RA Group Research Articles

Comparison between robot-assisted and navigation-guided minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: a multicenter study.

Both robot and computer navigation have significantly improved the accuracy and safety of percutaneous pedicle screw placement compared with a freehand fluoroscopy-guided technique. However, how the two new technologies compare with each other is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy and safety of robot-assisted and navigation-guided percutaneous pedicle screw placement in minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted with patients who underwent 1- to 3-level MIS-TLIF from 2019 to 2022. The surgical indication was symptomatic spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis that failed conservative management. Screw accuracy and safety were compared between robot and computer navigation systems by obtaining postoperative CT images in all patients. The screw accuracy was determined by the Gertzbein and Robbins classification. A total of 100 patients were divided into robot-assisted (RA; n = 42) and O-arm navigation (ON; n = 58) groups, with 514 percutaneous pedicle screws placed. Clinically satisfactory accuracy was achieved in 100% of the RA group and 92.1% of the ON group (p < 0.001). There were no medial breaches or revision surgeries for screw malposition in either group. The RA group showed similar overall operation time to the ON group (263.54 ± 114.33 vs 243.4 ± 68.96 minutes, p = 0.2821). Subgroup analyses showed that there was no difference in 1-level MIS-TLIF, but the RA group had significantly more operative time for 2-level MIS-TLIF than the ON group (324.67 ± 101.25 vs 266.4 ± 66.38 minutes, p = 0.0264). Screw accuracy was significantly better in the RA group, with slightly more operation time, compared with the navigation group. Neither group required revision surgery or reoperation for screw malposition.

Anesthetic technique and incidence of delirium after total knee or hip arthroplasty: a nationwide cohort study

BackgroundThe optimal type of anesthesia for reducing postoperative delirium remains undetermined. This study aimed to assess the relationship between type of anesthesia and postoperative delirium.MethodsThis retrospective national cohort study used data collected between 2016 and 2021 from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea. Adult patients who underwent primary total hip or total knee arthroplasty under general or regional anesthesia were included. Patients with postoperative delirium were identified after arthroplasty according to the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision code for delirium (F05). The patients were divided into two groups: regional anesthesia (RA group) and general anesthesia (GA group). The primary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative delirium during hospitalization after total hip or knee arthroplasty.ResultsOur study sample consisted of 664,598 patients: 474,932 in the RA group and 189,666 in the GA group. After propensity score (PS) matching, 276,582 patients (138,291 in each group) were included in the final analysis. In the PS-matched cohort, the incidence of delirium following total knee or total hip arthroplasty was 2.8% (3,842/138,291) in the GA group and 2.3% (3,147/138,291) in the RA group. In logistic regression, the RA group was associated with 18% (odds ratio: 0.82, 95% confidence interval: 0.78, 0.86; P < 0.001) lower postoperative incidence than the GA group.ConclusionCompared to general anesthesia, regional anesthesia was associated with a decreased incidence of postoperative delirium in patients who underwent total hip or total knee arthroplasty. Our findings indicate that avoiding general anesthesia may prevent delirium after lower limb surgery.

Enhanced renoprotective effects of combined glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Real-world evidence.

Developing a more effective treatment for the global impact of diabetic kidney disease is crucial. This study examined the renoprotective effects of combining glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) compared to SGLT2is alone in type 2 diabetes (DM). This retrospective cohort study used data from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network. Type 2 DM patients with estimated glomerular filtration rates ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 who used GLP-1 RA or SGLT2i between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2023. Propensity score matching balanced baseline characteristics, resulting in 71,186 patients in each group (combined GLP-1 RA and SGLT2i therapy vs SGLT2i alone). Cox regression model was adopted to compare outcomes over a 5-year period, including major adverse kidney events (MAKE), acute kidney injury (AKI), end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and all-cause mortality. After matching, the average age was 57.1 ± 10.8 years for the GLP-1 RA plus SGLT2i group and 57.2 ± 11.7 years for the SGLT2i-only group. The GLP-1 RA plus SGLT2i group had significantly lower risk of MAKE (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69-0.77), AKI (HR: 0.82, 95% C0I: 0.77-0.87), ESKD (HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.47-0.78), and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.50-0.58) compared to the SGLT2i-only group. Moreover, subgroup analyses showed consistent benefits across different subgroups. Dual therapy with GLP-1 RA and SGLT2i is supported to enhance renal outcomes and address the growing burden of diabetic kidney disease.

Comparison between robotic-assisted Kasai portoenterostomy and open Kasai portoenterostomy in patients with biliary atresia.

Robotic-assisted Kasai portoenterostomy (RAKPE) is regarded as a treatment option for patients with biliary atresia (BA). We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of RAKPE to the open Kasai portoenterostomy (OKPE). A retrospective review was conducted on a total of 74 type III BA patients who underwent RAKPE (RA group, n = 36) or OKPE (OP group, n = 38) from January 2018 to December 2022. The study analyzed demographic characteristics, intraoperative findings, and postoperative outcomes. The operative time in the RA group was significantly longer than that in the OP group (218.61 ± 31.70min vs 178.50 ± 27.90min, P < 0.05). The estimated blood loss in RA group was significantly lower than that in the OP group (8.65 ± 2.30mL vs 17.55 ± 3.60mL, P < 0.05). The recovery time of bowel sounds was significantly shorter in RA group than in the OP group (0.96 ± 0.12days vs 2.84 ± 0.37days, P < 0.05). All patients had bile-stained stools within 1-3days after surgery. The clearance rate of jaundice at 3 and 6months were significantly higher in RA group than in OP group (69.44% vs 60.53%, 75.00% vs 68.42%, P < 0.05). The rate of cholangitis in RA group was similar to that in OP group (50.00% vs 52.63%, P > 0.05). The native liver survival rate during the follow-up period was comparable between two groups (66.67% vs 63.16%, P > 0.05). Robotic-assisted Kasai surgery offers advantages in short-term outcomes and the clearance of jaundice in patients with type III BA.

Association between physical activity patterns of working-age adults and social jetlag, depressive symptoms, and presenteeism.

This study aimed to evaluate the association of physical activity with social jetlag, depressive symptoms, and presenteeism. This cross-sectional study included 8,247 working-age adults (females, 44.6%; age, 20-64 years). Social jetlag was defined as the absolute difference between the midpoint of bedtime and wake time on workdays and free days. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and presenteeism was evaluated using the Work Functioning Impairment Scale. Exercise habits were classified into four groups based on the World Health Organization guidelines: non-active (NA; n=4,223), insufficiently active (IA; n=3,009: exercise below guideline levels), weekend warriors (WW; n=220: exercise 1-2 times per week meeting guideline levels), and regularly active (RA; n=793: exercise at least 3 days per week meeting guideline levels). Using multiple and Poisson regression analyses, we examined the association between exercise habits and each outcome. Social jetlag, depression, and presenteeism were more favorable with shorter sedentary times and longer durations of moderate- and vigorous-intensity exercise. Compared with the RA group, the NA group had a significantly higher prevalence of social jetlag (prevalence ratio [PR]=1.30), depression (PR=1.31), and presenteeism (PR=1.35). The IA group had a significantly higher prevalence of depression (PR=1.33) and presenteeism (PR=1.38). Exercising with a certain frequency and intensity may help prevent symptoms of depression and social jetlag, and consequently prevent presenteeism.

Abstract 4145802: Association between Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and risk of Arrhythmias or Heart Failure among patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of 29 Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have shown a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, their effect on reducing the risk of incidence of arrhythmias and heart failure has not been established, and there is very limited literature to date. Objective: We evaluated the effect of GLP-1 RAs on the incidence of arrhythmias and heart failure among patients with T2DM. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that enrolled patients with type 2 diabetes and compared GLP-1 RAs and control groups. PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched from inspection till May 2024 without any language restrictions. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using a random-effect model. Results: A total of 29 RCTs with 72,868 patients (35,631 in the GLP-1 RA group and 37,237 in the control group) were included in the analysis. Pooled analysis showed that there is no significant association between GLP-1 RAs and incidence of atrial fibrillation (OR, 0.94(95%CI: 0.75-1.18), P=0.60), atrial flutter (OR, 0.87(95%CI: 0.60-1.26), P=0.46), cardiac arrest (OR, 0.79(95%CI: 0.51-1.23), P=0.30), ventricular tachycardia (OR, 1.37(95%CI: 0.90-2.07), P=0.14), and ventricular fibrillation (OR, 0.91 (95%CI: 0.45-1.84), P=0.80) when compared with control group. However, GLP-RAs reduced the incidence of atrioventricular block complete (OR, 0.58 (95%CI: 0.35-0.97), P=0.04), and heart failure (OR, 0.795 (95%CI: 0.634-0.997), P=0.047). Conclusion: This study shows that GLP-1 RAs reduced the incidence of atrioventricular block complete and incidence of heart failure. However, no significant association has been observed for arrhythmias.

Abstract 4115541: Association of Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist Use with Incident Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have shown efficacy for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), but conflicting evidence exists regarding their impact on cardiac arrhythmias. Whereas some studies suggested a possible association between GLP-1RA use and arrhythmogenesis, other studies suggested decreased association with atrial fibrillation (AF). Overall, large-scale real-world data evaluating risk of AF in association with GLP-1RAs are lacking. Objective: To compare risk of incident AF after initiation of GLP1-RA vs Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i), as active comparators, in patients with DM. Methods: This retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study was conducted within the Veterans Health Administration from fiscal years 2006 to 2021. The study included U.S. veterans aged 35 years or older who initiated either GLP1-RA or DPP4i prescriptions. The primary outcome assessed was a composite outcome of atrial fibrillation (AF), defined as a diagnosis of AF/flutter based on administrative codes or undergoing an AF procedure. Results: Out of 116,235 GLP1-RA users and 217,668 DPP4i users, we propensity score-matched 80,948 pairs, on 88 characteristics, including demographics, comorbidities, vital signs, cardiovascular risk score, healthcare utilization, DM control, laboratory investigation, and medications. Composite outcome of AF was similar in GLP-1RA group (4.1%) and DPP4i group (4.3%); odds ratio (OR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92-1.01. Secondary analyses stratified by medication use duration showed no significant differences in composite AF risk (P&gt;0.05). Notably, individuals achieving weight loss of 2%, 5%, or 10% of baseline body weight had significantly lower AF incidence, whereas no significant differences were observed in those with no weight loss or weight gain (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.91-1.07). Conclusions: Use of GLP1-RA in patients with DM was not associated with a decreased risk of AF when compared with the use of DPP4i. In the subgroup analysis, significantly lower AF risk was seen in the GLP-1 RA group who achieved weight loss vs. DPP4i and this highlights weight loss as a potential modifier of cardiovascular outcomes in DM.

The Effect of Boric Acid and Calcium Fructoborate on T Helper Cell Differentiation by Influencing Foxp3 and Ror-γt in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Many animal and human studies indicate that boric acid and calcium fructoborate have effects on helper T cells in immunity. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effects of boric acid and calcium fructoborate on Treg (CD4+Foxp3+) and Th17 (CD4+Ror-γt+) cell populations and related cytokine levels in mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood samples of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (n = 10) patients, systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 5) patients, and healthy individuals (n = 9) were included in this study. Consent forms were obtained from all individuals participating the study, blood samples were taken, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated. Isolated cells were exposed to low-dose and high-dose boric acid and calcium fructoborate in cell culture. Treg and Th17 cell populations were analyzed by flow cytometry after 48h of exposure. IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, TNF-α, and TGF-β levels in the culture medium were tested by ELISA method. At the end of the study, in healthy controls, high-dose BA improved the Treg/Th17 population but could not display similar effects on RA and SLE group. However, both boric acid and calcium fructoborate at different doses showed an increasing effect on Ror-γt in RA and SLE group. Different doses of BA and CaF treatment found to have a variable effect on cytokine. Both BA and CaF in low doses decreased TNF-α levels in RA group which shows that these boron compounds could contribute positively to the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Does Not Increase the Risk of Cancer in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are increasingly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) given their extra-pancreatic effects. However, there are concerns about carcinogenesis in the pancreas and thyroid gland. We aimed to evaluate the site-specific incidence of cancer in patients with T2DM-treated GLP-1 RAs using a nationwide cohort. This study included data obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (between 2004 and 2021). The primary outcome was newly diagnosed cancer, and the median follow-up duration for all participants was 8 years. After propensity score matching, 7,827 participants were analyzed; 2,609 individuals each were included in the GLP-1 RA, diabetes mellitus (DM) control, and non-DM control groups. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of subsequent cancer in patients with T2DM was 1.73, which was higher than that of individuals without DM, and it increased in both men and women. Analysis of patients with T2DM showed no increased cancer risk associated with the use of GLP-1 RA, and similar results were observed in both men and women. The IRRs of pancreatic cancer (0.74), thyroid cancer (1.32), and medullary thyroid cancer (0.34) did not significantly increase in the GLP-1 RA group compared with those in the DM control group. There was a 73% higher risk of cancer in patients with T2DM compared with the general population. However, among patients with T2DM, there was no association between the use of GLP-1 RAs and new-onset cancers, including pancreatic and medullary thyroid cancers.

Effect of General Anesthesia vs Regional Anesthesia on Sleep Disturbance in Elderly Patients After Discharge from the Hospital for 3 Months.

This study aims to investigate the impact of anesthetic methods on the occurrence of postoperative sleep disorders in elderly patients following their discharge from the hospital for 3 months. This retrospective observational cohort study included elderly patients aged >60 years who had undergone general and regional anesthesia from 1 June 2023 to 31 December 2023. These patients were then assessed for sleep by telephone callback using the Athens Insomnia Scale after discharge from the hospital three months later. The duration of pain and sleep disturbance experienced by patients following discharge was also recorded. Following propensity score matching, 308 individuals were included in the study (154 in the GA group and 154 in the RA group). Compared with general anesthesia (11.7%), regional anesthesia (5.2%) reduced the prevalence of sleep disorders in elderly patients after discharge from the hospital. However, the duration of sleep disturbance and pain exhibited no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.818; p=0.211). Regional anesthesia was associated with a reduction in the incidence of sleep disorders in elderly patients after discharge from the hospital for 3 months.

Is Baricitinib Effective and Safe for Patients with Difficult-to-Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis? Comparative Data with the Rheumatoid Arthritis Group of Rheumatoid Arthritis Not Difficult to Treat

Objective: This study investigates the efficacy and safety of baricitinib, an oral targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), in patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA) compared to those without, aiming to determine its potential as an alternative treatment for D2T RA. Subject and Methods: A total of 78 patients participated in this retrospective cohort study, with 33 meeting the D2T RA criteria and 45 in the non-D2T RA group. Various clinical and laboratory parameters, adverse events, and disease activity indices were assessed, alongside drug efficacy and survival rates. Results: Patients with D2T RA exhibited higher seronegativity, prior use of b-DMARDs and c-DMARDs, and longer disease duration. Both groups experienced reductions in VAS and DAS28 scores, as well as SDAI, CDAI, HAQ, CRP, and ESR levels at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months post-baricitinib initiation, with sustained efficacy observed over 12 months. The most prevalent adverse event was infection (28.21%). Although initial drug survival rates were similar between groups, the non-D2T RA group demonstrated higher rates at 24 months (46.70% vs. 59.40%). Subgroup analyses showed comparable survival rates between D2T RA and non-D2T RA groups, whether treated with baricitinib alone or in combination with methotrexate or leflunomide. Conclusion: Despite potential treatment resistance, patients meeting the D2T RA criteria shared similar safety and efficacy profiles with those non-D2T RA. Baricitinib emerges as a promising treatment option for D2T RA patients, offering effectiveness and safety comparable to the non-D2T RA group.

Assessment of hepcidin in Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its relation to anemia: a single-center study

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune inflammatory disorder characterized by synovial inflammation that leads to joint damage, bony erosions, and related deformities. Between 30 and 70% of RA patients will experience anemia. Early detection of anemia is of great importance. This study aimed to evaluate the serum level of hepcidin (HEP) in RA patients and to assess its relation to disease activity and anemia. The current cross-sectional study included 44 cases with RA in addition to 44 healthy controls. The disease activity in the RA patient was assessed by using the disease activity score (DAS) 28 score-CRP. The serum levels of HEP and ferritin were assessed in both groups using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.ResultsHepcidin level in the RA group was statistically significantly higher as compared to the control group (p = 0.001). The prevalence of Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) was 40.9%, and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was 27.3% which accounted for 68.2% of the total anemia cases. The HEP level was statistically significantly higher in the RA patients with ACD than those without anemia (P = 0.028), RA patients with IDA (P < 0.001), and control group (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between HEP level and serum ferritin level (p = 0.005). HEP level was significantly and inversely correlated with hemoglobin (Hb) in patients with ACD. Serum HEP level is higher in RA patients with high disease activity than those with moderate activity, low activity, and patients in remission (p = 0.380). However, the difference was not statistically significant. The best cutoff point of HEP level to identify RA patients from healthy controls was > 355.5 Pg/ml. This point showed moderate sensitivity (70.5%) with moderate specificity (63.6%) with a statistically significant value.ConclusionsWe found the anemia, and particularly ACD, is more common in RA patients. In RA patients with ACD, serum HEP levels were considerably higher. Although serum HEP showed no diagnostic significance when it came to evaluating disease activity, it could be a dependable non-invasive biomarker for the diagnosis of various forms of anemia in RA patients.

Robotic and Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Pheochromocytoma: An International Multicenter Study

Background and objectiveRobotic adrenalectomy (RA) has attracted interest as an alternative to laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) for patients with pheochromocytoma, although its beneficial effects are uncertain. Our aim was to compare RA and LA outcomes for these patients. MethodsData for patients who underwent RA or LA for pheochromocytoma in 46 international centers between 2012 and 2022 were reviewed. We analyzed baseline characteristics and postoperative complications at discharge, 90 d, and 1 yr. We conducted propensity score matching (PSM; 1:1 ratio) and multivariable analyses to evaluate outcomes and risk factors for the occurrence of complications and higher Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). Key findings and limitationsOf 1755 patients, 1613 (91.9%) underwent LA and 142 (8.1%) underwent RA. Estimated blood loss, conversion rate, complication rate, and CCI at discharge, 90 d, and 1 yr were similar between the groups. However, RA was associated with a longer operative time in comparison to LA (100 vs 123 min; p < 0.001), but not after PSM (p = 0.120). Multivariable analysis revealed that Charlson comorbidity index (odds ratio [OR] 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–1.29; p = 0.001), and tumor size per 1-cm increment (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.07–1.21; p < 0.001) were independently associated with the incidence of complications, but there was no significant difference in complication rates between the LA and RA groups (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.63–1.87; p = 0.767). After PSM, RA was associated with a lower rate of severe (grade ≥3a) complications in comparison to LA (p = 0.023). Conclusions and clinical implicationsRA is a safe alternative to LA and yields similar outcomes for patients with pheochromocytoma. RA may be associated with a lower likelihood of severe complications. Further studies are warranted to determine the role of robotic surgery in pheochromocytoma. Patient summaryPheochromocytoma is a rare tumor in the adrenal gland and the gold-standard treatment is surgical removal. We assessed patient outcomes after robot-assisted surgery compared with laparoscopic surgery and found that outcomes are similar, but the rate of severe complications may be lower if a surgical robot is used.

The Toulouse algorithm identifies patients with increased risk of cardiac decompensation only in patients with TIPS for refractory ascites

Introduction and ObjectivesTIPS placement is an effective, possibly life-saving, treatment for complications of portal hypertension. The pressure shift induced by the stent can lead to cardiac decompensation (CD). We investigated the incidence of CD, possible variables associated with CD and the validity of the Toulouse algorithm for risk prediction of CD post-TIPS. Patients and MethodsA total of 106 patients receiving TIPS for variceal bleeding (VB, 41.5%) or refractory ascites (RA, 58.5%) with available echocardiography and NT-proBNP results were included and retrospectively reviewed. Development of CD between time of TIPS placement and occurrence of liver transplantation, death or loss-to-follow-up was recorded. Competing risk regression analysis was performed to assess which baseline variables predicted occurrence of CD post-TIPS. ResultsA total of 12 patients (11.3%) developed CD after a median of 11.5 days (IQR 4 to 56.5) post-TIPS. Multivariate regression showed age (HR 1.06, p = 0.019), albumin (HR 1.10, p = 0.009) and NT-proBNP (HR 1.00, p = 0.023) at baseline predicted CD in the RA group. No clear predictors were found in those receiving TIPS for VB. Correspondingly, the Toulouse algorithm successfully identified patients at risk for CD, however only in the RA population (zero risk 0% vs. low risk 12.5% vs. high risk 35.3% with CD; p = 0.003). ConclusionsCD is not an infrequent complication post-TIPS occurring in 1/10 patients. The Toulouse algorithm can identify patients at risk of CD, though only in patients receiving TIPS for RA. Allocation to the high-risk category warrants close monitoring but should not preclude TIPS placement.

SOX-5 Transcription Factor: a Novel Psoriatic Autoantigen Preferentially Found in Women.

Adaptive immunity mediates psoriatic disease pathogenesis. We aimed to identify novel psoriatic autoantigens and their phenotypic associations in deeply characterized patient cohorts. Sera from psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients were used for autoantibody discovery. Immunoprecipitations performed with cell lysates were on-bead digested, and autoantigens were identified by mass spectrometry. Prevalence and clinical features associated with anti-SRY-Box transcription factor-D (SOX-D) antibodies were determined by screening discovery cohorts of patients with PsA (n = 135), patients with psoriasis without PsA (n = 24), and healthy controls (n = 41). A PsA validation cohort (n = 325) and disease control samples of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA; n = 66) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n = 66) were assayed for anti-SOX5 antibodies. Disease characteristics were compared by antibody status. Longitudinal data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with patient-specific intercept to ascertain associations. We also tested PsA sera for the recently described anti-ADAMTS-L5 autoantibody in PsA. The novel autoantigens identified were SOX-D transcription factors, with SOX-5 being the focus of this analysis. Anti-SOX5 antibodies were present in 8.9% (12 of 135) and 4.3% (14 of 323) of patients in the PsA discovery and validation cohorts, respectively, 12.5% of patients (3 of 24) in the psoriasis group, 2.4% (1 of 41) of healthy controls, and 7.6% (5 of 66) each of patients in the RA and SLE groups. Anti-SOX5 were associated with female sex in both PsA cohorts (discovery: 15.7% women, 2.6% men, P = 0.006; validation: 6.3% women, 1.4% men, P = 0.049). In a longitudinal analysis adjusted for sex, anti-SOX5 associated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment (95% vs 61%; P = 0.001; n = 96) and with differences in estimated treatment effects by mechanism of action. Anti-ADAMTS-L5 autoantibodies were identified in 8 of 124 patients (6.5%) in the PsA group. SOX-D transcription factors are novel psoriatic autoantigens. Anti-SOX5 antibodies were preferentially found in women with PsA and associated with specific clinical and treatment characteristics, suggesting that anti-SOX5 antibodies may identify mechanistic subgroups. We independently validated anti-ADAMTS-L5 autoantibodies in PsA.

Efficacy and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors in patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) in patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA). This study included 220 patients with RA who were treated with JAKi. Sixty-two patients were naïve to biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs)/JAKi (1st group), 57 patients were failure to one bDMARDs/JAKi (2nd group), and 101 patients were failure to ≥ 2 bDMARDs/JAKi. Of these 101 patients, 25 did not meet the D2T RA criteria (non-D2T RA group) and 76 met the D2T RA criteria (D2T RA group). : DAS28-ESR was improved in all groups at 24 weeks (1st: p<0.01, 2nd: p<0.01, non-D2T RA: p=0.01, D2TRA: p=0.02), and improvement ratio of DAS28-ESR was not different between DT2RA group and 2nd (p=0.73) or non-D2T RA group (p=0.68). Glucocorticoid use (odds ratios: 8.67; 95% CI: 1.23-60.90; P=0.03) and number of past bDMARD/JAKi uses ≥ 3 (odds ratios: 10.55; 95% CI: 1.39-80.30; P=0.02) were risk factors for DAS28-ESR ≥ 3.2 at 24 weeks in the D2T RA group. Clinical efficacy of JAKi in D2T RA group did not differ from that in 2nd and non-D2T RA groups. Glucocorticoid use and multiple bDMARD/JAKi failure were poor prognostic factors for D2T RA.

Identification and Quantification of Precursory Changes of Rheumatoid Vasculitis in the Dorsalis Pedis Artery

ObjectiveRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic connective tissue autoimmune disease that can infiltrate arterial walls. The delay in diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) in patients with RA may lead to irreversible damage to the arterial walls of small-to-medium vessels, which has serious and devastating consequences, most notably lung and cardiac damage. In this work an ultrasound image-based biomarker was developed to detect precursory changes in RV. MethodsThe ground truth was initiated from a medical diagnosis of RA, with arterial wall thickening of the proximal dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) indicating precursory changes of RV identified with ultrasound scanning. Ultrasound images of the DPA from 49 healthy subjects in the control group and 46 patients in the RA group were obtained. In total, 187 texture features were extracted from the images, followed by principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis. ResultsThe proposed biomarker detected a significant difference between the two groups (p = 5.74 × 10-18) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85. Ten major textural features contributing most heavily to the biomarker were identified, with these textures being consistent with clinical observations of RV identified in previous studies. Interscan reproducibility was assessed by computing the biomarker twice based on repeated scans of each ankle. High interscan reproducibility was demonstrated by a strong and significant Pearson's coefficient (r = 0.85, p < 0.01) between the two repeated measurements of the proposed biomarker. ConclusionThe proposed biomarker can discriminate image textural differences seen in images acquired from RA patients, demonstrating precursory changes in RV compared with healthy controls. The major discriminative features identified in this study may facilitate the early identification and treatment of RV.

Clinical Outcomes of Tirzepatide or GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes

Despite its demonstrated benefits in improving cardiovascular risk profiles, the association of tirzepatide with mortality and cardiovascular and kidney outcomes compared with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) remains unknown. To investigate the association of tirzepatide with mortality and adverse cardiovascular and kidney outcomes compared with GLP-1 RAs in patients with type 2 diabetes. This retrospective cohort study used US Collaborative Network of TriNetX data collected on individuals with type 2 diabetes aged 18 years or older initiating tirzepatide or GLP-1 RA between June 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023; without stage 5 chronic kidney disease or kidney failure at baseline; and without myocardial infarction or ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke within 60 days of drug initiation. Treatment with tirzepatide compared with GLP-1 RA. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), the composite of MACEs and all-cause mortality, kidney events, acute kidney injury, and major adverse kidney events. All outcomes were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. There were 14 834 patients treated with tirzepatide (mean [SD] age, 55.4 [11.8] years; 8444 [56.9%] female) and 125 474 treated with GLP-1 RA (mean [SD] age, 58.1 [13.3] years; 67 474 [53.8%] female). After a median (IQR) follow-up of 10.5 (5.2-15.7) months, 95 patients (0.6%) in the tirzepatide group and 166 (1.1%) in the GLP-1 RA group died. Tirzepatide treatment was associated with lower hazards of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.58; 95% CI, 0.45-0.75), MACEs (AHR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.71-0.91), the composite of MACEs and all-cause mortality (AHR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.68-0.84), kidney events (AHR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.37-0.73), acute kidney injury (AHR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.70-0.88), and major adverse kidney events (AHR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.44-0.67). Treatment with tirzepatide was associated with greater decreases in glycated hemoglobin (treatment difference, -0.34 percentage points; 95% CI, -0.44 to -0.24 percentage points) and body weight (treatment difference, -2.9 kg, 95% CI, -4.8 to -1.1 kg) compared with GLP-1 RA. An interaction test for subgroup analysis revealed consistent results stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate, glycated hemoglobin level, body mass index, comedications, and comorbidities. In this study, treatment with tirzepatide was associated with lower hazards of all-cause mortality, adverse cardiovascular events, acute kidney injury, and adverse kidney events compared with GLP-1 RA in patients with type 2 diabetes. These findings support the integration of tirzepatide into therapeutic strategies for this population.

Subjective Symptoms and Disease Activity Related to Serum Zinc Concentration in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Background/Objectives: We examined the frequency of zinc deficiency in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and the relationship between zinc deficiency and each of the subjective symptoms and disease activity. Methods: We enrolled 164 patients aged ≥ 20 years with primary SS (pSS) based on the revised diagnostic criteria of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (1999) and 144 patients with RA diagnosed according to the ACR/EULAR classification criteria for RA (2010) as a comparison group. Subjective symptoms were confirmed using an original questionnaire, and disease activity was determined using the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI). The serum zinc concentrations were measured in both SS and RA patients. Results: The rate of zinc deficiency in the SS group was 26.1%, significantly higher than that in the RA group (7.6%). The rate of zinc deficiency was significantly higher in the pSS group compared with Japanese health checkup recipients reported in the literature. The mean serum zinc concentration in primary SS was 60.6 ± 7.3 µmol/L in the high disease activity group with an ESSDAI of ≥5 points, which was significantly lower than the concentration of 69.7 ± 10.2 µmol/L in patients with an ESSDAI of ≤4 points. Conclusions: The frequency of zinc deficiency was higher in patients with pSS than in patients with RA. Disease activity was also higher in patients with zinc deficiency, suggesting an association between zinc concentration and organ involvement in pSS.

Real-world impact of adding a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist compared with basal insulin on metabolic targets in adults living with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease already treated with a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor: The Impact GLP-1 CKD study.

To compare the effectiveness of adding a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) with adding basal insulin among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) already treated with a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) and not reaching their glycaemic control targets. A retrospective analysis of the Canadian LMC Diabetes Registry was conducted. Adults who initiated a GLP-1 RA were matched 1:1 to adults who initiated basal insulin in a T2D and CKD population. Changes in metabolic outcomes were evaluated at 26-52 weeks following the therapy start date. Propensity score matching was used to match participants who initiated a GLP-1 RA to participants who initiated basal insulin (n = 153/cohort). A significantly greater reduction in HbA1c at 26-52 weeks of follow-up was observed in the GLP-1 RA cohort compared with the basal insulin cohort (-1.3% ± 1.4% vs. -1.1% ± 1.4%, P = .03). Weight was significantly reduced (-3.4 ± 3.7 vs. 2.6 ± 4.5 kg, P < .001), and the estimated glomerular filtration rate decline slowed significantly (-0.3 ± 8.2 vs. -2.4 ± 10.4 mL/min/1.73m2, P = .02), but the change in albuminuria was not significantly different (-5.7 ± 38.1 vs. -0.5 ± 38.3 mg/mmol, P = .47) at follow-up in the GLP-1 RA group compared with the basal insulin group. No differences in self-reported hypoglycaemic events per week and therapy discontinuations were reported between the cohorts. The study shows the real-world effectiveness of GLP-1 RA therapy for T2D and CKD. GLP-1 RAs provided superior reductions in HbA1c and weight, and greater kidney protection, compared with basal insulin among adults with T2D and CKD already treated with an SGLT2i.