Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) comprises physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms occurring during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle that impair quality of life. Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disorder marked by chronic inflammation and recurrent attacks. This study aimed to assess the frequency and severity of PMS in adolescents with FMF, its association with disease activity, inflammatory markers, and treatment adherence, and to compare findings with healthy peers.

IgM anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-β2 Glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) positivity have been downgraded in the current classification criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). We assessed the clinical relevance of IgM antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in APS.

The aim of this study was to establish a fast, practical and automated assay to measure the expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in whole peripheral blood and evaluate the utility of these markers in distinguishing active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Antimalarial agents, particularly hydroxychloroquine, are fundamental in SLE management. While their renal benefits in lupus nephritis (LN) are recognized, their corresponding role in reducing extra-renal damage is less defined. This study examined the association between antimalarial use and extra-renal damage accrual in biopsy-confirmed LN.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is an established therapy for diffuse progressive systemic sclerosis (DpSSc), improving progression-free and overall survival compared with cyclophosphamide; however, relapse occurs in ∼12-17% of patients. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy offers a novel approach to deplete autoreactive B cells. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy as a rescue treatment in patients with SSc relapse following AHSCT.

The 2023 International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group (IMACS) guidelines introduced a standardized risk-stratification model for cancer screening in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). However, real-world data on their application remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of IMACS-based risk stratification in predicting malignancy and assess adherence to cancer screening recommendations in a multicentric Italian IIM cohort.

In patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a potentially fatal complication. As treatment intensity typically changes over time, PJP risk also changes, making fixed prophylaxis strategies suboptimal. We aimed to develop a time-dependent prediction model to guide individualized decisions on PJP prophylaxis.

Shared pathophysiologic features of fibrotic diseases, irrespective of anatomical site, have been suggested from epidemiologic, genetic, and mechanistic studies. Improvement in diagnostic capabilities and emergence of antifibrotic medications warrants identification of trajectories of fibrotic diseases and earlier identification of patients at risk of organ failure.

This study investigated the relationship between menstruation and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) attacks in adolescents and whether menstrual symptoms indicate true FMF flares or primary dysmenorrhea (PD) or premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Previously, tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi)-exposed infants were recommended to withhold rotavirus vaccination until 6 months due to infection risk. Guidelines have recently supported earlier vaccination, although safety data remain limited. We aimed to compare diarrhea risk (during early [1.5-6 months] and later [6-24 months] infancy) in TNFi-exposed infants who received rotavirus vaccination before 6 months vs those unvaccinated by 6 months.

To systematically evaluate the contribution of clinical heterogeneity to chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in gout patients using data-driven phenotyping, and to assess whether incorporating genetic risk improves prediction of renal outcomes.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have increased cardiovascular risk beyond traditional factors. Endothelial activation is an early and potentially reversible stage of atherogenesis, and circulating adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) have been proposed as markers of vascular involvement in inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to compare serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis versus controls, and to examine their associations with disease activity, systemic inflammatory burden, cardiovascular risk profile, and treatment status.

To assess the effectiveness and safety of anakinra in crystal-related disease (CRD) flares, and to identify factors associated with treatment failure and risk of infection.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a proteopathy with limited diagnostic and therapeutic options. This study aimed to uncover structural protein alterations in dermal fibroblasts from diffuse cutaneous (dc)SSc patients using a novel method: limited proteolysis-mass spectrometry (LiP-MS).

To identify factors associated with adverse outcomes in Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SLE-PAH) confirmed by right heart catheterization (RHC).

To assess the clinical efficacy, safety, and immunological effects of biologic therapies in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (pAPS) and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS).

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of premature death in many autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). Landmark randomized controlled trials in diabetes and obesity have demonstrated that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic benefits. Observational studies assessing GLP-1RAs in ARDs, including rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, have found reductions in risk of cardiovascular events similar to those reported in broader populations. GLP-1RAs likely exert their cardioprotective effects through direct and indirect mechanisms. GLP-1RAs treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, two important cardiovascular risk factors. They lower lipid levels by mitigating post-prandial hyperlipidaemia and reduce blood pressure by dampening carotid body-mediated sympathetic excitation. GLP-1RAs have anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory effects in mice. They attenuate T cell-mediated inflammation directly by activating GLP-1 receptors on gut intraepithelial lymphocytes, and myeloid cell-mediated inflammation indirectly by activating central neuronal GLP-1 receptors. While knowledge gaps remain, existing evidence supports a cardioprotective role for GLP-1RAs in ARDs.

Immune-mediated mechanisms and altered lipid metabolism may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in Sjögren disease (SjD). Antibodies targeting HDL have emerged as modulators of lipid dysfunction and inflammation in several rheumatic diseases, but their relevance in SjD remains unexplored. We aimed to characterize humoral responses against HDL in SjD and their associations with lipoprotein/lipid traits, inflammatory and proteomic features, and atherosclerosis.

The aging population is growing worldwide, and according to a 2015 World Health Organization report, the number of seniors over the age of 65 will be as high as 1.6 billion in 2050, representing 16.7% of the world's population. Moreover, the number of falls among people aged ≥ 65 is expected to increase by 47% by 2050, since coordination and balance, both static and dynamic, have a huge impact on the incidence of falls in seniors. This study was designed to determine whether there are differences in the effectiveness of Zumba Gold (ZG) dance training and conventional balance exercises (BE) in the context of static and dynamic balance and whether ZG may reduce the risk of falls in older adults.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, often involving a neuropathic component. While pathophysiology remains vague, increasing evidence suggests that small fiber pathology (SFP) may be present in a significant subset of patients, indicating a peripheral nervous system contribution. This systematic review aims to evaluate the utility of skin biopsy as a diagnostic tool for patients with FMS, with special focus on SFP. A comprehensive database search was conducted to identify studies assessing intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) via skin biopsy in individuals diagnosed with FMS. The included studies demonstrated a reduction in IENFD in a substantial proportion of FMS patients, with reported prevalence ranging widely from 30% to over 85%. Small fiber pathology occurs in a significant proportion of individuals with FMS. Skin biopsy emerges as a valuable diagnostic tool. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanism of SFP in FMS.