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Arthritis Research Canada – Research Spotlights
from American College of Rheumatology’s ACR Convergence 2020
Day 4 – Sunday, November 8 | 9 to 11 AM ET.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee: Dr. M. Choi (Calgary), Research Scientist: Dr. A. Clarke (Calgary) Poster Presentation.
Title: Characterizing How SLE Patients Access Health Information Pre and During COVID-19
Media sources, in the face of COVID-19, have created a parallel infodemic of mis/unproven information that has particular relevance for SLE patients, as conflicting health messages can exacerbate stress, precipitate SLE flares and contribute to detrimental health decisions. To reduce the adverse consequences of accessing and acting on misinformation, this study investigates how SLE patients access and trust health information in the 12 months preceding (pre-March 11, 2020), and during the pandemic (since March 11, 2020).
Research Team: Cardwell FS, Elliott SJ, Choi M, Chin R, Peschken C, Urowitz M, Hanly JG, Clarke AE.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee: Dr. M. Choi (Calgary). Poster Presentation.
Title: Personalizing Cardiovascular Risk Prediction for Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by Physician Global Assessment of Disease Activity.
The risk of cardiovascular disease events such as heart attacks and strokes in patients with lupus is underestimated by risk prediction calculators designed for the general population. We showed that this risk in lupus patients can be underestimated by as much as 15 times and the degree of underestimation depended on the severity of their disease. Therefore, more specific calculators designed for lupus patients are needed.
Research Team: Choi M, Stevens M, Guan H, Li D, Ellrodt J, Kargere B, Cai T, Yoshida K, Everett B, Costenbader K.
Arthritis Research Canada: Dr. E. Sayre, Research Scientists: Dr. J. Cibere (BC), Dr. J. Kopec (BC), Dr. J. Esdaile (BC). Poster Presentation.
Title: Prediction Model for Progression to Different Find-Grained MRI-Based Osteoarthritis Severity States: The Vancouver Longitudinal Study of Early Knee Osteoarthritis (VALSEKO).
We have developed a novel tool using information from MRI to predict knee osteoarthritis severity after 7 years of follow-up. We found that specific findings on knee examination, such as swelling, being knock-kneed or bow-legged and having the sensation of knee grinding on movement, as well as being overweight contributed to progression of knee osteoarthritis severity.
Research Team: Cibere J, Guermazi A, Nicolaou S, Kopec J, Esdaile J, Wong H, Singer J, Thorne A, Sayre EC.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. S. Bartlett (McGill). Poster Presentation.
Title: A Mobile Mindfulness Meditation Program May Improve Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Rheumatic Disease, a Pilot Study.
Mindfulness Based Interventions can help with pain, depression, and anxiety in people with RA by teaching them to respond to bodily sensations and emotions through guided meditative practices. We asked 40 adults with RA to use a smartphone mindfulness application for 30 days. Participants with higher stress, anxiety, pain, and self-ratings of disease activity were more likely to complete the 30-day program and reported meaningful improvements in their fatigue and perceived stress.
Research Team: DiRenzo D, Hunt C, Sibinga E, Gould N, Shah A, Bartlett S, Bingham III C.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee Masters Student: N. Hassen (UBC), Research Scientists: Dr. D. Lacaille (UBC), Dr. J. Kopec (UBC). Poster Presentation.
Title: National Burden of RA in Canada 1990-2017: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
This study evaluated the impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) on the longevity and quality of life on the population of Canada. It showed that fewer people died prematurely, while the number of years of healthy life lost in Canada due to RA disability increased from 1990 to 2017 as a result of increasing frequency of disease. These outcomes were greatest in females and older populations, particularly over the age of 75. Canada showed more favourable outcomes than other countries with similar socioeconomic level.
Research Team: Hassen N, Lacaille D, Sarrafzadegan N, Xu A, Sidi S, Alandejani A, Mansourian M, Kopec J.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. I. Colmegna (McGill). Poster Presentation.
Title: Frequency and Predictors of Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy in Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.
Despite the relevance of influenza prevention in immunosuppressed patients, a third of patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases are worried about the safety of the flu vaccine. In particular, a ‘bad reaction to the vaccine’ (personal or from someone known) predicts vaccine refusal in these patients.
Research Team: Valerio V, Useche N, Wang M, Bernatsky S, Pineau C, Colmegna I.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. HK. Choi (UBC, Harvard). Poster Presentation.
Title: Rituximab for Interstitial Pneumonia with Autoimmune Features at Two Academic Medical Centers.
Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) is a lung disease where patients have autoimmune features without a distinct rheumatic disease. 50 IPAF patients were treated with Rituximab (a medication for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases) and most patients demonstrated improvement or stability at 1 year.
Research Team: D’Silva K, Bauer Ventura I, Bolster M, Castelino F, Sharma A, Little B, Adegunsoye A, Strek M, Montesi S, Choi HK
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. M. Hudson (McGill). Poster Presentation.
Title: A Novel Autoantibody Recognizing a 65-kDa Protein Is Associated with Scleromyositis with Head Drop and/or Bent Spine.
Dropped head and/or bent spine was a dominant feature in a third of patients with scleromyositis, an autoimmune disease. An autoantibody (an antibody that reacts with a person’s own tissues and organs) was found to be associated with dropped head and/or bent spine in scleromyositis patients and further studies on this antibody are underway.
Research Team: Venne K, Leclair V, D’Aoust J, Landon-Cardinal O, Albert A, Beauchemin J, Brunet D, Roy L, Ellezam B, Karamchandani J, MassieR, O’Ferrall E, Meyer A, Troyanov Y, Satoh M, Fritzler M, Hudson M.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. M. Hudson (McGill). Poster Presentation.
Title: Patient-reported Outcomes in Early Autoimmune Inflammatory Myopathies.
The objective of this study was to explore patient-reported outcomes in patients with autoimmune inflammatory myopathies (AIM): physical function, fatigue, depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life. Individuals living with AIM felt and functioned poorly and impairments in these domains were large.
Research Team: Leclair V, Thombs B, Wang M, Vinet E, Albert A, Hudson M.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. HK. Choi (BC, Harvard). Poster Presentation.
Title: Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases Events with Renal Transplantation in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis in the United States: Data from the US Renal Data System.
In this nationwide study of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), renal transplantation was associated with a significantly reduced risk of non-fatal and fatal CVD events. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying barriers to transplantation in this patient population.
Research Team: Wallace Z, Jorge A, Fu X, Zhang Y, Choi HK.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. HK. Choi (BC, Harvard). Poster Presentation.
Title: Healthcare Utilization Among Patients Diagnosed with ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Between 2007 and 2014 in a Multi-Center Cohort Linked to Medicare Claims Data.
In this nationwide study of end-stage renal disease due to granulomatosis with polyangiitis, renal transplantation was associated with a significantly reduced risk of non-fatal and fatal cardiovascular events. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying barriers to transplantation in this patient population.
Research Team: Wallace Z, Fu X, Stone J, Choi HK, Walensky R.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee: Dr. M. Choi (Calgary). Poster Presentation.
Title: . Identifying Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Using Hidden Markov Models: A Bayesian Approach.
This study used advanced statistical modelling called Hidden Markov Models to determine whether patients have cognitive impairment e.g. difficulties with thinking, memory, problem solving.
Research Team: Diaz-Martinez JP, Bingham K, Green R, Beaton D, Kakvan M, Ruttan L, Tartaglia C, Fritzler M, Choi M, Su J, Bonilla D, Anderson N, Wither J, Katz P, Touma Z.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. M. Hudson (McGill). Poster Presentation.
Title: B-cell-rich Inflammatory Myopathies in Adults: Striking Association with Connective Tissue Diseases
The aim of the study was to examine the muscle tissue of patients with significant B-cell infiltrates, but without dermatomyositis (an inflammatory disease with muscle weakness and skin rash). Muscle tissue indicated the presence of connective tissue disorders, cervical weakness, and inclusion body myositis.
Research Team: Korathanakhun P, Landon-Cardinal O, Leclair V, Ellezam B, Meyer A, Bourré-Tessier J, Mansour AM, Larue S, Grand’Maison F, Massie R, Le Page M, Isabelle C, Routhier N, Roy F, Satoh M, Fritzler M, Senécal JL, Troyanov Y, Hudson M, Karamchandani J, O’Ferrall E
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. M. Hudson (McGill). Poster Presentation.
Title: Scleromyositis Is Associated with Nailfold Capillary Abnormalities Compared to Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy.
Scleromyositis is an autoimmune connective tissue disease that involves an overproduction of collagen and abnormalities of the blood vessels. Scleromyositis can be mistaken for immune-mediating necrotizing myopathy and this study found that patterns of the nail capillaries could be used to distinguish between the two diseases.
Research Team: Landon-Cardinal O, Leclair V, TroyanovY, Koenig M, Meyer A, Hoa S, Bourré-Tessier J, Ferdinand I, Karamchandani J, O’Ferrall E, Satoh M, Fritzler M, Ellezam B, Senécal JL, Hudson M, Gyger G
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. M. Hudson (McGill). Poster Presentation.
Title: Scleromyositis Is Associated with Distinct Muscle Vasculopathic Features.
This study identified specific blood vessel abnormalities that are unique to scleromyositis, an autoimmune connective tissue disease that involves overproduction of collagen and abnormalities of the blood vessels.
Research Team: Landon-Cardinal O, Leclair V, Troyanov Y, Meyer A, Hoa S, Bourré-Tessier J, Nadon V, Drouin J, Karamchandani J, O’Ferrall E, Satoh M, Fritzler M, Senécal JL, Hudson M, Ellezam B.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. M. Hudson (McGill). Poster Presentation.
Title: Associations Between Autoantibodies in Systemic Sclerosis and Cancer in a National Registry.
Autoantibodies, which are antibodies that mistakenly react with a person’s own tissues and organs, are used to predict the disease course in patients with systemic sclerosis (an autoimmune disorder). Certain autoantibodies are associated with cancer and they may help guide cancer screening in this patient group.
Research Team: Lazizi S, Hudson M, Baron M, Fritzler M, Hoa S.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee: Dr. M. Choi (Calgary). Poster Presentation.
Title: Structural Validity of a Comprehensive Neuropsychological Battery for Assessment of Cognitive Impairment in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Exploratory Factor Analysis Confirms Six Cognitive Domains.
Research Team: Moghaddam B, Green R, Beaton D, Bingham K, Kakvan M, Ruttan L, Tartaglia C, Fritzler M, Choi M, Su J, Diaz-Martinez JP, Bonilla D, Anderson N, Wither J, Katz P Touma Z.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. M. Hudson (McGill). Poster Presentation.
Title: Anti-SMN Autoantibodies Are Associated with Systemic Sclerosis Small Bowel Involvement in anti-U1RNP Positive Autoimmune Myositis.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of a particular autoantibody, which is an antibody that reacts with a person’s own tissues and organs, in patients with autoimmune myositis. This autoantibody may predict severe small bowel involvement in these patients, such as small intestine bacterial overgrowth or pseudo-obstruction.
Research Team: Vo C, Landon-Cardinal O, Albert A, Meyer A, Leclair V, JBourré-Tessier J, Hoa S, Rich E, Goulet JR, Ellezam B, Bouchard-Marmen M, Koenig M, Gyger G, Targoff IN, Hudson M, Satoh M, Fritzler M, Troyanov Y, Senécal JL
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee: Dr. M. Choi (Calgary). Poster Presentation.
Title: Using Classification and Regression Tree Analysis to Assess the Construct Validity of the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics in the Assessment of Cognitive Impairment in SLE Compared to the ACR Neuropsychological Battery.
Research Team: Yuen K, Beaton D, Bingham K, Su J, Kakvan M, Diaz-Martinez JP, Tartaglia C, Ruttan L, Wither J, Anderson N, Bonilla D, Choi M, Fritzler M, Katz P, Green R, Touma Z.
Day 4 – Sunday, November 8 | 3 to 3:50 PM ET.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee: Dr. M. Choi (Calgary), Research Scientists: Dr. A. Clarke (Calgary), Dr. P. Fortin (Laval). Abstract.
Title: Longitudinal Analysis of ANA Assay Performance in SLE from the SLICC Inception Cohort.
In this international study of 806 patients with lupus, we found that the ANA test (a screening blood test for lupus) is highly positive over the first five years of disease and the results are most consistent when using the same type of ANA testing kit.
Research Team: Choi M, Clarke A, Costenbader K, Urowitz M, Hanly J, Gordon C, St. Pierre Y, Bae SC, Romero-Díaz J, Sanchez-Guerrero FJ, Bernatsky S, Wallace D, Isenberg D, Rahman A, Merrill J, Fortin P, Gladman D, Bruce I, Petri M, Ginzler EM, Dooley MA, Ramsey-Goldman R, Manzi S, Jönsen A, Alarcón G, Van Vollenhoven RF, Aranow C, Mackay M, Ruiz-Irastorza G, Lim SS, Inanc M, Kalunian K, Jacobsen S, Peschken C, Kamen D, Askanase A, Fritzler M
Day 4 – Sunday, November 8 | 4 to 4:50 PM ET.
Oral Abstract Presentation
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee: Dr. A. Luquini (UBC), Research Staff: Y. Zheng, A. Knight, A. Kwok, P. Rogers, Research Scientists: Dr. H. Xie (SFU), Dr. C. Backman (UBC), Dr. L. Li (UBC), Dr. J. Esdaile (UBC), Dr. D. Lacaille (UBC). Oral Presentation.
Title: Effectiveness of the Making It Work™ Program at Improving Presenteeism and Work Cessation in Workers with Inflammatory Arthritis – Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
The Making-it-Work™ program was successful in preventing productivity loss and work cessation longer than 2 months in workers with inflammatory arthritis across 3 Canadian provinces, over 2 years. The program consists of 5 online modules, group meetings, ergonomic and vocational counselling; and was designed to fill one of the most important and costly unmet needs for people with arthritis.
Research Team: Luquini A, Zheng Y, Xie H, Backman C, Rogers P, Kwok A, Knight A, Gignac M, Mosher D, Li L, Esdaile J, Thorne C, Lacaille D.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee: Dr. M. Choi (Calgary). Abstract.
Title: Healthy Lifestyle and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women: A Prospective Cohort Study.
In this study, we showed that adhering to multiple healthy lifestyle factors such as not smoking, regular exercise, healthy diet, normal weight, and moderate alcohol consumption can reduce risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Research Team: Hahn J, Choi M, Malspeis S, Stevens E, Karlson E, Yoshida K, Kubzansky L, Sparks J, Costenbader K.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Scientist: Dr. HK Choi (UBC, Harvard). Poster Presentation.
Title: The Impact of Renal Transplantation on Cardiovascular Events Among Patients with End-State Kidney Disease Due to Lupus Nephritis: A Nationwide Cohort Study.
We found that in end-stage kidney disease due to lupus nephritis, renal transplantation was associated with a reduced risk of heart attacks. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying barriers to transplantation in this population, as improved access could reduce CVD morbidity and mortality.
Research Team: Jorge A, Fu X, Zhang Y, Choi HK, Wallace Z.
Day 4 – Sunday, November 8 | 5 to 5:50 PM ET.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee: Dr. M. Choi (Calgary). Abstract.
Title: A Combination of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Reduce Risk of Incident Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the Nurses’ Health Studies
This study showed that adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as not smoking, exercising regularly, having a healthy diet and a healthy weight, and moderate alcohol consumption can reduce risk of developing lupus by up to 50%.
Research Team: Choi M, Hahn J, Malspeis S, Stevens E, Karlson E, Sparks J, Yoshida K, Kubzansky L, Costenbader K.
Arthritis Research Canada, Research Trainee: Dr. N. McCormick (Harvard), Research Staff: S. Marozoff, Research Scientist: Dr. HK. Choi (UBC, Harvard). Abstract.
Title: Assessing Causal Associations of Urate Levels with Type 2 Diabetes and Related Glycemic Traits Using Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization.
We found that insulin resistance (prediabetes) may increase uric acid levels (precursor to gout) and the risk of gout itself, but gout doesn’t increase insulin levels. Lifestyle habits for preventing diabetes and metabolic syndrome may also help prevent gout.
Research Team: McCormick N, O’Connor M, Marozoff S, Choi J, Leong A, Choi HK.
