Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.1
3.0
Journals
JPM
Special Issues
Current Trends and Future Challenges in Rheumatology
share announcement

Current Trends and Future Challenges in Rheumatology

A special issue of Journal of Personalized Medicine (ISSN 2075-4426). This special issue belongs to the section "Personalized Therapy and Drug Delivery".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2024 | Viewed by 2608

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francesca Bandinelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Rheumatology Department, Usl Tuscany Center, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Via di Torre Galli 3, 50143 Florence, Italy
Interests: connective disease; vasculitis; rheumatoid arthritis; spondyloarhtitis; ultrasound; rare disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Special Issue, “Current Trends and Future Challenges in Rheumatology [JPM]”.

There is a need for personalized and modern strategies in prediction, early diagnosis, and tailored treatment in arthritis, vasculitis, connective tissue, and rare diseases.

This Special Issue aims to elucidate the most recent innovations in prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment in rheumatology.

There are still many underexplored aspects of the role of constitutive (genes, microbiota, biopsy patterns, and gender) and external (infections and lifestyle) factors in rheumatic diseases. Modern medicine is oriented to develop innovative integrated systems (algorithms and machine learning) and new biomarkers to predict different phenotypes and severity. The COVID-19 pandemic changed many views, introducing “smart medicine” with the implementation of non-face-to-face visits with telemedicine and innovative uses of imaging (ultrasound, magnetic resonance, HRCT, and PET), which had important consequences for the knowledge of emerging underestimated rare diseases.

This Special Issue offers to explore these fascinating aspects:

  1. Identification of predictive and pathogenetic factors, in particular in understated and rare diseases;
  2. Innovative diagnostic tools in histology, laboratory, and imaging biomarkers;
  3. Algorithms, artificial intelligence, and telemedicine;
  4. Tailored emerging new drugs.

We are soliciting original articles, meta-analyses, reviews, and case series related to future challenges in rheumatology.

Dr. Francesca Bandinelli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Personalized Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • rheumatology
  • connective disease
  • vasculitis
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • telemedicine
  • imaging

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 254 KiB  
Article
Efficacy and Safety of Filgotinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Aged over and under 65 Years (ENANTIA-65)
by Maurizio Benucci, Marco Bardelli, Massimiliano Cazzato, Francesca Bartoli, Arianna Damiani, Francesca Li Gobbi, Francesca Bandinelli, Anna Panaccione, Luca Di Cato, Laura Niccoli, Bruno Frediani, Marta Mosca, Serena Guiducci and Fabrizio Cantini
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(7), 712; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14070712 - 2 Jul 2024
Viewed by 445
Abstract
Background: According to recent data, the age of patients could represent an important risk factor for MACE (major cardiovascular events), cancer, and VTE (venous thromboembolism) during treatment with JAK inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis. We decided to analyze the population involved in the ReLiFiRa [...] Read more.
Background: According to recent data, the age of patients could represent an important risk factor for MACE (major cardiovascular events), cancer, and VTE (venous thromboembolism) during treatment with JAK inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis. We decided to analyze the population involved in the ReLiFiRa study by identifying two groups of patients: 65 years or more and less than 65 years of age, evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of 200 mg of Filgotinib daily. Methods: Of the 120 ReLiFiRa patients, 54 were younger than 65 years old and 66 patients were 65 years old or older. The data of efficacy and tolerability of treatment with FIL 200 mg daily for 6 months were evaluated. Results: After six months of treatment, FIL was effective in both age groups. In both groups, the median values of steroid DAS28, CDAI, ERS, PCR, tender joints, swollen joints, VAS, HAQ, PGA patients, and PGA physicians were reduced with a statistically significant difference comparing these values with the baseline values. The difference in age did not impact the effectiveness of the drug. The lipid profile data also did not demonstrate significant differences between the two age groups; however, the comparison between younger vs. older patients’ populations regarding the total cholesterol/HDL ratio and LDL/HDL ratio shows a statistically significant difference: total cholesterol/HDL 3.4 (2.12–3.66) vs. 3.64 (3.36–4.13) p = 0.0004, LDL/HDL 1.9 (0.98–2.25) vs. 2.41 (2.04–2.73) p = 0.0002. There are no differences regarding the atherogenic index (LDL-C/HDL-C) and coronary risk index (TC/HDL-C) compared to baseline. Conclusions: After six months of treatment with FIL, the older population group showed a higher level of LDL and a lower level of HDL compared to younger patients. The atherogenic index and coronary risk index are higher in patients aged ≥ 65 years, but interestingly, there were no differences when comparing the 6-month data to baseline values. This condition highlights the impact of typical risk factors that act independently of treatment with Filgotinib. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges in Rheumatology)
9 pages, 224 KiB  
Article
Prevalence of Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients with Primary Sjogren Syndrome
by Andreina Manfredi, Gianluca Sambataro, Alessandra Rai, Stefania Cerri, Domenico Sambataro, Caterina Vacchi, Giulia Cassone, Carlo Vancheri and Marco Sebastiani
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(7), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14070708 - 1 Jul 2024
Viewed by 521
Abstract
Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) represents a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS). However, the prevalence and behavior of pSS-ILD remains incomplete, largely based on retrospective heterogeneous studies. Aim of the study: To investigate the prevalence of progressive [...] Read more.
Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) represents a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS). However, the prevalence and behavior of pSS-ILD remains incomplete, largely based on retrospective heterogeneous studies. Aim of the study: To investigate the prevalence of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) in a multicentric cohort of patients with pSS-ILD. Additionally, this study explored possible correlations between PPF and clinical, demographic, and serological features of pSS. Methods: All consecutive patients with pSS-ILD were enrolled in a 6-month period. Clinical, demographic, and serological features of pSS, other than functional and radiological lung features, were collected. Clinical behaviors of ILD other than PPF were also investigated. Results: Seventy-two patients were enrolled. A fibrosing ILD pattern was observed in 65.3% of patients with pSS-ILD; among them, 55.3% showed a PPF. The radiologic pattern (NSIP, UIP, or others) was not associated with PPF; in particular, patients with PFF had UIP in 42.3% of cases and NSIP in 57.7%, without a significant difference with respect to the non-PPF group (p = 0.29). Shorter pSS disease duration, higher age at pSS diagnosis, and lower frequency of antinuclear antibodies were correlated with the PPF subgroup. However, multivariate analysis did not confirm these associations. Discussion: This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and characteristics of PPF in pSS-ILD. In particular, UIP and NSIP showed a similar evolution towards PPF in patients with pSS; for NSIP, this behavior was more frequent than for other rheumatic diseases. Our results emphasize the importance of early recognition of PPF for timely intervention and careful follow-up. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and characteristics of PPF in pSS-ILD. In particular, UIP and NSIP showed a similar evolution towards PPF in patients with pSS; for NSIP, this behavior was more frequent than for other rheumatic diseases. Our results emphasize the importance of early recognition of PPF for timely intervention and careful follow-up. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges in Rheumatology)
18 pages, 1721 KiB  
Article
Sequence Alignment between TRIM33 Gene and Human Noncoding RNAs: A Potential Explanation for Paraneoplastic Dermatomyositis
by Rossella Talotta
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(6), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14060628 - 13 Jun 2024
Viewed by 626
Abstract
Background: This computational analysis investigated sequence complementarities between the TRIM33 gene and human noncoding (nc)RNAs and characterized their interactions in the context of paraneoplastic dermatomyositis. Methods: TRIM33 FASTA sequence (NCBI Reference Sequence: NC_000001.11) was used for BLASTN analysis against Human GRCh38 in the [...] Read more.
Background: This computational analysis investigated sequence complementarities between the TRIM33 gene and human noncoding (nc)RNAs and characterized their interactions in the context of paraneoplastic dermatomyositis. Methods: TRIM33 FASTA sequence (NCBI Reference Sequence: NC_000001.11) was used for BLASTN analysis against Human GRCh38 in the Ensembl.org database. Retrieved ncRNAs showing hits to TRIM33 were searched in the GeneCards.org database and further analyzed through RNAInter, QmRLFS-finder, Spliceator, and NcPath enrichment analysis. Results: A total of 100 hits were found, involving the lncRNAs NNT-AS1, MKLN1-AS, LINC01206, and PAXBP1-AS1, whose dysregulation has been reported in either cancer or dermatomyositis. Additionally, the lncRNAs NNT-AS1 and PAXBP1-AS1 may interact with microRNA-142-3p, reducing its expression and increasing that of TRIM33. Sequence complementarity affected only TRIM33 intron 1, possibly resulting in alternatively spliced isoforms of TIF1γ with increased immunogenicity. The results also revealed nucleotide alignment between TRIM33 and the gene regulatory elements of 28 ncRNA genes involved in immune pathways. Conclusions: This pivotal study demonstrates sequence complementarity between TRIM33 and human ncRNAs dysregulated in cancer and dermatomyositis. This scenario may lead to the overproduction of more immunogenic TIF1γ variants in tumors and the stimulation of autoimmunity. Further experimental analyses using targeted methods such as Western blot or Chip-Seq are required to confirm these data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges in Rheumatology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 269 KiB  
Article
Ultrasound Examination of Common Carotid Adventitial Thickness Can Differentiate Takayasu Arteritis and Large Vessel Giant Cell Arteritis
by Pierluigi Macchioni, Giuseppe Germanò, Nicolò Girolimetto, Giulia Klinowski, Letizia Gavioli, Francesco Muratore, Alessia Laneri, Caterina Ricordi, Chiara Marvisi, Luca Magnani and Carlo Salvarani
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(6), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14060627 - 12 Jun 2024
Viewed by 577
Abstract
Pathological studies have demonstrated that the adventitial layer is markedly thickened in Takayasu (TAK) as compared to large vessel giant cell arteritis (LV-GCA). An ultrasound (US) examination of the arterial vessels allows the determination of intima media thickness (IMT) and of adventitial layer [...] Read more.
Pathological studies have demonstrated that the adventitial layer is markedly thickened in Takayasu (TAK) as compared to large vessel giant cell arteritis (LV-GCA). An ultrasound (US) examination of the arterial vessels allows the determination of intima media thickness (IMT) and of adventitial layer thickness (extra media thickness (EMT)). No previous study has evaluated if there are differences in EMT thickness between TAK and LV-GCA. In this cross-sectional retrospective study of stored ultrasound (US) imaging, we have compared common carotid artery (CCA) EMT and IMT in a series of consecutive TAK and LV-GCA patients. US examination CCA IMT and EMT were significantly higher in TAK as compared to LV-GCA. With ROC curve analysis, we have found that an EMT > 0.76 mm has high sensitivity and specificity for TAK CCA examination. The percentage of CCA at EMT > 0.76 mm and the total arterial wall thickening were significantly higher in TAK group examinations. EMT thickness correlated with disease duration and IMT in the TAK group, as well as with the IMT and ESR values in the LV-GCA group. Upon multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors independently associated with TAK CCA were EMT > 0.76 mm and age. No significant variation in IMT and EMT could be demonstrated in subsequent US CCA examinations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends and Future Challenges in Rheumatology)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop