Applications are now open for the 2023 AGA Fellowship cohort. AGA is proud to formally recognize its exemplary members whose accomplishments and contributions demonstrate a deep commitment to gastroenterology through the AGA Fellows Program. Those in clinical practice, education, or research (basic or clinical) are encouraged to apply today.

Longstanding members who apply and meet the program criteria are granted the distinguished honor of AGA Fellowship and receive the following:

• The privilege of using the designation “AGAF” in professional activities. 
• An official certificate and pin denoting your status. 
• International acknowledgment at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
• A listing on the AGA website alongside esteemed peers.
• A prewritten, fill-in press release, and a digital badge to inform others of your accomplishment.

Learn more

Apply for consideration and gain recognition worldwide for your commitment to the field. The deadline is Aug. 24, 2022.

If you have any questions, contact AGA Member Relations at [email protected] or 301-941-2651.

Applications are now open for the 2023 AGA Fellowship cohort. AGA is proud to formally recognize its exemplary members whose accomplishments and contributions demonstrate a deep commitment to gastroenterology through the AGA Fellows Program. Those in clinical practice, education, or research (basic or clinical) are encouraged to apply today.

Longstanding members who apply and meet the program criteria are granted the distinguished honor of AGA Fellowship and receive the following:

• The privilege of using the designation “AGAF” in professional activities. 
• An official certificate and pin denoting your status. 
• International acknowledgment at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
• A listing on the AGA website alongside esteemed peers.
• A prewritten, fill-in press release, and a digital badge to inform others of your accomplishment.

Learn more

Apply for consideration and gain recognition worldwide for your commitment to the field. The deadline is Aug. 24, 2022.

If you have any questions, contact AGA Member Relations at [email protected] or 301-941-2651.

Applications are now open for the 2023 AGA Fellowship cohort. AGA is proud to formally recognize its exemplary members whose accomplishments and contributions demonstrate a deep commitment to gastroenterology through the AGA Fellows Program. Those in clinical practice, education, or research (basic or clinical) are encouraged to apply today.

Longstanding members who apply and meet the program criteria are granted the distinguished honor of AGA Fellowship and receive the following:

• The privilege of using the designation “AGAF” in professional activities. 
• An official certificate and pin denoting your status. 
• International acknowledgment at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW).
• A listing on the AGA website alongside esteemed peers.
• A prewritten, fill-in press release, and a digital badge to inform others of your accomplishment.

Learn more

Apply for consideration and gain recognition worldwide for your commitment to the field. The deadline is Aug. 24, 2022.

If you have any questions, contact AGA Member Relations at [email protected] or 301-941-2651.

Doctors love puzzles, they say. Especially neurologists.

The detective work on a case is part of the job’s appeal. Taking clues from the history, exam, and tests to formulate a diagnosis, then a treatment plan.

But I’m not talking about that.

As I’ve written before, I’ve tried hard to divorce myself from the news. In times where the world seems to have gone mad, I just don’t want to know what’s going on. I focus on my family, my job, and the weather forecast.

But, inevitably, I need something to do. At some point I run out of notes to type, tests to review, emails to answer, and bills to pay. I used to read the news, but now I don’t do that anymore. I even avoid my favorite satire sites, like Onion and Beaverton, because they just reflect the real news (I still read the Weekly World News, which has no relationship to reality, or pretty much anything, whatsoever).

So now, when I’m done with the day’s work, I shut down the computer (which isn’t easy after 25 years of habitual surfing) and sit down with a jigsaw puzzle. I haven’t done that since I was a resident.

It usually takes me 2-3 weeks to do one (500-1,000 pieces) in the 30 minutes or so I spend on it each evening. There’s solace in the quiet, methodical process of carefully looking for matching pieces, trying a few, the brief glee at getting a fit, and then moving to the next piece.

I know I can do this on my iPad, but it’s different with real pieces. Lifting up a piece and examining it for matching shapes and colors, sorting through the tray, wondering if I made a mistake somewhere. The cardboard doesn’t light up to let me know I got it right.

Inevitably, the mind wanders as I work on them. Sometimes back to a puzzle at the office, sometimes to my doing the same puzzle (I’ve had them for a while) at my parents’ house in my teens, sometimes to my kids away at college, or a book I once read.

But that’s the point. It’s almost a form of meditation. Focusing on each piece as my mind moves in other directions. It’s actually more relaxing than I thought, and a welcome escape from the day.

And, like other seemingly unrelated tasks (such as Leo Szilard waiting for a traffic light to change, albeit on a lesser scale), sometimes it brings me an answer I’ve been searching for. A light bulb will go on for a patient case I’ve been turning over for a few days. When that happens I grab my phone and email the thought to myself at work.

It puts my mind in neutral at the end of the day. When I finally go to bed I’m less focused on things that can keep me awake at night.

Though occasionally I do dream of puzzles.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Doctors love puzzles, they say. Especially neurologists.

The detective work on a case is part of the job’s appeal. Taking clues from the history, exam, and tests to formulate a diagnosis, then a treatment plan.

But I’m not talking about that.

As I’ve written before, I’ve tried hard to divorce myself from the news. In times where the world seems to have gone mad, I just don’t want to know what’s going on. I focus on my family, my job, and the weather forecast.

But, inevitably, I need something to do. At some point I run out of notes to type, tests to review, emails to answer, and bills to pay. I used to read the news, but now I don’t do that anymore. I even avoid my favorite satire sites, like Onion and Beaverton, because they just reflect the real news (I still read the Weekly World News, which has no relationship to reality, or pretty much anything, whatsoever).

So now, when I’m done with the day’s work, I shut down the computer (which isn’t easy after 25 years of habitual surfing) and sit down with a jigsaw puzzle. I haven’t done that since I was a resident.

It usually takes me 2-3 weeks to do one (500-1,000 pieces) in the 30 minutes or so I spend on it each evening. There’s solace in the quiet, methodical process of carefully looking for matching pieces, trying a few, the brief glee at getting a fit, and then moving to the next piece.

I know I can do this on my iPad, but it’s different with real pieces. Lifting up a piece and examining it for matching shapes and colors, sorting through the tray, wondering if I made a mistake somewhere. The cardboard doesn’t light up to let me know I got it right.

Inevitably, the mind wanders as I work on them. Sometimes back to a puzzle at the office, sometimes to my doing the same puzzle (I’ve had them for a while) at my parents’ house in my teens, sometimes to my kids away at college, or a book I once read.

But that’s the point. It’s almost a form of meditation. Focusing on each piece as my mind moves in other directions. It’s actually more relaxing than I thought, and a welcome escape from the day.

And, like other seemingly unrelated tasks (such as Leo Szilard waiting for a traffic light to change, albeit on a lesser scale), sometimes it brings me an answer I’ve been searching for. A light bulb will go on for a patient case I’ve been turning over for a few days. When that happens I grab my phone and email the thought to myself at work.

It puts my mind in neutral at the end of the day. When I finally go to bed I’m less focused on things that can keep me awake at night.

Though occasionally I do dream of puzzles.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Doctors love puzzles, they say. Especially neurologists.

The detective work on a case is part of the job’s appeal. Taking clues from the history, exam, and tests to formulate a diagnosis, then a treatment plan.

But I’m not talking about that.

As I’ve written before, I’ve tried hard to divorce myself from the news. In times where the world seems to have gone mad, I just don’t want to know what’s going on. I focus on my family, my job, and the weather forecast.

But, inevitably, I need something to do. At some point I run out of notes to type, tests to review, emails to answer, and bills to pay. I used to read the news, but now I don’t do that anymore. I even avoid my favorite satire sites, like Onion and Beaverton, because they just reflect the real news (I still read the Weekly World News, which has no relationship to reality, or pretty much anything, whatsoever).

So now, when I’m done with the day’s work, I shut down the computer (which isn’t easy after 25 years of habitual surfing) and sit down with a jigsaw puzzle. I haven’t done that since I was a resident.

It usually takes me 2-3 weeks to do one (500-1,000 pieces) in the 30 minutes or so I spend on it each evening. There’s solace in the quiet, methodical process of carefully looking for matching pieces, trying a few, the brief glee at getting a fit, and then moving to the next piece.

I know I can do this on my iPad, but it’s different with real pieces. Lifting up a piece and examining it for matching shapes and colors, sorting through the tray, wondering if I made a mistake somewhere. The cardboard doesn’t light up to let me know I got it right.

Inevitably, the mind wanders as I work on them. Sometimes back to a puzzle at the office, sometimes to my doing the same puzzle (I’ve had them for a while) at my parents’ house in my teens, sometimes to my kids away at college, or a book I once read.

But that’s the point. It’s almost a form of meditation. Focusing on each piece as my mind moves in other directions. It’s actually more relaxing than I thought, and a welcome escape from the day.

And, like other seemingly unrelated tasks (such as Leo Szilard waiting for a traffic light to change, albeit on a lesser scale), sometimes it brings me an answer I’ve been searching for. A light bulb will go on for a patient case I’ve been turning over for a few days. When that happens I grab my phone and email the thought to myself at work.

It puts my mind in neutral at the end of the day. When I finally go to bed I’m less focused on things that can keep me awake at night.

Though occasionally I do dream of puzzles.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.

This year’s plenary will focus on action items to eradicate health disparities in GI.

The 2022 AGA Presidential Plenary at Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) is designed to highlight timely and high-impact research as it pertains to AGA and the global gastroenterology community. This year’s plenary will feature a series of invited speaker talks on the ways to integrate diversity and inclusion into the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.

AGA President John M. Inadomi, MD, AGAF, will present his address titled “Don’t Talk – Act: The Relevance of DEI to Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists and the Imperative for Action.” Read our Q&A with Dr. Inadomi below for details on what you can expect from the plenary.
 

Why did you want to focus on issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion in the presidential plenary?

Most obvious is the pandemic and the social issues the pandemic has amplified have made these issues a primary concern for AGA. The pandemic forced us to reexamine ourselves and to not assume everything we’ve done in the past should be done in the future. The diversity of AGA and AGA leadership is not where we want it to be. I want to use the presidential plenary as a platform to discuss race, especially, which is only one part of DEI. I can provide perspective as an Asian American experiencing a resurgence in racism and I want to involve nationally known experts like Monica Webb Hooper who’ve done research on this and have fully formed ideas on how to frame the questions and talk about action items that we, as a society, should adopt. The time of reflection and awareness has passed, the time of simply providing awareness is past. Society needs to adopt action items to address and combat racism.

Later in the plenary, I’m pleased to be joined by Dr. Byron Cryer and Dr. Sandra Quezada who will talk about how they created/developed the AGA Equity Project and their work to implement it.
 

What do you want attendees to take home from these various talks?

We hear a lot of talk about DEI, I hear a lot about awareness, a lot of talk about education. I asked the presidential plenary speakers to move beyond that to provide action items that AGA and its members can implement to reduce disparities in health outcomes. I hope that we will be able to measure these outcomes and see improvement over time coming out of the interventions proposed during this session.

Why did you choose disparities in CRC, liver disease, and IBD specifically?

I feel like these are core parts of gastroenterology and hepatology. So much of the disparities we see in colon cancer are a microcosm of the disparities that exist across the spectrum of GI and liver disease. They illustrate the problems with access and utilization. Disparities in CRC outcomes are exacerbated by the pandemic. I chose liver disease because it’s another area where racial disparities exist and are exacerbated by the pandemic. All three are core services provided by gastroenterologists and hepatologists and represent areas where racism has caused disparities in outcomes. Greatly magnified by the pandemic.
 

Why is the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH) important?

It’s important for me to listen to people who are the target of racism and hear how they want AGA to address their concerns. I want a better understanding of why ABGH was formed and why now. I want to hear what they hope to achieve and how they believe the AGA can help.
 

The full AGA Presidential Plenary line-up

We hope you’ll join us for the AGA Presidential Plenary, taking place Monday, May 23, at 10 a.m. PT during DDW. In addition to Dr. Inadomi’s keynote address, presentations will include:

• AGA Julius Friedenwald Recognition of Timothy Wang
• AGA Equity Project: Accomplishments and What Lies Ahead
• The Genesis and Goals of the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH)
• What We Need to Overcome Racial and Ethnic Barriers to Engage in Clinical Trials
• Reducing Disparities in Colorectal Cancer
• Reducing Disparities in Liver Disease
• Reducing Disparities in IBD

This year’s plenary will focus on action items to eradicate health disparities in GI.

The 2022 AGA Presidential Plenary at Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) is designed to highlight timely and high-impact research as it pertains to AGA and the global gastroenterology community. This year’s plenary will feature a series of invited speaker talks on the ways to integrate diversity and inclusion into the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.

AGA President John M. Inadomi, MD, AGAF, will present his address titled “Don’t Talk – Act: The Relevance of DEI to Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists and the Imperative for Action.” Read our Q&A with Dr. Inadomi below for details on what you can expect from the plenary.
 

Why did you want to focus on issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion in the presidential plenary?

Most obvious is the pandemic and the social issues the pandemic has amplified have made these issues a primary concern for AGA. The pandemic forced us to reexamine ourselves and to not assume everything we’ve done in the past should be done in the future. The diversity of AGA and AGA leadership is not where we want it to be. I want to use the presidential plenary as a platform to discuss race, especially, which is only one part of DEI. I can provide perspective as an Asian American experiencing a resurgence in racism and I want to involve nationally known experts like Monica Webb Hooper who’ve done research on this and have fully formed ideas on how to frame the questions and talk about action items that we, as a society, should adopt. The time of reflection and awareness has passed, the time of simply providing awareness is past. Society needs to adopt action items to address and combat racism.

Later in the plenary, I’m pleased to be joined by Dr. Byron Cryer and Dr. Sandra Quezada who will talk about how they created/developed the AGA Equity Project and their work to implement it.
 

What do you want attendees to take home from these various talks?

We hear a lot of talk about DEI, I hear a lot about awareness, a lot of talk about education. I asked the presidential plenary speakers to move beyond that to provide action items that AGA and its members can implement to reduce disparities in health outcomes. I hope that we will be able to measure these outcomes and see improvement over time coming out of the interventions proposed during this session.

Why did you choose disparities in CRC, liver disease, and IBD specifically?

I feel like these are core parts of gastroenterology and hepatology. So much of the disparities we see in colon cancer are a microcosm of the disparities that exist across the spectrum of GI and liver disease. They illustrate the problems with access and utilization. Disparities in CRC outcomes are exacerbated by the pandemic. I chose liver disease because it’s another area where racial disparities exist and are exacerbated by the pandemic. All three are core services provided by gastroenterologists and hepatologists and represent areas where racism has caused disparities in outcomes. Greatly magnified by the pandemic.
 

Why is the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH) important?

It’s important for me to listen to people who are the target of racism and hear how they want AGA to address their concerns. I want a better understanding of why ABGH was formed and why now. I want to hear what they hope to achieve and how they believe the AGA can help.
 

The full AGA Presidential Plenary line-up

We hope you’ll join us for the AGA Presidential Plenary, taking place Monday, May 23, at 10 a.m. PT during DDW. In addition to Dr. Inadomi’s keynote address, presentations will include:

• AGA Julius Friedenwald Recognition of Timothy Wang
• AGA Equity Project: Accomplishments and What Lies Ahead
• The Genesis and Goals of the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH)
• What We Need to Overcome Racial and Ethnic Barriers to Engage in Clinical Trials
• Reducing Disparities in Colorectal Cancer
• Reducing Disparities in Liver Disease
• Reducing Disparities in IBD

This year’s plenary will focus on action items to eradicate health disparities in GI.

The 2022 AGA Presidential Plenary at Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW) is designed to highlight timely and high-impact research as it pertains to AGA and the global gastroenterology community. This year’s plenary will feature a series of invited speaker talks on the ways to integrate diversity and inclusion into the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.

AGA President John M. Inadomi, MD, AGAF, will present his address titled “Don’t Talk – Act: The Relevance of DEI to Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists and the Imperative for Action.” Read our Q&A with Dr. Inadomi below for details on what you can expect from the plenary.
 

Why did you want to focus on issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion in the presidential plenary?

Most obvious is the pandemic and the social issues the pandemic has amplified have made these issues a primary concern for AGA. The pandemic forced us to reexamine ourselves and to not assume everything we’ve done in the past should be done in the future. The diversity of AGA and AGA leadership is not where we want it to be. I want to use the presidential plenary as a platform to discuss race, especially, which is only one part of DEI. I can provide perspective as an Asian American experiencing a resurgence in racism and I want to involve nationally known experts like Monica Webb Hooper who’ve done research on this and have fully formed ideas on how to frame the questions and talk about action items that we, as a society, should adopt. The time of reflection and awareness has passed, the time of simply providing awareness is past. Society needs to adopt action items to address and combat racism.

Later in the plenary, I’m pleased to be joined by Dr. Byron Cryer and Dr. Sandra Quezada who will talk about how they created/developed the AGA Equity Project and their work to implement it.
 

What do you want attendees to take home from these various talks?

We hear a lot of talk about DEI, I hear a lot about awareness, a lot of talk about education. I asked the presidential plenary speakers to move beyond that to provide action items that AGA and its members can implement to reduce disparities in health outcomes. I hope that we will be able to measure these outcomes and see improvement over time coming out of the interventions proposed during this session.

Why did you choose disparities in CRC, liver disease, and IBD specifically?

I feel like these are core parts of gastroenterology and hepatology. So much of the disparities we see in colon cancer are a microcosm of the disparities that exist across the spectrum of GI and liver disease. They illustrate the problems with access and utilization. Disparities in CRC outcomes are exacerbated by the pandemic. I chose liver disease because it’s another area where racial disparities exist and are exacerbated by the pandemic. All three are core services provided by gastroenterologists and hepatologists and represent areas where racism has caused disparities in outcomes. Greatly magnified by the pandemic.
 

Why is the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH) important?

It’s important for me to listen to people who are the target of racism and hear how they want AGA to address their concerns. I want a better understanding of why ABGH was formed and why now. I want to hear what they hope to achieve and how they believe the AGA can help.
 

The full AGA Presidential Plenary line-up

We hope you’ll join us for the AGA Presidential Plenary, taking place Monday, May 23, at 10 a.m. PT during DDW. In addition to Dr. Inadomi’s keynote address, presentations will include:

• AGA Julius Friedenwald Recognition of Timothy Wang
• AGA Equity Project: Accomplishments and What Lies Ahead
• The Genesis and Goals of the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH)
• What We Need to Overcome Racial and Ethnic Barriers to Engage in Clinical Trials
• Reducing Disparities in Colorectal Cancer
• Reducing Disparities in Liver Disease
• Reducing Disparities in IBD

You have a will, so you can rest easy, right? Not necessarily. If your will is outdated, it can cause more harm than good. Even though it can provide for some contingencies, an old will can’t cover every change that may have occurred since it was first drawn.

What if all you had to do to ensure that the AGA Research Foundation can have an impact for years to come is to write a simple sentence? Sound impossible?

The AGA Research Foundation provides a key source of funding at a critical juncture in a young investigator’s career. Securing the future of the talented investigators we serve really is as simple as one sentence. By including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your will, you can support our mission tomorrow without giving away any of your assets today.

Including the AGA Research Foundation in your will is a popular gift to give because it is:

• Affordable. The actual giving of your gift occurs after your lifetime, so your current income is not affected.
• Flexible. Until your will goes into effect, you are free to alter your plans or change your mind.
• Versatile. You can give a specific item, a set amount of money, or a percentage of your estate. You can also make your gift contingent upon certain events.

We hope you’ll consider including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your will or living trust. It’s simple – just a few sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed. The official bequest language for the AGA Research Foundation is: “I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise, and bequeath to the AGA Research Foundation [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”

Join others in donating to the AGA Research Foundation and help fill the funding gap and protect the next generation of investigators. Contact us for more information at [email protected] or visit http://gastro.planmylegacy.org.

You have a will, so you can rest easy, right? Not necessarily. If your will is outdated, it can cause more harm than good. Even though it can provide for some contingencies, an old will can’t cover every change that may have occurred since it was first drawn.

What if all you had to do to ensure that the AGA Research Foundation can have an impact for years to come is to write a simple sentence? Sound impossible?

The AGA Research Foundation provides a key source of funding at a critical juncture in a young investigator’s career. Securing the future of the talented investigators we serve really is as simple as one sentence. By including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your will, you can support our mission tomorrow without giving away any of your assets today.

Including the AGA Research Foundation in your will is a popular gift to give because it is:

• Affordable. The actual giving of your gift occurs after your lifetime, so your current income is not affected.
• Flexible. Until your will goes into effect, you are free to alter your plans or change your mind.
• Versatile. You can give a specific item, a set amount of money, or a percentage of your estate. You can also make your gift contingent upon certain events.

We hope you’ll consider including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your will or living trust. It’s simple – just a few sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed. The official bequest language for the AGA Research Foundation is: “I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise, and bequeath to the AGA Research Foundation [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”

Join others in donating to the AGA Research Foundation and help fill the funding gap and protect the next generation of investigators. Contact us for more information at [email protected] or visit http://gastro.planmylegacy.org.

You have a will, so you can rest easy, right? Not necessarily. If your will is outdated, it can cause more harm than good. Even though it can provide for some contingencies, an old will can’t cover every change that may have occurred since it was first drawn.

What if all you had to do to ensure that the AGA Research Foundation can have an impact for years to come is to write a simple sentence? Sound impossible?

The AGA Research Foundation provides a key source of funding at a critical juncture in a young investigator’s career. Securing the future of the talented investigators we serve really is as simple as one sentence. By including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your will, you can support our mission tomorrow without giving away any of your assets today.

Including the AGA Research Foundation in your will is a popular gift to give because it is:

• Affordable. The actual giving of your gift occurs after your lifetime, so your current income is not affected.
• Flexible. Until your will goes into effect, you are free to alter your plans or change your mind.
• Versatile. You can give a specific item, a set amount of money, or a percentage of your estate. You can also make your gift contingent upon certain events.

We hope you’ll consider including a gift to the AGA Research Foundation in your will or living trust. It’s simple – just a few sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed. The official bequest language for the AGA Research Foundation is: “I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise, and bequeath to the AGA Research Foundation [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”

Join others in donating to the AGA Research Foundation and help fill the funding gap and protect the next generation of investigators. Contact us for more information at [email protected] or visit http://gastro.planmylegacy.org.

Key clinical point: This follow-up comparison of fluorescence optical imaging (FOI) with musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) showed that FOI can be considered a useful screening tool for the early diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: Patients diagnosed with PsA after the baseline evaluation had a higher prevalence of joints with pathological enhancement in FOI during follow-up (P = .046), notably in phase 2 FOI (P = .037). Similar to MSUS (area under the curve [AUC] 0.77), detecting newly affected joints by FOI (phase 2 in PrimaVista Mode; AUC 0.78) was positively linked with the shift of diagnosis from suspected to confirmed PsA.

Study details: In this follow-up study of 30 patients with psoriasis who had tender or swollen joints, the FOI of both the hands and the grayscale/power Doppler MSUS of the clinically dominant hand were compared.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the BMBF, German Ministry for Education and Research. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Buttner J et al. Follow-up comparison of fluorescence optical imaging with musculoskeletal ultrasound for early detection of psoriatic arthritis. Front Med. 2022;9:845545 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.845545

Key clinical point: This follow-up comparison of fluorescence optical imaging (FOI) with musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) showed that FOI can be considered a useful screening tool for the early diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: Patients diagnosed with PsA after the baseline evaluation had a higher prevalence of joints with pathological enhancement in FOI during follow-up (P = .046), notably in phase 2 FOI (P = .037). Similar to MSUS (area under the curve [AUC] 0.77), detecting newly affected joints by FOI (phase 2 in PrimaVista Mode; AUC 0.78) was positively linked with the shift of diagnosis from suspected to confirmed PsA.

Study details: In this follow-up study of 30 patients with psoriasis who had tender or swollen joints, the FOI of both the hands and the grayscale/power Doppler MSUS of the clinically dominant hand were compared.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the BMBF, German Ministry for Education and Research. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Buttner J et al. Follow-up comparison of fluorescence optical imaging with musculoskeletal ultrasound for early detection of psoriatic arthritis. Front Med. 2022;9:845545 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.845545

Key clinical point: This follow-up comparison of fluorescence optical imaging (FOI) with musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) showed that FOI can be considered a useful screening tool for the early diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: Patients diagnosed with PsA after the baseline evaluation had a higher prevalence of joints with pathological enhancement in FOI during follow-up (P = .046), notably in phase 2 FOI (P = .037). Similar to MSUS (area under the curve [AUC] 0.77), detecting newly affected joints by FOI (phase 2 in PrimaVista Mode; AUC 0.78) was positively linked with the shift of diagnosis from suspected to confirmed PsA.

Study details: In this follow-up study of 30 patients with psoriasis who had tender or swollen joints, the FOI of both the hands and the grayscale/power Doppler MSUS of the clinically dominant hand were compared.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the BMBF, German Ministry for Education and Research. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Buttner J et al. Follow-up comparison of fluorescence optical imaging with musculoskeletal ultrasound for early detection of psoriatic arthritis. Front Med. 2022;9:845545 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.845545

Key clinical point: Serum levels of certain collagen degradation biomarkers were elevated in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) vs. healthy controls (HC) and could be effectively lowered with guselkumab.

Major finding: Baseline serum concentrations of collagen degradation biomarkers C1M, C3M, C4M, and C6M were ≥1.25-times higher in patients with PsA vs. HC (adjusted P < .05). At week 24, 100 mg guselkumab every 4 weeks vs. placebo significantly reduced C1M, C3M, and C4M levels, whereas guselkumab 100 mg every 8 weeks vs. placebo significantly reduced C3M, C4M, and C6M levels (all adjusted P < .05), with improvements maintained up to week 52 (all adjusted P ≤ .0001).

Study details: Findings are from an exploratory analysis of the phase 3 DISCOVER 2 study that included 260 patients with active PsA and an inadequate response to standard and 76 HC.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Janssen Research & Development, LLC. Eight authors declared being employees of Janssen and owned stock in Johnson & Johnson, the parent company for Janssen. The other authors reported ties with several sources, including Janssen.

Source: Schett G et al. collagen turnover biomarkers associate with active psoriatic arthritis and decrease with guselkumab treatment in a phase 3 clinical trial (DISCOVER-2). Rheumatol Ther. 2022 (Mar 30). Doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00444-x

Key clinical point: Serum levels of certain collagen degradation biomarkers were elevated in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) vs. healthy controls (HC) and could be effectively lowered with guselkumab.

Major finding: Baseline serum concentrations of collagen degradation biomarkers C1M, C3M, C4M, and C6M were ≥1.25-times higher in patients with PsA vs. HC (adjusted P < .05). At week 24, 100 mg guselkumab every 4 weeks vs. placebo significantly reduced C1M, C3M, and C4M levels, whereas guselkumab 100 mg every 8 weeks vs. placebo significantly reduced C3M, C4M, and C6M levels (all adjusted P < .05), with improvements maintained up to week 52 (all adjusted P ≤ .0001).

Study details: Findings are from an exploratory analysis of the phase 3 DISCOVER 2 study that included 260 patients with active PsA and an inadequate response to standard and 76 HC.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Janssen Research & Development, LLC. Eight authors declared being employees of Janssen and owned stock in Johnson & Johnson, the parent company for Janssen. The other authors reported ties with several sources, including Janssen.

Source: Schett G et al. collagen turnover biomarkers associate with active psoriatic arthritis and decrease with guselkumab treatment in a phase 3 clinical trial (DISCOVER-2). Rheumatol Ther. 2022 (Mar 30). Doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00444-x

Key clinical point: Serum levels of certain collagen degradation biomarkers were elevated in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) vs. healthy controls (HC) and could be effectively lowered with guselkumab.

Major finding: Baseline serum concentrations of collagen degradation biomarkers C1M, C3M, C4M, and C6M were ≥1.25-times higher in patients with PsA vs. HC (adjusted P < .05). At week 24, 100 mg guselkumab every 4 weeks vs. placebo significantly reduced C1M, C3M, and C4M levels, whereas guselkumab 100 mg every 8 weeks vs. placebo significantly reduced C3M, C4M, and C6M levels (all adjusted P < .05), with improvements maintained up to week 52 (all adjusted P ≤ .0001).

Study details: Findings are from an exploratory analysis of the phase 3 DISCOVER 2 study that included 260 patients with active PsA and an inadequate response to standard and 76 HC.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Janssen Research & Development, LLC. Eight authors declared being employees of Janssen and owned stock in Johnson & Johnson, the parent company for Janssen. The other authors reported ties with several sources, including Janssen.

Source: Schett G et al. collagen turnover biomarkers associate with active psoriatic arthritis and decrease with guselkumab treatment in a phase 3 clinical trial (DISCOVER-2). Rheumatol Ther. 2022 (Mar 30). Doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00444-x

Key clinical point: Ixekizumab demonstrated an overall consistent safety and tolerability profile with no unexpected/new adverse events (AE) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and up to 3 years of exposure to ixekizumab.

Major finding: Treatment-emergent (mostly mild/moderate) and serious AE occurred in 80.7% and 9.6% of patients, respectively. The most common infections were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, and sinusitis, with frequency for serious events being ≤2%. The exposure-adjusted incidence rate for treatment-emergent AE reduced from 87 in the first year to 67.3 in the third year of ixekizumab exposure and was <2 for malignancies, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, and major adverse cerebrocardiovascular events.

Study details: This integrated safety analysis of four phase 3 trials included 1401 patients with active PsA and a cumulative ixekizumab exposure of 2247.7 patient-years.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Eli Lilly and Company. Five authors declared being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and Company and other authors reported ties with various sources, including Eli Lilly.

Source: Deodhar AA et al. Safety of ixekizumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis: data from four clinical trials with over 2000 patient-years of exposure. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 (Apr 7). Doi:  10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-222027

Key clinical point: Ixekizumab demonstrated an overall consistent safety and tolerability profile with no unexpected/new adverse events (AE) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and up to 3 years of exposure to ixekizumab.

Major finding: Treatment-emergent (mostly mild/moderate) and serious AE occurred in 80.7% and 9.6% of patients, respectively. The most common infections were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, and sinusitis, with frequency for serious events being ≤2%. The exposure-adjusted incidence rate for treatment-emergent AE reduced from 87 in the first year to 67.3 in the third year of ixekizumab exposure and was <2 for malignancies, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, and major adverse cerebrocardiovascular events.

Study details: This integrated safety analysis of four phase 3 trials included 1401 patients with active PsA and a cumulative ixekizumab exposure of 2247.7 patient-years.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Eli Lilly and Company. Five authors declared being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and Company and other authors reported ties with various sources, including Eli Lilly.

Source: Deodhar AA et al. Safety of ixekizumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis: data from four clinical trials with over 2000 patient-years of exposure. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 (Apr 7). Doi:  10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-222027

Key clinical point: Ixekizumab demonstrated an overall consistent safety and tolerability profile with no unexpected/new adverse events (AE) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and up to 3 years of exposure to ixekizumab.

Major finding: Treatment-emergent (mostly mild/moderate) and serious AE occurred in 80.7% and 9.6% of patients, respectively. The most common infections were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, and sinusitis, with frequency for serious events being ≤2%. The exposure-adjusted incidence rate for treatment-emergent AE reduced from 87 in the first year to 67.3 in the third year of ixekizumab exposure and was <2 for malignancies, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, and major adverse cerebrocardiovascular events.

Study details: This integrated safety analysis of four phase 3 trials included 1401 patients with active PsA and a cumulative ixekizumab exposure of 2247.7 patient-years.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Eli Lilly and Company. Five authors declared being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and Company and other authors reported ties with various sources, including Eli Lilly.

Source: Deodhar AA et al. Safety of ixekizumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis: data from four clinical trials with over 2000 patient-years of exposure. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 (Apr 7). Doi:  10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-222027

Key clinical point: Ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and X-ray could differentiate psoriatic arthritis (PsA) from psoriasis and hand osteoarthritis (OA) based on the degree of structural involvement in the distal interphalangeal (DIP)-joint and synovio-entheseal complex (SEC).

Major finding: US-detected new bone formation (NBF; risk ratio [RR] 0.52; P < .001) and DIP-joint synovial hypertrophy (RR 0.66; P = .005) along with PsA MRI scores (all P < .001) were associated with a lower risk for PsA vs. OA. Patients with PsA vs. psoriasis had a higher prevalence of X-ray entheseal change (mean difference 0.42; P = .024) and a higher trend toward US-detected NBF and erosions.

Study details: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 50 patients with DIP-joint PsA and nail involvement, 12 patients with psoriasis and nail involvement, and 13 patients with erosive and nonerosive OA.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Novartis, The Oak Foundation, and others. Some authors declared receiving speaker/consulting fees, research grants, or honoraria or serving as members of advisory board or consultants for several sources.

Source: Guldberg-Møller J et al. Multimodal imaging of the distal interphalangeal-joint synovio-entheseal complex in psoriatic arthritis (MIDAS): A cross-sectional study on the diagnostic accuracy of different imaging modalities comparing psoriatic arthritis to psoriasis and osteoarthritis. RMD Open. 2022;8:e002109 (Mar 28). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002109

Key clinical point: Ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and X-ray could differentiate psoriatic arthritis (PsA) from psoriasis and hand osteoarthritis (OA) based on the degree of structural involvement in the distal interphalangeal (DIP)-joint and synovio-entheseal complex (SEC).

Major finding: US-detected new bone formation (NBF; risk ratio [RR] 0.52; P < .001) and DIP-joint synovial hypertrophy (RR 0.66; P = .005) along with PsA MRI scores (all P < .001) were associated with a lower risk for PsA vs. OA. Patients with PsA vs. psoriasis had a higher prevalence of X-ray entheseal change (mean difference 0.42; P = .024) and a higher trend toward US-detected NBF and erosions.

Study details: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 50 patients with DIP-joint PsA and nail involvement, 12 patients with psoriasis and nail involvement, and 13 patients with erosive and nonerosive OA.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Novartis, The Oak Foundation, and others. Some authors declared receiving speaker/consulting fees, research grants, or honoraria or serving as members of advisory board or consultants for several sources.

Source: Guldberg-Møller J et al. Multimodal imaging of the distal interphalangeal-joint synovio-entheseal complex in psoriatic arthritis (MIDAS): A cross-sectional study on the diagnostic accuracy of different imaging modalities comparing psoriatic arthritis to psoriasis and osteoarthritis. RMD Open. 2022;8:e002109 (Mar 28). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002109

Key clinical point: Ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and X-ray could differentiate psoriatic arthritis (PsA) from psoriasis and hand osteoarthritis (OA) based on the degree of structural involvement in the distal interphalangeal (DIP)-joint and synovio-entheseal complex (SEC).

Major finding: US-detected new bone formation (NBF; risk ratio [RR] 0.52; P < .001) and DIP-joint synovial hypertrophy (RR 0.66; P = .005) along with PsA MRI scores (all P < .001) were associated with a lower risk for PsA vs. OA. Patients with PsA vs. psoriasis had a higher prevalence of X-ray entheseal change (mean difference 0.42; P = .024) and a higher trend toward US-detected NBF and erosions.

Study details: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 50 patients with DIP-joint PsA and nail involvement, 12 patients with psoriasis and nail involvement, and 13 patients with erosive and nonerosive OA.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Novartis, The Oak Foundation, and others. Some authors declared receiving speaker/consulting fees, research grants, or honoraria or serving as members of advisory board or consultants for several sources.

Source: Guldberg-Møller J et al. Multimodal imaging of the distal interphalangeal-joint synovio-entheseal complex in psoriatic arthritis (MIDAS): A cross-sectional study on the diagnostic accuracy of different imaging modalities comparing psoriatic arthritis to psoriasis and osteoarthritis. RMD Open. 2022;8:e002109 (Mar 28). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002109

Key clinical point: Sleep disturbance was more prevalent in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) than in those with psoriasis or healthy controls (HC) without inflammatory illnesses and was associated with various inflammatory and noninflammatory variables.

Major finding: Sleep disturbances were reported by 66.1% of patients with PsA vs. 45.0% of patients with psoriasis, and 15.0% of HC. Poor quality sleep was associated with tender points (P = .017), pain (P = .009), and global health scores (P = .005) and could not be resolved by immunosuppressive medical therapy.

Study details: This cross-sectional study included 109 patients with PsA who initiated or switched treatment with conventional synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, 20 patients with psoriasis, and 20 HC.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Elisabeth and Karl Ejnar Nis-Hanssens Mindelegat, Minister Erna Hamiltons Legat for Videnskab og Kunst, and Oak Foundation. Some authors declared serving as consultants, investigators, or speakers, or receiving fees, honoraria, and research funding from several sources. JG Gerwien declared being an employee and stakeholder of Eli Lilly.

Source: Skougaard M et al. Increased prevalence of sleep disturbance in psoriatic arthritis is associated with inflammatory and non-inflammatory measures. Scand J Rheumatol. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.1080/03009742.2022.2044116

Key clinical point: Sleep disturbance was more prevalent in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) than in those with psoriasis or healthy controls (HC) without inflammatory illnesses and was associated with various inflammatory and noninflammatory variables.

Major finding: Sleep disturbances were reported by 66.1% of patients with PsA vs. 45.0% of patients with psoriasis, and 15.0% of HC. Poor quality sleep was associated with tender points (P = .017), pain (P = .009), and global health scores (P = .005) and could not be resolved by immunosuppressive medical therapy.

Study details: This cross-sectional study included 109 patients with PsA who initiated or switched treatment with conventional synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, 20 patients with psoriasis, and 20 HC.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Elisabeth and Karl Ejnar Nis-Hanssens Mindelegat, Minister Erna Hamiltons Legat for Videnskab og Kunst, and Oak Foundation. Some authors declared serving as consultants, investigators, or speakers, or receiving fees, honoraria, and research funding from several sources. JG Gerwien declared being an employee and stakeholder of Eli Lilly.

Source: Skougaard M et al. Increased prevalence of sleep disturbance in psoriatic arthritis is associated with inflammatory and non-inflammatory measures. Scand J Rheumatol. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.1080/03009742.2022.2044116

Key clinical point: Sleep disturbance was more prevalent in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) than in those with psoriasis or healthy controls (HC) without inflammatory illnesses and was associated with various inflammatory and noninflammatory variables.

Major finding: Sleep disturbances were reported by 66.1% of patients with PsA vs. 45.0% of patients with psoriasis, and 15.0% of HC. Poor quality sleep was associated with tender points (P = .017), pain (P = .009), and global health scores (P = .005) and could not be resolved by immunosuppressive medical therapy.

Study details: This cross-sectional study included 109 patients with PsA who initiated or switched treatment with conventional synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, 20 patients with psoriasis, and 20 HC.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Elisabeth and Karl Ejnar Nis-Hanssens Mindelegat, Minister Erna Hamiltons Legat for Videnskab og Kunst, and Oak Foundation. Some authors declared serving as consultants, investigators, or speakers, or receiving fees, honoraria, and research funding from several sources. JG Gerwien declared being an employee and stakeholder of Eli Lilly.

Source: Skougaard M et al. Increased prevalence of sleep disturbance in psoriatic arthritis is associated with inflammatory and non-inflammatory measures. Scand J Rheumatol. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.1080/03009742.2022.2044116

Key clinical point: Female vs. male patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and a prior inadequate response to treatment exhibited significantly higher disease activity at baseline and a worse response to ixekizumab.

Major finding: At baseline, female vs. male patients had significantly higher Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index scores (P ≤ .003), with a significantly higher proportion of male vs. female patients in the ixekizumab every 4 weeks (53.8% vs. 38.3%) and ixekizumab every 2 weeks (41.2% vs. 28.1%) treatment arms achieving ≥50% and ≥70% improvement in the American College of Rheumatology criteria, respectively (both P < .05).

Study details: This post hoc analysis of two phase 3 trials included 679 patients with active PsA who were either biologic-naive (SPIRIT-P1) or showed an inadequate response to 1 or 2 tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (SPIRIT-P2) and were randomly assigned to receive ixekizumab or placebo.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Eli Lilly and Company. Five authors declared being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and Company and other authors reported ties with various sources, including Eli Lilly.

Source: Eder L et al. Responses to ixekizumab in male and female patients with psoriatic arthritis: Results from two randomized, phase 3 clinical trials. Rheumatol Ther. 2022 (Apr 9). Doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00445-w

Key clinical point: Female vs. male patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and a prior inadequate response to treatment exhibited significantly higher disease activity at baseline and a worse response to ixekizumab.

Major finding: At baseline, female vs. male patients had significantly higher Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index scores (P ≤ .003), with a significantly higher proportion of male vs. female patients in the ixekizumab every 4 weeks (53.8% vs. 38.3%) and ixekizumab every 2 weeks (41.2% vs. 28.1%) treatment arms achieving ≥50% and ≥70% improvement in the American College of Rheumatology criteria, respectively (both P < .05).

Study details: This post hoc analysis of two phase 3 trials included 679 patients with active PsA who were either biologic-naive (SPIRIT-P1) or showed an inadequate response to 1 or 2 tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (SPIRIT-P2) and were randomly assigned to receive ixekizumab or placebo.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Eli Lilly and Company. Five authors declared being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and Company and other authors reported ties with various sources, including Eli Lilly.

Source: Eder L et al. Responses to ixekizumab in male and female patients with psoriatic arthritis: Results from two randomized, phase 3 clinical trials. Rheumatol Ther. 2022 (Apr 9). Doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00445-w

Key clinical point: Female vs. male patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and a prior inadequate response to treatment exhibited significantly higher disease activity at baseline and a worse response to ixekizumab.

Major finding: At baseline, female vs. male patients had significantly higher Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index scores (P ≤ .003), with a significantly higher proportion of male vs. female patients in the ixekizumab every 4 weeks (53.8% vs. 38.3%) and ixekizumab every 2 weeks (41.2% vs. 28.1%) treatment arms achieving ≥50% and ≥70% improvement in the American College of Rheumatology criteria, respectively (both P < .05).

Study details: This post hoc analysis of two phase 3 trials included 679 patients with active PsA who were either biologic-naive (SPIRIT-P1) or showed an inadequate response to 1 or 2 tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (SPIRIT-P2) and were randomly assigned to receive ixekizumab or placebo.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Eli Lilly and Company. Five authors declared being employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and Company and other authors reported ties with various sources, including Eli Lilly.

Source: Eder L et al. Responses to ixekizumab in male and female patients with psoriatic arthritis: Results from two randomized, phase 3 clinical trials. Rheumatol Ther. 2022 (Apr 9). Doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00445-w