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Abstract Background Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory musculoskeletal disease, manifesting as peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis, spondylitis, and skin and nail psoriasis. A core set of domains for measuring the impact of PsA has been developed, including pain, patient global assessment, physical function, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and fatigue. To understand the impact of PsA on health domains from a patient’s perspective, a global survey was developed and results reported in the context of the 12-item Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID-12) questionnaire. Methods An online patient-based global survey was conducted by The Harris Poll in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, Taiwan, the UK, and the US between November 2, 2017 and March 12, 2018. Eligible patients were ≥ 18 years old with a diagnosis of PsA for > 1 year, had visited a rheumatologist/dermatologist in the past 12 months and reported using ≥ 1 synthetic/biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug for PsA. Patients reported on PsA severity and symptoms, and the impact of PsA on HRQoL. After survey completion, responses were aligned with PsAID health domains. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted. Results This analysis included 1286 patients from eight countries. Most patients (97%) reported musculoskeletal symptoms relating to PsA in the past year. Common moderate/major impacts of PsA were on physical activity (78%), ability to perform certain activities (76%), work productivity (62%), and career path (57%). Skin/nail symptoms occurred in 80% of patients. Overall, 69% of patients reported that PsA had a moderate/major impact on emotional/mental wellbeing, 56% on romantic relationships/intimacy, and 44% on relationships with family and friends. Social impacts included emotional distress (58%), social shame or disapproval (32%), and ceased participation in social activities (45%). Over half of all patients experienced unusual fatigue over the past 12 months (52%). The health domains that patients reported as being impacted by PsA aligned with life impact domains of the patient-derived PsAID health domains. Conclusion These results highlight the impact of PsA on multiple health domains from a patient perspective that should be considered during shared decision-making processes between healthcare providers and patients.

Opuntia is the most diverse and widespread genus in the Cactaceae; several species have broad distribution ranges and have successfully adapted to distinct habitats. One explanation for their success is the diversity of their reproductive systems. Opuntia macrocentra is one of the most common widespread species in North American deserts. A previous work on a northern population documented that this species has a mixed‐mating system and receives a low frequency of pollinators. In a southern population of O. macrocentra, we described its floral visitors, anthesis schedules and flower morphometry. Through controlled pollination experiments (selfing, outcrossing, supplementary pollen and natural pollination), we assessed the breeding and mating systems and measured pollen limitation. Eight different bee species visited the flowers. Based on their conduct, Diadasia rinconis and Lasioglossum sp. were the main pollinators. Flowers were homogamous and herkogamous. Floral traits and pollination experiments showed that O. macrocentra is xenogamous and self‐incompatible. Fruit set of the natural pollination, outcrossing and supplementary pollen treatments were not statistically different. Seed set was higher in natural pollination and the pollen limitation index for seed set was negative. Based on these results, we conclude that O. macrocentra is not pollen limited in the studied population. These results contrast with those of the previously studied population; therefore, we caution about making generalizations about the reproductive system based solely on studies in one population. The diversity of mating systems displayed by O. macrocentra may explain its broad distribution and adaptation to different environmental factors, one of which may be pollinator availability. Our results highlight the need to describe the reproductive ecology of populations instead of species, because reproductive systems and ecological factors such as plant–animal interactions may differ across their distribution range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spherical like Y2O3 nanostructures doped with Er3+ and Yb3+ ions have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The samples were prepared by using different precipitant agents in the synthesis process. The phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Effects of the precipitant agents on structural, morphological, and photoluminescence properties of Y2O3:Er3+-Yb3+ are studied and discussed. XRD analysis indicates that all samples, prepared with different precipitant agents, present the same cubic phase. Electron microscopy measurements show regular spherical shapes with size diameter depending on precipitant agent. Photoluminescence reveals that the samples have strong green (563 nm) and red (660 nm) emissions corresponding to 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 and 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transitions of Er3+ ions, respectively. The nanophosphors prepared with both Thiourea and Lithium Hydroxide exhibit the stronger visible upconversion luminescence under 980 nm diode laser excitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roles for nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) during pollen-tube growth have been well established in angiosperms, but there remains lack of information regarding their potential signalling roles in pollen tubes in gymnosperms. Here, the pollen-tube elongation of Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica Greene) was investigated. Nitric oxide, ROS, and actin were detected using their respective fluorescent probes. Both NO and ROS were observed in the nuclei of generative cells and pollen-tube cells, and in the cytoplasm in the tip region. An intracellular NO content in the pollen cells was lowered using an NO scavenger or an NO-synthase inhibitor. Similarly, an endogenous ROS content in the pollen cells was lowered using an NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor. These treatments reduced pollen germination and pollen-tube growth, and induced severe morphological abnormalities. Inhibition of NO and ROS accumulation also severely disrupted the actin cytoskeleton in the pollen tubes. These data indicate that NO and ROS had signalling roles in pollen germination and pollen-tube formation in cypress.

Unaccompanied refugees are a high-risk group for trauma-induced psychiatric disorders. Besides traumatic experiences pre- and during migration, post-migration stressors such as insecure residency status affect refugees’ mental health and foster aggressive emotions. High levels of psychological distress and psychopathology distort time perspectives. Consequently, an insecure residency status linked to distress may influence a refugee’s time perspective. This study investigated psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, aggressive emotions, and time perspectives in 33 unaccompanied adolescent refugees with and without secure residency status in Germany. Refugees with precarious residency status showed higher levels of overall distress and aggression than individuals with secure residency status. Both groups revealed a distorted time perspective profile, but individuals with a residence permit showed a stronger orientation toward the present hedonistic perspective than those without a permit. Higher aggressive emotions were related to insecure status, higher levels of psychological distress, more pronounced PTSD symptoms, and lower orientation to future time perspective. Distorted time perspectives among refugees may be caused by traumatic experiences and having been uprooted, independently of their residency status in the host country. A higher future orientation may buffer the association between distorted time perspectives and aggressive emotions in the highly stressed group of unaccompanied adolescent refugees.

There is an increased prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic sclerosis. The mechanism for the development of ASCVD in these conditions has been linked not only to a higher prevalence and undertreatment of traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors but importantly to chronic inflammation and a dysregulated immune system which contribute to impaired endothelial and microvascular function, factors that may contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis. Accurate ASCVD risk stratification and optimal risk management remain challenging in this population with many barriers that include lack of validated risk calculators, the remitting and relapsing nature of underlying disease, deleterious effect of medications used to manage rheumatic diseases, multimorbidity, decreased mobility due to joint pain, and lack of clarity about who bears the responsibility of performing CV risk assessment and management (rheumatologist vs. primary care provider vs. cardiologist). Despite recent advances in this field, there remain significant gaps in knowledge regarding the best diagnostic and management approach. The evolving field of Cardio-Rheumatology focuses on optimization of cardiovascular care and research in this patient population through collaboration and coordination of care between rheumatologists, cardiologists, radiologists, and primary care providers. This review aims to provide an overview of current state of knowledge about ASCVD risk stratification in patients with IRD, contributing factors including effect of medications, and review of the current recommendations for cardiovascular risk management in patients with inflammatory disease with a focus on hypertension as a key risk factor., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.)

Objective: To investigate the association between musculoskeletal sonographic features and clinical features, as well as treatment outcomes, in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA)., Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted involving patients with active PsA. Disease activity was assessed clinically at baseline and 3-6 months after initiating therapy, with a Disease Activity Index for PsA (DAPSA) score calculated. A baseline ultrasound examination of 64 joints, 28 tendons and 16 entheses evaluated the following lesions: synovitis, peritenonitis, enthesitis, tenosynovitis, new bone formation and erosions. Total scores for each lesion and total inflammatory and structural scores were calculated. The association between baseline sonographic scores and treatment outcomes was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models (for drug persistence) and generalised estimating equation models for DAPSA change., Results: A total of 135 treatment periods (107 patients) were analysed. Multivariable analysis showed that a greater reduction in DAPSA score at follow-up was associated with higher baseline synovitis (β -3.89), peritenonitis (β -3.93) and enthesitis structural scores (β -2.91). Additionally, the total inflammatory score independently predicted DAPSA change (β -5.23) regardless of the total structural damage score. Drug persistence was analysed in 105 treatment periods, revealing that a higher sonographic erosion score was associated with earlier drug discontinuation (adjusted HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.61)., Conclusion: The study results provide preliminary evidence supporting the utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound in predicting treatment response and drug persistence in PsA., Competing Interests: Competing interests: LE received consultation fee/speaker honoraria/grants from Abbvie, Novartis, UCB, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Fresenius Kabi, Sandoz, BMS and Pfizer. SK received consultation fee/speaker honoraria/grants from Abbvie, BioJamp, Eli Lilly, Fresenius Kabi, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB. All other authors have no conflicts to declare., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Imaging mass cytometry is a technology that enables comprehensive analysis of cellular phenotypes at the tissue level. We performed a multiparameter characterization of structural and immune cell populations in psoriatic skin and synovial tissue samples aimed at characterizing immune cell differences in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. A panel of 33 antibodies was used to stain selected immune and structural cell populations. Imaging mass cytometry data were segmented into single cells on the basis of combinations of antibody stains. Single cells were then clustered into cell categories on the basis of prespecified markers. The spatial relationships of different cell populations were assessed using neighborhood analysis. Among all cell types in the skin and synovium, lymphoid cells accounted for the most prevalent cell type. T cells and macrophages were the most prevalent immune cell type in the synovium, and B cells and NK cells were also identified. Neighborhood analysis showed high correlation between synovial T cells, B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils, suggesting spatial organization. Innate and adaptive immune cells can be reliably identified using imaging mass cytometry in the skin and synovium. Interpatient heterogeneity exists in tissue cell populations. Imaging mass cytometry provides opportunities for exploring in depth the underlying immunological mechanisms driving psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating, auto-inflammatory condition often associated with inflammatory arthritis, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Early diagnosis of both conditions is crucial for optimal management. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with the development of inflammatory arthritis among HS patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2021 and February 2023 at an academic dermatology centre in Canada. Adult patients with HS were consecutively sampled, and 52 patients consented to participate and completed assessments. Variables examined included age, sex, HS severity, treatment, ethnicity, family history, lifestyle factors and comorbidities. The main outcomes were rheumatologist-confirmed inflammatory arthritis diagnosis and associated risk factors. Among 52 patients (24 males, 28 females; mean age: 37.4 years), 12 had inflammatory arthritis. Multivariate analysis revealed that Blacks (OR = 0.10, p < 0.001, CI: 0.026-0.343) and Asians (OR = 0.02, p < 0.001, CI: 0.005-0.109) had lower inflammatory arthritis odds compared to Whites. Every 1-year increase in age at HS onset correlated with a 1.17-fold increase in the odds of developing inflammatory arthritis (OR: 1.17, p < 0.001, CI: 1.12-1.24). Smoking (OR = 0.01, p < 0.001, CI: 0.002-0.49), hypertension (OR: 0.23, p = 0.04, CI: 0.057-0.930) and depression (OR: 0.12, p < 0.001, CI: 0.041-0.330) reduced inflammatory arthritis odds. White ethnicity and older age at HS onset were positively associated with inflammatory arthritis, while smoking, hypertension and depression were negatively associated. These findings suggest a distinct subset of HS patients with inflammatory arthritis that warrant further prospective studies. This study contributes to the understanding of inflammatory arthritis in HS patients and emphasises the importance of rheumatology referral during dermatologic clinic visits., (© 2024 The Author(s). Experimental Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The sensitivity of ultrasound (US) to detect, characterize, and monitor the relevant pathologies of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), including synovitis, enthesitis, tenosynovitis, and dactylitis, has made it an attractive tool for informing clinical decisions. The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) US working group ran 2 sessions during the annual GRAPPA meeting held in July 2023 in Dublin, Ireland. During the first workshop, the group presented 2 topics, followed by a live demonstration and a group discussion. The 2 topics were (1) an overview of the Diagnostic Ultrasound Enthesitis Tool (DUET) enthesitis scoring methodology, and (2) small hand-held probes-will the promise deliver? The live demonstration that followed compared the performance of 2 hand-held US (HHUS) devices vs a console US machine in patients with PsA, and the interactive group discussion considered gaps in the literature and future research suggestions relating to HHUS and its application in psoriatic disease. During the second session, the US working group provided further updates regarding the GRAPPA US studies currently underway or recently completed., (Copyright © 2024 by The Journal of Rheumatology.)

Introduction: We evaluated the impact of gender on disease severity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), treatment management, and patient-healthcare professional (HCP) interactions from the perspectives of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA)., Methods: Data were collected from a global online patient survey conducted by The Harris Poll (November 2, 2017 to March 12, 2018). Eligible patients were aged ≥ 18 years, with a self-reported diagnosis of PsA for > 1 year, had visited a rheumatologist/dermatologist in the past 12 months, and had reported previously using ≥ 1 conventional synthetic or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. Data were stratified by gender and analyzed descriptively, inferentially by binomial (chi-square) tests, and by multivariate logistic regression models., Results: Data from 1286 patients who participated were included: 52% were female, 48% were male. Varying perceptions of disease severity between males and females were indicated by differences in symptoms leading to a diagnosis of PsA, and in symptoms reported despite treatment; more females than males reported joint tenderness, skin patches/plaques, and enthesitis. More females than males reported a major/moderate impact of PsA on their physical activity and emotional/mental well-being. Reasons for switching medication differed between genders, with more females switching because they perceived their medication to not be effective enough related to their joint symptoms. More females than males were very satisfied with their communication with their rheumatologist and were more likely to discuss the impact of PsA on their daily lives, their treatment satisfaction, and treatment goals with their rheumatologist., Conclusions: Patients' perceptions of the impact of PsA on HRQoL, treatment management, and interactions with HCPs varied between males and females. More females than males reported major/moderate physical and emotional impacts of PsA. When treating patients, it is important for HCPs to consider the potential impact of gender on patients' experience of PsA and its symptoms. Graphical plain language summary available for this article., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

At the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) 2023 annual meeting, members were updated on a number of ongoing activities during the key project update session. These activities included the Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis (AXIS) cohort, the Axial Psoriatic Arthritis Molecular and Clinical Characterization study, the Diagnostic Ultrasound Enthesitis Tool (DUET) study, the Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis of the Effectiveness of Advanced Therapies in Psoriatic Arthritis (SAGE-PsA) study, the Health Initiatives in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Consortium European States (HIPPOCRATES), the GRAPPA slide library, and the GRAPPA treatment recommendations., (Copyright © 2024 by The Journal of Rheumatology.)

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) Collaborative Research Network (CRN)/research committee met during the GRAPPA 2023 annual meeting. Updates were provided on GRAPPA research projects, including the Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis (AXIS), Axial Psoriatic Arthritis Molecular and Clinical Characterisation Study, Diagnostic Ultrasound Enthesitis Tool (DUET), and Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis of the Effectiveness of Advanced Therapies (SAGE) studies, as well as the Health Initiatives in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Consortium European States (HIPPOCRATES) and Elucidating the Landscape of Immunoendotypes in Psoriatic Skin and Synovium (ELLIPSS) studies. The highlight of the meeting was a presentation and discussion on the use of digital tools to study psoriatic disease., (Copyright © 2024 by The Journal of Rheumatology.)

Objective: We sought to evaluate urate-lowering therapy (ULT) adherence and treatment-to-target (T2T) serum uric acid (SUA) levels among older adults with gout starting ULT., Methods: We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada in patients with gout aged ≥66 years newly dispensed ULT between 2010 and 2019. We defined successful T2T as patients having SUA levels <360 μmol/L (6 mg/dL) within 12 months after ULT dispensation. We also assessed adherence to ULT. Multilevel logistic regression clustered by ULT prescriber evaluated patient, physician, and prescription factors associated with reaching target SUA levels., Results: Among 44,438 patients (mean ± SD age 76.0 ± 7.3 years; 64.4% male), 30,057 (67.6%) patients had ≥1 SUA test completed. Overall, 52.3% patients reached SUA target within 12 months, improving from 45.2% in 2010 to 61.2% in 2019 (P < 0.0001). ULT adherence was 55.3% overall and improved annually. Key factors associated with achieving T2T included febuxostat treatment (odds ratio [OR] 11.40, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 5.10-25.43) (was only dispensed in 88 patients), ULT adherence (OR 5.17, 95% CI 4.89-5.47), allopurinol starting doses >50 mg (OR 2.53, 95% CI 2.14-2.99), colchicine/oral glucocorticoids co-prescription (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.14-1.34), and ULT prescription from a rheumatologist., Conclusion: Only 52.3% of patients achieved an optimal SUA level within 1 year of ULT initiation. ULT adherence was suboptimal, although improving over time. ULT adherence and higher allopurinol starting doses had the strongest associations of achieving a target SUA level. This study highlights room for improvement in gout management and potential strategies to address care gaps., (© 2024 The Author(s). Arthritis Care & Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

The prevalence of and factors associated with musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have yet to be elucidated. Given the association between HS and inflammatory comorbidities, understanding the burden of MSK symptoms in patients with HS is crucial for patient-centered care. Our objective was to describe the prevalence of and factors associated with MSK symptoms in patients with HS. A cross-sectional study of 78 consecutive patients recruited between November 2021 and February 2023 with a dermatology-confirmed diagnosis of HS, irrespective of MSK symptoms, was performed. The average age of participants (n=78) was 37 (SD 12.2) years, and the average age at symptom onset was 23 (SD 12.1) years; 54% (n=42) of participants identified as women, and 46% (n=36) as men. The most common comorbidities included depression (n=17, 22%) and preexisting arthritis (n=12, 16%). Approximately 24% (n=18) of participants reported prolonged morning stiffness. In a multivariate regression, depression was significantly associated with morning stiffness (odds ratio [OR] 6.1, 95% CI 1.4-26.1; P=.02), while female sex was significantly associated with arthralgia (OR 19.1, 95% CI 1.6-235.2; P=.02). Every patient with depression reported arthralgia. We highlight the high prevalence of MSK symptoms among patients with HS and note the interplay between depression and MSK symptoms, with each one potentially contributing to the other., (©Hayley McKee, Lihi Eder, Dana Jerome, Reza D Mirza, Chikaodili Obetta, Elisabeth Pek, Vincent Piguet, Raed Alhusayen. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 22.08.2024.)

Objective: To provide a set of living treatment recommendations that will give contemporary guidance on the management of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in Canada., Methods: The Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC), in conjunction with the Canadian Rheumatology Association, organized a treatment recommendations panel composed of rheumatologists, researchers, allied health professionals, and a patient advocate. A Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-ADOLOPMENT approach was used, in which existing guidelines were adopted or adapted to a Canadian context. Recommendations were also placed in a health equity framework., Results: Fifty-six recommendations were made for patients with active axSpA, stable axSpA, active or stable axSpA, for comorbidities, and for assessment, screening, and imaging. Recommendations were also made for principles of management, disease monitoring, and ethical considerations., Conclusion: These living treatment recommendations will provide up-to-date guidance for the management of axSpA for Canadian practice. As part of the living model, they will be updated regularly as changes occur in the treatment landscape.

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare dispensation of rheumatic medications between older male and female patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA)., Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed using health administrative data from Ontario, Canada (years 2010-2017), on patients with incident RA and PsA, who were aged ≥ 66 years at the time of diagnosis. Yearly dispensation of rheumatic drugs was compared between older male and female patients for 3 years after diagnosis using multivariable regression models, after adjusting for confounders. The groups of drugs included in the analysis were disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) classified as conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) and advanced therapy (biologic DMARDs and targeted synthetic DMARDs), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and oral corticosteroids. Results were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs., Results: We analyzed 13,613 patients (64% female) with RA and 1116 patients (57% female) with PsA. Female patients with RA were more likely to receive opioids (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.22-1.58 to OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.32-1.72) and NSAIDs (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.04-1.25 to OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04-1.30). Dispensation of DMARDs showed no sex difference in either group. Subgroup analyses showed more intense use of advanced therapy in the RA cohort and of csDMARDs in the PsA cohort when patient and physician sex was concordant., Conclusion: This study did not identify any sex difference in the use of DMARDs among older patients with RA and PsA. The reasons for the higher use of opioids and NSAIDs among female patients with RA warrant further research., (Copyright © 2024 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

Purpose of Review: This review summarizes the literature about the transition from psoriasis to psoriatic arthritis (PsA), focusing on musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) for detecting subclinical inflammation and its role in diagnosis and triage of high-risk patients., Recent Findings: MSUS effectively detects subclinical musculoskeletal inflammation in patients with psoriasis; however, some of these lesions are non-specific and can be found in healthy individuals. Preliminary evidence suggest that subclinical sonographic findings may predict progression to PsA in psoriasis patients. MSUS can also improve referrals' accuracy and its integration in the PsA classification criteria may improve early PsA detection. MSUS is a valuable tool for detecting subclinical abnormalities in psoriasis patients, which indicate an increased likelihood of progressing to PsA. Its integration into referral protocols and clinical use could improve PsA diagnosis. We propose an MSUS-inclusive algorithm for PsA referrals and triage, which requires validation. The potential of early intervention in reducing PsA progression in psoriasis patients with subclinical inflammation remains to be established., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To determine whether previous intravitreal injections are an independent risk factor for posterior capsular rupture (PCR) during cataract surgery after adjusting for known risk factors., Design: Single-centre medical records analysis of a population-based cohort at a university-based referral centre. A retrospective cohort study has been conducted with inclusion of cataract surgeries done from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2020 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Austria., Participants: All consecutive cataract surgeries done in patients of at least 18 years of age from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2020 have been included., Methods: Association between previous intravitreal injections and PCR rates has been analysed through univariable and multivariable generalized estimating equations (GEE). Other investigated risk factors were age, combined surgery, pseudoexfoliation, surgeon's experience, and type of cataract surgery., Results: A statistically significant higher rate of posterior capsular rupture during cataract surgery has been found in patients with previous intravitreal therapy compared with patients with no history of intravitreal therapy (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10-1.46, p = 0.008). However, after adjusting for confounding risk factors, no statistically significant effect was seen (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.89-1.21, p = 0.664)., Conclusion: We found no association between history of intravitreal injections and PCR during cataract surgery after adjusting for known risk factors. Further studies upon interactions between history of intravitreal injections and known risk factors for PCR, especially pseudoexfoliation, are needed., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: New modes of action and more data on the efficacy and safety of existing drugs in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) required an update of the EULAR 2019 recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of PsA., Methods: Following EULAR standardised operating procedures, the process included a systematic literature review and a consensus meeting of 36 international experts in April 2023. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendations were determined., Results: The updated recommendations comprise 7 overarching principles and 11 recommendations, and provide a treatment strategy for pharmacological therapies. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be used in monotherapy only for mild PsA and in the short term; oral glucocorticoids are not recommended. In patients with peripheral arthritis, rapid initiation of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs is recommended and methotrexate preferred. If the treatment target is not achieved with this strategy, a biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) should be initiated, without preference among modes of action. Relevant skin psoriasis should orient towards bDMARDs targeting interleukin (IL)-23p40, IL-23p19, IL-17A and IL-17A/F inhibitors. In case of predominant axial or entheseal disease, an algorithm is also proposed. Use of Janus kinase inhibitors is proposed primarily after bDMARD failure, taking relevant risk factors into account, or in case bDMARDs are not an appropriate choice. Inflammatory bowel disease and uveitis, if present, should influence drug choices, with monoclonal tumour necrosis factor inhibitors proposed. Drug switches and tapering in sustained remission are also addressed., Conclusion: These updated recommendations integrate all currently available drugs in a practical and progressive approach, which will be helpful in the pharmacological management of PsA., Competing Interests: Competing interests: No support to any author for the present work. Outside the submitted work: LG: research grants: AbbVie, Biogen, Lilly, Novartis, UCB; consulting fees: AbbVie, Amgen, BMS, Celltrion, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB; non-financial support: AbbVie, Amgen, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB; membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees: EULAR Treasurer. AK: speakers bureau, consultancy: AbbVie, Amgen, Galapagos, Janssen, Eli Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. RJOF: research grants: Medac, Lilly; consulting fees: Sanofi. DA: research grants: Galapagos, Lilly; consulting fees: AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi. XB: research grants: AbbVie, MSD, Novartis; consultancies: AbbVie, Amgen, Celltrion, Chugai, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, UCB; membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees: ASAS President, EULAR President Elect. W-HB: honoraria: AbbVie, Almirall, BMS, Janssen, Leo, Eli Lilly, Novartis, UCB; expert testimony: Novartis; participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board: AbbVie, Almirall, BMS, Janssen, Leo, Eli Lilly, Novartis, UCB. IBM: honoraria/consultation fees non-exec roles: NHS GGC Board Member, Evelo Board of Directors, Versus Arthritis Trustee Status; stock or stock options: Evelo, Cabaletta, Compugen, Causeway Therapeutics, Dextera. DGM: research grants: Janssen, AbbVie, Lilly, Novartis, UCB, BMS, Moonlake; consulting fees: Janssen, AbbVie, Lilly, Novartis, UCB, BMS, Moonlake, Celgene; honoraria: Janssen, AbbVie, Lilly, Novartis, UCB, BMS, Moonlake. KLW: research grants: BMS, Pfizer; consulting: Pfizer, AbbVie, AstraZeneca, BMS, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Gilead, Novartis, Moderna, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi, UCB Pharma. AB: speakers fees: AbbVie, Amgen, AlphaSigma, AstraZeneca, Angelini, Biogen, BMS, Berlin-Chemie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Teva, UCB, Zentiva; consultancies: Akros, AbbVie, Amgen, AlphaSigma, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly, Mylan, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sobi, UCB. PVB: consulting fees: AbbVie, Janssen-Cilag, Pfizer; honoraria: AbbVie, Bausch Health, Celltrion Healthcare, Eli Lilly, Gedeon Richter, IBSA Pharma, Infomed, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz; payment for expert testimony: Gedeon Richter; other: President, Hungarian Association of Rheumatologists. GRB: honoraria and/or speaker fees: AbbVie, BMS, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer. JDC: honoraria: UCB. PC: research grants: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Jansen, Lilly, Novartis, UCB; consulting fees: AbbVie, Amgen, Celltrion, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. LE: consultation fee/advisory board: AbbVie, Novartis, Janssen, UCB, BMS, Eli Lilly; research/educational grants: AbbVie, Fresenius Kabi, Janssen, Amgen, UCB, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Sandoz, Pfizer. MLH: grant support: AbbVie, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen Biologics BV, Lundbeck Foundation, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Novartis, Nordforsk; honoraria: Pfizer, Medac, Sandoz; advisory board: AbbVie; past-chair of the steering committee of the Danish Rheumatology Quality Registry (DANBIO, DRQ), which receives public funding from the hospital owners and funding from pharmaceutical companies; cochair of EuroSpA, partly funded by Novartis. AI: research grants from AbbVie, Pfizer, Novartis; honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus from AbbVie, Alfasigma, BMS, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi Genzyme, Sobi; EULAR Board Member; EULAR Congress Committee, Education Committee and Advocacy Committee Advisor; EULAR Past President. LEK: consultancies: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, UCB, Sanofi, GSK, Galapagos, Forward Pharma, MSD, Novartis, Janssen; has been representing rheumatology FOREUM scientific chair. RQ: consultancy and/or speaker’s honoraria from and/or participated in clinical trials and/or research projects sponsored by AbbVie, Amgen-Celgene, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Janssen, Pfizer, MSD, UCB. DM: honoraria: UCB, Janssen, GSK, AstraZeneca, AbbVie; support to meetings: Janssen. HM-O: grant support: Janssen, Novartis, UCB; honoraria and/or speaker fees: AbbVie, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Moonlake, Novartis, Pfizer, Takeda, UCB. PJM: grant support: AbbVie, Acelyrin, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Genascence, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB; consulting fees: AbbVie, Acelyrin, Aclaris, Alumis, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Genascence, Inmagene, Janssen, Moonlake, Novartis, Pfizer, Takeda, UCB, Ventyx, Xinthera; honoraria: AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. PN: consulting fees and honoraria: AbbVie, Amgen, BMS, Lilly, Janssen, GSK, Novartis, UCB, Servatus; boards: Amgen, BMS, Janssen, GSK, Novartis, UCB; GRAPPA Steering Committee, Chair ASMPOC, ARA. LS: consulting fees: AbbVie, Almirall, Novartis, Janssen, Lilly, UCB, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim; honoraria: AbbVie, Almirall, Novartis, Janssen, UCB, Pfizer, Takeda, Galderma, Biogen, Celgene, Celltrion, Lilly, Sanofi, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim; support to attending meetings: AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, UCB, Galderma, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim; participation in boards: AbbVie, Almirall, Novartis, Janssen, UCB, Pfizer, Galderma, Biogen, Lilly, Sanofi, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim; GRAPPA Executive Board (elected), British Society for Medical Dermatology (BSMD) Committee. GS: honoraria: Novartis, Janssen. SJWS-W: grant support: Medical Research Council (MR/W027151/1). YT: research grants from Mitsubishi Tanabe, Eisai, Chugai, Taisho; speaking fees and/or honoraria from Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, AbbVie, Gilead, Chugai, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Eisai, Taisho, Bristol Myers, Pfizer, Taiho. FEVdB: consultancy honoraria from AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. AZ: speakers bureau: AbbVie, Novartis, Janssen, Lilly, UCB, Amgen; paid instructor for AbbVie, Novartis, UCB. DvdH: consulting fees AbbVie, Argenx, Bayer, BMS, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Takeda, UCB Pharma; Director of Imaging Rheumatology bv; Associate Editor for Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases; Editorial Board Member for Journal of Rheumatology and RMD Open; Advisor Assessment Axial Spondyloarthritis International Society. JSS: research grants from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Lilly, Galapagos; royalties from Elsevier (textbook); consulting fees from AbbVie, Galapagos/Gilead, Novartis-Sandoz, BMS, Samsung, Sanofi, Chugai, R-Pharma, Lilly; honoraria from Samsung, Lilly, R-Pharma, Chugai, MSD, Janssen, Novartis-Sandoz; participation in advisory board from AstraZeneca., (© European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, EULAR 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC-ND. No commercial re-use. No derivatives. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ on behalf of EULAR.)

Objective: Although patient outcomes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have improved with the advent of advanced therapies, there remains a high unmet need to treat residual disease activity. The objective of the current study was to quantify residual disease activity and burden of disease in Canadian patients with PsA., Methods: This was a multiregion, observational, retrospective analysis of patient data extracted from the Rhumadata and the International Psoriasis and Arthritis Research Team (IPART) registries, analyzing deidentified data from patients who had initiated advanced therapy for the treatment of PsA between January 2010 and December 2019. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients failing to achieve minimal disease activity (MDA) within 6 months; secondary endpoints included clinical and patient-reported burden of disease. Descriptive statistics included summaries by region, treatment class, and number of prior advanced therapies., Results: One thousand five hundred ninety-six patients were included. The proportions of patients who failed to achieve MDA within 6 months of an advanced therapy were 64.8% in Ontario, 68.3% in Western Canada, 74.8% in Quebec, and 75% in the Atlantic/East region. Failure to achieve MDA was higher among patients receiving an IL-17i compared with a TNFi in all regions except the Atlantic/East. Between 73.2% and 78.6% of patients reported pain at 6 months, and continuing functional impairment varied from 24% in the West to 83.3% in the Atlantic/East., Conclusion: There is substantial burden and unmet need for improved therapies for Canadians with PsA. There is a wide regional variation in outcomes that requires further assessment., (Copyright © 2024 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

Limited information is available on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (psoriatic disease (PsD)). The objective of our research was to assess the effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in preventing SARS-CoV-2 positivity and severe infection in a cohort of patients with PsD and the association of immunosuppressants on SARS-CoV-2 infection-related outcomes from December 2020 to December 2021. Vaccine effectiveness was assessed in a matched nested case control study using conditional logistic regression adjusted for demographics, comorbidities and immunosuppressant use. Study outcomes included SARS-CoV-2 positivity and severe COVID-19 (moderate-to-severe COVID-19-related hospitalizations or death). At least one dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was associated with reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 positivity and severe COVID-19 (OR = 0.41 (95% CI, 0.38-0.43) and OR = 0.15 (95% CI, 0.11-0.20), respectively). A more significant effect was found among patients who received three vaccines doses compared with those who did not receive any (OR (for positive SARS-CoV-2) = 0.13 (95% CI, 0.12-0.15) and OR (for severe disease) = 0.02 (0.01-0.05)). Etanercept and methotrexate were associated with higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 positivity (1.58 (1.19-2.10), p = 0.001 and 1.25 (1.03-1.51), p = 0.03, respectively). In conclusion, our results show that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are effective in reducing both infection and severe COVID-19-related outcomes.

Objective: To address suboptimal cardiovascular risk prediction in patients with psoriatic disease (PsD), we developed and internally validated a five-year disease-specific cardiovascular risk prediction model., Methods: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of participants with PsD without a history of cardiovascular events. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors and PsD-related measures of disease activity were considered as potential predictors. The study outcome included nonfatal and fatal cardiovascular events. A base prediction model included 10 traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Eight PsD-related factors were assessed by adding them to the base model to create expanded models, which were controlled for PsD therapies. Variable selection was performed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) penalized regression with 10-fold cross-validation. Model performance was assessed using measures of discrimination and calibration and measures of sensitivity and specificity., Results: Between 1992 and 2020, 85 of 1,336 participants developed cardiovascular events. Discrimination of the base model (with traditional cardiovascular risk factors alone) was excellent, with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of 85.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 81.9-89.1). Optimal models did not select any of the tested disease-specific factors. In a sensitivity analysis, which excluded lipid lowering and antihypertensive treatments, the number of damaged joints was selected in the expanded model. However, this model did not improve risk discrimination compared to the base model (AUC 85.5, 95% CI 82.0-89.1)., Conclusion: Traditional cardiovascular risk factors alone are effective in predicting cardiovascular risk in patients with PsD. A risk score based on these factors performed well, indicating excellent discrimination and calibration., (© 2023 The Authors. Arthritis & Rheumatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Objective: Delays in initiation of advanced therapies, which include biologics and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, contribute to poor patient outcomes. The objective of this quality improvement project was to identify factors that lead to a delay in the initiation of advanced therapy and to perform plan-do-study-act cycles to decrease the time to start advanced therapy., Methods: A retrospective chart review identified factors involved in delay to start advanced therapy. The primary outcome of the study was the number of days to advanced therapy start as measured by the date of rheumatologist recommendation to the date advanced therapy was initiated by the patient. An Advanced Therapy Coordinator role was created to standardize the workflow, optimize communication, and ensure a safety checklist was instituted., Results: A total of 125 patients were reviewed for the study with 18 excluded. Preintervention median wait time was 82.0 (IQR 46.0-80.5) days. Median wait time during the intervention improved to 49.5 (IQR 34.0-69.5) days (April 2021 to January 2022), with nonrandom variation post intervention. Nonrandom variation was also noted in the latter baseline data (March 2020 to March 2021)., Conclusion: This study demonstrates improved wait time to advanced therapy initiation through the role of an Advanced Therapy Coordinator to facilitate communication pathways., (Copyright © 2024 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

Background: Sex-related differences in clinical manifestations and disease outcomes exist in psoriatic arthritis, however, there is limited information on sex-related differences in randomised controlled trials of psoriatic arthritis. We aimed to compare patient characteristics and efficacy and safety of advanced therapies (including biological and targeted synthetic therapies) between male and female patients with psoriatic arthritis participating in randomised controlled trials., Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Medline, Embase, and Central databases, and conference abstract archives, from their inception to June 10, 2022, for randomised controlled trials that assessed the efficacy of advanced therapies in psoriatic arthritis. Two reviewers extracted information on participants' characteristics and rates of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 and ACR50 response and minimal disease activity (MDA) by sex. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled effects of ACR20, ACR50, and MDA in male versus female patients by drug class., Findings: We included 54 trials (11 514 [50·9%] of 22 621 participants were female and 11 107 [49·1%] were male). Sex-disaggregated results were reported in a minority of studies (nine [17%] of 54 reported baseline characteristics by sex, 18 [33%] reported efficacy by sex, and two [4%] reported safety endpoints by sex). At baseline, male patients had lower baseline tender joint count (mean difference -3·01 [95% CI -3·83 to -2·18], health assessment questionnaire scores (-0·28 [-0·33 to -0·24]), pain scores (-4·58 [-6·86 to -2·30]), patient global assessment (-3·22 [-5·27 to -1·17]), and physician global assessment (-1·34 [-2·08 to -0·08]) than did female patients. Male patients had higher baseline psoriasis area and severity index scores (mean difference 1·95 [95% CI 0·78 to 3·11]) and C-reactive protein concentrations (2·57 [0·40 to 4·74]) than did female patients. ACR20 response by sex varied across drug classes, with higher rates in males than females with interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors (odds ratio [OR] 1·70 [95% CI 1·38-2·11]), IL-23 inhibitor (1·46 [1·20-1·78]), IL-12 and IL-23 inhibitor (2·67 [1·39-5·09]), and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors (1·55 [1·11-2·18]), but no difference with JAK and TYK2 inhibitors (1·10 [0·87-1·38]). Similarly, ACR50 response rates were higher in male patients versus female patients in all drug classes, with exception of JAK and TYK2 inhibitors (TNF inhibitors, OR 2·17 [95% CI 1·62-2·90]; IL-17 inhibitors, 1·93 [1·56-2·38]; IL-23 inhibitor, 1·71 [1·25-2·34]; IL-12 and 23 inhibitor, 2·43 [1·14-5·20]; and JAK and TYK2 inhibitors, 1·09 [0·73-1·62]). Male patients were more likely to reach MDA with most drug classes, including IL-17 inhibitors (OR 1·99 [95% CI 1·50-2·63]), IL-23 inhibitors (1·79 [1·29-2·50]), TNF inhibitors (2·62 [1·54-4·44]), and JAK and TYK2 inhibitors (1·77 [1·15-2·73]). Risk of bias was low for most studies., Interpretation: Biological sex of patients with psoriatic arthritis influences their response to advanced therapies, but the effect varies by drug class. Selective reporting might have influenced these results. Future trials should report baseline characteristics and endpoint results by sex., Funding: Canadian Rheumatology Association., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests JPP is a member of the Governing Board of Cochrane and a member of the Cochrane Equity Thematic Group. LE declares unrestricted research and educational grants from AbbVie, UCB, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Janssen, and Fresenius Kabi;, honoraria for lectures from AbbVie and Novartis; and is on an advisory board for AbbVie, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Janssen, and Bristol Myers Squibb. PM declares grants and contracts from AbbVie, Acelyrin, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, SUN Pharma, and UCB; consulting fees from AbbVie, Acelyrin, Aclaris, Amgen, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Inmagene, Janssen, Moonlake, Novartis, Pfizer, SUN Pharma, UCB, Ventyx, and Xinthera; and honoraria for lectures from AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB. VS declares consulting fees from AbbVie, Alpine, Alumis, Amgen, Aria, Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celltrion, Ermium, Genentech (Roche), GSK, Horizon, Inmedix, Janssen, Kiniksa, Eli Lilly, Merck, MiMedx, Novartis, Omeros, Pfizer, RAPT, Regeneron, R-Pharm, Samsung, Sandoz, Sanofi, Scipher, Setpoint, Sorrento, Spherix, Tonix, and Urica. SM, KC, and JP declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) ultrasound (US) steering committee provided an update at GRAPPA's 2022 annual meeting on activities to enable earlier diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. An update of the Diagnostic Ultrasound Enthesitis Tool (DUET) study included preliminary reliability results for US enthesitis elementary lesions. Common scanning pitfalls were reviewed. New projects included widening the scope of US beyond large entheses and validating small point-of-care US probes to evaluate enthesitis., (Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

Purpose of Review: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that affects people with psoriasis. Both psoriasis and PsA are associated with metabolic diseases including obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease including myocardial infarction. Dietary interventions for psoriatic disease have been of great interest, particularly among patients with PsA., Recent Findings: Herein, we review the evidence for dietary intervention in psoriatic arthritis. To date, weight loss among patients who are obese has the greatest evidence for benefit. We also examine the evidence for fasting, nutrient supplementation, and specific diets as adjunct therapeutic strategies., Summary: While the data do not clearly support a single dietary intervention across the disease, weight loss among those who are obese results in improved PsA disease activity and physical function. Additional studies are needed to better understand the impact of diet on psoriatic arthritis., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

People with psoriasis (PsO) are at increased risk of developing psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Screening patients with PsO for PsA may be helpful in diagnosing PsA early. Dermatologists play a role in assessing their patients with PsO for musculoskeletal symptoms and referring them to a rheumatologist for diagnosis and treatment., (Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences of dermatologists and rheumatologists in the early recognition of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to identify potential improvements to the current shared-care model., Methods: A 24-question survey addressing referral strategies was constructed by the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) project steering committee and sent to all members (n = 927). Questions addressed the use of screening tools, frequency of PsA in patients with psoriasis, therapeutic decision making, and suggestions for earlier PsA recognition and current unmet needs., Results: There were 149 respondents (16.1% response rate), which included 113 rheumatologists from 37 countries and 26 dermatologists from 16 countries. Of the dermatologists, 81% use PsA-specific screening instruments. Conversely, rheumatologists reported that only 26.8% of patients referred to them from all sources had been assessed with screening tools. Although dermatologists reported that a mean of 67% of suspected PsA cases were confirmed, rheumatologists reported a mean of 47.9% of confirmed cases. Both specialties reported similar views regarding optimization of the diagnostic process and indicated that the best approach involved combining patient-reported (ie, screening tools) and physician-confirmed findings. Moreover, both specialties identified the education of primary care physicians (PCPs) and dermatologists as the greatest priority to improve PsA screening., Conclusion: The survey indicated the current unmet needs in the early recognition of PsA. Important areas to address include improving the use of screening instruments, increasing the education of community-based dermatologists and PCPs, and using a combination of patient-reported and physician-confirmed findings in the screening approach., (Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) leadership congregated for a strategic planning meeting before the 2022 GRAPPA annual meeting in New York, USA. Meeting aims were to review GRAPPA's performance in relation to its 2016 goals and identify successes and areas for further improvement, identify key GRAPPA priorities and activities for the next 5 years, and explore committee structures to best support these aims., (Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

Sex (biological attributes associated with being male or female) and gender (sociocultural-driven traits and behaviors related to being a man or a woman) are emerging as important determinants of disease course and response to therapy in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Although psoriatic disease (PsD) is equally prevalent in men and women, the condition affects them in different and unique ways, giving rise to sex- and gender-related differences in clinical presentation, including baseline disease activity, disease course, and response to treatment. Better understanding of the roles sex and gender play in the development and evolution of PsD has the potential to improve patient care. The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) continues its effort to highlight issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in people with PsD by dedicating a session during the annual meeting to sex and gender and their intersectionality with race and ethnicity in individuals with PsA., (Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Clinics Multicenter Advancement Network (PPACMAN) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to optimize the clinical care of patients with psoriatic disease through multidisciplinary collaboration models. The PPACMAN 2021 Annual Meeting was held virtually on December 11, 2021. In all, 50 stakeholders participated in the meeting including dermatologists, rheumatologists, cardiologists, clinical researchers, patient advocacy representatives, and industry representatives. During the opening session of the meeting, presenters provided an update of several research projects dedicated to predicting and preventing psoriatic arthritis (PsA) such as the Psorcast, PAMPA, HIPPOCRATES, and the ELLIPSS studies. The second session centered around novel approaches to deliver multidisciplinary care in psoriatic disease. PPACMAN leadership introduced its wellness program and invited speakers to discuss new advances in cardiovascular disease, sleep disturbance, mental health problems, and dietary interventions in psoriatic disease. The final session of the meeting focused on how to improve patient engagement in their disease and care., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Carly Grant, BS: has no relevant disclosures. Joseph F. Merola, MD, MMSc: JFM is a consultant and/or investigator for Dermavant, Eli Lilly, UCB, Sun Pfizer and Leo Pharma. Daniel Webster, PhD: As of this writing, Dan Webster is employed at AbbVie. Jose U. Scher, MD: Janssen, Abbvie, UCB, Sanofi, Novartis, Lilly, BMS, and Pfizer. Oliver FitzGerald, MD: receive support in the form of grants and/or honoraria from Novartis, UCB, Pfizer, BMS, AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly and Biogen. Christopher Ritchlin, MD: Consultant for Abbvie, UCB, Novartis, Janssen, BMS, and Pfizer. Research for UCB, Janssen, BMS, and UCB. Vinod Chandran, MD, PhD: has received honoraria from Amgen, AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis and Pfizer; research grants from AbbVie; spouse is an employee of AstraZeneca. Alexis Ogdie, MD: has consulted for Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, CorEvitas, Gilead, GSK, HappifyHealth, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB and received grants from Abbvie, Amgen, Novartis and Pfizer. Lourdes Perez-Chada, MD, MMSc: has no relevant disclosures. Brittany Weber, MD: has no relevant disclosures Michael Garshick, MD: Consultant fee from Abbvie Pharmaceuticals. Cheryl F. Rosen, MD: has no relevant disclosures. Soumya Reddy, MD: Consulted for Amgen, Abbvie, Novartis, Janssen, Fresnius-Kabi, Pfizer Rebecca H. Haberman, MD: has received consulting fees from Janssen. Lihi Eder, MD, PhD: Grants and consultation fees from Abbvie, UCB, Janssen, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Fresenius Kabi, Novartis, Sandoz., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate whether obese patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were less likely to be in remission/low disease activity (LDA)., Methods: We used data from the ReFlaP, an international multi-centre cohort study (NCT03119805), which recruited consecutive adults with definite PsA (disease duration ≥ 2 years) from 14 countries. Demographics, clinical data, comorbidities, and patient-reported outcomes were collected. Remission/LDA was defined as Very Low Disease Activity (VLDA)/minimal disease activity (MDA), Disease Activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) ≤4/≤14, or by patients' opinion. Obesity was defined as physician-reported and/or body mass index ≥30 kg/m 2 . We evaluated the association between obesity and the presence of remission/LDA, with adjustment in multivariable regression models., Results: Among 431 patients (49.3% women), 136 (31.6%) were obese. Obese versus non-obese patients were older, more frequently women, had higher tender joint and enthesitis counts and worse pain, physical function and health-related quality of life. Obese patients were less likely to be in VLDA; DAPSA remission and MDA, with adjusted ORs of 0.31 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.77); 0.39 (95% CI 0.19 to 0.80) and 0.61 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.99), respectively. Rates of DAPSA-LDA and patient-reported remission/LDA were similar for obese and non-obese patients., Conclusion: PsA patients with comorbid obesity were 2.5-3 folds less likely to be in remission/LDA by composite scores compared with non-obese patients; however, remission/LDA rates were similar based on the patients' opinion. PsA patients with comorbid obesity may have different disease profiles and require individualised management., Competing Interests: Competing interests: YYL has received consulting fee and speaking fees from AbbVie, DKSH, Janssen, Novartis and Pfizer. LCC is an Editorial Board Member of RMD Open, she has received grants/research support from AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB; worked as a paid consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Galapagos, Janssen, Moonlake, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB; and has been paid as a speaker for AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Medac, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB. MdW has received fees for lectures or consultancy from Celgene, Eli Lilly, Pfizer and UCB. JSS received Research Grants for his institution from Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Lilly, Novartis and Roche, and honoraria for consultancies and/or speaking engagements from AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Astro, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Chugai, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis- Sandoz, Pfizer, R-Pharm, Samsung, Sanofi, and UCB. UK has received grants and research support and consultancy fees from AbbVie, Amgen, Biocad, Biogen, Chugai, Eli Lilly, Fresenius, Gilead, Grünenthal, GSK, Hexal, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, onkowoessen.de, Pfizer, Roche, UCB and Viatris. AB has received speakers’ fees and consulting fees from Abbvie, Amgen, Akros, Astra-Zeneca, Angellini, AlphaSigma, BMS, Berlin-Chemie, Biogen, Lilly, Mylan, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Teva, UCB, Zentiva; and was investigator in clinical trials sponsored by Akros, MSD, Sanofi, Pfizer, Astra-Zeneca, Novartis, BMS, GSK, Roche, UCB, Sandoz. LG has received research grants from Sandoz, UCB; consulting fees from AbbVie, Amgen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, UCB., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Lihi Eder reported receiving grants from Abbvie, Novartis, UCB, Janssen, Fresenius Kabi, Pfizer, Eli Lilly; Consulting fees: Abbvie, Novartis, UCB, Janssen, Fresenius Kabi, Pfizer, Eli and Lilly. Gurjit Kaeley reported receiving grants from Abbvie, Gilead, Janssen, and GRAPPA, consulting fees from Novartis, and serving on the board for the PCORI RA PROPR study. Sibel Zehra Aydin reported receiving grants from Abbvie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Jannsen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, and UCB; consulting fees from Abbvie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, and UCB; payment or honoraria from Abbvie, Jannsen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB; support for attending meetings from Sandoz, Abbvie, Pfizer, and Novartis; and stock or stock options from Clarius. The authors have indicated that they have no other conflicts of interest regarding the content of this article.

Objective: A simple, scalable tool that identifies psoriasis patients at high risk for developing psoriatic arthritis (PsA) could improve early diagnosis. We aimed to develop a risk prediction model for the development of PsA and to assess its performance among patients with psoriasis., Methods: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of psoriasis patients without PsA at enrollment. Participants were assessed annually by a rheumatologist for the development of PsA. Information about their demographics, psoriasis characteristics, comorbidities, medications, and musculoskeletal symptoms was used to develop prediction models for PsA. Penalized binary regression models were used for variable selection while adjusting for psoriasis duration. Risks of developing PsA over 1- and 5-year time periods were estimated. Model performance was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) and calibration plots., Results: Among 635 psoriasis patients, 51 and 71 developed PsA during the 1-year and 5-year follow-up periods, respectively. The risk of developing PsA within 1 year was associated with younger age, male sex, family history of psoriasis, back stiffness, nail pitting, joint stiffness, use of biologic medications, patient global health, and pain severity (AUC 72.3). The risk of developing PsA within 5 years was associated with morning stiffness, psoriatic nail lesion, psoriasis severity, fatigue, pain, and use of systemic nonbiologic medication or phototherapy (AUC 74.9). Calibration plots showed reasonable agreement between predicted and observed probabilities., Conclusions: The development of PsA within clinically meaningful time frames can be predicted with reasonable accuracy for psoriasis patients using readily available clinical variables., (© 2023 The Authors. Arthritis & Rheumatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

One of the highlights of the 2022 Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) annual meeting was the trainee symposium. Dermatology and rheumatology trainees presented their research related to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This report briefly reviews 5 oral presentations and 15 posters that were selected for this annual meeting. Topics include basic/translational, clinical, and outcomes research reflecting the spectrum of GRAPPA's effort and influence nationally and internationally in the area of psoriatic diseases.

Objective: To describe changes in service delivery and access to rheumatologists before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic periods., Methods: We conducted a population-based study in Ontario, Canada. Patient visits with rheumatologists were ascertained using billing claims data. Contact with rheumatologists was defined separately by the type of patient encounter (including office visits, telemedicine visits, and new patient consultations). Changes in the total weekly volume of encounters and monthly rates after COVID-19 public health measures were imposed were compared to expected baseline rates determined before pandemic onset (March 17, 2020)., Results: In the year prior to the pandemic, there were 289,202 patients (of which 96,955 were new consults) seen by 239 rheumatologists. In the 1 year following the pandemic onset, there were 276,686 patients (of which 86,553 were new consults) seen by 247 rheumatologists. In March 2020, there was an immediate 75.9% decrease in outpatient office visits and a rapid rise in telemedicine visits. By September 2021, 49.7% of patient encounters remained telemedicine visits. For new patient consultations, there was an immediate 50% decrease in visits at the pandemic onset, with 54.8% diverted to telemedicine visits in the first year of the pandemic versus 37.4% by September 2021. New rheumatology consultation rates continued decreasing over the study period., Conclusion: Rheumatology care delivery has shifted due to the pandemic, with telemedicine increasing sharply early in the pandemic and persisting over time. The pandemic also negatively affected access to rheumatologists, resulting in fewer new consultations and raising concerns for potential delays to diagnosis., (Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

Objective: To determine if continuity of rheumatology care influences rates of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)., Methods: A closed inception cohort of patients with RA diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 were followed until December 31, 2019. During the first 5 years following diagnosis, we categorized patients into 3 rheumatology care continuity groups (high, intermediate, and not retained in rheumatology care). Using a landmark analysis, we compared rates of ED visits and hospitalizations during follow-up. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to estimate rate ratios (RRs), adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and health services access and supply measures., Results: The cohort included 38,528 patients, of which 57.7% (n = 22,221) were classified in the high rheumatology continuity group, 17.2% (n = 6636) were in the intermediate group, and 25.1% (n = 9671) were not retained in rheumatology care. Relative to the high continuity group, both the intermediate and nonretention groups had higher ED rates (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.08-1.20, and RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.08-1.16, respectively). The intermediate group also experienced higher adjusted hospitalization rates (207.4, 95% CI 203.0-211.8 per 1000 person-years [PY]) than the high continuity group (193.5, 95% CI 191.4-195.6 per 1000 PY)., Conclusion: Patients with RA with higher continuity of rheumatology care had lower rates of ED visits and hospitalizations compared to those who did not receive continuous rheumatology care during the first 5 years of follow-up. These findings provide evidence to support the value of early and continuous rheumatology care for reducing hospitalizations and ED visits., (Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

Background: Evaluate the impact of sex on tofacitinib efficacy, safety and persistence (time to discontinuation) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA)., Methods: Data were pooled from two phase 3 randomised controlled trials. Patients were randomised to tofacitinib 5 mg or 10 mg two times per day, adalimumab 40 mg every 2 weeks or placebo. Efficacy outcomes to month 12 included American College of Rheumatology (ACR)20/50/70, minimal disease activity (MDA), Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI)75, change from baseline (∆) in Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and ∆Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F). Safety was assessed to month 12 and persistence was assessed to month 42 of a long-term extension study., Results: Overall, 816 patients were included (54.3% females). At baseline, higher tender joint counts, enthesitis scores and worse HAQ-DI and FACIT-F were reported in females versus males; presence of dactylitis and PASI were greater in males versus females. At month 3, tofacitinib efficacy generally exceeded placebo in both sexes. Overall, similar ACR20/50/70, PASI75, ∆HAQ-DI and ∆FACIT-F were observed for tofacitinib between sexes; females were less likely to achieve MDA. Similar proportions of males/females receiving tofacitinib (both doses) experienced treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs). Serious AEs occurred in 3.4%/6.6% and 4.0%/5.9% males/females with tofacitinib 5 mg and 10 mg two times per day. Persistence was generally similar between sexes., Conclusion: Tofacitinib efficacy exceeded placebo in both sexes and was comparable between sexes. Consistent with previous studies of PsA treatments, females were less likely to achieve MDA, likely due to baseline differences. Safety and time to discontinuation were generally similar between sexes., Trial Registration Number: NCT01877668; NCT01882439; NCT01976364., Competing Interests: Competing interests: LE has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, and has received grant and/or research support from AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Fresenius Kabi, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz and UCB. DDG has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, and has received grant and/or research support from AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB. PM has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Inmagene, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun and UCB, and has received grant and/or research support from AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun and UC. RAP, RL, DG, MJC and CK are employees and shareholders of Pfizer. SZA has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, has received grant and/or research support from AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer and Sanofi, and has received speakers’ fees from AbbVie, Novartis and Pfizer. AO has received grant and/or research support from AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Corrona, Eli Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer, and is a shareholder of Amgen, Novartis and Pfizer. VS has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Inmedix, Janssen, Kiniksa, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Samsung, Sandoz, Sanofi, Scipher, Setpoint, Sofusa, Spherix and UCB., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Musculoskeletal ultrasonography has become an increasingly valuable tool as a complement to the physical exam in rheumatology practice. Its point-of-care access, low cost, safety, portability, and reliability in trained hands, make this technique especially useful in patients with inflammatory arthritis. Growing evidence has demonstrated the value of musculoskeletal ultrasound in the detection of inflammatory and structural changes in patients with joint pain without obvious joint swelling, in differentiating various inflammatory diagnoses, in the monitoring of inflammatory arthritis, and interventional procedures. The potential role of ultrasound guiding treat-to-target strategies or tapering treatment in inflammatory arthritis requires further research. However, musculoskeletal ultrasound can also have pitfalls and limitations that a clinician should be aware of., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Despite high rates of medication nonadherence among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), effective interventions to improve adherence in SLE are limited. We aimed to assess the feasibility of a pilot intervention and explore its effect on adherence., Methods: The intervention used pharmacy refill data to monitor nonadherence and prompt discussions surrounding SLE medications during clinic encounters. Over 12 weeks, the intervention was delivered through routine clinic visits by providers to patients with SLE who take SLE-specific medications. We measured acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility using provider surveys. We also measured acceptability by patient surveys and feasibility by medical record documentation. We explored change in adherence by comparing percent of patients with medication possession ratio (MPR) ≥80% 3 months before and after the intervention visit using the McNemar's test., Results: Six rheumatologists participated; 130 patients were included in the analysis (median age 43, 95% female, and 59% racial and ethnic minorities). Implementation of the intervention was documented in 89% of clinic notes. Provider surveys showed high scores for feasibility (4.7/5), acceptability (4.4/5), and appropriateness (4.6/5). Among patient surveys, the most common reactions to the intervention visit were feeling determined (32%), empowered (32%), and proud (19%). Proportion of patients with MPR ≥80% increased from 48% to 58% (P = 0.03) after the intervention visit., Conclusion: Our intervention showed feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness and led to a statistically significant improvement in adherence. Future work should refine the intervention, assess its efficacy in a controlled setting, and adapt its use among other clinic settings., (© 2021 American College of Rheumatology.)

Objective: To investigate the incidence of and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 testing and infection in immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) patients versus matched non-IMID comparators from the general population., Methods: We conducted a population-based, matched cohort study among adult residents from Ontario, Canada, from January 2020 to December 2020. We created cohorts for the following IMIDs: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS), iritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), polymyalgia rheumatica, and vasculitis. Each patient was matched with 5 patients without IMIDs based on sociodemographic factors. We estimated the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 testing and infection in IMID patients and non-IMID patients. Multivariable logistic regressions assessed odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection., Results: We studied 493,499 patients with IMIDs and 2,466,946 patients without IMIDs. Patients with IMIDs were more likely to have at least 1 SARS-CoV-2 test versus patients without IMIDs (27.4% versus 22.7%), but the proportion testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 was identical (0.9% in both groups). Overall, IMID patients had 20% higher odds of being tested for SARS-CoV-2 (odds ratio 1.20 [95% confidence interval 1.19-1.21]). The odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection varied across IMID groups but was not significantly elevated for most IMID groups compared with non-IMID comparators. The odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection was lower in IBD and MS and marginally higher in RA and iritis., Conclusion: Patients across all IMIDs were more likely to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 versus those without IMIDs. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection varied across disease subgroups., (© 2021 American College of Rheumatology.)

Objective: Enthesitis is a key pathological and clinical feature of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in children and adults. Enthesitis is typically assessed clinically using several validated enthesitis scoring systems that have been used in clinical trials. Enthesitis treatment response has been reported as change in the total enthesitis score or the proportion of patients who achieved complete resolution. The majority of trials in PsA did not require patients to have enthesitis at study entry since enthesitis was evaluated only as a secondary outcome. Despite the inherent limitations of the clinical assessment of enthesitis, imaging of the entheses using ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging has rarely been used in clinical trials to assess response to treatment of enthesitis. This systematic review summarizes existing evidence regarding pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical interventions for enthesitis in patients with PsA to facilitate an evidence-based update of the Group for Research and Assessment in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) treatment recommendations for PsA., Methods: We performed a systematic literature review to identify 41 randomized clinical trials that reported enthesitis treatment response in patients with PsA. For each intervention, the response effect size was summarized and the quality of evidence was graded. Recommendations were then formulated for the various pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies., Results: We included 41 randomized clinical trials in our review and graded each intervention., Conclusion: Several classes of systemic conventional and advanced therapies and local measures were recommended for active enthesitis in patients with PsA., (Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Rheumatology.)

Objectives: Our aim was to compare patterns of musculoskeletal-related healthcare utilisation between male and female patients before and after the diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis (IA)., Methods: We used Ontario administrative health data to create three inception cohorts of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) diagnosed between April 2010 and March 2017. Healthcare utilisation indicators including visits to physicians, and use of musculoskeletal imaging and laboratory tests were assessed in each year for 3 years before and after diagnosis and compared between male and female patients using regression models adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. Results were reported as ORs with 95% CIs for female patients compared with male patients., Results: A total of 41 277 patients with RA (69% female), 8150 patients with AS (51% female) and 6446 patients with PsA (54% female) were analysed.Similar trends of sex-related differences were observed in all three cohorts. Before diagnosis, female patients were more likely to visit rheumatologists (OR 1.32-2.28) and family physicians (OR 1.03-1.15) for musculoskeletal reasons, whereas male patients were more likely to visit the emergency for musculoskeletal reasons (OR 0.76-0.87). A similar female predominance was observed regarding musculoskeletal imaging and laboratory tests before diagnosis. After diagnosis, female patients were more likely to remain in rheumatology care (OR 1.12-1.24)., Conclusion: Female patients with IA have higher healthcare utilisation than male patients which may indicate biological differences in disease course or sociocultural differences in healthcare-seeking behaviour., Competing Interests: Competing interests: ST, JW, CFW, SRJ and PR (none for LE) received educational and research grants and consultation fees from Abbvie, UCB, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Sandoz and Pfizer., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

There is growing evidence that Ph -negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are disorders in which multiple molecular mechanisms are significantly disturbed. Since their discovery, CALR driver mutations have been demonstrated to trigger pathogenic mechanisms apart from the well-documented activation of JAK2/MPL-related pathways, but the lack of experimental models harboring CALR mutations in a JAK2/MPL knockout background has hindered the research on these non-canonical mechanisms. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 was performed to introduce homozygous patient-like calreticulin mutations in a C. elegans model that naturally lacks JAK2 and MPL orthologs. Whole-genome transcriptomic analysis of these worms was conducted, and some of the genes identified to be associated with processes involved in the pathogenesis of MPNs were further validated by qPCR. Some of the transcriptomic alterations corresponded to typically altered genes and processes in cancer and Ph -negative MPN patients that are known to be triggered by mutant calreticulin without the intervention of JAK2/MPL. However, interestingly, we have also found altered other processes described in these diseases that had not been directly attributed to calreticulin mutations without the intervention of JAK2 or MPL. Thus, these results point to a new experimental model for the study of the JAK2/MPL-independent mechanisms of mutant calreticulin that induce these biological alterations, which could be useful to study unknown non-canonical effects of the mutant protein. The comparison with a calreticulin null strain revealed that the alteration of all of these processes seems to be a consequence of a loss of function of mutant calreticulin in the worm, except for the dysregulation of Hedgehog signaling and flh-3 . Further analysis of this model could help to delineate these mechanisms, and the verification of these results in mammalian models may unravel new potential therapeutic targets in MPNs. As far as we know, this is the first time that a C. elegans strain with patient-like mutations is proposed as a potential model for leukemia research.