Mobile Phone Text Messages and Effect on Treatment Adherence in Patients Taking Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of weekly text messages on adherence in patients taking methotrexate (MTX) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This prospective, randomized pilot, single-site study included patients with RA stabilized using MTX alone or combined with biologics. Participants were randomized to 3 interventions: a standard consultation (controls), a 15-minute pharmacist-led counseling session, or the receipt of text message reminders. The change over time in the Compliance Questionnaire Rheumatology (CQR-19) score between baseline and 6 months was defined as the primary outcome for adherence. Multivariable analyses and final adherence (as a composite outcome of the CQR-19 score, the Girerd score, and the medication possession ratio) were probed in sensitivity tests. Rheumatologic scales, inflammation, and patient satisfaction were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients (mean ± SD Disease Activity Score in 28 joints 2.42 ± 1.03) were monitored. The change over time in the CQR-19 score was significantly higher in the text message group (mean ± SD 3.32 ± 5.66; P = 0.02) than in the control group (mean ± SD 0.22 ± 6.56) and the pharmacist-led counseling group (mean ± SD -0.14 ± 7.56). Multivariable logistic regression showed that text messages remained associated with an increase in the CQR-19 score, independently of the baseline CQR-19 score (odds ratio 3.63 [95% confidence interval 1.26-10.49]; P = 0.017). In the text message group, the increase in the CQR-19 score was correlated with the Health Assessment Questionnaire score (r = -0.405, P = 0.021), and patient satisfaction was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Our results showed evidence of a positive impact of text messages on adherence to MTX treatment for RA. The clinical benefit and the ideal target patient remain to be determined.

Missed Opportunities for Chlamydia Screening in Title X Family Planning Clinics.

BACKGROUND: Annual chlamydia (CT) screening is recommended for women younger than 25 years, yet less than half of young women seeking health care are screened annually. We analyzed Title X family planning service data from the Northwest United States to assess factors associated with missed opportunities for CT screening. Our primary hypothesis was screening coverage is higher during annual preventive health visits compared to other visit types. Study objectives were: (1) identify gaps in screening coverage by patient demographics, visit characteristics, and clinic measures; and (2) examine the association between visit type and CT screening by controlling for other covariates and stratifying by state. METHODS: Calendar year 2011 Title X visit records (n = 180,856) were aggregated to the patient level (n = 112,926) to assess CT screening coverage by all characteristics. Screening variation was explored by bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression. Adjusted models for each state estimated association between comprehensive examination and screening controlling for confounders. RESULTS: Clinic and visit characteristics were associated with CT screening. Coverage ranged from 45% in Washington to 80% in Alaska. Only 34% of patients visited for a routine comprehensive examination. Visit type was associated with screening; 75% of patients who had a comprehensive examination were screened versus 34% of those without a comprehensive examination (unadjusted PR, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 2.16-2.21). The association between comprehensive examination and CT screening varied significantly by state (interaction term, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Missed screening opportunities are common among women who access brief appointments for specific needs but do not seek routine preventive care, particularly in some states. Structural interventions may help address these systematically missed opportunities.

Interventions to Increase Male Attendance and Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections at Publicly-Funded Family Planning Clinics.

PURPOSE: We assessed the impact of staff, clinic, and community interventions on male and female family planning client visit volume and sexually transmitted infection testing at a multisite community-based health care agency. METHODS: Staff training, clinic environmental changes, in-reach/outreach, and efficiency assessments were implemented in two Family Health Center (San Diego, CA) family planning clinics during 2010-2012; five Family Health Center family planning programs were identified as comparison clinics. Client visit records were compared between preintervention (2007-2009) and postintervention (2010-2012) for both sets of clinics. RESULTS: Of 7,826 male client visits during the time before intervention, most were for clients who were aged <30 years (50%), Hispanic (64%), and uninsured (81%). From preintervention to postintervention, intervention clinics significantly increased the number of male visits (4,004 to 8,385; Δ = +109%); for comparison clinics, male visits increased modestly (3,822 to 4,500; Δ = +18%). The proportion of male clinic visits where chlamydia testing was performed increased in intervention clinics (35% to 42%; p < .001) but decreased in comparison clinics (37% to 33%; p < .001). Subgroup analyses conducted among adolescent and young adult males yielded similar findings for male client volume and chlamydia testing. The number of female visits declined nearly 40% in both comparison (21,800 to 13,202; -39%) and intervention clinics (30,830 to 19,971; -35%) between preintervention and postintervention periods. CONCLUSIONS: Multilevel interventions designed to increase male client volume and sexually transmitted infection testing services in family planning clinics succeeded without affecting female client volume or services.

Th17 and CD24hiCD27+ regulatory B lymphocytes are biomarkers of response to biologics in rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to describe the regulatory B and T cells (Breg and Treg) and T helper 17 (Th17) lymphocytes before and under treatment with biologic drugs, and to assess their potential predictive value as biomarkers of response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This was a non-randomised, single-centre, prospective study. Patients with active RA (American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2010) who required the initiation or switch to any biologic drug except rituximab were included. The main judgement criterion was the frequency and absolute number of CD24hiCD27+ Breg and CD24hiCD38hi T2/Breg cells, CD25hiCD127low Treg and CD45RA-CD161+CCR6+ Th17 cells measured at inclusion in both patients and controls, and after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment (M1, M3 and M6) in patients with RA, and compared with the M6 response to treatment (EULAR response and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) remission). RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with RA and 17 controls were included. There was a reduction in T2/Breg frequency at M0 in patients (p < 0.001) and absolute numbers (p = 0.014) and in immunopositive vs. immunonegative RA (p = 0.016). DAS28 remission at M6 was associated with increased frequency of Treg (p = 0.01). A higher level of CD24hiCD27+ Breg at baseline was associated with DAS28 remission at M6 (p = 0.04) and a good EULAR response at M6 for abatacept-treated patients (p = 0.01). A lower M0 level of Th17 was associated with a good EULAR response at M6 (p = 0.007), notably under anti-cytokine drugs (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these data, although preliminary, suggest that phenotyping of T and B cells has potential value for the stratification of biologic drugs, notably with respect to choosing between abatacept and anti-cytokine blockade.

Decrease of Tocilizumab Dose in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are well demonstrated. Doses of 4 and 8 mg/kg are used intravenously. The objective of our study was to report the efficacy and safety for a set of patients who had an 8 mg/kg doze of TCZ and for another set who had this treatment first at a dose of 8 followed by 4 mg/kg. METHODS: All RA patients treated with TCZ in a University Hospital Centre Department of Rheumatology between January 2010 and December 2014 were included. Sixty-three patients received TCZ at a dose of 8 mg/kg and 19 patients received this treatment first receiving a dose of 8 mg/kg decreased to 4 mg/kg. The demographic characteristics, the clinical response and adverse events were reported. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, 48% of patients were in clinical remission defined by disease activity score based on 28 joints with an erythrocyte sedimentation rate <2.6 in the 8 mg/kg group and 74% of patients in the 8-4 mg/kg. The rates of severe infections were 4.8 per 100 patients-years (PY) in the 8 mg/kg group and 2.9 per 100 PY in the 8 then 4 mg/kg. The infections were mainly pulmonary, ENT and skin infections. CONCLUSION: Our study reported the efficacy and safety of the TCZ in patients with RA in 'real life' with the dose of 8 mg/kg or 8 then 4 mg/kg.

How do changes in the population tested for chlamydia over time affect observed trends in chlamydia positivity? Analysis of routinely collected data from young women tested for chlamydia in family planning clinics in the Pacific Northwest (USA), between 2003 and 2010.

UNLABELLED: Background The proportion of chlamydia tests that are positive (positivity) is dependent on the population tested and the test technology used. The way in which changes in these variables might affect trends in positivity over time is investigated. METHODS: Data from 15- to 24-year-old women tested for chlamydia in family planning clinics participating in the Infertility Prevention Project in the Pacific Northwest, United States (USA Public Health Service Region X) during 2003-2010 (n=590557) were analysed. Trends in positivity and in test, demographic and sexual behaviour variables were identified. Unadjusted and adjusted trends in chlamydia positivity were calculated using logistic regression. RESULTS: The proportion of tests carried out using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) increased dramatically during the analysis period in two states. Smaller changes in demographic and behavioural characteristics were seen. Controlling for test technology used had the largest effect on the trend in testing positive per year, leading to a fall in the calculated odds ratio of testing positive from 1.06 to 1.02 in Oregon, and from 1.07 to 1.02 in Idaho. Controlling for other variables had minimal effect on chlamydia positivity trends. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in NAAT use had a large effect on observed trends in chlamydia positivity over time in the two states where NAATs were introduced during the analysis period. While trends in chlamydia positivity may be a useful metric for monitoring chlamydia burden, it is important to consider changes in test type when interpreting these data.