Rheumatology and immunology research最新文献

Background and objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by joint pain and inflammation. RA involves elevated expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which drive synovial inflammation and joint destruction primarily through the STAT-3 signalling pathway. Nitazoxanide (NTZ) has been shown in previous studies to inhibit the signalling of STAT-3.

Methods: This study evaluated the anti-arthritic effects of NTZ in a rat model of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis. NTZ was administered orally at doses of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg over 28 days. Various parameters, including changes in paw swelling, body weight, arthritic index, haematological measurements, levels of inflammatory cytokines, and histopathological analysis, were monitored.

Results: NTZ treatment significantly improved body weight and reduced paw swelling, edema, and the arthritic index in CFA-induced arthritic rats. The treatment also decreased white blood cell counts while increasing red blood cell and haemoglobin levels. NTZ effectively modulated inflammatory cytokine levels and showed improvement in the histopathology of the ankle joints.

Conclusion: NTZ exhibited significant anti-arthritic activity through the inhibition of the STAT-3 and NF-κB pathways, emphasizing its potential as a therapeutic option for rheumatoid arthritis.

Background and objectives: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) stands as a significant challenge within Jordan's clinical practice, despite its low prevalence of 0.04% within the Jordanian population. This study aims to investigate the current status of the health status of FMF patients in Jordan while exploring any present associations between chronic diseases and the severity of their symptoms.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive survey-based study conducted during the period between 1st of March till the last of May 2023 in Jordan. The survey was distributed randomly to a group of FMF patients, Sample size was based on FMF prevalence in Jordan (0.04%); study sample (N = 67) included FMF patients in Jordan from different age groups. All results were performed through proper statistical analysis.

Results: The study includes 67 FMF patients, predominantly Jordanian and aged 18-31, revealed that 58.2% only were diagnosed through blood genetic testing. Marriages among first-degree relatives showed a 60% probability of FMF transmission compared to 10% in non-related parents (P = 0.001), leading 82.1% of participants to call for pre-marital testing. Acute symptoms included abdominal pain, fever, arthralgia, and myalgia, with hypertension being the most frequent comorbidity (14.9%) and significantly associated with myalgia and arthralgia (P < 0.05). Colchicine was the primary treatment for 89.6% of patients, with high adherence rates (90.3%).

Conclusion: Among chronic comorbidities, hypertension was associated in increasing the severity of the myalgia during attacks. The issue of misdiagnosis remains a major challenge in Jordanian clinical practice. Our findings assert the importance of future incorporation of FMF premarital testing.

Background and objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a well-known systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease. This investigation aimed to assess the effects of Sina-curcumin, a novel nano micelle-based curcumin, on immune system responses of RA patients.

Methods: This pilot study is a randomized double blinded, controlled trial. Patients who fulfilled the European League against Rheumatism-American College of Rheumatology (EULAR-ACR) criteria for RA were assigned to receive curcumin or placebo for 12 weeks. The outcomes of this study were comparison of changes in mean value of Disease Activity Score of 28 joints erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), frequency of T helper 1 and T helper 2 cells population.

Results: From 150 RA patients who were assessed for eligibility, data from 30 patients (15 patients in each group) were analyzed. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding age (P = 0.6441) and body mass index (BMI, P = 0.6016). Our measurement showed a statistically significant reduction in ESR (P < 0.0001), CRP (P < 0.0001) and a non-significant decrease in DAS28-ESR (P = 0.5125) in the curcumin group. Also, the Th1/Th2 ratio favorably decreased in the curcumin group. This finding was due to a significant increase in Th2 cells (P < 0.0001) and a nonsignificant decrease in Th1 cells (P = 0.1532).

Conclusion: Our trial findings revealed the immunomodulatory effects of curcumin. It could be used and recommended as adjunctive treatment for RA patients.

Autoimmune diseases arise from immune system dysfunction that immune cells mistakenly attack the body's own tissues, resulting in systemic disorders or localized lesions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Autoreactive B cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases and B cell depletion using anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) has been shown to effectively mitigate disease progression in both preclinical and clinical studies. Recently, bispecific antibody (bsAb) targeting CD20/CD3 have demonstrated substantial clinical benefits in the treatment of various hematologic malignancies. Given their similar B cell cytotoxic mechanism, CD20/CD3 bsAb therapy may offer significant improvements in the management of many autoimmune diseases, providing a novel therapeutic option for patients. This concise review aims to summarize recent findings on CD20/CD3 bsAbs and discuss their potential in treating autoimmune diseases.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with destructive arthritis as its main clinical manifestation, which is a major cause of disability. It is very important to formulate and update a guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of RA that adhere to international guideline development standards and can be applied to clinical practice in China. This guideline is endorsed and developed by the National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases, collaborated with Rheumatologists Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Rheumatology Rehabilitation Branch of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rheumatology Branch of Chinese Research Hospital Association, and Rheumatology Branch of Beijing Association of Holistic Integrative Medicine, based on grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) and reporting items for practice guidelines in healthcare (RIGHT). Evidence-based recommendation were developed for 10 clinical scenario that are most relevant to Chinese rheumatologists, aiming to improve and standardize the diagnosis and treatment of RA in China, which may finally improve the quality of life and prognosis of patients.

Background and objectives: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorders of undetermined cause. Uveitis is one of the commonest and most dangerous extra-articular manifestations of JIA and RA presenting chronic anterior uveitis with non-specific biomarkers for its early detection. We evaluated the role of serum 14-3-3 Eta protein to assess its potential role as a novel biomarker for the early detection of uveitis in Egyptian JIA and RA patients as well as its correlation with disease activity.

Methods: A case-control study included three patient groups: group I includes 42 JIA patients, group II includes 42 RA patients, and an equal number of apparently healthy individuals matched in sex and age for each group of patients as controls, recruited from the rheumatology outpatient clinic. All participants were subjected to clinical examination, laboratory investigations with assessment of serum levels of 14-3-3 Eta protein, and ophthalmologic investigations to assess disease activity, eye affection, and its relation to 14-3-3 Eta protein level, and other disease variables among those patients.

Results: a statistically significant difference was estimated between the two patients' groups and controls regarding 14-3-3 Eta protein level. 14-3-3 Eta protein has a significant positive correlation with disease activity in JIA and RA patients. Also, RA patients with clinical uveitis had higher levels of the 14-3-3 Eta protein, while there were no significant differences among JIA patients with or without uveitis.

Conclusion: 14-3-3 Eta protein is a potential diagnostic biomarker in early detection of uveitis in RA patients, as it is higher in patients versus controls especially those with uveitis with a cut-off point 57.5, at which patients must have a thorough eye examination to receive early intervention and, to prevent complications, while it doesn't have the same role in JIA patients. 14-3-3 Eta protein is a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for JIA and RA being correlated with disease activity.