Changes in physical activity in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis before and after virtual pulmonary rehabilitation: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended for the treatment of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Physical activity is an important health behaviour, closely linked to survival in people with IPF. Little is known about the impact of virtual (V) PR on physical activity in people with IPF. OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of conducting a trial to explore effect of virtual PR on objectively measured physical activity in people with IPF. METHODS: All patients with a diagnosis of IPF in a stable phase of the disease were invited to participate in VPR: a 10 week exercise programme delivered twice-weekly for one hour. Data were collected at baseline (BL) and post VPR (10 weeks): Kings Brief Interstitial Lung Disease (K-BILD), Exercise capacity (6-minute walk test (6MWT) or 1-minute sit-to-stand (STS)) and Physical Activity. Physical activity was measured with a triaxial accelerometer for seven days. Screening, recruitment, adherence and safety data were collected. RESULTS: 68 people were screened for this study. N = 16 participants were recruited to the study. There was one dropout. N = 15 completed VPR. All results reported in mean (standard deviation) (SD). Participants attended 18.1(2.0) of the 20 sessions. No adverse events were detected. The mean age of participants was 71.5(11.5) years, range: 47-95 years; 7 M:9 F. Mean (SD) FEV1 2.3(0.3)L, FVC 2.8(0.7)L. No statistically significant changes were observed in outcome measures apart from exercise capacity. Light physical activity increased from 152(69.4) minutes per day (n = 16) to 161.9(88.7) minutes per day (n = 14), mean change (SD) (CI) p-value: 9.9 (39.8) [-12.3 to 30.9] p = 0.4. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity increased from 19.1(18.6) minutes per day (n = 16) to 25.7(28.3) minutes per day (n = 14), mean change (SD) (CI) p-value: 6.7 (15.5) [-2.1 to 15.1] p = 0.1. Step count increased from 3838(2847) steps per day (n = 16) to 4537(3748) steps per day (n = 14), mean change (SD) (CI) p-value: 738 (1916) [-419.3 to 1734.6] p = 0.2. K-BILD (n = 15) increased from 55.1(7.4) at BL to 55.7(7.9) post VPR mean change (SD) [95% confidence interval] (CI) p-value: 1.7(6.5) [-1.7 to 5.3], p = 0.3. 6MWT (n = 5) increased from 361.5(127.1) to 452.2(136.1) meters, mean change (SD) (CI) p-value: 63.7 (48.2) [-3.8 to 123.6], p = 0.04 and 1-minute STS increased from 17.6(3.0) (n = 11) to 23.7(6.3) (n = 10), mean change (SD) (CI) p-value 5.8 (4.6) [2.6 to 9.1], p = 0.003. CONCLUSION: VPR can improve physical activity in people with IPF. A number of important feasibility issues included recruitment, retention, adherence and safety have been reported which are crucial for future research in this area. A fully powered trial is needed to determine the response of people with IPF to PR with regard to physical activity.

"Management of myositis associated interstitial lung disease".

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are rare disorders characterised by the presence of skeletal muscle inflammation, with interstitial lung disease (ILD) being the most frequent pulmonary manifestation. The spectrum of clinical presentations of myositis related ILD (M-ILD) encompasses a chronic process to a rapidly progressive ILD (RP-ILD); which is associated with a high mortality rate. The most effective treatments remain controversial and poses a unique challenge to both rheumatologists and respiratory physicians to manage. Given the rare heterogenous nature of M-ILD, there is a paucity of data to guide treatment. The cornerstone of existing treatments encompasses combinations of immunosuppressive therapies, as well as non-pharmacological therapies. In this review, we aim to summarize the current pharmacological therapies (including its dosing regimens and side effects profiles) and non-pharmacological therapies. Based on the existing literature to date, we propose a treatment algorithm for both chronic M-ILD and RP-ILD.

A qualitative exploration of people living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis experience of a virtual pulmonary rehabilitation programme.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended in the treatment of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Little is known about the experiences of people with IPF of PR. Due to Covid-19 there has been a rapid shift of PR services to remote/virtual delivery. OBJECTIVE: To explore people living with IPFs experience of a virtual PR (VPR) programme. METHODS: All patients with a diagnosis of IPF in a stable phase of the disease were invited to participate in virtual PR: a 10 week exercise programme delivered twice-weekly for one hour. One-to-one semi- structured interviews were conducted within one week following the programme. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using Braun and Clarke thematic analysis by two independent assessors. RESULTS: N=13 participants took part in the semi-structured interviews, mean (standard deviation (SD)) age 69.5(10.4) years; 7M:6F. Mean (SD) FEV1 2.6(0.3)L, FVC 2.9(0.4)L. Four key themes were identified: 1) The impact of VPR on health and outlook, (2) The reality of VPR, (3) Being active after VPR and (4) Living with IPF during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Participants reported high levels of enjoyment and engagement with the programme regardless of the health benefits experienced. Most participants expressed a desire for a longer programme. Participants expressed different levels of maintenance with exercise since finishing the programme, specific motivators and strategies for maintenance included lung transplant, the maintenance of benefits from the programme and social support. COVID-19 and the restrictions imposed had some negative impacts on some participants lives, engaging with PR helped overcome some of these. CONCLUSION: Despite the progressive nature of IPF, all participants expressed high levels of enjoyment with the programme. Future research should explore strategies for maintenance post PR and the optimum duration of PR for people with IPF.

Evolution of ultrasound in giant cell arteritis.

Ultrasound (US) is being increasingly used to diagnose Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA). The traditional diagnostic Gold Standard has been temporal artery biopsy (TAB), but this is expensive, invasive, has a false-negative rate as high as 60% and has little impact on clinical decision-making. A non-compressible halo with a thickened intima-media complex (IMC) is the sonographic hallmark of GCA. The superficial temporal arteries (STA) and axillary arteries (AA) are the most consistently inflamed arteries sonographically and imaging protocols for evaluating suspected GCA should include at least these two arterial territories. Studies evaluating temporal artery ultrasound (TAUS) have varied considerably in size and methodology with results showing wide discrepancies in sensitivity (9-100%), specificity (66-100%), positive predictive value (36-100%) and negative predictive value (33-100%). Bilateral halos increase sensitivity as does the incorporation of pre-test probability, while prior corticosteroid use decreases sensitivity. Quantifying sonographic vasculitis using Halo Counts and Halo Scores can predict disease extent/severity, risk of specific complications and likelihood of treatment response. Regression of the Halo sign has been observed from as little as 2 days to as late as 7 months after initiation of immunosuppressive treatment and occurs at different rates in STAs than AAs. US is more sensitive than TAB and has comparable sensitivity to MRI and PET/CT. It is time-efficient, cost-effective and allows for the implementation of fast-track GCA clinics which substantially mitigate the risk of irreversible blindness. Algorithms incorporating combinations of imaging modalities can achieve a 100% sensitivity and specificity for a diagnosis of GCA. US should be a standard first line investigation in routine clinical care of patients with suspected GCA with TAB reserved only for those having had a normal US in the context of a high pre-test probability.

Fetal and maternal outcomes after maternal biologic use during conception and pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Biologic medications, specifically tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors, have become increasingly prevalent in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease (CID) in pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To determine pregnancy outcomes in women with CID exposed to biologics during pregnancy. SEARCH STRATEGY: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched through January 1998-July 2021. SELECTION CRITERIA: Peer-reviewed, English-language cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies, and case series that contained original data. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently conducted data extraction. A meta-analysis of proportions using a random-effects model was used to pool outcomes. Linear regression analysis was used to compare the mean of proportions of outcomes across exposure groups using the 'treated' group as the reference category. All studies were evaluated using an appropriate quality assessment tool. The GRADE approach was used to assess the overall certainty of evidence. MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-five studies, describing 11 172 pregnancies, were eligible for inclusion. Analysis showed pooled proportions for congenital malformations as follows: treated 0.04 (95% CI 0.03-0.04; I2  = 77) versus disease-matched 0.04 (95% CI 0.03-0.05. I2  = 86; p = 0.238); preterm delivery treated 0.04 (95% CI 0.10-0.14; I2  = 88) versus disease-matched 0.10 (95% CI 0.09-0.12; I2  = 87; p = 0.250); severe neonatal infection: treated 0.05 (95% CI 0.03-0.07; I2  = 88) versus disease-matched 0.05 (95% CI 0.02-0.07; I2  = 94; p = 0.970); low birthweight: treated 0.10 (95% CI 0.07-0.12; I2  = 93) versus disease-matched 0.08 (95% CI 0.07-0.09; I2  = 0; p = 0.241); pooled miscarriage: treated 0.13 (95% CI 0.10-0.15; I2  = 77) versus disease-matched 0.08 (95% CI 0.04-0.11; I2  = 5; p = 0.078); pre-eclampsia; treated 0.01 (95% CI 0.01-0.02; I2  = 0) versus disease-matched 0.01 (95% CI 0.00-0.01; I2  = 0; p = 0.193). No statistical differences in proportions were observed. GRADE certainty of findings was low to very low. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated comparable pregnancy outcomes in pregnancies exposed to biologics, disease-matched controls and CID-free pregnancies using the GRADE approach.

Relationship Between Pain and Sedentary Behavior in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the known benefits of physical activity, high numbers of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain physically inactive and sedentary. Little is known about the determinants of sedentary behavior (SB) in RA. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to examine a range of pain characteristics and RA-related symptoms and their relationship with objectively measured SB. METHODS: In total, 76 adults with RA wore an activPAL4 accelerometer (PAL Technologies) over a 7-day period. Pain characteristics (pain intensity, painful joint count, nonarticular pain), fatigue, sleep, depression, anxiety, and disease activity were assessed. Analyses were first conducted to evaluate correlations with sedentary time. The independent contribution of pain characteristics to variation in SB was analyzed with multivariable linear regression (adjusted for demographic data and disease activity). RESULTS: Participants with valid accelerometer data (n = 72) spent a mean ± SD of 533.7 ± 100.1 minutes/day in SB. Positive associations with daily SB were found for pain intensity (r = 0.31, P < 0.01) and number of painful joints (r = 0.24, P < 0.05) but not nonarticular pain. In multivariable analyses, pain characteristics were not independently associated with SB. Analyses indicated that disease activity had an indirect association with SB mediated by pain intensity. Other correlates of daily SB included anxiety and depression but not fatigue or sleep. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that while pain and other RA-related factors do play a role in SB, they do not appear to have a significant influence after accounting for other variables. Future research should investigate SB and the role of factors unrelated to the symptoms of RA.

Biologic therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus: where are we now?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Conventional approaches using hydroxychloroquine, corticosteroids and immunosuppressives have improved the prognosis for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Unfortunately, they have reached the limits of what they can achieve and patients still die prematurely and/or find their quality of life greatly impaired. Here, we discuss the problems of assessing activity in SLE, optimizing clinical trial design and more recent biologic approaches. RECENT FINDINGS: The success of B-cell depletion using Rituximab in open clinical studies, the approval of Belimumab (blocks the B-cell activating factor BAFF) and improvements in clinical trial design, gives cause for hope. Approaches including the use of fully humanized anti-CD20 and CD19 monoclonals, blocking interferons, inhibiting Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), blocking the CD40 ligand (CD40L), utilizing an analogue of the Fc[Latin Small Letter Gamma]RIIB and an IL12-23 blocker and targeting the JAK-STAT pathway have met end points in phase II and III trials. SUMMARY: For 20 years, we hoped that the successes of the biologic therapies in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis would be replicated in SLE but we have been generally disappointed. However, the encouraging recent results with monoclonals that block interferon and fully humanized anti-CD20 in particular, offer the prospect of a real revolution in the treatment of SLE.

See, Like, Share, Remember: Adolescents' Responses to Unhealthy-, Healthy- and Non-Food Advertising in Social Media.

Media-saturated digital environments seek to influence social media users' behaviour, including through marketing. The World Health Organization has identified food marketing, including advertising for unhealthy items, as detrimental to health, and in many countries, regulation restricts such marketing and advertising to younger children. Yet regulation rarely addresses adolescents and few studies have examined their responses to social media advertising. In two studies, we examined adolescents' attention, memory and social responses to advertising posts, including interactions between product types and source of posts. We hypothesized adolescents would respond more positively to unhealthy food advertising compared to healthy food or non-food advertising, and more positively to ads shared by peers or celebrities than to ads shared by a brand. Outcomes measured were (1a) social responses (likelihood to 'share', attitude to peer); (1b) brand memory (recall, recognition) and (2) attention (eye-tracking fixation duration and count). Participants were 151 adolescent social media users (Study 1: n = 72; 13-14 years; M = 13.56 years, SD = 0.5; Study 2: n = 79, 13-17 years, M = 15.37 years, SD = 1.351). They viewed 36 fictitious Facebook profile feeds created to show age-typical content. In a 3 × 3 factorial design, each contained an advertising post that varied by content (healthy/unhealthy/non-food) and source (peer/celebrity/company). Generalised linear mixed models showed that advertisements for unhealthy food evoked significantly more positive responses, compared to non-food and healthy food, on 5 of 6 measures: adolescents were more likely to wish to 'share' unhealthy posts; rated peers more positively when they had unhealthy posts in their feeds; recalled and recognised a greater number of unhealthy food brands; and viewed unhealthy advertising posts for longer. Interactions with sources (peers, celebrities and companies) were more complex but also favoured unhealthy food advertising. Implications are that regulation of unhealthy food advertising should address adolescents and digital media.

High Ankle Sprains in Professional Ice Hockey Players: Prognosis and Correlation Between Magnetic Resonance Imaging Patterns of Injury and Return to Play.

BACKGROUND: Hockey players sustain a greater incidence of ankle syndesmosis injuries than other athletes. These injuries have a higher morbidity and more unpredictable recovery than lateral ankle sprains. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to establish the diagnosis but has not been evaluated for its ability to predict return to play. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that patterns of injury defined on MRI could be used to predict return to play in a cohort of professional hockey players with syndesmosis sprains. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A prospectively collected National Hockey League (NHL) database was analyzed from the 2006-2007 to 2011-2012 seasons to assess return to play after an injury. A separate retrospective review of ankle MRI scans from professional hockey players with a documented high ankle sprain sustained between 2007 and 2012 was performed. Injuries were classified on MRI as complete or partial tears of the anterior-inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL), posterior-inferior tibiofibular ligament (PITFL), anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL), calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), and deltoid ligament. Fractures, bone contusions, and osteochondral lesions were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 105 NHL athletes sustained high ankle sprains over the 5 seasons studied. Of these athletes, 85 were unable to play and missed a median of 8 games (range, 0-65 games). A retrospective MRI evaluation of 21 scans identified complete AITFL tears in 13 (62%) and high-grade partial tears in 5 (24%) cases. In contrast, the PITFL was partially torn in 9 (43%) and normal in 12 (57%) cases. Bone contusions were seen in 71% of cases and lacked a consistent pattern. The most commonly associated ligamentous injury was of the ATFL, which was injured in 52% of cases (11/21; 3 complete and 8 partial). There was no difference in the mean number of days lost when players were stratified by patterns of injury (incomplete/complete AITFL tear ± additional ligamentous injury, bone contusion, syndesmosis width). CONCLUSION: A high ankle sprain resulted in significant variations in time of recovery among professional hockey players. A torn AITFL and bone bruising were the most common patterns of injury. Although MRI can be used to confirm the diagnosis of a syndesmosis injury, it did not predict return to play in this population.

Author Correction: New therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus - past imperfect, future tense.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

New therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus - past imperfect, future tense.

The failure of many new, mostly biologic, drugs to meet their primary end points in double-blind clinical trials in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has caused a profound sense of disappointment among both physicians and patients. Arguably, the success of B cell depletion with rituximab in open-label clinical trials, the approval of belimumab (which blocks B cell-activating factor (BAFF)) for use in patients with lupus nephritis in the USA and in difficult-to-treat patients with SLE in the UK and the recognition that clinical trial design can be improved have given some cause for hope. However, changes to therapies in current use and the development of new approaches are urgently needed. The results of the latest studies investigating the use of several new approaches to treating SLE are discussed in this Review, including: fully humanized anti-CD20 and anti-CD19 monoclonal antibodies; inhibition of tyrosine-protein kinase BTK; CD40 ligand blockade; interfering with the presentation of antigen to autoreactive T cells using a peptide approach; a receptor decoy approach using an analogue of Fcγ receptor IIB; dual blockade of IL-12 and IL-23; and inhibition of Janus kinases.

Quantitative assessment of dynamic 18F-flumethycholine PET and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI in high risk prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE:: To describe dynamic 18F-flumethycholine PET (dPET) and dynamic contrast enhancement MR (DCE MR) parameters in localized high-risk prostate cancer (PCa), and determine whether these differ from normal prostate. Furthermore, to determine whether a correlation exists between dPET and DCE MR parameters. METHODS:: 41 consenting patients who underwent prostate DCE MR and dPET were included in this institutionally approved study. Intraprostatic lesions on MR were assigned a PI-RADS v2 score, and focal lesions on PET were documented. All lesions were correlated with pathology. Quantitative and semi-quantitative DCE MR and two-tissue compartmental model dPET parameters were determined and tumor-to-normal gland ratios (T/N) for these parameters were calculated. Finally, dPET and DCE MR correlation was estimated using Spearman correlation coefficients. RESULTS:: There were 46 malignant lesions per standard of reference. On dPET, peripheral zone (PZ) tumors had higher K1 (p < 0.001), and a T/N ratio ≥2 was significant (p < 0.001). On DCE MR, the parameters in, kep, Ktrans and quantitative iAUC were higher for PZ and non-PZ tumors than corresponding normal tissue (p < 0.001); for PZ tumors, a T/N ratio ≥ 1.5 for Ktrans and pei was significant (p = 0.0019 and 0.0026, respectively). Moderate Spearman correlation (0.40 < ρ < 0.59) was found between dPET K1 and DCE MR Ktrans and pei. CONCLUSION:: In patients with high-risk PCa, quantitative dPET and DCE-MR parameters in primary tumors differ from normal tissue. Only moderate correlation exists between K1 (dPET) and Ktrans and pei (DCE MR). The incremental value of any of these parameters to PI-RADS v2 warrants further investigation. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:: Unique quantitative and semi-quantitative FCH PET/MR parameters in PCa differ from normal gland, and should be further investigated to determine their potential contribution to PI-RADS v2 in the detection of clinically significant PCa.

MDA-5 associated rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease with recurrent Pneumothoraces: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Clinically hypomyopathic dermatomyositis is a rare disease that is important to recognize, investigate and treat early as it is associated with poor prognosis. In a proportion of patients, myositis specific antibodies could be negative, but with high clinical suspicion, myositis associated antibodies should be ordered. Anti-MDA-5 antibodies was reported in literature to be associated with severe and rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease, with few case reports of pneumothorax and/or pneumomediastinum. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old previously healthy lady, presented with a 6 week history of skin rash, photosensitivity, mouth ulcers, fatiguability, arthralgia and myalgia. She denied subjective weakness, respiratory symptoms or dysphagia. She had Raynaud's phenomenon affecting her fingers only. Initial examination showed synovitis in her hands with skin rash. Autoimmune screen was negative. She was started on hydroxychloroquine. 4 weeks later on follow-up, she developed proximal muscle pain, dysphagia, dyspnea and dry cough. Examination showed mild proximal muscle weakness and bi-basal crackles. She was admitted and extended myositis screen was sent. She had mild anemia, lymphopenia and neutropenia, normal inflammatory markers, liver and renal panels. Capillaroscopy showed pattern of systemic sclerosis. CT chest showed early ILD. Electromyography and MRI showed features of mild myositis. PFT showed muscle weakness with low DLCO. She was given intravenous steroid and Rituximab. As she continued to deteriorate, intravenous immunoglobulins and cyclophosphamide were given. There was a brief clinical response that was short-lived with increasing oxygen dependency necessitating transfer to the ICU. At this point, the extended myositis screen confirmed the presence of anti-MDA-5 antibodies. She commenced plasmapharesis and required intubation. Unfortunately, she developed multiple pneumothoraces, and was transferred urgently for ECMO. Subsequent immunosuppression included rituximab and tacrolimus. There was progression of her ILD and recurrent pneumothoraces and pneumomediastinum. Unfortunately, she passed away as a consequence of her disease. CONCLUSION: This case highlights a number of considerations in approaching patients with inflammatory myositis, particularly to pulmonary involvement. It is important to highlight the utility of extended myositis antibody testing in predicting disease phenotypes and its impact on therapeutic decisions. From a management perspective, aggressive immunosuppression should be considered with potential need of earlier utilization of ECMO.

An unexpected cause of sacroiliitis in a patient with gout and chronic psoriasis with inflammatory arthritis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory back pain is a condition characterized by inflammation of the sacroiliac joints and lower spine. It is frequently seen in patients with spondyloarthropathies like ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, enteropathic arthritis and reactive arthritis. Inflammatory back pain can be caused by many other conditions like infection and crystal deposition such as gout. In this case, it is difficult to specifically identify gout as a cause by ordinary imaging like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report describes a young man with severe psoriasis, presumptive psoriatic spondyloarthropathy and chronic extensive tophaceous gout which was difficult to treat because of non-compliance with medications and lifestyle. He presented with inflammatory type low back and buttocks pain with raised inflammatory markers. MRI of the lower back and sacroiliac joints showed features of active sacroiliitis. He was subsequently treated with a Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) alpha inhibitor for presumed axial psoriatic arthritis and had no significant benefit. Two attempts DECT of the lumbar spine was not executed correctly. CT lumbar spine and SIJs showed L2/3 endplate and left SIJ erosions mostly related to gout. Rasburicase was introduced. The tophi decreased in size peripherally with marginal improvement in back pain. From this study, we want to bring to the attention of physicians that gout can lead to back pain with inflammatory changes on MRI. We also want to address the importance of other imaging modalities if the cause of the back pain is not clear. CONCLUSION: This case is meant to highlight an important but overlooked cause of active sacroililitis and inflammatory type back pain in patients who have gout, and to bring to the attention that plain X-ray, MRI and ultrasound cannot differentiate between inflammatory sacroiliitis caused by seronegative arthritis versus gouty arthritis. CT scan can add more information but DECT is the preferred method for differentiation and identification of axial tophaceous gout.

18F-Fluorocholine PET Whole-Body MRI in the Staging of High-Risk Prostate Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether integrated 18F-fluorocholine (FCH) PET whole-body MRI (PET/WBMRI) depicts lymph node and distant metastases in patients with high-risk prostate cancer more frequently than does conventional staging. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A prospective study included 58 patients with untreated high-risk prostate cancer. After conventional staging (CT and bone scintigraphy), patients underwent FCH PET/WBMRI (n = 10) or FCH PET/CT and WBMRI (n = 48). Metastatic sites and disease stage were recorded for each modality (conventional imaging, PET, WBMRI, and PET/WBMRI) and compared with a standard of reference (histopathologic examination, imaging, and clinical follow-up) and early clinical outcomes. RESULTS: In the detection of metastases, PET had significantly higher sensitivity (72/77 [93.5%]) than conventional imaging (49/77 [63.6%]; p < 0.001) and WBMRI (56/77 [72.7%]; p = 0.002). There was a trend toward improved detection with PET/WBMRI (77/77 [100%]) compared with PET alone (p = 0.059). For correct NM staging, PET and PET/WBMRI performed better than conventional imaging (p = 0.002) and WBMRI (p = 0.008). Twelve of 56 patients (21.4%) had early biochemical failure after radical treatment (median, 7 months; range, 1-20 months). This rate was higher for patients with M1a or M1b disease at PET/WBMRI than for others, but this finding did not reach statistical significance (4/8 [50%] vs 8/48 [16.7%]; p = 0.055). CONCLUSION: In patients with high-risk prostate cancer, FCH PET and FCH PET/WBMRI depict significantly more metastatic lesions than do conventional imaging and WBMRI. Stage determined with PET/WBMRI may correlate with early outcomes.

Investigating Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy; Initial Cross Speciality Experience with Use of the Extended Myositis Antibody Panel.

The discovery of unique autoantibodies has informed and altered our approach to the diagnosis and management of the inflammatory myopathies. This study reports the initial clinical experience of use of the Extended Myositis Antibody (EMA) panel in the largest university teaching hospital in Ireland. We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who had serum samples tested for myositis specific antibodies and myositis associated antibodies from April 2014 to March 2015. A positive EMA panel was of significant clinical utility in facilitating decisions on appropriate investigations, and need for onward referral to other physicians. Furthermore, this paper highlights the diversity of possible presentations of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with subsequent need for multi-speciality involvement, and serves to heighten awareness among clinicians of the diagnostic use of extended myositis antibody testing in these cases.

FDG PET/CT Response Assessment Criteria for Patients with Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma at End of Therapy: A Multiparametric Approach.

PURPOSE: Based on the International Harmonization Project (IHP) criteria, positron emission tomography (PET) response assessment of residual nodal masses in patients with lymphoma after completion of therapy is performed visually using mediastinal blood pool as the reference. The primary objective of this study was to define the optimal reference for PET response assessment. Secondary aim was to assess if morphological criteria on computed tomography (CT) may improve performance of PET. METHODS: This institutional review board approved retrospective study included 137 patients, with Hodgkin's (n = 43) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 94) assessed for residual masses (n = 180) after completion of therapy with pathology and clinical and imaging surveillance data (mean, 19 months) as the standard of reference. Two readers independently assessed response by IHP and Deauville criteria. The addition of morphological parameters on CT was assessed in relation to therapy response. RESULTS: Based on the standard of reference, 36 patients (26.3 %) had residual lymphoma. For IHP and Deauville criteria, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 97.2 %, 97.2 % (p = 1); 79.2 %, 92.1 % (p < 0.001); and 83.9 %, 93.4 % (p = 0.001), respectively. Of the morphological parameters assessed, only change in size over course of therapy was significant (p < 0.003) and improved specificity for IHP-based interpretation to 90.4 % (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Using liver as the visual reference to determine PET positivity for lymphoma patients being assessed for residual masses at the end of therapy improves specificity, yet maintains the high sensitivity of PET in identifying residual disease. The addition of change in size after therapy improves specificity of PET when using IHP-based but not Deauville-based interpretation.

Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a remarkable and challenging disorder. Its diversity of clinical features is matched by the complexity of the factors (genetic, hormonal, and environmental) that cause it, and the array of autoantibodies with which it is associated. In this Seminar we reflect on changes in its classification criteria; consider aspects of its more serious clinical expression; and provide a brief review of its aetiopathogenesis, major complications, coping strategies, and conventional treatment. Increased understanding of the cells and molecules involved in the development of the diseases has encouraged the identification of new, better targeted biological approaches to its treatment. The precise role of these newer therapies remains to be established.

A comparison of the outcome of adolescent and adult-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Previous reports have suggested that juvenile-onset SLE is associated with a worse prognosis than adult-onset disease. There have been limited studies in adolescents. We sought to assess the effect of adolescent-onset SLE on the clinical course of a large multi-ethnic cohort. METHODS: Patients consisted of individuals diagnosed with SLE between 11 and 18 years of age in a tertiary referral centre. All patients with adult-onset disease were used as controls. Data were analysed by univariable and multivariable analysis for demographic, clinical and serological data. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-four patients with adolescent-onset and 484 patients with adult-onset disease were identified. There was a higher percentage of males (12.9% vs 7.2%; P = 0.036) and patients of Asian ethnicity within the adolescent group (P < 0.01). By univariable analysis, adolescent-onset SLE was associated with more frequent LN and haemolytic anaemia and less serositis and SS. Ischaemic vascular events occurred in 32 adult-onset patients (6.6%) and 3 adolescent-onset patients (2.4%; P = 0.08). Thirty-five adult-onset patients developed cancer (6.8%) compared with five of the adolescent-onset group (4.8%; P = 0.54). The standardized mortality rate was significantly increased in females with adolescent-onset SLE (14.4; 95% CI 4.44, 24.4) compared with patients with adult-onset SLE. By multivariable analysis, adolescent-onset SLE retained a significant association with LN. CONCLUSION: Adolescent-onset SLE is associated with a significantly increased risk of LN and, importantly, with a marked increase in mortality. These data suggest a more aggressive phenotype of disease in patients with onset of SLE in adolescence and supports the need for intensive follow-up and intensive therapy in this population.