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Objective To develop a machine learning-based prediction model for identifying hyperuricemic participants at risk of developing gout. Methods A retrospective nationwide Israeli cohort study used the Clalit Health Insurance database of 473 124 individuals to identify adults 18 years or older with at least two serum urate measurements exceeding 6.8 mg/dl between January 2007 and December 2022. Patients with a prior gout diagnosis or on gout medications were excluded. Patients' demographic characteristics, community and hospital diagnoses, routine medication prescriptions and laboratory results were used to train a risk prediction model. A machine learning model, XGBoost, was developed to predict the risk of gout. Feature selection methods were used to identify relevant variables. The model's performance was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC AUC) and precision-recall AUC. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of gout among hyperuricemic patients. Results Among the 301 385 participants with hyperuricemia included in the analysis, 15 055 (5%) were diagnosed with gout. The XGBoost model had a ROC-AUC of 0.781 (95% CI 0.78–0.784) and precision-recall AUC of 0.208 (95% CI 0.195–0.22). The most significant variables associated with gout diagnosis were serum uric acid levels, age, hyperlipidemia, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and diuretic purchases. A compact model using only these five variables yielded a ROC-AUC of 0.714 (95% CI 0.706–0.723) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 95%. Conclusions The findings of this cohort study suggest that a machine learning-based prediction model had relatively good performance and high NPV for identifying hyperuricemic participants at risk of developing gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gout is a debilitating form of inflammatory arthritis resulting from high serum urate. Close monitoring of serum urate, medications, and specific dietary choices are required for successful management, including a commitment to regular medical examinations and lifestyle modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the diagnostic values of different musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) signs, serum uric acid (SUA), and their combined detection for gouty arthritis (GA). Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, 70 patients (62 males, 8 females; mean age: 46.1±14.1 years; range, 25 to 86 years) diagnosed with GA (the GA group) between August 2022 and March 2023 and 70 patients (54 females, 16 males; mean age: 49.0±14.1 years; range, 21 to 75 years) diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis during the same period (the non-GA group) were included. The positive rate of MSUS signs and SUA in both groups was recorded to compare the differences. The correlations of MSUS signs and SUA with GA were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation analysis. The diagnostic values of different MSUS signs, SUA, and their combined detection for GA were analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic, the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and the Youden index. Results: The positive rate of the double contour (DC) sign (chi-squared [Χ²]=102.935, p<0.001), hyperechoic spots (Χ²=56.395, p<0.001), bone erosions (Χ²=10.080, p<0.001), and SUA (Χ²=41.117, p<0.001) were higher in the GA group than in the non-GA group. The positive rate of the DC sign (rs=0.829, p=0.001), hyperechoic spots (rs=0.631, p<0.001), bone erosion (rs=0.268, p=0.001), and SUA (rs=0.542, p<0.001) were positively correlated with GA. Among the single-indicator measures, the DC sign exhibited the highest diagnostic value (AUC=0.907, sensitivity=81.4%, specificity=100%, p<0.001). Among the combined-indicator measures, the DC sign combined with SUA exhibited the highest diagnostic value (AUC=0.929, sensitivity=91.4%, specificity=94.3%, p<0.001), higher than DC sign detection alone. Conclusion: The DC sign combined with SUA yielded a high diagnostic value and can thus provide a reliable basis for effectively and efficiently diagnosing GA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gout is a common and treatable chronic disease of monosodium urate crystal deposition. It is experienced as extremely painful episodes of joint inflammation that impact all aspects of the person's life. This Clinical Perspectives article provides an update on gout diagnosis, medications and strategies to improve the quality of gout care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide gout is the commonest type of inflammatory arthritis. It is often misdiagnosed and poorly managed (Dehlin et al, 2020). Gout can be diagnosed and treated in primary care and is amenable to nurse management (Doherty et al, 2018). This article will help readers to be able to diagnose and manage gout, as well as how to be aware of and treat acute gout and prevent further episodes. Certain conditions increase the risk of gout and this article advocates a holistic approach to improve overall health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on advocating for effective patient care in managing refractory pain during inpatient rehabilitation. Topics include the challenges of managing polyarticular gout in a rehabilitation setting, the diagnostic complexities involving joint swelling and pain, and the specialized pharmacological management required for acute gout flares.

Objectives To investigate whether the lactate dehydrogenase D (LDHD) gene deficiency causes juvenile-onset gout. Methods We used whole-exome sequencing for two families and a targeted gene-sequencing panel for an isolated patient. d- lactate dosages were analysed using ELISA. Results We demonstrated linkage of juvenile-onset gout to homozygous carriage of three rare distinct LDHD variants in three different ethnicities. In a Melanesian family, the variant was (NM_153486.3: c.206C>T; rs1035398551) and, as compared with non-homozygotes, homozygotes had higher hyperuricaemia (P  = 0.02), lower fractional clearance of urate (P  = 0.002), and higher levels of d -lactate in blood (P  = 0.04) and urine (P  = 0.06). In a second, Vietnamese, family, very severe juvenile-onset gout was linked to homozygote carriage of an undescribed LDHD variant (NM_153486.3: c.1363dupG) leading to a frameshift followed by a stop codon, p.(AlaGly432fsTer58). Finally, a Moroccan man, with early-onset and high d -lactaturia, whose family was unavailable for testing, was homozygous for another rare LDHD variant [NM_153486.3: c.752C>T, p.(Thr251Met)]. Conclusion Rare, damaging LDHD variants can cause autosomal recessive early-onset gout, the diagnosis of which can be suspected by measuring high d -lactate levels in the blood and/or urine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, herbal medicine has become alternative in management of gout. Our aim is to assess effectiveness of purple sweet potato extract in gout. In vivo study with randomized posttest only control group design. Purple sweet potato extract administered to 16 Wistar rats with MSU-induced gout. Independent t-test for analyzing interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and number of chondrocytes results. Decreased level of IL-1β (3.81 ± 1.54 ng/mL vs. 2.55 ± 0.59 ng/mL, p = 0.04), MDA (5.04 ± 1.02 ng/mL vs. 2.27 ± 0.57 ng/mL, p = 0.04), MMP-3 (5.66 ± 1.02 ng/mL vs. 3.84 ± 1.37 ng/mL, p = 0.01) COMP (21.01 ± 3.57 ng/mL vs. 17.27 ± 2.60 ng/mL, p = 0.03), and increasing chondrocytes (35.17 ± 12.35 lp vs. 48.56 ± 7.17 lp, p = 0.02). Purple sweet potato extract with anthocyanin inhibits inflammation and cartilage degeneration in gout. Level 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis and is almost exclusively managed in primary care, however the course and severity of the condition is variable and poorly characterised. This research aims improve understanding about the frequency of, and factors associated with, gout flares in the UK and characterise the factors associated with the initiation of ULT. Methods: Using the Clinical Practice Research Database, patients with a coded incident gout diagnosis without a prior prescription for urate-lowering therapy (ULT) were identified. Gout flares post diagnosis and ULT initiation were identified through prescribing and coded data. Patient characteristics, co-morbidities and co-prescribing were co-variants. Factors associated with gout flares and ULT initiation were analysed using cox-proportional hazard model and logistic regression. Results: Fifty-one thousand seven hundred eighty-four patients were identified: 18,605 (35.9%, 95%CI 35.5–36.3%) had experienced ≥ 1 recurrent flare, 17.4% (95%CI 17.1–17.8%) within 12 months of diagnosis. Male sex, black ethnicity, higher BMI, heart failure, CKD, CVD and diuretic use were associated with flares, with the highest HR seen with high serum urate levels (≥ 540 µmol/L HR 4.63, 95%CI 4.03–5.31). ULT initiation was associated with similar variables, although higher alcohol intake and older age were associated with lower odds of ULT initiation but were not associated with flares. ULT was initiated in 27.7% (95%CI 27.3–28.0%): 5.7% (95%CI 5.5–5.9%) within 12 months of diagnosis. ULT initiation rates were higher in patients with recurrent flares. Conclusion: Approximately one in six people with incident gout had a second flare within 12 months. Factors associated with flare recurrence and ULT initiation were similar, but ULT initiation occurred later after diagnosis than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis and closely related to metabolic syndrome, leading to excruciating pain and the decline in quality of patients' life. However, the pathogenesis of gout is still unclear, and novel biomarkers are demanded for the early prediction and diagnosis of gout. Objective: This study aimed at profiling the dysregulated metabolic pathways in asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AHU) and gout and elucidating the associations between AHU, gout and metabolomics, which may aid in performing gout screening. Methods: A total of 300 participants, including 114 healthy controls, 92 patients with AHU, and 94 patients with gout, were analyzed by using a combination of dried blood spot (DBS) sampling and mass spectrometry (MS) technology. Multiple algorithms were applied to characterize altered metabolic profiles in AHU and gout. The mainly altered metabolites were identified by random forest analysis. Results: There were significant differences in AHU and gout compared with control group. The altered metabolites were involved in oxidation of fatty acids, carnitine synthesis, urea cycle, and amino acid metabolism in AHU and gout. Random forest classification of 16 metabolites yielded 3 important features to distinguish gout from AHU. Conclusions: Distinct metabolomic signatures were observed in AHU and gout. The selected metabolites may have the potential to improve the early detection of gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & aims: Increased oxidative stress seems to be one of the causes of muscle strength loss during aging. Uric acid (UA) is an important antioxidant that has been positively associated with muscle strength in older adults. However, UA is also a prerequisite for gout, which is a type of arthritis that increases inflammation. The association between UA and muscle strength in individuals with gout is unknown. The aim of the study was to associate muscle strength with UA in older adults with or without gout diagnosis. Methods: The present study evaluated older adults aged from 60 to 80 years from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2012 and 2013–2014. A total of 2529 individuals (1249 men and 1280 women) were evaluated, with (n = 201) or without (n = 2328) gout diagnosis. Muscle strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer. The combined grip strength (sum of highest values of both hands) was evaluated. Linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between UA and strength adjusting for confounders. Results: Evaluating the individuals without gout, UA was positively associated with muscle strength [(β = 0.66 (CI = 0.08; 1.24); p = 0.028)]. However, this association was not significant in individuals with gout [(β = 0.20 (CI = − 1.18; 1.58); p = 0.774)]. Conclusion: Serum UA is positively associated with handgrip strength only in older adults without gout diagnosis. These results suggest that the presence of gout may avoid a positive association between UA and muscle strength in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To describe factors associated with change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people living with gout in primary care. Methods In a UK prospective cohort study, adults with a diagnosis of gout registered with 20 general practices completed the Gout Impact Scale (GIS; scale 0–100), 36-item Short Form Physical Function subscale (PF-10; 0–100) and HAQ Disability Index (HAQ-DI; 0–3) via postal questionnaires at baseline and 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. Linear mixed modelling was used to investigate factors associated with changes in HRQOL over 3 years. Results A total of 1184 participants responded at baseline (adjusted response 65.6%); 990 (83.6%) were male, with a mean age of 65.6 years (s. d. 12.5). A total of 818, 721, 696 and 605 responded at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively. Factors associated with worse disease-specific and generic HRQOL over 3 years were flare frequency (five or more flares; GIS subscales, PF-10), oligo/polyarticular flares (GIS subscales, PF-10, HAQ-DI), worse pain (GIS subscales, PF-10, HAQ-DI), body pain (GIS subscales, PF-10, HAQ-DI) and more severe depression (GIS subscales, PF-10, HAQ-DI) (P  ≤ 0.05). More severe anxiety was associated with worse disease-specific HRQOL only (GIS subscales). Older age (PF-10), being female (PF-10, HAQ-DI) and BMI (HAQ-DI) were associated with worse generic HRQOL (P  ≤ 0.05). Conclusion Gout-specific, comorbid and sociodemographic factors were associated with change in HRQOL over a 3-year period, highlighting people at risk of worse outcomes who could be targeted for interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate associations between treat-to-target urate-lowering therapy (ULT) and hospitalizations for gout. Methods Using linked Clinical Practice Research Datalink and NHS Digital Hospital Episode Statistics data, we described the incidence and timing of hospitalizations for flares in people with index gout diagnoses in England from 2004–2020. Using Cox proportional hazards and propensity models, we investigated associations between ULT initiation, serum urate target attainment, colchicine prophylaxis, and the risk of hospitalizations for gout. Results Of 292 270 people with incident gout, 7719 (2.64%) had one or more hospitalizations for gout, with an incidence rate of 4.64 hospitalizations per 1000 person-years (95% CI 4.54, 4.73). There was an associated increased risk of hospitalizations within the first 6 months after ULT initiation, when compared with people who did not initiate ULT [adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) 4.54; 95% CI 3.70, 5.58; P  < 0.001]. Hospitalizations did not differ significantly between people prescribed vs not prescribed colchicine prophylaxis in fully adjusted models. From 12 months after initiation, ULT associated with a reduced risk of hospitalizations (aHR 0.77; 95% CI 0.71, 0.83; P  < 0.001). In ULT initiators, attainment of a serum urate <360 micromol/l within 12 months of initiation associated with a reduced risk of hospitalizations (aHR 0.57; 95% CI 0.49, 0.67; P  < 0.001) when compared with people initiating ULT but not attaining this target. Conclusion ULT associates with an increased risk of hospitalizations within the first 6 months of initiation but reduces hospitalizations in the long term, particularly when serum urate targets are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine an US scanning protocol with the best accuracy for the diagnosis of gout and CPPD in patients with acute mono/oligo-arthritis of unknown origin. Methods Patients with acute mono/oligo-arthritis in whom a joint aspiration at the most clinically involved joint (target joint) was requested were consecutively enrolled. US was performed in each patient before the arthrocentesis. The accuracy of different US findings and scanning protocols for the diagnosis of gout and CPPD was calculated. Results A total of 161 subjects were included (32 gout patients, 30 CPPD patients and 99 disease-controls). US findings had a high specificity for gout (0.92–0.96) and CPPD (0.90–0.97), while the sensitivity ranged from 0.73 to 0.85 in gout (double contour sign and tophi, respectively) and from 0.60 to 0.90 in CPPD (hyaline and fibrocartilage deposits, respectively). The US assessment of two joints bilaterally (gout: knees, MTP1 joints; CPPD: knees, wrists) plus the target joint had an excellent diagnostic sensitivity (gout: 0.91, CPPD: 0.93) and specificity (gout: 0.91, CPPD: 0.89). This targeted US scanning protocol yielded to higher diagnostic accuracy compared with the US evaluation of the target joint [gout area under the curve (AUC) 0.91 vs 0.84, P  = 0.03; CPPD AUC 0.93 vs 0.84, P  = 0.04] unless the target joint was the knee or the MTP1 joint in gout and the knee or the wrist in CPPD. Conclusions A targeted US scanning protocol of two joints bilaterally plus the target joint showed an excellent accuracy (>90%) for the diagnosis of crystal arthritis in patients with acute mono/oligoarthritis.   A video abstract is available for this article and can be viewed at https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keac479. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To review and summarize the recent literature, increase awareness and provide guidance for chiropractic physicians regarding the diagnosis of spinal gout. Methods: A search of PubMed was undertaken for recent case reports, reviews and trials relating to spinal gout. Results: Our analysis of 38 cases of spinal gout revealed that 94% of spinal gout patients presented with back or neck pain, 86% displayed neurological symptoms, 72% had a history of gout, and 80% had raised serum uric acid levels. Seventy-six percent of cases proceeded to surgery. A combination of clinical findings, laboratory tests and appropriate utilization of Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) has the potential to improve early diagnosis. Conclusion: Gout is an uncommon cause of spine pain; however, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis as outlined in this paper. Increased awareness of the signs of spinal gout and earlier detection and treatment has the potential to improve the quality of life of patients and reduce the need for surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Gouty arthritis is characterized by painful inflammation due to the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joint tissues. Despite available treatments, many patients experience ineffective management and adverse effects. This study evaluated a manual therapy protocol involving passive joint mobilization at the peak of inflammation in a gouty arthritis model using functional and inflammatory parameters. Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats, 12 weeks old, were divided into two groups (n=10 each): Gouty Arthritis and Control Groups, which were further subdivided into treated and untreated groups (n=5 each). The Gouty Arthritis Group received intraarticular knee injection of 50μL of monosodium urate crystals, while the Control Group received 50μL of phosphate buffered saline. The treatment involved a 9-minutes session of grade III joint mobilization (according to Maitland). Nociception, grip strength, and edema were evaluated before induction (EV0), 7 hours after assessment (EV1), immediately after treatment (EV2), and 1 hour after treatment (EV3). The animals were euthanized, and synovial fluid was collected to analyze leukocyte migration. Results: The model mimicked the signs of the Gouty Arthritis Group, with a decrease in the threshold of nociception and strength and an increase in edema and leukocyte count. The mobilization protocol significantly increased the nociceptive threshold and grip strength and reduced edema; however, it did not reverse the increase in leukocyte count. Conclusion: Our results suggest that mobilization promotes analgesia and may modulate the inflammatory process owing to reduced edema and subtle attenuation of cell migration, which contributes to strength gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to examine the efficacy of micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA)-23a-5p in gouty arthritis and to investigate its possible mechanism. Materials and methods: Gouty arthritis in rat was established by intraarticular injection of 0.2 mL monosodium urate crystal (20 mg/mL) inside knee joint cavity. THP-1 cell was induced using lipopolysaccharides (LPS) for in vitro model. Results: Serum miRNA-23a-5p expression levels were increased in rats of gouty arthritis. However, overexpression of miRNA-23a-5p promoted inflammation and induced myeloid differential protein-88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway by induction toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) in vitro. The inhibition of TLR2 attenuated the pro-inflammation effects of miRNA-23a-5p in inflammation in in vitro model of gouty arthritis. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that miRNA-23a-5p is a biomarker for gouty arthritis and promotes inflammation in rats of gouty arthritis via MyD88/NF-κB pathway by targeting TLR2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Overweight and obesity are typical risk factors for the increased prevalence and incidence of gout. The existing guidelines unequivocally indicated that exercise is highly advantageous for patients with gout. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of specific guidance and clinical evidence. The effects of exercise on improving gout, and the optimal frequency, timing, and types of exercise have not been fully clarified. The present trial aims to determine the effects of a specific aerobic exercise program on body composition in overweight and obese patients with gout.Methods: In this randomized, open-labeled, controlled trial, a total of 60 overweight and obese patients with gout [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24 kg/m2; age,18-55 years old] are equally randomized (1:1) into two groups (n = 30): moderate-intensity aerobic exercise group (MIAEG), heart rate reserve (HRR) = [(HRmax-HRrest) × 60% intensity] + HRrest, and control group (CG). The moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training program will be conducted for 30-40 min/session and 3 days/week for 12 weeks. Participants in the CG will be asked to avoid making changes in their exercise habits. There will be no limitation in the type of exercise. The primary outcome is the number of patients whose body fat is reduced after 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes include the changes in BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), insulin resistance index (IRI), serum uric acid (sUA), serum creatinine (SCr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hepatic steatosis, and adverse effects after 12 weeks. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be used to compare the mean values of normally distributed variables between MIAEG and GC.Discussion: The effect and optimal frequency of exercise for improving the status of overweight and obese patients with gout have not yet been determined. We design a 12-week randomized controlled trial and evaluate the effects of individualized aerobic exercise program on patients with gout. The results may assist such patients with a personalized scientific exercise program based on the disease status and motor abilities, so that patients are prone to exercise under the condition of low risk and achieve the greatest benefits.Trial Registration: ChiCTR2200062153. Registered on July 25, 2022, with ChiCTR. http://www.chictr.org.cn/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Short-term randomized trials suggest that a 500 mg/d vitamin C supplement reduces serum urate, whereas observational studies show vitamin E is inversely associated with gout risk. Objectives We evaluated the effect of supplemental vitamin C (prespecified primary exposure) and vitamin E (prespecified secondary exposure) on new diagnoses of gout. Methods We performed a post hoc analysis of data from the Physicians' Health Study II, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled factorial trial of randomized vitamin C (500 mg/d) and vitamin E (400 IU every other day). The primary outcome was new gout diagnoses, self-reported at baseline and throughout the follow-up period of ≤10 y. Results Of 14,641 randomly assigned male physicians in our analysis, the mean age was 64 ± 9 y; 1% were Black, and 6.5% had gout prior to randomization. The incidence rate of new gout diagnoses during follow-up was 8.0 per 1000 person-years among those assigned vitamin C compared with 9.1 per 1000 person-years among those assigned placebo. The vitamin C assignment reduced new gout diagnoses by 12% (HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.99; P  = 0.04). These effects were greatest among those with a BMI <25 kg/m 2 (P -interaction = 0.01). Vitamin E was not associated with new gout diagnoses (HR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.92, 1.19; P  = 0.48). Conclusions Vitamin C modestly reduced the risk of new gout diagnoses in middle-aged male physicians. Additional research is needed to determine the effects of higher doses of vitamin C supplementation on serum urate and gout flares in adults with established gout. The Physicians' Health Study II is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT00270647). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 51-year-old male with no known history of gout was referred by his optometrist for bilateral lower eyelid cysts near the puncta. The lesions were not painful but were cosmetically concerning and excision was desired. Utilizing local anesthesia, the lesions were excised and sent to pathology for review. Pathology noted lesions to be "gouty tophus." Given that our patient had no history of gout, this is the first case report of gouty tophus on the eyelid being the initial manifestation of gout., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc.)

Background: Interleukin (IL)-38 is a newly discovered anti-inflammatory cytokine. However, its concentration and clinical significance in patients with gout remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the levels of IL-38 in patients with gout and evaluate their clinical significance., Methods: Thirty-two patients with active gout, 27 patients with inactive gout, and 20 negative controls (NCs) were included in the study. Clinical parameters, including white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, uric acid, urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamyl transpeptidase, and glycoserated serum protein, were obtained from laboratory tests of blood samples. The serum concentration of IL-38 was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Spearman's correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve assessments were used to investigate the role and diagnostic value of IL-38 in gout., Results: Patients with active and inactive gout exhibited significantly lower serum IL-38 levels than NCs. No significant differences were observed between the two gout groups. A negative correlation was observed between IL-38 and white blood cell counts, whereas a positive correlation was found between IL-38 and creatinine levels. Furthermore, IL-38, either alone or in combination with uric acid, demonstrated substantial diagnostic potential., Conclusion: The findings suggest that the decreased serum levels of IL-38 in patients with gout compared to that in NCs indicates that IL-38 may have immunomodulatory effects on gout inflammation and possesses clinical application value., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Huang, Zhou, Li, Zhao, Wu and Li.)

Background: The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, defined as Ln [fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2], provides insights into overall metabolic status. However, the association between the TyG index and gout has not been investigated. Therefore, this study explored the correlation between the TyG index and gout., Methods: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted from 2007 to 2018, this study investigated the relationship between the TyG index and gout. Demographic data and potential risk factors were analyzed and compared using t tests for continuous data and chi-square tests for categorical data. Logistic regression and subgroup analysis were performed to examine the association between the TyG index and gout., Results: A total of 14,924 participants were enrolled, among whom 726 (4.86%) were diagnosed with gout. Without controlling for any covariates, a significant positive correlation was observed between an elevated TyG index and increased risk of gout, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.07 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 1.76 to 2.43. After full adjustment, this association remained statistically significant, with an adjusted OR of 1.43 and a 95% CI from 1.14 to 1.80. Subgroup analyses revealed significant interactions, particularly for females (OR = 2.55; 95% CI: 2.00-3.26), individuals with no military service history (OR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.66-2.43), and those without diabetes (OR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.64-2.43)., Conclusion: A positive correlation was observed between the TyG index and gout. Consequently, further large-scale prospective studies are warranted for a comprehensive analysis of the role of the TyG index in gout., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: The study objective was to determine predictors of gout flare when commencing allopurinol using the "start-low go-slow" dose escalation strategy., Methods: A post hoc analysis of a 12-month double-blind placebo-controlled noninferiority trial with participants randomized 1:1 to colchicine 0.5 mg daily or placebo for the first six months was undertaken. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of gout flares in the first and last six months of the trial., Results: Multivariable analysis revealed a significant association between risk of a gout flare in the first six months and flare in the month before starting allopurinol (odds ratio [OR] 2.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-5.17) and allopurinol 100 mg starting dose (OR 3.21, 95% CI 1.41-7.27). The predictors of any gout flares in the last six months of the trial, after stopping colchicine or placebo, were having received colchicine (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.48-5.86), at least one flare in the month before stopping study drug (OR 5.39, 95% CI 2.21-13.15), and serum urate ≥0.36 mmol/L at month 6 (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.14-7.12)., Conclusion: Anti-inflammatory prophylaxis when starting allopurinol using the "start-low go-slow" dose escalation strategy may be best targeted at those who have had a gout flare in the month before starting allopurinol and are commencing allopurinol 100 mg daily. For those with ongoing gout flares during the first six months of starting allopurinol who have not yet achieved serum urate target, a longer period of prophylaxis may be required., (© 2024 The Author(s). Arthritis Care & Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Uric acid is a toxin retained with advancing kidney disease. Clinical manifestations of hyperuricemia include gout and systemic inflammation that are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. As many as one-third of all patients with chronic kidney disease have a history of gout, yet <25% of these patients are effectively treated to target serum urate levels of ≤6 mg/dl. A major reason for ineffective management of gout and hyperuricemia is the complexity in managing these patients, with some medications contraindicated and others requiring special dosing, potential drug interactions, and other factors. Consequently, many nephrologists do not primarily manage gout despite it being a common complication of chronic kidney disease, leaving management to the primary physician or rheumatologist. We believe that kidney specialists should consider gout as a major complication of chronic kidney disease and actively manage it in their patients. Here, we present insights from nephrologists and rheumatologists for a team approach to gout management that includes the nephrologist., (Copyright © 2024 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The main non-traumatic causes of acute single-joint pain are microcrystalline, degenerative, reactive and septic arthritis. Septic arthritis must be excluded quickly with puncture of the joint effusion. In the absence of sepsis, surgical drainage can be performed within 24 hours after admission to the emergency unit. Concerning gout, recommendations advise the use of imaging for diagnosis in case of joint puncture not feasible and the introduction of urate-lowering treatment during the acute attack. Regarding reactive arthritis, the presence of microbial elements in the affected joints improves the understanding of its pathophysiology. Finally, osteoarthritis guidelines emphasize the importance of self-management programs for painful crises., Competing Interests: Les auteurs n’ont déclaré aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.

Purpose: This study aims to assess the disparities in choroidal thickness and optic disc parameters between individuals diagnosed with chronic gout and an age- and gender-matched control cohort., Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 30 gout patients receiving treatment at the Rheumatology clinic, alongside 30 healthy control individuals matched for age and gender. A comprehensive ophthalmological assessment, encompassing visual acuity measurement, intraocular pressure evaluation, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and dilated fundus examination, was conducted for all participants. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were quantified utilizing Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography., Results: The mean age within the study group was 54.53 ± 9.43 years, while the control group's mean age was 53.20 ± 10.36 years. In both the gout and control cohorts, there were 28 men and 2 women. No significant differences were observed in age and gender between the groups. Gout patients manifested thinner RNFL and GCC across all quadrants; however, statistically significant thinning was only evident in the nasal and inferior quadrants for RNFL. Despite a thinner SFCT observed in gout patients compared to controls, this discrepancy did not attain statistical significance., Conclusion: Chronic phase gout patients may display alterations in optic disc and macular parameters, alongside potential variations in choroidal thickness. Nevertheless, more controlled studies encompassing a larger participant pool are imperative to substantiate our findings., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Objectives: We aimed to study the impact of gout as a correlative risk factor in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among patients without known MI risk factors. Our study population was obtained from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2011-2018 using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions ., Methods: This study included patients without cardiovascular disease (CVD), and various outcomes were compared among patients with and without gout. Cohorts were weighted using an algorithm provided by the NIS, which allows for national estimates. Our primary endpoint was the odds of developing an MI, and secondary endpoints were adverse hospital events and length of stay. In total, 117,261,842 patients without CVD risk factors were included in this study, 187,619 (0.16%) of whom had a diagnosis of gout., Results: Patients without CVD risk factors who had gout were older and more likely to be male compared with patients without gout. Among patients without CVD risk factors, the odds of having an AMI were significantly higher in those with gout compared with those without, even after adjusting for chronic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and oral steroid use. Moreover, patients without CVD risk factors and with gout were more likely to develop acute renal failure, acute thromboembolic event, shock, acute gastrointestinal bleed, and arrhythmia compared with those without gout. Furthermore, patients without CVD risk factors who were admitted with gout had higher mortality compared with those without gout., Conclusions: In our study, we found that patients without risk factors for AMI who had gout were more likely to develop AMI compared with those without gout. Furthermore, the same patients were more likely to develop other adverse outcomes. Even with proper management, these individuals should be monitored closely for coronary events.

Background/aims: The Gout Impact Scale (GIS), a part of the Gout Assessment Questionnaire 2.0, is used to measure gout-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Although several studies have been conducted on the factors affecting the HRQOL of patients with gout, few have focused on lifestyle factors. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between lifestyle habits and HRQOL using the GIS in patients with gout., Methods: We used data from the Urate-Lowering TheRApy in Gout (ULTRA) registry, a prospective cohort of Korean patients with gout treated at multiple centers nationwide. The patients were aged ≥18 years and met the 2015 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism gout classification criteria. They were asked to complete a GIS and questions regarding their lifestyle habits at enrollment., Results: The study included 232 patients. 'Gout concern overall' scores in the GIS were significantly lower in patients who exercised more frequently and consumed soft drinks and meat less, and 'well-being during attack' scores were significantly lower in patients who consumed vegetables and exercised more frequently. The frequency of vegetable consumption had a negative linear relationship with the 'well-being during attack' and 'gout concern during attack' scores (p = 0.01, p = 0.001, respectively). The frequency of exercise had a negative linear relationship with the 'gout concern overall' and 'gout concern during attack' scores (p = 0.04 and p = 0.002, respectively)., Conclusion: Patients with gout who frequently consumed vegetables and exercised regularly experienced less impact of gout, exhibiting a better GIS that represented HRQOL.

We report two patients with pancreatic tophaceous gout diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of presumed cystic mass lesions. The first case involved a patient who had a recent episode of acute pancreatitis 6 months prior, with subsequent imaging concerning for a pseudocyst or mass lesion. The second case involved a patient with epigastric pain associated with a pancreatic head cystic mass and an erroneous original diagnosis of a mucinous pancreatic neoplasm on EUS-FNA. Diff-Quik stained direct smears on fresh material obtained from EUS-FNA of the lesions showed chalky debris with needle shaped negatively birefringent crystals consistent with gout. For the first case, the chalky material was not present on the H&E stained paraffin embedded formalin fixed cellblock slides. The importance of inclusion of cytologic specimen preparations to examine monosodium urate crystals is emphasized., (© 2024 The Author(s). Diagnostic Cytopathology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Early-onset gout (EOG) is characterized by the occurrence of the first symptoms of gout at an unusually young age, usually <40 years. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the epidemiology, clinical presentation and prognosis, association with comorbidities and specific management of EOG. A particularly high proportion of patients with EOG come from ethnic groups with stronger genetic factors, such as populations in the Pacific and Taiwan, who therefore have the highest prevalence of gout overall. The clinical presentation and severity of gout are broadly similar between EOG and common gout, although a longer disease duration exacerbates the disease, which more often tends to become polyarticular. Patients suffering from EOG develop metabolic comorbidities commonly associated with gout earlier in life, although those tend to be less frequent at the time of diagnosis. Some international guidelines recommend early treatment of EOG patients with urate-lowering therapies., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Hyperuricemia (HUA) has emerged as the second most prevalent metabolic disorder characterized by prolonged and asymptomatic period, triggering gout and metabolism-related outcomes. Early detection and prognosis prediction for HUA and gout are crucial for pre-emptive interventions. Integrating genetic and clinical data from 421287 UK Biobank and 8900 Nanfang Hospital participants, a stacked multimodal machine learning model is developed and validated to synthesize its probabilities as an in-silico quantitative marker for hyperuricemia (ISHUA). The model demonstrates satisfactory performance in detecting HUA, exhibiting area under the curves (AUCs) of 0.859, 0.836, and 0.779 within the train, internal, and external test sets, respectively. ISHUA is significantly associated with gout and metabolism-related outcomes, effectively classifying individuals into low- and high-risk groups for gout in the train (AUC, 0.815) and internal test (AUC, 0.814) sets. The high-risk group shows increased susceptibility to metabolism-related outcomes, and participants with intermediate or favorable lifestyle profiles have hazard ratios of 0.75 and 0.53 for gout compared with those with unfavorable lifestyles. Similar trends are observed for other metabolism-related outcomes. The multimodal machine learning-based ISHUA marker enables personalized risk stratification for gout and metabolism-related outcomes, and it is unveiled that lifestyle changes can ameliorate these outcomes within high-risk group, providing guidance for preventive interventions., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Gout is a chronic arthropathy caused due to the deposition of monosodium urate crystals. Gouty tophus can be the initial presenting feature of gout with or without any clinical symptoms. Demonstration of urate crystals in synovial fluid or biopsy helps in confirming the diagnosis of gout. However, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of periarticular soft-tissue nodules is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of gout. We present two such cases of isolated soft-tissue lesions wherein the initial diagnosis of gouty tophus was made on FNAC and subsequently followed by a clinical and biochemical workup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gout is a common chronic inflammatory disease with increasing prevalence over the last decades. However, there is limited evidence on outcomes of PCI in patients with gout.Methods: A Retrospective cohort study of all adult patients who underwent PCI in a large [1000 bed] tertiary care center from January 2002 to August 2020. Patients were stratified according to a diagnosis of gout. The primary outcome was defined as the first event of all-cause mortality or major CV event that included acute coronary syndrome -(ACS) or congestive heart failure -(CHF) related admission. To examine the association between gout and outcome, a multi-variable cox proportional hazard model was used.Results: Out of 12,951 who patients underwent PCI during the study period, 344 (2.7%) had a diagnosis of gout. The study median follow-up time was 105 months. Patients with gout had significantly higher crude rates of clinical events (73.8% vs. 59.5%, p < 0.001). Gout was associated with increased risk for ACS and HF-admissions [HR 1.24 95%CI (1.07-1.43), p = 0.04; HR 1.99, 95%CI (1.57-2.54) p < 0.001, respectively], as well as for any clinical event (HR 1.2 95%CI (1.04-1.38), P = 0.01).Conclusion: Gout is associated with increased post-PCI cardiovascular risk. Therefore, patients with gout should be considered as a higher risk cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the risks and trajectories of hospital admission for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs) in gout.Methods: Among individuals aged 35 years to 85 years residing in Skåne, Sweden, in 2005, those with no doctor-diagnosed gout during 1998 to 2005 (n = 576,659) were followed from January 1, 2006, until a hospital admission for an ACSC, death, relocation outside Skåne, or December 31, 2016. Treating a new gout diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, code M10) as a time-varying exposure, we used Cox proportional and additive hazard models to estimate the effects of gout on hospital admissions for ACSCs. We investigated the trajectory of hospital admissions for ACSCs from 3 years before to 3 years after gout diagnosis using generalized estimating equations and group-based trajectory modeling in an age-and sex-matched cohort study.Results: Gout was associated with a 41% increased rate of hospital admission for ACSCs (hazard ratio 1.41, 95% CI 1.35-1.47), corresponding to 121 (95% CI 104-138) more hospital admissions for ACSCs per 10,000 person-years compared with those without gout. Our trajectory analysis showed that higher rates of hospital admission for ACSCs among persons with gout were observed from 3 years before to 3 years after diagnosis, with the highest prevalence rate ratio (2.22, 95% CI 1.92-2.53) at the 3-month period after diagnosis. We identified 3 classes with distinct trajectories of hospital admissions for ACSCs among patients with gout: almost none (88.5%), low-rising (9.7%), and moderate-sharply rising (1.8%). The Charlson Comorbidity Index was the most important predictor of trajectory class membership.Conclusion: Increased risk of hospital admissions for ACSCs in gout highlights the need for better management of the disease through outpatient care, especially among foreign-born, older patients with comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify predictors of admission following emergency department (ED) attendances for gout flares and to describe barriers to optimal inpatient gout care.Methods: ED attendances and hospital admissions with primary diagnoses of gout were analyzed at 2 UK-based hospitals between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2020. Demographic and clinical predictors of ED disposition (admission or discharge) and reattendance for gout flares were identified using logistic regression and survival models, respectively. Case note reviews (n = 59), stakeholder meetings, and process mapping were performed to capture detailed information on gout management and to identify strategies to optimize care.Results: Of 1220 emergency attendances for gout flares, 23.5% required hospitalization (median length of stay: 3.6 days). Recurrent attendances for flares occurred in 10.4% of patients during the study period. In multivariate logistic regression models, significant predictors of admission from ED were older age, overnight ED arrival time, higher serum urate (SU), higher C-reactive protein, and higher total white cell count at presentation. Detailed case note reviews showed that only 22.6% of patients with preexisting gout were receiving urate-lowering therapy (ULT) at presentation. Initial diagnostic uncertainty was common, yet rheumatology input and synovial aspirates were rarely obtained. By 6 months postdischarge, 43.6% were receiving ULT; however, few patients had treat-to-target dose optimization, and only 9.1% achieved SU levels ≤ 360 μmol/L.Conclusion: We identified multiple predictors of hospitalization for acute gout. Treat-to-target optimization of ULT following hospitalization remains inadequate and must be improved if admissions are to be prevented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gout is a common rheumatism and its long-term recurrent attacks can cause joint destruction and deformity, even disability, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Chinese medicine plays a unique advantage in the treatment and rehabilitation of gout. To further standardize the diagnosis and treatment of gout with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine issued the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Gout with Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in August 2021. Expert recommendations were made on the etiology and pathogenesis; diagnosis and classification standards; patient health management; and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment, prevention, and nursing of gout. This article interprets the guidelines from the nursing point of view, focusing on the detailed explanation of diet care, functional exercise, and appropriate techniques of traditional Chinese medicine for gout, in order to provide better clinical reference for high-quality nursing services for gout patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study aimed to characterize the systemic lipid profile of patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout using lipidomics, and to find potential underlying pathological mechanisms therefrom. Methods Sera were collected from Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine as centre 1 (discovery and internal validation sets) and Suzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine as centre 2 (external validation set), including 88 normal subjects, 157 HUA and 183 gout patients. Lipidomics was performed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography plus Q-Exactive mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q Exactive MS). Differential metabolites were identifed by both variable importance in the projection ≥1 in orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis mode and false discovery rate adjusted P ≤ 0.05. Biomarkers were found by logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results In the discovery set, a total of 245 and 150 metabolites, respectively, were found for normal subjects vs HUA and normal subjects vs gout. The disturbed metabolites included diacylglycerol, triacylglycerol (TAG), phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, etc. We also found 116 differential metabolites for HUA vs gout. Among them, the biomarker panel of TAG 18:1-20:0-22:1 and TAG 14:0-16:0-16:1 could differentiate well between HUA and gout. The area under the receiver operating characteristic ROC curve was 0.8288, the sensitivity was 82% and the specificity was 78%, at a 95% CI 0.747, 0.9106. In the internal validation set, the predictive accuracy of TAG 18:1-20:0-22:1 and TAG 14:0-16:0-16:1 panel for differentiation of HUA and gout reached 74.38%, while it was 84.03% in external validation set. Conclusion We identified serum biomarkers panel that have the potential to predict and diagnose HUA and gout patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine and identify the scope of research addressing health information requirements for gout patients using value chain analysis.Methods: Five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO, Embase, and Scopus) and grey literature (WorldCat) were searched in accordance with a published protocol. Only English language articles were included, with no limitations for date of publication. The findings of the 33 studies included for final analysis were subsequently divided into 6 groups according to the stages of the care delivery value chain their research most closely pertained to: screening/preventing (n = 2), diagnosing (n = 1), preparing (n = 7), intervening (n = 11), recovering/rehabilitating (n = 5), and monitoring/managing (n = 13).Results: The 33 studies focused on one or more of the following information phenotypes: 1) pathophysiology; 2) medical treatment; and 3) nonpharmaceutical interventions. Long term treatment adherence was a popular topic amongst studies that focused on gout patient education.Conclusion: Based on the identified studies, gout patients are being told what to do, but are not being adequately educated regarding why recommended interventions are important or how to accomplish them.Practice Implications: This review provides a foundation to develop and evaluate personalized education materials using value chain analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]