tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
SAT0519 The value of high-sensitivity c-reactive protein in hand and knee radiographic osteoarthritis: data from the dong-gu study
Authors: J-E Kim, J-H Kang, K-E Lee, D-J Park, S-S Lee
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2017)

<h3>Objectives</h3> Due to the inconsistent association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and osteoarthritis (OA), we evaluated the relationship between hs-CRP and various radiographic findings in older adults with OA. <h3>Methods</h3> This cross-sectional study recruited 2,400 participants from the population-based Dong-gu cohort. The scores of radiographic features in OA on X-rays of the knees and hands were computed using a semi-quantitative grading system. The hs-CRP levels were measured using a particle-enhanced immunonephelometry assay. Correlations showing the relationship between hs-CRP and OA were calculated using multiple linear correlation analysis. <h3>Results</h3> The hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in older subjects (<i>p</i> &lt;0.001), those with a higher body mass index (BMI) (<i>p</i> &lt;0.001), current smokers (<i>p</i> &lt;0.001), current alcohol drinkers (<i>p</i> =0.012), those who were less physically active (<i>p</i> =0.002), and those with a lower level of education (<i>p</i> =0.036). After adjusting for BMI and other confounders, the total OA scores (knee, <i>p</i> =0.048; hand, <i>p</i> =0.010), erosion scores (knee, <i>p</i> =0.035; hand, <i>p</i> =0.031), and sclerosis (knee, <i>p</i> =0.021; hand, <i>p</i> =0.029) in the knees and hands were all significantly positively correlated with hs-CRP. A significant association was also observed between hs-CRP and the hand malalignment score (<i>p</i> =0.012). <h3>Conclusions</h3> In this large cross-sectional study, the hs-CRP level was a significant predictor of radiographic OA. Of the various types of OA radiographic damage, erosion, sclerosis, and malalignment showed significant associations with hs-CRP. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared
FRI0423 Antibodies to type ii collagen: a novel tool for the spondyloarthritis diagnosis?
Authors: C Vinci, M Infantino, P Pozzilli, V Grossi, M Manfredi, F Bandinelli, F Li Gobbi, A Damiani, R Strollo, M Benucci, A Nissim
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2017)

<h3>Background</h3> Spondyloarthritis (SpA) are an inflammatory joint disease with chronic, progressive, axial inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. Diagnosis of SpA is done criteria by clinical symptoms, radiology and MRI or ultrasound following ASAS criteria. AS is similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) as they are all inflammatory joint disease. Nevertheless they show considerable different pathology. [1] <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of our study is to test whether a novel assay that we developed for RA can be used for SpA diagnosis. We have previously showed that antibodies to oxidative post-translationally modified collagen type II (oxPTM-CII) are present specifically in RA patients whether ACPA positive or negative. [2] Our study intends to investigate the reactivity to oxPTM-CII in SpA patients in comparison to early undifferentiated arthritis (EUA) and PsA patients. <h3>Methods</h3> oxPTM-CII were generated using ribose and various reactive oxidants, and then they were analysed by SDS-PAGE. Binding to native and oxPTM-CII was evaluated by ELISA and Western Blotting. We used a cohort of sera from 67 patients with SpA, 54 patients with PsA, 49 patients with EUA. As control we used 19 patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and 70 healthy subjects. The specificity of the binding was further assessed by competitive ELISA and western blot. <h3>Results</h3> We detected stronger reactivity to SpA compared to PsA and even EUA serum samples. Hence specific binding to oxPTM-CII was seen in the 52% of SpA sera compared to 12% in PsA and 10% in EUA. There was no binding in samples from FM and healthy individuals. A group of the most reactive SpA samples was evaluated by western blot confirming a strong binding to several fragments or aggregates of oxPTM-CII. <h3>Conclusions</h3> For the first time we demonstrated that anti-ROS-CII may become a biomarker for SpA diagnosis. <h3>References</h3> J. Braun and J. Sieper, Ankylosing spondylitis. Lancet, vol. 369, no. 9570, pp. 1379–1390, 2007. R. Strollo, F. Ponchel, V. Malmström, P. Rizzo, M. Bombardieri, C. Y. Wenham, R. Landy, D. Perret, F. Watt, V. M. Corrigall, P. G. Winyard, P. Pozzilli, P. G. Conaghan, G. S. Panayi, L. Klareskog, P. Emery, and A. Nissim, Autoantibodies to posttranslationally modified type II collagen as potential biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum., vol. 65, no. 7, pp. 1702–12, Jul. 2013. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared
FRI0467 Development and preliminary validation of the computed tomography sacroiliac structural score (CT-SSS) for assessment of structural lesions in axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: WP Maksymowych, M Raynal, D Loeuille, M-A D'Agostino, J Paschke, RG Lambert
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2017)

<h3>Background</h3> Computed tomography (CT) is considered the imaging benchmark for the assessment of certain structural lesions in the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Availability of low dose radiation techniques may lead to more widespread use, potentially as a structural endpoint in clinical trials research. <h3>Objectives</h3> We aimed to validate a new CT-based scoring method, the CT Sacroiliac Structural Score (CT-SSS), for assessing structural lesions in the SIJ. <h3>Methods</h3> CT scans of the SIJ from 44 patients (26 females, mean age 49.4 years, mean symptom duration 9.1 years) were reconstructed in the semicoronal plane parallel to the superior border of the sacrum and scoring of lesions was confined to this plane. Structural lesions were scored in consecutive slices in SIJ quadrants (erosion, sclerosis) or SIJ halves (ankylosis) on a dichotomous basis (present/absent) using the same anatomical principles as developed for the SPARCC MRI SIJ inflammation and structural scores. The most anterior slice is defined as visible joint ≥1cm vertical height and when &lt;3 cm is defined as having only upper iliac and sacral quadrants. A visible joint ≥3cm vertical height is defined as having 4 quadrants. At the posterior aspect of the SIJ, there is a natural separation of iliac and sacral cortical bone by structures in the ligamentary portion. Scoring is terminated when &lt;1cm of iliac and sacral bone is appositional. Two readers independently scored CT scans without a prior calibration exercise and using direct online data entry onto a schematic of the SIJ. Reliability was assessed by kappa statistics, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altman limits of agreement. <h3>Results</h3> Scoring was feasible (5–10 minutes per scan) and both ankylosis (ICC=0.95) and erosion (ICC=0.81) were reliably scored (Table). Sclerosis was less reliably scored (ICC=0.39). Presence/absence of ankylosis was reliably detected irrespective of whether this was based on a single slice (κ=0.77) or 3 consecutive slices (κ=0.81). Reliable detection was lower for erosion (κ=0.50 for 1 or 3 slices) and sclerosis (κ=0.44 and 0.48 for 1 and 3 slices, respectively). Bland-Altman graphs illustrate reliability across the range of scores for ankylosis and erosion. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The CT-SSS method is feasible and reliable for scoring ankylosis and erosion with minimal calibration. Sclerosis requires further standardization and calibration. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared
AB0760 Efficacy of ustekinumab in a cohort of patients affected by psoriatic arthritis in real-life
Authors: I Notario Ferreira, M González Ferrer, P Morales Garrido, I Oñate Añόn, L Perez Albaladejo, C Hernández Caro, A González Utrilla, E Άlvarez Raya, R Cáliz Cáliz
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2017)

<h3>Background</h3> Psoriatic arthritis (APs) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease, that can be treated effectively with synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological agents. Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL-12 and 23 that has recently demonstrated efficacy and safety for the treatment of patients with APs in the PSUMMIT 1 and PSUMMIT 2 studies. <h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate the efficacy of Ustekinumab in our patients with psoriatic arthritis with peripheral involvement in clinical practice conditions. <h3>Methods</h3> Descriptive, prospective, longitudinal and open study including patients diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis with peripheral involvement. All patients were given ustekinumab at an initial dose of 45 mg administered subcutaneously followed by another 45 mg dose 4 weeks later and then every 12 weeks. Clinimetric scores (DAS28, MASES, Pain VAS, Clinicians VAS) were assessed and CRP was measured al baseline and after 6 months of treatment. <h3>Results</h3> 52 patients were included, 25 were female (48.1%) and 27 male (51.9%). They had a mean age of 46.96±11.39 years, a disease duration of 5.03±5.08 years, and moderate disease activity (DAS 28 of 3.95±0.87), the number of tender and swollen joints were 6.24±4.9 and 2.82±2.36, respectively. The patients had received an average of 1.42±1.75 biological therapies previously. Ustekinumab was prescribed as a first line treatment in 42.3% of patients, 19% after failure of a TNF inhibitor and 38% of patients had received 2 or more biological therapies previously. Ustekinumab was administered alone in 51% of the patients, 36.5% in combination with methotrexate and 11.5% in combination with leflunomide. 23.1% of the patients had dactylitis and 36.5% had enthesitis (mean MASES 1.31±0.86). At 6 months of treatment, there were improvements in the number of tender and swollen joints (mean NAD 4.84±6.4 and NAT 2±3.4 at 6 months, respectively) and MASES index (mean at 6 months, 0.35±0.96). 15 patients had completed at least 6 months of treatment. Improvements in DAS28-CRP scores were observed at 6 months of treatment (3.26±1.62), with a mean DAS28 change after 6 months (ΔDAS28) of -0.65±1.88. At month 6, 71.4% of the patients had low disease activity, and 35.7% were in clinical remission according to the DAS28 index. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Ustekinumab is effective in patients with psoriatic arthritis with peripheral involvement in routine clinical practice. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared
Donor Lymphocyte Infusions Used to Treat Mixed Chimerism in Relapsed and Non-Relapsed Patient Populations after Allogeneic Transplant for Hematologic Malignancies Are Associated with High 5-Year Survival If Persistent Full Donor Chimerism Is Obtained
Authors: Lauren E Caldemeyer, Luke P Akard, John R Edwards, Michael J Dugan
Journal: Blood (2016)
Variations in MicroRNA-25 Expression Influence the Severity of Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Yunshuang Liu, Hongzhi Li, Jieting Liu, Pengfei Han, Xuefeng Li, He Bai, Chunlei Zhang, Xuelian Sun, Yanjie Teng, Yufei Zhang, Xiaohuan Yuan, Yanhui Chu, Binghai Zhao
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2017)

Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by persistent albuminuria, progressive decline in GFR, and secondary hypertension. MicroRNAs are dysregulated in diabetic nephropathy, but identification of the specific microRNAs involved remains incomplete. Here, we show that the peripheral blood from patients with diabetes and the kidneys of animals with type 1 or 2 diabetes have low levels of microRNA-25 (miR-25) compared with those of their nondiabetic counterparts. Furthermore, treatment with high glucose decreased the expression of miR-25 in cultured kidney cells. In db/db mice, systemic administration of an miR-25 agomir repressed glomerular fibrosis and reduced high BP. Notably, knockdown of miR-25 in normal mice by systemic administration of an miR-25 antagomir resulted in increased proteinuria, extracellular matrix accumulation, podocyte foot process effacement, and hypertension with renin-angiotensin system activation. However, excessive miR-25 did not cause kidney dysfunction in wild-type mice. RNA sequencing showed the alteration of miR-25 target genes in antagomir-treated mice, including the Ras-related gene CDC42. In vitro, cotransfection with the miR-25 antagomir repressed luciferase activity from a reporter construct containing the CDC42 3' untranslated region. In conclusion, these results reveal a role for miR-25 in diabetic nephropathy and indicate a potential novel therapeutic target for this disease.
AB0759 Neuropathic pain prevalence in psoriatic arthritis and its correlation with disease activity
Authors: HE Öz, S Tuna, Ü Uçar Gürbüz, N Balcı Vedin
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2017)

<h3>Background</h3> Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease associated with psoriasis. Neuropathic pain is defined as pain which is produced by a primary lesion or dysfunction of peripheral or central nervous system. <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of this study is to investigate the neuropathic pain component of chronic joint pain in psoriatic arthritis and to detect its correlation with disease activity and functional capacity. <h3>Methods</h3> During the patients9 routine outpatient clinic visit, we gain information about patients9 demographics. We used Pain Detect questionnaire to detect neuropathic pain component, Visual Analogue Scale for joint pain, Disease Activity Score 28-Joint (DAS28) for disease activity evaluation and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) for functional capacity evaluation. <h3>Results</h3> There were 48 PsA patients and 34 control patients in this study. Mean age was 52 (21–79), mean BMI is 27.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (20.8–53) and mean disease duration was 5 year in PsA group. Mean age was 54 (20.8–53), mean BMI was 27.6 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (20.8–53) in control group. Neuropathic pain component was positive in 22.9% of PsA and negative in 45.8% of PsA and unclear in 31.2% of PsA group. In control group, neuropathic pain component was positive in 35.3% of patients and negative in 41.2% of patients and unclear in 23.5% of patients. Mean pain detects score was 13 in PsA and 14 in control group. There was no statistically important difference between the PsA and control group9s neuropathic pain prevalence (p=0.601) and mean PD score (p=0.24). Mean DAS 28 score was 3.5 (1–3.56) and mean HAQ score was 0.65 (0–2.05) in PsA group. There was a statistically important positive correlation between the PD score and HAQ score in PsA patients (Ro=0.460, p=0.001). In addition, there was a statistically unimportant positive correlation between the PD score and DAS28 score in PsA patients. There was a statistically unimportant positive correlation between the PD score and HAQ score in control group (Ro=0.411, p=0.016). <h3>Conclusions</h3> We detected neuropathic pain component in 22.9% of PsA patients but there was no difference between the PsA group and control group. Diagnosis of concomitant neuropathic pain by Pain Detect Questionnaire may be useful for pain management in PsA patients. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared
Association Between Ruptured Distal Biceps Tendon and Wild-Type Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis
Authors: Hallie I. Geller, Avinainder Singh, Kevin M. Alexander, Tara M. Mirto, Rodney H. Falk
Journal: JAMA (2017)

This cross-sectional study compares the frequency of rupture of the distal biceps tendon in patients with wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy vs those with other causes of heart failure.
Legal aid cuts may have fuelled rise in clinical negligence costs
Authors: Tom Moberly
Journal: BMJ (2017)

Cuts to legal aid have helped fuel rises in the amount that clinical negligence costs the NHS, Robert Francis QC has said.

Francis, who led the public inquiry into failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, raised the issue at a Westminster Health Forum seminar on clinical negligence in London on 14 September. He said that restrictions on access to justice had not helped to contain increases in litigation costs, and may …
THU0157 Relationship of matrix metalloprotease 3 titer and sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: data from the chikara study
Authors: M Tada, Y Yamada, K Mandai, N Hidaka
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2017)

<h3>Background</h3> Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) show a lower muscle mass<sup>1</sup> and higher prevalence of sarcopenia than healthy individuals. A prospective observational study (CHIKARA study, registration number: UMIN000023744) was started to clarify the influence of changes in disease activity for sarcopenia. <h3>Objectives</h3> We investigated the relationship between sarcopenia and disease activity at baseline in patients with RA. <h3>Methods</h3> We analyzed baseline data from the CHIKARA study (Correlation research of sarcopenia, skeletal muscle and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis). Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the criteria of the Asia Working Group on Sarcopenia<sup>2</sup>. Muscle mass, body fat mass, total body water, bone mass, and basal metabolic rate were measured using a body composition analyzer (MC-780A; TANITA, Tokyo, Japan). We investigated correlations between sarcopenia and disease activity (DAS28-ESR, SDAI, physical function (HAQ), and laboratory data using uni- and multivariate analyses. <h3>Results</h3> Participants comprised 100 patients with RA (females, 78%; mean age, 66.1 years). Mean disease duration was 5.5 years, DAS28-ESR was 3.55, and the percentage of subjects with sarcopenia was 28%. Table 1 shows risk factors for sarcopenia. Sarcopenia correlated with weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat mass, muscle mass, basal metabolic rate, Steinbrocker stage, CRP bone mass, and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-3 on univariate analysis. Glucocorticoid dosage, rheumatoid factor, and anti-CCP antibody showed no correlation with sarcopenia. BMI, body fat mass, and MMP-3 were identified as independent risk factors on multivariate analysis. MMP-3 over 90.7 ng/ml was a risk factor for sarcopenia by ROC curve analysis (odds ratio, 3.09; p=0.023). <h3>Conclusions</h3> The percentage of sarcopenia was 28% in patients with RA. Low BMI, high body fat mass, and high MMP-3 represented independent risk factors for sarcopenia. A relationship between MMP-3 and sarcopenia was indicated by this study. <h3>References</h3> Inui K., Koike T., Tada M., et al. Sarcopenia is apparent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, especially those with biologics -TOMORROW study-. EULAR 2015 abstract (AB0359). Chen Lk., Liu LK., Assantachai P., et al. Sarcopenia in Asia: consensus report of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2014; 15: 95–101. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared
Can epidemiological studies determine the productivity-related burden of COPD?
Authors: Sanja Stanojevic
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2017)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death around the world [1]. Chronic airflow obstruction (CAO), measured by spirometry, is the most commonly used objective characteristic of COPD [2]. Epidemiological research has provided researchers and clinicians with critical information about the burden of COPD and its risk factors; [3–9]; however, very few studies have investigated the productivity-related burden of COPD [10–12]. The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study is one of the best designed epidemiological studies investigating prevalence and risk factors for COPD, and has been vital in improving our understanding of COPD around the world [3, 13]. In this issue of the European Respiratory Journal , Grønseth et al. [14] estimate the association between CAO and unemployment at 26 BOLD sites. The study demonstrates that there is greater unemployment in participants with CAO, which was partially confounded by socioeconomic factors. Importantly, the study reports no association in low and middle income countries (LMIC), which emphasises the diversity of risk factors and burden of COPD in different parts of the world. The causal association between chronic airflow obstruction and unemployment is complex and requires further study <http://ow.ly/INtD30eqgJJ>
SAT0090 Success rate of blood pressure goal achievement in inflammatory joint diseases
Authors: S Rollefstad, P Norheim, E Ikdahl, G Wibetoe, AG Semb
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2017)

<h3>Background</h3> The excess risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with inflammatory joint diseases (IJD) is attributable to several risk factors, including a high prevalence of hypertension. However, there is limited knowledge on the effect of antihypertensive treatment (a-HTT) in these patients. <h3>Objectives</h3> Our objective was to initiate a-HTT when indicated and treat to guideline recommended blood pressure (BP) goal in IJD patients. We also aimed to evaluate the effect of a-HTT in this patient population, and which factors were associated with BP goal attainment. <h3>Methods</h3> Patients with IJD (n=765) were referred from a rheumatology outpatient clinic or general practitioners to a preventive cardio-rheuma clinic. All patients underwent a CVD risk evaluation, including BP measurements (performed using and Omron M7 apparatus). Antihypertensive treatment was initiated in accordance with guidelines, and the BP treatment goal was &lt;140/90 mmHg. <h3>Results</h3> Of the 765 IJD patients referred (rheumatoid arthritis n=450, ankylosing spondylitis n=210 and psoriatic arthritis n=105), 104 (13.6%) had an indication for BP lowering, while 224 (29.3%) were already using a-HTT at the first consultation. For those where a-HTT was initiated at baseline (n=104), there was a highly significant change in BP from first to final consultation (Fig 1a). BP goal was achieved in 84 (80.8%) patients (Fig 1b), using mean±SD 3.1±1.7 consultations. Dose adjustments was done in 38 (36.5%) of the patients with median (IQR) a-HTT dose adjustments of 1 (1, 1.25). In 9 (8.7%) patients the a-HTT was changed. Systolic BP (p&lt;0.0001) was significantly associated with BP goal attainment in age- and sex adjusted logistic regression analyses, while the use of anti-rheumatic medication or inflammatory biomarkers at baseline was not. Patients with the lowest systolic BP were more likely to achieve BP goals. For patients already on a-HTT (n=224), only 52.7% had a BP &lt;140/90 mmHg at baseline. After up titration or change of a-HTT, the percentage of patients achieving BP goal in this group increased to 82.6%. <h3>Conclusions</h3> This is to our knowledge the first prospective report on success rate of BP goal achievement in patients with IJD. Approximately 80% reached BP target, which is even a higher proportion than what is shown in the general population. Treatment to BP goal is feasible in patients with IJD, and is not complicated by inflammation or use of anti-rheumatic medication. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared
Preliminary findings indicate nosocomial transmission and Roma population as most affected group in ongoing measles B3 genotype outbreak in Bulgaria, March to August 2017
Authors: Anna Kurchatova, Stefka Krumova, Nadezhda Vladimirova, Lubomira Nikolaeva-Glomb, Asya Stoyanova, Todor Kantardjiev, Nina Gatcheva
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2017)

From March to August 2017, 165 measles cases were reported from three regions in Bulgaria. The age range was 0−55 years and 66% of the cases were under 9 years. The Roma population was disproportionally affected (89% of cases), 41% cases were unvaccinated and in 24 cases there was nosocomial transmission mostly in paediatric departments. A child under 12 months of age died. Control measures have been taken and the investigation is still ongoing.