Despite growing evidence supporting the benefits of physical activity in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), both clinicians and patients often remain cautious-particularly regarding higher intensities. Although exercise is universally recommended in international guidelines for these populations, it is frequently accompanied by warnings to engage only in moderate-intensity training. The primary objective of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness and safety of high-intensity, land-based exercise in patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions, compared with usual care, no intervention, or low-intensity exercise. We aimed to determine whether high-intensity exercise leads to an increase in disease activity, pain intensity, or impairment of function.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by complex pain mechanisms that extend beyond inflammation. Although inflammatory nociceptive pain - primarily mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines - represents the classic pathway and therapeutic target, many patients continue to experience pain despite suppression of inflammation. This residual pain often reflects non-inflammatory processes, including nociplastic and neuropathic pain. Central sensitization, a key mechanism of nociplastic pain, contributes to pain amplification and poor response to treatment. Fibromyalgia, considered the typical phenotype of nociplastic pain, can co-occur with axSpA and is associated with increased symptom burden and reduced efficacy of anti-inflammatory therapies. Neuropathic pain, albeit less common, can result from structural complications and requires targeted therapeutic approaches. In addition, biological sex differences further influence pain perception and treatment outcomes: female patients report more widespread pain, show higher rates of central sensitization and have a worse response to biologic therapies than male patients. Current treatment paradigms are effective for inflammation-driven symptoms but often fail to address the broader spectrum of pain phenotypes in axSpA. Future work should include the development of biomarkers to differentiate pain mechanisms, the refinement of assessment tools and the evaluation of multimodal therapies that target both inflammation and pain processes. This evolving understanding necessitates a shift from an inflammation-centric to a mechanism-informed approach to pain management in axSpA.

To investigate the relationship between maternal disease, anti-rheumatic treatment, autoantibody levels and foetal atrioventricular (AV) conduction.

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) profoundly affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL), imposing a significant distinct burden on physical and mental well-being. Given the high prevalence and long-term disability associated with RMDs, understanding their impact is essential for informing public health priorities. This study aims to delineate the multifaceted impact of RMDs on HRQoL across diverse disease categories and examine how the impact on HRQoL varies by diagnosis and time since diagnosis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disorder associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events. This study aims to assess the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and its associated risk factors among Palestinian patients with RA, a population for which this data has been lacking.

To conduct data-driven sensitivity analyses to evaluate whether refined definitions of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) treat-to-target goals provide better protection against moderate-severe flares and new damage, compared with original consensus-derived targets.

Type I IFNs (IFN-I) are central to pathogenesis and monitoring of SLE, yet clinically accessible biomarkers remain limited. Building on prior validation of membrane-bound SIGLEC-1 (mbSIGLEC-1), we conducted a proof-of-concept study to evaluate soluble SIGLEC-1 (sSIGLEC-1) as a useful IFN-I biomarker in SLE.

The objective of this study was to describe the IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) allergen profile and its clinical associations.

The impact of the genetic risk for RA on resultant disease phenotype in RA is incompletely understood. Using individual genetic variants associated with RA and a polygenic score (PGS), we hypothesized that those with higher genetic risk for RA would demonstrate a more severe disease course.

To identify clinical and therapeutic predictors of interstitial lung disease (ILD) progression in patients with RA treated with abatacept (ABA) in clinical practice.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) that is associated with disease characteristics, comorbidities and reduced physical activity. We aimed to investigate the relationship between upper limb function and HRQoL in patients with SLE.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients achieving original Boolean remission require a tender joint count ≤1, swollen joint count ≤1, C-reactive protein ≤1 mg/dl, and a patient global assessment (PGA) ≤1. Approximately 30% of patients meet the objective criteria but fail remission solely due to elevated PGA, termed 'near-remission'. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear, with debate whether persistent symptoms reflect residual inflammation or non-inflammatory factors.

This scoping review aimed to evaluate the extent and impact of duplication bias within contemporary idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) research.

TNF-α inhibitors (TNFis) are effective biologic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but their comparative efficacy is unclear due to limited direct comparisons. The objective of this work was to compare the efficacy of infliximab (INX), certolizumab pegol (CZP), etanercept (ETN), golimumab (GOM) and adalimumab (ADM) in achieving remission at 3 months in bio-naïve RA patients.

Behçet's disease (BD) is characterized by relapsing mucocutaneous and major organ involvement. Although conventional immunosuppressants and CSs remain the mainstay of therapy, severe or refractory cases often require biologics. TNF-α inhibitors, particularly infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA), have become central to BD management. We compared the efficacy, safety, and drug retention of IFX and ADA in a real-world single-centre cohort.