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Objective: There is a lack of real-life studies on interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibition in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We assessed real-life 6- and 12-month effectiveness (i.e., retention, remission, low disease activity [LDA], and response rates) of the IL-17 inhibitor secukinumab in PsA patients overall and across 1) number of prior biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (
Objective: The heterogeneity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) constitutes clinical and therapeutical challenges. We therefore studied whether unrecognized disease subgroups can be identified by using autoantibody profiling together with HLA-DRB1 alleles and immunological and clinical data. Methods: An unsupervised cluster analysis was performed based on detection of 13 SLE-associated autoanti
Aims: Recent studies have suggested potential sex differences in treatment response to pharmacological therapies in heart failure (HF). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing treatment effects between men and women with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) using established guideline-directed medical therapy and other emerging pharmacological treatments. Method
Background and ObjectivesIdentifying a clinically meaningful change in cognitive test score is essential when using cognition as an outcome in clinical trials. This is especially relevant because clinical trials increasingly feature novel composites of cognitive tests. Our primary objective was to establish minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) for commonly used cognitive tests, using a
BACKGROUND: Complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) is a major reason for implantation of permanent pacemakers, but knowledge of CAVB inheritance is sparse. This nationwide study aimed to determine the occurrence of CAVB in first-, second-, and third-degree relatives (full siblings, half-siblings, and cousins).METHODS: The Swedish multigeneration register was linked to the Swedish nationwide patien
BackgroundLoss to follow-up (LTFU) from tuberculosis (TB) treatment and care is a major public health problem as patients can be infectious and also may develop a multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). The study aimed to assess whether LTFU differs by the distance TB patients travelled to receive care from the nearest health facility.MethodsA total of 402 patient cards of TB patients who received care
Background: Accurately quantifying the risk of osteoporotic fracture is important for directing appropriate clinical interventions. While skeletal measures such as heel quantitative speed of sound (SOS) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry bone mineral density are able to predict the risk of osteoporotic fracture, the utility of such measurements is subject to the availability of equipment and hum
This paper revises the design process for closed-loop combustion control based on in-cycle feedback. Methods for the necessary observers, detectors and virtual sensors are also discussed. The control problem tackles the indicated efficiency optimization, following two approaches, direct and indirect optimization. The argumentation provides a comprehensive overview on how to specify and integrate d
Background: A novel data-driven classification of type 2 diabetes has been proposed to personalise anti-diabetic treatment according to phenotype. One subgroup, severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD), is characterised by mild hyperglycaemia but marked hyperinsulinaemia, and presents an increased risk of diabetic nephropathy. We hypothesised that patients with SIRD could particularly benefit from
Background: Substance use among older persons occurs with medical and psychiatric comorbidities. This study examined the associations of substance use disorder (SUD), psychiatric, and dual diagnoses with 12-month cumulative hospitalized days, hospital admission rate and number of days to first hospitalization.Methods: The cohort of 3,624 individuals (28.2% women) aged 50 years or older was assesse
Background: Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible, and fatal disease for which accumulation of amyloid beta is thought to play a key role in pathogenesis. Aducanumab is a human monoclonal antibody directed against aggregated soluble and insoluble forms of amyloid beta. Objectives: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of aducanumab in early Alzheimer’s disease. Design: EMERGE and ENGAG
BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric (NP) involvement and fatigue are major problems in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). S100A8/A9 is a marker of inflammation and responds to therapy in SLE patients. S100A8/A9 has an immunopathogenic role in various neurological diseases. We investigated S100A8/A9 in relation to NP-involvement and fatigue in SLE.METHODS: 72 consecutive SLE outpatients at a tertiary cen
The global silicon (Si) cycle plays a critical role in regulating the biological pump and the carbon cycle in the oceans. A promising tool to reconstruct past dissolved silicic acid (DSi) concentrations is the silicon isotope signature of radiolaria (δ30Sirad), siliceous zooplankton that dwells at subsurface and intermediate water depths. However, to date, only a few studies on sediment δ30Sirad r
IMPORTANCE: The introduction of solid or semisolid foods alongside breast milk plays a vital role in meeting nutritional requirements during early childhood, which is crucial for child growth and development. Understanding the prevalence of zero-food children (defined for research purposes as children aged 6 to 23 months who did not consume animal milk, formula, or solid or semisolid food during t
Introduction: The impact of exposure to endemic infections on basal immunity and susceptibility to HIV-1 acquisition remains uncertain. We hypothesized that exposure to infections such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), malaria and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in high-risk individuals may modulate immunity and subsequently increase susceptibility to HIV-1 acquisition. Methods: A case-control stud
Purpose: Glaucoma is a heterogeneous group of optic neuropathies that potentially may be associated with other cerebral neurodegenerative processes leading to dementia. However, prior studies have been inconsistent. We examined dementia risks after glaucoma diagnosis in a large population-based cohort. Design: National matched cohort study. Participants: A total of 324 730 persons diagnosed with g
BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials relatively consistently show that restrictive red blood cell (RBC) transfusion strategies are safe and associated with similar outcomes compared to liberal transfusion strategies in critically ill patients. Based on these data, the general threshold for RBC transfusion was changed to 70 g/L at a 9-bed tertiary level intensive care unit in September 2020. Im
Background: Understanding the relationship among changes in Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), patient outcomes, and probability of progression is crucial for evaluating the long-term benefits of disease-modifying treatments. We examined associations among changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) stages and outcomes that are important to patients and their care partners including activities of daily livin
Background: The number of pregnant women with congenital heart disease (CHD) is rising, and the disease poses increased risks of cardiovascular and obstetric complications during pregnancy, potentially impacting breastfeeding success. This study aimed to investigate breastfeeding in primiparous women with CHD compared to primiparous women without CHD, and to examine potential hindering factors for
