Reference interval of serum immunoglobulin G subclass in the Chinese children.

<p>Reference interval of serum immunoglobulin G subclass in the Chinese children.</p

Comparison of data between the present study and a recent study.

<p>Comparison of (A) IgG1, (B) IgG2, (C) IgG3, and (D) IgG4 titres. The dotted line indicated the results of Lepage et al.[<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0192923#pone.0192923.ref008" target="_blank">8</a>], and the solid line the results of the present study.</p

Comparison of the reference values provided by manufacturer and by our research.

<p>Comparison of the reference values provided by manufacturer and by our research.</p

Meta-Analysis: Diagnostic Accuracy of Anti-Carbamylated Protein Antibody for Rheumatoid Arthritis

<div><p>Objective</p><p>The anti-carbamylated protein (CarP) antibody is a novel biomarker that might help in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aim to assess the diagnostic value of anti-CarP antibody for RA.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies published by December 15, 2015. Studies in any language that evaluated the utility of the anti-CarP antibody in the diagnosis of RA in which healthy donors or patients without arthritis or arthralgia served as controls were included. Two investigators independently evaluated studies for inclusion, assessed study quality and abstracted data. A bivariate mixed-effects model was used to summarize the diagnostic indexes from 7 eligible studies.</p><p>Results</p><p>The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios for anti-CarP antibody were 42% (95% CI, 38% to 45%), 96% (95% CI, 95% to 97%), 10.2 (95% CI, 7.5 to 13.9), and 0.61 (95% CI, 0.57 to 0.65), respectively. The summary diagnostic odds ratio was 17 (95% CI, 12 to 24), and the area under summary receiver operator characteristic curve was 80% (95% CI, 77% to 84%).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Anti-CarP antibody has a moderate value in the diagnosis of RA with high specificity but relatively low sensitivity.</p></div

Subgroup meta-analysis of anti-CCP and RA patient response according to different anti-TNFα agents, follow-up periods, response criteria, and ethnic groups.

<p>F, fixed-effects model; R, random-effects model; NA, not applicable.</p><p>*The number of studies and number of patients receiving individual anti-TNFα agent in this table are those that we could identified after literature review and contacting the authors.</p

The results of an assessment for bias in accordance with Hayden's criteria.

<p>Unsure: not enough information to evaluate.</p><p>Low, low risk of bias; moderate, moderate risk of bias; high, high risk of bias.</p><p>*One of the domains was assessed as “unsure” due to unavailable information even after the authors were contacted.</p

Overall analysis of publication bias on the effect of RF status on the response to anti-TNFα treatment.

<p>Egger's linear regression test was performed to quantify publication bias. The p values of the RF status analysis were 0.777. The funnel plot showed no significant evidence of asymmetry.</p

Demographics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory examinations of PBC patients with or without cardiac involvement.

<p>Demographics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory examinations of PBC patients with or without cardiac involvement.</p

The Status of Rheumatoid Factor and Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody Are Not Associated with the Effect of Anti-TNFα Agent Treatment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate whether the status of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody are associated with the clinical response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p><p>Methods</p><p>A systemic literature review was performed using the MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Clinical Trials Register databases, and Hayden's criteria of quality assessment for prognostic studies were used to evaluate all of the studies. The correlation between the RF and anti-CCP antibody status with the treatment effect of anti-TNFα agents was analyzed separately using the Mantel Haenszel method. A fixed-effects model was used when there was no significant heterogeneity; otherwise, a random-effects model was applied. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's linear regression and a funnel plot.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 14 studies involving 5561 RA patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included. The overall analysis showed that the pooled relative risk for the predictive effects of the RF and anti-CCP antibody status on patient response to anti-TNFα agents was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.91–1.05, p = 0.54) and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.76–1.03, p = 0.11), respectively, with I² values of 43% (p = 0.05) and 67% (p<0.01), respectively. Subgroup analyses of different anti-TNFα treatments (infliximab vs. etanercept vs. adalimumab vs. golimumab), response criteria (DAS28 vs. ACR20 vs. EULAR response), follow-up period (≥6 vs. <6 months), and ethnic group did not reveal a significant association for the status of RF and anti-CCP.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Neither the RF nor anti-CCP antibody status in RA patients is associated with a clinical response to anti-TNFα treatment.</p></div

Data extracted from the included studies.

<p>*Pro, prospective clinical trial; Retro, retrospective study; N/A, not available; INF, infliximab; ADA, adalimumab; ETA, etanercept; MTX, methotrexate; LEF, leflunomide; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; DMARDs, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs; CSs, corticosteroids.</p>#<p>Different prior biologic agents used may introduce potential heterogeneity, though the available data were insufficient for a sub-analysis.</p><p>Disease of duration, age, No. of swollen joints, No. of tender joints, DAS28 are presented as the mean (SD).</p