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2. Treatment Satisfaction, Patient Preferences, and the Impact of Suboptimal Disease Control in a Large International Rheumatoid Arthritis Cohort: SENSE Study

Author

Taylor PC, Ancuta C, Nagy O, de la Vega MC, Gordeev A, Janková R, Kalyoncu U, Lagunes-Galindo I, Morović-Vergles J, Souza MPGUS, Rojkovich B, Sidiropoulos P, and Kawakami A

Subjects
adherence, digital health literacy, patient preference, rheumatoid arthritis, treatment satisfaction, Medicine (General), R5-920
Abstract

Peter C Taylor,1 Codrina Ancuta,2 Orsolya Nagy,3 María C de la Vega,4 Andrey Gordeev,5 Radka Janková,6 Umut Kalyoncu,7 Ivan Lagunes-Galindo,3 Jadranka Morović-Vergles,8 Mariana Peixoto GU e Silva de Souza,9 Bernadette Rojkovich,10 Prodromos Sidiropoulos,11 Atsushi Kawakami12 1Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; 2Department of Rheumatology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania; 3AbbVie Inc, North Chicago, IL, USA; 4CEIM Investigaciones Medicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 5V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology, Moscow, Russian Federation; 6Department of Pediatric and Adult Rheumatology, Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic; 7Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey; 8Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology, Dubrava University Hospital, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia; 9Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; 10Department of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy, Polyclinic of the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; 11Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; 12Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, JapanCorrespondence: Peter C TaylorBotnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UKTel +44 1865 227323Email peter.taylor@kennedy.ox.ac.ukBackground: Patients’ needs and perspectives are important determinants of treatment success in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Assessing patients’ perspectives can help identify unmet needs and enhance the understanding of treatment benefits.Objective: The SENSE study assessed the impact of inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) on treatment satisfaction, disease outcomes, and patient perspectives related to RA disease management.Methods: SENSE was a noninterventional, cross-sectional study conducted in 18 countries across Europe, Asia, and South America. Adult patients with poorly controlled RA of moderate/high disease activity were eligible. Patient satisfaction was assessed by the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM v1.4). Treatment adherence, healthcare resource utilization (HRU), quality of life (QoL), work ability, digital health literacy (DHL), patient preference information, and treatment strategy were also assessed.Results: A total of 1624 patients were included in the study: most were female (84.2%) and middle-aged, and mean disease duration was 10.5 years. Mean TSQM global satisfaction subscore was 60.9, with only 13.5% of patients reporting good treatment satisfaction (TSQM global ≥ 80). The strongest predictor of good treatment satisfaction was treatment with advanced therapies. Most patients (87.4%) reported good treatment adherence. In general, patients had impaired QoL and work ability, high HRU, and 67.4% had poor DHL. Leading treatment expectations were “general improvement of arthritis” and “less joint pain”. Most patients preferred oral RA medications (60.7%) and rapid (≤ 1 week) onset of action (71.1%). “Increased risk for malignancies” and “increased risk for cardiovascular disease” were the least acceptable side effects. Despite suboptimal control, advanced therapies were only used in a minority of patients, and DMARD switches were planned for only half of the patients.Conclusion: Suboptimal disease control negatively impacts treatment satisfaction, work ability, QoL, and HRU. Data collected on patient perspectives may inform shared decision-making and optimize treat-to-target strategies for improving patient outcomes in RA.Keywords: adherence, digital health literacy, patient preference, rheumatoid arthritis, treatment satisfaction

Published
2021

3. Cohort Enrichment Strategies for Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis From European Scleroderma Trials and Research

Author

Hoffmann-Vold A. -M., Brunborg C., Airo P., Ananyeva L. P., Czirjak L., Guiducci S., Hachulla E., Li M., Mihai C., Riemekasten G., Sfikakis P. P., Valentini G., Kowal-Bielecka O., Allanore Y., Distler O., Vacca A., Giollo A., Balbir-Gurman A., Gheorghiu A. M., Marcoccia A., Herrick A., Radic M., Stamenkovic B., Anic B., Granel B., Ribi C., Selmi C. F., Carlos de la Puente M., de Souza Muller C., Denton C., Kayser C., Tanaseanu C. -M., Majewski D., Rimar D., Krasowska D., Veale D., Walker U., Kerzberg E., Rezus E., Zanatta E., Siegert E., De Langhe E., Oksel F., Ingegnoli F., Cantatore F. P., Szucs G., Cuomo G., Seskute G., Litinsky V., Castellvi I., Morovic-Vergles J., Sibilia J., Henes J., Solanki K., Perdan-Pirkmajer K., Herrmann K., Saketkoo L. A., Stamp L., Mouthon L., Salvador M. J., Pozzi M. R., Uprus M., Vanthuyne M., Engelhart M., Kohm M., Iudici M., Inanc M., Fathi N., Pamuk N., Garcia de la Pena Lefebv P., Carreira P. E., Bancel D. F., Moroncini L., Montecucco C., Ancuta C., Sunderkotter C., Muller-Ladner U., Rosato E., Kucharz E. J., Iannone F., Del Galdo F., Poormoghim H., Kotter I., Distler J., Cutolo M., Tikly M., Damjanov N., Hunzelmann N., Vlachoyiannopoulos P., Hasler P., Sarzi Puttini P., Wiland P., Becvar R., Yavuz S., Zdrojewski Z., Pellerito R., Foti R., Ionescu R. M., Adler S., Kahl S., Moiseev S., Stebbings S., Rednic S., Negrini S., Heitmann S., Ullman S., Agachi S., Martin T., Schmeiser T., Riccieri V., Smith V., Bernardino V., Ortiz-Santamaria V., Hsu V. M., Abdel Atty Mohamed W. A., Hoffmann-Vold, A. -M., Brunborg, C., Airo, P., Ananyeva, L. P., Czirjak, L., Guiducci, S., Hachulla, E., Li, M., Mihai, C., Riemekasten, G., Sfikakis, P. P., Valentini, G., Kowal-Bielecka, O., Allanore, Y., Distler, O., Vacca, A., Giollo, A., Balbir-Gurman, A., Gheorghiu, A. M., Marcoccia, A., Herrick, A., Radic, M., Stamenkovic, B., Anic, B., Granel, B., Ribi, C., Selmi, C. F., Carlos de la Puente, M., de Souza Muller, C., Denton, C., Kayser, C., Tanaseanu, C. -M., Majewski, D., Rimar, D., Krasowska, D., Veale, D., Walker, U., Kerzberg, E., Rezus, E., Zanatta, E., Siegert, E., De Langhe, E., Oksel, F., Ingegnoli, F., Cantatore, F. P., Szucs, G., Cuomo, G., Seskute, G., Litinsky, V., Castellvi, I., Morovic-Vergles, J., Sibilia, J., Henes, J., Solanki, K., Perdan-Pirkmajer, K., Herrmann, K., Saketkoo, L. A., Stamp, L., Mouthon, L., Salvador, M. J., Pozzi, M. R., Uprus, M., Vanthuyne, M., Engelhart, M., Kohm, M., Iudici, M., Inanc, M., Fathi, N., Pamuk, N., Garcia de la Pena Lefebv, P., Carreira, P. E., Bancel, D. F., Moroncini, L., Montecucco, C., Ancuta, C., Sunderkotter, C., Muller-Ladner, U., Rosato, E., Kucharz, E. J., Iannone, F., Del Galdo, F., Poormoghim, H., Kotter, I., Distler, J., Cutolo, M., Tikly, M., Damjanov, N., Hunzelmann, N., Vlachoyiannopoulos, P., Hasler, P., Sarzi Puttini, P., Wiland, P., Becvar, R., Yavuz, S., Zdrojewski, Z., Pellerito, R., Foti, R., Ionescu, R. M., Adler, S., Kahl, S., Moiseev, S., Stebbings, S., Rednic, S., Negrini, S., Heitmann, S., Ullman, S., Agachi, S., Martin, T., Schmeiser, T., Riccieri, V., Smith, V., Bernardino, V., Ortiz-Santamaria, V., Hsu, V. M., and Abdel Atty Mohamed, W. A.

Subjects
interstitial lung disease, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, enrichment, systemic sclerosis, clinical trial, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Enrichment strategies from clinical trials for progressive systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) have not been tested in a real-life cohort.RESEARCH QUESTION: Do enrichment strategies for progressive ILD impact efficacy, repre-sentativeness, and feasibility in patients with SSc-ILD from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database?STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We applied the inclusion criteria of major recent SSc-ILD trials (Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Tocilizumab in Participants With Systemic Sclerosis [focuSSced], Scleroderma Lung Study II [SLS II], and Safety and Efficacy of Nintedanib in Systemic Sclerosis [SENSCIS]) and assessed progressive ILD, which was defined as absolute change in FVC and as significant progression (FVC decline $10%). Data were compared with all patients and with patients who did not fulfill any inclusion criteria. RESULTS: In total, 2,258 patients with SSc-ILD were included: 31.2% of the patients met SENSCIS criteria; 5.8% of the patients met SLS II criteria; 1.6% of the patients met focuSSced criteria, and 67.7% (1,529) of the patients did not meet any criteria. In the first 12 + 3 months, the absolute FVC decline in all patients and in patients who fulfilled criteria from SENSCIS was -0.1%, in patients who fulfilled criteria from focuSSced was -3.7%, and in patients who fulfilled criteria from SLS II was 2.3%, with accompanying more progressors in focuSSced. The patient populations that fulfilled the different study inclusion criteria significantly differed in various clinical parameters. In the second 12-month period, SENSCIS-enriched patients had a further absolute FVC% decline as described for the total cohort. In contrast, patients who fulfilled the focuSSced and SLS II criteria showed numeric improvement of lung function. There were no significant associations of enrichment criteria and ILD progression.INTERPRETATION: The application of enrichment criteria from previous clinical trials showed enrichment for progression with variable success, which led to selected patient populations reducing feasibility of recruitment. These findings are important for future clinical trial design and interpretation of the results of published trials.CHEST 2023; 163(3):586-598

Published
2023

6. An objective approach to select surrogate species for connectivity conservation

Author

Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR). France, National Science Center (NCN). Poland, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Germany, Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CCCDI – UEFISCDI. Romania, Norwegian Research Council (RCN). Norway, Dutta, Trishna, De Barba, Marta, Selva, Nuria, Fedorca, Ancuta C., Maiorano, Luigi, Thuiller, Wilfried, Zedrosser, Andreas, Signer, Johannes, Pflüger, Femke, Frank, Shane, Lucas Ibáñez, Pablo Miguel, Balkenhol, Niko, Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR). France, National Science Center (NCN). Poland, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Germany, Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CCCDI – UEFISCDI. Romania, Norwegian Research Council (RCN). Norway, Dutta, Trishna, De Barba, Marta, Selva, Nuria, Fedorca, Ancuta C., Maiorano, Luigi, Thuiller, Wilfried, Zedrosser, Andreas, Signer, Johannes, Pflüger, Femke, Frank, Shane, Lucas Ibáñez, Pablo Miguel, and Balkenhol, Niko

Abstract

Introduction: Connected landscapes can increase the effectiveness of protected areas by facilitating individual movement and gene flow between populations, thereby increasing the persistence of species even in fragmented habitats. Connectivity planning is often based on modeling connectivity for a limited number of species, i.e., “connectivity umbrellas”, which serve as surrogates for co-occurring species. Connectivity umbrellas are usually selected a priori, based on a few life history traits and often without evaluating other species. Methods: We developed a quantitative method to identify connectivity umbrellas at multiple scales. We demonstrate the approach on the terrestrial large mammal community (24 species) in continental Europe at two scales: 13 geographic biomes and 36 ecoregions, and evaluate the interaction of landscape characteristics on the selection of connectivity umbrellas. Results: We show that the number, identity, and attributes of connectivity umbrellas are sensitive to spatial scale and human influence on the landscape. Multiple species were selected as connectivity umbrellas in 92% of the geographic biomes (average of 4.15 species) and 83% of the ecoregions (average of 3.16 species). None of the 24 species evaluated is by itself an effective connectivity umbrella across its entire range. We identified significant interactions between species and landscape attributes. Species selected as connectivity umbrellas in regions with low human influence have higher mean body mass, larger home ranges, longer dispersal distances, smaller geographic ranges, occur at lower population densities, and are of higher conservation concern than connectivity umbrellas in more human-influenced regions. More species are required to meet connectivity targets in regions with high human influence (average of three species) in comparison to regions with low human influence (average of 1.67 species). Discussion: We conclude that multiple species selected in relation to l

Published
2023

7. ACE inhibitors in SSc patients display a risk factor for scleroderma renal crisis—a EUSTAR analysis

Author

Bütikofer L, Varisco PA, Distler O, Kowal-Bielecka O, Allanore Y, Riemekasten G, Villiger PM, Adler S, Avouac J, Walker UA, Guiducci S, Airò P, Hachulla E, Valentini G, Carreira PE, Cozzi F, Gurman AB, Braun-Moscovici Y, Damjanov N, Ananieva LP, Scorza R, Jimenez S, Busquets J, Li M, Müller-Ladner U, Maurer B, Tyndall A, Lapadula G, Iannone F, Becvar R, Sierakowsky S, Bielecka OK, Cutolo M, Sulli A, Cuomo G, Vettori S, Rednic S, Nicoara I, Vlachoyiannopoulos P, Montecucco C, Caporali R, Novak S, Czirják L, Varju C, Chizzolini C, Kucharz EJ, Kotulska A, Kopec-Medrek M, Widuchowska M, Rozman B, Mallia C, Coleiro B, Gabrielli A, Farge D, Hij A, Hesselstrand R, Scheja A, Wollheim F, Martinovic D, Govoni M, Monaco AL, Hunzelmann N, Pellerito R, Bambara LM, Caramaschi P, Black C, Denton C, Henes J, Santamaria VO, Heitmann S, Krasowska D, Seidel M, Oleszowsky M, Burkhardt H, Himsel A, Salvador MJ, Stamenkovic B, Stankovic A, Tikly M, Starovoytova MN, Engelhart M, Strauss G, Nielsen H, Damgaard K, Szücs G, Mendoza AZ, de la Puente Buijdos C, Sifuentes Giraldo WA, Midtvedt Ø, Garen T, Launay D, Valesini G, Riccieri V, Ionescu RM, Opris D, Groseanu L, Wigley FM, Mihai CM, Cornateanu RS, Ionitescu R, Gherghe AM, Gorga M, Dobrota R, Bojinca M, Schett G, Distler JHW, Meroni P, Zeni S, Mouthon L, De Keyser F, Smith V, Cantatore FP, Corrado A, Ullman S, Iversen L, Pozzi MR, Eyerich K, Hein R, Knott E, Szechinski J, Wiland P, Szmyrka-Kaczmarek M, Sokolik R, Morgiel E, Krummel-Lorenz B, Saar P, Aringer M, Günther C, Anic B, Baresic M, Mayer M, Radominski SC, de Souza Müller C, Azevedo VF, Agachi S, Groppa L, Chiaburu L, Russu E, Zenone T, Stebbings S, Highton J, Stamp L, Chapman P, Baron M, O'Donnell J, Solanki K, Doube A, Veale D, O'Rourke M, Loyo E, Rosato E, Pisarri S, Tanaseanu CM, Popescu M, Dumitrascu A, Tiglea I, Chirieac R, Ancuta C, Furst DE, Kafaja S, de la Peña Lefebvre PG, Rubio SR, Exposito MV, Sibilia J, Chatelus E, Gottenberg JE, Chifflot H, Litinsky I, Venalis A, Butrimiene I, Venalis P, Rugiene R, Karpec D, Kerzberg E, Montoya F, Cosentino V, Castellvi I., Publica, Bütikofer, L, Varisco, Pa, Distler, O, Kowal-Bielecka, O, Allanore, Y, Riemekasten, G, Villiger, Pm, Adler, S, Avouac, J, Walker, Ua, Guiducci, S, Airò, P, Hachulla, E, Valentini, G, Carreira, Pe, Cozzi, F, Gurman, Ab, Braun-Moscovici, Y, Damjanov, N, Ananieva, Lp, Scorza, R, Jimenez, S, Busquets, J, Li, M, Müller-Ladner, U, Maurer, B, Tyndall, A, Lapadula, G, Iannone, F, Becvar, R, Sierakowsky, S, Bielecka, Ok, Cutolo, M, Sulli, A, Cuomo, G, Vettori, S, Rednic, S, Nicoara, I, Vlachoyiannopoulos, P, Montecucco, C, Caporali, R, Novak, S, Czirják, L, Varju, C, Chizzolini, C, Kucharz, Ej, Kotulska, A, Kopec-Medrek, M, Widuchowska, M, Rozman, B, Mallia, C, Coleiro, B, Gabrielli, A, Farge, D, Hij, A, Hesselstrand, R, Scheja, A, Wollheim, F, Martinovic, D, Govoni, M, Monaco, Al, Hunzelmann, N, Pellerito, R, Bambara, Lm, Caramaschi, P, Black, C, Denton, C, Henes, J, Santamaria, Vo, Heitmann, S, Krasowska, D, Seidel, M, Oleszowsky, M, Burkhardt, H, Himsel, A, Salvador, Mj, Stamenkovic, B, Stankovic, A, Tikly, M, Starovoytova, Mn, Engelhart, M, Strauss, G, Nielsen, H, Damgaard, K, Szücs, G, Mendoza, Az, de la Puente Buijdos, C, Sifuentes Giraldo, Wa, Midtvedt, Ø, Garen, T, Launay, D, Valesini, G, Riccieri, V, Ionescu, Rm, Opris, D, Groseanu, L, Wigley, Fm, Mihai, Cm, Cornateanu, R, Ionitescu, R, Gherghe, Am, Gorga, M, Dobrota, R, Bojinca, M, Schett, G, Distler, Jhw, Meroni, P, Zeni, S, Mouthon, L, De Keyser, F, Smith, V, Cantatore, Fp, Corrado, A, Ullman, S, Iversen, L, Pozzi, Mr, Eyerich, K, Hein, R, Knott, E, Szechinski, J, Wiland, P, Szmyrka-Kaczmarek, M, Sokolik, R, Morgiel, E, Krummel-Lorenz, B, Saar, P, Aringer, M, Günther, C, Anic, B, Baresic, M, Mayer, M, Radominski, Sc, de Souza Müller, C, Azevedo, Vf, Agachi, S, Groppa, L, Chiaburu, L, Russu, E, Zenone, T, Stebbings, S, Highton, J, Stamp, L, Chapman, P, Baron, M, O'Donnell, J, Solanki, K, Doube, A, Veale, D, O'Rourke, M, Loyo, E, Rosato, E, Pisarri, S, Tanaseanu, Cm, Popescu, M, Dumitrascu, A, Tiglea, I, Chirieac, R, Ancuta, C, Furst, De, Kafaja, S, de la Peña Lefebvre, Pg, Rubio, Sr, Exposito, Mv, Sibilia, J, Chatelus, E, Gottenberg, Je, Chifflot, H, Litinsky, I, Venalis, A, Butrimiene, I, Venalis, P, Rugiene, R, Karpec, D, Kerzberg, E, Montoya, F, Cosentino, V, and Castellvi, I.

Subjects
INVOLVEMENT, Male, Hypertension, Renal, ACE inhibitors, lcsh:Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, Scleroderma Renal Crisis, MULTICENTER, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, Scleroderma, Scleroderma renal crisis, 0302 clinical medicine, Risk Factors, Medicine and Health Sciences, Medicine, 030212 general & internal medicine, Prospective Studies, 610 Medicine & health, Renal, Antihypertensive drugs, Outcome, antihypertensive drugs, arterial hypertension, outcome, scleroderma renal crisis, Incidence (epidemiology), Incidence, Hazard ratio, Acute Kidney Injury, Middle Aged, Europe, Treatment Outcome, Population Surveillance, Cohort, Hypertension, Female, 360 Social problems & social services, Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src, Research Article, Arterial hypertension, medicine.medical_specialty, 03 medical and health sciences, ENDOTHELIN-1, Internal medicine, Humans, Risk factor, Aged, 030203 arthritis & rheumatology, Scleroderma, Systemic, business.industry, SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS, Systemic, medicine.disease, Concomitant, lcsh:RC925-935, business
Abstract

Objectives To investigate the effect of ACE inhibitors (ACEi) on the incidence of scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) when given prior to SRC in the prospectively collected cohort from the European Scleroderma Trial and Research Group (EUSTAR). Methods SSc patients without prior SRC and at least one follow-up visit were included and analyzed regarding SRC, arterial hypertension, and medication focusing on antihypertensive medication and glucocorticoids (GC). Results Out of 14,524 patients in the database, we identified 7648 patients with at least one follow-up. In 27,450 person-years (py), 102 patients developed SRC representing an incidence of 3.72 (3.06–4.51) per 1000 py. In a multivariable time-to-event analysis adjusted for age, sex, disease severity, and onset, 88 of 6521 patients developed SRC. The use of ACEi displayed an increased risk for the development of SRC with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.55 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.65–3.95). Adjusting for arterial hypertension resulted in a HR of 2.04 (95%CI 1.29–3.24). There was no evidence for an interaction of ACEi and arterial hypertension (HR 0.83, 95%CI 0.32–2.13, p = 0.69). Calcium channel blockers (CCB), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), endothelin receptor antagonists, and GC—mostly in daily dosages below 15 mg of prednisolone—did not influence the hazard for SRC. Conclusions ACEi in SSc patients with concomitant arterial hypertension display an independent risk factor for the development of SRC but are still first choice in SRC treatment. ARBs might be a safe alternative, yet the overall safety of alternative antihypertensive drugs in SSc patients needs to be further studied.

Published
2020

8. Veronica officinalis Product Authentication Using DNA Metabarcoding and HPLC-MS Reveals Widespread Adulteration with Veronica chamaedrys

Author

Ancuta C. Raclariu, Andrei Mocan, Madalina O. Popa, Laurian Vlase, Mihael C. Ichim, Gianina Crisan, Anne K. Brysting, and Hugo de Boer

Subjects
adulteration, DNA metabarcoding, herbal products, HPLC-MS, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Therapeutics. Pharmacology, RM1-950
Abstract

Studying herbal products derived from local and traditional knowledge and their value chains is one of the main challenges in ethnopharmacology. The majority of these products have a long history of use, but non-harmonized trade and differences in regulatory policies between countries impact their value chains and lead to concerns over product efficacy, safety and quality. Veronica officinalis L. (common speedwell), a member of Plantaginaceae family, has a long history of use in European traditional medicine, mainly in central eastern Europe and the Balkans. However, no specified control tests are available either to establish the quality of derived herbal products or for the discrimination of its most common substitute, V. chamaedrys L. (germander speedwell). In this study, we use DNA metabarcoding and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to authenticate sixteen V. officinalis herbal products and compare the potential of the two approaches to detect substitution, adulteration and the use of unreported constituents. HPLC-MS showed high resolution in detecting phytochemical target compounds, but did not enable detection of specific plant species in the products. DNA metabarcoding detected V. officinalis in only 15% of the products, whereas it detected V. chamaedrys in 62% of the products. The results confirm that DNA metabarcoding can be used to test for the presence of Veronica species, and detect substitution and/or admixture of other Veronica species, as well as simultaneously detect all other species present. Our results confirm that none of the herbal products contained exactly the species listed on the label, and all included substitutes, contaminants or fillers. This study highlights the need for authentication of raw herbals along the value chain of these products. An integrative methodology can assess both the quality of herbal products in terms of target compound concentrations and species composition, as well as admixture and substitution with other chemical compounds and plants.

Published
2017
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9. New Perspective on Performances and Limits of Solar Fresh Air Cooling in Different Climatic Conditions

Author

Ancuta C. Abrudan, Octavian G. Pop, Alexandru Serban, and Mugur C. Balan

Subjects
solar cooling, absorption chiller, LiBr-H2O, operating conditions, climatic conditions, Technology
Abstract

The study carried out by simulation, concerns the thermal behavior of an office building’s solar fresh air cooling system, based on a LiBr-H2O absorption chiller in different climatic conditions. The coefficient of performance (COP) and the solar fraction were considered performance parameters and were analyzed with respect to the operating limits—the risk of crystallization and maintaining at least a minimum degassing zone. A new correlation between the required solar hot temperature and the cooling water temperature was established and then embedded in another new correlation between the COP and the cooling water temperature that was used in simulations during the whole cooling season corresponding to each location. It was found that—the solar hot water should be maintained in the range of (80−100) °C depending on the cooling water temperature, the COP of the solar LiBr-H2O absorption chiller with or without cold storage tank could reach (76.5−82.4)% depending on the location, and the solar fraction could reach (29.5−62.0)% without cold storage tank and could exceed 100% with cold storage tank, and the excess cooling power being available to cover other types of cooling loads—through the building envelope, from lighting, and from occupants, etc.

Published
2019
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11. Potential of HVAC and solar technologies for hospital retrofit to reduce heating energy consumption

Author

Pop Octavian G., Abrudan Ancuta C., Adace Dan S., Pocola Adrian G., and Balan Mugur C.

Subjects
Environmental sciences, GE1-350
Abstract

The study presents a combination of several energy efficient technologies together with their potential to reduce the energy consumption and to increase the comfort through the retrofit of a hospital building. The existing situation is characterized by an old and inefficient heating system, by the complete missing of any ventilation and by no cooling. The retrofit proposal includes thermal insulation and a distributed HVAC system consisting of several units that includes air to air heat exchangers and air to air heat pumps. A condensing boiler was also considered for heating. A solar thermal system for preparing domestic hot water and a solar photovoltaic system to assist the HVAC units are also proposed. Heat transfer principles are used for modelling the thermal response of the building to the environmental parameters and thermodynamic principles are used for modelling the behaviour of HVAC, solar thermal system and photovoltaic system. All the components of the heating loads were determined for one year period. The study reveals the capacity of the proposed systems to provide ventilation and thermal comfort with a global reduction of energy consumption of 71.6 %.

Published
2018
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13. POS0569 LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF CHILDREN BORN TO WOMEN WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Author

Calin, N., primary, Florescu, A. T., additional, Bobirca, F., additional, Tataru, C., additional, Ancuta, I., additional, Bojinca, M., additional, Mihai, C., additional, Balanescu, A., additional, Musetescu, A., additional, Micu, M., additional, Ancuta, C., additional, Stoica, V., additional, Andreoli, L., additional, and Anca, B., additional

Published
2021
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16. POS0512 DIFFERENCES IN TREATMENT SATISFACTION, PATIENT PREFERENCES, AND TREATMENT PATTERNS BETWEEN EUROPEAN, SOUTH AMERICAN, AND JAPANESE PATIENTS WITH SUBOPTIMALLY CONTROLLED RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A SUBGROUP ANALYSIS OF THE SENSE STUDY

Author

Taylor, P. C., primary, Sidiropoulos, P., additional, Ancuta, C., additional, Lagunes-Galindo, I., additional, Delavega, M., additional, Kalyoncu, U., additional, Nagy, O., additional, and Kawakami, A., additional

Published
2021
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18. Racial differences in systemic sclerosis disease presentation: A European Scleroderma Trials and Research group study

Author

Jaeger, Veronika K, Tikly, Mohammed, Dong, Xu, Siegert, Elise, Hachulla, Eric, Airò, Paolo, Valentini, Gabriele, Matucci Cerinic, Marco, Distler, Oliver, Cozzi, Franco, Carreira, Patricia, Allanore, Yannick, Müller-Ladner, Ulf, Ananieva, Lidia P, Balbir-Gurman, Alexandra, Distler, Jörg H W, Czirják, Laszlo, Mengtao, Li, Henes, Jörg, Jimenez, Sergio A, Smith, Vanessa, Damjanov, Nemanja, Denton, Christopher P, Delgaldo, Francesco, Saketkoo, Lesley Ann, Walker, Ulrich, A, Randone, Sb, Bannert, B, Iannone, F, Maurer, B, Jordan, S, Dobrota, R, Becker, M, Mihai, C, Becvarare, R, Tomčík, M, Bielecka, Ok, Gindzienska-Sieskiewicz, E, Karaszewska, K, Cutolo, M, Pizzorni, C, Paolino, S, Sulli, A, Ruaro, B, Alessandri, E, Riccardi, A, Giacco, V, Messitini, V, Irace, R, Kedor, C, Casteleyn, V, Hilger, J, Hoeppner, J, Rednic, S, Szabo, I, Petcu, A, Avouac, J, Camelia, F, Desbas, C, Vlachoyiannopoulos, P, Montecucco, C, Caporali, R, Cavagna, L, Stork, J, Inanc, M, Joven, Be, Novak, S, Anic, F, Varju, C, Minier, T, Chizzolini, C, Allai, D, Kucharz, Ej, Kotulska, A, Kopec-Medrek, M, Widuchowska, M, Dolnicar, As, Coleiro, B, Gabrielli, A, Manfredi, L, Benfaremo, D, Ferrarini, A, Bancel, Df, Hij, A, Lansiaux, P, Lazzaroni, Mg, Hesselstrand, R, Wuttge, D, Andréasson, R, Martinovic, D, Bozic, I, Radic, M, Braun-Moscovici, Y, Monaco, Al, Furini, F, Hunzelmann, N, Moinzadeh, P, Pellerito, R, Caimmi, C, Bertoldo, E, Morovic-Vergles, J, Culo, Im, Pecher, Ac, Santamaria, Vo, Heitmann, S, Codagnone, M, Pflugfelder, J, Krasowska, D, Michalska-Jakubus, M, Seidel, M, Hasler, P, Kretschmar, S, Kohm, M, Bajocchi, G, Salvador, Mj, Silva, Japd, Stamenkovic, B, Stankovic, A, Selmi, Cf, Santis, M, Ceribelli, A, Garzanova, L, Koneva, O, Starovoytova, M, Herrick, A, Puppo, F, Negrini, S, Murdaca, G, Engelhart, M, Szücs, G, Szamosi, S, de la Puente, C, Grande, Cs, Villanueva, Mjg, Midtvedt, Sø, Hoffmann-Vold, Am, Launay, D, Sobanski, V, Riccieri, V, Vasile, M, Ionescu, Rm, Opris, D, Sha, A, Woods, A, Gheorghiu, Am, Bojinca, M, Sunderkötter, C, Ehrchen, J, Ingegnoli, F, Mouthon, L, Dunogue, B, Chaigne, B, Legendre, P, Cantatore, Fp, Corrado, A, Ullman, S, Iversen, L, von Mühlen CA, Pozzi, Mr, Eyerich, K, Lauffer, F, Wiland, P, Szmyrka-Kaczmarek, M, Sokolik, R, Morgiel, E, Madej, M, Vanthuyne, M, Frédéric, H, Alegre-Sancho, Jj, Aringer, M, Herrmann, K, Günther, C, Westhovens, R, Langhe, E, Lenaerts, J, Anic, B, Baresic, M, Mayer, M, Üprus, M, Otsa, K, Yavuz, S, Granel, B, Radominski, Sc, De, C, Müller, S, Azevedo, Vf, Mendoza, F, Busquets, J, Popa, S, Agachi, S, Zenone, T, Pileckyte, M, Stebbings, S, Mathieu, A, Vacca, A, Sampaio-Barros, Pd, Stamp, L, Solanki, K, Silva, C, Schollum, J, Barns-Graham, H, Veale, D, O'Rourke, M, Loyo, E, Tineo, C, Paulino, G, Mohamed, Waaa, Rosato, E, Gigante, A, Oksel, F, Yargucu, F, Tanaseanu, Cm, Popescu, M, Dumitrascu, A, Tiglea, I, Foti, R, Visalli, E, Benenati, A, Amato, G, Ancuta, C, Villiger, P, Adler, S, Fröhlich, J, Kayser, C, Eduardo, Al, Fathi, N, Alii, S, Ahmed, M, Hasaneen, S, Hakeem, Ee, de la PG, Lefebvre, P, Martin, Jjg, Sibilia, J, Chatelus, E, Gottenberg, Je, Chifflot, H, Litinsky, I, Galdo, Fd, Abignano, G, Eng, S, Seskute, G, Butrimiene, I, Rugiene, R, Karpec, D, Pascal, M, Kerzberg, E, Bianchi, W, Bianchi, Bv, Bianchi, Dv, Barcellos, Y, Castellví, I, Millan, M, Limonta, M, Rimar, D, Rosner, I, Slobodin, G, Couto, M, Spertini, F, Ribi, C, Buss, G, Marcoccia, A, Bondanini, F, Ciani, A, Kahl, S, Hsu, Vm, Martin, T, Poindron, V, Meghit, K, Moiseev, S, Novikov, P, Chung, L, Kolstad, K, Stark, M, Schmeiser, T, Thiele, A, Majewski, D, Zdrojewski, Z, Zaneta, S, Wierzba, K, Martínez-Barrio, J, López-Longo, Fj, Bernardino, V, Moraes-Fontes, Mf, Rodrigues, Ac, Riemekasten, G, Sommerlatte, S, Jendreck, S, Arnold, S, Levy, Y, Rezus, E, Cardoneanu, A, Burlui, Am, Pamuk, On, Puttini, Ps, Talotta, R, Bongiovanni, S, Poormoghim, H, Andalib, E, Almasi, S, Kötter, I, Krusche, M, Cuomo, G, Danzo, F, Masini, F, Gaches, F, Michaud, M, Cartos, F, Belloli, L, Casu, C, Sfikakis, P, Tektonidou, M, Furst, D, Feldman, Gr, Ramazan, Am, Nurmambet, E, Miroto, A, Suta, C, Andronache, I, Huizinga, Twj, de Vries-Bouwstra, J., Chizzolini, Carlo, Jaeger, Veronika K, Tikly, Mohammed, Xu, Dong, Siegert, Elise, Hachulla, Eric, Airò, Paolo, Valentini, Gabriele, Matucci Cerinic, Marco, Distler, Oliver, Cozzi, Franco, Carreira, Patricia, Allanore, Yannick, Müller-Ladner, Ulf, Ananieva, Lidia P, Balbir-Gurman, Alexandra, Distler, Jörg H W, Czirják, Laszlo, Li, Mengtao, Henes, Jörg, Jimenez, Sergio A, Smith, Vanessa, Damjanov, Nemanja, Denton, Christopher P, Delgaldo, Francesco, Saketkoo, Lesley Ann, Walker, Ulrich A, University of Zurich, Cerinic, Marco Matucci, Walker Ulrich, A, Randone, Silvia Bellando, Bannert, Bettina, Iannone, Florenzoaa, Maurer, Brittaab, Jordan, Suzanaab, Dobrota, Rucsandraab, Becker, Mikeab, Mihai, Carinaa, Becvarare, Radima, Tomcik, Michala, Bielecka, Otylia Kowala, Gindzienska-Sieskiewicz, Ewaa, Karaszewska, Katarzynaa, Cutolo, Maurizioa, Pizzorni, Carmena, Paolino, Sabrinaae, Sulli, Albertoa, Ruaro, Barbara, Alessandri, Elisa, Riccardi, Antonella, Giacco, Veronica, Messitini, Valentina, Irace, Rosaria, Kedor, Claudia, Casteleyn, Vincent, Hilger, Julia, Hoeppner, Jakob, Rednic, Simona, Szabo, Iulia, Petcu, Ana, Avouac, Jérome, Camelia, Frantz, Desbas, Carole, Vlachoyiannopoulos, Panayioti, Montecucco, Carlo Maurizio, Caporali, Roberto, Cavagna, Lorenzo, Stork, Jiri, Inanc, Murat, Joven, Beatriz E., Novak, Srdan, Anic, Felina, Varju, Cecilia, Minier, Tunde, Allai, Daniela, Kucharz, Eugene J., Kotulska, Anna, Kopec-Medrek, Magdalena, Widuchowska, Malgorzata, Dolnicar, Alenka Sipek, Coleiro, Bernard, Gabrielli, Armando, Manfredi, Lucia, Benfaremo, Devi, Ferrarini, Alessia, Bancel, Dominique Farge, Hij, Adrian, Lazzaroni, Maria Grazia, Hesselstrand, Roger, Wuttge, Dirk, Andréasson, Kristofer, Martinovic, Duska, Bozic, Ivona, Radic, Mislav, Braun-Moscovici, Yolanda, Monaco, Andrea Lo, Furini, Federica, Hunzelmann, Nicola, Moinzadeh, Pia, Pellerito, Raffaele, Caimmi, Cristian, Bertoldo, Eugenia, Morovic-Vergles, Jadranka, Culo, Ivana Melanie, Pecher, Ann-Christian, Santamaria, Vera Ortiz, Heitmann, Stefan, Codagnone, Medeleine, Pflugfelder, Johanne, Krasowska, Dorota, Michalska-Jakubus, Malgorzata, Seidel, Matthia, Hasler, Paul, Kretschmar, Samuel, Kohm, Michaela, Bajocchi, Gianluigi, Salvador, Maria João, Da Silva, JoséAntonio Pereira, Stamenkovic, Bojana, Stankovic, Aleksandra, Selmi, Carlo Francesco, De Santis, Maria, Ceribelli, Angela, Garzanova, Ludmila, Koneva, Olga, Starovoytova, Maya, Herrick, Ariane, Puppo, Francesco, Negrini, Simone, Murdaca, Giuseppe, Engelhart, Merete, Szücs, Gabriela, Szamosi, Szilvia, De La Puente, Carlo, Grande, Cristina Sobrino, Villanueva, Maria Jesus Garcia, Midtve, Øyvindbw, Hoffmann-Vold, Anna-Mariabw, Launay, Davidbx, Sobanski, Vincentbx, Riccieri, Valeriaby, Vasile, Massimilianoby, Stefantoni, Katia, Ionescu, Ruxandra Maria, Opris, Daniela, Sha, Ami, Woods, Adrianne, Gheorghiu, Ana Maria, Bojinca, Mihai, Sunderkötter, Cord, Ehrchen, Jan, Ingegnoli, Francesca, Mouthon, Luc, Dunogue, Bertrand, Chaigne, Benjamin, Legendre, Paul, Cantatore, Francesco Paolo, Corrado, Ada, Ullman, Susanne, Iversen, Line, Von Mühlen, Carlos Alberto, Pozzi, Maria Rosa, Eyerich, Kilian, Lauffer, Felix, Wiland, Piotr, Szmyrka-Kaczmarek, Magdalena, Sokolik, Renata, Morgiel, Ewa, Madej, Marta, Vanthuyne, Marie, Frédéric, Houssiau, Alegre-Sancho, Juan Jose, Aringer, Martin, Herrmann, Kristine, Günther, Claudia, Westhovens, Rene, De Langhe, Ellen, Lenaerts, Jan, Anic, Branimir, Baresic, Marko, Mayer, Miroslav, Üprus, Maria, Otsa, Kati, Yavuz, Sule, Granel, Brigitte, Radominski, Sebastião Cezar, De Souza Müller, Carolina, Feijóazevedo, Valderílio, Mendoza, Fabian, Busquets, Joanna, Popa, Sergei, Agachi, Svetlana, Zenone, Thierry, Pileckyte, Margarita, Stebbings, Simon, Jordan, Sarah, Mathieu, Alessandro, Vacca, Alessandra, Sampaio-Barros, Percival D., Stamp, Lisa, Solanki, Kamal, Silva, Cherumi, Schollum, Joanne, Barns-Graham, Helen, Veale, Dougla, O'Rourke, Marie, Loyo, Esthela, Tineo, Carmen, Paulino, Glenny, Mohamed, Walid Ahmed Abdel Atty, Rosato, Edoardo, Gigante, Antonietta, Oksel, Fahrettin, Yargucu, Figen, Tanaseanu, Cristina-Mihaela, Popescu, Monica, Dumitrascu, Alina, Tiglea, Isabela, Foti, Rosario, Visalli, Elisa, Benenati, Alessia, Amato, Giorgio, Ancuta, Codrina, Villiger, Peter, Adler, Sabine, Fröhlich, Johanne, Kayser, Cristiane, Eduardo, Andrade Lui, Fathi, Nihal, Alii, Safa, Ahmed, Marrow, Hasaneen, Samar, El Hakeem, Eman, De La Peña Lefebvre, Paloma García, Martin, Jorge Juan Gonzalez, Sibilia, Jean, Chatelus, Emmanuel, Gottenberg, Jacques Eric, Chifflot, Hélène, Litinsky, Ira, Del Galdo, Francesco, Abignano, Giuseppina, Eng, Sookho, Seskute, Goda, Butrimiene, Irena, Rugiene, Rita, Karpec, Diana, Pascal, Melanie, Kerzberg, Eduardo, Bianchi, Washington, Bianchi, Breno Valdetaro, Bianchi, Dante Valdetaro, Barcellos, Yeda, Castellví, Ivan, Millan, Milena, Limonta, Massimiliano, Rimar, Doron, Rosner, Itzhak, Slobodin, Gleb, Couto, Maura, Spertini, Françoi, Ribi, Camillo, Buss, Guillaume, Marcoccia, Antonella, Bondanini, Francesco, Ciani, Aldo, Kahl, Sarah, Hsu, Vivien M., Martin, Thierry, Poindron, Vincent, Meghit, Kilifa, Moiseev, Sergey, Novikov, Pavel, Chung, Lori, Kolstad, Kathleen, Stark, Marianna, Schmeiser, Tim, Thiele, Astrid, Majewski, Dominik, Zdrojewski, Zbigniew, Zaneta, Smolenska, Wierzba, Karol, Martínez-Barrio, Julia, López-Longo, Francisco Javier, Bernardino, Vera, Moraes-Fontes, Maria Francisca, Rodrigues, Ana Catarina, Riemekasten, Gabriela, Sommerlatte, Sabine, Jendreck, Sebastian, Arnold, Sabrina, Levy, Yair, Rezus, Elena, Cardoneanu, Anca, Burlui, Alexandra Maria, Pamuk, Omer Nuri, Puttini, Piercarlo Sarzi, Talotta, Rossella, Bongiovanni, Sara, Poormoghim, Hadi, Andalib, Elham, Almasi, Simin, Kötter, Ina, Krusche, Matrin, Cuomo, Giovanna, Danzo, Fiammetta, Masini, Francesco, Gaches, Franci, Michaud, Martin, Cartos, Florian, Belloli, Laura, Casu, Cinzia, Sfikakis, Petro, Tektonidou, Maria, Furst, Daniel, Feldman, Gary R., Ramazan, Ana-Maria, Nurmambet, Emel, Miroto, Amalia, Suta, Cristina, Andronache, Iulia, Huizinga, Tom W. J., De Vries-Bouwstra, Jeska, and Walker, Ulrich A.

Subjects
Male, Vital capacity, Organ manifestations, systemic sclerosis, Type I, race difference, Systemic scleroderma, Gastroenterology, Scleroderma, immunology, 0302 clinical medicine, Diffusing capacity, middle aged, pulmonary hypertension, Medicine, Pharmacology (medical), 030212 general & internal medicine, organ manifestations, races, skin and connective tissue diseases, Lung, race, pathophysiology, African Continental Ancestry Group, ddc:616, integumentary system, disease course, Hazard ratio, Races, 10051 Rheumatology Clinic and Institute of Physical Medicine, Pulmonary, Middle Aged, Blacks, cohort analysis, Autoantibodie, 3. Good health, Asians, female, priority journal, DNA Topoisomerases, Type I, Black, centromere, Cohort, Hypertension, organ manifestation, Systemic sclerosis, Female, systemic sclerosi, Human, Adult, Asian Continental Ancestry Group, medicine.medical_specialty, Hypertension, Pulmonary, European Continental Ancestry Group, Black People, 610 Medicine & health, complication, Caucasian, White People, Article, lung, 03 medical and health sciences, Black person, Rheumatology, Asian People, forced vital capacity, Internal medicine, geographic distribution, Humans, controlled study, human, DNA topoisomerase, Aged, Autoantibodies, 030203 arthritis & rheumatology, Scleroderma, Systemic, Asian, business.industry, Whites, Systemic, Odds ratio, medicine.disease, Pulmonary hypertension, major clinical study, mortality, clinical feature, business, DNA Topoisomerases, autoantibody
Abstract

Objectives Racial factors play a significant role in SSc. We evaluated differences in SSc presentations between white patients (WP), Asian patients (AP) and black patients (BP) and analysed the effects of geographical locations. Methods SSc characteristics of patients from the EUSTAR cohort were cross-sectionally compared across racial groups using survival and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results The study included 9162 WP, 341 AP and 181 BP. AP developed the first non-RP feature faster than WP but slower than BP. AP were less frequently anti-centromere (ACA; odds ratio (OR) = 0.4, P < 0.001) and more frequently anti-topoisomerase-I autoantibodies (ATA) positive (OR = 1.2, P = 0.068), while BP were less likely to be ACA and ATA positive than were WP [OR(ACA) = 0.3, P < 0.001; OR(ATA) = 0.5, P = 0.020]. AP had less often (OR = 0.7, P = 0.06) and BP more often (OR = 2.7, P < 0.001) diffuse skin involvement than had WP. AP and BP were more likely to have pulmonary hypertension [OR(AP) = 2.6, P < 0.001; OR(BP) = 2.7, P = 0.03 vs WP] and a reduced forced vital capacity [OR(AP) = 2.5, P < 0.001; OR(BP) = 2.4, P < 0.004] than were WP. AP more often had an impaired diffusing capacity of the lung than had BP and WP [OR(AP vs BP) = 1.9, P = 0.038; OR(AP vs WP) = 2.4, P < 0.001]. After RP onset, AP and BP had a higher hazard to die than had WP [hazard ratio (HR) (AP) = 1.6, P = 0.011; HR(BP) = 2.1, P < 0.001]. Conclusion Compared with WP, and mostly independent of geographical location, AP have a faster and earlier disease onset with high prevalences of ATA, pulmonary hypertension and forced vital capacity impairment and higher mortality. BP had the fastest disease onset, a high prevalence of diffuse skin involvement and nominally the highest mortality.

Published
2020

21. SAT0123 TREATMENT SATISFACTION, EXPECTATIONS, PATIENT PREFERENCES AND CHARACTERISTICS, INCLUDING DIGITAL HEALTH LITERACY (DHL), AND THE IMPACT OF SUBOPTIMAL DISEASE CONTROL IN A LARGE INTERNATIONAL COHORT OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA): THE SENSE STUDY

Author

Taylor, P. C., primary, Ancuta, C., additional, Nagy, O., additional, Delavega, M., additional, Gordeev, A., additional, Jankova, R., additional, Kalyoncu, U., additional, Lagunes-Galindo, I., additional, Morovic-Vergles, J., additional, Peixoto Gu e Silva de Souza, M., additional, Rojkovich, B., additional, Sidiropoulos, P., additional, and Kawakami, A., additional

Published
2020
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22. AB1269 REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE PATIENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF TREATMENT STRATEGY IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Author

Cobilinschi, C., primary, Danila, M., additional, Opris-Belinski, D., additional, Saulescu, I., additional, Groseanu, L., additional, Daia-Iliescu, S., additional, Codreanu, C., additional, Ionescu, R., additional, Parvu, M., additional, Popoviciu, H., additional, Ancuta, C., additional, Rezus, E., additional, and Mihailov, C., additional

Published
2020
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23. New Perspective on Performances and Limits of Solar Fresh Air Cooling in Different Climatic Conditions

Author

Octavian G. Pop, Ancuta C. Abrudan, Mugur C. Balan, and Alexandru Serban

Subjects
Control and Optimization, solar cooling, absorption chiller, LiBr-H2O, operating conditions, climatic conditions, 020209 energy, Energy Engineering and Power Technology, Cold storage, 02 engineering and technology, lcsh:Technology, Hot Temperature, law.invention, Solar air conditioning, law, Thermal, 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, Water cooling, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Engineering (miscellaneous), Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, lcsh:T, Environmental engineering, other, Coefficient of performance, 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology, Absorption refrigerator, Environmental science, 0210 nano-technology, Building envelope, Energy (miscellaneous)
Abstract

The study carried out by simulation, concerns the thermal behavior of an office building’s solar fresh air cooling system, based on a LiBr-H2O absorption chiller in different climatic conditions. The coefficient of performance (COP) and the solar fraction were considered performance parameters and were analyzed with respect to the operating limits—the risk of crystallization and maintaining at least a minimum degassing zone. A new correlation between the required solar hot temperature and the cooling water temperature was established and then embedded in another new correlation between the COP and the cooling water temperature that was used in simulations during the whole cooling season corresponding to each location. It was found that—the solar hot water should be maintained in the range of (80−100) °C depending on the cooling water temperature, the COP of the solar LiBr-H2O absorption chiller with or without cold storage tank could reach (76.5−82.4)% depending on the location, and the solar fraction could reach (29.5−62.0)% without cold storage tank and could exceed 100% with cold storage tank, and the excess cooling power being available to cover other types of cooling loads—through the building envelope, from lighting, and from occupants, etc.

Published
2019

24. Incidence and risk factors for gangrene in patients with systemic sclerosis from the EUSTAR cohort

Author

Mihai, Carina, Distler, Oliver, Gheorghiu, Ana Maria, Constantin, Paul I, Dobrota, Rucsandra, Jordan, Suzana, Smith, Vanessa, Hachulla, Eric, Henes, Jörg, Siegert, Elise, Vettori, Serena, Müller-Ladner, Ulf, Matucci Cerinic, Marco, Allanore, Yannick, Lepri, G, Jaeger, Vk, Walker, Ua, Iannone, F, Cacciapaglia, F, Tomčík, M, Becvar, R, Rednic, S, Petcu, A, Szabo, I, Codullo, V, Caporali, R, Montecucco, C, Carreira, P, Ioven, B, Minier, T, Czirják, L, Chizzolini, C, Allali, D, Zanatta, E, Doria, A, Gabrielli, A, Airò, P, Lazzaroni, Mg, Radić, M, Martinovic, D, Braun-Moscovici, Y, Balbir-Gurman, A, Hunzelmann, N, Caramaschi, P, Morovic-Vergles, J, Denton, C, Santamaria, V, Heitmann, S, Krasowska, D, Michalska-Jakubus, M, Seidel, M, Foeldvari, I, Helmus, N, Salvador, M, Stamenkovic, B, Stankovic, A, Ananieva, L, Herrick, A, Engelhart, M, De La Puente, C, Hoffmann-Vold, Am, Midtvedt, Ø, Launay, D, Sobanski, V, Riccieri, V, Opris-Belinski, D, Groseanu, L, Ionescu, R, Bojinca, M, Sunderkötter, C, Distler, J, Ingegnoli, F, van der Haecke, A, Ullman, S, Pozzi, Mr, Eyerich, K, Vanthuyne, M, Erler, A, Aringer, M, De Langhe, E, Baresic, M, Mayer, M, Anic, B, Yavuz, S, Granel, B, Popa, S, Agachi, S, Zenone, T, Mathieu, A, Vacca, A, Solanki, K, Veale, D, Loyo, E, Tineo, C, Gigante, A, Rosato, E, Oksel, F, Yagurcu, F, Tănăseanu, Cm, Visalli, E, Benenati, A, Foti, R, Ancuta, C, Dan, D, Adler, S, Villiger, P, Fathi, N, de la Peña Lefebvre PG, González Martín, J, Chatelus, E, Sibilia, J, Litinsky, I, Del Galdo, F, Ann Sakettkoo, L, Kerzberg, E, Bianchi, Wa, Bianchi, Bv, Castellví, I, Limonta, M, Rimar, D, Couto, M, Ribi, C, Spertini, F, Kahl, S, Hsu, V, Poindron, V, Meghit, K, Martin, T, Kolstad, K, Chung, L, Thiele, A, Schmeiser, T, Zdrojewski, Z, Riemekasten, G, Levy, Y, Cardoneanu, A, Burlui, A, Rezus, E, Pamuk, On, Talotta, R, Bongiovanni, S, Puttini, Ps., Mihai, Carina, Distler, Oliver, Gheorghiu, Ana Maria, Constantin, Paul I, Dobrota, Rucsandra, Jordan, Suzana, Smith, Vanessa, Hachulla, Eric, Henes, Jörg, Siegert, Elise, Vettori, Serena, Müller-Ladner, Ulf, Matucci Cerinic, Marco, Allanore, Yannick, Giovanna, Cuomo, Chizzolini, Carlo, Allali, Danièle, and University of Zurich

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Databases, Factual, systemic sclerosis, digital ulcer, 610 Medicine & health, Disease, ddc:616.07, Logistic regression, Systemic scleroderma, Cohort Studies, Rheumatology, Risk Factors, Internal medicine, Cox proportional hazards regression, medicine, Humans, Pharmacology (medical), In patient, digital ulcers, gangrene, vasculopathy, Aged, Gangrene, Scleroderma, Systemic, business.industry, Incidence (epidemiology), Incidence, 10051 Rheumatology Clinic and Institute of Physical Medicine, food and beverages, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Cross-Sectional Studies, Cohort, Female, business, systemic sclerosi
Abstract

Objective In patients with SSc, peripheral vasculopathy can promote critical ischaemia and gangrene. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, incidence and risk factors for gangrene in the EUSTAR cohort. Methods We included patients from the EUSTAR database fulfilling the ACR 1980 or the ACR/EULAR 2013 classification criteria for SSc, with at least one visit recording data on gangrene. Centres were asked for supplementary data on traditional cardiovascular risk factors. We analysed the cross-sectional relationship between gangrene and its potential risk factors by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Longitudinal data were analysed by Cox proportional hazards regression. Results 1757 patients were analysed (age 55.9 [14.5] years, disease duration 7.9 [10.3] years, male sex 16.7%, 24.6% diffuse cutaneous subset [dcSSc]). At inclusion, 8.9% of patients had current or previous digital gangrene, 16.1% had current digital ulcers (DUs) and 42.7% had ever had DUs (current or previous). Older age, DUs ever and dcSSc were statistically significant risk factors for gangrene in the cross-sectional multivariable model. During a median follow-up of 13.1 months, 16/771 (0.9%) patients developed gangrene. All 16 patients who developed gangrene had previously had DUs and gangrene. Further risk factors for incident gangrene were the dcSSc subset and longer disease duration. Conclusion In unselected SSc patients, gangrene occurs in about 9% of SSc patients. DUs ever and, to a lesser extent, the dcSSc subset are strongly and independently associated with gangrene, while traditional cardiovascular risk factors could not be identified as risk factors.

Published
2019

25. Outcomes of patients with systemic sclerosis treated with rituximab in contemporary practice: a prospective cohort study

Author

Elhai, M, Boubaya, M, Distler, O, Smith, V, Matucci-Cerinic, M, Sancho, JJ, Truchetet, ME, Braun-Moscovici, Y, Iannone, F, Novikov, PI, Lescoat, A, Siegert, E, Castellvi, I, Airo, P, Vettori, S, Langhe, E, Hachulla, E, Erler, A, Ananieva, L, Krusche, M, Lopez-Longo, FJ, Distler, JHW, Hunzelmann, N, Hoffmann-Vold, AM, Riccieri, V, Hsu, VM, Pozzi, MR, Ancuta, C, Rosato, E, Mihai, C, Kuwana, M, Saketkoo, LA, Chizzolini, C, Hesselstrand, R, Ullman, S, Yavuz, S, Rednic, S, Caimmi, C, Bloch-Queyrat, C, Allanore, Y, Guiducci, S, Walker, UA, Kyburz, D, Lapadula, G, Maurer, B, Jordan, S, Dobrota, R, Becvar, R, Sierakowsky, S, Bielecka, OK, Sulli, A, Cutolo, M, Cuomo, G, Nicoara, I, Kahan, A, Vlachoyiannopoulos, PG, Montecucco, CM, Caporali, R, Stork, J, Inanc, M, Carreira, PE, Novak, S, Czirjak, L, Varju, C, Kucharz, EJ, Kotulska, A, Kopec-Medrek, M, Widuchowska, M, Cozzi, F, Rozman, B, Mallia, C, Coleiro, B, Gabrielli, A, Farge, D, Wu, C, Marjanovic, Z, Faivre, H, Hij, D, Dhamadi, R, Wollheim, F, Scheja, A, Wuttge, DM, Andreasson, K, Martinovic, D, Balbir-Gurman, A, Trotta, F, Lo Monaco, A, Pellerito, R, Mauriziano, O, Caramaschi, P, Morovic-Vergles, J, Black, C, Denton, C, Damjanov, N, Henes, J, Santamaria, VO, Heitmann, S, Krasowska, D, Matthias, Hasler, P, Burkhardt, H, Himsel, A, Bajocchi, G, Da Silva, JAP, Salvador, MJ, Stamenkovic, B, Stankovic, A, Selmi, CF, De Santis, M, Tikly, M, Denisov, LN, Herrick, A, Muller-Ladner, U, Frerix, M, Tarner, I, Scorza, R, Puppo, F, Engelhart, M, Strauss, G, Nielsen, H, Damgaard, K, Szucs, G, Mendoza, AZ, de la Puente, C, Giraldo, WAS, Midtvedt, O, Reiseter, S, Garen, T, Launay, D, Valesini, G, Ionescu, RM, Groseanu, L, Opris, D, Cornateanu, RS, Ionitescu, R, Gherghe, AM, Soare, A, Gorga, M, Bojinca, M, Milicescu, M, Sunderkotter, C, Kuhn, A, Sandorfi, N, Schett, G, Beyer, C, Meroni, P, Ingegnoli, F, Mouthon, L, De Keyser, F, Melsens, K, Cantatore, FP, Corrado, A, Iversen, L, von Muhlen, CA, Bohn, JM, Lonzetti, LS, Eyerich, K, Hein, R, Knott, E, Wiland, P, Szmyrka-Kaczmarek, M, Sokolik, R, Morgiel, E, Madej, M, Houssiau, FA, Krummel-Lorenz, B, Saar, P, Aringer, M, Gunther, C, Westhovens, R, Lenaerts, J, Anic, B, Baresic, M, Mayer, M, Uprus, M, Otsa, K, Granel, B, Muller, CD, Radominski, SC, Azevedo, VF, Jimenez, S, Busquets, J, Agachi, S, Groppa, L, Chiaburu, L, Russu, E, Popa, S, Zenone, T, Pileckyte, M, Mathieu, A, Vacca, A, Sampaio-Barros, PD, Yoshinari, NH, Marangoni, RG, Martin, P, Fuocco, L, Stebbings, S, Highton, J, Chapman, P, O'Donnell, J, Stamp, L, Doube, A, Solanki, K, Veale, D, O'Rourke, M, Loyo, E, Li, MT, Mohamed, WAAA, Amoroso, A, Gigante, A, Oksel, F, Yargucu, F, Tanaseanu, CM, Popescu, M, Dumitrascu, A, Tiglea, I, Foti, R, Chirieac, R, Furst, D, Villiger, P, Adler, S, van Laar, J, Kayser, C, Fathi, N, Hassanien, M, Lefebvre, PGD, Rubio, SR, Exposito, MV, Chatelus, E, Sibilia, J, Gottenberg, JE, Chifflot, H, Litinsky, I, Emery, P, Buch, M, Del Galdo, F, Venalis, A, Butrimiene, I, Venalis, P, Rugiene, R, Karpec, D, Lasky, JA, Cosentino, V, Kerzberg, E, Montoya, F, Bianchi, W, Carneiro, S, Maretti, GB, Bianchi, DV, Limonta, M, Lupi, ALBE, Lupi, E, Rosner, I, Rozenbaum, M, Slobodin, G, Boulman, N, Rimar, D, Couto, M, Kahl, S, Chen, F, McCloskey, D, Malveaux, H, Spertini, F, Ribi, C, Buss, G, Martin, T, Guffroy, A, Poindron, V, Chotchaeva, F, Mukhin, NA, Moiseev, S, EUSTAR Network, Elhai, Muriel, Boubaya, Marouane, Distler, Oliver, Smith, Vanessa, Matucci-Cerinic, Marco, Alegre Sancho, Juan José, Truchetet, Marie-Elise, Braun-Moscovici, Yolanda, Iannone, Florenzo, Novikov, Pavel I, Lescoat, Alain, Siegert, Elise, Castellví, Ivan, Airó, Paolo, Vettori, Serena, De Langhe, Ellen, Hachulla, Eric, Erler, Anne, Ananieva, Lidia, Krusche, Martin, López-Longo, F. J., Distler, Jörg H W, Hunzelmann, Nicola, Hoffmann-Vold, Anna-Maria, Riccieri, Valeria, Hsu, Vivien M, Pozzi, Maria R, Ancuta, Codrina, Rosato, Edoardo, Mihai, Carina, Kuwana, Masataka, Saketkoo, Lesley Ann, Chizzolini, Carlo, Hesselstrand, Roger, Ullman, Susanne, Yavuz, Sule, Rednic, Simona, Caimmi, Cristian, Bloch-Queyrat, Coralie, Allanore, Yannick, and Cuomo, Giovanna

Subjects
Male, Vital capacity, systemic sclerosis, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Vital Capacity, Scleroderma, lung fibrosis, rituximab, skin fibrosis, immune system diseases, DLCO, hemic and lymphatic diseases, Immunology and Allergy, Medicine, Prospective Studies, Registries, skin and connective tissue diseases, Prospective cohort study, Lung, skin fibrosi, Skin, ddc:616, integumentary system, Orvostudományok, Middle Aged, Respiratory Function Tests, lung fibrosis, rituximab, skin fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, Treatment Outcome, lung fibrosi, Antirheumatic Agents, Systemic sclerosis, Rituximab, Female, systemic sclerosi, medicine.drug, Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Immunology, Klinikai orvostudományok, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, FEV1/FVC ratio, Rheumatology, Internal medicine, Humans, Adverse effect, Propensity Score, Aged, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all), Scleroderma, Systemic, Skin fibrosis, business.industry, medicine.disease, Fibrosis, Lung fibrosis, business
Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the safety and efficacy of rituximab in systemic sclerosis (SSc) in clinical practice.MethodsWe performed a prospective study including patients with SSc from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) network treated with rituximab and matched with untreated patients with SSc. The main outcomes measures were adverse events, skin fibrosis improvement, lung fibrosis worsening and steroids use among propensity score-matched patients treated or not with rituximab.Results254 patients were treated with rituximab, in 58% for lung and in 32% for skin involvement. After a median follow-up of 2 years, about 70% of the patients had no side effect. Comparison of treated patients with 9575 propensity-score matched patients showed that patients treated with rituximab were more likely to have skin fibrosis improvement (22.7 vs 14.03 events per 100 person-years; OR: 2.79 [1.47–5.32]; p=0.002). Treated patients did not have significantly different rates of decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC)>10% (OR: 1.03 [0.55–1.94]; p=0.93) nor in carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) decrease. Patients having received rituximab were more prone to stop or decrease steroids (OR: 2.34 [1.56–3.53], pConclusionRituximab use was associated with a good safety profile in this large SSc-cohort. Significant change was observed on skin fibrosis, but not on lung. However, the limitation is the observational design. The potential stabilisation of lung fibrosis by rituximab has to be addressed by a randomised trial.

Published
2019

26. Predictors of disease worsening defined by progression of organ damage in diffuse systemic sclerosis: a European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) analysis

Author

Becker M, Graf N, Sauter R, Curram J, Denton C, Khanna D, Pena J, Pope J, Distler O, Matucci-Cerinic M, Guiducci S, Walker U, Jaeger V, Bannert B, Lapadula G, Becvarare R, Cutolo M, Valentini G, Siegert E, Rednic S, Allanore Y, Montecucco C, Carreira P, Novak S, Czirjak L, Varju C, Chizzolini C, Allai D, Kucharz E, Cozzi F, Rozman B, Mallia C, Gabrielli A, Bancel D, Airo P, Hesselstrand R, Martinovic D, Balbir-Gurman A, Braun-Moscovici Y, Hunzelmann N, Pellerito R, Caramaschi P, Black C, Damjanov N, Henes J, Santamaria V, Heitmann S, Seidel M, Da Silva J, Stamenkovic B, Selmi C, Tikly M, Denisov L, Muller-Ladner U, Engelhart M, Hachulla E, Riccieri V, Ionescu R, Mihai C, Sunderkotter C, Kuhn A, Schett G, Distler J, Meroni P, Ingegnoli F, Mouthon L, De Keyser F, Smith V, Cantatore F, Corrado A, Ullman S, Iversen L, Pozzi M, Eyerich K, Hein R, Knott E, Wiland P, Szmyrka-Kaczmarek M, Sokolik R, Morgiel E, Madej M, Alegre-Sancho J, Krummel-Lorenz B, Saar P, Aringer M, Gunther C, Anne E, Westhovens R, De Langhe E, Lenaerts J, Anic B, Baresic M, Mayer M, Uprus M, Otsa K, Yavuz S, Radominski S, Muller C, Azevedo V, Popa S, Zenone T, Stebbings S, Highton J, Mathieu A, Vacca A, Stamp L, Chapman P, O'Donnell J, Solanki K, Doube A, Veale D, O'Rourke M, Loyo E, Li M, Rosato E, Amoroso A, Gigante A, Oksel F, Yargucu F, Tanaseanu C, Popescu M, Dumitrascu A, Tiglea I, Foti R, Visalli E, Benenati A, Amato G, Ancuta C, Chirieac R, Villiger P, Adler S, Dan D, Lefebvre P, Rubio S, Exposito M, Sibilia J, Chatelus E, Gottenberg J, Chifflot H, Litinsky I, Del Galdo F, Venalis A, Saketkoo L, Lasky J, Kerzberg E, Montoya F, Cosentino V, Limonta M, Brucato A, Lupi E, Spertini F, Ribi C, Buss G, Martin T, Guffroy A, Poindron V, Chung L, Schmeiser T, Zebryk P, Riso N, Riemekasten G, Rezus E, Puttini P, and EUSTAR Collaborators

Abstract

Objectives Mortality and worsening of organ function are desirable endpoints for clinical trials in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to identify factors that allow enrichment of patients with these endpoints, in a population of patients from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research group database. Methods Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of diffuse SSc and follow-up over 12 +/- 3 months. Disease worsening/organ progression was fulfilled if any of the following events occurred: new renal crisis; decrease of lung or heart function; new echocardiography-suspected pulmonary hypertension or death. In total, 42 clinical parameters were chosen as predictors for the analysis by using (1) imputation of missing data on the basis of multivariate imputation and (2) least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. Results Of 1451 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 706 had complete data on outcome parameters and were included in the analysis. Of the 42 outcome predictors, eight remained in the final regression model. There was substantial evidence for a strong association between disease progression and age, active digital ulcer (DU), lung fibrosis, muscle weakness and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level. Active DU, CRP elevation, lung fibrosis and muscle weakness were also associated with a significantly shorter time to disease progression. A bootstrap validation step with 10 000 repetitions successfully validated the model. Conclusions The use of the predictive factors presented here could enable cohort enrichment with patients at risk for overall disease worsening in SSc clinical trials.

Published
2019

27. What have multicentre registries across the world taught us about the disease features of systemic sclerosis?

Author

Proudman S. M., Huq M., Stevens W., Wilson M. E., Sahhar J., Baron M., Hudson M., Pope J., Allanore Y., Distler O., Kowal-Bielecka O., Matucci-Cerinic M., H. L. Low A., Teng G. G., Law W. G., Santosa A., Nikpour M., Hill C., Lester S., Nash P., Ngian G. -S., Proudman S., Rischmueller M., Roddy J., Strickland G., Thakkar V., Walker J., Zochling J., Markland J., Robinson D., Jones N., Khalidi N., Docherty P., Kaminska E., Masetto A., Sutton E., Mathieu J. -P., Ligier S., Grodzicky T., LeClercq S., Thorne C., Gyger G., Smith D., Fortin P. R., Larche M., Abu-Hakima M., Rodriguez-Reyna T. S., Cabral A. R., Fritzler M., Avouac J., Walker U. A., Guiducci S., Riemekasten G., Air P., Hachulla E., Valentini G., Carreira P. E., Cozzi F., Gurman A. B., Braun-Moscovici Y., Damjanov N., Ananieva L. P., Scorza R., Jimenez S., Busquets J., Li M., Muller-Ladner U., Maurer B., Tyndall A., Lapadula G., Iannone F., Becvar R., Sierakowsky S., Cutolo M., Sulli A., Cuomo G., Vettori S., Rednic S., Nicoara I., Vlachoyiannopoulos P., Montecucco C., Caporali R., Novak S., Czirjak L., Varju C., Chizzolini C., Kucharz E. J., Kotulska A., Kopec-Medrek M., Widuchowska M., Rozman B., Mallia C., Coleiro B., Gabrielli A., Farge D., Hij A., Hesselstrand R., Scheja A., Wollheim F., Martinovic D., Govoni M., Lo Monaco A., Hunzelmann N., Pellerito R., Bambara L. M., Caramaschi P., Black C., Denton C., Henes J., Santamaria V. O., Heitmann S., Krasowska D., Seidel M., Oleszowsky M., Burkhardt H., Himsel A., Salvador M. J., Stamenkovic B., Stankovic A., Tikly M., Starovoytova M. N., Engelhart M., Strauss G., Nielsen H., Damgaard K., Szucs G., Mendoza A. Z., de la Puente Buijdos C., Giraldo W. A. S., Midtvedt O., Garen T., Launay D., Valesini G., Riccieri V., Ionescu R. M., Opris D., Groseanu L., Wigley F. M., Mihai C. M., Cornateanu R. S., Ionitescu R., Gherghe A. M., Gorga M., Dobrota R., Bojinca M., Schett G., Distler J. H., Meroni P., Zeni S., Mouthon L., De Keyser F., Smith V., Cantatore F. P., Corrado A., Ullman S., Iversen L., Pozzi M. R., Eyerich K., Hein R., Knott E., Szechinski J., Wiland P., Szmyrka-Kaczmarek M., Sokolik R., Morgiel E., Krummel-Lorenz B., Saar P., Aringer M., Gunther C., Anic B., Baresic M., Mayer M., Radominski S. C., de Souza Muller C., Azevedo V. F., Agachi S., Groppa L., Chiaburu L., Russu E., Zenone T., Stebbings S., Highton J., Stamp L., Chapman P., O'Donnell J., Solanki K., Doube A., Veale D., O'Rourke M., Loyo E., Rosato E., Pisarri S., Tanaseanu C. -M., Popescu M., Dumitrascu A., Tiglea I., Chirieac R., Ancuta C., Furst D. E., Kafaja S., Garcia de la Pena Lefebvre P., Rubio S. R., Exposito M. V., Sibilia J., Chatelus E., Gottenberg J. E., Chifflot H., Litinsky I., Venalis A., Butrimiene I., Venalis P., Rugiene R., Karpec D., Kerzberg E., Montoya F., Cosentino V., Low A. H. L., Teng G., Chan G., Lim A. Y. N., Ng S. C., Proudman, S. M., Huq, M., Stevens, W., Wilson, M. E., Sahhar, J., Baron, M., Hudson, M., Pope, J., Allanore, Y., Distler, O., Kowal-Bielecka, O., Matucci-Cerinic, M., H. L. Low, A., Teng, G. G., Law, W. G., Santosa, A., Nikpour, M., Hill, C., Lester, S., Nash, P., Ngian, G. -S., Proudman, S., Rischmueller, M., Roddy, J., Strickland, G., Thakkar, V., Walker, J., Zochling, J., Markland, J., Robinson, D., Jones, N., Khalidi, N., Docherty, P., Kaminska, E., Masetto, A., Sutton, E., Mathieu, J. -P., Ligier, S., Grodzicky, T., Leclercq, S., Thorne, C., Gyger, G., Smith, D., Fortin, P. R., Larche, M., Abu-Hakima, M., Rodriguez-Reyna, T. S., Cabral, A. R., Fritzler, M., Avouac, J., Walker, U. A., Guiducci, S., Riemekasten, G., Air, P., Hachulla, E., Valentini, G., Carreira, P. E., Cozzi, F., Gurman, A. B., Braun-Moscovici, Y., Damjanov, N., Ananieva, L. P., Scorza, R., Jimenez, S., Busquets, J., Li, M., Muller-Ladner, U., Maurer, B., Tyndall, A., Lapadula, G., Iannone, F., Becvar, R., Sierakowsky, S., Cutolo, M., Sulli, A., Cuomo, G., Vettori, S., Rednic, S., Nicoara, I., Vlachoyiannopoulos, P., Montecucco, C., Caporali, R., Novak, S., Czirjak, L., Varju, C., Chizzolini, C., Kucharz, E. J., Kotulska, A., Kopec-Medrek, M., Widuchowska, M., Rozman, B., Mallia, C., Coleiro, B., Gabrielli, A., Farge, D., Hij, A., Hesselstrand, R., Scheja, A., Wollheim, F., Martinovic, D., Govoni, M., Lo Monaco, A., Hunzelmann, N., Pellerito, R., Bambara, L. M., Caramaschi, P., Black, C., Denton, C., Henes, J., Santamaria, V. O., Heitmann, S., Krasowska, D., Seidel, M., Oleszowsky, M., Burkhardt, H., Himsel, A., Salvador, M. J., Stamenkovic, B., Stankovic, A., Tikly, M., Starovoytova, M. N., Engelhart, M., Strauss, G., Nielsen, H., Damgaard, K., Szucs, G., Mendoza, A. Z., de la Puente Buijdos, C., Giraldo, W. A. S., Midtvedt, O., Garen, T., Launay, D., Valesini, G., Riccieri, V., Ionescu, R. M., Opris, D., Groseanu, L., Wigley, F. M., Mihai, C. M., Cornateanu, R. S., Ionitescu, R., Gherghe, A. M., Gorga, M., Dobrota, R., Bojinca, M., Schett, G., Distler, J. H., Meroni, P., Zeni, S., Mouthon, L., De Keyser, F., Smith, V., Cantatore, F. P., Corrado, A., Ullman, S., Iversen, L., Pozzi, M. R., Eyerich, K., Hein, R., Knott, E., Szechinski, J., Wiland, P., Szmyrka-Kaczmarek, M., Sokolik, R., Morgiel, E., Krummel-Lorenz, B., Saar, P., Aringer, M., Gunther, C., Anic, B., Baresic, M., Mayer, M., Radominski, S. C., de Souza Muller, C., Azevedo, V. F., Agachi, S., Groppa, L., Chiaburu, L., Russu, E., Zenone, T., Stebbings, S., Highton, J., Stamp, L., Chapman, P., O'Donnell, J., Solanki, K., Doube, A., Veale, D., O'Rourke, M., Loyo, E., Rosato, E., Pisarri, S., Tanaseanu, C. -M., Popescu, M., Dumitrascu, A., Tiglea, I., Chirieac, R., Ancuta, C., Furst, D. E., Kafaja, S., Garcia de la Pena Lefebvre, P., Rubio, S. R., Exposito, M. V., Sibilia, J., Chatelus, E., Gottenberg, J. E., Chifflot, H., Litinsky, I., Venalis, A., Butrimiene, I., Venalis, P., Rugiene, R., Karpec, D., Kerzberg, E., Montoya, F., Cosentino, V., Low, A. H. L., Teng, G., Chan, G., Lim, A. Y. N., and Ng, S. C.

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, medicine.medical_specialty, Pediatrics, Survival, Immunology, Disease, Scleroderma, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Rheumatology, Internal medicine, Immunology and Allergy, Medicine, Multicentre registrie, 030203 arthritis & rheumatology, Clinical features, Cohort study, Multicentre registries, Systemic sclerosis, business.industry, Interstitial lung disease, Autoantibody, Clinical features, medicine.disease, 030104 developmental biology, Clinical feature, Cohort, business, Cohort study, Rheumatism
Abstract

Introduction The aim of this study is to compare the clinical features, mortality and causes of death of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients in four large multicentre registries. Methods Patients seen at least once in the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study (ASCS) (n = 1714), the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG) (n = 1628), the European League Against Rheumatism Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) Network (n = 13,996) and the Systemic Sclerosis Cohort in Singapore (SCORE) (n = 500) before August 2016 were included. Clinical manifestations and survival in cohorts and disease subtypes were compared. Results Among 17,838 SSc patients, most were female (86.1%), Caucasian (84.6%) and had the limited cutaneous subtype (lcSSc) (65.0%). The anti-centromere autoantibody was the most prevalent (37.6%). More patients in SCORE had the diffuse subtype (dcSSc) (49.3%) and Scl-70 autoantibody (38.8%) (pConclusions This meta-cohort of SSc patients, the largest reported to date, provides insights into the impact of race and sex on disease manifestations and survival and confirms the early mortality in this disease.

Published
2017

29. Patterns and predictors of skin score change in early diffuse systemic sclerosis from the European Scleroderma Observational Study

Author

Herrick, A.L., Peytrignet, S., Lunt, M., Pan, X., Hesselstrand, R., Mouthon, L., Silman, A.J., Dinsdale, G., Brown, E., Czirjak, L., Distler, J.H., Distler, O., Fligelstone, K., Gregory, W.J., Ochiel, R., Vonk, M.C., Ancuta, C., Ong, V.H., Farge, D., Hudson, M., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Balbir-Gurman, A., Midtvedt, O., Jobanputra, P., Jordan, A.C., Stevens, W.B.C., Moinzadeh, P., Hall, F.C., Agard, C., Anderson, M.E., Diot, E., Madhok, R., Akil, M., Buch, M.H., Chung, L., Damjanov, N.S., Gunawardena, H., Lanyon, P., Ahmad, Y., Chakravarty, K., Jacobsen, S., MacGregor, A.J., McHugh, N., Muller-Ladner, U., Riemekasten, G., Becker, M., Roddy, J., Carreira, P.E., Fauchais, A.L., Hachulla, E., Hamilton, J., Inanc, M., McLaren, J.S., Laar, J.M. van, Pathare, S., Proudman, S.M., Rudin, A., Sahhar, J., Coppere, B., Serratrice, C., Sheeran, T., Veale, D.J., Grange, C., Trad, G.S., Denton, C.P., Herrick, A.L., Peytrignet, S., Lunt, M., Pan, X., Hesselstrand, R., Mouthon, L., Silman, A.J., Dinsdale, G., Brown, E., Czirjak, L., Distler, J.H., Distler, O., Fligelstone, K., Gregory, W.J., Ochiel, R., Vonk, M.C., Ancuta, C., Ong, V.H., Farge, D., Hudson, M., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Balbir-Gurman, A., Midtvedt, O., Jobanputra, P., Jordan, A.C., Stevens, W.B.C., Moinzadeh, P., Hall, F.C., Agard, C., Anderson, M.E., Diot, E., Madhok, R., Akil, M., Buch, M.H., Chung, L., Damjanov, N.S., Gunawardena, H., Lanyon, P., Ahmad, Y., Chakravarty, K., Jacobsen, S., MacGregor, A.J., McHugh, N., Muller-Ladner, U., Riemekasten, G., Becker, M., Roddy, J., Carreira, P.E., Fauchais, A.L., Hachulla, E., Hamilton, J., Inanc, M., McLaren, J.S., Laar, J.M. van, Pathare, S., Proudman, S.M., Rudin, A., Sahhar, J., Coppere, B., Serratrice, C., Sheeran, T., Veale, D.J., Grange, C., Trad, G.S., and Denton, C.P.

Abstract

Contains fulltext : 191335.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access), OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to use the opportunity provided by the European Scleroderma Observational Study to (1) identify and describe those patients with early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) with progressive skin thickness, and (2) derive prediction models for progression over 12 months, to inform future randomised controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: The modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) was recorded every 3 months in 326 patients. 'Progressors' were defined as those experiencing a 5-unit and 25% increase in mRSS score over 12 months (+/-3 months). Logistic models were fitted to predict progression and, using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, were compared on the basis of the area under curve (AUC), accuracy and positive predictive value (PPV). RESULTS: 66 patients (22.5%) progressed, 227 (77.5%) did not (33 could not have their status assessed due to insufficient data). Progressors had shorter disease duration (median 8.1 vs 12.6 months, P=0.001) and lower mRSS (median 19 vs 21 units, P=0.030) than non-progressors. Skin score was highest, and peaked earliest, in the anti-RNA polymerase III (Pol3+) subgroup (n=50). A first predictive model (including mRSS, duration of skin thickening and their interaction) had an accuracy of 60.9%, AUC of 0.666 and PPV of 33.8%. By adding a variable for Pol3 positivity, the model reached an accuracy of 71%, AUC of 0.711 and PPV of 41%. CONCLUSIONS: Two prediction models for progressive skin thickening were derived, for use both in clinical practice and for cohort enrichment in RCTs. These models will inform recruitment into the many clinical trials of dcSSc projected for the coming years. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02339441.

Published
2018

30. What have multicentre registries across the world taught us about the disease features of systemic sclerosis?.

Author

Iannone F., Schett G., Distler J.H., Meroni P., Zeni S., Mouthon L., De Keyser F., Smith V., Cantatore F.P., Corrado A., Ullman S., Iversen L., Pozzi M.R., Eyerich K., Hein R., Knott E., Szechinski J., Wiland P., Szmyrka-Kaczmarek M., Sokolik R., Morgiel E., Krummel-Lorenz B., Saar P., Aringer M., Gunther C., Anic B., Baresic M., Mayer M., Radominski S.C., de Souza Muller C., Azevedo V.F., Agachi S., Groppa L., Chiaburu L., Russu E., Zenone T., Stebbings S., Highton J., Stamp L., Chapman P., O'Donnell J., Solanki K., Doube A., Veale D., O'Rourke M., Loyo E., Rosato E., Pisarri S., Tanaseanu C.-M., Popescu M., Dumitrascu A., Tiglea I., Chirieac R., Ancuta C., Furst D.E., Kafaja S., Garcia de la Pena Lefebvre P., Rubio S.R., Exposito M.V., Sibilia J., Chatelus E., Gottenberg J.E., Chifflot H., Litinsky I., Venalis A., Butrimiene I., Venalis P., Rugiene R., Karpec D., Kerzberg E., Montoya F., Cosentino V., Low A.H.L., Teng G., Chan G., Lim A.Y.N., Ng S.C., Kowal-Bielecka O., Proudman S.M., Huq M., Stevens W., Wilson M.E., Sahhar J., Baron M., Hudson M., Allanore Y., Distler O., Bielecka O.K., Matucci-Cerinic M., H.L. Low A., Teng G.G., Law W.G., Santosa A., Nikpour M., Hill C., Lester S., Nash P., Ngian G.-S., Proudman S., Rischmueller M., Roddy J., Strickland G., Thakkar V., Walker J., Zochling J., Pope J., Markland J., Robinson D., Jones N., Khalidi N., Docherty P., Kaminska E., Masetto A., Sutton E., Mathieu J.-P., Ligier S., Grodzicky T., LeClercq S., Thorne C., Gyger G., Smith D., Fortin P.R., Larche M., Abu-Hakima M., Rodriguez-Reyna T.S., Cabral A.R., Fritzler M., Avouac J., Walker U.A., Guiducci S., Riemekasten G., Air P., Hachulla E., Valentini G., Carreira P.E., Cozzi F., Gurman A.B., Braun-Moscovici Y., Damjanov N., Ananieva L.P., Scorza R., Jimenez S., Busquets J., Li M., Muller-Ladner U., Maurer B., Tyndall A., Lapadula G., Becvar R., Sierakowsky S., Cutolo M., Sulli A., Cuomo G., Vettori S., Rednic S., Nicoara I., Vlachoyiannopoulos P., Montecucco C., Caporali R., Novak S., Czirjak L., Varju C., Chizzolini C., Kucharz E.J., Kotulska A., Kopec-Medrek M., Widuchowska M., Rozman B., Mallia C., Coleiro B., Gabrielli A., Farge D., Hij A., Hesselstrand R., Scheja A., Wollheim F., Martinovic D., Govoni M., Lo Monaco A., Hunzelmann N., Pellerito R., Bambara L.M., Caramaschi P., Black C., Denton C., Henes J., Santamaria V.O., Heitmann S., Krasowska D., Seidel M., Oleszowsky M., Burkhardt H., Himsel A., Salvador M.J., Stamenkovic B., Stankovic A., Tikly M., Starovoytova M.N., Engelhart M., Strauss G., Nielsen H., Damgaard K., Szucs G., Mendoza A.Z., de la Puente Buijdos C., Giraldo W.A.S., Midtvedt O., Garen T., Launay D., Valesini G., Riccieri V., Ionescu R.M., Opris D., Groseanu L., Wigley F.M., Mihai C.M., Cornateanu R.S., Ionitescu R., Gherghe A.M., Gorga M., Dobrota R., Bojinca M., Iannone F., Schett G., Distler J.H., Meroni P., Zeni S., Mouthon L., De Keyser F., Smith V., Cantatore F.P., Corrado A., Ullman S., Iversen L., Pozzi M.R., Eyerich K., Hein R., Knott E., Szechinski J., Wiland P., Szmyrka-Kaczmarek M., Sokolik R., Morgiel E., Krummel-Lorenz B., Saar P., Aringer M., Gunther C., Anic B., Baresic M., Mayer M., Radominski S.C., de Souza Muller C., Azevedo V.F., Agachi S., Groppa L., Chiaburu L., Russu E., Zenone T., Stebbings S., Highton J., Stamp L., Chapman P., O'Donnell J., Solanki K., Doube A., Veale D., O'Rourke M., Loyo E., Rosato E., Pisarri S., Tanaseanu C.-M., Popescu M., Dumitrascu A., Tiglea I., Chirieac R., Ancuta C., Furst D.E., Kafaja S., Garcia de la Pena Lefebvre P., Rubio S.R., Exposito M.V., Sibilia J., Chatelus E., Gottenberg J.E., Chifflot H., Litinsky I., Venalis A., Butrimiene I., Venalis P., Rugiene R., Karpec D., Kerzberg E., Montoya F., Cosentino V., Low A.H.L., Teng G., Chan G., Lim A.Y.N., Ng S.C., Kowal-Bielecka O., Proudman S.M., Huq M., Stevens W., Wilson M.E., Sahhar J., Baron M., Hudson M., Allanore Y., Distler O., Bielecka O.K., Matucci-Cerinic M., H.L. Low A., Teng G.G., Law W.G., Santosa A., Nikpour M., Hill C., Lester S., Nash P., Ngian G.-S., Proudman S., Rischmueller M., Roddy J., Strickland G., Thakkar V., Walker J., Zochling J., Pope J., Markland J., Robinson D., Jones N., Khalidi N., Docherty P., Kaminska E., Masetto A., Sutton E., Mathieu J.-P., Ligier S., Grodzicky T., LeClercq S., Thorne C., Gyger G., Smith D., Fortin P.R., Larche M., Abu-Hakima M., Rodriguez-Reyna T.S., Cabral A.R., Fritzler M., Avouac J., Walker U.A., Guiducci S., Riemekasten G., Air P., Hachulla E., Valentini G., Carreira P.E., Cozzi F., Gurman A.B., Braun-Moscovici Y., Damjanov N., Ananieva L.P., Scorza R., Jimenez S., Busquets J., Li M., Muller-Ladner U., Maurer B., Tyndall A., Lapadula G., Becvar R., Sierakowsky S., Cutolo M., Sulli A., Cuomo G., Vettori S., Rednic S., Nicoara I., Vlachoyiannopoulos P., Montecucco C., Caporali R., Novak S., Czirjak L., Varju C., Chizzolini C., Kucharz E.J., Kotulska A., Kopec-Medrek M., Widuchowska M., Rozman B., Mallia C., Coleiro B., Gabrielli A., Farge D., Hij A., Hesselstrand R., Scheja A., Wollheim F., Martinovic D., Govoni M., Lo Monaco A., Hunzelmann N., Pellerito R., Bambara L.M., Caramaschi P., Black C., Denton C., Henes J., Santamaria V.O., Heitmann S., Krasowska D., Seidel M., Oleszowsky M., Burkhardt H., Himsel A., Salvador M.J., Stamenkovic B., Stankovic A., Tikly M., Starovoytova M.N., Engelhart M., Strauss G., Nielsen H., Damgaard K., Szucs G., Mendoza A.Z., de la Puente Buijdos C., Giraldo W.A.S., Midtvedt O., Garen T., Launay D., Valesini G., Riccieri V., Ionescu R.M., Opris D., Groseanu L., Wigley F.M., Mihai C.M., Cornateanu R.S., Ionitescu R., Gherghe A.M., Gorga M., Dobrota R., and Bojinca M.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study is to compare the clinical features, mortality and causes of death of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients in four large multicentre registries. Method(s): Patients seen at least once in the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study (ASCS) (n = 1714), the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG) (n = 1628), the European League Against Rheumatism Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) Network (n = 13,996) and the Systemic Sclerosis Cohort in Singapore (SCORE) (n = 500) before August 2016 were included. Clinical manifestations and survival in cohorts and disease subtypes were compared. Result(s): Among 17,838 SSc patients, most were female (86.1%), Caucasian (84.6%) and had the limited cutaneous subtype (lcSSc) (65.0%). The anti-centromere autoantibody was the most prevalent (37.6%). More patients in SCORE had the diffuse subtype (dcSSc) (49.3%) and Scl-70 autoantibody (38.8%) (p<0.001). Patients with dcSSc were more likely to be younger and male (p<0.001) and have shorter disease duration, more calcinosis, tendon friction rubs and synovitis (all p<0.001). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) occurred more frequently in dcSSc but prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was similar in both subtypes. More deaths occurred among SCORE patients who had the shortest median survival (p<0.001). The survival of patients with early disease, males and those with dcSSc was shorter than that of patients with prevalent disease, female gender and lcSSc, respectively. SSc-related complications accounted for more than 50% of deaths, with PAH and ILD being the most common. Conclusion(s): This meta-cohort of SSc patients, the largest reported to date, provides insights into the impact of race and sex on disease manifestations and survival and confirms the early mortality in this disease.Copyright © 2017 Wichtig International

Published
2018

31. RITUXIMAB IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS : SAFETY AND EFFICACY DATA FROM THE EUSTAR NETWORK

Author

Elhai, M., Distler, O., Smith, V., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Alegre-Sancho, J. J., Truchetet, M. -E., Braun-Moscovici, Y., Iannone, F., Chotchaeva, F., Lescoat, A., Siegert, E., Castellvi, I., Airo, P., Vettori, S., Hachulla, E., Erler, A., Ananieva, L., Krusche, M., Lopez-Longo, F., Distler, J., Hunzelmann, N., Hoffmann-Vold, A. -M., Riccieri, V., Hsu, V., Pozzi, M., Ancuta, C., Rosato, E., Mihai, C., Kuwana, M., Allanore, Y., Elhai, M., Distler, O., Smith, V., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Alegre-Sancho, J. J., Truchetet, M. -E., Braun-Moscovici, Y., Iannone, F., Chotchaeva, F., Lescoat, A., Siegert, E., Castellvi, I., Airo, P., Vettori, S., Hachulla, E., Erler, A., Ananieva, L., Krusche, M., Lopez-Longo, F., Distler, J., Hunzelmann, N., Hoffmann-Vold, A. -M., Riccieri, V., Hsu, V., Pozzi, M., Ancuta, C., Rosato, E., Mihai, C., Kuwana, M., and Allanore, Y.

Published
2018

32. Thermal Rehabilitation Influence upon the Comfort in Hospitals

Author

Roxana Mare, Ancuta C. Abrudan, and Tania Rus

Subjects
Thermal insulation, business.industry, Thermal, Condensation, Environmental engineering, Microclimate, Environmental science, Thermal comfort, Heat losses, Energy consumption, Operational costs, business
Abstract

In Romania, most of the hospitals still have a relatively low level of thermal insulation, thus inside of building the microclimate conditions are continuously deteriorating, due to vapors condensation producing also an increase in heat losses, energy consumption and operational costs.

Published
2017

41. Veronica officinalis Product Authentication Using DNA Metabarcoding and HPLC-MS Reveals Widespread Adulteration with Veronica chamaedrys

Author

Raclariu, Ancuta C., Mocan, Andrei, Popa, Madalina O., Vlase, Laurian, Ichim, Mihael C., Crisan, Gianina, Brysting, Anne K., de Boer, Hugo J., Raclariu, Ancuta C., Mocan, Andrei, Popa, Madalina O., Vlase, Laurian, Ichim, Mihael C., Crisan, Gianina, Brysting, Anne K., and de Boer, Hugo J.

Abstract

Studying herbal products derived from local and traditional knowledge and their value chains is one of the main challenges in ethnopharmacology. The majority of these products have a long history of use, but non-harmonized trade and differences in regulatory policies between countries impact their value chains and lead to concerns over product efficacy, safety and quality. Veronica officinalis L. (common speedwell), a member of Plantaginaceae family, has a long history of use in European traditional medicine, mainly in central eastern Europe and the Balkans. However, no specified control tests are available either to establish the quality of derived herbal products or for the discrimination of its most common substitute, V. chamaedrys L. (germander speedwell). In this study, we use DNA metabarcoding and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to authenticate sixteen V. officinalis herbal products and compare the potential of the two approaches to detect substitution, adulteration and the use of unreported constituents. HPLC-MS showed high resolution in detecting phytochemical target compounds, but did not enable detection of specific plant species in the products. DNA metabarcoding detected V. officinalis in only 15% of the products, whereas it detected V. chamaedrys in 62% of the products. The results confirm that DNA metabarcoding can be used to test for the presence of Veronica species, and detect substitution and/or admixture of other Veronica species, as well as simultaneously detect all other species present. Our results confirm that none of the herbal products contained exactly the species listed on the label, and all included substitutes, contaminants or fillers. This study highlights the need for authentication of raw herbals along the value chain of these products. An integrative methodology can assess both the quality of herbal products in terms of target compound concentrations and species composition, as well as a

Published
2017
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42. Treatment outcome in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: the European Scleroderma Observational Study (ESOS)

Author

Herrick, A.L., Pan, X., Peytrignet, S., Lunt, M., Hesselstrand, R., Mouthon, L., Silman, A., Brown, E., Czirjak, L., Distler, J.H., Distler, O., Fligelstone, K., Gregory, W.J., Ochiel, R., Vonk, M.C., Ancuta, C., Ong, V.H., Farge, D., Hudson, M., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Balbir-Gurman, A., Midtvedt, O., Jordan, A.C., Jobanputra, P., Stevens, W.B.C., Moinzadeh, P., Hall, F.C., Agard, C., Anderson, M.E., Diot, E., Madhok, R., Akil, M., Buch, M.H., Chung, L., Damjanov, N., Gunawardena, H., Lanyon, P., Ahmad, Y., Chakravarty, K., Jacobsen, S., MacGregor, A.J., McHugh, N., Muller-Ladner, U., Riemekasten, G., Becker, M, Roddy, J., Carreira, P.E., Fauchais, A.L., Hachulla, E., Hamilton, J., Inanc, M., McLaren, J.S., Laar, J.M. van, Pathare, S., Proudman, S., Rudin, A., Sahhar, J., Coppere, B., Serratrice, C., Sheeran, T., Veale, D.J., Grange, C., Trad, G.S., Denton, C.P., Herrick, A.L., Pan, X., Peytrignet, S., Lunt, M., Hesselstrand, R., Mouthon, L., Silman, A., Brown, E., Czirjak, L., Distler, J.H., Distler, O., Fligelstone, K., Gregory, W.J., Ochiel, R., Vonk, M.C., Ancuta, C., Ong, V.H., Farge, D., Hudson, M., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Balbir-Gurman, A., Midtvedt, O., Jordan, A.C., Jobanputra, P., Stevens, W.B.C., Moinzadeh, P., Hall, F.C., Agard, C., Anderson, M.E., Diot, E., Madhok, R., Akil, M., Buch, M.H., Chung, L., Damjanov, N., Gunawardena, H., Lanyon, P., Ahmad, Y., Chakravarty, K., Jacobsen, S., MacGregor, A.J., McHugh, N., Muller-Ladner, U., Riemekasten, G., Becker, M, Roddy, J., Carreira, P.E., Fauchais, A.L., Hachulla, E., Hamilton, J., Inanc, M., McLaren, J.S., Laar, J.M. van, Pathare, S., Proudman, S., Rudin, A., Sahhar, J., Coppere, B., Serratrice, C., Sheeran, T., Veale, D.J., Grange, C., Trad, G.S., and Denton, C.P.

Abstract

Contains fulltext : 174691.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access), OBJECTIVES: The rarity of early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) makes randomised controlled trials very difficult. We aimed to use an observational approach to compare effectiveness of currently used treatment approaches. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational cohort study of early dcSSc (within three years of onset of skin thickening). Clinicians selected one of four protocols for each patient: methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), cyclophosphamide or 'no immunosuppressant'. Patients were assessed three-monthly for up to 24 months. The primary outcome was the change in modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). Confounding by indication at baseline was accounted for using inverse probability of treatment (IPT) weights. As a secondary outcome, an IPT-weighted Cox model was used to test for differences in survival. RESULTS: Of 326 patients recruited from 50 centres, 65 were prescribed methotrexate, 118 MMF, 87 cyclophosphamide and 56 no immunosuppressant. 276 (84.7%) patients completed 12 and 234 (71.7%) 24 months follow-up (or reached last visit date). There were statistically significant reductions in mRSS at 12 months in all groups: -4.0 (-5.2 to -2.7) units for methotrexate, -4.1 (-5.3 to -2.9) for MMF, -3.3 (-4.9 to -1.7) for cyclophosphamide and -2.2 (-4.0 to -0.3) for no immunosuppressant (p value for between-group differences=0.346). There were no statistically significant differences in survival between protocols before (p=0.389) or after weighting (p=0.440), but survival was poorest in the no immunosuppressant group (84.0%) at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may support using immunosuppressants for early dcSSc but suggest that overall benefit is modest over 12 months and that better treatments are needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02339441.

Published
2017

43. Incidence and predictors of cutaneous manifestations during the early course of systemic sclerosis. a 10-year longitudinal study from the EUSTAR database

Author

Wirz, E. G., Jaeger, V. K., Allanore, Y., Riemekasten, G., Hachulla, E., Distler, O., Airo, P., Carreira, P. E., Tikly, M., Vettori, S., Gurman, A. B., Damjanov, N., Muller-Ladner, U., Distler, J., Li, M., Hausermann, P., Walker, U. A., Ananieva, L., Heitmann, S., Rednic, S., Jimenez, S., Riccieri, V., Szmyrka-Kaczmarek, M., Farge, D., Lapadula, G., Matucci-Cerinic, M., Guiducci, S., Hunzelmann, N., Rosa Pozzi, M., Mihai, C., Veale, D., Hesselstrand, R., Mariok, E., Smith, V., Kucharz, E. J., Czirjak, L., Martinovic, D., Solanki, K., Mihaela Ancuta, C., Sibilia, J., Paola, C., Hassanien, M., Kahl, S., Woods, A., Vanthuyne, M., Ruxandra, I., Radominski, S. C., Lo Monaco, A., Corrado, A., Koehm, M., Maurizio, M., Radim, B., Loyo, E., Uprus, M., Pellerito, R., Zenone, T., Gabrielli, A., Kowal-Bielecka, O., Rozman, B., Scorza, R., Ann Saketkoo, L., Midtvedt, O., von Muhlen, C. A., Henes, J., Branimir, A., Hasler, P., Yavuz, S., Villiger, P., Krummel-Lorenz, B., Posa, M., Engelhart, M., Denton, C., Krasowska, D., de la Pena Lefebvre, P. G., Cozzi, F., Mouthon, L., Rosato, E., Carlo, S., Alegre Sancho, J. J., Mallia, C., Limonta, M., Seidel, M., Foti, R., Stamp, L., Ullman, S., Stebbings, S., Ortiz Santamaria, V., Del Galdo, F., De Langhe, E., Mathieu, A., Sunderkotter, C., Eyerich, K., Stamenkovic, B., Novak, S., Sampaio-Barros, P. D., Kayser, C., Litinsky, I., Couto, M., University of Zurich, Walker, U A, Wirz, Eg, Jaeger, Vk, Allanore, Y, Riemekasten, G, Hachulla, E, Distler, O, Airò, P, Carreira, Pe, Tikly, M, Vettori, Serena, Balbir Gurman, A, Damjanov, N, Müller Ladner, U, Distler, J, Li, M, Häusermann, P, Walker, Ua, and Eustar, Coauthors

Subjects
Male, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all), Pathology, Longitudinal study, Time Factors, Databases, Factual, Epidemiology, systemic sclerosis, 2745 Rheumatology, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Severity of Illness Index, Biochemistry, Scleroderma, Risk Factors, Medizinische Fakultät, Immunology and Allergy, Longitudinal Studies, Prospective Studies, 610 Medicine & health, integumentary system, Incidence (epidemiology), Incidence, 10051 Rheumatology Clinic and Institute of Physical Medicine, Middle Aged, Connective tissue disease, 3. Good health, Autoantibodies, Systemic Sclerosis, Cohort, 2723 Immunology and Allergy, Female, Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Immunology, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Sex Factors, Rheumatology, 1300 General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Internal medicine, Skin Ulcer, medicine, Humans, ddc:610, Proportional Hazards Models, 2403 Immunology, Scleroderma, Systemic, business.industry, medicine.disease, Clinical trial, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all), Scleroderma, Diffuse, business
Abstract

Objectives To longitudinally map the onset and identify risk factors for skin sclerosis and digital ulcers (DUs) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) from an early time point after the onset of Raynaud9s phenomenon (RP) in the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) cohort. Methods 695 patients with SSc with a baseline visit within 1 year after RP onset were followed in the prospective multinational EUSTAR database. During the 10-year observation period, cumulative probabilities of cutaneous lesions were assessed with the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate risk factors. Results The median modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) peaked 1 year after RP onset, and was 15 points. The 1-year probability to develop an mRSS ≥2 in at least one area of the arms and legs was 69% and 25%, respectively. Twenty-five per cent of patients developed diffuse cutaneous involvement in the first year after RP onset. This probability increased to 36% during the subsequent 2 years. Only 6% of patients developed diffuse cutaneous SSc thereafter. The probability to develop DUs increased to a maximum of 70% at the end of the 10-year observation. The main factors associated with diffuse cutaneous SSc were the presence of anti-RNA polymerase III autoantibodies, followed by antitopoisomerase autoantibodies and male sex. The main factor associated with incident DUs was the presence of antitopoisomerase autoantibodies. Conclusion Early after RP onset, cutaneous manifestations exhibit rapid kinetics in SSc. This should be accounted for in clinical trials aiming to prevent skin worsening.

Published
2016

44. Patient's global assessment of disease activity and patient's assessment of general health for rheumatoid arthritis activity assessment: are they equivalent?

Author

Khan, Na, Spencer, Hj, Abda, Ea, Alten, R, Pohl, C, Ancuta, C, Cazzato, M, Géher, P, Gossec, L, Henrohn, D, Hetland, Ml, Inanc, N, Jacobs, Jw, Kerzberg, E, Majdan, M, Oyoo, O, Peredo Wende RA, Selim, Zi, Skopouli, Fn, Sulli, Alberto, Hørslev Petersen, K, Taylor, Pc, Sokka, T, and on behalf of QUEST RA group

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Databases, Factual, Health Status, Concordance, Immunology, Activity assessment, Arthritis, Severity of Illness Index, Article, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Disease activity, Rheumatology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Internal medicine, Severity of illness, medicine, Humans, Immunology and Allergy, Fatigue, Aged, business.industry, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Arthralgia, Connective tissue disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, Physical therapy, Female, Self Report, General health, business
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess (A) determinants of patient's global assessment of disease activity (PTGL) and patient's assessment of general health (GH) scores of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients; (B) whether they are equivalent as individual variables; and (C) whether they may be used interchangeably in calculating common RA activity assessment composite indices. METHODS: Data of 7023 patients from 30 countries in the Quantitative Standard Monitoring of Patients with RA (QUEST-RA) was analysed. PTGL and GH determinants were assessed by mixed-effects analyses of covariance models. PTGL and GH equivalence was determined by Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement (BALOA) and Lin's coefficient of concordance (LCC). Concordance between PTGL and GH based Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) indices were calculated using LCC, and the level of agreement in classifying RA activity in four states (remission, low, moderate, high) using κ statistics. RESULTS: Significant differences in relative and absolute contribution of RA and non-RA related variables in PTGL and GH ratings were noted. LCC of 0.64 and BALOA of -4.41 to 4.54 showed that PTGL and GH are not equivalent. There was excellent concordance (LCC 0.95-0.99) for PTGL and GH based DAS28, CDAI and RAPID3 indices, and >80% absolute agreement (κ statistics 0.75-0.84) in RA activity state classification for all three indices. CONCLUSIONS: PTGL and GH ratings differ in their determinants. Although they are individually not equivalent, they may be used interchangeably for calculating composite indices for RA activity assessment.

Published
2012

45. Potential of HVAC and solar technologies for hospital retrofit to reduce heating energy consumption

Author

Adrian G. Pocola, Dan S. Adace, Ancuta C. Abrudan, Mugur C. Balan, and Octavian G. Pop

Subjects
lcsh:GE1-350, business.industry, 020209 energy, Photovoltaic system, Thermal comfort, 02 engineering and technology, Energy consumption, Heating system, 020401 chemical engineering, HVAC, Heat transfer, Heat exchanger, 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, Environmental science, 0204 chemical engineering, Process engineering, business, lcsh:Environmental sciences, Efficient energy use
Abstract

The study presents a combination of several energy efficient technologies together with their potential to reduce the energy consumption and to increase the comfort through the retrofit of a hospital building. The existing situation is characterized by an old and inefficient heating system, by the complete missing of any ventilation and by no cooling. The retrofit proposal includes thermal insulation and a distributed HVAC system consisting of several units that includes air to air heat exchangers and air to air heat pumps. A condensing boiler was also considered for heating. A solar thermal system for preparing domestic hot water and a solar photovoltaic system to assist the HVAC units are also proposed. Heat transfer principles are used for modelling the thermal response of the building to the environmental parameters and thermodynamic principles are used for modelling the behaviour of HVAC, solar thermal system and photovoltaic system. All the components of the heating loads were determined for one year period. The study reveals the capacity of the proposed systems to provide ventilation and thermal comfort with a global reduction of energy consumption of 71.6 %.

Published
2018

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