Euthyroid Sick Syndrome as an Index of Prognosis in Severe COVID-19 Disease.

: Euthyroid sick syndrome, or non-thyroidal illness syndrome, has been observed in severely ill patients and has been found to be an index of prognosis. It has been detected in patients with severe infectious diseases, e.g.

Targeted Cellular Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease affecting all organ systems. The disease preferentially affects females of childbearing age. It runs a variable course.

Osteoporosis in a Woman With Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report.

Multiple sclerosis is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by demyelination of nerves within the central nervous system. The prevalence of the disease is increasing. Cases with varying severity are observed.

Persistence on subcutaneous tocilizumab as monotherapy or in combination with synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Greece (EMBRACE study): a multicenter, post-marketing, non-interventional, observational trial.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, inflammatory disease affecting multiple organs and causing physical disability over time.

Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate treatment persistence to subcutaneous tocilizumab (TCZ-SC). Additionally, treatment effects on persistence and their associations with clinical and patient-reported outcomes were assessed.

Vitamin D Levels as a Marker of Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus may cause severe infection, which is associated with diverse clinical manifestations. Vitamin D has immunomodulating properties and may enhance the body's defense system against invading pathogenic organisms. The aim was to assess 25(OH)D levels in patients hospitalized for severe infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and explore the relationship between 25(OH)D and outcomes.

Current Treatment Approach, Emerging Therapies and New Horizons in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the prototype of systemic autoimmune diseases is characterized by extreme heterogeneity with a variable clinical course. Renal involvement may be observed and affects the outcome. Hydroxychloroquine should be administered to every lupus patient irrespective of organ involvement.

Real-world effectiveness of golimumab in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis and an inadequate response to initial TNFi therapy in Greece: the GO-BEYOND prospective, observational study.

The impact of golimumab (GLM) on remission or low disease activity (LDA) was evaluated in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), progressive psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or severe axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), who failed previous treatment for their rheumatic disease with one initial tumor necrosis factor α inhibitor (TNFi). This is a multicenter, prospective, real-world observational 18-month study, conducted in Greece. The primary endpoint, assessed at 6 months, included the proportion of patients attaining LDA and/or remission (Disease Activity Score for 28 joints based on C-reactive protein [DAS28-CRP] ≤ 3.

Sarcopenia in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Diseases such as diabetes mellitus may be associated with adverse changes in body composition. Sarcopenia is characterized by a progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and functionality.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and sarcopenia.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: Association with Clinical Manifestations and Immune Activation Markers.

Vitamin D is an agent involved in bone and mineral homeostasis. It has been recognized as a potent immunomodulator. It has immune-enhancing properties, and it induces immune tolerance.

Vitamin D levels in Greek patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency has been observed in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The aim was to study vitamin D in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its relationship with disease activity.

Methods: In a cohort of 45 patients with SLE, 41 females and 4 males, aged 47.

The effects of golimumab on work productivity and quality of life among work-active axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients treated in the routine care in Greece: the 'GO-UP' study.

Purpose: To examine the impact of golimumab, on work productivity, activity limitation, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: This real-world, multicenter, prospective study consecutively enrolled adult consented work-active patients with axSpA or PsA, newly initiated on golimumab as per the approved label. Prior receipt of > 1 prior biologic, or switching from another tumor-necrosis factor inhibitor due to primary non-response or safety reasons was not allowed.

Nutritional Pearls: Diet and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Various studies have investigated the effect of diet on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a complimentary treatment along with standard drug therapy. Various types of diet have been investigated. Fasting, the Mediterranean diet, the Cretan Mediterranean diet, vegetarian diet, an anti-inflammatory diet and the use of various specific food substances have been in the focus of research interest.

The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids thought to play a role in health and disease. They are known as essential fatty acids, as they cannot be synthesized in mammals. Omega-3 fatty acids have a beneficial effect on the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease and stroke and are essential for the development and function of the nervous system and the retina in man.

Correlation of patient preferences to treatment outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in Greece.

Objectives: To investigate possible associations between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient-expressed preferences over anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment and clinical and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: PANORAMA was a non-interventional, prospective, multicentre, cohort study of 12 months duration, in patients with moderate-to-severe RA who initiated or switched to anti-TNF treatment. After initiation of anti-TNF, patients completed a preferences questionnaire on attributes related to anti-TNF treatment.

Vitamin D in acutely ill patients.

Objective To investigate 25(OH)D levels and their relationship to survival in a cohort of acutely ill patients on admission to an intensive care unit. Methods This study enrolled acutely ill patients at admission to an intensive care unit and a group of sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects. The 25(OH)D levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay.

Orf disease in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Orf disease is a viral infection, affecting patients being involved in the care of livestock either professionally or habitually. It is also known as ecthyma contagious, contagious pustular dermatitis or infectious euphoria being a rare zoonotic disease caused by an epitheliotropic DNA virus from the parapoxvirus group. We report a case of Orf disease affecting the hand of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on treatment with methotrexate and adalimumab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor biological agent.

Anti-synthetase syndrome presenting with interstitial lung disease.

Anti-synthetase syndrome is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy characterized by interstitial lung involvement, arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, mechanic's hands and fever. The case of anti-synthetase syndrome in a young female is reported. The patient presented with interstitial lung disease, initially subclinical muscle involvement, Raynaud's phenomenon, arthritis and mechanic's hands.

Safety profile of repeated rituximab cycles in unselected rheumatoid arthritis patients: a long-term, prospective real-life study.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term safety of rituximab (RTX) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in daily clinical practice.

Methods: This was a multicentre (17 Greek Rheumatology sites), prospective, long-term, pharmacovigilance study of patients with moderate to severe RA and an inadequate response or intolerance to ≥1 anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded and collected prospectively every 2-6 months.

Vitamin D deficiency in a patient with HDR syndrome.

The case of a patient with clinical symptoms, laboratory and imaging findings of hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness, renal dysplasia HDR, or Barakat syndrome (hypoparathyroidism, deafness, renal dysplasia), and vitamin D deficiency, is presented. A Caucasian man aged 51 years with a history of chronic hypocalcaemia since childhood, was admitted with hypertonia of the body and extremities, and loss of consciousness. On admission, he was found to have severe hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia, severe hypoparathyroidism, low serum magnesium and mild renal insufficiency.

Vitamin D and glycemic control in diabetes mellitus type 2.

Objectives: The extraskeletal effects of vitamin D have attracted considerable interest. Vitamin D deficiency appears to be related to the development of diabetes mellitus type 2 and the metabolic syndrome. Vitamin D may affect glucose homeostasis, vitamin D levels having been found to be inversely related to glycosylated hemoglobin levels in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Vitamin D and rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes mellitus type 1 and multiple sclerosis. Reduced vitamin D intake has been linked to increased susceptibility to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and vitamin D deficiency has been found to be associated with disease activity in patients with RA. The objective was to evaluate vitamin D status in patients with RA and to assess the relationship between vitamin D levels and disease activity.