Secondary SS Research Articles

Assessing the Factors Affecting the Standards of Secondary School Education in Ehor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria

Globally, the drive towards attaining quality education continues because the development of nations has been linked to the education of its citizens, especially the youth. However, the poor standard of secondary school education has raised so much concern in Nigeria because they do not meet the societal demand regarding quality. Challenges encountered include a stirred population explosion in the classroom at all levels, deteriorating physical facilities; continued inadequacy in funding; recurrent strike actions by all sectors as well and student unrest that leads to a truncated academic calendar, particularly in higher institutions. Hence, the research problem centers on the need to systematically investigate and assess the factors affecting the standards of secondary school education in Nigeria. Thus, the study conducted a comprehensive assessment of multifaceted aspects of enhancing the standards of secondary school education in Ehor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design while purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select the secondary schools, teachers, and SS 3 students in Egor Local Government area of Edo State. The main research instrument is a questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed with the use of Statistical packages of the social sciences. Results among other findings confirmed that educational standards are falling in the study area. It further shows significant differences between the standards of education now and in the last ten years. The paper recommends the availability of school facilities and other resources necessary for effective teaching and learning processes that will enhance the standard of secondary education in Nigeria.

A pilot study of skin barrier function in patients with systemic sclerosis and primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Although the close interactions between the epidermis and dermis of the skin have been widely explored, the skin barrier functions of the stratum corneum (SC) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are not well known. We aimed to investigate the biophysical characteristics of the skin, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), the SC water content, erythema, and the melanin index, in patients with SSc and pSS. This case-control study included 34 patients with SSc, 31 patients with pSS, and 25 healthy controls. All parameters were measured on the extensor surface of the forearm and compared between patients and healthy controls. In patients with SSc, we performed subgroup analyses by disease subtype (diffuse and limited cutaneous SSc), the modified Rodnan skin sclerosis score (>6 or ≤6), and comorbid secondary SS status. In patients with pSS, subgroup analyses were performed by anti-Ro/SSA antibody status and the findings of salivary gland ultrasound. No statistically significant differences were observed in TEWL or skin hydration between patients with SSc and pSS and healthy controls. In the pSS group, only the erythema index was significantly increased compared to the control group. In subgroup analyses, no significant differences were observed in the extent of TEWL or skin hydration by disease subtype, severity, autoantibody profile, or comorbidities. Patients with SSc or pSS did not exhibit specific impairments of skin barrier function or skin hydration. Further studies with larger sample sizes and age-matched controls are required.

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Complicating Secondary Sjögren's Syndrome: A Rare and Serious Association from Africa

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura is a potentially fatal disease that can be life-threatening. The association with Sjogren’s syndrome is rare entity that deserves special attention. To this end, we report the case of a Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura complicating secondary Sjögren's syndrome. This is a 49-year-old patient with a history of pure nephrotic syndrome with minimal glomerular lesions (LGM), who developed Sjögren's syndrome two years later. The diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome was retained with an etiological investigation suggesting SS secondary to SLE systemic lupus erythematosus. Six months after the diagnosis of secondary SS, the patient was admitted with headache, ecchymotic and petechial lesions on the upper limbs. The laboratory analysis revealed severe thrombocytopenia, haemolytic anemia with a schizocyte count at 6% supporting the diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathy. The ADAMTS 13 activity assay was less than 5% and the anti-ADAMTS 13 antibody test was positive, attesting thus, the diagnosis of acquired TTP complicating SS secondary to SLE. The patient received an emergency blood transfusion of fresh frozen plasma combined with corticosteroid therapy and mycophenolate mofetil. The clinico-biological outcome, at 6 month and 1 year, was favorable with complete remission. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of TTP complicating Sjögren’s syndrome in Africa. It highlights the rarity of association between autoimmune disease particulary Sjögren’s syndrome and TTP.

A single-center study of clinical features of pediatric Sjögren’s syndrome

ObjectiveSjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a rare disease with unclear diagnostic criteria among the children and adolescents. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical features of pediatric Sjögren’s syndrome and validate with Japanese diagnostic guidelines criteria of 2018.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of a cohort of 54 patients with pediatric Sjögren’s syndrome admitted to our hospital over a total of 10 years from September 2013 to September 2022.ResultsThe ratio of females to males was 49:5 among the 54 children (34 cases of primary SS and 20 cases of secondary SS), the average age of onset of symptoms for the first time was 9.9 years, and the average age at diagnosis was 10.2 years. In terms of subjective symptoms, 7 cases (13.0%) presented with dry mouth and 5 cases (9.3%) reported dry eyes. The positive rates were 9.3% for Schirmer I test, 70.4% for salivary gland function test, and 55.6% for salivary gland ultrasonography. The positive rates were 94.4% for Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies, 66.7% for Anti-La/SSB antibodies, 88.9% for ANA, 59.3% for RF, and the elevation rate of IgG was 63.0%. Among the EULAR Sjögren’s syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI) domains, the biological, constitutional, glandular, cutaneous, and lymphadenopathy domains were most involved. Treatment consisted of glucocorticoids in 88.9% of the patients in our study and hydroxychloroquine in 92.6%. As per the Japanese version of the clinical practice guidance for Sjögren’s Syndrome in pediatric patients (2018), 5 cases were identified as Definite SS, 35 cases as Probable SS, and 14 cases as Possible SS. With respect to primary and secondary SS, there was essentially no significant difference between the groups in any of the above aspects.ConclusionsPatients with pediatric SS presented with a wide spectrum of clinical features, a low prevalence of reported symptoms of dry mouth and dry eyes, and various clinical manifestations with multi-system involvement. These are similar to other pediatric study cohorts in terms of epidemiology, auxiliary investigation results, disease activity scores, and treatment. The coincidence between our study and the Japanese version of the clinical practice guidance for Sjögren’s Syndrome in pediatric patients (2018) is good for the diagnosis of pediatric SS.

Using anti-malondialdehyde-modified peptide adduct autoantibodies in serum of taiwanese women to diagnose primary Sjogren’s syndrome

BackgroundSjogren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease featured with a dry mouth and dry eyes. Several autoantibodies, including anti-SSA, anti-SSB, antinuclear antibodies can be detected in patients with SS. Oxidation-specific epitopes (OSEs) can be formed from malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified protein adducts and trigger chronic inflammation. In this study, our purposes were used serum levels of anti-MDA-modified peptide adducts autoantibodies to evaluate predictive performance by machine learning algorithms in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and assess the association between pSS and healthy controls. MethodsThree novel MDA-modified peptide adducts, including immunoglobulin (Ig) gamma heavy chain 1 (IGHG1)102–131, complement factor H (CFAH)1045–1062, and Ig heavy constant alpha 1 (IGHA1)307–327 were identified and validated. Serum levels of protein, MDA-modified protein adducts, MDA, and autoantibodies recognizing unmodified peptides and MDA-modified peptide adducts were measured. Statistically significance in correlations and odds ratios (ORs) were estimated. ResultsThe random forest classifier utilized autoantibodies combination composed of IgM anti-IGHG1102-131, IgM anti-IGHG1102-131 MDA and IgM anti-IGHA1307-327 achieved predictive performance as an accuracy of 88.0%, a sensitivity of 93.7%, and a specificity of 84.4% which may be as potential diagnostic biomarkers to differentiate patients with pSS from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and secondary SS in RA and HCs. ConclusionsOur findings imply that low levels of IgA anti-IGHG1102-131 MDA (OR = 2.646), IgA anti-IGHG1102-131 (OR = 2.408), IgA anti-CFAH1045-1062 (OR = 2.571), and IgA anti-IGHA1307-327 (OR = 2.905) may denote developing risks of pSS, respectively.

Clinical and laboratory evaluation of sicca complaints: distinctive aspects of primary, secondary and non-Sjogren syndrome

BackgroundSjögren Syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease with a wide spectrum of manifestations that can lead to misdiagnosis. This study describes and compares demographic, clinical, serological, and histopathological data from subjects with SS and non-Sjögren Syndrome (NSS). It also details specific features within the primary SS (pSS) and secondary SS (sSS) groups identifying sub-groups.MethodsThe sample included individuals referred to an academic medical center in Brazil for investigation of SS from 2012 to 2020. Patients were retrospectively classified as primary SS (pSS), secondary SS (sSS), or NSS, based on the American-European Consensus Group criteria (AECG-2002), after multi-professional clinical and laboratory evaluation.ResultsA total of 676 individuals were screened and 510 (75.4%) completed the assessments; 198 patients were classified as pSS, 149 as sSS, and 163 as NSS. Symptoms and glandular dysfunction tests were similar in the groups. Concerning pSS, extraglandular manifestations were present in 59% of patients; the elderly had more dry symptoms and peripheral neurological disorders; and 2.5% developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In sSS, each overlap promoted distinct clinical and laboratory variants. Several alternative diagnoses were identified as a cause of sicca complex in NSS group.ConclusionsThe diagnosis of SS remains a challenge behind dryness. Up to 31% of the suspected cases had other conditions associated to the symptoms. Histopathological analysis of LSG and SSa determined the diagnostic. Aging in pSS and overlap disease in sSS were responsible for distinct phenotypes and characteristic sub-groups in SS.

Atteintes articulaires dans le syndrome de Sjögren primitif

Joint involvement is one of the most common extra-glandular manifestations in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), affecting almost half of the patients with clinical arthritis in 16 %. Most commonly, these are symmetrical arthritis, affecting fewer than 5 joints. Ultrasound shows grade 1 or 2 synovitis, with a positive doppler signal in less than a fourth of cases, and tenosynovitis, mostly of the finger flexors. Radiographs should not show erosion. In presence of erosions on ultrasound or MRI, which may be found on MCP and wrists, RA with secondary SS should be excluded. Five to 10 % of patients with SSp have anti-CCP antibodies. The presence of anti-CCP antibodies does not necessarily exclude the diagnosis of SSp, but it should alert to the risk of further development of RA, therefore requiring radiographic follow-up even if the pSS has been evolving for many years. Joint involvement has a good prognosis and appears to be a predictor of a favourable clinical course. Treatment should be guided by the level of clinical activity and should be based on NSAIDs or corticosteroids ±hydroxychloroquine. Synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs should be offered for corticosteroid sparing.

Cognitive Radio Networks Using Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces

In this article, we optimize harvesting and sensing duration for Cognitive Radio Networks (CRN) using Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS). The secondary source harvests energy using the received signal from node A. Then, it performs spectrum sensing to detect Primary Source PS activity. When PS activity is not detected, The Secondary Source SS transmits data to Secondary Destination SD where all reflected signals on IRS are in phase at SD. We show that IRS offers 14, 20, 26, 32, 38, 44, 50 dB enhancement in throughput using M = 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512 reflectors with respect to CRN without IRS. We also suggested to add a second IRS between A and SS to increase the harvested energy. The use of 2 IRS with M1 = 8 reflectors in the first IRS and M2 = 8 reflectors in the second IRS offers 18 dB gain (respectively 32 dB) gain with respect to a single IRS with M2 = 8 reflectors (respectively without IRS). The use of 2 IRS with M1 = 16 reflectors in the first IRS and M2 = 8 reflectors in the second IRS offers 28 dB gain (respectively 42 dB) gain with respect to a single IRS with M2 = 8 reflectors (respectively without IRS). Our results are valid for Nakagami channels of fading figure m. We also provide the throughput of IRS with energy harvesting. We have studied packet waiting time and total delay in the presence and absence or IRS. At Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) per bit equal to 0 dB, packet waiting time is 0.9 ms when there is no IRS and 0.5 ms when there is an IRS with M = 8 reflector. At SNR per bit equal to 0 dB, total transmission delay is 54 ms when there is no IRS and 1.5 ms when there is an IRS with M = 8 reflectors. We show that the energy efficiency is larger when both harvesting and sensing durations are optimized. The maximum of energy efficiency is 260 Mbit/s/Hz/J when harvesting and sensing durations are optimized while the maximum is 80 Mbit/s/Hz/J when harvesting and sensing durations are not optimized.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy And Relaxation Technique on Examination Anxiety among Senior Secondary School Students in the Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria

Examination anxiety is as old as examination itself, as long as examination exist, anxiety is bound to occur. Many students often feel anxious and exhibits lots of negative emotions towards examinations. These feelings of anxiety exhibited by the students generally has deleterious effects on the students and also on their academics and personality. This study therefore examined the use of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Relaxation technique on examination anxiety among Senior Secondary School students in the Ibadan metropolis. The moderating effects of emotional intelligence and academic self-efficacy were also examined. A pretest-posttest control group quasi- experimental design with a 3x2x2 factorial matrix was adopted. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed. Three local government areas were randomly selected from Ibadan metropolis. One public secondary school were randomly selected from each of the local government area. Ninety (M=37; F= 53) Senior Secondary School students SS 1 and 2 were screened for the test anxiety and were randomly assigned to the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (30) Relaxation Technique(30) and control group(30). Treatment lasted for eight weeks for the CBT and Relaxation Technique groups. Data were analysed using Analysis of Covariance and Multiple Classification Analysis at the 0.05 level of significance. The results indicated that there was significant main effect of treatments on examination anxiety of secondary school students. There was also significant main effect of emotional intelligence and academic self-efficacy on examination anxiety of secondary school students. Both CBT and relaxation technique were effective in managing examination anxiety among secondary school students. Counsellors and educational Psychologists should utilise these therapies to manage examination anxiety among students.

Salivary gland ultrasonography in patients with connective tissue diseases: a multi-centre observational study.

US of salivary glands (SGUS) is a non-invasive tool that allows for diagnosing primary SS (pSS) or secondary SS (sSS). However, little is known about the prevalence of US findings of SS in other CTDs. The aim of this multi-centre observational study was to evaluate, in CTD patients with or without SS, the prevalence of abnormal SGUS findings and the possible association of the findings with clinical or biological phenotypes. B-Mode SGUS was performed by one operator blinded to clinical data. Each SG was semi-quantitatively rated on a scale from 0 to 4 according to the Jousse-Joulin score; a score ≥2 was considered pathological. Data for 194 patients were analysed (pSS, n = 30; sSS, n = 39; other CTDs, n = 77; controls, n = 48). SGUS findings were abnormal in 80%, 67%, 25% and 2% of patients, respectively. Independent of the underlying disease, age and sex, abnormal SGUS findings were significantly associated with presence of anti-SSA antibodies (P < 0.001), pSS (P < 0.001) and sSS (P < 0.01). Among SS patients, abnormal SGUS findings were associated with the presence of hypergammaglobulinemia, anti-SSA antibodies, objective eye dryness and increased anti-nuclear antibody level, with no difference in EULAR SS Disease Activity Index. Abnormal SGUS findings were associated with anti-SSA antibody positivity independent of the underlying disease. In SS patients, abnormal findings were associated with immunologic features and mouth involvement. Among CTD patients, SGUS changes may be associated with a particular immune profile.

Stratification of Patients With Sjögren's Syndrome and Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus According to Two Shared Immune Cell Signatures, With Potential Therapeutic Implications.

Similarities in the clinical and laboratory features of primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have led to attempts to treat patients with primary SS or SLE with similar biologic therapeutics. However, the results of many clinical trials are disappointing, and no biologic treatments are licensed for use in primary SS, while only a few biologic agents are available to treat SLE patients whose disease has remained refractory to other treatments. With the aim of improving treatment selections, this study was undertaken to identify distinct immunologic signatures in patients with primary SS and patients with SLE, using a stratification approach based on immune cell endotypes. Immunophentyping of 29 immune cell subsets was performed using flow cytometry in peripheral blood from patients with primary SS (n = 45), patients with SLE (n = 29), and patients with secondary SS associated with SLE (SLE/SS) (n = 14), all of whom were considered to have low disease activity or be in clinical remission, and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 31). Data were analyzed using supervised machine learning (balanced random forest, sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis), logistic regression, and multiple t-tests. Patients were stratified by K-means clustering and clinical trajectory analysis. Patients with primary SS and patients with SLE had a similar immunologic architecture despite having different clinical presentations and prognoses. Stratification of the combined primary SS, SLE, and SLE/SS patient cohorts by K-means cluster analysis revealed 2 endotypes, characterized by distinct immune cell profiles spanning the diagnoses. A signature of 8 T cell subsets that distinctly differentiated the 2 endotypes with high accuracy (area under the curve 0.9979) was identified in logistic regression and machine learning models. In clinical trajectory analyses, the change in damage scores and disease activity levels from baseline to 5 years differed between the 2 endotypes. These findings identify an immune cell toolkit that may be useful for differentiating, with high accuracy, the immunologic profiles of patients with primary SS and patients with SLE as a way to achieve targeted therapeutic approaches.

Sjögren's Syndrome Associated With Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A Case-Based Review.

ObjectiveTo review all published cases of the rare association between thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS). The authors report an additional case of this unique association.MethodsSystematic review of the literature and a case report. The database were articles published in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, LILACS, and SciELO, registered from 1966 to August 2020. The DESH terms were "Sjögren's syndrome" and "thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura," without language limitation.ResultsMost patients were female (88%), and the age varied from 30 to 75 years old. Concerning the sequence of disease appearance, SS followed by TTP was seen in seven articles, TTP and SS in three, and simultaneous appearance of both diseases in three studies. Primary SS was observed in 16 patients, and secondary SS was detected in two cases: dermatomyositis and rheumatoid arthritis. Anemia was the most common TTP manifestation, followed by thrombocytopenia, fever, consciousness alteration, renal impairment, and schistocytes' appearance on a blood smear. Treatment involved plasmapheresis, plasma exchange, rituximab, glucocorticoid, and cyclophosphamide. A good outcome was noted in most studies; few patients died.ConclusionsTTP is a rare manifestation associated with SS. After the TTP diagnosis, plasmapheresis and/or plasma exchange should be immediately implemented.

Patient-based reliability of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) ultrasound scoring system for salivary gland assessment in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome

Abstract Background To assess the reliability of the consensually agreed US definitions of major salivary gland lesions and the US scoring system for salivary gland assessment in patients with SS. Methods Nine experienced sonographers scanned and read the US images of both parotid glands (PGs) and submandibular glands (SMGs) in eight patients with primary and secondary SS in two rounds. A consensually agreed four-grade semi-quantitative scoring was applied in B-mode for morphological lesions: grade 0, normal; grade 1, mild inhomogeneity without anechoic or hypoechoic areas; grade 2, moderate inhomogeneity with focal anechoic or hypoechoic areas; grade 3, severe inhomogeneity with diffuse an- or hypoechoic areas occupying the entire gland or fibrous gland. The presence or absence of typical SS lesions, i.e. the Sjögren’s signature, was scored binary. Intra- and interreader reliabilities were computed using weighted and unweighted Cohen’s and Light’s κ coefficients. Results The mean prevalence of grades 0–3 in PG were 43, 17, 23 and 31% and 28, 14, 33 and 32% for the SMGs, respectively. The weighted κ for intrareader reliability ranged from 0.44 to 1 for grading and 0.64 to 1 for the Sjögren’s signature of PG and 0.59 to 1 and −0.09 to 0.6 for SMGs, respectively. The interreader reliability κ for grading in PG was 0.62 (95% CI 0.47, 0.74) and for Sjögren’s signature it was 0.36 (95% CI 0, 0.43); in SMG it was 0.62 (95% CI 0.47, 0.72) and 0.03 (95% CI 0, 0.07) respectively. Conclusions The consensually agreed novel US scoring system for major salivary gland lesions showed substantial intra- and interreader reliability in patients with SS. The reliability of the Sjögren’s signature was moderate.

Distinct Salivary Gland Features in Sjögren's Syndrome and Lupus Erythematosus Sialadenite.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an important cause of xerostomia, and the presence of this symptom in lupus erythematosus (LE) is usually referred to as secondary SS. Although these diseases share many clinical and laboratory aspects, the histopathological changes of minor salivary glands (MSG) have been widely evaluated to determine whether this damage is specific for each disease. Based on this query, the aim of this study was to analyze morphological findings of minor salivary glands in pSS or LE. Two groups of 30 (MSG) from patients with pSS and LE were histopathologically evaluated, and the results were statistically analyzed using the two-tailed Fisher exact test. The morphological changes were distinct among the groups and statistically significant. In pSS, the most evident features were the focal lymphocytic ductal aggression, with the focus score ≥1 and the periductal fibroplasia, while in LE, perivascular inflammatory infiltrate, spongiosis of ductal cells not associated with the exocytosis, and hyalinization of the periductal basement membrane were detected. These results indicated that in each disorder, MSG have their specific morphological changes, which lead to xerostomia, and the impairment of MSG in LE is probably due to a lupus sialadenitis.

FRI0153 ULTRA HIGH-RESOLUTION ULTRASOUND (UHFUS) OF LABIAL SALIVARY GLANDS: POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS IN PRIMARY SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME

Background:Major salivary gland ultrasonography has an established role in diagnosis and assessment of pSS. Nowadays, however, interest is also growing in last-generation ultra high resolution ultrasound (UHFUS) transducers, which can produce frequencies up to 70 MHz and achieve tissue resolution up to 30 μm, opening up new possibilities for the study labial salivary glands (LSG).Objectives:To investigate the usefulness of UHFUS in LSG ultrasound-guided biopsy and preoperative planning.Methods:Consecutive patients undergoing a LSG for clinically suspected pSS were included in this study from January 2018 to December 2019. UHFUS of LSG was performed by using VEVO MD, equipped with a 70 MHz probe, scanning first the central compartment of the inferior lip, and then both peripheral compartments. The following parameters were evaluated: distribution of the glands, parenchymal inhomogeneity (score 0-3, from normal to evident), and fibrosis. UHFUS imaging was used to help locate the LSG for the US-guided biopsy. The same expert pathologist calculated the surface area of gland sections examined, the LSG focus score (FS), the number of foci and evaluated the presence of ectopic germinal centers (GCs). Consecutive patients that had undergone a traditional LSG biopsy from December 2016 to December 2017 were included as controls.Results:We included a total of 249 patients with suspected pSS: 137 undergoing the UHFUS-guided LSGs and 112 the traditional LSG biopsy procedure. No demographic differences were observed between the two groups. No differences were also observed in the distribution of the final diagnosis. A diagnosis of pSS according the ACR 2016 criteria was made in 60/137 (43.8%) and 36/112 (32.1%) patients, respectively whereas a diagnosis of no-SS sicca was made in 44/137 (32.1%) and in 43/112 (38.4%) patients; the remaining diagnosis included secondary SS (4/137, 3% and 9/112, 8%) and undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) (29/137, 21.2%, and 24/112, 21.4%). With respect to no-SS sicca controls and UCTD patients, pSS patients presented higher UHFUS inhomogeneity scores in both central and peripheral labial compartments (p=0.001). There were no complications from the HUFUS-guided LSG biopsy. The mean glandular surface area obtained was significantly higher than the area obtained by traditional LSG biopsy procedure (7.4 ±4.0 mm2vs 6.3±3.7 mm2, p=0.02) thus facilitating the assessment of the FS. Interestingly, the latter showed a good correlation with the UHFUS inhomogeneity (r=0.509**, p=0.000).Conclusion:UHFUS of LSG appeared feasible and sensitive in pSS, potentially offering unique advantages in LSG ultrasound-guided biopsy.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Hydroxychloroquine is associated with a lower risk of polyautoimmunity: data from the RELESSER Registry.

ObjectivesThis article estimates the frequency of polyautoimmunity and associated factors in a large retrospective cohort of patients with SLE.MethodsRELESSER (Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry) is a nationwide multicentre, hospital-based registry of SLE patients. This is a cross-sectional study. The main variable was polyautoimmunity, which was defined as the co-occurrence of SLE and another autoimmune disease, such as autoimmune thyroiditis, RA, scleroderma, inflammatory myopathy and MCTD. We also recorded the presence of multiple autoimmune syndrome, secondary SS, secondary APS and a family history of autoimmune disease. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate possible risk factors for polyautoimmunity.ResultsOf the 3679 patients who fulfilled the criteria for SLE, 502 (13.6%) had polyautoimmunity. The most frequent types were autoimmune thyroiditis (7.9%), other systemic autoimmune diseases (6.2%), secondary SS (14.1%) and secondary APS (13.7%). Multiple autoimmune syndrome accounted for 10.2% of all cases of polyautoimmunity. A family history was recorded in 11.8%. According to the multivariate analysis, the factors associated with polyautoimmunity were female sex [odds ratio (95% CI), 1.72 (1.07, 2.72)], RP [1.63 (1.29, 2.05)], interstitial lung disease [3.35 (1.84, 6.01)], Jaccoud arthropathy [1.92 (1.40, 2.63)], anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB autoantibodies [2.03 (1.55, 2.67)], anti-RNP antibodies [1.48 (1.16, 1.90)], MTX [1.67 (1.26, 2.18)] and antimalarial drugs [0.50 (0.38, 0.67)].ConclusionPatients with SLE frequently present polyautoimmunity. We observed clinical and analytical characteristics associated with polyautoimmunity. Our finding that antimalarial drugs protected against polyautoimmunity should be verified in future studies.

Salivary CXCL13 in relation to scintigraphy in early detection of secondary Sjogren\u2019s syndrome

BackgroundSjogren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands. CXCL13 directs B-cell chemotaxis and is elevated in several autoimmune diseases.ObjectiveTo assess the role of salivary CXCL13 level as a screening tool in early detection of secondary SS patients.Patients and methodsSalivary CXCL13 levels using ELISA technique, Schirmer paper test and/or Lissamine green staining, and quantitative salivary scintigraphy excretion fraction were measured in 45 selected patients with primitive connective tissue disease (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or systemic sclerosis) and according to the American-European Consensus Group criteria, they were classified to three equal groups: group I were having SS; group II were having dryness manifestations but not completing the criteria for SS diagnosis (suspected SS); group III were having no SS, and 15 age-matched and sex-matched apparently healthy controls.ResultsA significantly higher salivary CXCL13 level on comparing SS patients to suspected, non-SS groups and controls (P<0.001). Salivary CXCL13 had a significant negative correlation with scintigraphy (P<0.01), a significant positive correlation with eye dryness signs (P<0.01), cutoff value of CXCL13 to diagnose SS was more than 40pg/ml and a cutoff value of salivary scintigraphy excretion fraction to diagnose SS was less than 33.1%.ConclusionSalivary CXCL13 is a sensitive biomarker for early detection of secondary SS.

Increased risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan

ObjectivesSjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder. Several molecular pathways and the activation of matrix metalloproteinases associated with the pathogenesis of SS participate in the initiation and progression of...

Investigating the Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing on the Academic Performance of Senior Secondary Students in Private Schools in Niger State, Nigeria

Large numbers of students in spite of having normal intelligence level have an inadequate academic motivation and do not show a good academic performance in different levels of education. The unmotivated students in classroom interaction with the teacher could be responsible for the observed poor performance of students and the widely acclaimed fallen standard of education in Nigeria. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of motivational interview in promoting motivation among students in private secondary schools. It was aimed at answering the question: Does motivational interview have significant influence on academic performance of senior secondary SS 2 students in private schools? The study adopted the pretest-posttest experimental group design-two levels of independent variables (experimental groups and a control) and two levels of gender (male and female). The experimental group participants are given the MI intervention, while the control group participants received no intervention. A purposeful sampling procedure was adopted to obtain 120 participants from the two (2) sample secondary schools. Data were collected by employing English language Achievement Test (ELAT), Motivation strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) and the Brief Academic Motivational Instrument (BAMI) as well as classroom observations. Both pretest and posttest scores were analyzed using the descriptive and t-test statistical analysis to test the hypotheses. Evidently, the experimental group that was exposed to motivational interviewing performed better than the control group that was exposed to traditional teaching method. This implied that with motivational interviewing combined with conventional teaching methods students performed with higher scores than when taught with conventional teaching method only. It is recommended that secondary school teachers should be trained on the effective use of motivational interview, MI skills and strategies for instruction through seminars, workshops and conferences.

Clinical features and risk factors of neurological involvement in Sj\xf6gren\u2019s syndrome

BackgroundTo investigated distinct manifestations of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) patients with neurological complications and the potential risk factors associated with neurological complications in SS, and to produce a disease evaluation and neurological involvement prediction for SS.Methods566 patients who fulfilled the 2002 classification criteria for SS from the Rheumatology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were included in the cross-sectional study. Clinical, immunological and histological characteristics were surveyed, and potential risk factors for neurological complications were examined by multivariate analysis.ResultsAmong 566 SS patients, 184 (32.5%) patients had neurological involvement, with more than 10% got limbs pain, limbs numbness and cerebral infarction, respectively. Of these 184 SS patients with neurological complications, secondary SS (sSS) patients had a higher prevalence of peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement than primary SS (pSS) patients (31.1 vs. 19%). And sSS patients showed higher total ESSPRI score and higher prevalence of xerostomia and low C3, C4 levels with more liver, articular involvement and saliva gland atrophy, and more severe lymphocyte infiltration in salivary glands than pSS patients. As for the specific factors associated with neurological involvement, low C3 level were found to be significant in pSS or sSS patients who were younger 50 year old, and ANA positivity, cardiac involvement, saliva gland atrophy were demonstrated to be associated in elder pSS patients. And xerophthalmia was found to be associated in sSS patients.ConclusionLow complement (C3) levels, xerophthalmia, ANA positive, cardiac involvement and labial salivary gland histological result were good ways to predict neurological complications in different subgroups of SS, which might provide insight into better clinical decision-making, especially at early stages of the disease.