Polymorphism of the Fractalkine Receptor CX3CR1 and Systemic Sclerosis-associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Fractalkine (FKN) and its receptor CX3CR1 are critical mediators in the vascular and tissue damage of several chronic diseases, including systemic sclerosis (SSc) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Interestingly, the V249I and T280M genetic polymorphisms influence CX3CR1 expression and function. We investigated whether these polymorphisms are associated with PAH secondary to SSc. CX3CR1 genotypes were analyzed by PCR and sequencing in 76 patients with limited SSc and 204 healthy controls. PAH was defined by colorDoppler echocardiography. Homozygosity for 249II as well as the combined presence of 249II and 280MM were significantly more frequent in patients with SSc compared to controls (17 vs 6%, p = 0.0034 and 5 vs 1%, p = 0.0027, respectively). The 249I and 280M alleles were associated with PAH (odd ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-4.75, p = 0.028 and OR 7.37, 95%CI: 2.45-24.60, p = 0.0001, respectively). In conclusion, the increased frequencies of 249I and 280M CX3CR1 alleles in a subgroup of patients with SSc-associated PAH suggest a role for the fractalkine system in the pathogenesis of this condition. Further, the 249I allele might be associated with susceptibility to SSc

A methodology for exploring biomarker – phenotype associations: application to flow cytometry data and systemic sclerosis clinical manifestations

BACKGROUND: This work seeks to develop a methodology for identifying reliable biomarkers of disease activity, progression and outcome through the identification of significant associations between high-throughput flow cytometry (FC) data and interstitial lung disease (ILD) - a systemic sclerosis (SSc, or scleroderma) clinical phenotype which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in SSc. A specific aim of the work involves developing a clinically useful screening tool that could yield accurate assessments of disease state such as the risk or presence of SSc-ILD, the activity of lung involvement and the likelihood to respond to therapeutic intervention. Ultimately this instrument could facilitate a refined stratification of SSc patients into clinically relevant subsets at the time of diagnosis and subsequently during the course of the disease and thus help in preventing bad outcomes from disease progression or unnecessary treatment side effects. The methods utilized in the work involve: (1) clinical and peripheral blood flow cytometry data (Immune Response In Scleroderma, IRIS) from consented patients followed at the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center. (2) machine learning (Conditional Random Forests - CRF) coupled with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to identify subsets of FC variables that are highly effective in classifying ILD patients; and (3) stochastic simulation to design, train and validate ILD risk screening tools. RESULTS: Our hybrid analysis approach (CRF-GSEA) proved successful in predicting SSc patient ILD status with a high degree of success (>82 % correct classification in validation; 79 patients in the training data set, 40 patients in the validation data set). CONCLUSIONS: IRIS flow cytometry data provides useful information in assessing the ILD status of SSc patients. Our new approach combining Conditional Random Forests and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was successful in identifying a subset of flow cytometry variables to create a screening tool that proved effective in correctly identifying ILD patients in the training and validation data sets. From a somewhat broader perspective, the identification of subsets of flow cytometry variables that exhibit coordinated movement (i.e., multi-variable up or down regulation) may lead to insights into possible effector pathways and thereby improve the state of knowledge of systemic sclerosis pathogenesis. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12859-015-0722-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Australian data do not support current Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme criteria for use of tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis

On the basis of local data, we write in support of the conclusions of Smith and Ahern that current Pharmaceu- tical Benefits Scheme (PBS) criteria for tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are not evidence-based. 1 As a prerequisite to the appropriate use of biological therapy in AS, three aspects of the disease need to be defined: (i) diagnosis, (ii) activity and (iii) therapeutic failure (Table 1)...

Role of contextual factors in health-related quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis.

BACKGROUND: In the bio-psycho-social model of health, the role of contextual factors, either environmental or personal, is recognised. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a number of contextual factors on self-reported disease-specific and generic health-related quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: 522 patients with AS from Canada and Australia completed a postal questionnaire including sociodemographic variables, disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI)) function (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)) health-related quality of life (ASQoL and EQ-5D) and Rheumatoid Attitudes Index Helplessness Subscale. The contribution of contextual factors (nationality, ethnicity, marital status, education, employment and helplessness) in addition to functioning and disability (BASDAI and BASFI) to health-related quality of life was analysed using multivariate regression analyses. Interactions between contextual variables were explored. RESULTS: Contextual factors explained 37% and 47% of the variance in EQ-5D and ASQoL, respectively. Helplessness and employment were the most important contextual factors. Their role was independent of the strong effect of disease activity (BASDAI) and functional limitations (BASFI). When ASQoL was the outcome, an interaction was seen between employment and education and when EQ-5D was the outcome, an interaction was seen between helplessness and education. CONCLUSIONS: Of the contextual factors explored in this study, helplessness and employment had an important and independent contribution to health-related quality of life. In patients with lower education, the effect of not being employed on ASQoL and the effect of helplessness on EQ-5D were stronger. Contextual factors, especially helplessness and employment, should receive more attention when interpreting data on health-related quality of life

Evidence-based recommendations for the monitoring and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis: results from the Australian 3E initiative in rheumatology

Aim: To develop a set of Australian recommendations for the monitoring and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) through systematic literature review combined with the opinion of practicing rheumatologists. Methods: A set of eight questions, four in each domain of monitoring and treatment, were formulated by voting and the Delphi method. The results of a systematic literature review addressing each question were presented to the 23 participants of the Australian 3E meeting. All participants were clinical rheumatologists experienced in the daily management of AS. Results: After three rounds of breakout sessions to discuss the findings of the literature review, a set of recommendations was finalized after discussion and voting. The category of evidence and strength of recommendation were determined for each proposal. The level of agreement among participants was excellent (mean 84%, range 64–100%). Conclusions: The 12 recommendations developed from evidence and expert opinion provide guidance for the daily management of AS patients. For most recommendations, we found a paucity of supportive evidence in the literature highlighting the need for additional clinical studies

Healthcare access and attitudes towards telehealth during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic among an Australian cohort with inflammatory arthritis

ommunity restrictions due to COVID-19 have changed healthcare, including increased telehealth use. During the early pandemic phase, a cohort of Australian patients with inflammatory arthritis was surveyed. Self-reported access to healthcare was maintained and physical health was more likely to be self-rated poorly than mental health. There was a high level of support for telehealth during and after the pandemic

Evidence-based recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis: systematic literature search of the 3E Initiative in Rheumatology involving a broad panel of experts and practising rheumatologists

Objective. Recommendations and/or guidelines represent a popular way of integrating evidence-based medicine into clinical practice. The 3E Initiatives is a multi-national effort to develop recommendations for the management of rheumatic diseases, which involves a large number of experts combined with practising rheumatologists addressing specific questions relevant to clinical practice