Potential clinical biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis with an omic approach
ConclusionA biomarker is a measurable indicator of some, biochemical, physiological, or morphological condition; evaluable at a molecular, biochemical, or cellular level. Biomarkers work as indicators of physiological or pathological processes, or as a result of a therapeutic management. In the last five years, new biomarkers have been identified, especially the omics, which are those that proceed from the investigation of genes (genomics), metabolites (metabolomics), and proteins (proteomics). These biomarkers contribute to the physician choosing the best therapeutic option in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. (Source: ...
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - May 31, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Effect of janus kinase inhibitors and methotrexate combination on malignancy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
ConclusionThe adjunction of JAKi to MTX is not associated with an increased risk of malignancy when compared to MTX alone. There is no increased risk of SAE and deaths when compared to MTX alone in patients with RA. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - April 28, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Short-chain fatty acids and intestinal inflammation in multiple sclerosis: modulation of female susceptibility by microbial products?
ConclusionsIn our cohort of MS patients, we found no evidence of an active intestinal inflammation. Yet, the vast majority of the investigated MS patients was under immunotherapy which might have affected the outcome measures. The sex-associated difference in fecal SCFA concentrations might at least partially explain female predominance in MS. Large-scale longitudinal studies including drug-na ïve MS patients are required to determine the role of SCFAs in MS and to distinguish between disease-immanent effects and those caused by the therapeutic regime. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - April 7, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Endogenous mitochondrial double ‐stranded RNA is not an activator of the type I interferon response in human pancreatic beta cells
ConclusionsThese data suggest that accumulation of endogenous mtdsRNA following degradosome knockdown depends on the proliferative capacity of the cells and is not a mediator of the type I IFN response in human pancreatic beta cells. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - March 27, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Sustained clinical remission under infliximab/rituximab combination therapy in a patient with granulomatosis with polyangiitis
ConclusionsThis case suggests that the individual use of a combination of rituximab and infliximab may be a promising strategy for the treatment in the long term of refractory orbital GPA. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - March 6, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

The antinuclear antibody HEp-2 indirect immunofluorescence assay: a survey of laboratory performance, pattern recognition and interpretation
ConclusionsOur study demonstrated significant accuracy for all participants in identifying the categorical nuclear staining as well as traditional pattern assignments for nuclear patterns. However, there was less consistency in reporting cytoplasmic and mitotic patterns, with implications for assigning competencies and training for clinical laboratory personnel. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - February 27, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Transformation of fibroblast ‐like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis; from a friend to foe
AbstractSwelling and the progressive destruction of articular cartilage are major characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a systemic autoimmune disease that directly affects the synovial joints and often causes severe disability in the affected positions. Recent studies have shown that type B synoviocytes, which are also called fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), as the most commonly and chiefly resident cells, play a crucial role in early-onset and disease progression by producing various mediators. During the pathogenesis of RA, the FLSs ’ phenotype is altered, and represent invasive behavior similar to that obs...
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - February 5, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Genetic and molecular biology of systemic lupus erythematosus among Iranian patients: an overview
ConclusionsApart from the reported cytokines and chemokines, it was interestingly observed that the apoptosis related genes and non-coding RNAs were the most reported genetic abnormalities associated with SLE progression among Iranians. This review clarifies the genetics and molecular biology of SLE progression among Iranian cases. Moreover, this review paves the way of introducing an efficient panel of genetic markers for the early detection and better management of SLE in this population. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - January 30, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

ANCA-negative microscopic polyangiitis with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage masquerading as congestive heart failure
ConclusionThis case serves as an important clinical reminder to consider AAV even in those with negative ANCA serologies and a high suspicion for pulmonary-renal syndrome. It also demonstrates the high morbidity in cases of diagnostic delay and inadequate treatment. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - January 6, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Serum sCTLA-4 level is not associated with type 1 diabetes or the coexistence of autoantibodies in children and adolescent patients from the southern region of Saudi Arabia
ConclusionDespite the previous findings of high sCTLA-4 levels in autoimmune diseases, serum levels of sCTLA-4 are not significantly different between T1DM patients and non-diabetic adolescents. Furthermore, we did not observe any association with autoantibody presence, glycemic control, or disease duration. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - December 3, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Clinical comparisons between previously diagnosed SLE and newly diagnosed SLE by kidney biopsy
ConclusionsNearly half of the biopsy-proven lupus nephritis cases in this study were patients with newly diagnosed SLE. Patients with previously diagnosed SLE and newly diagnosed SLE by kidney biopsy had clinical differences. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - December 2, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Current laboratory and clinical practices in reporting and interpreting anti-nuclear antibody indirect immunofluorescence (ANA IIF) patterns: results of an international survey
ConclusionThis survey confirms that the major nuclear and cytoplasmic ANA IIF patterns are considered clinically important. There is no unanimity on classifying DFS, rods and rings and polar/Golgi-like as a competent pattern and on reporting cytoplasmic patterns as ANA IIF positive. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - November 23, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Castleman disease and SLE in a G6PD-deficient Marfan patient: a case report and literature review
We report a 15-year-old Caucasian G6PD deficient Marfan male patient, who presented with tonic –clonic seizures, fever, a hemolytic episode, and general symptoms. After the discovery of hepatosplenomegaly, malar rash, and painless lymphadenopathy, further testing diagnosed a multifocal Castleman disease of the hyaline vascular subtype and systemic lupus erythematosus with lupus nephritis th at got 35 points on the 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria. G6PD deficiency, SLE& Castleman disease, and seizures were handled medically with eventual improvement in the patient ’s condition.Discussion and conclusionIt is extremely rare to...
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - November 3, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Association between autoimmune diseases and COVID-19 as assessed in both a test-negative case –control and population case–control design
ConclusionsLack of availability of sound scientific knowledge inevitably lead unreliable news to spread over the population, preventing people to disentangle them form reliable information. Even if additional studies are needed to replicate and strengthen our results, these findings represent initial evidence to derive recommendations based on actual data for subjects with autoimmune diseases. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - October 5, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research

Human placental extract attenuates neurological symptoms in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis-a putative approach in MS disease?
ConclusionsOur findings demonstrated the administration of human placental extract could significantly attenuate the neurological symptoms in the EAE model of MS in part through modulating the serum levels of IL-23 and IL-27 and enhancing neuroprotection and myelin repair. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - October 3, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research