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"All forms of arthritis can make life difficult for people because of the pain, swelling, or stiffness in a joint or joints, and because of difficulties in getting about," investigators explained.

In a recent study, DLE patients responded well to topical niacinamide 2% and 4% as adjuvant therapy, with strong results and few side effects.

The January 2023 rheumatology month in review highlights a recent study that indicated an increased risk of hospitalization and death among patients with gout and COVID-19, the expansion of research evaluating adalimumab biosimilars, and trends in fibromyalgia.

Although no incidence trends were observed in a German cohort, the data indicate patients with ILD-RA have received more biological/targeted synthetic DMARDs in recent years.

A total of 608 patients from an early RA cohort that had baseline radiographs of hands and feet, as well as at 1, 2, 5, and 8 years, were included in the long-term study.

DMARDs are the most commonly used treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis but have been linked with pneumonia and other pulmonary infections.

A meta-analysis with data from more than 30 published articles provides an overview of associations between calprotectin levels and disease activity, treatment response, and inflammation among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

"Changes in the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) seem to be associated with changes in objectively assessed strength and physical function, suggesting HAQ captures the patient impact of sarcopenia-related disability,” investigators noted.

The association was generally consistent across the subgroups of age, sex, use of systemic corticosteroids, and comorbidity levels in the population-based cohort.

Recent phase 3 clinical trial data explains response patterns of rheumatoid arthritis patients to baracitinib.

The use of cannabis was associated with more severe levels of pain, as well as more severe disease activity.

A study of health care professionals' opinions of the ease of use and utility of the SmartClic/ClicWise autoinjector provides insight into the use of the device for patients with rheumatic conditions.

General practitioners and rheumatologists were viewed as sources of information that led to positive views toward vaccinations, while internet chatrooms, social media, and mainstream media were seen as sources of information that led to negative views.

The syndrome, although rare, has a high mortality rate, with approximately half of patients dying within 5 years of diagnosis.

“Disease-related malnutrition is strongly associated with morbidity, disability, short- and long-term mortality, and impaired disease recovery," investigators explained.

P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitors have been a focal point for inflammatory diseases but the lack of efficacy in treating rheumatoid arthritis led to examination of the MK2 pathway.

The multicenter superiority trial evaluated patients with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis and a history of pain and decreased knee function using patient-tailored exercise programs.

Secukinumab therapy was associated with inhibition of joint tenderness and swelling, but high baseline radiographic damage was associated with reduced likelihood of full inhibition.

New survey data from Europe show how factors of the pandemics impacted long-term rheumatoid arthritis management.

Single and dual-task conditions were implemented to determine the reliability of the 3MBWT alongside the Timed Up and Go test in assessing balance-related fibromyalgia symptoms.

New research has helped to validate a predictive design model created to identify those most at risk for developing fibromyalgia.

The findings visualized the increased amount of research regarding acupuncture for fibromyalgia treatment, which may eventually boost efficacy, reduce cost, and promte future development in the field.

Factors including age and disease activity influenced the selection of JAK inhibitors over biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for RA patients beginning therapy.

The 2-phase study analyzed the association of plasma vitamin D levels with clinical phenotype, serology, and disease variables in a large cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus living in India.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 studies indicates a favorable effect of TNF inhibitors on surrogate markers for CVD risk.

“Despite the multiple benefits offered by physical activity (PA), the proportion of older adults meeting PA guidelines is between 27% to 44%," investigators explained.

Anxiety and depression can limit engagement with healthcare or treatment leading to later diagnosis, poor treatment adherence, and poor disease control with associated negative sequelae.

Each 1-SD increment in HDL-C level was associated with a 14% higher risk of fractures in cohort study of approximately 16,000 community-dwelling healthy adults.

Results of the PREVENT CLOT study indicate use of aspirin was as effective as low-molecular-weight heparin for reducing incidence of mortality in patients hospitalized with a traumatic fracture.

Improved patient-reported outcomes were observed in patients who used mind-body interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and yoga, and were effective for managing IBS and fibromyalgia.