Secukinumab Provides Sustained Improvements in the Signs and Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis: Final 5-year Results from the Phase 3 FUTURE 1 Study.

Objective: To report the 5-year efficacy and safety of secukinumab in the treatment of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the FUTURE 1 study (NCT01392326).

Methods: Following the 2-year core trial, eligible patients receiving subcutaneous secukinumab entered a 3-year extension phase. Results are presented for key efficacy endpoints for the secukinumab 150-mg group (n = 236), including patients who escalated from 150 to 300 mg (approved doses) starting at week 156.

Microvascular function: a potential link between salt sensitivity, insulin resistance and hypertension.

Objective: Generalized microvascular dysfunction may contribute to the development of salt sensitivity, insulin resistance and hypertension, and may thus link these cardiovascular risk factors. To test this hypothesis, we examined skin microvascular function, salt sensitivity, insulin sensitivity and blood pressure in 27 normotensive and 26 hypertensive individuals.

Methods: Capillary density was examined by videomicroscopy during venous congestion and postocclusive reactive hyperaemia.

The Asp299Gly Toll-like receptor 4 polymorphism in advanced aortic atherosclerosis.

Background: Recently, the common Asp299Gly polymorphism of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) was found to be associated with a reduced incidence of acute myocardial infarction and carotid atherosclerosis. As TLR-4 signalling is causally involved in atherogenesis, the polymorphism was postulated to impart protection from atherosclerosis. To explore a potential atheroprotective effect, we studied the association between the Asp299Gly polymorphism and atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients undergoing angiography for suspected renovascular disease.

Imaging apoptosis for detecting plaque instability: rendering death a brighter facade.

The relatively poor correlation between the risk of atherosclerotic plaque rupture and the degree of luminal obstruction before this event implies a strong imperative for in vivo detection of the processes underlying progressive plaque destabilization. In addition to the morphologic characteristics, apoptosis and inflammation comprise two important indicators of plaque instability. Apoptotic macrophage death results in enlargement of the plaque necrotic core and positive vascular remodelling, whereas apoptosis of the smooth muscle cells leads to attenuation of the fibrous cap.

Utilizing SENSE to reduce scan duration in high-resolution contrast-enhanced renal MR angiography.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of sensitivity encoding (SENSE) to reduce scan time and decrease detrimental artifacts arising from motion and bolus profile effects during contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) of the renal arteries (RAs).

Materials And Methods: A direct comparison of conventional and SENSE (acceleration factor 2) CE-MRA protocols was performed on 20 patients. Each patient underwent both scans.