Dickkopf 1 protein circulating levels as a possible biomarker of functional disability and chronic damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease characterized by joint destruction, deformity, lower functionality, and decrease in life expectancy. Wingless signaling pathway (Wnt) has been recently involved in bone homeostasis. Studies suggest that overexpression of the pathway inhibitors, like the Dickkopf 1 protein (DKK1), has been implicated in bone destruction. The objective of this study is to compare circulating levels of DKK1 in different groups of patients with disease activity (remission, low, moderate, high activity,) and functionality status. Three hundred seventy-nine patients with RA were evaluated between March 2015 and November 2016. Disease activity was evaluated by disease activity score 28 with C-reactive protein (DAS28CPR), simplified and clinical disease activity scores (SDAI, CDAI), routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID3), functional status using Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MD-HAQ), and the Steinbrocker functional classification. DKK1 levels were measured by ELISA. The mean age was 60.7 ± 13.9 years. Disease duration was 13.2 ± 10.9 years. Higher levels of DKK1 were not associated with disease activity by CDAI (p = 0.70), SDAI (p = 0.84), DAS28CRP (p = 0.80), or RAPID3 (p = 0.70). Interestingly higher levels of DKK1 were significantly associated to lower functional status evaluating by the Steinbrocker classification (p = 0,013), severe disability by MD-HAQ (p = 0,004), and variables associated with joint destruction like osteoporosis, higher titles of rheumatoid factor, smoking, and increased hospital admissions related to RA. Higher levels of DKK1 were found in patients with lower functional status. This association was not found in patients with greater disease activity by CDAI, SDAI, DAS28, and RAPID3. This could be explained by more structural damage; DKK1 could be used as a biomarker of joint destruction in RA.

Interobserver Agreement in Magnetic Resonance of the Sacroiliac Joints in Patients with Spondyloarthritis.

Background. Clinical, laboratory, and radiologic parameters are used for diagnosis and classification of spondyloarthritis (SpA). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sacroiliac (SI) joints is being increasingly used to detect early sacroiliitis. We decided to evaluate the interobserver agreement in MRI findings of SI joints of SpA patients between a local radiologist, a rheumatologist, and an expert radiologist in musculoskeletal diseases. Methods. 66 MRI images of the SI joints of patients with established diagnosis of SpA were evaluated. Agreement was expressed in Cohen's kappa. Results. Interobserver agreement between a local radiologist and an expert radiologist was fair (κ = 0.37). Only acute findings showed a moderate agreement (κ = 0.45), while chronic findings revealed 76.5% of disagreement (κ = 0.31). A fair agreement was observed in acute findings (κ = 0.38) as well as chronic findings (κ = 0.38) between a local radiologist and a rheumatologist. There was a substantial agreement between an expert radiologist and a rheumatologist (κ = 0.73). In acute findings, a 100% agreement was achieved. Also chronic and acute plus chronic findings showed high levels of agreement (κ = 0.73 and 0.62, resp.). Conclusions. Our study shows that rheumatologists may have similar MRI interpretations of SI joints in SpA patients as an expert radiologist.

Correlation between rapid-3, DAS28, CDAI and SDAI as a measure of disease activity in a cohort of Colombian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The objective of this study is to correlate the patient-driven tool Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID-3) with other common tools used in daily practice to measure disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).One hundred nineteen RA patients according to 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria who consecutively attended a RA outpatient clinic between August and December 2015 were evaluated. Data was stored in an electronic form that included demographic information, comorbidities, concomitant medication, and laboratory results. The disease activity was determined by tender and swollen joint count, pain and disease activity visual analog scales (VAS), disease activity score 28 (DAS28), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), and multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ). Correlations between RAPID-3 and other disease activity tools were assessed. Mean age was 61 ± 13.8 years with a median disease duration of 14 years (IQR 5-21), 77% were females. Median scores were MDHAQ 0.5 (IQR 0.1-1.2), DAS 28 3.8 (IQR 2.7-5.1), and RAPID-3 12.3 (IQR 6-19). A strong correlation was obtained between RAPID-3 and DAS 28 (r 0.719, p < 0.001), CDAI (r 0.752, p < 0.001), and SDAI (r 0.758, p < 0.001). RAPID-3 had a high correlation with tools regularly used for disease activity assessment of RA patients in daily practice. The ease of its application favors routine use as it does not require laboratory results and joint counts.

Steady- and transient-state H2S biofiltration using expanded schist as packing material.

The performances of three laboratory-scale biofilters (BF1, BF2, BF3) packed with expanded schist for H(2)S removal were studied at different empty bed residence times (EBRT=35, 24 and 16s) in terms of elimination capacity (EC) and removal efficiency (RE). BF1 and BF2 were filled with expanded schist while BF3 was filled with both expanded schist and a nutritional material (UP20; 12% vol). BF1 and BF3 were inoculated with activated sludge, whereas BF2 was not inoculated. A maximum EC of 42 g m(-3) h(-1) was recorded for BF3 at EBRT=35 s demonstrating the ability of schist to treat high H(2)S loading rates, and the ability of UP20 to improve H(2)S removal. Michaelis-Menten and Haldane models were fitted to the experimental elimination capacities while biofilter responses to transient-state conditions in terms of removal efficiency during shock load events were also evaluated for BF1 and BF3.