Asociación entre parámetros hematológicos y fenotipos metabólicamente poco saludables en niños y adolescentes

Introducción: El síndrome metabólico se ha asociado con cambios en parámetros hematológicos (glóbulos rojos, plaquetas y leucocitos); se pueden utilizar para identificar sujetos en riesgo de fenotipos metabólicamente no saludables (MUP). Se investigó si estos parámetros hematológicos sirven como biomarcadores para distinguir el fenotipo metabólicamente sano (MHP) del MUP en niños y adolescentes. Métodos: Estudio transversal, 292 niños y adolescentes. El diagnóstico de MUP fue según consenso. Se utilizó ANOVA unidireccional en las comparaciones, regresión logística múltiple para determinar si el sexo, el grupo etario, el estado nutricional, la pubertad, los parámetros hematológicos y la resistencia a la insulina se asociaron con MUP. Resultados: Edad media 11 años (DE: 2,61). Los valores de RDW fueron significativamente más bajos en los niños en el grupo de peso normal metabólicamente insalubre (MUNW) en comparación con los niños con obesidad metabólicamente no saludable (MUO) (12,33 ± 0,90 vs. 13,67 ± 0,52; p = 0,01) y en la obesidad metabólicamente saludable (MHO) en comparación con el grupo MUO (13,15 ± 0,53 vs. 13,67 ± 0,52; p = 0,04). En adolescentes, la relación plaquetas/linfocitos fue mayor en el grupo MHNW (con un valor medio de 152,60 (DE 62,97) vs 111,16 (DE 44,12) para el grupo MHO. Al ajustar por edad, estado nutricional y pubertad, los índices hematológicos no se asociaron con MUP. Conclusión: Los parámetros hematológicos no están asociados independientemente con el MUP, y es poco probable que representen biomarcadores confiables para la detección del MUP en la población pediátrica.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome has been associated with changes in several hematological parameters, such as red blood cells, platelets, and leucocytes. Therefore, hematologic parameters can be used to identify the subjects at risk of metabolically unhealthy phenotypes (MUP). The current study investigated if hematological parameters can serve as biomarkers to distinguish metabolically healthy phenotype (MHP) from MUP in children and adolescents. Methods: Two hundred ninety-two children and adolescents were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The MUP was diagnosed using consensus-based criteria. Group comparisons were performed using one-way ANOVA. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine if sex, age group, nutritional status, puberty, hematological parameters, and insulin resistance were associated with MUP. Results: The subject's age mean was 11 years (SD: 2.61). RDW values were significantly lower in children in the metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW) group compared to children with metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) group (12.33 ± 0.90 vs. 13.67 ± 0.52; p = 0.01) and in metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) compared to MUO group (13.15 ± 0.53 vs. 13.67 ± 0.52; p = 0.04). In adolescents, the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio was higher in the MHNW group, with a mean value of 152.60 (SD 62.97) compared to 111.16 (SD 44.12) for the MHO group. However, after adjusting for age, nutritional status, and puberty, hematological indices were not associated with MUP. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that hematologic parameters are not independently associated with the MUP, and it is unlikely that they represent reliable biomarkers for screening for the MUP in the pediatric population.

Gut-joint axis: Gut dysbiosis can contribute to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis via multiple pathways.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by loss of immune tolerance and chronic inflammation. It is pathogenesis complex and includes interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Current evidence supports the hypothesis that gut dysbiosis may play the role of environmental triggers of arthritis in animals and humans. Progress in the understanding of the gut microbiome and RA. has been remarkable in the last decade. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that gut dysbiosis could shape the immune system and cause persistent immune inflammatory responses. Furthermore, gut dysbiosis could induce alterations in intestinal permeability, which have been found to predate arthritis onset. In contrast, metabolites derived from the intestinal microbiota have an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect. However, the precise underlying mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis induces the development of arthritis remain elusive. This review aimed to highlight the mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis could contribute to the pathogenesis of RA. The overall data showed that gut dysbiosis could contribute to RA pathogenesis by multiple pathways, including alterations in gut barrier function, molecular mimicry, gut dysbiosis influences the activation and the differentiation of innate and acquired immune cells, cross-talk between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and immune cells, and alterations in the microenvironment. The relative weight of each of these mechanisms in RA pathogenesis remains uncertain. Recent studies showed a substantial role for gut microbiota-derived metabolites pathway, especially butyrate, in the RA pathogenesis.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Assessment of its diagnostic accuracy. / Índice neutrófilos-linfocitos en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda. Una evaluación de su precisión diagnóstica.

INTRODUCTION: Acute appendicitis (AA) in pediatric patients requires an accurate diagnosis. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an accessible parameter useful for its diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To determine NLR accuracy to diagnose AA in patients with abdominal pain. POPULATION AND METHODS: Diagnostic test study. A total of 520 patients seen at the Pediatric Emergency Department were included. Diagnostic accuracy was estimated based on sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the effect of potentially confounding variables in the relationship between NLR and AA. RESULTS: The prevalence of AA was 49%. For a cutoff point of 5, sensitivity was 85.1%, specificity: 78.9%; positive predictive value: 79.5%; and negative predictive value: 84.6%. However, based on likelihood ratios, the NLR is not powerful enough to diagnose AA (positive likelihood ratio = 4.03 and negative likelihood ratio = 0.18) and did not exhibit diagnostic usefulness in complicated appendicitis (positive likelihood ratio = 1.57 and negative likelihood ratio = 0.55). Following adjustment for age, sex, obesity, time since symptom onset, and analgesic use, the NLR was an explanatory variable for the presence of AA (odds ratio = 23.53; 95% confidence interval: 13.14-42.15). CONCLUSIONS: The NLR alone is not sufficiently accurate to confirm or rule out the presence of AA. However, the NLR can be used together with other tests to select patients in whom further study is necessary.

Introducción. La apendicitis aguda (AA) en pacientes pediátricos requiere de un diagnóstico certero. El índice neutrófilos-linfocitos (INL) es un parámetro accesible que puede ser útil en su diagnóstico. OBJETIVO: Determinar la precisión del INL para diagnosticar AA en pacientes con dolor abdominal. Población y métodos. Estudio de prueba diagnóstica. Se incluyeron 520 pacientes atendidos en el servicio de urgencias pediátricas. Para cuantificar la precisión diagnóstica, se estimó la sensibilidad, la especificidad, los valores predictivos (VP) y los cocientes de probabilidad (CP). Se utilizó un modelo de regresión logística múltiple para evaluar el efecto de las potenciales variables confusoras en la relación entre el INL y la AA. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de AA fue del 49 %. Para un punto de corte de 5, la sensibilidad fue del 85,1 %, especificidad: 78,9 %, VP+: 79,5 % y VP-: 84,6 %. Sin embargo, basándose en los cocientes de probabilidad, el INL es una prueba poco potente para el diagnóstico de AA (CP+ = 4,03 y CP- = 0,18) y resultó una prueba sin utilidad diagnóstica en el caso de apendicitis complicada (CP+ = 1,57 y CP- = 0,55). Después del ajuste por edad, sexo, obesidad, tiempo de evolución y uso de analgésicos, el INL fue una variable explicativa de la presencia de AA (odds ratio = 23,53; IC95 % 13,14-42,15). CONCLUSIONES: El INL no es lo suficientemente preciso aisladamente para confirmar o descartar la presencia de AA. No obstante, el INL puede emplearse junto con otras pruebas para seleccionar a los pacientes en los cuales es necesario un mayor estudio.

Índice neutrófilos-linfocitos en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda. Una evaluación de su precisión diagnóstica / Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Assessment of its diagnostic accuracy

Introducción. La apendicitis aguda (AA) en pacientes pediátricos requiere de un diagnóstico certero. El índice neutrófilos-linfocitos (INL) es un parámetro accesible que puede ser útil en su diagnóstico. Objetivo. Determinar la precisión del INL para diagnosticar AA en pacientes con dolor abdominal. Población y métodos. Estudio de prueba diagnóstica. Se incluyeron 520 pacientes atendidos en el servicio de urgencias pediátricas. Para cuantificar la precisión diagnóstica, se estimó la sensibilidad, la especificidad, los valores predictivos (VP) y los cocientes de probabilidad (CP). Se utilizó un modelo de regresión logística múltiple para evaluar el efecto de las potenciales variables confusoras en la relación entre el INL y la AA. Resultados. La prevalencia de AA fue del 49 %. Para un punto de corte de 5, la sensibilidad fue del 85,1 %, especificidad: 78,9 %, VP+: 79,5 % y VP-: 84,6 %. Sin embargo, basándose en los cocientes de probabilidad, el INL es una prueba poco potente para el diagnóstico de AA (CP+ = 4,03 y CP- = 0,18) y resultó una prueba sin utilidad diagnóstica en el caso de apendicitis complicada (CP+ = 1,57 y CP- = 0,55). Después del ajuste por edad, sexo, obesidad, tiempo de evolución y uso de analgésicos, el INL fue una variable explicativa de la presencia de AA (odds ratio = 23,53; IC95 % 13,14-42,15). Conclusiones. El INL no es lo suficientemente preciso aisladamente para confirmar o descartar la presencia de AA. No obstante, el INL puede emplearse junto con otras pruebas para seleccionar a los pacientes en los cuales es necesario un mayor estudio.

Introduction. Acute appendicitis (AA) in pediatric patients requires an accurate diagnosis. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an accessible parameter useful for its diagnosis. Objective. To determine NLR accuracy to diagnose AA in patients with abdominal pain. Population and methods. Diagnostic test study. A total of 520 patients seen at the Pediatric Emergency Department were included. Diagnostic accuracy was estimated based on sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the effect of potentially confounding variables in the relationship between NLR and AA. Results. The prevalence of AA was 49%. For a cutoff point of 5, sensitivity was 85.1%, specificity: 78.9%; positive predictive value: 79.5%; and negative predictive value: 84.6%. However, based on likelihood ratios, the NLR is not powerful enough to diagnose AA (positive likelihood ratio = 4.03 and negative likelihood ratio = 0.18) and did not exhibit diagnostic usefulness in complicated appendicitis (positive likelihood ratio = 1.57 and negative likelihood ratio = 0.55). Following adjustment for age, sex, obesity, time since symptom onset, and analgesic use, the NLR was an explanatory variable for the presence of AA (odds ratio = 23.53; 95% confidence interval: 13.14­42.15). Conclusions. The NLR alone is not sufficiently accurate to confirm or rule out the presence of AA. However, the NLR can be used together with other tests to select patients in whom further study is necessary.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Key Consideration for Evaluating Biosimilar Uptake?

Purpose: This review aims to provide an overview of the impact of TNFis biosimilars, with marketing authorization, in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) scores and explore how PROMs endpoints might add value in biosimilars uptake in RA patients. Patients and Methods: A comprehensive search of Medline, Scopus, Lilacs, and CINAHL databases was performed for papers published between January 2012 and December 2021. For inclusion, studies had to be prospective, published in a peer-reviewed journal, published in English or Spanish language; studies using PROMs as an outcome measure. After screening title and abstracts and assessing the remaining full texts fulfilling the inclusion criteria, 31 papers were used in this narrative review. Results: PROMs were used as secondary outcomes in included studies. The most frequently employed domains to assess biosimilar efficacy include physical function, patient global assessment (PtGA), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and fatigue. The results of randomized clinical trials uniformly showed that mean change in PROMs scores is comparable between biosimilar and reference biologic treatment groups. However, open-label and real-world studies revealed high rates of discontinuation of therapy, mainly for subjective worsening of disease activity or non-specific adverse events. Even without objective clinical evidence of inflammation, patients who are considered to have active disease (higher scores on PtGA) have higher discontinuation rates of biosimilars. The available information suggests that the nocebo effect is the most likely cause for the discontinuation of biosimilars. Conclusion: There is scarce literature surrounding the impact of biosimilars in PROMs, especially in open-label studies. In real-life studies, biosimilars have a higher discontinuation rate than reference products. TNFis biosimilars treatment efficacy in RA depends on disease activity and other factors such as PtGA and fatigue. The nocebo effect is the best explanation for biosimilar's discontinuation.

Validation of a Spanish version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-II to assess Mexican patients' physical function with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity, reliability, and performance of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-II (HAQ-II) Spanish version questionnaire to measure physical function. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 496 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), distributed in 2 samples. The construct validity was evaluated employing the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the validity based on the relationship with other variables. Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's omega (ω) coefficient were used to determine reliability. Item performance was analysed by fitting different models of item response theory (IRT). RESULTS: The one-factor model presented a poor fit in the CFA; an exploratory factor analysis (AFE) was carried out, which suggested a 2-factor structure. The CFA in the second sample confirmed that the second-order model had a good fit to the data. The general factor explained more than 70% of the variance. The reliability indices showed adequate internal consistency (α = .92-.95; ω = .88-.93). Ninety-three percent of the contrasting hypotheses about the relationship of the HAQ-II scores with other variables were confirmed, demonstrating their convergent, divergent, and known group validity. The multidimensional graduated response model was the one that best predicted person's interaction with the items. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the HAQ-II presents adequate validity and reliability for measuring Mexican patients' physical function with RA.

Reliability and Validity of the Spanish Version of the Medical Outcomes Study Pain Severity Scale in Mexican Patients With Rheumatic Diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Medical Outcomes Study Pain Severity Scale (MOS-PSS) in patients with rheumatic diseases. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2019 to March 2020 using a nonprobabilistic sampling of consecutive cases. The internal consistency of the scale was evaluated through the Cronbach α coefficient and by the item response theory reliability coefficient. Construct validity was evaluated by factor analysis; relationships between MOS-PSS and visual numeric scale for pain, numeric rating scale for pain, and verbal rating scale for pain; and differences between relevant groups. Item response theory-based methods were used to assess item performance. RESULTS: A clinical sample of 796 outpatients was recruited. Most patients presented moderate to severe pain. Two subscale solutions showed a good model fit in confirmatory factor analysis. The overall model fit of multidimensional generalized partial credit model showed to be adequate. The most discriminating item was "average pain intensity." Evidence revealed disordered thresholds in 2 items. Collapsing categories resulted in ordered thresholds for all items and significantly improving the overall model fit. The MOS-PSS and modified MOS-PSS yielded high reliability. Both scales were very strongly correlated with numeric rating scale for pain, visual numeric scale for pain, and verbal rating scale for pain (ρ ≥ 0.85). All hypotheses related to subgroups comparison were fulfilled. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the Spanish version of the MOS-PSS showed good reliability and construct validity. Nevertheless, the statistical evidence from this study would suggest the modified MOS-PSS should be the version of choice for measuring pain in Mexican patients with rheumatic diseases.

Modification of Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory Arthritis: Highlights and Future Challenges.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This Review evaluates the available information on the modification of the microbiota by diet, prebiotics, probiotics, or drugs and its association with the severity of arthritis in animals and humans and highlights how this modulation could have therapeutic applications in RA. RECENT FINDINGS: The gut microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites play a role in developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in animals and humans, making the intestinal microbiota an exciting novel approach to suppress autoimmunity. Studies in animal models of RA show that it is possible to modify the intestinal microbiota with drugs, natural products, diet, probiotics, and prebiotics. Furthermore, these changes showed beneficial effects on symptom relief in animal models of RA and that these effects were associated with modulation of the immune response. Therapies that modify the gut microbiota would significantly impact the preclinical stage of arthritis, based on the fact that dysbiosis occurs before clinical arthritis. The effects of interventions to modulate the microbiota could not reverse arthritis. Furthermore, the therapies modulating therapies in controlling symptoms were limited once arthritis developed. The results obtained in the study of acarbose, probiotics, and prebiotics suggest that these interventions may decrease the disease's incidence rather than treat or cure it.

Validation of a Spanish Version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-II to Assess Mexican Patients' Physical Function with Rheumatoid Arthritis. / Validación de una versión en español del Health Assessment Questionnaire-II para la evaluación de la capacidad funcional en pacientes mexicanos con artritis reumatoide.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity, reliability, and performance of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-II(HAQ-II) Spanish version questionnaire to measure physical function. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 496 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, distributed in 2 samples. The construct validity was evaluated employing the confirmatory factor analysis and the validity based on the relationship with other variables. Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's omega (ω) coefficient were used to determine reliability. Item performance was analysed by fitting different models of item response theory. RESULTS: The one-factor model presented a poor fit in the confirmatory factor analysis; an exploratory factor analysis was carried out, which suggested a 2-factor structure. The confirmatory factor analysis in the second sample confirmed that the second-order model had a good fit to the data. The general factor explained more than 70% of the variance. The reliability indices showed adequate internal consistency (α=.92-.95; ω=.88-.93). Ninety-three percent of the contrasting hypotheses about the relationship of the HAQ-II scores with other variables were confirmed, demonstrating their convergent, divergent, and known group validity. The multidimensional graduated response model was the one that best predicted person's interaction with the items. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the HAQ-II presents adequate validity and reliability for measuring Mexican patients' physical function with rheumatoid arthritis.

Psychometric properties of the 12-item Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS-12) Spanish version for people with knee osteoarthritis.

To evaluate the validity, reliability, and responsiveness to change of the 12-item Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Spanish version questionnaire. This study was based on a questionnaire validation design. A cross-sectional survey of 199 patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and ten healthy controls was studied to evaluate the validity and reliability of KOOS-12. One hundred and sixteen patients were assessed for test-retest reliability, and 38 patients were included for a responsiveness assessment. Structural validity was assessed by the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Item response theory-based methods were used to determine the performance of the items. Internal consistency reliability was appropriate for all scales (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85-0.94). The intra-class correlation coefficient of KOOS-12 scales ranged from 0.60 to 0.71. The CFA and generalized partial credit model showed that KOOS-12 scales presented a good overall model fit. No differential item functioning was found. Convergent validity was demonstrated by strong correlations (Spearman's rho ≥ 0.70) with KOOS, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee evaluation form (IKDC), and Knee Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP). Known-groups validity showed that KOOS-12 well discriminated subgroups of patients (radiographic severity and nutritional status). Standardized response means for KOOS-12 scales were ≥ 0.75. Changes in KOOS-12 scales had a moderate to strong correlation (Pearson's r ≥ 0.40) with the changes in the KOOS, ICOAP, and IKDC scales. The KOOS-12 Spanish version is a valid, reliable, and responsiveness to change questionnaire to measure patients' opinions about their knee and associated problems in Mexican subjects with KOA. Key Points • KOOS-12 is a short self-reported measure that assesses patient's opinions about the difficulties they experience due to problems with their knee and also covers aspects of pain, functional limitations, and knee-related quality of life. • The Spanish version of KOOS-12 questionnaire is a valid instrument for measuring the patients' opinions about their knee and associated problems, and is both reliable and responsiveness to change.

Evaluation of FRAX Performance Without Bone Mineral Density Calibrated for Mexico to Recognize Women at Risk of Fragility Fractures in Routine Clinical Care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate FRAX clinical performance without bone mineral density (BMD) to approach people with fracture risk. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out from July 2012 to February 2020 at outpatient clinic of rheumatology in 2 public hospitals. Postmenopausal women between 40 and 90 years of age were chosen if no previous osteoporosis treatment was received and had femoral neck BMD determination. Clinical performance of FRAX without BMD was evaluated using agreement and diagnostic test statistics. RESULTS: Four hundred seventy-seven women with a mean age of 62.85 years were included. FRAX without BMD classified 46.03% of them at low risk, 45.82% intermediate risk, and 8.16% high risk. When BMD was included, 17.19% of them revealed high risk. Not incorporating BMD value in the risk assessed a higher percentage of error in the fracture risk classification in high-risk patients; otherwise, including BMD reclassified it as risk below treatment threshold in 20.51% of the patients. The percentage of agreement between the recommendations based on FRAX with and without BMD was 94.98%. Agreement between FRAX score with or without BMD was good to very good (κ = 0.79, Gwet = 0.93). FRAX without BMD presented a positive predictive value of 79.5% and negative predictive value of 97.7%. CONCLUSIONS: FRAX without BMD correctly classified most women evaluated, primarily low-risk women. In order to identify accurately women at high fracture risk, it would be advisable to determine the BMD in women with moderate to high risk of FRAX without BMD.

Prevalence and characteristics of the metabolically healthy obese phenotype in children and adolescents in a Mexican state.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of the Metabolically Healthy Obesity (MHO), and Metabolically Obese Normal-Weight (MONW) phenotypes in a sample of children and adolescents. To evaluate which clinical and laboratory variables are related to the MONW and MHO phenotypes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old, presumably healthy. Somatometry, glucose, insulin, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HOMA-IR, triglycerides/HDL ratio, triglycerides and glucose index, and leptin/adiponectin, were determined. RESULTS: Data from 620 children and adolescents were included (50.65% were males); the median age was 11 years. The prevalence of the MONW phenotype was 22.85% (95%CI 16.85%-29.79%), and the MHO phenotype 27.61% (95%CI 22.60%-33.06%). The variables that significantly explained the possibility of presenting the MONW and MHO phenotype were triglycerides/HDL ratio, and product of triglycerides and glucose. Insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly associated with the MHO phenotype but not with the MONW phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of metabolically healthy obese phenotype is lower in the Mexican population compared to European studies; thus, future studies should determine if this difference relies upon genetic profile or lifestyle. The indices to assess the action of insulin based on lipids can help identify children and adolescents with the MHO and MONW phenotypes.

Alexithymia is associated with mood disorders, impairment in quality of life and disability in women with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVES: Alexithymia is a personality trait related to the quality of life of women with fibromyalgia (FM). It is still unknown whether alexithymia is associated with the clinical manifestations of FM. The present study describes the relationship between alexithymia and the domains included in the core set recommended by the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) for FM evaluation. METHODS: One hundred two women with FM were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. The domains evaluated were alexithymia, pain, fatigue, health-related quality of life, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and disability. Univariate and multivariate (Kernel Regularized Least Squares method) analyses were performed to assess the relationship between alexithymia and the domains included in the core set recommended by the OMERACT. RESULTS: Alexithymia prevalence was 64.5% (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 54.6%-73.9%) and higher in women with depression (76.1%; 95%CI, 63.8%-86%). Female patients with FM and alexithymia showed higher pain intensity, anxiety and depression levels, and disability perception and lower quality of life, as compared to those with FM without alexithymia. Size effect differences ranged from medium to large and all of them were statistically significant (p<0.05). Using multivariate analysis, alexithymia was significantly associated with worse perceptions of quality of life (except physical health domain) and more disability perception, independently of other variables. However, alexithymia was not significantly associated with pain intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymia plays an important role in clinical manifestations of FM, mainly in the psychological and social dimensions of quality of life and the degree of perceived disability.

Self-reported disability in women with fibromyalgia from a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 is a generic instrument to assess disability. Pain and psychological factors seem to play a pronounced disabling role in fibromyalgia (FM). There are few studies that investigate the factors associated with disability in patients with fibromyalgia from the patient's perspective. Information about FM disability using self-reported questionnaires is limited. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the ordinal response variable (degree of disability), and four explanatory variables: pain intensity, depression, anxiety, and alexithymia. METHODS: One hundred fifteen women with FM were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. For the assessment of disability the WHODAS 2.0 (36-item version) was used. Univariate and multivariate (ordinal logistic regression) analyses were performed to assess the relationship between pain (Visual Analogue Scale), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), alexithymia (Modified Toronto Alexithymia Scale) and disability. RESULTS: Disability was detected by global WHODAS score in 114 patients (99%), with the corresponding percentages for mild, moderate and severe disability being 11.3, 46.96 and 40.87%, respectively. Global WHODAS score was more severe among subjects with depression (50 vs 36.4, p < 0.001, effect size = 0.33) and alexithymia (50 vs 33.6, p < 0.001, effect size = 0.38). Pain intensity mean scores for mild, moderate and severe disability were 5.0, 6.1 and 7.3, respectively (p < 0.001, omega-squared = 0.12). Pain intensity explained the global disability degree and its domains except for the cognitive one. Whereas, depression explained cognitive and personal relation domains. On the other hand, alexithymia explained global disability degree and all domains of WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the patients with fibromyalgia perceived themselves with moderate to severe disability. The main explanatory variables of the perceived disability were the pain intensity and psychological factors (alexithymia and depression).

Renal transplantation in systemic lupus erythematosus: Comparison of graft survival with other causes of end-stage renal disease. / Trasplante renal en lupus eritematoso sistémico: comparación de la supervivencia del injerto con otras causas de enfermedad renal terminal.

INTRODUCTION: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to lupus nephritis (LN) occurs in 10%-30% of patients. Initially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was a contraindication for kidney transplantation (KT). Today, long-term graft survival remains controversial. Our objective was to compare the survival after KT in patients with SLE or other causes of ESRD. METHODS: All SLE patients who had undergone KT in a retrospective cohort were included. Renal graft survival was compared with that of 50 controls, matched for age, sex, and year of transplantation. Survival was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier test and the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Twenty-five subjects with SLE were included. The estimated 1-year, 2- and 5-year survival rates for patients with SLE were 92%, 66% and 66%. Renal graft survival did not differ between patients with SLE and other causes of ESRD (P=.39). The multivariate analysis showed no significant difference in graft survival between the two groups (hazard ratio, HR=1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57-6.61, P=.28). The recurrence rate of LN was 8% and was not associated with graft loss. Acute rejection was the only variable associated with graft loss in patients with SLE (HR=16.5, 95% CI 1.94-140.1, P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: Renal graft survival in SLE patients did not differ from that reported for other causes of ESRD.

Evaluation of pain intensity in people with rheumatoid arthritis using the MOS intensity scale. / Evaluación de la intensidad del dolor en personas con artritis reumatoide mediante la escala de intensidad MOS.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) consider pain to be their main problem. The goal of this study was to evaluate validity and sensitivity to change to measure pain intensity using the MOS scale in RA patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred sixty-three RA subjects were included. Internal consistency of the instrument was assessed with Chronbach́s alpha, construct validity was estimated with confirmatory factor analysis and hypothesis testing and sensitivity to change was evaluated with the standard response mean and hypothesis testing. RESULTS: The MOS scale showed an appropriate internal consistency (α=0.89) and confirmatory factor analysis revealed it to be a unidimensional scale. In addition, the MOS scale was strongly correlated (rho=0.86) with the visual analogue scale. Convergent validity was demonstrated with the acceptance of 83% of hypotheses a priori. MOS scale standard response mean was 0.33 and 0.21 for the visual analogue scale, pain intensity changes in scales were strongly correlated, supporting its sensitivity to change. CONCLUSION: MOS scale is a useful instrument to measure pain intensity as well as pain relief.

Clinical utility of red blood cell distribution width in inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint diseases.

AIM: Current studies demonstrate red blood cell distribution width (RDW) as a possible surrogate biomarker of inflammation. The objectives of the present study were to examine RDW in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), fibromyalgia (FM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to evaluate its clinical importance. METHODS: Six hundred and ninety-nine ambulatory patients were evaluated. RDW, hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed. In order to compare groups, a Kruskall-Wallis test with post hoc Dunn's test was applied. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate anisocytosis explanatory variables. RESULTS: Red blood cell distribution width values differed significantly among groups. Post hoc analysis demonstrated a significant increase in RDW within RA versus OA groups (P < 0.001), active SpA versus OA (P < 0.001), RA versus FM (P < 0.001) and active SpA versus FM groups (P = 0.001). Presence of anisocytosis was useful to discriminate between active articular inflammatory versus non-inflammatory diseases with 48-95% sensitivity and 66-95% specificity. Multivariate analysis showed a six-fold increase in anisocytosis for the presence of a possible articular inflammatory disease. CONCLUSION: In subjects with articular pain, RDW interpretation is a useful tool in clinical practice to distinguish between articular inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint diseases, as with CRP. RDW seems to be a surrogate marker of the inflammatory process.

Self-reported disability in women with fibromyalgia from a tertiary care center

Abstract Background: The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 is a generic instrument to assess disability. Pain and psychological factors seem to play a pronounced disabling role in fibromyalgia (FM). There are few studies that investigate the factors associated with disability in patients with fibromyalgia from the patient's perspective. Information about FM disability using self-reported questionnaires is limited. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the ordinal response variable (degree of disability), and four explanatory variables: pain intensity, depression, anxiety, and alexithymia. Methods: One hundred fifteen women with FM were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. For the assessment of disability the WHODAS 2.0 (36-item version) was used. Univariate and multivariate (ordinal logistic regression) analyses were performed to assess the relationship between pain (Visual Analogue Scale), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), alexithymia (Modified Toronto Alexithymia Scale) and disability. Results: Disability was detected by global WHODAS score in 114 patients (99%), with the corresponding percentages for mild, moderate and severe disability being 11.3, 46.96 and 40.87%, respectively. Global WHODAS score was more severe among subjects with depression (50 vs 36.4, p < 0.001, effect size = 0.33) and alexithymia (50 vs 33.6, p < 0.001, effect size = 0.38). Pain intensity mean scores for mild, moderate and severe disability were 5.0, 6.1 and 7.3, respectively (p < 0.001, omega-squared = 0.12). Pain intensity explained the global disability degree and its domains except for the cognitive one. Whereas, depression explained cognitive and personal relation domains. On the other hand, alexithymia explained global disability degree and all domains of WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire. Conclusions: Most of the patients with fibromyalgia perceived themselves with moderate to severe disability. The main explanatory variables of the perceived disability were the pain intensity and psychological factors (alexithymia and depression).

Gout and pregnancy: A report of a new case and systematic review / Gota y embarazo: revisión sistemática, incluyendo el reporte de un nuevo caso

Abstract Article history: Received 4 January 2017 Accepted 17 October 2017 Available online 24 May 2018 Introduction: Unlike other rheumatic diseases, gout is rare in women of childbearing age. Due to the low number of cases available for the study, current information is based mainly on case reports. Objective: To describe the characteristics and the outcome of the pregnancy of women with gout. Methods: A systematic literature search was undertaken by the investigators in the PubMed and Embase databases, from the inclusion date to August 2016. Patients were included if they met the definition of gout according to the American Rheumatism Association criteria, and that they had the description of its follow-up during the pregnancy. Data collection and analysis: each pregnancy was treated as a separate observation for analysis. The maternal and fetal-neonatal outcomes data were extracted from the articles finally selected. Results: The search identified 125 potentially relevant articles, but after a full-text review only 12 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of the 23 pregnancies described, there were 16 (69.5%) live births, 5 (21.7%) were aborted, in one (4.3%), the pregnancy was terminated, and in one case report (4.3%) there was no description on the term of pregnancy. No maternal deaths were reported. Two babies died a few hours after birth. Congenital malformations were not described in any case report. The most frequent maternal complications were renal damage, anemia, preeclampsia, and postpartum uremia. Conclusions: Gout during pregnancy is not common, but it is known to occur. While the majority of women with gout delivered healthy infants, they were at increased risk of having maternal complications.

Resumen Introducción: A diferencia de otras enfermedades reumáticas, la gota es una enfermedad rara en mujeres en edad fértil. Debido al escaso número de casos disponibles para el estudio, la información actual se basa, principalmente, en reportes de casos. Objetivo: Describir las características y el desarrollo del embarazo en mujeres con gota. Métodos: Una búsqueda sistemática de literatura fue realizada en las bases de datos PubMed, Lilacs, Ebsco y Embase, desde la fecha de inclusión hasta agosto del 2016. Se incluyó a pacientes que cumplieron con la definición de gota según los criterios de la American Rheumatism Association y que tenían la descripción de su seguimiento durante el embarazo. Cada embarazo se trató como una observación independiente para el análisis. A partir de los artículos finalmente seleccionados, se extrajeron los desenlaces materno-fetales. Resultados: La búsqueda identificó 125 artículos potencialmente relevantes, después de la revisión de texto completo, 12 artículos cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Se describen 23 embarazos que resultaron en 16 (69,5%) nacimientos vivos, 5 (21,7%) abortos, una (4,3%) interrupción del embarazo y en un caso (4,3%) no se describió el desenlace. No se reportaron muertes maternas. Dos recién nacidos fallecieron después del parto. No se documentaron malformaciones congénitas. Las complicaciones maternas más frecuentes fueron la insuficiencia renal, la anemia, la preeclampsia y la uremia posparto. Conclusiones: La gota durante el embarazo no es común, pero se sabe que ocurre. Mientras que la mayoría de las mujeres con gota tuvieron bebés sanos, presentaban un mayor riesgo de tener complicaciones maternas.