Non-negligible risk of HBV reactivation among rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving JAK inhibitors: bridging the evidence gap.

Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is a critical concern for patients with autoimmune disease undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Despite data on HBV reactivation risks associated with biologics, the impact of this new targeted immunosuppressive agents-Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) - remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of HBV reactivation among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with JAK inhibitors, compared with those receiving TNF inhibitors or rituximab.

Rituximab in the COVID-19 era: The impact of albumin and IgG on patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Objective: To identify factors associated with COVID-19 outcomes in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) treated with rituximab (RTX) and determine candidates for RTX administration/maintenance.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study of RTX-treated IMID patients with COVID-19 (May 2021-April 2023), including 32 hospitalized cases and 64 non-hospitalized controls matched by age, sex, IMID diagnosis. Logistic regression was used to analyze pre-COVID biochemical markers within 3-months and RTX-specific factors.

Concomitant autoimmunity and late cancers in adult-onset immunodeficiency due to neutralizing anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies.

Background: Opportunistic intramacrophagic infections are well-characterized in adult-onset immunodeficiency associated with neutralizing anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies (nAIGA).

Objective: Concomitant autoimmune and neoplastic diseases are rarely described.

Methods: This study included 50 patients diagnosed with adult-onset immunodeficiency due to nAIGA between 2014-2024.

Advanced Glycation End-Products Acting as Immunomodulators for Chronic Inflammation, Inflammaging and Carcinogenesis in Patients with Diabetes and Immune-Related Diseases.

Increased production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) among reducing sugars (glucose, fructose, galactose, or ribose) and amino acids/proteins via non-enzymatic Maillard reaction can be found in lifestyle-related disease (LSRD), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and obesity and immune-related diseases. Increased serum levels of AGEs may induce aging, diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), neurodegenerative diseases (NDD), cancer, and inflamm-aging (inflammation with immunosenescence). The Maillard reaction can also occur among reducing sugars and lipoproteins or DNAs to alter their structure and induce immunogenicity/genotoxicity for carcinogenesis.

Ultrasound characteristics of soft tissues near sacroiliac joints and in the lumbar region of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Aims: To investigate the musculoskeletal morphomechanical properties (i.e., the thickness and elastic modulus) and the total count of power Doppler signals near the sacroiliac joints in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-AS individuals.

Risk of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Reactivation in HBsAg-Negative, Anti-HBc-Negative Patients Receiving Rituximab for Autoimmune Diseases in HBV Endemic Areas.

Background/aims: Rituximab is known to be associated with high hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation rate in patients with resolved HBV infection and hematologic malignancy. However, data regarding HBV reactivation (HBVr) in rheumatic patients receiving rituximab is limited. To assess the HBVr rate in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative patients receiving rituximab for autoimmune diseases in a large real-world cohort.

Association between SLICC/ACR damage index and outcomes for lupus patients after cardiac valve surgery.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with multi-organ damage including cardiac valve, which may need valvular operation. However, methods for outcome prediction and prosthetic valve selection are unclear in SLE patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery. Twenty-five SLE patients receiving valvular operation in a single institute between 2002 and 2020 were enrolled.

Clinical features and prognostic predictors in patients with rheumatic diseases complicated by Pneumocystis pneumonia.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical outcomes and risk factors of mortality in patients with rheumatic diseases complicated by Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP).

Methods: Between November 2015 and April 2021, patients with rheumatic diseases with PCP in a tertiary referral hospital were retrospectively enrolled. The diagnosis of PCP requires the fulfillment of clinical, radiographic, and microbiological criteria.

Tissue microenvironment dictates inflammation and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

The recent advance in treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has significantly improved the prognosis of RA patients. However, these novel therapies do not work well for all RA patients. The unmet need suggests that the current understanding about how inflammatory response arises and progresses in RA is limited.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Immunocompromised Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome-A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Although the negative impact of immunosuppression on survival in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) treated by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is well known, short-term outcomes such as successful weaning rate from ECMO and subgroups benefit most from ECMO remain to be determined. The aims of this study were (1) to identify the association between immunocompromised status and weaning from ECMO in patients of ARDS, and (2) to identify subgroups of immunocompromised patients who may benefit from ECMO. This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients who received ECMO for ARDS from 2010 to 2020.

Anti-DFS70 Antibodies for Differentiating Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease in Patients with Positive ANA Tests: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Anti-DFS70 antibodies have been proposed as a marker to exclude systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD). We conducted this systematic diagnostic test accuracy review and meta-analysis to determine the performance of anti-DFS70 antibodies in patients with a positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test result to exclude SARD. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and the Cochrane Library up to 22 February 2021, and included studies examining the diagnostic accuracy of anti-DFS70 antibodies in patients with a positive ANA test result.

Pregnancy outcomes in patients treated with belimumab: Report from real-world experience.

Objective: To investigate the neonatal and maternal outcomes of patients treated with belimumab during pregnancy.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected patients who were treated with belimumab during pregnancy from January 2018 to October 2020 in a tertiary referral hospital in Taiwan. All patients had clinical and serological features of systemic lupus erythematosus or antiphospholipid syndrome and had been treated accordingly.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus managed with pembrolizumab: A case report with literature review.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is one of the rare but lethal infectious complication in patients with SLE, manifesting progressive central nervous demyelination caused by JC virus (JCV). There have been no effective antiviral agents so far; however, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have been demonstrated as potential treatments by reinvigorating antiviral T-cell activity against JC virus. To date, sixteen PML cases treated with anti-PD-1 have been reported; however, there was no report addressing the use of ICI in patients with concomitant PML and rheumatic disease, possibly due to the concern for possible autoimmune disease flare-up.

Serum C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 Levels as Biomarkers for Disease Severity and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare inflammatory breast disease mimicking breast cancer. Limited research has been conducted on the application of serum biomarkers. This study aims to investigate the association of serum biomarkers with disease severity in patients with IGM.

Combined intravenous immunoglobulin and baricitinib treatment for severe COVID-19 with rhabdomyolysis: A case report.

Since December 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly around the world. The severity of COVID-19 ranges from asymptomatic carriers to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Accumulating evidence has shown that COVID-19 may be associated with multiple organ complications including cardiac injury, viral myositis and neurological deficits.

Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies Correlate to Ultrasound Synovitis in Rheumatoid Arthritis Better Than C-Reactive Protein.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare ultrasound (US) grading and laboratory measures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: Two-hundred four patients with rheumatoid arthritis who received US evaluation for synovitis were included after excluding those using tocilizumab. Ultrasound grading of synovial hypertrophy (SH) and power Doppler (PD) at the most severe site were recorded.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a 27-year-old lady with systemic lupus erythematosus - rheumatoid arthritis overlap syndrome.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare viral demyelinating disease of central nervous system. Immunosuppression is a significant risk factor for the disease. Previously, PML developed more commonly in patients of hematological malignancy and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Weaning outcome of solid cancer patients requiring mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit.

Background: Whether the weaning outcome of solid cancer patients receiving mechanical ventilation (MV) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is comparable to that in non-cancer patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the weaning outcomes between non-cancer patients and patients with different types of cancer.

Methods: We studied patients requiring MV during ICU stay for medical reasons between 2012 and 2014.