.

Methods: Sixty-three early RA (European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology 2010), disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs/glucocorticoid naïve patients (mean age 53.4 ± 14.

Construct validity and sensitivity to change of Belgrade Ultrasound Enthesitis Score in patients with spondyloarthritis: a pilot study.

The objective of this study was to determine the construct validity and sensitivity to change of Belgrade Ultrasound Enthesitis Score (BUSES) in spondyloarthritis patients. Seventy-six spondyloarthritis patients with enthesitis were included in this pilot, prospective, double-blinded ultrasound study. Thirty-four patients received biological and forty-two patients received non-biological therapy.

Mapping and predicting mortality from systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: To determine the causes of death and risk factors in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Between 2000 and 2011, we examined the death certificates of all French patients with SSc to determine causes of death. Then we examined causes of death and developed a score associated with all-cause mortality from the international European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database.

Incidences and Risk Factors of Organ Manifestations in the Early Course of Systemic Sclerosis: A Longitudinal EUSTAR Study.

Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare and clinically heterogeneous autoimmune disorder characterised by fibrosis and microvascular obliteration of the skin and internal organs. Organ involvement mostly manifests after a variable period of the onset of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). We aimed to map the incidence and predictors of pulmonary, cardiac, gastrointestinal (GI) and renal involvement in the early course of SSc.

An observational cohort study of patients with newly diagnosed digital ulcer disease secondary to systemic sclerosis registered in the EUSTAR database.

Objectives: This study describes clinical characteristics, prognostic factors, and quality of life in patients with newly diagnosed (incident) digital ulcers (DU).

Methods: Observational cohort study of 189 consecutive SSc patients with incident DU diagnosis identified from the EUSTAR database (22 centres in 10 countries). Data were collected from medical charts and during one prospective visit between 01/2004 and 09/2010.