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11mediterranean journal 29
of RHEUMATOLOGY 2018
© Sakkas L I
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HIGHLIGHTS
Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology June 2018 Issue Highlights
Lazaros I. Sakkas
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):65-6 https://doi.org/10.31138/mjr. 29.2.65
In this issue of MJR there are interesting case reports, research protocols and reviews. Panagopoulos et al.1 reviewed the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) and their potential role as therapeutic targets in this disease. miRNAs are small, single-stranded non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.
Chikanza et al.2 use a case of a woman with Adaman-tiades-Behcet disease (ABD), who subsequently developed monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) to speculate on the mechanisms of development of MGUS and ABD. ABD shares features of autoimmune disease and autoinflammatory disease and the authors elaborate that an early event in B cells, such as IgH translocation, may make them sensitive to growth factors, such as interleukin(IL)-6 which is raised in ABD. Also, the CD56 marker, increased in ABD T cells, is also increased in MGUS plasma cells. Patients with antiphopsholipid syndrome (APS) may develop angina and myocardial infarction. In a research protocol, Tektonidou et al.7 will utilize stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance in asymptomatic patients with APS to detect myocardial ischemia. Tsalapaki et al.8 in a 5-year prospective protocol will study disease course, comorbidities, treatment efficacy and outcome in giant cell arteritis in Greece.
O'Brien et al.9 in a research protocol will examine longitudinal relationships between sedentary behavior (defined as waking behavior characterized by < 1.5 metabolic equivalents, METS) while in a sitting, reclining or lying position, or light intensity physical activity(1.6-<3.0 METS) with health outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis. Calcified chest lymph nodes in a patient with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare finding in SSc. Yet, as Ange-lopoulou et al.6 pointed out, this finding as well SSc may well be a consequence of silica exposure. Migkos et al.5 reported on two patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SjS) who developed polymyositis and inclusion body myositis and identified another 24 cases of SjS with inflammatory myopathies in the literature. Venetsanopoulou et al.3 reported on a patient with an-kylosing spondylitis who developed systemic sclerosis (SSc) and scleroderma renal crisis. The co-existence of ankylosing spondylitis and SSc is rare. Patients on immunosuppressants are susceptible to various infections. In this issue, Kostopoulos et al4 described a patient with RA treated with steroids, methotrexate and adalimumab developed Orf disease, also known as ecthyma contagious; a rare self-limited disease caused by a DNA virus of the parapoxvirus group and transmitted to humans from goats and sheep.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The author declares no conflict of interest.
Corresponding author:
Lazaros I. Sakkas, MD, DM, PhD(UK), FRCP(UK)
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
University of Thessaly, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences
41110 Larissa, Greece
Tel.: +30 2413 502 813
Fax: +30 2413 501 016
E-mail: [email protected]
REFRENCES
1. Panagopoulos P K, Lambrou G I. The Involvement of MicroRNAs in Osteoarthritis and Recent Developments: A Narrative Review. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):65-6.
2. Chikanza I C, Akpenyi O. Association of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance with Behcet's Disease: A Review of Shared Common Disease Pathogenetic Mechanisms. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):80-5.
3. Venetsanopoulou A I, Argyropoulou O, Tzioufas A G. Patient with
Cite this article as: Sakkas L I. Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology June 2018 Issue Highlights. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):65-6.
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ankylosing spondylitis and scleroderma renal crisis. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):86-8.
4. Kostopoulos M, Gerodimos C, Batsila E, Kalinou C, Athanassiou P. Orf disease in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):89-91.
5. Migkos M P, Sarmas I, Somarakis G A, Voulgari P V, Tsamis K I, Drosos A A. Sjögren Syndrome Associated with Inflammatory Muscle Diseases. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):92-6.
6. Angelopoulou F, Kraniotis P, Liossis S N, Daoussis D. Calcified lymph nodes and systemic sclerosis. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):97-8.
7. Tektonidou M G, Sfikakis P P, Kolovou G, Mavrogeni S. Stress perfusion Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Patients with Antiphospho-lipid Syndrome. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):99-102.
8. Tsalapaki C, Nikitopoulou E, Boki K A, Boumpas D, Sfikakis P P, Vosvotekas G, et al. Five-year prospective multi-center cohort study of patients with giant cell arteritis in Greece. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):103-5.
9. O'Brien C M, Duda J L, Kitas G D, Veldhuijzen van Zanten J JCS, Metsios GS, Fenton S AM. Correlates of sedentary behaviour and light physical activity in people living 2 with rheumatoid arthritis: protocol for a longitudinal study. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2018;29(2):106-17.
