Scandinavian journal of rheumatology
-
Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2014
Meta AnalysisAn updated meta-analysis of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) rs7574865 G/T polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis risk in an Asian population.
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) transmits signals induced by the cytokines interleukin (IL)-12, IL-23, and interferon (IFN)-γ, which play an important role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies have shown conflicting results concerning the association between the rs7574865 G/T polymorphism in the STAT4 gene and RA in an Asian population. We have performed a meta-analysis to examine this relationship. ⋯ Our study indicates that the STAT4 rs7574865 G/T polymorphism was significantly associated with a decreased RA risk in an Asian population.
-
Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2014
Left heart disease: a frequent cause of early pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis, unrelated to elevated NT-proBNP levels or overt cardiac fibrosis but associated with increased levels of MR-proANP and MR-proADM: retrospective analysis of a French Canadian cohort.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) causes mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and left heart disease (LHD) are frequent causes of PH. Therefore, we studied PAH and LHD in early PH. ⋯ Early PH in SSc, like late PH, is heterogeneous and RHC is essential for determining its underlying cause. The most frequent cause of early PH was LHD. Levels of MR-proANP and MR-proADM, but not NT-proBNP, were increased in early LHD-PH, and may be more reliable than NT-proBNP as a biomarker of early PH in this subgroup of patients. Cardiac MRI did not explain LHD-PH. This study is the first to identify a high frequency of LHD in early PH correlating with normal NT-proBNP levels but increased MR-proANP and MR-proADM levels in SSc patients.
-
Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2014
Resistin as a factor in osteoarthritis: synovial fluid resistin concentrations correlate positively with interleukin 6 and matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1 and MMP-3.
Resistin is an adipocytokine that has been related to inflammation and insulin resistance. Following knee injury, elevated levels of resistin have been found in synovial fluid (SF) while very little is known about the role of resistin in osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of the present study was to investigate resistin levels in OA joints and to determine if it is associated with inflammatory and catabolic factors in the joints. ⋯ Resistin is present in OA joints and is released from OA cartilage. Levels of resistin in SF are associated with inflammatory and catabolic factors, suggesting that resistin has a role to play in the pathogenesis of, and as a possible drug target in, OA.
-
Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2014
Comparative StudyMental health indicators and quality of life among individuals with musculoskeletal chronic pain: a nationwide study in Iceland.
Musculoskeletal chronic pain is a costly public health threat. The aim of our study was to investigate mental health indicators, including self-reported symptoms of depression, sleep disruption, stress, well-being, and quality of life (QoL), among men and women with musculoskeletal chronic pain in a general population. ⋯ Our data indicate that individuals with musculoskeletal chronic pain have increased risk of poor mental health and diminished QoL. Further studies are needed on treatment and preventative measures of a decline in mental health among individuals with chronic pain.
-
Scand. J. Rheumatol. · Jan 2014
Comparative StudyPain in primary Sjögren's syndrome: the role of catastrophizing and negative illness perceptions.
Pain is a major factor in health quality in Sjögren's syndrome (SS), but little is known about the factors that contribute to pain severity. Because pain perception has been linked to catastrophizing in other diseases, we assessed subjects with primary SS (pSS) to explore a possible link between pain, illness appraisal, and catastrophizing. ⋯ Pain catastrophizing was a significant predictor of pain severity in both seropositive and seronegative pSS patients. This study suggests that behavioural interventions designed to reduce pain catastrophizing and negative appraisal of illness could be of benefit in pSS patients. Research is needed to test the effect of psycho-educational therapies on key patient-reported outcomes, particularly pain, depression, and fatigue, in pSS.