Rheumatology
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To investigate characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing acupuncture treatment for osteoarthritic pain under conditions of routine care in the framework of statutory health insurance in Germany. ⋯ In this study, patients with chronic pain due to osteoarthritis reported clinically relevant improvements after acupuncture treatment. Due to the uncontrolled design and the high proportion of patients lost to follow-up, the study findings must be interpreted cautiously.
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To examine the prevalence, clinical associations and pathogenic roles of autoantibodies to CD40 ligand (CD40L) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ⋯ Anti-CD40L autoantibody is associated with thrombocytopenia but not thromboembolism. Our findings are potentially useful in understanding the complex roles of CD40L in the pathophysiology of thrombosis and haemostasis as well as the thromboembolic complications that occur during treatment with anti-CD40L humanized antibody.