There is a need for new systemic sclerosis subset criteria. A content analytic approach.

OBJECTIVES: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is heterogenous. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the purpose, strengths and limitations of existing SSc subset criteria, and identify ideas among experts about subsets. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with randomly sampled international SSc experts. The interview transcripts underwent an iterative process with text deconstructed to single thought units until a saturated conceptual framework with coding was achieved and respondent occurrence tabulated. Serial cross-referential analyses of clusters were developed. RESULTS: Thirty experts from 13 countries were included; 67% were male, 63% were from Europe and 37% from North America; median experience of 22.5 years, with a median of 55 new SSc patients annually. Three thematic clusters regarding subsetting were identified: research and communication; management; and prognosis (prediction of internal organ involvement, survival). The strength of the limited/diffuse system was its ease of use, however 10% stated this system had marginal value. Shortcomings of the diffuse/limited classification were the risk of misclassification, predictions/generalizations did not always hold true, and that the elbow or knee threshold was arbitrary. Eighty-seven percent use more than 2 subsets including: SSc sine scleroderma, overlap conditions, antibody-determined subsets, speed of progression, and age of onset (juvenile, elderly). CONCLUSIONS: We have synthesized an international view of the construct of SSc subsets in the modern era. We found a number of factors underlying the construct of SSc subsets. Considerations for the next phase include rate of change and hierarchal clustering (e.g. limited/diffuse, then by antibodies).

Progenitor cell mobilization after exercise is related to systemic levels of G-CSF and muscle damage.

Different types of exercise are characterized by the ability to induce specific physiological stimuli that might be able to induce the mobilization of progenitor cells. The aim of the current study was to investigate the mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in response to endurance, resistance, and eccentric endurance exercise and their relation to markers of muscle damage and inflammation. Healthy male subjects performed acute bouts of either endurance exercise, resistance exercise, or eccentric endurance exercise. Numbers of progenitor cells and several markers of muscle damage and inflammation were determined. Although the endurance exercise was followed by an immediate and short increase of both HPCs and EPCs, the eccentric exercise evoked a long lasting increase up to 24 h for HPCs and 48 h for EPCs (P < 0.05). After resistance exercise, an increase of HPCs was only found 3 h after exercise (P < 0.05). A correlation was found between mobilized progenitor cells and systemic levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels (r = 0.54 and r = 0.51, P < 0.05) as well as for HPCs and creatine kinase levels (r = 0.57, P < 0.05). These results suggest that mobilization of progenitor cells is related to the type of exercise and possibly mediated by G-CSF and muscle damage.

Exploring effects of a natural combination medicine on exercise-induced inflammatory immune response: A double-blind RCT.

Traumeel (Tr14) is a natural, combination drug, which has been shown to modulate inflammation at the cytokine level. This study aimed to investigate potential effects of Tr14 on the exercise-induced immune response. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, healthy, untrained male subjects received either Tr14 (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40) for 24 h after a strenuous experimental exercise trial on a bicycle (60 min at 80%VO2 max). A range of antigen-stimulated cytokines (in vitro), white blood cell count, lymphocyte activation and apoptosis markers, and indicators of muscle damage were assessed up to 24 h following exercise. The area under the curve with respect to the increase (AUCI ) was compared between both groups. The Tr14 group showed a reduced exercise-induced leukocytosis and neutrocytosis (P < 0.01 for both), a higher AUCI score of antigen-stimulated IL-1ß and IL-1α (absolute and per monocyte, all P < 0.05), a lower AUCI score of antigen-stimulated GM-CSF (P < 0.05) and by trend a lower AUCI score of antigen-stimulated IL-2 and IL-4 as well as a higher AUCI score of antigen-stimulated IL-6 (all P < 0.1). Tr14 might promote differentiated effects on the exercise-induced immune response by (a) decreasing the inflammatory response of the innate immune system; and (b) augmenting the pro-inflammatory cytokine response.

Pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease within PHAROS: impact of extent of fibrosis and pulmonary physiology on cardiac haemodynamic parameters.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to examine the relationship between measures of ILD severity and PH in patients with SSc. METHODS: We identified 55 subjects from 12 PHAROS sites with RHC-proven PH and HRCT evidence of ILD. Subjects with PH due to left heart disease were excluded. Baseline HRCT scans were scored by a standardised system that graded severity of ILD. Summary statistics were generated for baseline characteristics. Spearman correlation and linear regression were used to examine relationships between ILD and PH severity variables. RESULTS: The majority of subjects were white women; nearly half had limited cutaneous SSc. Most subjects were New York Heart Association functional class II or III. Pulmonary function testing revealed moderate restriction (mean FVC 64.3 ± 17.2% predicted) with severe reduction in diffusing capacity (mean DLco 34.2 ± 13.3% predicted). RHC demonstrated mild to moderate PH (mean PAP 35 ± 9 mmHg, mean PVR 5.1 ± 3.7 WU). There was no correlation between severity of ILD (by either HRCT or PFT) and cardiac haemodynamic parameters of PH. CONCLUSIONS: No association between severity of ILD and cardiac haemodynamic profiles were identified in this cohort. We believe this underscores the complex nature of PH and ILD in individuals with SSc. We do suspect that some individuals with SSc-ILD will also have concomitant pulmonary vascular disease but simple assessments to grade severity of ILD - by PFT or HRCT estimates of ILD extent - are likely not enough to reliably distinguish between PAH versus PH-ILD. Further research into how to distinguish and manage these subsets is warranted.

Transforming growth factor signalling: a common pathway in pulmonary arterial hypertension and systemic sclerosis.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a clinical condition characterised by the presence of precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). Included within the subcategorisation of PAH are heritable (HPAH) and PAH associated various conditions (APAH) including systemic sclerosis (SSc). The pathogenesis of HPAH and SSc has been linked to both a genetic predisposition and epigenetic factors. TGF-ß superfamily signalling has also been implicated in the development of these conditions. In this review, we discuss the role of genetic predisposition, epigenetic factors along with dysregulation in TGF-ß superfamily signalling in the pathogenesis of PAH and SSc.

Exercise-induced cytokine changes in antigen stimulated whole-blood cultures compared to serum.

Strenuous exercise is followed by an elevation of many cytokines with inflammation regulating properties. Since most cytokines act at pico- or nanomolar concentrations many investigations failed to detect their concentrations in vivo. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of cytokine measurements (IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-1ra, IL-6, CCL2 and CXCL8) in a stimulated whole-blood culture (sWBC) compared to serum with respect to their exercise-induced kinetics and detection rates. 40 male volunteers (age: 25,5±4,3years, BMI: 24,00±2,24, VO2peak: 46,9±4,1mL/kg×min) performed 60min of intensive bicycle exercise (80% VO2peak). Blood samples were taken before and for up to 24h after exercise. All cytokines were determined by a multiplex ELISA. There were weak to moderate correlations between cytokines in sWBC and serum. While exercise did not affect pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum, in sWBC only IL-1ß was increased 1.2-fold at 3h (p<0,05). All other cytokines increased both in sWBC and serum. The detection rate was superior in sWBC vs serum for most cytokines. Exercise-induced cytokine kinetics in sWBC do not reflect systemic changes. Both approaches provide a synergistic insight into inflammatory processes on the cytokine level.

Orofacial manifestations of systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem disease of unknown aetiology characterised by microangiopathy, dysregulated immune function and tissue remodelling, which commonly involves the oral cavity. Orofacial manifestations of SSc contribute greatly to overall disease burden and yet are regularly overlooked and under-treated. This may reflect a pre-occupation amongst rheumatology clinicians on potentially life-threatening internal organ involvement, but is also a consequence of insufficient engagement between rheumatologists and dental professionals. A high proportion of SSc patients report difficulty accessing a dentist with knowledge of the disease and there is recognition amongst dentists that this could impact negatively on patient care. This review shall describe the clinical features and burden of orofacial manifestations of SSc and the management of such problems. The case is made for greater collaborative working between rheumatologists and dental professionals with an interest in SSc in both the research and clinical setting.

Progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy associated with lupus and methotrexate overdose.

Progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML) is a CNS infection of oligodendrocytes by JC virus, which rarely occurs in lupus, and can be mistaken for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome or neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NSLE). This case of PML in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus on supra-therapeutic doses of methotrexate emphasises that CNS infection is an important diagnostic consideration before empiric treatment with immunosuppresants for NSLE.