Targeting axial and peripheral psoriatic arthritis: a retrospective observational study on the clinical relevance of upadacitinib.

Objective: To evaluate upadacitinib (UPA) effectiveness on axial and peripheral manifestations of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) by assessing the proportion of patients achieving low disease activity (LDA) and inactive disease (ID) status for axial involvement, and MDA and DAPSA-defined remission/LDA for peripheral domain.

Methods: This retrospective study included PsA patients from 27 Italian rheumatology centers. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were collected at baseline, 6, and 12 months.

Italian Multicenter Real-World Study on the Twelve-Month Effectiveness, Safety, and Retention Rate of Guselkumab in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients.

: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the musculoskeletal system and skin. While biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs have improved treatment, many patients still fail to achieve remission. Combining conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) with biologic (b) DMARDs or targeted synthetic (ts) DMARDs shows no added benefit over monotherapy with IL-17, IL-23 inhibitors, or JAK inhibitors, unlike TNFi, which benefit from csDMARD co-administration.

Modern strategies in classical fields of nanoindentation: Semiconductors, ceramics, and thin films.

Unlabelled: Over the past three decades, nanoindentation has continuously evolved and transformed the field of materials mechanical testing. Once highlighted by the groundbreaking Oliver-Pharr method, the utility of nanoindentation has transcended far beyond modulus and hardness measurements. Today, with increasing challenges in developing advanced energy generation and electronics technologies, we face a growing demand for accelerated materials discovery and efficient assessment of mechanical properties that are coupled with modern machine learning-assisted approaches, most of which require robust experimental validation and verification.

Multicentre retrospective detection of nailfold videocapillaroscopy abnormalities in long covid patients.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 induces acute non-specific endothelial/microvascular alterations that have been identified by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC). Details on NVC abnormalities in long covid (LC) patients (pts) are unknown.

Methods: LC pts without and with systemic sclerosis (non-SSc-LC and SSc-LC), recovered COVID-19 (RC) pts that did not develop LC and healthy matched control subjects (CNT) that underwent NVC examinations were evaluated in a multicentre national study from the Capillaroscopy and Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases Study Group of the Italian Society of Rheumatology.

A Critical Comparison Among High-Resolution Methods for Spatially Resolved Nano-Scale Residual Stress Analysis in Nanostructured Coatings.

Residual stresses in multilayer thin coatings represent a complex multiscale phenomenon arising from the intricate interplay of multiple factors, including the number and thickness of layers, material properties of the layers and substrate, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch, deposition technique and growth mechanism, as well as process parameters and environmental conditions. A multiscale approach to residual stress measurement is essential for a comprehensive understanding of stress distribution in such systems. To investigate this, two AlGaN/GaN multilayer coatings with distinct layer architectures were deposited on sapphire substrates using metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE).

Efficacy and safety of mepolizumab in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: Insights from real-life cases and literature analysis.

Background And Aim: Recently, the MIRRA trial demonstrated the efficacy and safety of mepolizumab in refractory or relapsing eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and the usefulness of this drug as a steroid-sparing agent. However, until now, only a few evidence is available about its effectiveness and safety in clinical practice. In this paper, we report our experience in the treatment of EGPA patients with mepolizumab in a real-world setting and review the current literature on this topic.

Efficacy and retention rate of secukinumab in psoriatic arthritis across different clinical phenotypes: insights from the Italian GISEA Registry.

Background: Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of secukinumab (SECU) in reducing disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), while real-world studies prove a broader perspective on SECU's usefulness in everyday clinical practice.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of SECU by evaluating drug survival and identifying potential predictors of clinical response and treatment discontinuation in patients with moderate-to-severe PsA, using real-world data from the Italian Group for the Study of Early Arthritis (GISEA) registry.

Design: This longitudinal retrospective study included PsA patients treated with SECU, spanning from May 2016 to November 2023.

Differences in the response to TNF inhibitors at distinct joint locations in patients with psoriatic arthritis: results from nine European registries.

Background: Efficacy of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) for peripheral arthritis in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been established in randomized clinical trials that have used improvement in summated joint counts as an outcome. Whether joints at different anatomical locations might respond differentially to TNFi remains unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate potential variations in the responsiveness to a first tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) among joints at distinct locations in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treated in routine clinical care.

Similar Hepatitis B virus reactivation risk for patients with inflammatory arthritis or connective tissue diseases: a multicenter retrospective study.

Introduction: Hepatitis B reactivation and administration of prophylactic antiviral treatment are considered in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) undergoing immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory treatment. Data are more robust for rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving bDMARDs but are limited for other AIIRD and drug categories.

Methods: Adult patients with AIIRD (inflammatory arthritis [IA] or connective tissue diseases [CTD]) and documented chronic or resolved HBV infection (defined as serum HBsAg positivity or anti-HBcAb positivity in the case of HBsAg non-detection respectively), followed-up in six rheumatology centers in Greece and Italy, were included.

Nintedanib in Rheumatoid Arthritis-Related Interstitial Lung Disease: Real-World Safety Profile and Risk of Side Effects and Discontinuation.

Objective: Some concerns remain about the safety of nintedanib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), such as in the presence of comorbidities or in combination with biologic, targeted synthetic, and/or conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). In this multicenter study, we retrospectively evaluated the safety of nintedanib in a real-world population of patients with RA-ILD from the Italian Group for the Study of Early Arthritis (GISEA) registry and the possible role of comorbidities and DMARDs on drug safety and withdrawal. Our secondary aim was to investigate the causes of nintedanib discontinuation.

The holistic management of peripheral spondyloarthritis: focus on articular involvement in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: To provide a comprehensive overview of peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA), focusing specifically on its occurrence and management in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: An exhaustive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies on pSpA in IBD patients. Titles, abstracts, and full-text articles were screened for relevance.

Pulmonary Progressive Fibrosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Primary Sjogren Syndrome: Similarities and Differences.

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) has been associated with a worse prognosis, even when interstitial lung disease (ILD) is related to rheumatic diseases. Since many differences are detectable among rheumatic diseases in prevalence and features of ILD, we aimed to investigate features of PPF in different rheumatic diseases, namely rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). In an Italian multicentre cross-sectional study, consecutive pSS or RA patients with a diagnosis of ILD from at least two years were enrolled.

Treatment of acute exacerbation in interstitial lung disease secondary to autoimmune rheumatic diseases: More questions than answers.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a relevant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). In the last years, an acute exacerbation (AE) - defined as an acute, clinically significant respiratory deterioration characterized by evidence of new widespread alveolar abnormality - has been reported to occur in virtually all ILD types, including ARD-ILD. The aim of this review is to describe the available and investigational treatments in patients affected by AE-ARD-ILD in light of the very low quality of evidence available.

Prevalence of Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients with Primary Sjogren Syndrome.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) represents a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS). However, the prevalence and behavior of pSS-ILD remains incomplete, largely based on retrospective heterogeneous studies.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate the prevalence of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) in a multicentric cohort of patients with pSS-ILD.

The Burden of Interstitial Lung Involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Could Lung Ultrasound Have a Role in Its Detection? A Literature Review.

Lung involvement represents a fearful complication in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), potentially involving all compartments of the pulmonary system. Regarding interstitial lung disease (ILD), the HRCT represents the gold standard technique for its diagnosis; however, the examination is burdened by radiation exposure and high costs. In addition, although some risk factors for ILD are known, no algorithms exist to know which patients to submit to HRCT and when.

Rheumatoid arthritis extra-articular lung disease: new insights on pathogenesis and experimental drugs.

Introduction: Pulmonary involvement is one of the most common extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by joint swelling and tenderness. All lung compartments can be interested in the course of RA, including parenchyma, airways, and, more rarely, pleura and vasculature.

Areas Covered: The aim of this paper is to review the main RA lung manifestations, focusing on pathogenesis, clinical and therapeutic issues of RA-related interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Retention rate of biologic and targeted synthetic anti-rheumatic drugs in elderly rheumatoid arthritis patients: data from GISEA registry.

Objectives: An increased number of elderly individuals affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been reported, including both patients with RA onset in advanced age and patients aged with the disease. In this registry-based study, we aimed to analyze the retention rate and cause of discontinuation of biologic (b) and targeted synthetic (ts)-disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in RA patients over 65 year old.

Methods: RA patients enrolled in the Italian GISEA registry and starting a b- or a ts-DMARD over 65 years of age were included.

Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) and PRO Remission Rates in 12,262 Biologic-Naïve Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis Treated With Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors in Routine Care.

Objective: To evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after initiation of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) treatment in European real-world patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Further, to investigate PRO remission rates across treatment courses, registries, disease duration, sex, and age at disease onset.

Methods: Visual analog scale or numerical rating scale scores for pain, fatigue, patient global assessment (PtGA), and the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) from 12,262 patients with PsA initiating a TNFi in 13 registries were pooled.

COVID-19, A New Possible Mimicker of Interstitial Lung Disease Related to Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

. Acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and COVID-19 pneumonia show many similarities, but also COVID-19 sequelae, mainly when fibrotic features are present, can be difficult to distinguish from chronic ILD observed in connective tissue diseases. .

The usual Interstitial pneumonia pattern in autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP) is characterized by progression of lung parenchyma that may be observed in various autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs), including rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue diseases. From a diagnostic point of view, a UIP pattern related to ARDs may display imaging and pathological features able to distinguish it from that related to IPF, such as the "straight-edge" sign at HRCT and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates at histologic specimens. Multidisciplinary approach (MDD), involving at least pulmonologist, rheumatologist and radiologist, is fundamental in the differential diagnosis process, but MDD is also required in the evaluation of severity, progression and response to treatment, that is based on the combination of changes in symptoms, pulmonary function trends, and, in selected patients, serial CT evaluation.

Fibrosing Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Multicentre Italian Study.

Background: The INBUILD study demonstrated the efficacy of nintedanib in the treatment of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease different to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related ILD. Nevertheless, the prevalence of RA-ILD patients that may potentially benefit from nintedanib remains unknown.

Objectives And Methods: The aim of the present multicentre study was to investigate the prevalence and possible associated factors of fibrosing progressive patterns in a cross-sectional cohort of RA-ILD patients.