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29Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology June 2019 Highlights
Dimitrios P. Bogdanos
Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2):84-5
AN EDITION OF GREEK RHEUMATOLOGY SOCIETY AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RHEUMATOLOGISTS
a-ISSN: 2529-198X
MEDITERRANEAN JOURNAL
OF RHEUMATOLOGY
June 2019 Volume 30 Issue i
E-ISSN: 2529-198X
MEDITERRANEAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY June 2019 | Volume 30 | Issue 2
MEDITERRANEAN journal 30
of RHEUMATOLOGY 2019
GBogdanos DP.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International L
HIGHLIGHTS
Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology June 2019 Highlights
Dimitrios P. Bogdanos
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2):84-5 https://doi.Org/10.31138/mjr.30.2.84
This issue of the Journal includes papers of great interest.
Nicola Bizzaro, in his expert opinion article,1 critically discusses the evolving role of the newly developed analytical profiling technologies for autoantibody diagnostics. These systems, which are based on micronized components (protein chips or arrays), consist of solid phase-linked autoantigens capable of simultaneously detecting many autoantibodies at the same time. Their pros and cons are considered, and unresolved questions related to the pre- and post-analytical phases are raised. A joint effort by Greek rheumatologists and cardiologists led to a position paper on the emerging role of screening and early diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension in connective tissue disorders. Based on bibliographic data and clinical experience obtained over the years, Demer-outi et al.2 issued ten key commandments for the Greek (and not only) rheumatologist regarding key clinical issues for the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension that the Rheumatologist should be alert of. Heidari et al.3 review epidemiological, clinical and immu-
nological data on the role of vitamin D deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin D is a principal immunoregulator and has been shown to be a key player in the development of RA. As the authors discuss, clinical challenges are still emerging in relation to vitamin D intake and RA as the data are conflicting and is not clear which dose of vitamin D provides more benefit, if any. Katerina Chatzidionys-
iou4 assesses the close relationship between rheumatic disease and art created by great painters suffering from diverse rheumatological conditions. As the author points out "the disease was in many cases the force that led to change in style and technique that contributed substantially to their establishment as great masters, supporting the fact that some of the greatest, most beautiful art is born of great suffering".
In a cross-sectional study involving 111 Iranian patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Anari et al.5 compared the diagnostic value of conventional radiography (CR) versus ultrasonography but failed to find a significant difference between these two methods in the detection of bone erosions. The authors plan a study to be conducted in a larger cohort, which is highly anticipated. Small sample numbers may preclude the findings from being extrapolated, whereas larger sample sizes may intensify the detection of differences, emphasizing statistical differences that could be of clinical relevance. An Egyptian group of investigators assessed the genetic association between Growth Differentiation Factor 5 (GDF5) gene (rs143383T/C) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), one of the most important osteoarthritis risk allele, in a group of Egyptian primary knee osteo-arthritis patients.6 The study failed to reveal a significant association. Because of the limited number of patients assessed, it is difficult to understand whether the lack of genetic association is true or is epiphenomenal. An informative case study, by Gorial et al.7 describes a six-year-old boy, pre-diagnosed with galactosemia, who developed musculoskeletal manifestations. The issue also includes a research protocol. O'Brien et al.8 will be the first to define RA-specific accelerometer cut-points, and to validate the ActiGraph accelerometer and activPALM™, for the measurement of sedentary time and physical activity in RA.
In a letter to the Editor, Kontaxi et al.9 describe a case of a 5year old girl, the youngest survivor of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, a potentially life-threatening
Corresponding author:
Dimitrios P. Bogdanos, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine and
Autoimmune Diseases
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical
Immunology,
University General Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences,
University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 40500, Larissa, Greece E-mail: bogdanos@med.uth.gr Website: www.autorheumatology.com Tel.: +30 241350 2813 Fax: +30 241350 1016
84 Cite this article as: Bogdanos DP. Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology June 2019 Highlights. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2):84-5.
HIGHLIGHTS
emergency condition with a very short disease onset and a rapidly progressing pneumonitis that led to the diagnosis of childhood onset systemic lupus erythematous. The case is of great interest as it offers a significant body of knowledge in the respective field, which can assist efforts to enhance our clinical knowledge and to improve clinical performance, and practice behaviour. Enjoy the reading.
REFERENCES
1. Bizzaro N. Autoantibody Profiles in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2):86-9.
2. Demerouti E, Tsangaris I, Dimitroulas T, Giannakoulas G, Katsimpri P, Mitrouska I, Orfanos S, Skoularigkis I, Voulgari P, Sfikakis PP. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Connective Tissue Disorders. The emerging role of screening and early diagnosis. A position paper for Greek Rheumatologists. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2): 90-3.
3. Heidari B, Hajian-Tilaki K, Babaei M. Vitamin D Deficiency and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Epidemiological, Immunological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2): 94-102.
4. Chatzidionysiou K. Rheumatic disease and artistic creativity. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2):103-9.
5. Anari H, Enteshari-Moghaddam A, Pourfarzi F, Ramazani N. Diagnostic value of Ultrasonography in the detection of Bone Erosions in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: a comparison with Conventional Radiography. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2):110-3.
6. Mohasseb DMF, Saba EKA, Saad NLM, Sarofeem ADH. Genetic Association Between Growth Differentiation Factor 5 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Primary Knee Osteoarthritis in a Group of Egyptian Patients: A Pilot Study. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2): 114-22.
7. Gorial FI, Mohammed MJ. Unusual Presentation of Galactosemia in a Child: Musculoskeletal Manifestations. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2):123-4.
8. O'Brien CM, Duda JL, Kitas GD, Veldhuijzen van Zanten JJCS, Metsios GS, Fenton SAM. Objective measurement of sedentary time and physical activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis: protocol for an accelerometer and activPALM™ validation study. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2):125-34.
9. Kontaxi E, Trachana M, Pratsidou-Gertsi P, Volakli E, Violaki A, Sdougka M. Paediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome as the introductory manifestation in a patient with Childhood Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2019;30(2): 135-8.
