bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alpha-Chlorofatty Acid and Coronary Artery or Aorta Calcium Scores in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. A Pilot Study
Authors: Mahieu Mary A. , Guild Camelia P. , Albert Carolyn J. , Kondos George T. , Carr James J. , Edmundowicz Daniel , Ford David A. , Ramsey-Goldman Rosalind 
Published: August 2014

Objective.Alpha-chlorofatty acid (α-ClFA) is one product of myeloperoxidase activityin vivoduring atherogenesis and may be a biomarker for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated if serum α-ClFA is associated with subclinical CVD as measured by coronary artery and aorta calcium scores (CAC and AC, respectively) in women with and without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods.This pilot project analyzed baseline data from 173 women with SLE and 186 women without SLE participating in a 5-year longitudinal investigation of the Study of Lupus Vascular and Bone Long-term Endpoints (SOLVABLE). Data collection included demographic information, CVD and SLE risk factors, and laboratory assessments. Alpha-ClFA was measured in stored serum by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. CAC and AC were measured by computed tomography. Outcome measures were CAC and AC present (CAC > 0 or AC > 0) versus absent (CAC = 0 or AC = 0). Associations between risk factors and CAC or AC were tested with descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses.Results.Women with SLE had higher α-ClFA levels than women without SLE (42.0 fmol/25µl ± 37.3 vs 34.5 fmol/25µl ± 21.9; p = 0.020). In analyses including individual CVD risk factors, having SLE was independently associated with the presence of CAC (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.72 to 6.78) but not AC. Alpha-ClFA was not associated with the presence of CAC or AC in patients with SLE.Conclusion.SLE, but not serum α-ClFA, was associated with the presence of CAC in this pilot project.
Determinants of Vitamin D Levels in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Stagi Stefano , Bertini Federico , Cavalli Loredana , Matucci-Cerinic Marco , Brandi Maria L. , Falcini Fernanda 
Published: August 2014

Objective.Deficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is reported to be common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); data in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are inconsistent. We assessed serum 25(OH)D in children, adolescents and young adults with JIA, in order to identify the risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in patients with JIA.Methods.We evaluated 152 patients with JIA: 115 female, 37 male, mean age 16.2 ± 7.4 yrs; evaluated by onset type, 96 had oligoarticular, 35 polyarticular, 7 systemic, and 14 enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA). Patients were compared with a control group matched for sex and age. All patients and controls underwent laboratory tests of plasma 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphorus, and bone alkaline phosphatase levels, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry examination.Results.Patients with JIA showed significantly reduced 25(OH)D levels compared to controls (p < 0.001), even divided into subtypes (oligoarticular, p < 0.05; polyarticular, p < 0.005; systemic, p < 0.001; ERA, p < 0.005). Patients with active disease and/or frequent relapses had significantly reduced 25(OH)D levels compared to patients with no active disease and no frequent flares (p < 0.005, respectively). Nevertheless, JIA patients had significantly higher PTH levels compared to controls (p < 0.0001). JIA patients with 25(OH)D deficiency showed a significantly lower bone mineral apparent density than those with normal 25(OH)D levels (p < 0.001).Conclusion.JIA patients have reduced 25(OH)D and higher PTH values. This may explain at least in part why JIA patients, despite more effective current drugs, do not achieve bone-normal condition over time. JIA patients with more severe disease could require higher supplementation of vitamin D to maintain normal 25(OH)D serum levels. Longterm studies are needed to investigate the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and disease activity in JIA.
Predictors for Mortality in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody-associated Vasculitis: A Study of 398 Chinese Patients
Authors: Lai Qing-ying , Ma Tian-Tian , Li Zhi-ying , Chang Dong-yuan , Zhao Ming-Hui , Chen Min 
Published: August 2014

Objective.Patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) have high mortality despite the introduction of immunosuppressive therapy. We investigated factors associated with mortality of patients with AAV in a single Chinese cohort.Methods.A total of 398 consecutive patients with AAV diagnosed in our center were recruited. Clinical and laboratory data were collected retrospectively. The predictive values of variables associated with mortality were analyzed.Results.During followup of a median duration 25.5 months (range 1–196 mo), 135 out of 398 patients (33.9%) died, with 83 deaths within the first 12 months after diagnosis. Independent predictors of all-cause mortality were age (p < 0.001), secondary infection (p < 0.001), pulmonary involvement of AAV (p = 0.012), and initial renal function (p = 0.001). Secondary infection was the leading cause of death (53/153, 39.3%) during the first year after diagnosis, while cardiovascular event was the leading cause of death (15/53, 28.8%) after 12 months from diagnosis. Independent predictors of secondary infection were age (p = 0.002), initial renal function (p = 0.041), lymphocyte counts in the peripheral blood (p = 0.03), and underlying pulmonary involvement of AAV (p = 0.001).Conclusion.Secondary infection is the overall leading cause and independent predictor of death in patients diagnosed with AAV. Cardiovascular event is a major cause of death during the late followup. Prudent monitoring should be given to patients of advancing age with renal dysfunction to reduce adverse events, especially infectious complications.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitor Treatment and the Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Nested Case-control Study
Authors: Desai Rishi J. , Rao Jaya K. , Hansen Richard A. , Fang Gang , Maciejewski Matthew , Farley Joel 
Published: August 2014

Objective.To compare the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events between use of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors (TNFi) and nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.A nested case-control study was conducted using data from Truven’s MarketScan commercial and Medicare claims database for patients with early RA who started treatment with either a TNFi or a nonbiologic DMARD between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2010. Date of CV event diagnosis for cases was defined as the event date, and 12 age-matched and sex-matched controls were sampled using incidence density sampling. Drug exposure was defined into the following mutually exclusive categories hierarchically: (1) current use of TNFi (with or without nonbiologics), (2) past use of TNFi (with or without nonbiologics), (3) current use of nonbiologics only, and (4) past use of nonbiologics only. Current use was defined as any use in the period 90 days prior to the event date. Conditional logistic regression models were used to derive incidence rate ratios (IRR).Results.From the cohort of patients with early RA, 279 cases of incident CV events and 3348 matched controls were identified. The adjusted risk of CV events was not significantly different between current TNFi users and current nonbiologic users (IRR 0.92, 95% CI 0.59–1.44). However, past users of nonbiologics showed significantly higher risk compared to current nonbiologic users (IRR 1.47, 95% CI 1.04–2.08).Conclusion.No differences in the CV risk were found between current TNFi and current nonbiologic DMARD treatment in patients with early RA.
Clinical and Immunogenetic Factors Associated with Pneumonia in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Rúa-Figueroa Iñigo , Nóvoa Javier , García-Laorden María Isabel , Erausquin Celia , García-Bello Miguel , Rodríguez de Castro Felipe , Herrera-Ramos Estefanía , Ojeda Soledad , Quevedo Juan Carlos , Francisco Félix , Naranjo Antonio , Rodríguez-Lozano Carlos , Rodríguez-Gallego Carlos 
Published: August 2014

Objective.To determine the incidence of pneumonia and associated factors in a single-center systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cohort.Methods.We included all our SLE patients [1997 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria] with ≥ 1 pneumonia event, and 196 age and sex-matched SLE controls with no pneumonia events. Cumulative clinical data, weighted Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR damage index (wSLICC/ACR-DI), comorbidities, and risk factors for pneumonia were retrospectively collected. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of pneumonia was estimated. Polymorphisms at genes coding for mannose binding lectin (MBL), MBL-associated serine protease 2, Fc-gamma receptors, and surfactant proteins A1, A2, and D were determined, and their potential association with pneumonia was analyzed. Patients with and without pneumonia were compared using a multivariate logistic regression model for adjustment of pneumonia-associated factors.Results.Thirty-six of 232 patients with SLE had experienced ≥ 1 pneumonia event. SIR for pneumonia was 5.1 (95% CI 3.5–7.4; p < 0.0001). Excluding patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy at the time of pneumonia (13%), associations were found for Katz Severity Index (KSI) (p = 0.016), wSLICC/ACR-DI (p = 0.044), number of SLE criteria (p = 0.005), hospital admissions (p < 0.001), FCGR2A HH genotype (p = 0.03), previous use of immunosuppressive therapy (p = 0.049), cutaneous ulcers (p < 0.001), and vasculitis (p = 0.008) in bivariate analyses. In the multivariate analysis adjusted to previous immunosuppressive treatment, only KSI and FCGR2A HH genotype remained statistically significant (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively).Conclusion.The incidence of pneumonia in patients with SLE is higher than that in the general population, and particularly high in severe SLE, regardless of immunosuppressive therapy. The HH genetic variant of FCGR2A appears to predispose patients with SLE to pneumonia.
Bone Structure and Perfusion Quantification of Bone Marrow Edema Pattern in the Wrist of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Multimodality Study
Authors: Teruel Jose R. , Burghardt Andrew J. , Rivoire Julien , Srikhum Waraporn , Noworolski Susan M. , Link Thomas M. , Imboden John B. , Li Xiaojuan 
Published: August 2014

Objective.To quantify bone structure and perfusion parameters in regions of bone marrow edema pattern (BMEP), non-edematous bone marrow (NBM), and pannus tissue areas in the wrists of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using 3-Tesla (3T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT).Methods.Sixteen subjects fulfilling American College of Rheumatology classification were imaged using a HR-pQCT system and a 3T MRI scanner with an 8-channel wrist coil. Coronal T2-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE-MRI) images were acquired. BMEP and pannus tissue areas were segmented semiautomatically in T2-weighted images. NBM areas were placed at a similar distance from the joint space as BMEP regions. MR and HR-pQCT images were registered, and bone variables were calculated within the BMEP and NBM regions. Perfusion parameters in BMEP, pannus tissue, and NBM regions were calculated based on the signal-time curve obtained from DCE-MRI.Results.Eighteen BMEP areas were segmented, 15 of them presented proximal to pannus-filled erosions. Significant increases in bone density and trabecular thickness and number were observed in all BMEP regions compared to NMB (p < 0.05). Significantly elevated perfusion measures were observed in both BMEP and pannus tissue regions compared to NBM (p < 0.05).Conclusion.BMEP regions showed significantly increased bone density and structures as well as perfusion measures, suggesting bone remodeling and active inflammation. Combining MRI and HR-pQCT provides a powerful multimodality approach for understanding BMEP and erosions, and for potentially identifying novel imaging markers for disease progression in RA.
Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Are More Likely to Have Pain and Poor Function After Total Hip Replacements than Patients with Osteoarthritis
Authors: Goodman Susan M. , Ramsden-Stein Danielle N. , Huang Wei-Ti , Zhu Rebecca , Figgie Mark P. , Alexiades Michael M. , Mandl Lisa A. 
Published: August 2014

Objective.Total hip replacement (THR) outcomes have been worse for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with those who have osteoarthritis (OA). Whether this remains true in contemporary patients with RA with a high use of disease-modifying and biologic therapy is unknown. The purpose of our study is to assess pain, function, and quality of life 2 years after primary THR, comparing patients with RA and patients with OA.Methods.Baseline and 2-year data were compared between validated patients with RA and patients with OA who were enrolled in a single-center THR registry between May 1, 2007, and February 25, 2011.Results.There were 5666 eligible primary THR identified, of which 193 were for RA. RA THR had worse baseline Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain (44.8 vs 53.2, p < 0.001) and function (38.7 vs 49.9, p < 0.001) compared with OA. These differences remained after surgery: pain (88.4 vs 94.0, p < 0.001) and function (82.9 vs 91.8, p < 0.001). Patients with RA were as likely to have a significant improvement as patients with OA (Δ WOMAC > 10) in pain (94% vs 96%, p = 0.35) and function (95% vs 94%, p = 0.69), but were 4 times as likely to have worse function (WOMAC ≤ 60; 19% vs 4%, p < 0.001) and pain (12% vs 3%, p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression controlling for multiple potential confounders, RA increased the odds of poor postoperative function (OR 4.32, 95% CI 1.57–11.9), and in patients without a previous primary THR, worse postoperative pain (OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.06–9.53).Conclusion.Contemporary patients with RA have significant improvements in pain and function after THR, but higher proportions have worse 2-year pain and function. In addition, RA is an independent predictor of 2-year pain and poor function after THR, despite high use of disease-modifying therapy.
Recent Trends in Medication Usage for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and the Influence of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
Authors: Mannion Melissa L. , Xie Fenglong , Curtis Jeffrey R. , Beukelman Timothy 
Published: August 2014

Objective.Using administrative data from a large commercial US health insurer, we investigated temporal trends in medication use among children diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).Methods.Children with ≥ 1 physician diagnosis code for JIA in the calendar years 2005 through 2012 were included. Use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), methotrexate (MTX), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID), and oral glucocorticoids (GC) was determined. Temporal changes in medication usage were evaluated with the Cochran-Armitage test for trend. We used paired t-tests to evaluate the use of NSAID and GC in the 6 months before and after new TNFi use.Results.We identified 4261 unique individuals with JIA. The proportion of patients receiving TNFi increased from 8.7% in 2005 to 22.4% in 2012 (p < 0.0001). MTX use increased from 18.4% to 23.2% (p = 0.02). NSAID use decreased from 49% to 40% (p = 0.02). GC use was relatively unchanged. Following new TNFi use, the mean number of NSAID prescriptions (among prevalent users) decreased from 2.8 to 2.0 (p < 0.0001), and the mean daily GC dose (among prevalent users) decreased from 7.3 mg/day to 3.9 mg/day (p < 0.0001). Many new TNFi users (57%) had not used MTX in the previous 6 months, and only 37% had any concurrent MTX use in the 6 months following new TNFi use.Conclusion.TNFi use in the treatment of JIA increased 2- to 3-fold over the last 8 years. New TNFi use was associated with decreased NSAID and GC use. TNFi may be replacing, rather than complementing, MTX in the treatment of many patients.
Immune Subdominant Antigens as Vaccine Candidates against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Orr Mark T. , Ireton Gregory C. , Beebe Elyse A. , Huang Po-Wei D. , Reese Valerie A. , Argilla David , Coler Rhea N. , Reed Steven G. 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
Unlike most pathogens, many of the immunodominant epitopes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis are under purifying selection. This startling finding suggests that M. tuberculosis may gain an evolutionary advantage by focusing the human immune response against selected proteins. Although the implications of this to vaccine development are incompletely understood, it has been suggested that inducing strong Th1 responses against Ags that are only weakly recognized during natural infection may circumvent this evasion strategy and increase vaccine efficacy. To test the hypothesis that subdominant and/or weak M. tuberculosis Ags are viable vaccine candidates and to avoid complications because of differential immunodominance hierarchies in humans and experimental animals, we defined the immunodominance hierarchy of 84 recombinant M. tuberculosis proteins in experimentally infected mice. We then combined a subset of these dominant or subdominant Ags with a Th1 augmenting adjuvant, glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant in stable emulsion, to assess their immunogenicity in M. tuberculosis–naive animals and protective efficacy as measured by a reduction in lung M. tuberculosis burden of infected animals after prophylactic vaccination. We observed little correlation between immunodominance during primary M. tuberculosis infection and vaccine efficacy, confirming the hypothesis that subdominant and weakly antigenic M. tuberculosis proteins are viable vaccine candidates. Finally, we developed two fusion proteins based on strongly protective subdominant fusion proteins. When paired with the glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant in stable emulsion, these fusion proteins elicited robust Th1 responses and limited pulmonary M. tuberculosis for at least 6 wk postinfection with a single immunization. These findings expand the potential pool of M. tuberculosis proteins that can be considered as vaccine Ag candidates.
Sperm-Associated Antigen 16 Is a Novel Target of the Humoral Autoimmune Response in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: de Bock Laura , Somers Klaartje , Fraussen Judith , Hendriks Jerome J.A. , van Horssen Jack , Rouwette Myrthe , Hellings Niels , Villar Luisa M. , Álvarez-Cermeño José C. , Espiño Mercedes , Hupperts Raymond , Jongen Peter , Damoiseaux Jan , Verbeek Marcel M. , De Deyn Peter P. , D’hooghe Marie , Van Wijmeersch Bart , Stinissen Piet , Somers Veerle 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
We have previously identified eight novel autoantibody targets in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, including sperm-associated Ag 16 (SPAG16). In the current study, we further investigated the autoantibody response against SPAG16—a protein with unknown function in the CNS—and its expression in MS pathology. Using isoelectric focusing, we detected SPAG16-specific oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid of 5 of 23 MS patients (22%). Analysis of the anti-SPAG16 Ab reactivity in the plasma of a total of 531 donors using ELISA demonstrated significantly elevated anti-SPAG16 Ab levels (p = 0.002) in 32 of 153 MS patients (21%) compared with all other control groups with 95% specificity for the disease. To investigate the pathologic relevance of anti-SPAG16 Abs in vivo, anti-SPAG16 Abs were injected in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, resulting in a significant disease exacerbation. Finally, we demonstrated a consistent upregulation of SPAG16 in MS brain and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis spinal cord lesions, more specifically in reactive astrocytes. We conclude that SPAG16 is a novel autoantibody target in a subgroup of MS patients and in combination with other diagnostic criteria, elevated levels of anti-SPAG16 Abs could be used as a biomarker for diagnosis. Furthermore, the pathologic relevance of anti-SPAG16 Abs was shown in vivo.
Th17 Cells Demonstrate Stable Cytokine Production in a Proallergic Environment
Authors: Glosson-Byers Nicole L. , Sehra Sarita , Stritesky Gretta L. , Yu Qing , Awe Olufolakemi , Pham Duy , Bruns Heather A. , Kaplan Mark H. 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
Th17 cells are critical for the clearance of extracellular bacteria and fungi, but also contribute to the pathology of autoimmune diseases and allergic inflammation. After exposure to an appropriate cytokine environment, Th17 cells can acquire a Th1-like phenotype, but less is known about their ability to adopt Th2 and Th9 effector programs. To explore this in more detail, we used an IL-17F lineage tracer mouse strain that allows tracking of cells that formerly expressed IL-17F. In vitro–derived Th17 cells adopted signature cytokine and transcription factor expression when cultured under Th1-, Th2-, or Th9-polarizing conditions. In contrast, using two models of allergic airway disease, Th17 cells from the lungs of diseased mice did not adopt Th1, Th2, or Th9 effector programs, but remained stable IL-17 secretors. Although in vitro–derived Th17 cells expressed IL-4Rα, those induced in vivo during allergic airway disease did not, possibly rendering them unresponsive to IL-4–induced signals. However, in vitro–derived, Ag-specific Th17 cells transferred in vivo to OVA and aluminum hydroxide–sensitized mice also maintained IL-17 secretion and did not produce alternative cytokines upon subsequent OVA challenge. Thus, although Th17 cells can adopt new phenotypes in response to some inflammatory environments, our data suggest that in allergic inflammation, Th17 cells are comparatively stable and retain the potential to produce IL-17. This might reflect a cytokine environment that promotes Th17 stability, and allow a broader immune response at tissue barriers that are susceptible to allergic inflammation.
El poder de las redes sociales: la “mano invisible” del framing noticioso. El caso de #LadyProfeco.
Authors: Nabel Luis Cesar Torres 
Published: August 2014

El artículo discute, a partir del caso sobre #LadyProfeco en México, la hipótesis de la influencia de enmarcamiento (framing) que están ejerciendo las redes sociales sobre los temas públicos importantes. Los resultados del análisis sobre el caso dan evidencia en contra de esta hipótesis ya que pese al crecimiento de las redes sociales y su visibilidad en la agenda pública, el 66.3% de la opinión que se vierte en hashtags y trending topics es producida por los de periodistas, militantes partidistas y políticos profesionales que la establecían desde los medios tradicionales.
Biases of April 1 snow water equivalent records in the Sierra Nevada and their associations with large‐scale climate indices
Authors: Montoya E. L. , Dozier J. , Meiring W. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractDo the April 1 snow course measurements underestimate the snow accumulation peak in the Sierra Nevada, thus possibly introducing biases in studies of trends and interannual variability that use the April 1 data? Although their period of record is many decades shorter, measurements of snow water equivalent (SWE) from automated snow pillows provide daily records throughout each year, enabling us to examine the timing and magnitude of the maximum SWE accumulation. Using generalized additive mixed models, on average, we find that the peak occurs earlier than April 1 at the lowest elevations and later than April 1 at the highest elevations and that the degree to which April 1 SWE under‐measures maximum SWE is greatest at the lowest and highest elevations. In addition, our results show that the biases are associated with cold and warm phase interactions of certain climate indices.