The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of a novel MRI scoring system in early peripheral SpA (pSpA).

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are mainly defined by inflammatory infiltrates within the muscle (lymphocytes and macrophages). Eosinophil muscle infiltration has been described in idiopathic eosinophilic myositis (IEM) and rarely in EF. This study aimed to further delineate the nosological frame of idiopathic eosinophil muscle infiltration through the exhaustive analysis of IEM and EF patients.

Inborn errors of immunity manifest with susceptibility to infection but may also present with immune dysregulation only. According to the European Society for Immunodeficiencies Registry about 50% of inborn errors of immunity are classified as common variable immunodeficiencies (CVID). In only few CVID patients are monogenic causes identified. IFN regulatory factor-2 binding protein 2 (IRF2BP2) is one of 20 known genes associated with CVID phenotypes and has only been reported in two families so far. We report another IRF2BP2-deficient patient with a novel pathogenic variant and phenotype and characterize impaired B cell function and immune dysregulation.

The aim of this study was to describe and compare health economic outcomes [health-care utilization and costs, work outcomes, and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L)] in patients classified into different levels-of-risk subgroups by the Keele STarT MSK Tool.

APS is a heterogeneous disease with different phenotypes. Using an unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis, we aimed to determine distinct homogeneous phenotypes among APS patients.

To demonstrate that unsuccessful treatment optimization in early disease is associated with difficult-to-treat RA (D2T-RA).

Interventions aimed at increasing TNF-α inhibitor serum drug levels (SDLs) may improve treatment response; however, previous studies suggesting SDL cut-offs have not accounted for treatment adherence. The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between adalimumab/certolizumab SDLs and EULAR good vs non-/moderate response and to define SDL cut-offs associated with good response in fully adherent patients.

To describe the clinical and pathological features of biopsy-proven cutaneous vasculitis (CV) associated with SLE, focusing on diagnosis classification and impact on overall SLE activity.

Poor medication adherence among patients with SLE is a critical problem associated with adverse outcomes. This study examined the relationship between trust in one's physician and goal-oriented thinking, hope and medication adherence among Japanese patients with SLE who were ethnically matched to their physicians.

Recent studies have shed light on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that link subchondral bone remodelling and angiogenesis in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Type H vessels are a newly identified bone blood vessel characterized by high expression of CD31 and endomucin that are coupled with osteogenesis. Factors including mechanical loading, TGF-β1, platelet-derived growth factor type BB, the osteoprotegerin-RANK ligand-RANK system, osteopontin, mechanistic target of rapamycin, VEGF, stromal cell-derived factor l and prostaglandin E2 participate in the formation of type H vessels in osteoarthritic subchondral bone. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of type H vessels in knee OA, as well as the signalling pathways involved and potential therapeutic medicines. In future, the pathogenesis of knee OA could be further clarified by connecting type H vessels and the design of new disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs. However, further experiments are needed to determine the upstream signals regulating type H vessel formation in osteoarthritic subchondral bone.

Animal studies suggest regional unloading of the knee due to flexion contracture (FC) results in cartilage loss in the anterior tibia. We looked for an association between the range of knee extension and articular cartilage thickness in the tibia of patients with knee OA, using quantitative MRI data from the OA Initiative.

To assess the relationship between consumption of largely consumed beverages (coffee, tea, alcohol and soft drinks) and the risk of RA.

To establish a framework by which experts define disease subsets in systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).

The skin pathergy test (SPT) is an important tool in the diagnosis of Behçet disease (BD), but its decreasing sensitivity over years has resulted in less frequent use in the clinical practice. This study aimed to improve the sensitivity of the SPT without compromising its specificity.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in RA pathogenesis. However, specific lncRNAs that regulate gene expression in RA pathogenesis are poorly known. This study was undertaken to characterize a novel lncRNA (lnc-RNU12) that has a lower-than-normal expression level in RA patients.