Key clinical point: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) plus radiotherapy (RT) conferred an overall survival (OS) benefit over chemotherapy plus RT after resection of brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Major finding: The chemotherapy plus RT group had a shorter median OS than the ICI plus RT group after neurosurgery (11.8 months; 95% CI 9.1-15.2 vs 23.0 months; 95% CI 20.3-53.8; P < .001).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study involving 62 NSCLC patients treated with ICI plus RT and 62 treated with chemotherapy plus RT after neurosurgery for brain metastasis, from 2010 to 2021.

Disclosures: No funding information was available. N Frost reported receiving personal fees and nonfinancial support from pharmaceutical companies outside this work. The other authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Wasilewski D et al. Effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibition vs chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy among patients with non–small cell lung cancer and brain metastasis undergoing neurosurgical resection. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(4):e229553 (Apr 29). Doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.9553

Key clinical point: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) plus radiotherapy (RT) conferred an overall survival (OS) benefit over chemotherapy plus RT after resection of brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Major finding: The chemotherapy plus RT group had a shorter median OS than the ICI plus RT group after neurosurgery (11.8 months; 95% CI 9.1-15.2 vs 23.0 months; 95% CI 20.3-53.8; P < .001).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study involving 62 NSCLC patients treated with ICI plus RT and 62 treated with chemotherapy plus RT after neurosurgery for brain metastasis, from 2010 to 2021.

Disclosures: No funding information was available. N Frost reported receiving personal fees and nonfinancial support from pharmaceutical companies outside this work. The other authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Wasilewski D et al. Effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibition vs chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy among patients with non–small cell lung cancer and brain metastasis undergoing neurosurgical resection. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(4):e229553 (Apr 29). Doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.9553

Key clinical point: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) plus radiotherapy (RT) conferred an overall survival (OS) benefit over chemotherapy plus RT after resection of brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Major finding: The chemotherapy plus RT group had a shorter median OS than the ICI plus RT group after neurosurgery (11.8 months; 95% CI 9.1-15.2 vs 23.0 months; 95% CI 20.3-53.8; P < .001).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study involving 62 NSCLC patients treated with ICI plus RT and 62 treated with chemotherapy plus RT after neurosurgery for brain metastasis, from 2010 to 2021.

Disclosures: No funding information was available. N Frost reported receiving personal fees and nonfinancial support from pharmaceutical companies outside this work. The other authors declared no competing interests.

Source: Wasilewski D et al. Effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibition vs chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy among patients with non–small cell lung cancer and brain metastasis undergoing neurosurgical resection. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(4):e229553 (Apr 29). Doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.9553

Key clinical point: In a real-world cohort of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy, the 4-year overall survival (OS) was nearly 18%.

Major finding: The mean progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.4 months and OS was 13.0 months. The 4-year OS rate was 17.9%. The predictors of favorable OS and PFS included age >70 years, a good Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score, programmed cell death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score of ≥50%, absence of bone metastasis, and presence of immune-related skin toxicity.

Study details: The data come from a real-world retrospective cohort study of 435 patients diagnosed with advanced, metastatic, or recurrent NSCLC and treated with ICI monotherapy across seven Japanese centers (2015-2018).

Disclosures: No information on funding and disclosures was available.

Source: Yoneda T et al. Long-term survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy in real-world settings. Clin Lung Cancer. 2022 (May 1). Doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2022.03.008

Key clinical point: In a real-world cohort of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy, the 4-year overall survival (OS) was nearly 18%.

Major finding: The mean progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.4 months and OS was 13.0 months. The 4-year OS rate was 17.9%. The predictors of favorable OS and PFS included age >70 years, a good Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score, programmed cell death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score of ≥50%, absence of bone metastasis, and presence of immune-related skin toxicity.

Study details: The data come from a real-world retrospective cohort study of 435 patients diagnosed with advanced, metastatic, or recurrent NSCLC and treated with ICI monotherapy across seven Japanese centers (2015-2018).

Disclosures: No information on funding and disclosures was available.

Source: Yoneda T et al. Long-term survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy in real-world settings. Clin Lung Cancer. 2022 (May 1). Doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2022.03.008

Key clinical point: In a real-world cohort of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy, the 4-year overall survival (OS) was nearly 18%.

Major finding: The mean progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.4 months and OS was 13.0 months. The 4-year OS rate was 17.9%. The predictors of favorable OS and PFS included age >70 years, a good Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score, programmed cell death-ligand 1 tumor proportion score of ≥50%, absence of bone metastasis, and presence of immune-related skin toxicity.

Study details: The data come from a real-world retrospective cohort study of 435 patients diagnosed with advanced, metastatic, or recurrent NSCLC and treated with ICI monotherapy across seven Japanese centers (2015-2018).

Disclosures: No information on funding and disclosures was available.

Source: Yoneda T et al. Long-term survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy in real-world settings. Clin Lung Cancer. 2022 (May 1). Doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2022.03.008

Key clinical point: Anticoagulant use is linked to worse progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) in patients with ALK- and ROS1-rearranged advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with crizotinib.

Major finding: In the ROS1-rearranged group, anticoagulant use vs no use was associated with a shorter median PFS (5.1 vs 29 months) and poorer ORR (41.7% vs 80.5%). Similarly, in the ALK-rearranged group, anticoagulant use vs no use was associated with a shorter median PFS (7.1 vs 12 months) and poorer ORR (41% vs 74.3%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective analysis of patients with ROS1- and ALK-rearranged advanced NSCLC (n = 206) who received crizotinib in the phase 1 PROFILE 1001 trial.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Pfizer. The authors reported receiving grants or personal fees from one or more pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, outside this work.

Source: Ng TL, Tsui DCC, et al. Association of anticoagulant use with clinical outcomes from crizotinib in ALK- and ROS1-rearranged advanced non-small cell lung cancers: A retrospective analysis of PROFILE 1001. Cancer Med. 2022 (May 5). Doi: 10.1002/cam4.4789

Key clinical point: Anticoagulant use is linked to worse progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) in patients with ALK- and ROS1-rearranged advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with crizotinib.

Major finding: In the ROS1-rearranged group, anticoagulant use vs no use was associated with a shorter median PFS (5.1 vs 29 months) and poorer ORR (41.7% vs 80.5%). Similarly, in the ALK-rearranged group, anticoagulant use vs no use was associated with a shorter median PFS (7.1 vs 12 months) and poorer ORR (41% vs 74.3%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective analysis of patients with ROS1- and ALK-rearranged advanced NSCLC (n = 206) who received crizotinib in the phase 1 PROFILE 1001 trial.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Pfizer. The authors reported receiving grants or personal fees from one or more pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, outside this work.

Source: Ng TL, Tsui DCC, et al. Association of anticoagulant use with clinical outcomes from crizotinib in ALK- and ROS1-rearranged advanced non-small cell lung cancers: A retrospective analysis of PROFILE 1001. Cancer Med. 2022 (May 5). Doi: 10.1002/cam4.4789

Key clinical point: Anticoagulant use is linked to worse progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) in patients with ALK- and ROS1-rearranged advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with crizotinib.

Major finding: In the ROS1-rearranged group, anticoagulant use vs no use was associated with a shorter median PFS (5.1 vs 29 months) and poorer ORR (41.7% vs 80.5%). Similarly, in the ALK-rearranged group, anticoagulant use vs no use was associated with a shorter median PFS (7.1 vs 12 months) and poorer ORR (41% vs 74.3%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective analysis of patients with ROS1- and ALK-rearranged advanced NSCLC (n = 206) who received crizotinib in the phase 1 PROFILE 1001 trial.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Pfizer. The authors reported receiving grants or personal fees from one or more pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, outside this work.

Source: Ng TL, Tsui DCC, et al. Association of anticoagulant use with clinical outcomes from crizotinib in ALK- and ROS1-rearranged advanced non-small cell lung cancers: A retrospective analysis of PROFILE 1001. Cancer Med. 2022 (May 5). Doi: 10.1002/cam4.4789

Key clinical point: Noncachexic patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and adipose tissue loss may respond more favorably to immunotherapy.

Major finding: Cachexic patients with loss and maintenance of adipose tissue showed no significant differences in the objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). Noncachexic patients with loss vs maintenance of adipose tissue demonstrated a higher ORR (64.7% vs 23.5%; P < .05) and longer PFS (18.5 vs 2.86 months; P = .037) in response to immunotherapy.

Study details: The data come from a single-center retrospective cohort study involving patients with advanced NSCLC (40 with cachexia and 34 without cachexia) who received programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, or atezolizumab).

Disclosures: The study was funded by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. The authors reported ties with one or more pharmaceutical companies outside this work.

Source: Nishioka N et al. Impact of losing adipose tissue on outcomes from PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Thorac Cancer. 2022;13(10):1496-1504 (Apr 14). Doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.14421

Key clinical point: Noncachexic patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and adipose tissue loss may respond more favorably to immunotherapy.

Major finding: Cachexic patients with loss and maintenance of adipose tissue showed no significant differences in the objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). Noncachexic patients with loss vs maintenance of adipose tissue demonstrated a higher ORR (64.7% vs 23.5%; P < .05) and longer PFS (18.5 vs 2.86 months; P = .037) in response to immunotherapy.

Study details: The data come from a single-center retrospective cohort study involving patients with advanced NSCLC (40 with cachexia and 34 without cachexia) who received programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, or atezolizumab).

Disclosures: The study was funded by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. The authors reported ties with one or more pharmaceutical companies outside this work.

Source: Nishioka N et al. Impact of losing adipose tissue on outcomes from PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Thorac Cancer. 2022;13(10):1496-1504 (Apr 14). Doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.14421

Key clinical point: Noncachexic patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and adipose tissue loss may respond more favorably to immunotherapy.

Major finding: Cachexic patients with loss and maintenance of adipose tissue showed no significant differences in the objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). Noncachexic patients with loss vs maintenance of adipose tissue demonstrated a higher ORR (64.7% vs 23.5%; P < .05) and longer PFS (18.5 vs 2.86 months; P = .037) in response to immunotherapy.

Study details: The data come from a single-center retrospective cohort study involving patients with advanced NSCLC (40 with cachexia and 34 without cachexia) who received programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, or atezolizumab).

Disclosures: The study was funded by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. The authors reported ties with one or more pharmaceutical companies outside this work.

Source: Nishioka N et al. Impact of losing adipose tissue on outcomes from PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Thorac Cancer. 2022;13(10):1496-1504 (Apr 14). Doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.14421

Key clinical point: The addition of nivolumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is more efficacious than and comparably safe compared to chemotherapy alone in patients with stage IB-IIIA resectable nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Major finding: The nivolumab plus chemotherapy vs chemotherapy-alone group demonstrated longer event-free survival (31.6 vs 20.8 months; hazard ratio 0.63; P = .005) and had a higher proportion of patients achieving pathological complete response (24.0% vs 2.2%; odds ratio 13.94; P < .001). The rates of grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events were comparable between the groups (33.5% vs 36.9%).

Study details: The data come from an open-label phase 3 CheckMate 816 trial which included patients with resectable NSCLC who were randomly assigned to receive neoadjuvant nivolumab plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy (n = 179) or platinum-doublet chemotherapy alone (n = 179).

Disclosures: The trial was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb. The authors reported ties with one or more pharmaceutical companies outside this work, including Bristol Myers Squibb.

Source: Forde PM et al. Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy in resectable lung cancer. N Engl J Med. 2022 (Apr 11). Doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2202170

Key clinical point: The addition of nivolumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is more efficacious than and comparably safe compared to chemotherapy alone in patients with stage IB-IIIA resectable nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Major finding: The nivolumab plus chemotherapy vs chemotherapy-alone group demonstrated longer event-free survival (31.6 vs 20.8 months; hazard ratio 0.63; P = .005) and had a higher proportion of patients achieving pathological complete response (24.0% vs 2.2%; odds ratio 13.94; P < .001). The rates of grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events were comparable between the groups (33.5% vs 36.9%).

Study details: The data come from an open-label phase 3 CheckMate 816 trial which included patients with resectable NSCLC who were randomly assigned to receive neoadjuvant nivolumab plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy (n = 179) or platinum-doublet chemotherapy alone (n = 179).

Disclosures: The trial was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb. The authors reported ties with one or more pharmaceutical companies outside this work, including Bristol Myers Squibb.

Source: Forde PM et al. Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy in resectable lung cancer. N Engl J Med. 2022 (Apr 11). Doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2202170

Key clinical point: The addition of nivolumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is more efficacious than and comparably safe compared to chemotherapy alone in patients with stage IB-IIIA resectable nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Major finding: The nivolumab plus chemotherapy vs chemotherapy-alone group demonstrated longer event-free survival (31.6 vs 20.8 months; hazard ratio 0.63; P = .005) and had a higher proportion of patients achieving pathological complete response (24.0% vs 2.2%; odds ratio 13.94; P < .001). The rates of grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events were comparable between the groups (33.5% vs 36.9%).

Study details: The data come from an open-label phase 3 CheckMate 816 trial which included patients with resectable NSCLC who were randomly assigned to receive neoadjuvant nivolumab plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy (n = 179) or platinum-doublet chemotherapy alone (n = 179).

Disclosures: The trial was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb. The authors reported ties with one or more pharmaceutical companies outside this work, including Bristol Myers Squibb.

Source: Forde PM et al. Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy in resectable lung cancer. N Engl J Med. 2022 (Apr 11). Doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2202170

Key clinical point: A higher serum level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is an independent risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is positively associated with RA disease activity.

Major finding: Circulating FSH levels were significantly higher in women with RA vs age-matched healthy women (57.58 ± 15.94 vs 43.11 ± 19.46 mIU/mL; P = .025), with women with RA in the highest vs lowest quartiles of FSH levels having a significantly higher disease activity score of 28 joints with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a prospective analysis including 79 women with RA and 50 age-matched healthy women.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Youth Foundation of Science and Technology Department of Shanxi Province and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Zhang X et al. High follicle-stimulating hormone level associated with risk of rheumatoid arthritis and disease activity. Front Endocrinol. 2022;13:862849 (Apr 22). Doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.862849

Key clinical point: A higher serum level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is an independent risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is positively associated with RA disease activity.

Major finding: Circulating FSH levels were significantly higher in women with RA vs age-matched healthy women (57.58 ± 15.94 vs 43.11 ± 19.46 mIU/mL; P = .025), with women with RA in the highest vs lowest quartiles of FSH levels having a significantly higher disease activity score of 28 joints with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a prospective analysis including 79 women with RA and 50 age-matched healthy women.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Youth Foundation of Science and Technology Department of Shanxi Province and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Zhang X et al. High follicle-stimulating hormone level associated with risk of rheumatoid arthritis and disease activity. Front Endocrinol. 2022;13:862849 (Apr 22). Doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.862849

Key clinical point: A higher serum level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is an independent risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is positively associated with RA disease activity.

Major finding: Circulating FSH levels were significantly higher in women with RA vs age-matched healthy women (57.58 ± 15.94 vs 43.11 ± 19.46 mIU/mL; P = .025), with women with RA in the highest vs lowest quartiles of FSH levels having a significantly higher disease activity score of 28 joints with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P < .001).

Study details: Findings are from a prospective analysis including 79 women with RA and 50 age-matched healthy women.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Youth Foundation of Science and Technology Department of Shanxi Province and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Zhang X et al. High follicle-stimulating hormone level associated with risk of rheumatoid arthritis and disease activity. Front Endocrinol. 2022;13:862849 (Apr 22). Doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.862849

Key clinical point: Acupuncture relieves pain and improves the health index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and can be considered an adjunctive nonpharmacological treatment in rehabilitation programs.

Major finding: Invasive acupuncture vs control interventions significantly reduced pain (mean difference [MD] −1.00; P ­= .04), Health Assessment Questionnaire score (MD −0.20; P < .001), Physician Global Assessment score (MD ­−0.98; P < .001), tender joint count (MD ­−1.24; P ­= .005), C-reactive protein level (MD, −1.81; P =­ .019), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (MD, −3.03; P =­ .032). Similar benefits were observed with laser acupuncture. No adverse events were reported.

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials including 796 patients with RA, of which 402 received acupuncture therapy and 394 received control interventions.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Elite Young Scholar Programme, Beijing, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Li H et al. Clinical efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2022;5264977 (Apr 30). Doi: 10.1155/2022/5264977

Key clinical point: Acupuncture relieves pain and improves the health index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and can be considered an adjunctive nonpharmacological treatment in rehabilitation programs.

Major finding: Invasive acupuncture vs control interventions significantly reduced pain (mean difference [MD] −1.00; P ­= .04), Health Assessment Questionnaire score (MD −0.20; P < .001), Physician Global Assessment score (MD ­−0.98; P < .001), tender joint count (MD ­−1.24; P ­= .005), C-reactive protein level (MD, −1.81; P =­ .019), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (MD, −3.03; P =­ .032). Similar benefits were observed with laser acupuncture. No adverse events were reported.

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials including 796 patients with RA, of which 402 received acupuncture therapy and 394 received control interventions.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Elite Young Scholar Programme, Beijing, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Li H et al. Clinical efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2022;5264977 (Apr 30). Doi: 10.1155/2022/5264977

Key clinical point: Acupuncture relieves pain and improves the health index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and can be considered an adjunctive nonpharmacological treatment in rehabilitation programs.

Major finding: Invasive acupuncture vs control interventions significantly reduced pain (mean difference [MD] −1.00; P ­= .04), Health Assessment Questionnaire score (MD −0.20; P < .001), Physician Global Assessment score (MD ­−0.98; P < .001), tender joint count (MD ­−1.24; P ­= .005), C-reactive protein level (MD, −1.81; P =­ .019), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (MD, −3.03; P =­ .032). Similar benefits were observed with laser acupuncture. No adverse events were reported.

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials including 796 patients with RA, of which 402 received acupuncture therapy and 394 received control interventions.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Elite Young Scholar Programme, Beijing, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Li H et al. Clinical efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2022;5264977 (Apr 30). Doi: 10.1155/2022/5264977

Key clinical point: Acupuncture relieves pain and improves the health index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and can be considered an adjunctive nonpharmacological treatment in rehabilitation programs.

Major finding: Invasive acupuncture vs control interventions significantly reduced pain (mean difference [MD] −1.00; P ­= .04), Health Assessment Questionnaire score (MD −0.20; P < .001), Physician Global Assessment score (MD ­−0.98; P < .001), tender joint count (MD ­−1.24; P ­= .005), C-reactive protein level (MD, −1.81; P =­ .019), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (MD, −3.03; P =­ .032). Similar benefits were observed with laser acupuncture. No adverse events were reported.

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials including 796 patients with RA, of which 402 received acupuncture therapy and 394 received control interventions.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Elite Young Scholar Programme, Beijing, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Li H et al. Clinical efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2022;5264977 (Apr 30). Doi: 10.1155/2022/5264977

Key clinical point: Acupuncture relieves pain and improves the health index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and can be considered an adjunctive nonpharmacological treatment in rehabilitation programs.

Major finding: Invasive acupuncture vs control interventions significantly reduced pain (mean difference [MD] −1.00; P ­= .04), Health Assessment Questionnaire score (MD −0.20; P < .001), Physician Global Assessment score (MD ­−0.98; P < .001), tender joint count (MD ­−1.24; P ­= .005), C-reactive protein level (MD, −1.81; P =­ .019), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (MD, −3.03; P =­ .032). Similar benefits were observed with laser acupuncture. No adverse events were reported.

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials including 796 patients with RA, of which 402 received acupuncture therapy and 394 received control interventions.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Elite Young Scholar Programme, Beijing, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Li H et al. Clinical efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2022;5264977 (Apr 30). Doi: 10.1155/2022/5264977

Key clinical point: Acupuncture relieves pain and improves the health index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and can be considered an adjunctive nonpharmacological treatment in rehabilitation programs.

Major finding: Invasive acupuncture vs control interventions significantly reduced pain (mean difference [MD] −1.00; P ­= .04), Health Assessment Questionnaire score (MD −0.20; P < .001), Physician Global Assessment score (MD ­−0.98; P < .001), tender joint count (MD ­−1.24; P ­= .005), C-reactive protein level (MD, −1.81; P =­ .019), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (MD, −3.03; P =­ .032). Similar benefits were observed with laser acupuncture. No adverse events were reported.

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials including 796 patients with RA, of which 402 received acupuncture therapy and 394 received control interventions.

Disclosures: The study was supported by Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Elite Young Scholar Programme, Beijing, China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Li H et al. Clinical efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2022;5264977 (Apr 30). Doi: 10.1155/2022/5264977

Key clinical point: The rates of achieving low disease activity (LDA) and clinical remission were almost 20%-40% lower in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and elevated levels of adipocytokines.

Major finding: Patients in the highest vs lowest quartile of adiponectin (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.69) and leptin (aHR 0.77; both P < .05) had a significantly lower rate of achieving LDA. The odds of achieving clinical remission were lower in patients in the highest vs lowest quartile of adiponectin (aHR 0.69) and leptin (aHR 0.64; both P < .05).

Study details: This was an observational cohort study including 1274 veterans with RA and a disease activity score in 28 joints of >3.2.

Disclosures: This study did not declare any specific funding. JF Baker, BR England, and TR Mikuls reported receiving funding, grants, research support, or consulting fees from various sources.

Source: Baker JF et al. Adipocytokines and achievement of low disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022;55:152003 (Apr 12). Doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152003

Key clinical point: The rates of achieving low disease activity (LDA) and clinical remission were almost 20%-40% lower in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and elevated levels of adipocytokines.

Major finding: Patients in the highest vs lowest quartile of adiponectin (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.69) and leptin (aHR 0.77; both P < .05) had a significantly lower rate of achieving LDA. The odds of achieving clinical remission were lower in patients in the highest vs lowest quartile of adiponectin (aHR 0.69) and leptin (aHR 0.64; both P < .05).

Study details: This was an observational cohort study including 1274 veterans with RA and a disease activity score in 28 joints of >3.2.

Disclosures: This study did not declare any specific funding. JF Baker, BR England, and TR Mikuls reported receiving funding, grants, research support, or consulting fees from various sources.

Source: Baker JF et al. Adipocytokines and achievement of low disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022;55:152003 (Apr 12). Doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152003

Key clinical point: The rates of achieving low disease activity (LDA) and clinical remission were almost 20%-40% lower in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and elevated levels of adipocytokines.

Major finding: Patients in the highest vs lowest quartile of adiponectin (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.69) and leptin (aHR 0.77; both P < .05) had a significantly lower rate of achieving LDA. The odds of achieving clinical remission were lower in patients in the highest vs lowest quartile of adiponectin (aHR 0.69) and leptin (aHR 0.64; both P < .05).

Study details: This was an observational cohort study including 1274 veterans with RA and a disease activity score in 28 joints of >3.2.

Disclosures: This study did not declare any specific funding. JF Baker, BR England, and TR Mikuls reported receiving funding, grants, research support, or consulting fees from various sources.

Source: Baker JF et al. Adipocytokines and achievement of low disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022;55:152003 (Apr 12). Doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152003

Key clinical point: The risks for any serious bacterial, opportunistic, or herpes zoster infections were similar with add-on leflunomide or tacrolimus and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving methotrexate.

Major finding: The risk for any serious infection was not significantly different with leflunomide (propensity score fine stratification-weighted hazard ratio [pHR, 1.03; 95% CI 0.89-1.22) or tacrolimus (pHR 0.91; 95% CI 0.77-1.08) compared to TNFi.

Study details: This was a population-based cohort study including 72,516 patients with seropositive RA who were taking methotrexate, of which 20,262 patients initiated leflunomide, tacrolimus, or TNFi therapy.

Disclosures: This study was supported by an investigator-sponsored grant from Hanlim pharmaceutical company. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Shin A et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152019.

Key clinical point: The risks for any serious bacterial, opportunistic, or herpes zoster infections were similar with add-on leflunomide or tacrolimus and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving methotrexate.

Major finding: The risk for any serious infection was not significantly different with leflunomide (propensity score fine stratification-weighted hazard ratio [pHR, 1.03; 95% CI 0.89-1.22) or tacrolimus (pHR 0.91; 95% CI 0.77-1.08) compared to TNFi.

Study details: This was a population-based cohort study including 72,516 patients with seropositive RA who were taking methotrexate, of which 20,262 patients initiated leflunomide, tacrolimus, or TNFi therapy.

Disclosures: This study was supported by an investigator-sponsored grant from Hanlim pharmaceutical company. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Shin A et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152019.

Key clinical point: The risks for any serious bacterial, opportunistic, or herpes zoster infections were similar with add-on leflunomide or tacrolimus and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving methotrexate.

Major finding: The risk for any serious infection was not significantly different with leflunomide (propensity score fine stratification-weighted hazard ratio [pHR, 1.03; 95% CI 0.89-1.22) or tacrolimus (pHR 0.91; 95% CI 0.77-1.08) compared to TNFi.

Study details: This was a population-based cohort study including 72,516 patients with seropositive RA who were taking methotrexate, of which 20,262 patients initiated leflunomide, tacrolimus, or TNFi therapy.

Disclosures: This study was supported by an investigator-sponsored grant from Hanlim pharmaceutical company. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Shin A et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152019.