Dr. Jack Cush reviews news and highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. Sign up at RheumNow.com to received daily or weekly news, blogs and tweets on all things rheumatology
Reuters has reported that European drugmakers have taken the tact of warning EU physician contemplating the switch from existing (originator) biologic therapy to newer, cut-rate biosimilar. Biosimilar use is widespread outside the USA.
The current JAMA has a perspective piece on the role of the oral microbiome in the pathogenesis and references a recent article by Konig et al on "Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans–induced hypercitrullination links periodontal infection to autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)." (Citation source http://buff.ly/2lIC1sV)
Researchers from Rush University Medical Center have reported in the March 6 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation that engagement of the integrin CD11b with a novel compound, may improved outcomes in patients iwth systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). (Citation source http://buff.ly/2mmqMVH)
In the United States, doctor-diagnosed arthritis is a common and widespread chronic condition (1,2). Arthritis is a leading cause of disability (3) and is projected to affect 78.4 million adults by 2040.
The current issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports on the relative risk of heart failure (HF) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its relation to ischemic heart disease (IHD).
Investigators analyzed 2 cohorts of RA subjects identified from Swedish patient and rheumatology registries and matched these 1:10 to general population as comparators.
The February 2017 RheumNow “Live Vote” surveyed US and non-US rheumatologists about their beliefs and practices regarding folic acid and methotrexate (MTX) use. A total of 495 responses were tabulated in 2 weeks. Here are the results, and comments from Dr. Kremer on his preferred answers to these questions.
The TNF inhibitor drug development trials have indirectly taught us that monoclonal antibody based TNFi was capable of retarding the recurrence of anterior uveitis (AU) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
On the heels of the recently published EULAR recommendations for the management of pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) comes a new meta-analysis published in the Journal of Autoimmunity on pregnancy outomes in lupus.
This systematic review was performed to show the impact of SLE on maternal and fetal outcomes following pregnancy.
Dr. Cush reviews the highlights and news from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Arthritis Care & Research has reported the results of a study that analyzed the perceptions and attitudes of men afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results are drawn from a series of focus groups involving 22 men with RA. (Citation source http://buff.ly/2mOqCVq)
The Journal of Leukocyte Biology has reported mechanisms whereby synovial CD4+ T cells producing IL-21 can contribute to the pathogenesis of RA by activating synovial fibroblasts.
Investigators isolated T cells from synovial fluid that produced IL-21 and TNF and compared these with cells that did not.
Cells producing IL-21 were put in culture with synovial fibroblasts and induced the proinflammatory cytokines in excess.
“It’s unbelievable how much you don’t know about the game you’ve been playing all your life.” - Mickey Mantle
Chronic inflammation is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. In the last year, we have reported that autoimmune disease (http://buff.ly/2lTXA8w) and herpes zoster infection (http://buff.ly/2lUjsAv) may contribute to an increased risk for cerebrovascular accidents (CVA).
Patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with onset in the modern era had significantly lower baseline and annual rates of radiographic disease progression versus those with onset before 2001, researchers in England reported.
