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We conducted a cross-sectional study with 350 gout patients to investigate serum urate acid (sUA) goal attainment (sUA < 360 μmol/L) and associated factors in Chinese gout patients in the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from August 2015 to September 2017. Descriptive statistics, health assessment questionnaire, global visual analog scale for general health and Gout Knowledge Questionnaire were calculated comparing patients at sUA goal or not at sUA goal. Univariate analysis and logistic regression models were applied to analyze data. The proportion of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) use was 61.2% (211/350). The mean ± standard deviation sUA of the participants was 475.07 ± 121.53 μmol/L. Only 17.4% of gout patients attain the serum urate goal, which also means 289(82.6%) patients cannot keep their sUA below the target of 360 μmol/L. The factors associated with sUA goal attainment including age, education level and ULT use. Among these, age, waist hip ratio, ULT, family history of cardiovascular disease was the predictor of sUA goal attainment. In conclusion, more than 80% of gout patients did not achieve sUA goal. Younger and fatter patients were more difficult to control the serum urate level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in people with gout, and investigate the relationship between gout and the occurrence of DM. Systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Data sources: MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE and CINAHL databases, hand-searched reference lists, citation history and contact with authors. Eligibility criteria: cohort, case–control or cross-sectional studies which examined the occurrence of DM amongst adults with gout (with or without gout group) in primary care or general population samples. Prevalence and risk estimate meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model. A total of 23 identified studies matched the inclusion criteria, reporting on a total of 575 284 gout patients. Meta-analyses revealed that the prevalence of DM in gout patients was 16% (95% CI, 14–18%, I2 = 99.8%) according to clinical interviews. In the subgroup analysis, the prevalence of DM was higher in the female population (18%, 95%CI 2.7–33.3%) than the male population (12.6%, 95%CI 8.2–17.1%). As age increased, the incidence of diabetes in gout population increased. DM is commonly found among patients with gout. Patients with gout should be actively screened for DM and its consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed (i) to investigate the relationships among socioeconomic status, disease activity, quality of life, and the psychological status in Chinese rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients; (ii) to explore the possible risk factors of anxiety and depression. A total of 160 RA patients underwent standardized laboratory examinations and completed several questionnaires. Independent samples t-tests, χ2 analyses, and logistic regression modeling were used to analyze the data. We found 30.6% RA patients were anxiety, and 27.5% had depression, which were significantly higher than the control group (7.8 and 11.7%, respectively). And there were significant correlations among education, pain, disease activity, medication adherence, functional capacity, quality of life, and anxiety/depression. Meanwhile, logistic regression analysis revealed that poor quality of life and low education level were significantly associated with anxiety/depression in RA patients. In conclusion, there were significant relationships among education, quality of life, and anxiety/depression in Chinese RA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), neutrophil dysregulation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation contribute to disease pathogenesis, potentially worsening the autoimmune response. Although research indicates NETs' involvement in various autoimmune conditions, their relationship with regulatory T cells (Tregs) in SLE remains elusive. In this study, in vivo experiments were involved in administering NET injections to C57BL/6 and MRL/Ipr mice. In vitro, a co-culture system facilitated interaction between Tregs and NETs. Proteomic analysis elucidated NET composition, while RNA sequencing delineated their impact on Treg differentiation. We demonstrated that increased NET levels correlate inversely with Treg abundance in SLE patients, influencing both their proportion and functionality. NET administration reduced Treg levels and induced lupus-like symptoms in C57BL/6 mice, exacerbating symptoms in MRL/Ipr mice. DNase I treatment mitigated NET effects, restoring Treg levels and alleviating symptoms. RNA sequencing revealed altered gene expression in naïve CD4 + T cells exposed to NETs. Additionally, proteomic analysis showed S100A10 protein changes between SLE patients and healthy controls, hindering Treg differentiation. NETs influence TLR-4 of naïve CD4 + T cells via S100A10, thereby modulating Treg proportion and functionality. These findings highlight the critical role of NETs in Treg differentiation in SLE, suggesting that targeting NETs may provide a novel therapeutic approach., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Objective: Nonadherence in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may lead to joint damage and function loss. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore Chinese RA patients' adherence rates and investigate potential risk factors for nonadherence., Methods: A total of 122 RA patients were recruited from the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2014 to April 2015. Patients were asked to complete a set of standardized self-report questionnaires (Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology, Health Assessment Questionnaire, Short Form-36 questionnaire, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Visual Analog Scale). Independent samples t-tests, chi-square analyses, and logistic regression modeling were used to analyze these data., Results: Based on Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology, 38% of the patients adhered to DMARDs. Adherence was associated with education, income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs. Other demographic and clinical characteristics were not associated with adherence. Logistic regression models identified income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs as predictors of medication nonadherence., Conclusion: In this study, 62% of patients with RA were not adherent to their DMARD prescription. Education, income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs were associated with medication adherence, and income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs were independent predictors of medication adherence in patients with RA. These findings could help medical personnel develop helpful interventions to improve adherence in RA patients by paying more attention to the patients with these accompanying risk factors and, finally, improve RA patients' quality of life.