Psoriasis and steatotic liver disease: Are PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 polymorphisms suitable for the hepato-dermal axis hypothesis?

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: A high prevalence of steatotic liver disease has been described in psoriasis. However, the influence of genetic polymorphisms has yet to be investigated in this scenario. This study aims to determine the frequency of steatosis, advanced liver fibrosis and PNPLA3/TM6SF2 genotypes in individuals with psoriasis and to evaluate the impact of genetic polymorphisms, metabolic parameters and cumulative methotrexate dose on steatosis and fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study that prospectively included psoriasis outpatients, submitted to clinical and laboratory analysis, transient elastography (FibroScan®, Fr) and PNPLA3/TM6SF2 genotyping. Steatosis was defined by CAP ≥275 dB/m and advanced liver fibrosis as transient elastography ≥10 kPa. Logistic regression analysis evaluated the independent variables related to steatosis and fibrosis; p-value< 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-nine patients were enrolled (age 54.6 ± 12.6 years, 57.3% female). Metabolic syndrome (MetS), steatosis and advanced liver fibrosis prevalence were 55.8%, 54.8% and 9%, respectively. PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 genotypes frequencies were CC 42.3%/CG 49.5%/GG 8.2% and CC 88.7%/ CT 11.3%/ TT 0%. MetS (OR3.01 95%CI 1.51-5.98; p = 0.002) and body mass index (OR1.17 95%CI 1.08-1.26; p < 0.01) were independently associated with steatosis. Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) (OR10.76 95%CI 2.42-47.87; p = 0.002) and harboring at least one PNPLA3 G allele (OR5.66 95%CI 1.08-29.52; p = 0.039) were associated with advanced fibrosis, but not TM6SF2 polymorphism or cumulative MTX dose. CONCLUSIONS: MetS and T2DM confer higher odds for steatosis and advanced fibrosis in individuals with psoriasis. PNPLA3 G allele, but not TM6SF2 polymorphism, impacts a 5-fold odds of advanced liver fibrosis.

Cuidado de Enfermagem e sexualidade em oncologia para o indivíduo penectomizado / Nursing care and sexuality in Oncology for penectomized individuals / Cuidado de Enfermería y sexualidad en oncología para el individuo que sufrió penectomía

Objetivo: proporcionar reflexões sobre o cuidado de enfermagem com abordagem à sexualidade para a saúde do homem penectomizado por câncer de pênis. Conteúdo: corresponde a estudo reflexivo construído a partir de leituras em produções científicas sobre o cuidado de Enfermagem e a sexualidade para o paciente oncológico penectomizado, à luz dos pensamentos e pressupostos ontológicos e teóricos de Martin Heidegger. Considerações finais: as novas condições impostas pelo adoecimento por câncer de pênis e o tratamento mutilador, a penectomia, exigem uma Enfermagem que aborde a sexualidade, considerando o indivíduo em sua totalidade e com ênfase no cuidado com perspectiva na profundidade e subjetividade existenciais humanas.

Objective: to provide reflections on nursing care with an approach to sexuality for the health of men undergoing penectomy for penile cancer. Content: reflective study developed from readings in scientific productions on Nursing care and sexuality for the penectomized cancer patient, in the light of Martin Heidegger's ontological and theoretical thoughts and assumptions. Final considerations: the new conditions imposed by illness from penile cancer and the mutilating treatment, penectomy, require Nursing that addresses sexuality, considering the individual in its entirety and with an emphasis on care with a perspective on human existential depth and subjectivity.

Objetivo: proporcionar reflexiones sobre el cuidado de Enfermería con abordaje a la sexualidad para la salud del hombre que sufrió penectomía por cáncer de pene. Contenido: corresponde a estudio reflexivo construido a partir de lecturas en producciones científicas sobre el cuidado de Enfermería y la sexualidad para el paciente oncológico que sufrió penectomía, a la luz de los pensamientos y presupuestos ontológicos y teóricos de Martin Heidegger. Consideraciones finales: las nuevas condiciones impuestas por la enfermedad por cáncer de pene y el tratamiento mutilador, la penectomía, exigen una Enfermería que aborde la sexualidad, considerando al individuo en su totalidad y con énfasis en el cuidado con perspectiva en la profundidad y subjetividad existenciales humanas.

Management of Nail Disease in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis: An Updated Literature Review Informing the 2021 GRAPPA Treatment Recommendations.

OBJECTIVE: Nail psoriasis is common, impairs fine motor finger functioning, affects cosmesis, and is associated with a lower quality of life. This review updates the previous Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) treatment recommendations for nail psoriasis. METHODS: This systematic literature review of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases examined the updated evidence since the last GRAPPA nail psoriasis treatment recommendations published in 2014. Recommendations are based on preformed PICO (Patient/Population - Intervention - Comparison/Comparator - Outcome) questions formulated by an international group of dermatologists, rheumatologists, and patient panel members. Data from this literature review were evaluated in line with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. RESULTS: Overall, there is insufficient evidence to make any recommendation for the use of topical corticosteroids, topical calcipotriol, topical tazarotene, topical cyclosporine, dimethyl fumarates/fumaric acid esters, phototherapy, and alitretinoin. There is a low strength of evidence to support the use of calcipotriol and corticosteroid preparations, topical tacrolimus, oral cyclosporine, oral methotrexate, intralesional corticosteroids, pulsed dye laser, acitretin, Janus kinase inhibitors, and apremilast. CONCLUSION: The highest strength of supporting evidence is for the recommendation of biologic agents including tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, and interleukin 12/23, 17, and 23 inhibitors.

Dispositivo de racialidade e saúde mental da população negra: algumas reflexões políticas e psicanalíticas / Dispositivo de racialidad y salud mental de la población negra: algunas reflexiones políticas y psicoanalíticas / Device of raciality and mental health of the black population: some political and psychoanalytic reflections

Resumo Neste texto pretendemos refletir, por meio do entrelaçamento entre o conceito de dispositivo de racialidade (Carneiro, 2023) - como elemento estruturante do campo social - e a constituição do sujeito - tal como formulada na teoria lacaniana - sobre a formação da subjetividade brasileira e, mais especificamente, a produção de adoecimento e sofrimento psíquico da população negra. Ao lado disso, intentaremos apontar o conceito de ética radical da escuta (Silva, 2019) e o conceito de cuidado de si (na perspectiva de Carneiro, 2023, a partir de Foucault, 2002) como ferramentas e estratégias de enfrentamento às dores subjetivas produzidas pelo racismo e pela desigualdade socioeconômica. Por essa via, pretendemos sublinhar a importância de se pensar a política pública de saúde mental levando em consideração a centralidade da questão racial, de gênero, de classe e de território na organização social do Brasil e na produção de subjetividade, de sofrimentos, mas também de alternativas e soluções.

Resumén En este texto pretendemos reflexionar, a través del entrelazamiento entre el concepto de dispositivo de racialidad (Carneiro, 2023) - como elemento estructurante del campo social - y la constitución del sujeto - tal como lo formula la teoría lacaniana - sobre la formación del brasileño subjetividad y, más específicamente, la producción de enfermedad y sufrimiento psicológico entre la población negra. Paralelamente, intentaremos señalar el concepto de ética radical de la escucha (Silva, 2019) y el concepto de autocuidado (desde la perspectiva de Carneiro [2023], basado en Foucault [2002]) como herramientas y estrategias para afrontamiento del dolor sentimientos subjetivos producidos por el racismo y la desigualdad socioeconómica. De esta manera, pretendemos resaltar la importancia de pensar la política pública de salud mental teniendo en cuenta la centralidad de las cuestiones raciales, de género, de clase y territoriales en la organización social de Brasil y en la producción de subjetividad, de sufrimiento, pero también de alternativas y soluciones.

Abstract Through the concept of racial device (Carneiro, 2023), - as a structuring element of the social field - and the constitution of the subject - as formulated in Lacanian theory - we intend to reflect in this text on the formation of Brazilian subjectivity and, more specifically, on the production of illness and psychological suffering among the black population. In parallel, we will try to point out the concept of the radical ethics of listening (Silva, 2019) and the concept of self-care (from the perspective of Carneiro, 2023, based on Foucault, 2002) as tools and strategies for coping with the subjective feelings produced by racism and socio-economic inequality. In this way, we intend to highlight the importance of thinking about public mental health policies in light of the centrality of issues of race, gender, class, and territory in the social organization of Brazil and in the production of subjectivity, suffering, but also alternatives and solutions.

Fatores de risco para complicações pósoperatórias da hidradenite supurativa: artigo de revisão / Risk factors for postoperative complications of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: a review article

Introdução: a hidradenite supurativa é uma doença inflamatória crônica e recidivante. Altas taxas de recorrência podem persistir mesmo após ampla excisão cirúrgica local. Objetivo: avaliar os principais fatores de risco para complicações pós-operatórias da hidradenite supurativa. Metodologia: foram utilizadas referências em artigos científicos nas bases de dados Google, PubMed, LILACS e SciELO nas línguas portuguesa e inglesa, no período de 2000 a 2021. Resultados: os principais fatores que influenciam os resultados pós-operatórios estão relacionados a técnica cirúrgica empregada, gravidade da doença, comorbidades dos pacientes e terapia clínica adjuvante

Introduction: Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a chronic inflamatory and relapsing disease. High levels of recurrence can persist even after wide local excision. Objective: Identify the main risk factors for postoperative complications of Hidradentis Suppurativa. Methods: We included journal articles with data from Google, Pubmed, Lilacs, and Scielo, in Portuguese and English, from 2000 to 2021. Results: The main risk factors that influence postoperative outcomes are related to surgical technique, disease severity, comorbidities, and adjuvant clinical therapy

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk in patients with psoriatic disease in a multiracial population: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic disease (PD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder often associated with cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and smoking. It is estimated that 2%-4% of the population worldwide has PD. Cutaneous lesions of psoriasis (PsO) may be associated with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in up to 40% of patients. Studies have been carried out around the world with the aim of evaluating CVR in such patients. AIM: To determine CVR in a multiracial population with PsA or PsO from southeastern Brazil, which has a predominantly tropical climate, compared with controls. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in outpatients with PsO or PsA followed up at a quaternary referral hospital in Rio de Janeiro. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was used to predict cardiovascular events (CVEs) over 10 years in patients with PsO and PsA compared with controls. RESULTS: FRS was significantly higher at 10 years in patients with PsO (mean ± SD 16.3 ± 14) and PsA (18.0 ± 15) compared with controls (10.6 ± 9.5) (P = 0.01) and also increased with age. The chance of having a high FRS in the PsO and PsA groups increased by 0.30 and 0.23 times per year, respectively, compared with controls (PsO vs. controls 95% CI 0.090-1.00; PsA vs. controls 95% CI 0.08-0.75). CONCLUSION: In this multiethnic Brazilian population, both PsO and PsA were associated with higher CVR compared with controls. The frequency of high FRS was highest in the sixth decade of life for all three groups of participants. Annual assessment of patients with PD is necessary in order to prevent CVEs.

Applicability of the Geographic Tongue Area and Severity Index among Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Clinical Validation of a Newly Developed Geographic Tongue Scoring System.

Geographic tongue (GT) is a chronic condition of unknown aetiology, with no defined parameters to establish the protocol for evidence-based management. Validation of a newly developed and proposed clinical index to assess the severity of GT could assist in its diagnosis, especially in cases associated with systemic dermatological diseases in the form of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: To verify the applicability of the geographic tongue area and severity index (GTASI). This involved healthcare professionals from different specialties to evaluate the usefulness of the GTASI in supporting GT classification, as well as the follow-up process. METHODS: One hundred cases of previously diagnosed GT were initially evaluated by three independent, experienced researchers/clinicians to obtain a standardised classification baseline. Subsequently, nine cases of GT were selected, three cases for each category-mild, moderate and severe. These stages were professionally evaluated by 51 healthcare professionals from three groups: 17 dentists (33%), 22 oral medicine specialists (43%) and 12 specialist dermatologists (24%) during a cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: The quantitative and qualitative assessment based on experts' opinions in the cross-sectional survey demonstrated an acceptable, similar level of GT clinical diagnosis (p > 0.05), with coherence between the various groups of professionals critically appraising the GTASI. An apparent divergence was observed for the moderate GT category, as well as in the group of less experienced evaluators. CONCLUSION: Whilst the validation of GTASI applicability was successfully executed, the general dental practitioners, specialists in oral medicine and dermatologists were equally capable of correct GT diagnosis and appropriately rating its severity. These coherent results were especially replicated among the experienced clinicians. The validation of the newly proposed index confirmed its reliability as a feasible instrument in oral medicine, with the prospect of its wider implementation in clinical practice.

Indicadores sociodemográficos e de saneamento e moradia na qualidade de vida de pessoas com estomia / Sociodemographic and sanitation and housing indicators on the quality of life of people with stoma / Indicadores sociodemográficos y sanitarios y habitacionales sobre la calidad de vida de las personas ostomizadas

Objetivo:Analisar as relações entre a qualidade de vida (QV) de pessoas com estomia com indicadores sociodemográficos, clínicos, de estilo de vida, de saneamento e moradia. Métodos: Estudo transversal com amostra de 106 indivíduos com estomia entrevistados de maio a dezembro de 2019. Utilizou-se um questionário sociodemográfico e clínico e o City of Hope - Quality of Life - Ostomy Questionnary. Resultados: O bem-estar espiritual (7,71±1,09) foi o domínio com melhor performance. A QV não diferiu entre homens e mulheres (p = 0,372), porém esteve associada à escolaridade (< 0,001) e renda familiar (p = 0,025), ao diabetes (p = 0,008) e etilismo (p = 0,044), às condições da água para consumo (p < 0,001), ao destino do lixo (p = 0,021), em ter energia elétrica (p = 0,034), ao tipo de moradia (p = 0,026) e ao número de cômodos (p = 0,023) e tipo de cobertura da habitação (p = 0,021). Conclusão: Piores indicadores socioeconômicos, de saneamento básico e moradia, parecem impactar negativamente a QV de pessoas com estomias.

Objectives:To analyze the relationships between the quality of life (QOL) of people with stoma with sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, sanitation, and housing indicators. Method: Cross-sectional study with a sample of 106 individuals with stoma interviewed from May to December 2019. A sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and the City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy Questionnaire were used. Results: Spiritual well-being (7.71 ± 1.09) was the best performing domain. Quality of life did not differ between men and women (p = 0.372), but was associated with education (< 0.001) and family income (p = 0.025), diabetes (p = 0.008) and alcoholism (p = 0.044), drinking water conditions (p < 0.001), garbage disposal (p = 0.021), having electricity (p = 0.034), housing type (p = 0.026), number of rooms (p = 0.023), and housing coverage (p = 0.021). Conclusion: worse socioeconomic, sanitation, and housing indicators appear to negatively impact the QOL of people with stomata

Objetivo:Analizar las relaciones entre la calidad de vida (CV) de las personas con estoma con indicadores sociodemográficos, clínicos, de estilo de vida, saneamiento y vivienda. Métodos: Estudio transversal con una muestra de 106 ostomizados, entrevistados de mayo a noviembre de 2019. Se utilizó un cuestionario sociodemográfico y clínico y el Cuestionario City of Hope - Quality of Life - Ostomy. Resultados: El bienestar espiritual (7,71 ± 1,09) fue el dominio con mejor desempeño. La CV no difirió entre hombres y mujeres (p = 0,372), pero se asoció con la educación (< 0,001) y los ingresos familiares(p = 0,025), la diabetes (p = 0,008) y el alcoholismo (p = 0,044), con las condiciones de agua potable (p <0,001), el destino de la basura (p = 0,021), la disponibilidad de electricidad (p = 0,034), el tipo de vivienda (p = 0,026) y el número de habitaciones (p = 0,023) y tipo de cobertura de vivienda (p = 0,021). Conclusión: Peores indicadores socioeconómicos, saneamiento básico, vivienda, parecen impactar negativamente la calidad de vida de las personas con ostomía.

Brazilian Society of Rheumatology 2020 guidelines for psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic and systemic immune disease characterized by inflammation of peripheral and/or axial joints and entheses in patients with psoriasis (PsO). Extra-articular and extracutaneous manifestations and numerous comorbidities can also be present. These recommendations replace the previous version published in May 2013. A systematic review of the literature retrieved 191 articles that were used to formulate 12 recommendations in response to 12 clinical questions, divided into 4 sections: diagnosis, non-pharmacological treatment, conventional drug therapy and biologic therapy. These guidelines provide evidence-based information on the clinical management for PsA patients. For each recommendation, the level of evidence (highest available), degree of strength (Oxford) and degree of expert agreement (interrater reliability) are reported.

Coexistence of onychomycosis and nail psoriasis and its correlation with systemic treatment.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies indicate that onychomycosis may affect up to 79% of psoriatic patients. Onychomycosis in psoriatic patients is more commonly caused by yeasts comparing with non-psoriatic. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the prevalence of fungi in nail psoriasis. Evaluate the association between direct mycological examination (DME) and mycological culture, Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) and systemic treatment for psoriasis. METHODS: Of 133 nails from 20 patients with nail psoriasis were evaluated as follows: 9 patients were using topical treatment and 11 were on systemic treatment. The assessment of psoriasis severity using NAPSI was performed in all psoriatic nails. The presence of fungi was confirmed in DME and culture. RESULTS: DME showed the presence of fungal elements in 45 nails (33.83%) with a predominance of blastoconidia (95.5%) No septate hyphae were seen. Mycological culture was positive in 36 (27.06%) samples. Among them, Candida grew in 31 (86.1%): Candida parapsilosis in 15 (48.38%), Candida spp in 14 (45.16%). No growth of dermatophytes was observed. Patients with systemic treatment showed a higher frequency of positive test (DME and culture) for fungi when compared to topic treatment (p:.006). There was a positive correlation between NAPSI, mycological culture and systemic treatment (p:.0063); the risk was four times higher (OR:4.0). LIMITATION OF THE STUDY: Sample size. CONCLUSION: These results are consistent with some previous reports, Candida was the fungus with higher frequency on the psoriatic nails, however, the role of these fungi is controversial (contamination x colonisation x infection). The fact that the immunosuppressive treatment increases the chance of fungal infection leads us to a greater attention to this patient profile, to prevent the intensification of nail psoriasis (Köbner phenomenon).

Association of HLA Alleles and HLA Haplotypes with Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Disease Severity in a Miscegenated Population.

BACKGROUND: The study of HLA classes I and II in Brazilian psoriasis patients may contribute to a better understanding of their association with the disease. OBJECTIVE: To describe HLA classes I and II of Brazilian patients with psoriasis, with or without arthritis, compare them to controls and correlate HLA markers with epidemiological and evolutional aspects of psoriasis. METHODS: A total of 55 patients with more than 5 years of psoriasis, with or without arthritis, answered a questionnaire on ethnic background and disease severity. A total of 134 bone marrow donors were controls. HLA class I and II genotyping was determined by PCR-SSP. RESULTS: Mean age was 42.4 years; 23 women and 32 men. HLA-B*57 was present in 23.6% patients and in 7.5% controls (p=0.00200, OR= 3.8381), and HLA-C*06 in 29.1% patients and in 16.4% controls (p= 0.04832, OR=2.0886). HLA-B*57 and HLA-C*18 were significantly present in patients with arthritis (p=0.00104, OR=6.6769 and p=0.00269, OR=16.50, respectively). HLA-B*57 was significantly present in patients with history of erythroderma (p=0.00548, OR= 5.1059), as was HLA-C*06 (p=0.02158, OR=3.0545). HLA-B*57 was also frequent in patients with history of hospital internment due to psoriasis (p= 0.00094, OR=7.8909) and in the ones with history of systemic treatment for psoriasis (p= 0.00011, OR= 5.3733). Haplotype HLA-A*02 B*57 C*06 DRB1*07DQB1*03 was the most common among the patients (p= 0.00069, OR= 3.528). CONCLUSION: HLA-B*57 and HLA-C*06 were significantly increased in the patients indicating risk for psoriasis. HLA-B*57 remained high in patients with history of erythroderma, hospital internment, systemic treatment, and psoriatic arthritis, showing association with disease severity. HLA-C*18 was significantly high only in patients with psoriatic arthritis. HLA-B*57 and HLA-C*06 and haplotype HLA-A*02B*57Cw*06DRB1*07 DQB1*03 seen in this study were already described before, associated with psoriasis. HLA-Cw*18 was not described in other populations in association with psoriasis.

Adverse effects of polychemotherapy for leprosy in 13 years of follow-up at a university hospital

Abstract Leprosy is one of the neglected diseases in the world and Brazil is the second country with more cases. A retrospective study was conducted based on the medical records of 196 leprosy patients diagnosed during the course of 13 years at a university hospital. The aim was to describe the adverse effects of polychemotherapy, as well the most prevalent and most vulnerable populations. In the study, dapsone was the most implicated drug, especially in women, and the risk increased with age. The authors conclude that with this patient profile, greater vigilance should be taken regarding possible adverse effects, especially anemia.

Adverse effects of polychemotherapy for leprosy in 13 years of follow-up at a university hospital.

Leprosy is one of the neglected diseases in the world and Brazil is the second country with more cases. A retrospective study was conducted based on the medical records of 196 leprosy patients diagnosed during the course of 13 years at a university hospital. The aim was to describe the adverse effects of polychemotherapy, as well the most prevalent and most vulnerable populations. In the study, dapsone was the most implicated drug, especially in women, and the risk increased with age. The authors conclude that with this patient profile, greater vigilance should be taken regarding possible adverse effects, especially anemia.

High levels of immunosuppression are related to unfavourable outcomes in hospitalised patients with rheumatic diseases and COVID-19: first results of ReumaCoV Brasil registry.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate risk factors associated with unfavourable outcomes: emergency care, hospitalisation, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), mechanical ventilation and death in patients with immune-mediated rheumatic disease (IMRD) and COVID-19. METHODS: Analysis of the first 8 weeks of observational multicentre prospective cohort study (ReumaCoV Brasil register). Patients with IMRD and COVID-19 according to the Ministry of Health criteria were classified as eligible for the study. RESULTS: 334 participants were enrolled, a majority of them women, with a median age of 45 years; systemic lupus erythematosus (32.9%) was the most frequent IMRD. Emergency care was required in 160 patients, 33.0% were hospitalised, 15.0% were admitted to the ICU and 10.5% underwent mechanical ventilation; 28 patients (8.4%) died. In the multivariate adjustment model for emergency care, diabetes (prevalence ratio, PR 1.38; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.73; p=0.004), kidney disease (PR 1.36; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.77; p=0.020), oral glucocorticoids (GC) (PR 1.49; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.85; p<0.001) and pulse therapy with methylprednisolone (PR 1.38; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.67; p=0.001) remained significant; for hospitalisation, age >50 years (PR 1.89; 95% CI 1.26 to 2.85; p=0.002), no use of tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) (PR 2.51;95% CI 1.16 to 5.45; p=0.004) and methylprednisolone pulse therapy (PR 2.50; 95% CI 1.59 to 3.92; p<0.001); for ICU admission, oral GC (PR 2.24; 95% CI 1.36 to 3.71; p<0.001) and pulse therapy with methylprednisolone (PR 1.65; 95% CI 1.00 to 2.68; p<0.043); the two variables associated with death were pulse therapy with methylprednisolone or cyclophosphamide (PR 2.86; 95% CI 1.59 to 5.14; p<0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Age >50 years and immunosuppression with GC and cyclophosphamide were associated with unfavourable outcomes of COVID-19. Treatment with TNFi may have been protective, perhaps leading to the COVID-19 inflammatory process.

Brazilian recommendations for the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic inflammatory systemic diseases characterized by axial and/or peripheral joints inflammation, as well as extra-articular manifestations. Over some decades, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been the basis for the pharmacological treatment of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, the emergence of the immunobiologic agents brought up the discussion about the role of NSAIDs in the management of these patients. The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations for the use of NSAIDs for the treatment of axSpA. A panel of experts from the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials for 15 predefined questions. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to assess the quality of evidence and formulate recommendations were used, and at least 70% agreement of the voting panel was needed. Fourteen recommendations for the use of NSAIDs in the treatment of patients with axSpA were elaborated. The purpose of these recommendations is to support clinicians' decision making, without taking out his/her autonomy when prescribing for an individual patient.

Brazilian recommendations for the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with axial spondyloarthritis

Abstract Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic inflammatory systemic diseases characterized by axial and/or peripheral joints inflammation, as well as extra-articular manifestations. Over some decades, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been the basis for the pharmacological treatment of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, the emergence of the immunobiologic agents brought up the discussion about the role of NSAIDs in the management of these patients. The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations for the use of NSAIDs for the treatment of axSpA. A panel of experts from the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials for 15 predefined questions. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to assess the quality of evidence and formulate recommendations were used, and at least 70% agreement of the voting panel was needed. Fourteen recommendations for the use of NSAIDs in the treatment of patients with axSpA were elaborated. The purpose of these recommendations is to support clinicians' decision making, without taking out his/her autonomy when prescribing for an individual patient.(AU)

Validation and clinical interpretability of PsAID - psoriatic arthritis impact of disease.

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of widely varying presentation, which determines functional and psychological impairment, with a high negative impact on patients' quality of life. Therefore, knowing the patient's perception of their health status is of fundamental importance for understanding the real impact of PsA. Given this context, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recently developed the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID) - instrument to specifically assess the impact of PsA for the patient. OBJECTIVE: Validate the brazilian portuguese version of PsAID-12 (Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease) and to verify its interpretability in clinical practice, through its relation with measures of psoriatic arthritis activity. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study, which recruited 160 patients, who met the Classification criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR), in six Brazilian centers of rheumatology. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The construct validity was evaluated by exploratory factorial analysis and also by Spearman correlation with other PROMs and measures of disease activity evaluation. RESULTS: Of the total number of participants, 50% were female, with a mean age (SD) of 54.0 ± 11.2 years; 68% had only peripheral arthritis and 32% had pure or mixed axial involvement. The majority (67.7%) of the patients were using biological treatment. The reliability of internal consistency (alpha-Cronbach = 0.93) and test-retest (ICC = 0.996) were good. Factor analysis revealed two factors, named physical and psychosocial, which included the skin evaluation item. PsAID-12 correlated significantly with other PROMs, demonstrating good construct validity. PsAID-12 was also significantly associated with the disease activity assessment instruments (DAS28-ESR, ASDAS, and BASDAI) and the MDA status: "Minimum Disease Activity". Fibromyalgia did not significantly affect the final PsAID-12 score. CONCLUSION: The brazilian version of PsAID-12 has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of the impact of the disease in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Moreover, it associated significantly with the scores of disease activity assessment.

Higher Prevalence of Periodontitis and Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth in Patients with Psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and severity of periodontitis and decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index in patients with psoriasis. As a secondary aim, verify if periodontitis was a risk indicator for psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 69 patients diagnosed with psoriasis (48.7 ± 14.6 years) and 74 healthy controls (40.3 ± 12.9 years) participated in the study. Probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing, plaque index, and DMFT index were measured in all subjects. Periodontitis was defined as the presence of at least three interproximal sites with CAL ≥3 mm in different teeth and severe periodontitis should involve at least two interproximal sites in different teeth with CAL ≥5 mm. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze the demographics and the clinical data. The significance level was 5%. A multivariate logistic regression was conducted, and the odds ratio were calculated to express the risk to develop psoriasis. RESULTS: Patients with psoriasis had significantly more sites with CAL ≥3 mm (p < 0.03) and CAL ≥5 mm (p < 0.0001), less sites with plaque (p < 0.0001), fewer teeth (p < 0.0001), and a high DMFT index (p < 0.02) as compared with controls. Severe periodontitis was significantly more frequent (87.1% × 58.1%) and was a risk indicator for psoriasis after adjusting for sex, age, race, and smoking habits (odds ratio: 3.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.5-9.0, p < 0.003). CONCLUSION: Patients with psoriasis have higher prevalence of severe periodontitis and higher DMFT than control patients. Severe periodontitis may be a risk indicator for psoriasis.

The rashes that lead to cutaneous ulcers.

Skin rashes have exanthema as a synonym, a term derived from the Greek words exanthem, meaning "to appear," and anthos, which denotes "flourishing." The relevant factors for characterization of a rash include distribution, configuration, and organization of the lesions, in addition to evidence of systemic involvement through toxemia, adenopathy, and conjunctive lesions, hepatosplenomegaly, excoriations or phlogosis, neck rigidity, or neurologic dysfunction. A rash may evolve to cutaneous ulceration in many instances, which is relevant for the diagnosis, the followup, and the therapeutic management of the patient. Systemic diseases with exanthemas that result in ulcerations prevail over diseases that are restricted to signs and/or merely cutaneous clinical manifestations. A variety of etiologies can present cutaneous rashes with ulcers, subject or not to systemic involvement by the underlying disease, among which stand out the bullous diseases, infectious and parasitic diseases, noninfectious granulomatous diseases, vasculitis, paraneoplastic syndromes, autoimmune diseases of the connective tissue, neutrophilic diseases, lichen planus, and drug hypersensitivity syndrome. The authors present a detailed review of some diseases corresponding to each one of the mentioned etiologies, updating the clinical manifestations and therapeutic proposals.

The Brazilian Society of Rheumatology guidelines for axial spondyloarthritis - 2019.

Spondyloarthritis is a group of chronic inflammatory systemic diseases characterized by axial and/or peripheral joints inflammation, as well as extra-articular manifestations. The classification axial spondyloarthritis is adopted when the spine and/or the sacroiliac joints are predominantly involved. This version of recommendations replaces the previous guidelines published in May 2013.A systematic literature review was performed, and two hundred thirty-seven studies were selected and used to formulate 29 recommendations answering 15 clinical questions, which were divided into four sections: diagnosis, non-pharmacological therapy, conventional drug therapy and biological therapy. For each recommendation the level of evidence supporting (highest available), the strength grade according to Oxford, and the degree of expert agreement (inter-rater reliability) is informed.These guidelines bring evidence-based information on clinical management of axial SpA patients, including, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.