To investigate cross-sectional associations between meniscal lesion parameters and knee joint structures and symptoms in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA). A total of 102 subjects with symptomatic KOA were included in this study. Coronal magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the meniscal parameters including the mean distance from medial to lateral meniscal lesions (Mean(MLD))

We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence algorithm able to assess Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) from mobile phone photography, ensuring as a patient-centered, image-based method for RP quantification. ARTIX (artificial intelligence-based Raynaud’s quantification index) score was developed as a multi-step process of segmentation, decomposition and filters application to mobile phone pictures of the

Interleukin 40 (IL-40) is a cytokine implicated in malignancies and rheumatic disorders. Its association with fibrotic mediators has been previously described. Since inflammation and fibrosis are hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc), we aimed to analyze the role of IL-40 in SSc. IL-40 levels were analyzed in the serum of 90 SSc patients and 75 healthy controls (HCs). IL-40 expression in dermal biopsies

Few studies paid attention to compensatory and decompensatory responses of condylar cartilage under different mechanical conditions and the underlying mechanism. Compensatory and decompensatory models were established. In vivo compensatory (0.5 mm occlusal elevation) and decompensatory (1.5 mm elevation) models were established in rats using zirconia occlusal plates. Parallel in vitro models subjected

Radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the axial skeleton and entheses, leading to pathological spinal bone formation and systemic bone loss. Treatments with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and interleukin-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) have shown efficacy in reducing inflammation and potentially impacting bone remodeling in r-axSpA.

The human monoclonal antibody belimumab (BEL) has emerged as a promising treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly for reducing the need for glucocorticoids and minimizing organ damage. The optimal timing of BEL initiation has been unclear; emerging evidence suggests that early intervention with BEL, particularly within the first 5 years of diagnosis, may yield better outcomes

Sacroiliitis is a rare adverse reaction of isotretinoin. However, the data on the clinical features, treatment and outcomes of isotretinoin-associated sacroiliitis are limited. This study was conducted to explore the clinical characteristics of isotretinoin-associated sacroiliitis, providing a basis for diagnosis and treatment. The author retrieved clinical reports of isotretinoin-associated sacroiliitis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease symptoms that can significantly restrict work ability and work participation resulting in reduced mental well-being. This study investigates the significant impact of work participation and disability on the mental wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and disease-related outcomes in individuals with SLE. With the objective of creating an SLE-related

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis. Current urate-lowering therapies have limitations, such as adverse drug reactions or limited efficacy. Epaminurad is a novel selective human urate transporter 1 (hURAT1) inhibitor that has been shown to reduce serum urate (sUA) levels in healthy volunteers and patients with gout. The aims of the current study were to evaluate the urate-lowering efficacy

Physical activity (PA) has well-established benefits and is a fundamental component in the management of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Our objective was to evaluate (1) compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) PA recommendations, (2) specific types and duration of PA performed by patients, and (3) association of PA with health status and quality of life (QoL) in two large Dutch cohorts

To develop a predictive model for bone destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), based on the characteristics of plasma metabolites and common clinical indicators. The cohort comprised 60 patients with RA, with baseline metabolite features identified using the liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer system. Radiographic outcomes were assessed using the van der Heijde-modified total Sharp

To characterize the clinical and myo-fascial histopathological features, along with long-term treatment outcomes of patients with eosinophilic fasciitis (EF). We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical, serological, myo-fascial pathological features, as well as the long-term follow-up outcomes of EF patients between January 2011 and August 2023 at our neuromuscular disorder (NMD) center

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent and disabling condition lacking curative treatments, with only symptomatic relief available. Recognizing OA as a heterogenous disorder with diverse aetiologies and molecular foundations underscores the need to classify patients by both phenotypes and molecular pathomechanisms (endotypes). Such stratification could enable the development of targeted therapies

Risk of cardiovascular events may increase after herpes zoster; therefore, American College of Rheumatology guidelines strongly recommend vaccination against herpes zoster in patients aged ≥ 18 years with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases taking immunosuppressive medications. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of Shingrix among patients with inflammatory arthritis and estimated the post-herpes

Microvascular dysfunction is considered one of the main pathogenetic pathways in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and endothelial cells plays a pivotal role even in the early phases of the disease. Endothelial dysfunction results in an early incapacity to adapt the vascular tone and the blood flow under stress conditions, thus losing the important adaptation mechanism that is the vascular reserve. The loss

Given the potential role of vagus nerve stimulation in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we examined the incidence of RA and osteoarthritis (OA) in patients who underwent different forms of vagotomy that disparately affect the inflammatory reflex. Using nationwide health registries, we constructed cohorts of patients in Denmark who underwent truncal or superselective vagotomy between 1977 and 1995

Meniscus degeneration contributes to knee arthritis progression, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms of meniscus aging remain poorly understood. We aimed to characterize age-related changes in the rat meniscus using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and identify key pathogenic cell populations and pathways. Meniscal tissues from young (12 weeks) and aged (24 months) rats were processed for

Synovitis, among the most common signs of early-stage osteoarthritis (OA), is mainly mediated by fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Cartilage destruction creates chondrocyte lysates (CLs) that activate synovial inflammation. A comprehensive understanding of chondrocyte–FLS communication might offer novel, specific therapeutic targets for treating synovitis and OA. Hence, we sought to uncover the

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease that can lead to progressive joint damage and irreversible disability when inadequately treated. RA is more common in women than in men. Disease characteristics differ between genders in terms of comorbidities, extra-articular manifestations, quality of life, disease activity and functional scores. There is a possibility

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy targeting B cells has shown promising results, including drug-free remission, in adult-onset autoimmune diseases. Extending this therapeutic approach to the pediatric population, particularly for juvenile autoimmune diseases, presents an exciting opportunity. However, challenges specific to juvenile-onset autoimmune conditions, such as long-term adverse

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against modified proteins, known as anti-modified protein autoantibodies (AMPAs). While the relationship between different AMPA isotypes and various risk factors remains poorly understood, investigating this association is important for a deeper understanding of RA pathophysiology. Smoking, has its primary

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disorder driven by the combination of environmental and genetic factors. Given its high global prevalence and heterogeneity, developing effective and personalized treatment methods is crucial. This requires identifying new disease mechanisms, drug targets, and biomarkers. Various omics approaches have been applied to identify OA-related genes, pathways, and biomarkers

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), as a syndrome characterized by low-grade inflammation and energy metabolism disorders, is considered to be an important systemic risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Our previous study showed that the protein level of serum resistin was positively correlated with the degree of metabolic disorder in MetS-OA. However, whether Resistin promotes the progression of KOA synovitis

No established markers can effectively phenotype knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients into subgroups. Infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) morphology data that can forecast disease symptoms, structural changes, and knee replacement (KR) are sparse and conflicting. This 96-month longitudinal exploratory study aimed to identify which IPFP morphological features were the most effective independent prognostic markers

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by synovial inflammation, hyperplasia, and joint destruction. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) are key effector cells in RA, contributing to synovial invasion, extracellular matrix degradation, and inflammatory cytokine secretion. Recent studies suggest that circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate cellular function and disease progression

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation and multi-organ damage. A central factor in SLE pathogenesis is the excessive production of type I interferon (IFN-I), which drives immune dysregulation. Monocytes, key components of the immune system, significantly contribute to IFN-I production. However, their specific roles in SLE remain incompletely

IgA vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN) manifests in up to 84% of adult patients with IgA vasculitis (IgAV) and is associated with an elevated risk of progression to chronic kidney failure. The underlying pathogenic mechanism of adult IgAVN in leukocytes remain largely uncharacterised. Although natural killer (NK) cells were investigated in paediatric IgAV, their specific role in the pathogenesis of adult

Lymph node (LN) studies in anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have revealed notable alterations in adaptive immune cell populations. However, it remains unclear whether similar changes occur in seronegative inflammatory arthritis, such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or ACPA-negative RA. This study investigates molecular and cellular alterations

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) manifests a spectrum of neuropsychological symptoms, primarily cognitive impairment, but the mechanism of central nervous system damage remains unclear. This study sought to analyze differences in the static and dynamic fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and region homogeneity (ReHo) between pSS patients and healthy controls (HCs), aiming to elucidate

Correction: Arthritis Res Ther 27, 56 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-025-03533-8 Following publication of the original article [1], the authors noticed an error in Fig. 1. Specifically, the number of subjects in the control group was incorrectly labelled and should be changed to 9. Fig. 1 Flow chart of this prospective cohort studyFull size image Fig. 2 Flow chart of this prospective cohort

Inflammatory cytokine levels exhibit a circadian rhythm in sera, peaking from late night to early morning in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This cytokine kinetics is a recognized therapeutic target. This clinical study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of night-time baricitinib administration based on cytokine secretion. In this 52-week multicenter non-randomized controlled study, 122 patients

Recently, several studies have reported that nucleus pulposus (NP) cell ferroptosis plays a key role in IDD. However, the characteristics and molecular mechanisms of cell subsets involved remain unclear. We aimed to define the key factors driving ferroptosis, and the characteristics of ferroptotic NP cells subsets during IDD. The accumulation of iron ions in NP tissues of rats caudal intervertebral

To identify pathways linking cytokine abnormalities to mortality via prognostic factors in patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 antibodies (anti-MDA5 Ab). This study included patients with anti-MDA5 Ab whose serum was available. Serum cytokine levels were measured using a multiplex bead assay. Prognostic factors were identified using Cox regression and log-rank test. Prognostic

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is commonly used to treat Sjögren syndrome (SS). Glucocorticoids, which are commonly applied for managing primary SS (pSS), can disrupt glucose metabolism and increase diabetes mellitus (DM) risk. HCQ reduces DM risk in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between HCQ and glucocorticoids in the incidence of

Vertebral compression fractures (VCF) is a common fragility fracture with high mortality worldwide. The management and prevention of VCF start with a proper nutrition. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is rich in balanced nutrients and has been shown to be beneficial for several chronic diseases. However, the association of adherence to Mediterranean diet (aMED) and prognosis of VCF patients remains unclear

The spike protein-specific humoral response observed after SARS-CoV- 2 vaccination is decreased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with rituximab (RTX). However, when analyzed immediately after vaccination, the spike-specific T-cell immune response appears to be preserved. The possible persistence of specific T cells over the long term is underexplored and could be a useful decision-making

The modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), a measure of systemic sclerosis (SSc) skin thickness, is agnostic to inflammation and vasculopathy. Previously, we demonstrated the potential of neural network-based digital pathology applied to SSc skin biopsies as a quantitative outcome. Here, we leverage deep learning and histologic analyses of clinical trial biopsies to decipher SSc skin features ‘seen’ by

Upadacitinib (UPA), an oral Janus kinase inhibitor, has shown efficacy with an acceptable safety profile in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trials. To assess the real-world effectiveness and safety of UPA in adults with moderate-to-severe RA in the UPHOLD observational study. Co-primary endpoints were: (i) proportion of patients achieving disease activity score in 28 joints using C-reactive protein

The present cohort study aimed to evaluate the value of CCL23 in diagnosis, disease activity, and prognosis in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis (AAV). CCL23 levels in serum samples from 317 patients with AAV and 83 healthy controls (HCs) were measured using a customized immune response kit. Patients with AAV had significantly elevated CL23 levels compared with

The present non-inferiority study was designed to compare the effect of discontinuing versus continuing methotrexate (MTX) alongside certolizumab pegol (CZP) on maintaining low disease activity (LDA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients already stable on combination therapy. This multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled trial included RA patients with sustained LDA (Clinical Disease Activity

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial and highly prevalent disease in elderly adults; however, its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment are unmet needs nowadays. Research efforts have focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis, onset, and progression of OA to facilitate early detection and effective therapeutic approaches. Infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) represents

Methotrexate (MTX), a standard treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is known for its potential kidney and liver toxicity. Whether concomitant use of analgesics, possibly affecting the same organs, has an impact on the occurrence or course of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) remains unclear. We used all spontaneous reports (until 2022) of suspected ADRs associated with MTX in RA patients, from the

Inflammation and immune mechanisms play a crucial role in connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH), though they remain inadequately understood. This study aimed to identify specific clinical phenotypes in CTD-PAH using inflammatory and immune markers through hierarchical cluster analysis. We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of CTD-PAH patients

We aimed to characterize the phenotype of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in the presence and absence of Sjogren's disease (SjD) and to develop a predictive nomogram to evaluate the risk of coexisting SjD within a single tertiary-center cohort of NMOSD patients. Paraclinical and clinical features of patients with SjD were compared between NMOSD patients with SjD and those without SjD

When it was established 25 years ago by Peter Lipsky and Ravinder Maini, Rheumatology as a speciality, like Cinderella, had just arrived at the ball. Anti TNF therapy was revolutionizing the treatment of not just inflammatory arthritis, but many other immune mediated inflammatory diseases. For the first time people with arthritis could dream of a cure. But to cure a disease requires an understanding

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are autoimmune disorders characterized by muscle inflammation and autoreactive B cell responses. The Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway is essential for B cell functions, making it a promising therapeutic target. This study explores the potential of tofacitinib, a JAK1/JAK3 inhibitor, to modulate B cell

The risk of developing osteoporosis (OP) is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is associated with poorer prognosis and higher mortality. Many patients with RA may experience bone loss early in the disease course. Therefore, timely assessment of the risk of OP in RA patients is essential. This is a retrospective study in which we collected information from 500 RA patients who

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), a type of cancer immunotherapy, can cause side effects including inflammatory arthritis (ICI-IA). Previous studies of ICI-IA do not include a thorough characterization of associated immune responses to provide potential targets for treatment. We aimed to identify cytokines uniquely increased in ICI-IA and determine correlations with IA severity and persistence. We

Editorial Expression of Concern: Arthritis Res Ther 8, R115 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1186/ar2002 The Editors-in-Chief are issuing an editorial expression of concern to alert readers that panel C in Fig. 3 appears to be very similar to panel H in Fig. 2 in a previously-published article by the same author group [1], but the images are labelled differently. Due to the age of the articles, it is not

Kidney involvement is frequent in SLE, with proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) forms and nephritic flares being key predictors of poor outcomes. Conflicting results have been reported for anti-C1q antibodies among the serological markers. Our purpose was to assess the value of immunological tests (C3,C4 complement fractions, anti-DNA and antiC1q antibodies) in predicting histological classes and flares

Patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) exhibit highly heterogeneous pain manifestations, which significantly impact their quality of life and disease prognosis. An understanding of the pain phenotypes for this disorder and their influencing factors is crucial for individualized pain management. To explore the pain phenotypes of newly diagnosed sJIA patients via latent class analysis

Pain remains a principal complaint for people with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), despite successful mitigation of inflammation. This situation alludes to the co-existence of distinct pain mechanisms. Nociceptive and nociplastic mechanisms are clinically challenging to distinguish. Advances in brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have successfully characterised distinct pain mechanisms across

Osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with abnormal lipid metabolism, wherein elevated levels of phospholipids (PLs) and sphingolipids (SLs) in human and canine synovial fluid (SF) have been observed. The aim of this lipidomic study was to evaluate how closely blood lipid levels reflect changes in SF, building on previous findings. Lipids were extracted from knee SF and serum of 44 joint-healthy donors

Facet joint osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The most pronounced OA presents above and below the curve's apex where the intervertebral rotation is the greatest. This indicates that facet joint OA is implicated and potentially contributes to AIS progression. OA impacts both cartilage and bone and we have previously demonstrated an association between

Studying pain in rodent models of arthritis is challenging. For example, assessing functional changes in joint neurons is challenging due to their relative scarcity amongst all sensory neurons. Additionally, studying pain behaviors in rodent models of arthritis poses its own set of difficulties. Commonly used tests, such as static weight-bearing, often require restraint, which can induce stress and

To evaluate the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and its impact on the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index(HAQ-DI) and the Cochin Hand Function Status(CHFS) in a large Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) cohort. SSc patients from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database treated with HCQ for at least 6 months were evaluated and compared to a matched group of SSc patients not using

Undifferentiated arthritis (UA) often develops into rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but predicting disease progression from seronegative UA remains challenging because seronegative RA often does not meet the classification criteria. This study aims to build a machine learning (ML) model to predict the progression from seronegative UA to RA using clinical and laboratory parameters. KURAMA cohort (training

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-020-02270-4. Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in Fig. 5D. The images of haematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Safranin O/Fast green staining in Fig. 5d was mistakenly used, as more than one pathological gene, besides IL13Rα1 was investigated. The corrected Fig. 5D is provided below. Fig. 5 Incorrect FigureFull size image Fig. 5 Correct

We used data from the SENSCIS and SENSCIS-ON trials to assess decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) who received long-term treatment with nintedanib and the effect of switching patients from placebo to nintedanib. In the SENSCIS trial, patients were randomised to receive nintedanib or placebo until the last patient

This study aimed to characterize nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) features in patients with different subtypes of Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) and to investigate the correlations between NVC findings, myositis-specific antibody (MSA) subtypes, disease activity, cytokine profiles, and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression levels. This cross-sectional observational single-center study