Rheumatology
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To translate the foot impact scale for RA (FIS-RA) to the dutch target language and to evaluate its internal construct validity using rasch analysis. ⋯ A Dutch language version of the FIS-RA questionnaire was successfully developed using Rasch analysis. Subscales for impairment/footwear and activity/participation showed good construct validity and were unidimensional.
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To characterize the in vitro binding and effector function properties of CD20-directed small modular immunopharmaceutical (SMIP) 2LM20-4, and to compare its in vivo B-cell depletion activity with the mutated 2LM20-4 P331S [no in vitro complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC)] and rituximab in cynomolgus monkeys. ⋯ SMIP 2LM20-4, which binds to a fraction of CD20 molecules as compared with rituximab, has more potent in vitro CDC, and more potent and sustained B-cell depletion activity in cynomolgus monkeys. Our work has considerable clinical relevance since it provides novel insights related to the emerging B-cell depletion therapies in autoimmune diseases.
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Multicenter Study
Pregnancies in systemic necrotizing vasculitides: report on 12 women and their 20 pregnancies.
To describe pregnancies of women with systemic necrotizing vasculitides (SNVs), i.e. PAN, WG, Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), followed over the past 15 years at four French centres. ⋯ Pregnant SNV patients should be monitored closely, because miscarriages and pre-term births are not uncommon. Pregnancy does not seem to have a major impact on vasculitis activity. However, life-threatening manifestations can occur, especially in patients with vasculitis-related cardiac or renal damage.