박진균 교수

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a 2-week methotrexate (MTX) discontinuation after vaccination improves the efficacy of seasonal influenza vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: In this prospective randomised parallel-group multicentre study, patients with RA on stable dose of MTX were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to continue MTX or to hold MTX for 2 weeks after 2016-2017 quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine containing H1N1, H3N2, B-Yamagata and B-Victoria. The

BACKGROUND: Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is critical for activation of B cells and myeloid cells. This study aimed to characterize the effects of HM71224, a novel Btk inhibitor, both in vitro and in a mouse model of experimental arthritis. METHODS: The kinase inhibition profile of HM71224 was analyzed. The in vitro effects of HM71224 on B cells and monocytes were analyzed by examining phosphorylation of Btk and its downstream signaling molecules, along with cytokine production and osteoclast f

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused more than 100 million infections and 2 million deaths worldwide. In up to 20% of cases, COVID-19 infection can take a severe, life-threatening course. Therefore, preventive measures such as mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and social distancing are important. COVID-19 vaccines that use novel vaccine technology can prevent up to 95% of infections. However, the uncertainty regarding the efficacy and safety of vaccination in patients with autoi

OBJECTIVES: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) 6 promotes inflammation. We investigated the anti-arthritic effects of CKD-506, a novel HDAC6 inhibitor, in vitro and in a murine model of arthritis as a novel treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: HDAC6 was overexpressed in mouse peritoneal macrophages and RAW 264.7 cells, and the effects of a HDAC6 inhibitor CKD-506 on cytokine production and activity of NF-κB and AP-1 signaling were examined. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)

OBJECTIVE: Bone resorption of distal phalanges, or acroosteolysis (AO), can develop in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), causing pain and functional limitation. This study was undertaken to investigate whether AO may be associated with abnormal osteoclastogenesis in SSc patients and whether hypoxia may be involved in this process. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 26 SSc patients (11 with AO and 15 without AO) and 14 healthy controls were cultured in the pre

To examine the structural and oxidative properties of lipoproteins from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The lipid profiles of 35 SLE patients and 15 healthy controls (HCs) were compared. Oxidation status, susceptibility to oxidation, and structural integrity of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), de novo formation of conjugated dienes in the presence of CuSO 4 , and mobility on gel electrophoresis, respectively. In vitro foam cell f

OBJECTIVE: To define a set of core patient-reported domains and respective instruments for use in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). Previously, we reported a systematic literature review on patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in IIM followed by conducting international focus groups to elicit patient perspectives of myositis symptoms and effects. METHODS: Based on qualitative content analysis of focus groups, an initial list of 26 candidate domains was constructed. We subsequently conducted a

Expression of TRAP and cathepsin K is a general feature of MNGs and their expression might be related to histopathological pattern.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) 6 on inflammatory responses and tissue-destructive functions of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: FLS from RA patients were activated with interleukin (IL)-1β in the presence of increasing concentrations of M808, a novel specific HDAC6 inhibitor. Production of ILs, chemokines, and metalloproteinases (MMPs) was measured in ELISAs. Acetylation of tubulin and expression of ICAM-1

BACKGROUND: To compare the outcomes of gastric, colon, lung, and breast cancer patients with and without rheumatic diseases (RD). METHODS: This retrospective study compared the cancer survival rates of a cohort of 122 cancer patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM), or systemic sclerosis with that of a cohort of 366 age-, sex-, and, cancer type-matched patients without RD who received medical care from 2000 to 2014. Staging

OBJECTIVE: CD70-expressing CD4 T cells are enriched in RA and promote autoimmunity via co-stimulatory CD70-CD27 interaction. This study aimed to explore the phenotype and cytokine production of CD70(+) CD4 T cells in RA. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 32 RA patients were isolated and frequencies of CD70(+) cells within different CD4 T subsets were analysed using flow cytometry. IFN-γ and IL-17 production were compared between the CD70(+) and CD70(-) cells. Expression of master