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Objectives: Rituximab (RTX) is a safe and effective treatment for RA. However, there are some concerns about infection risk and preliminary data suggest dose and time dependency. This study aims to determine the infection incidence in a large real-life population of RA patients using RTX, with special focus on (ultra-)low dosing and time since last infusion.
Methods: RA patients treated with 1000, 500 or 200 mg RTX per cycle between 2012 and 2021 at the Sint Maartenskliniek were included in a retrospective cohort study. Patient-, disease-, treatment- and infection characteristics were retrieved from electronic health records. Infection incidence rates, dose and time relations with RTX infusion were analysed using mixed-effects Poisson regression.
Results: Among 490 patients, we identified 819 infections in 1254 patient years. Most infections were mild and respiratory tract infections were most common. Infection incidence rates were 41, 54 and 71 per 100 patient years for doses of 200, 500 and 1000 mg. Incidence rate ratio (IRR) was significantly lower for 200 mg compared with 1000 mg (adjusted IRR 0.35, 95% CI 0.17, 0.72, P = 0.004). In patients receiving 1000 or 500 mg RTX, infections seemed to occur more frequently within the first two months after infusion compared with later on in the treatment cycle, suggesting an association with peak concentration.
Conclusion: Ultra-low dosing (200 mg) of RTX is associated with a lower risk of infections in RA. Future interventions focusing on ultra-low dosing and slow release of RTX (e.g. by subcutaneous administration) may lower infection risk.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kead328 | DOI Listing |
JMIR Public Health Surveill
September 2025
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States.
Background: In recent years, social media has emerged as a pivotal tool in implementation science efforts to address the HIV epidemic. Engaging community partners is essential to ensure the successful and equitable implementation of social media strategies. There is a notable lack of scholarship addressing the operational considerations for studies using social media strategies in community-partnered HIV research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJMIR Public Health Surveill
September 2025
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, 73 Goryeodae-ro, Seoungbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea, 82 2-2286-1169.
Background: Scrub typhus (ST), also known as tsutsugamushi disease, is a common febrile vector-borne illness in South Korea, transmitted by trombiculid mites infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi, with rodents serving as the main hosts. Although vector-borne diseases like ST require both a One Health approach and a spatiotemporal perspective to fully understand their complex dynamics, previous studies have often lacked integrated analyses that simultaneously address disease dynamics, vectors, and environmental shifts.
Objective: We aimed to explore spatiotemporal trends, high-risk areas, and risk factors of ST by simultaneously incorporating host and environmental information.
Ann Am Thorac Soc
September 2025
Hadassah Medical Center, Pediatric Pulmonology Unit and Cystic Fibrosis Center, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Background Although advances in care have improved cystic fibrosis (CF) outcomes in higher-income countries (HICs), the situation remains alarming in lower-income countries (LICs). Methods People with CF (pwCF) enrolled in the European Cystic Fibrosis Society Patient Registry (ECFSPR) and carrying at least one F508del variant allele were evaluated in 2017 and in 2022 for predicted percent forced expiratory volume (ppFEV1), underweight status, and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infection, according to the gross national income (GNI) per capita divided into three terciles (low-income countries, LICs; middle-income countries, MICs; and high-income countries, HICs). Survival was evaluated in the periods 2013-2017 and 2018-2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Public Health
October 2025
Alexander Furuya, Asa Radix, Adam Whalen, Jessica Contreras, Jenesis Merriman, Krish J. Bhatt, Roberta Scheinmann, and Dustin T. Duncan are with the Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY. Yusuf Ransome is with the Department of Social and Behav
To examine how one's community connectedness may act as a source of resilience and promote HIV prevention and care behaviors among transgender women of color. We analyzed survey data from 313 transgender women of color living in New York City collected from August 2020 to November 2022. The Community Connectedness Scale asks participants about their baseline feelings of connection, feelings of inclusion, feelings of belonging, feelings of isolation, and feelings of being unlike in relation to the transgender community.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
August 2025
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna.
Background: Gastric cancer epidemiology evolved rapidly in the last century, shifting from being one of the main causes of cancer-related death to the sixth in high-income countries.
Methods: We conducted a narrative review on gastric cancer epidemiology. Our review focused on trends of gastric cancer and its relationship with Helicobacter pylori infection; cardia and noncardia gastric cancer risk factors; early onset gastric cancer; second primary cancers in patients with gastric cancer; and implementation of gastric cancer prevention strategies.