journal: Rheumatology and Immunology Research

Open Access Published since September 20, 2020

Rheumatology and Immunology Research

ISSN: 2719-4523

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Rheumatology and Immunology Research is the official journal of the National Clinical Research Center for Dermatological and Rheumatologic Diseases of China (NCRC-DRD). It is committed to publishing scientific work related to rheumatology and immunology from a global perspective, particularly from China and the Asia-Pacific area.

RIR is a peer reviewed, open-access scientific journal that focus on rheumatology and immunology aspects of clinical practice and the development of basic science. All papers will be published both online and in print. We aim to spread and teach new concepts, progress and changes in rheumatological and immunological aspects of clinical practice and basic science among health care professionals, so changes and improvement of clinical practice will finally benefit our patients.

The topics covered by RIR include rheumatological and immunological aspects of clinical practice, basic science and translational science of biomedicine.

The types of articles include: Original research, Concise reporting of Original research, Reviews, Editorials, Cases, Images, Letters and Correspondence, Commentary, Recommendations and Criteria.

The mission of RIR is to provide a platform to share the best research in clinical, basic and translational medicine with our physicians. We publish original research that can elucidate mechanisms of disease or improve clinical practice in rheumatology, immunology and related sciences. In addition, we will consider publishing Concise reports of original research, reviews, editorials, cases, images, letters and correspondence, recommendations and criteria in rheumatology and immunology that will be of interest to medical professionals.

We aim that, with your contribution and the efforts of the editorial board, RIR will become one of the most respected and widely read medical journals in rheumatology and immunology.

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Volume 3 Issue 2

June 2022

Editorial

Open Access July 6, 2022

The contribution of imaging beyond clinical diagnosis, the ochronosis and synovio-entheseal complex examples

Giovanni Pacini, Marco Matucci Cerinic

Page range: 51-53

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Review

Open Access July 6, 2022

Differential diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis from musculoskeletal ultrasound view

Yasushi Kondo, Yuko Kaneko, Tsutomu Takeuchi

Page range: 54-60

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Abstract

Diagnostic imaging in rheumatology has evolved over the centuries, and novel imaging modalities, including musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are being widely used in the 21st century. With the increase in availability of molecular target–specific therapies, including biologic agents and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, the therapeutic outcome of inflammatory arthritis has changed, and early and accurate diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatic diseases has become more important. Given this situation, MSUS, which is a portable, convenient, noninvasive, and cost-effective imaging technique, plays an important role in the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases. MSUS can be used to detect subclinical inflammation and to accurately determine the distribution of joint involvement and inflammation sites in each joint. Definitive diagnosis for patients with early arthritis should be made after noting their history and performing clinical examination, laboratory testing, and additional procedures. However, MSUS is an extension of physical examination and it can provide a further opportunity and motivation to consider differential diagnoses rather than a conclusive diagnosis. This review aims to describe the usefulness of MSUS in differential diagnoses of the phenotype of early inflammatory arthritis.

Open Access July 6, 2022

Stem cell therapy in lupus

Xinran Yuan, Lingyun Sun

Page range: 61-68

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Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disease with multiple organs and systems involved such as the kidney, lung, brain and the hematopoietic system. Although increased knowledge of the disease pathogenesis has improved treatment options, current immunosuppressive therapies have failed to prevent disease relapse in more than half of treated patients. Thus, the cell replacement therapy approach that aims to overcome adverse events of traditional treatment and improve recovery rate of refractory SLE is considered as an alternative treatment option. A large number of animal studies and clinical trials have shown stem cell therapy to be a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of SLE. Since the first transplantation into human patients, several stem cell types have been applied in this field, including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this review, we overview different cell sources of stem cells and applications of the stem cell therapy for treatment of SLE, as well as the comparison between HSCs transplantation (HSCT) and MSCs transplantation (MSCT).

Open Access July 6, 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease: focus on enteropathic arthritis and therapy

Amir Barkhodari, Kate E. Lee, Min Shen, Bo Shen, Qingping Yao

Page range: 69-76

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Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and other organs. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of IBD, particularly in the context of enteropathic arthritis and its therapeutic advances. Patients with IBD present with intestinal and extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs). Enteropathic arthritis or arthritis associated with IBD (Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]) is the most common EIM and can involve both peripheral and axial joints with some overlaps. Furthermore, peripheral arthritis can be divided into two subcategories. Due to its varied inflammatory presentations and association with NOD2 mutations, CD can mimic other autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. Differential diagnosis should be extended to include another NOD2-associated disease, Yao syndrome. Therapy for IBD entails a myriad of medications and procedures, including various biologics targeting different pathways and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. A better understanding of the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of each drug aids in proper selection of more effective treatment for IBD and its associated inflammatory arthritis.

Original Article

Open Access July 6, 2022

Low-energy pulsed electromagnetic field therapy reduces pain in fibromyalgia: A randomized single-blind controlled pilot study

Massimo Giovale, Lucia Novelli, Luca Persico, Francesca Motta, Stefano Rampoldi, Rossana Galli, Patrizia Monteforte, Marica Doveri, Gerolamo Bianchi, Carlo Selmi, Luigi Carlo Bottaro

Page range: 77-83

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Abstract

Objectives Fibromyalgia symptoms have a significant impact on the quality of life and respond poorly to medications. It has been hypothesized that the use of low-energy pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) induces neuroprotective effects that may interfere with pain perception. We explored the efficacy of PEMF in patients affected by fibromyalgia. Methods Twenty-one females (median age 59 years, interquartile range [IQR] 16.5) affected by fibromyalgia were randomized to receive pulsed electromagnetic field-triple energy pain treatment (PEMF-TEPT) or placebo at T0 and at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), widespread pain index (WPI), visual analog score (VAS) pain, symptom severity (SS) scale, and short form 36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire have been evaluated. Results Patients in the PEMF-TEPT group had a significantly higher reduction of WPI compared to placebo (mean difference −12.90 ± standard deviation [SD] 5.32 vs. −1.91 ± 4.55, difference in difference [DD] of −10.99; P < 0.001), of SS score (−4.10 ± 4.85 vs. −2.00 ± 2.32; DD = −2.1; P < 0.05), of VAS pain (−48 ± 30.75 vs. −16.82 ± 23.69; DD = −31.18; P < 0.01). They also reported a higher improvement of FIQ and SF-36, albeit not reaching statistical significance. Conclusion In our pilot controlled study, PEMF-TEPT appeared to be safe and improved fibromyalgia symptoms.

Open Access July 6, 2022

The relationship between smoking, Raynaud's phenomenon, digital ulcers, and skin thickness in the Waikato Systemic Sclerosis cohort

Cherumi Silva, Kamal K. Solanki, Douglas H.N. White

Page range: 84-89

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Abstract

Objectives Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a heterogeneous complex autoimmune connective tissue disease with variable presentation as a consequence of multisystem involvement. One of the key features of SSc is Raynaud's phenomenon along with vascular endothelial dysfunction that leads to digital ulcers (DUs). Raynaud's tends to be triggered by decreasing thermal gradient exposure, while stress and smoking also play a role. DUs arising as a consequence of severe Raynaud's and vasculopathy are a major cause of morbidity and disability in SSc. We set out to determine the relationship between smoking, Raynaud's phenomenon, DUs, and skin thickness in our Waikato Systemic Sclerosis cohort. Methods The Waikato Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) database was used to extract data. Variables collected included demographics, age of diagnosis, SSc subtypes, age at first non-Raynaud's phenomenon, medications used for treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon or ulcers, and maximal modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). Raynaud's phenomenon and finger DUs (severity for each over the past week and since diagnosis) and a Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (SHAQ) visual analog 10 cm scale were collected. The lead rheumatologist completed a physician's assessment of Raynaud's and the disease severity questionnaire. Results Of the cohort of 143 patients, 100 patients were eligible to complete the questionnaires. Seventy-five patients returned completed questionnaires. Of these, the majority were female (88%), 52 (69.3%) had limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc), 17 (22.7%) had diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), and 6 (8%) had an overlap syndrome. Thirty-six (48%) had a smoking history (in the time frame of collection of serial data). Mean ± standard deviation (SD) pack-years smoked were 17.11 ± 15.29 years. Thirty-five participants had a history of DUs, with a median of 4 DU (range 1–20). Of 17 patients with dcSSc, 12 (70.6%) had ulcers in comparison with 17 of 52 (32.7%) patients with lcSSc. There was a significant relationship between SSc subtype and the number with ulcers ( X 2 = 10.1, P = 0.007). There was also a significant relationship between physician severity of Raynaud's and presence of ulcers ( t = 6.1, P < 0.001), which was not evident between patients’ severity of Raynaud's and presence of ulcers ( t = 1.9, P = 0.06). On the SHAQ score, smokers had significantly worse Raynaud's phenomenon over the prior week ( t = 3.08, P = 0.03) and were more likely to note DUs over the preceding week, although the latter was not statistically significant ( t = 1.95, P = 0.055). There was no association between smoking and skin thickness as measured by mRSS ( r = 0.23, P = 0.19). Conclusion Our study demonstrates that smokers have had worse Raynaud's phenomenon over the past week and they were also more likely to note DUs with a trend toward significance but not statistically significant most likely due to our small sample size. Our study also demonstrated that patients with dcSSc had more ulcers in comparison with lcSSc. This study justifies physicians strongly recommending smoking cessation in patients with SSc.

Case Report

Open Access July 6, 2022

Intra-abdominal mass, obstructive jaundice, and eosinophilia

Li Wang, Guizhi Zhang, Wenjie Zheng, Xinping Tian, Mengtao Li, Xiaofeng Zeng, Fengchun Zhang

Page range: 90-92

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Abstract

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis(EGPA) is a systemic vasculitis syndrome associated with eosinophilia, which most commonly involves the lung, skin, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, and peripheral nervous systems (PNS). We report a case of a 48-year-old man presented as obstructive jaundice caused by intra-abdominal mass, and he also had elevated peripheral eosinophils. The pathological features of the mass included vasculitis and eosinophils infiltration. At first he was diagnosed as EGPA and treated by glucocorticoid and cyclophosphamide. The patient did not get complete response after six months and then the repeat biopsy proved that he had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Images

Open Access July 6, 2022

Recurrent non-stroke central neurologic manifestations in primary antiphospholipid syndrome

Hanxiao You, Jiuliang Zhao, Mengtao Li, Xiaofeng Zeng

Page range: 93-94

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Volume 3 (2022)

Volume 2 (2021)

Volume 1 (2020)

Issue 1

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Editorial

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Xiaofeng Zeng, MD
Professor of Medicine
Director, Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Director, National Clinical Research Center for National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases
Pre-President, China Rheumatology Association
President, Rheumatology and Immunology Physician Committee, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Beijing, China

CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Antonio La Cava, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine
Director, FOCIS Center of Excellence at UCLA
Director, UCLA Lupus Research Laboratory
Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), LA, USA

Robert J. Moots, MD, PhD
Professor of Rheumatology, University of Liverpool
Associate Medical Director, Research and Development, Aintree University Hospital
Director, Integrated Clinical Academic Training
Head, EULAR Centre of Excellence
Director, Centre of Excellence for Behçet’s Syndrome, Liverpool
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Clinical Sciences Centre, Liverpool, UK

EXECUTIVE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Xinping Tian, MD, MS
Professor of Medicine
Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital
General Secretary, Rheumatology and Immunology Physician Committee, Chinese Medical Doctor Association
Associate General Secretary, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases
China Rheumatology Association, Beijing, China

ASSOCIATE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Marco Matucci Cerinic, MD
Professor of Medicine
Division of Rheumatology AOUC, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence
Editor-in-chief of Journal of Scleroderma & Related Diseases, Associated editor-in-chief of Arthritis Research & Therapy and Clinical & Experimental Rheumatology, Florence, Italy

Mengtao Li, MD
Professor of Medicine
Vice Director, Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital
General Secretary, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases
General Secretary, China Rheumatology Association
President, Beijing Rheumatology Association, Beijing, China

Yan Zhao, MD
Professor of Medicine
President, China Rheumatology Association
Pre-President, Beijing Rheumatology Association
Pre-Vice Director, Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Vice Director, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases
Vice President, Rheumatology and Immunology Physician Committee, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Beijing, China

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Low Hsiu Ling Andrea
Head of the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology
Singapore General Hospital
Singapore

Esteban Ballestar
Group leader, Epigenetics and Immune Disease
Josep Carreras Research Institute (IJC)
Barcelona, Spain

Xin Chen
Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences
University of Macau Macau SAR, China

Lisa Christopher-Stine
Professor of Medicine and Neurology
Director, Johns Hopkins Myositis Center
Department of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University
MD, USA

Cong-Qiu Chu
Professor of Medicine
Internal Medicine/Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA

Debashish Danda, MD, DM, FRCP, FACR, FAMS
Founder & Professor, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Christian Medical College
President, Indian Rheumatology Association
President Elect, APLAR, Vellore, India

Ciccia Francesco
Professor of Immunology
University degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli,
Naples, Italy. Head Section of Rheumatology, AOU Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy

Ghita Harifi, MD
Specialist Rheumatologist
Dr Humeira Badsha Medical Center – Emirates Hospital Group
Dubai, UAE

Cheng Yew Kuang
Consultant
Allergist & Rheumatologist. Allergy, Arthritis & Rheumatism Clinic. Farrer Park Medical Centre, Singapore

Kong-Peng Lam
Professor
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN)
Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), Singapore

Chak Sing Lau, MD
Clinical Professor
Chair of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Daniel C K Yu Professorship in Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Professor, Chair of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Head, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Yi Liu
Professor of Medicine, Director of Dept of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital of Sichuan
University, Chengdu, China

Liwei Lu
Professor of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Chi Chiu Mok, MD
Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China

Wan Fai Ng
Newcastle University and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Director, NIHR Newcastle Clinical Research Facility
Newcastle, UK

Michelle Petri, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Department of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University, MD, USA

Babur Salim
Associate Professor
Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Linyun Sun
Vice President, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School
Director, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Drum Tower Hospital and professor of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China

Tsutomu Takeuchi, MD
Professor of Rheumatology
Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Lai-Shan Tam, MD
Professor of Medicine
Head, Division of Rheumatology
Professor, Department of Medicine & Therapeutics
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Wen-Chan Tsai, MD
Professor of Medicine
Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital
President of Taiwan Rheumatology Association, Taiwan, China

Li Wang, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Vice President, Young Generation Rheumatologist Committee, Beijing Rheumatology Association, Beijing, China

Qian Wang, MD
Professor of Medicine
Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Associate General Secretary, Rheumatology and Immunology Physician Committee, Chinese Medical Doctor Association
General Secretary, Beijing Rheumatology Association, Beijing, China

Yanhong Wang, MS
Associate Researcher, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

James Cheng-Chung Wei, MD, PhD
Professor, Institute of Medicine
Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology
Director, Chinese Medicine Clinical Trial Center
Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, China

Priscilla Ching Han WONG
Associate Consultant
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics
J Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China

Huji Xu
Professor of Medicine, Director, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China

Qingping Yao, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine
Zhang Family Chair in Rheumatology
Chief, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology
Director, Center of Autoinflammatory Diseases
Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Renaissance School of Medicine, NY, USA

Xiaoming Zhang, PhD
Professor of Immunology
Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Deputy director, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai, China

Jiuliang Zhao
Associate Professor of Medicine, Director Assistant, Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Vice-President, Chinese Rheumatology Association Youth Committee
Vice-President, Chinese Association of Rheumatology & Immunology Physician (CARIP) Youth Committee, Beijing, China

Wenxuan Zhong
Professor, Statistics Department, PI of Big-data analytics research Lab, University of Georgia, GA, USA

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Type: Journal
Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter Open Access
First published: September 20, 2020
Publication Frequency: 4 Issues per Year

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Rheumatology and Immunology Research

The contribution of imaging beyond clinical diagnosis, the ochronosis and synovio-entheseal complex examples

Differential diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis from musculoskeletal ultrasound view

Abstract

Stem cell therapy in lupus

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease: focus on enteropathic arthritis and therapy

Abstract

Low-energy pulsed electromagnetic field therapy reduces pain in fibromyalgia: A randomized single-blind controlled pilot study

Abstract

The relationship between smoking, Raynaud's phenomenon, digital ulcers, and skin thickness in the Waikato Systemic Sclerosis cohort

Abstract

Intra-abdominal mass, obstructive jaundice, and eosinophilia

Abstract

Recurrent non-stroke central neurologic manifestations in primary antiphospholipid syndrome