The performance of different classification criteria sets for spondyloarthritis in the worldwide ASAS-COMOSPA study

Background: In this study, we sought to compare the performance of spondyloarthritis (SpA) classification criteria sets in an international SpA cohort with patients included from five continents around the world. Methods: Data from the (ASAS) COMOrbidities in SPondyloArthritis (ASAS-COMOSPA) study were used. ASAS-COMOSPA is a multinational, cross-sectional study with consecutive patients diagnosed with SpA by rheumatologists worldwide. Patients were classified according to the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG), modified European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (mESSG), Amor, modified Amor, Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA), ASAS peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) and ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) criteria. Overlap between the classification criteria sets was assessed for patients with and without back pain. Furthermore, patients fulfilling different arms of the ASAS axSpA criteria (imaging arm, clinical arm, both arms) were compared on the presence of SpA features. Results: A total of 3942 patients (5 continents, 26 countries) were included. The mean age was 43.6 years, 65.0% were male, 56.2% were human leucocyte antigen B27-positive and 64.4% had radiographic sacroiliitis (based on modified New York criteria). Of the patients, 85.5% were classified by the ASAS SpA criteria (87.7% ASAS axSpA, 12.3% ASAS pSpA). Fulfilment of the Amor, ESSG and CASPAR criteria was present in 83.3%, 88.4% and 21.6% of patients, respectively. Of the patients with back pain (n = 3227), most were classified by all three of Amor, ESSG and ASAS axSpA criteria (71.4%). Patients fulfilling the imaging arm and the clinical arm of the ASAS axSpA criteria had similar presentations of SpA features. In patients without back pain, overlap between classification criteria sets was seen, although to a lesser extent. Conclusions: Most patients with a clinical diagnosis of axial SpA in the worldwide ASAS-COMOSPA study fulfil several classification criteria sets, and a substantial overlap between different criteria sets is seen, which suggests a high level of credibility of the criteria. Large inter-regional differences in the fulfilment of classification criteria were not found. Patients fulfilling the clinical arm were remarkably similar to patients fulfilling the imaging arm with respect to the presence of most SpA features

Diseño de una matriz de evaluación de las competencias en el practicum de las titulaciones de la facultad de derecho y economía y de la escuela politécnica superior

En este trabajo presentamos el resultado de un proyecto de innovación docente reali-zado en la Universidad de Lleida. La Universidad de Lleida es la única universidad cata-lana que ha establecido en su Plan Director de Docencia que sus estudiantes deben realizar de forma obligatoria dentro de los estudios de grado un periodo de prácticas. Este hecho implica la necesidad de disponer de una propuesta de evaluación por com-petencias de la materia Prácticum mediante una matriz de evaluación, con el fin de objetivizar el proceso de evaluación y garantizar la formación integral del estudiante de acuerdo al perfil académico-profesional de cada titulación.La principal aportación que hace nuestro equipo ha sido el diseño de una herramienta de trabajo (rúbrica) práctica y completa para la evaluación del Prácticum que contem-pla: diferentes momentos de evaluación, diferentes agentes evaluadores y facilita el cálculo de la nota final de la materia

Desarrollo del proceso integral de evaluación por competencias en las prácticas académicas externas de la Facultad de Derecho, Economía y Turismo de la Universitat de Lleida. Esepcial referencia a los infromes de evaluación

This paper presents the outcome of a teaching innovation project conducted by the Faculty of Law and Economics at the University of Lleida. The Internship assessment must be an inclusive process that includes the student's training in two spheres, academic and professional, different and much more complex than other subjects. The assessment process must include different agents, times and several areas of work. The results of this study in evaluating practices are specified in the development of a set of evaluation and qualification documents, from a global section. At the same time our proposal confirms the validity of this instrument for assessing competence together with its utility in promoting the process of teaching and student learning.El presente trabajo muestra el proceso de evaluación diseñado por las autoras así como su reciente  experiencia en la aplicación de la rúbrica para realizar la evaluación integral de las prácticas académicas externas en las titulaciones impartidas en la Facultad de Derecho, Economía y Turismo. La evaluación de las Prácticas  Académicas Externas tiene que ser un proceso global que contemple la formación del alumno en un doble ámbito, el académico y el profesional; distinta y mucho más compleja que la del resto de materias de cada titulación. Además, este proceso debe ser integral, en el sentido de recoger las evaluaciones de los distintos agentes interlocutores, los distintos momentos de evaluación y los distintos ámbitos de trabajo. Los resultados obtenidos de este estudio se concretan en la elaboración de un conjunto de documentos de evaluación y calificación, a partir de una rúbrica global. Lo que a su vez, constata la validez de dicho instrumento para la evaluación por competencias junto con su utilidad en favorecer el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje del alumno

Los anticuerpos antinucleares en la artritis reumatoide : ¿factores predictores de ineficacia del tratamiento con anti-tnfα?

L'objectiu va ser determinar si la presència de anticossos antinuclears en pacients amb artritis reumatoide (AR) condiciona una pitjor desposta al tractament amb anti-TNFα. Es tracta d'un estudi tipus cohorte retrospectiu. Es van incloure 66 malalts amb crtieris ACR per AR que anaven a iniciar tractament amb anti-TNFα i tenien una determinación basal de ANA. D'aquests 37 eren ANA positius i 29 ANA negatius. Es va observar una tendencia als 6 mesos de tractament entre els ANA positius a no presentar resposta (19% en els ANA positius enfront a 11% dels ANA negatius), sense poder establir diferencies estadísticamente significatives (p=0,081).El objetivo fue determinar si la presencia de anticuerpos antinucleares (ANA) en pacientes con artritis reumatoide (AR) condiciona una peor respuesta al tratamiento con anti-TNFα. Se trata de un estudio tipo cohorte retrospectiva. Se incluyeron 66 pacientes amb criterios de clasificación de la ACR par AR. que iban a iniciar tratamiento con anti-TNF y tenía una determinación basal de ANA. De éstos, 37 eran ANA positivos y 29 ANA negativos. Se observó una tendencia a los 6 meses de tratamiento de los pacientes ANA positivos a no presentar respuesta (19% en los ANA positivos frente a 11% en los ANA negativos), sin poder establecer diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p=0,081)

the EMEUNET Peer Review Mentoring Program

Although peer review plays a central role in the maintenance of high standards in scientific research, training of reviewing skills is not included in the common education programmes. The Emerging EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) Network (EMEUNET) developed a programme to address this unmet need. The EMEUNET Peer Review Mentoring Program for Rheumatology Journals promotes a systematic training of reviewing skills by engaging mentees in a 'real world' peer review experience supervised by experienced mentors with support from rheumatology journals. This viewpoint provides an overview of this initiative and its outcomes, and discusses its potential limitations. Over 4 years, 18 mentors and 86 mentees have participated. Among the 33 participants who have completed the programme, 13 (39.3%) have become independent reviewers forAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseasesafter the training. This programme has been recently evaluated by a survey and qualitative interviews, revealing a high interest in this initiative. The main strengths (involvement of a top journal and learning opportunities) and weaknesses of the programme (limited number of places and insufficient dissemination) were identified. Overall, this programme represents an innovative and successful approach to peer review training. Continuous evaluation and improvement are key to its functioning. The EMEUNET Peer Review Mentoring Program may be used as a reference for peer review training in areas outside rheumatology.publishersversionpublishe

A finite element inverse analysis to assess functional improvement during the fracture healing process

Assessment of the restoration of load-bearing function is the central goal in the study of fracture healing process. During the fracture healing, two critical aspects affect its analysis: (1) material properties of the callus components, and (2) the spatio-temporal architecture of the callus with respect to cartilage and new bone formation. In this study, an inverse problem methodology is used which takes into account both features and yields material property estimates that can analyze the healing changes. Six stabilized fractured mouse tibias are obtained at two time points during the most active phase of the healing process, respectively 10 days (n=3), and 14 days (n=3) after fracture. Under the same displacement conditions, the inverse procedure estimations of the callus material properties are generated and compared to other fracture healing metrics. The FEA estimated property is the only metric shown to be statistically significant (p=0.0194) in detecting the changes in the stiffness that occur during the healing time points. In addition, simulation studies regarding sensitivity to initial guess and noise are presented; as well as the influence of callus architecture on the FEA estimated material property metric. The finite element model inverse analysis developed can be used to determine the effects of genetics or therapeutic manipulations on fracture healing in rodents