Rheumatology Research

The Department of Rheumatology is involved in multiple clinical trials, non-clinical research studies and registries in the areas of inflammatory arthropathies, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, connective tissue diseases, osteoarthritis, back pain, affordable healthcare, staff wellbeing and medical education.

Our Researchers

Dr Matthew Parker	Head of Department, Principal Investigator, PhD Candidate
Dr Bethan Richards	Research Investigator, Deputy Director, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, Sydney Local Health District
Professor Peter Youssef	IMH Director of Commercial Clinical Trials, Principal Investigator
Professor Mandy Nikpour	Director Sydney MSK Flagship, Principal Investigator
Associate Professor Neil McGill	Chair of Royal College of Pathologists Synovial Fluid Quality Assurance Programme
Dr Christopher Needs	Co-Chair, NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation Muscular Skeletal Network, Research Investigator
Dr Michael Spies	Network Director of Physician Education and Training, Research Investigator
Dr Abhishikta Dey	Research Investigator, PhD Candidate
Dorothy Fowler	Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Consultant
Rachel Thistlethwaite	Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Consultant
Dr Genevieve Fong	Clinical Trials Study Coordinator

Selected Grants

Amount awarded	Grant and project details
$2,950,038	MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission, 2024-2027 Improving genetic diagnosis of autoimmune and autoinflammatory disease through an integrated multi-omics approach. Investigator: Nikpour M.
$399,999	Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation, 2024-2026 Improving mobility and preventing falls in hospitals: adaptation and implementation of a cost-saving program. Investigators: Youssef P, Pinheiro MB, Youssef T, Treacy D, Sherrington C, Gole R, Finerty B, Wakefield J, Haver L, Harris W, Wang Y, Mueller K, Charlton P, Hassett L, Haynes A, Gilbert S, Edmondson A, McLennan C, Kishore Biswas R, Rayner J.
$1,804,701	NHMRC, 2023-2029 DREAM: An adaptive placebo-controlled trial of duloxetine for the treatment of chronic sciatica. Investigators: Ferreira GE, Maher CG, Lin CC, Billot L, Day R, Ivers R, Underwood M, McLachlan A, Richards B, Finnerup N.
$979,506	NHMRC, 2023-2026 Quality coaching to implement a hospital fall prevention strategy: intervention development and evaluation in a stepped wedge trial. Investigators: Sherrington C, Naganathan V, Richards B, Hallahan A, Heppleston E, Jennings M, Jackson D, Ni Chroinin D, Hill A-M, Haines T.
$200,000	University of Sydney Start-up Grant, 2023-2025 Improving outcomes of systemic autoimmune disease. Investigator: Nikpour M.
$150,000	Medical Project Grant from Boehringer Ingelheim, 2023-2025 Establishment of an HRCT ScanBank in Systemic Sclerosis. Investigator: Nikpour M.
$2,818,124	MRFF, 2022-2026 Reshaping the management of low back pain in emergency departments. Investigators: Maher C, Rogan E, Machado G, Edwards J, Buchbiner R, Harris I, Williams C, Naganathan V, Howard K, McCaffery K, Billot L, Wiggers J, Harvey L, Kinsman L, Ghinea N, Hutchings O, Dinh M, Alkhouri H, Goldsmith H, Anderson T, Smiles JP, Lau G, Richards B, Melman A, Coombs D.
$1,491,473	MRFF, 2022-2026 Restructuring musculoskeletal health services to ensure equitable access to effective, affordable allied health care. Investigators: Zadro J, Maher C, Machado G, Traeger A, Buchbinder R, Harris I, Shaw T, Harvey L, Ackerman I, Richards B, Abdel Shaheed C, Mathieson S, Swain M, Anderson D, Coombs D.
$315,764	2020 Traumatic Brain Injury Mission, Stream 2- incubator, 2021-2025 Optimising outcomes for patients with back pain by preventing hospital admission Investigators: Maher, C; Buchbinder, R; Needs, C; Richards, B; Shaw, M; Hutchings, O; Dearing, C; Edwards, J; Rogan, E; Coombs, D; Teng, MJ; Dodd, R; Ghinea, N; Harris, I.

Our Publications

2024

Ross L, Hansen D, Maltez N, Morrisroe K, Kumar K, Walker J, Stevens W, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Host L, Nikpour M, Proudman S. The effect of calcium channel blockers on digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: data from a prospective cohort study. Clin Rheumatol. 2024 Jan;43(1):269-276. doi: 10.1007/s10067-023-06796-1. Epub 2023 Nov 3.

Deakin CT, Littlejohn GO, Griffiths H, Ciciriello S, O'Sullivan C, Smith T, Youssef P, Bird P; OPAL consortium. Comparative effectiveness of etanercept originator and biosimilar for treating rheumatoid arthritis: implications for cost-savings. Intern Med J. 2024 May;54(5):795-801. doi: 10.1111/imj.16296. Epub 2023 Nov 27.

Nielsen W, Strand V, Simon LS, Parodis I, Kim AHJ, Desai M, Enman Y, Wallace D, Chaichian Y, Navarra S, Aranow C, MacKay M, Trotter K, Tayer-Shifman OE, Duarte-Garcia A, Shan Tam L, Ugarte-Gil MF, PonsEstel GJ, Reynolds JA, Nikpour M, Hoi A, Romero-Diaz J, Papachristos D, Aggarwal A, Mok CC, Fujio K, Ramsey-Goldman R, Howe A, Kia BN, Bonilla D, Thumboo J, Mosca M, Aringer M, Johnson SR, Drucker AM, Morand E, Bruce I, Touma Z; OMERACT SLE Working Group. OMERACT 2023 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Special Interest Group: Winnowing and Binning Preliminary Candidate Domains for the Core Outcome Set. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024 Apr;65:152380. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152380. Epub 2024 Jan 14.

Nindra U, Shivasabesan G, Mellor R, Chua W, Ng W, Karikios D, Richards B, Liu J. Evaluating Systemic Burnout in Medical Oncology Through a National Oncology Mentorship Program. JCO Oncol Pract. 2024 Apr;20(4):549-557. doi: 10.1200/OP.23.00469. Epub 2024 Jan 30.

Fairley JL, Hansen D, Day J, Proudman S, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Walker J, Host LV, Morrisroe K, Stevens W, Ross L, Nikpour M. Proximal weakness and creatine kinase elevation in systemic sclerosis: Clinical correlates, prognosis and functional implications. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024 Apr;65:152363. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152363. Epub 2024 Jan 24.

Parker MJS, Jee AS, Hansen D, Proudman S, Youssef P, Kenna TJ, Stevens W, Nikpour M, Sahhar J, Corte TJ. Multiple serum biomarkers associate with mortality and interstitial lung disease progression in systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2024 Nov 1;63(11):2981-2988. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae110.

Katsumata Y, Inoue E, Harigai M, Cho J, Louthrenoo W, Hoi A, Golder V, Lau CS, Lateef A, Chen YH, Luo SF, Wu YJ, Hamijoyo L, Li Z, Sockalingam S, Navarra S, Zamora L, Hao Y, Zhang Z, Chan M, Oon S, Ng K, Kikuchi J, Takeuchi T, Goldblatt F, O'Neill S, Tugnet N, Law AHN, Bae SC, Tanaka Y, Ohkubo N, Kumar S, Kandane-Rathnayake R, Nikpour M, Morand EF; Asia-Pacific Lupus Collaboration. Risk of flare and damage accrual after tapering glucocorticoids in modified serologically active clinically quiescent patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a multinational observational cohort study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024 Jul 15;83(8):998-1005. doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-225369.

Campbell TM, Finzel S, Siddle H, Christensen R, Nielsen SM, Najm A, Otobo TM, Sahbudin I, Sinnathurai P, Stok KS, Touma Z, April KT, Grosskleg S, Tugwell P, Richards B. Navigating the path of progress: The OMERACT 2023 emerging leaders program. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024 Jun;66:152414. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152414. Epub 2024 Feb 21.

Littlejohn G, Leadbetter J, Butcher BE, Feletar M, O'Sullivan C, Smith T, Witcombe D, Ng HY, Youssef P. Real-world evaluation of persistence, effectiveness and usage patterns of tofacitinib in treatment of psoriatic arthritis in Australia. Clin Rheumatol. 2024 May;43(5):1579-1589. doi: 10.1007/s10067-024-06930-7. Epub 2024 Mar 9.

Ross L, McDonald J, Hansen D, Fairley J, Wicks C, Proudman S, Walker J, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Host L, Stevens W, Philip J, Nikpour M. Quantifying the Need for Specialist Palliative Care Management in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2024 Jul;76(7):964-972. doi: 10.1002/acr.25325. Epub 2024 May 15.

Gregory K, Hansen D, Penglase R, Apostolopoulos D, Ngian GS, Stevens W, Morrisroe K, Ferdowsi N, Ross L, Walker J, Cooley H, Youssef P, Tymms K, Host L, Proudman S, Moore J, Nikpour M, Sahhar J. Outcomes of Patients With Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis Eligible for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Treated With Conventional Therapy. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2024 Aug;76(8):1294-1302. doi: 10.1002/art.42850. Epub 2024 May 8.

Fairley JL, Hansen D, Proudman S, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Walker J, Host LV, La Gerche A, Prior D, Burns A, Morrisroe K, Stevens W, Nikpour M, Ross L. Prognostic and functional importance of both overt and subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in systemic sclerosis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024 Jun;66:152443. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152443. Epub 2024 Apr 6.

McColl H, Cordina R, Lal S, Parker M, Hunyor I, Medi C, Gray B. Recurrent immunosuppressive-responsive myocarditis in a patient with desmoplakin cardiomyopathy: a case report. Eur Heart J Case Rep. 2024 Mar 13;8(3):ytae129. doi: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytae129.

Huang V, Ciciriello S, Nikpour M, Oon S, Day J. Diagnosing and characterizing inflammatory myopathies at an Australian tertiary public hospital: Resource utilization and direct healthcare costs. Int J Rheum Dis. 2024 Apr;27(4):e15153. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.15153.

de Luca Montes RA, Huq M, Godfrey T, Oon S, Calderone A, Kandane-Rathnayake R, Louthrenoo W, Luo SF, Jan Wu YJ, Golder V, Lateef A, Navarra SV, Zamora L, Hamijoyo L, Sockalingam S, An Y, Li Z, Katsumata Y, Harigai M, Chan M, Goldblatt F, O'Neill S, Lau CS, Cho J, Hoi A, Karyekar CS, Morand EF, Nikpour M. Association of systemic lupus erythematosus standard of care immunosuppressants with glucocorticoid use and disease outcomes: a multicentre cohort study. Adv Rheumatol. 2024 May 8;64(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s42358-024-00366-y.

Ciciriello S, Littlejohn GO, Treuer T, Gibson KA, Haladyj E, Youssef P, Bird P, O'Sullivan C, Smith T, Deakin CT. Real-world utilisation and switching between Janus kinase inhibitors in Australian patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the OPAL dataset. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2024 Sep;42(9):1763-1772. doi: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/n0kjax. Epub 2024 May 1.

Hao Y, Oon S, Nikpour M. Efficacy and safety of treat-to-target strategy studies in rheumatic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024 Aug;67:152465. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152465. Epub 2024 May 21.

Pisaniello HL, Lester SE, Russell O, Black R, Tieu J, Richards B, Barrett C, Lassere M, March L, Buchbinder R, Hill C, Whittle SL. The associations between poorer pain-related health status and increased hospitalisations and excess mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA): a prospective cohort analysis using the Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD). Ann Rheum Dis. 2024 Sep 30;83(10):1400-1402. doi: 10.1136/ard-2024-225696.

Golder V, Kandane-Rathnayake R, Li N, Louthrenoo W, Chen YH, Cho J, Lateef A, Hamijoyo L, Luo SF, Wu YJ, Navarra SV, Zamora L, Li Z, Sockalingam S, Katsumata Y, Harigai M, Hao Y, Zhang Z, Basnayake D, Chan M, Kikuchi J, Takeuchi T, Bae SC, Goldblatt F, Oon S, O'Neill S, Ng K, Law A, Tugnet N, Kumar S, Tee C, Tee M, Ohkubo N, Tanaka Y, Lau CS, Hoi A, Nikpour M, Morand EF; Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration. Association of sustained lupus low disease activity state with improved outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus: a multinational prospective cohort study. Lancet Rheumatol. 2024 Aug;6(8):e528-e536. doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00121-8. Epub 2024 Jun 11.

Quinlivan A, Neuen D, Hansen D, Stevens W, Ross L, Ferdowsi N, Proudman SM, Walker JG, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Apostolopoulos D, Host LV, Major G, Basnayake C, Morrisroe K, Nikpour M. The impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease and its treatment on interstitial lung disease outcomes. Arthritis Res Ther. 2024 Jun 25;26(1):124. doi: 10.1186/s13075-024-03355-0.

Ross L, Hansen D, Proudman S, Khanna D, Herrick AL, Stevens W, Baron M, Nikpour M; Australian Scleroderma Interest Group (ASIG), Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG), the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Activity Index Working Group. Development and Initial Validation of the Novel Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Activity Index. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2024 Nov;76(11):1635-1644. doi: 10.1002/art.42939. Epub 2024 Aug 26.

Fairley JL, O'Rourke R, Puranik R, Nikpour M. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in systemic sclerosis: Heart involvement in high-resolution. Rheumatol Immunol Res. 2024 Jul 15;5(2):83-92. doi: 10.1515/rir-2024-0011.

Nielsen W, Strand V, Simon L, Pinsker E, Bonilla D, Morand E, Thumboo J, Aringer M, Mosca M, Bruce I, Parodis I, Kim A, Desai M, Enman Y, Shea B, Wallace DJ, Chaichian Y, Navarra S, Aranow C, Mackay M, Trotter K, Tayer-Shifman OE, Duarte-García A, Shan Tam L, Ugarte-Gil MF, Pons-Estel GJ, Reynolds JA, Nikpour M, Hoi A, Romero-Diaz J, Aggarwal A, Mok CC, Fujio K, Ramsey-Goldman R, Gladman DD, Arnaud L, Bultink IEM, Ruiz-Irastorza G, Inês LS, Appenzeller S, Dobrowolski C, Clarke AE, Kamen DL, Barraclough M, Tani C, Gómez-Puerta JA, Werth VP, Katz P, Nowrouzi-Kia B, Johnson SR, Drucker AM, Touma Z; OMERACT SLE Working Group. OMERACT systemic lupus erythematosus domain survey. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024 Oct;68:152520. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152520. Epub 2024 Jul 24.

Fairley JL, Ross L, Nikpour M. Heart involvement in systemic sclerosis: emerging concepts. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2024 Nov 1;36(6):393-400. doi: 10.1097/BOR.0000000000001038. Epub 2024 Aug 9.

Brown Z, Morrisroe K, Hansen D, Stevens W, Proudman S, Teng GG, Low A, Nikpour M. Predictive accuracy of the ASIG algorithm in a prospective systemic sclerosis cohort undergoing annual screening for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Intern Med J. 2024 Sep;54(9):1561-1566. doi: 10.1111/imj.16468. Epub 2024 Aug 13.

Fairley JL, Hansen D, Baron M, Proudman S, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Walker J, Host LV, Morrisroe K, Stevens W, Nikpour M, Ross L. Investigating the trajectory of functional disability in systemic sclerosis: group-based trajectory modelling of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2024 Aug;42(8):1581-1589. doi: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/9erk5j. Epub 2024 Aug 2.

Fairley JL, Hansen D, Proudman S, Baron M, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Walker J, Host LV, Morrisroe K, Stevens W, Ross L, Nikpour M. The burden and determinants of fatigue in incident and prevalent systemic sclerosis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2024 Aug;42(8):1669-1674. doi: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/6528od. Epub 2024 Aug 14.

Parodis I, Lindblom J, Levy RA, Zen M, Cetrez N, Gomez A, Oon S, Henning C, Khamashta M, Quasny HA, Chauhan D, Askanase A, van Vollenhoven R, Nikpour M. Attainment of remission and low disease activity after treatment with belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a post-hoc analysis of pooled data from five randomised clinical trials. Lancet Rheumatol. 2024 Nov;6(11):e751-e761. doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00162-0. Epub 2024 Aug 26.

Virgili-Gervais G, Matthews B, Nassar EL, Carrier ME, Kwakkenbos L, Pauling JD, Bartlett SJ, Gietzen A, Gottesman K, Guillot G, Hudson M, Hummers LK, Lawrie-Jones A, Malcarne VL, Mayes MD, Richard M, Sauvé M, Wojeck RK, Mouthon L, Benedetti A, Thombs BD; Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network investigators. The association of outdoor temperature and self-reported Raynaud's phenomenon severity among people with systemic sclerosis: a Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Cohort study. Lancet Rheumatol. 2024 Oct;6(10):e684-e692. doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00189-9. Epub 2024 Aug 28.

Quinlivan A, Hansen D, Stevens W, Ross L, Ferdowsi N, Proudman SM, Walker JG, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Apostolopoulos D, Host LV, Major G, Basnayake C, Morrisroe K, Nikpour M. Prevalence and Outcomes of Gastrointestinal Manifestations in an Australian Scleroderma Cohort. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2024 Dec;76(12):1686-1695. doi: 10.1002/acr.25426. Epub 2024 Oct 4.

Melman A, Teng MJ, Coombs DM, Li Q, Billot L, Lung T, Rogan E, Marabani M, Hutchings O, Zadro JR, Maher CG, Machado GC; Back@Home Investigators. Process and implementation evaluation of a virtual hospital model of care for low back pain (Back@Home). Emerg Med Australas. 2024 Dec;36(6):929-937. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.14487. Epub 2024 Sep 13.

Hao Y, Hansen D, Louthrenoo W, Chen YH, Cho J, Lateef A, Hamijoyo L, Luo SF, Wu YJ, Navarra S, Zamora L, Li Z, Sockalingam S, Katsumata Y, Harigai M, Zhang Z, Chan M, Kikuchi J, Takeuchi T, Bae SC, Goldblatt F, O'Neill S, Ng K, Basnayake BMDB, Tugnet N, Tanaka Y, Lau CS, Li N, Golder V, Hoi A, Kandane-Rathnayake R, Morand E, Oon S, Nikpour M. Characterisation and outcomes of different subsets of low disease activity states in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus Sci Med. 2024 Sep 18;11(2):e001217. doi: 10.1136/lupus-2024-001217.

Cho C, Bak G, Sumpton D, Richards B, Sherrington C. Perspectives of healthcare providers on osteoporosis, falls and fracture risk: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. Arch Osteoporos. 2024 Sep 24;19(1):90. doi: 10.1007/s11657-024-01446-8.

Comachio J, Purcell K, Brady B, Thiveos T, Strkljevic I, Shu C, Carvalho-E-Silva AP, Nikpour M, Anderson DB; SydneyMSK Diversity, Inclusion, Culture, and Equity portfolio (DICE). Improving Musculoskeletal Health by Incorporating Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Approaches Into Research Practices. Musculoskeletal Care. 2024 Dec;22(4):e1943. doi: 10.1002/msc.1943.

McLennan C, Sherrington C, Tilden W, Jennings M, Richards B, Hill AM, Fairbrother G, Ling F, Naganathan V, Haynes A. Considerations across multiple stakeholder groups when implementing fall prevention programs in the acute hospital setting: a qualitative study. Age Ageing. 2024 Oct 1;53(10):afae208. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afae208.

Williamson L, Hao Y, Basnayake C, Oon S, Nikpour M. Systematic review of treatments for the gastrointestinal manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024 Dec;69:152567. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152567. Epub 2024 Oct 28.

Shah RC, Morrisroe K, Stevens W, Ferdowsi N, Proudman S, Nikpour M, Ross LJ. Scleroderma renal crisis, an increasingly rare but persistently challenging condition: a retrospective cohort study. Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2024 Oct 28;8(4):rkae131. doi: 10.1093/rap/rkae131.

Fairley JL, Hansen D, Proudman S, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Apostolopoulos D, Walker J, Host LV, Stevens W, Ferdowsi N, Tabesh M, Nikpour M, Ross L. The frequency and clinical associations of opioid use in systemic sclerosis. Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2024 Nov 15;8(4):rkae144. doi: 10.1093/rap/rkae144.

McLachlan H, Maher CG, Lin CC, Billot L, Day RO, Ivers R, Underwood M, McLachlan AJ, Richards B, Finnerup NB, Ferreira GE; DREAM Study Group. DREAM: an adaptive, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of duloxetine for reducing leg pain in people with chronic sciatica-trial protocol. BMJ Open. 2024 Dec 31;14(12):e096796. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-096796.

Baldwin JN, Purcell K, Hassett L, Tiedemann A, Pinheiro M, Savage R, Wang B, Haynes A, West K, Noetel M, Richards B, Jennings M, Gupta S, Smith BJ, Treacy D, Halliday M, Harvey LA, Phongsavan P, Rogers K, Howard K, Bauman A, Hamdorf P, Shaw A, Walkley J, Dwyer G, Lonsdale C, Reece L, Clutterbuck G, Lovitt L, Sturnieks D, Sherrington C. Promotion of Physical Activity by Health Professionals (PROMOTE-PA): protocol for effectiveness outcomes in a hybrid type I effectiveness-implementation cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Nutr Prev Health. 2024 Aug 6;7(2):e000901. doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2024-000901.

Parker MJS, Lilleker JB, Chinoy H. Adult idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024. doi:10.1016/j.mpmed.2024.09.005

2023

Ciciriello S, Littlejohn G, Treuer T, Gibson KA, Haladyj E, Youssef P, Bird P, O'Sullivan C, Smith T, Deakin CT; OPAL Rheumatology. Comparative Effectiveness of First-Line Baricitinib in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Australian OPAL Data Set. ACR Open Rheumatol. 2023 Jul;5(7):345-353. doi: 10.1002/acr2.11577. Epub 2023 Jun 12.

Deakin CT, De Stavola BL, Littlejohn G, Griffiths H, Ciciriello S, Youssef P, Mathers D, Bird P, Smith T, O'Sullivan C, Freeman T, Segelov D, Hoffman D, Seaman SR; OPAL Rheumatology Network. Comparative Effectiveness of Adalimumab vs Tofacitinib in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Australia. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Jun 1;6(6):e2320851. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.20851.

Fairley JL, Hansen D, Ross L, Proudman S, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Walker J, Host LV, Morrisroe K, Apostolopoulous D, Ferdowsi N, Wilson M, Tabesh M, Stevens W, Nikpour M; Australian Scleroderma Interest Group. Clinical characteristics and survival of pulmonary arterial hypertension with or without interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2023 May 12;25(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s13075-023-03059-x.

Ferreira GE, Zadro J, Jones C, Ayre J, Lin C, Richards B, Needs C, Abdel Shaheed C, McLachlan A, Day RO, Maher C. General practitioners' decision-making process to prescribe pain medicines for low back pain: a qualitative study. BMJ Open. 2023 Oct 29;13(10):e074380. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074380.

Jee AS, Stewart I, Youssef P, Adelstein S, Lai D, Hua S, Stevens W, Proudman S, Ngian GS, Glaspole IN, Moodley YP, Bleasel JF, Macansh S, Nikpour M, Sahhar J, Corte TJ; Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study, Australian Scleroderma Interest Group, Australian Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Registry, and associated investigators. A Composite Serum Biomarker Index for the Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: A Multicenter, Observational Cohort Study. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023 Aug;75(8):1424-1433. doi: 10.1002/art.42491. Epub 2023 May 15.

Jones CMP, Day RO, Koes BW, Latimer J, Maher CG, McLachlan AJ, Billot L, Shan S, Lin CC; OPAL Investigators Coordinators. Opioid analgesia for acute low back pain and neck pain (the OPAL trial): a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2023 Jul 22;402(10398):304-312. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00404-X. Epub 2023 Jun 28. Erratum in: Lancet. 2023 Aug 19;402(10402):612.

Li N, Leong R, Youssef P. Combination non tumour necrosis factor biologic and small-molecule therapy in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn disease. Intern Med J. 2023 Jun;53(6):1083-1084. doi: 10.1111/imj.16120.

Melman A, Maher CG, Needs C, Richards B, Rogan E, Teng MJ, Machado GC. Management of patients with low back pain admitted to hospital: An observational study of usual care. Int J Rheum Dis. 2023 Jan;26(1):60-68. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.14449. Epub 2022 Oct 7.

Melman A, Vella SP, Dodd RH, Coombs DM, Richards B, Rogan E, Teng MJ, Maher CG, Ghinea N, Machado GC. Clinicians' Perspective on Implementing Virtual Hospital Care for Low Back Pain: Qualitative Study. JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol. 2023 Nov 21;10:e47227. doi: 10.2196/47227.

Oliveira CB, Coombs D, Machado GC, McCaffery K, Richards B, Pinto RZ, O'Keeffe M, Maher CG, Christofaro DGD. Process evaluation of the implementation of an evidence-based model of care for low back pain in Australian emergency departments. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2023 Jun 26;66:102814. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102814. Online ahead of print.

Pisaniello HL, Lester S, Russell O, Black R, Tieu J, Richards B, Barrett C, Lassere M, March L, Buchbinder R, Whittle SL, Hill CL. Trajectories of self-reported pain-related health outcomes and longitudinal effects on medication use in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort analysis using the Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD). RMD Open. 2023 Jul;9(3):e002962. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002962.

Solomon JJ, Danoff SK, Woodhead FA, Hurwitz S, Maurer R, Glaspole I, Dellaripa PF, Gooptu B, Vassallo R, Cox PG, Flaherty KR, Adamali HI, Gibbons MA, Troy L, Forrest IA, Lasky JA, Spencer LG, Golden J, Scholand MB, Chaudhuri N, Perrella MA, Lynch DA, Chambers DC, Kolb M, Spino C, Raghu G, Goldberg HJ, Rosas IO; TRAIL1 Network Investigators. Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of pirfenidone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study. Lancet Respir Med. 2023 Jan;11(1):87-96. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(22)00260-0. Epub 2022 Sep 5.

Spiera R, Kuwana M, Khanna D, Hummers L, Frech TM, Stevens W, Matucci-Cerinic M, Kafaja S, Distler O, Jun JB, Levy Y, Leszcyzński P, Gordon J, Steen V, Lee EB, Jankowski T, Litinsky I, Chung L, Hsu V, Mayes M, Sandorfi N, Simms RW, Finzel S, de Vries-Bouwstra J, Constantine S, Dgetluck N, Dinh Q, Bloom BJ, Furst DE, White B, Denton CP; RESOLVE-1 Study Group. Efficacy and Safety of Lenabasum, a Cannabinoid Type 2 Receptor Agonist, in a Phase 3 Randomized Trial in Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023 Sep;75(9):1608-1618. doi: 10.1002/art.42510. Epub 2023 Jun 15.

Taylor WJ, Willink R, O'Connor DA, Patel V, Bourne A, Harris IA, Whittle SL, Richards B, Clavisi O, Green S, Hinman RS, Maher CG, Cahill A, McPherson A, Hewson C, May SE, Walker B, Robinson PC, Ghersi D, Fitzpatrick J, Winzenberg T, Fallon K, Glasziou P, Billot L, Buchbinder R. Which clinical research questions are the most important? Development and preliminary validation of the Australia & New Zealand Musculoskeletal (ANZMUSC) Clinical Trials Network Research Question Importance Tool (ANZMUSC-RQIT). PLoS One. 2023 Mar 17;18(3):e0281308. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281308.

Tymms K, O'Sullivan C, Smith T, Littlejohn G, Freeman T, Hoffman D, Segelov D, Griffiths H, Ciciriello S, Youssef P, Mathers D, Deakin CT. A novel electronic patient-reported outcome delivery system to implement health-related quality of life measures in routine clinical care: An analysis of 5 years of experience. Front Digit Health. 2023 Jan 9;4:1074931. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2022.1074931.

Youssef M, Youssef P. Methotrexate osteopathy. Intern Med J. 2023 Nov;53(11):2141-2142. doi: 10.1111/imj.16265.

2022

Anandacoomarasamy, A., Richards, B., Ward, L., Langford, K., Wallace, G., Sinclair, T., Anderson, T. and Barnsley, L. (2022), Design and Implementation of Flexible Advanced Training in Rheumatology: Report of a pilot program. Intern Med J. Accepted Author Manuscript. https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.15403.

Caterson HC, Youssef P. Sulfasalazine-induced myopathy in a patient with an acute spondyloarthritis. Intern Med J. 2022 Jan;52(1):155. doi: 10.1111/imj.15654.

Hanna S, Youssef P, Lowe P. Novel combination biologic therapy for recalcitrant psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in a medically complex patient. Australas J Dermatol. 2022 Feb;63(1):e63-e66. doi: 10.1111/ajd.13752. Epub 2021 Nov 23.

Karjalainen T, Richards B, Buchbinder R. Platelet-rich plasma injection for tennis elbow: did it ever work? BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 2022;8:e001258. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001258.

Melman, Alla & Maher, Chris & Needs, Chris & Machado, Gustavo. (2022). Many people admitted to hospital with a provisional diagnosis of nonserious back pain are subsequently found to have serious pathology as the underlying cause. Clinical rheumatology. 10.1007/s10067-022-06054-w.

Pavic, Katrina & McGill, Vicki & D'Souza, Mario & McGill, Neil. (2022). The preservation of synovial fluid using dimethyl sulfoxide. Annals of Clinical Biochemistry: International Journal of Laboratory Medicine. 000456322210763. 10.1177/00045632221076349.

Spies, M.C., Gutjahr-Holland, J.A., Bertouch, J.V. and Sammel, A.M. (2022), Prevalence of Neuropsychiatric Lupus in Psychosis Patients Who Have Tested Positive for Antinuclear Antibodies. Arthritis Care Res, 74: 427-432. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24472

Wallbank G, Sherrington C, Hassett L, Canning CG, Shepherd R, Richards B, Mackay C, Tiedemann A. Active Women over 50. Promoting Physical Activity in Women Over 50: A Randomized Trial. Am J Health Promot. 2022 Feb;36(2):305-309. doi: 10.1177/08901171211045678. Epub 2021 Dec 2. PMID: 34854695.

Zadro JR, Needs C, Foster NE, et al., Feasibility of delivering and evaluating stratified care integrated with telehealth ('Rapid Stratified Telehealth') for patients with low back pain: protocol for a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial.BMJ Open 2022;12:e056339. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056339

2021

Amorim AB, Coombs D, Richards B, Maher CG, Machado GC. Text Messaging and Web-Based Survey System to Recruit Patients With Low Back Pain and Collect Outcomes in the Emergency Department: Observational Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021;9(3):e22732.

Caterson, H.C., McGill, N.W. and Brown, W. (2021), Acute calcific periarthritis of the hip joint. Intern Med J, 51: 1756-1757. https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.15526.

Coombs DM, Machado GC, Richards B, et al. Clinical course of patients with low back pain following an emergency department presentation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Emergency Medicine Journal 2021;38:834-841.

Coombs DM, Machado GC, Richards B, Wilson R, Chan J, Storey H, Maher CG. Healthcare costs due to low back pain in the emergency department and inpatient setting in Sydney, Australia. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2021 Jan 29;7:100089. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2020.100089.

Coombs, Danielle & Machado, Gustavo & Richards, Bethan & Needs, Chris & Buchbinder, Rachelle & Harris, Ian & Howard, Kirsten & Mccaffery, Kirsten & Billot, Laurent & Edwards, James & Rogan, Eileen & Facer, Rochelle & Li, Qiang & Maher, Chris. (2021). Effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention to improve emergency department care of low back pain: A stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised trial. BMJ Quality & Safety. 30. bmjqs-2020. 10.1136/bmjqs-2020-012337.

Fairley JL, Hansen D, Proudman S, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Walker J, Strickland G, Wilson M, Morrisroe K, Ferdowsi N, Major G, Roddy J, Stevens W, Nikpour M; Australian Scleroderma Interest Group. Clinical Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and Systemic Sclerosis Overlap Syndromes. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2021 May;73(5):732-741. doi: 10.1002/acr.24167. Epub 2021 Apr 3.

Ferreira, G. E., Zadro, J. R., O'Keeffe, M., Buchbinder, R., Maher, C., Latimer, J., & ANZMUSC Clinical Trials Network (2021). Challenges faced by musculoskeletal health research in Australia and New Zealand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Internal medicine journal, 51(4), 622. https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.15254.

Ferreira, G.E., Herbert, R., Machado, G.C., Richards, B., Harris, I.A., O'Keeffe, M., Zadro, J.R. and Maher, C.G. (2021), Low back pain presentations to New South Wales emergency departments: Trends over time and geographical variation. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 33: 868-874. https://doi.org/10.1111/1742-6723.13745.

Jee AS, Parker MJS, Bleasel JF, Troy LK, Lau EM, Jo HE, Teoh AKY, Adelstein S, Webster S, Corte TJ. Baseline Characteristics and Survival of an Australian Interstitial Pneumonia with Autoimmune Features Cohort. Respiration. 2021;100(9):853-864. doi: 10.1159/000515396. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Jee AS, Parker MJS, McGill N, Bleasel JF, Webster S, Troy LK, Corte TJ. Nailfold capillaroscopy by smartphone-dermatoscope for connective tissue disease diagnosis in interstitial lung disease: a prospective observational study. ERJ Open Res. 2021 Nov 8;7(4):00416-2021. doi: 10.1183/23120541.00416-2021.

Jee AS, Sheehy R, Hopkins P, Corte TJ, Grainge C, Troy LK, Symons K, Spencer LM, Reynolds PN, Chapman S, de Boer S, Reddy T, Holland AE, Chambers DC, Glaspole IN, Jo HE, Bleasel JF, Wrobel JP, Dowman L, Parker MJS, Wilsher ML, Goh NSL, Moodley Y, Keir GJ. Diagnosis and management of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. Respirology. 2021 Jan;26(1):23-51. doi: 10.1111/resp.13977. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

Jee, A., Parker, M., Bleasel, J., Troy, L., Lau, E., Jo, H., Teoh, A., Webster, S., Adelstein, S., Corte, T. (2021). Diagnosis of myositis-associated interstitial lung disease: Utility of the myositis autoantibody line immunoassay. Respiratory Medicine, 187, 106581.

Loarce-Martos J, Lilleker JB, Parker M, McHugh N, Chinoy H. Polymyositis: is there anything left? A retrospective diagnostic review from a tertiary myositis centre. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Jul 1;60(7):3398-3403. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa801.

Oliveira CB, Amorim HE, Coombs DM, et al. Emergency department interventions for adult patients with low back pain: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Emergency Medicine Journal 2021;38:59-68.

Oliveira CB, Hamilton M, Traeger A, Buchbinder R, Richards B, Rogan E, Maher CG, Machado GC. Do patients with acute low back pain in emergency departments have more severe symptoms than those in general practice? A systematic review with meta-analysis. Pain Med. 2021 Sep 4:pnab260. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnab260. Epub ahead of print.

Sheikh ASF, Parker MJS, Gilbert R, Chinoy H. Focal hamstring muscle oedema and atrophy post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction mimicking focal myositis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Feb 1;60(2):984-985. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa397.

Taylor J, Stratton E, McLean L, et al. How junior doctors perceive personalised yoga and group exercise in the management of occupational and traumatic stressors. Postgraduate Medical Journal Published Online First: 09 March 2021. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-139191.

Wiles, Louise & Hibbert, Peter & Stephens, Jacqueline & Molloy, Charlotte & Maher, Chris & Buchbinder, Rachelle & Moseley, Lorimer & O'Sullivan, Peter & Lin, Ivan & Briggs, Andrew & Slater, Helen & Harris, Ian & Jan, Stephen & Dwyer, Andrew & Fallon, Kieran & Hogg, Malcolm & Fried, Kal & Needs, Chris & Casey, Petrina & Runciman, William. (2021). What Constitutes "Appropriate Care" for Low Back Pain?: Point-of-Care Clinical Indicators From Guideline Evidence and Experts (the STANDING Collaboration Project). Spine. Publish Ahead of Print. 10.1097/BRS.0000000000004274.

2020

Abdel Shaheed C, Maher CG, Buchbinder R, Ng B, Enke O, Guzowski R, McLachlan AJ, Day RO, Richards B, Latimer J, Lin CC. Efficacy and harms of orally, intramuscularly or intravenously administered glucocorticoids for sciatica: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Pain. 2020 Mar;24(3):518-535. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1505. Epub 2020 Jan 30. PMID: 31715647.

Buchbinder R, Bourne A, Latimer J, Harris I, Whittle SL, Richards B, Taylor WJ, Clavisi O, Green S, Hinman RS, March L, Day R, Ferreira ML, Billot L, Maher CG; ANZMUSC Clinical Trial Network. Early development of the Australia and New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network. Intern Med J. 2020 Jan;50(1):17-23. doi: 10.1111/imj.14191. PMID: 30548385.

Burgess, Annette & Bleasel, Jane & Hickson, John & Guler, Ceren & Kalman, Eszter & Haq, Inam. (2020). Team-based learning replaces problem-based learning at a large medical school. BMC Medical Education. 20. 10.1186/s12909-020-02362-4.

Burgess, Annette & Kalman, Eszter & Haq, Inam & Leaver, Andrew & Roberts, Chris & Bleasel, Jane. (2020). Interprofessional team-based learning (TBL): how do students engage?. BMC Medical Education. 20. 10.1186/s12909-020-02024-5.

Cao, JY, Waldman, B, O'Connell, R, et al. Uric acid predicts long‐term cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes but does not mediate the benefits of fenofibrate: The FIELD study. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2020; 22: 1388- 1396. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14046

Fairley JL, Hansen D, Proudman S, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Walker J, Strickland G, Wilson M, Morrisroe K, Ferdowsi N, Major G, Roddy J, Stevens W, Nikpour M; Australian Scleroderma Interest Group. Clinical characteristics and survival in systemic sclerosis-mixed connective tissue disease and systemic sclerosis-overlap syndrome. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Feb 14. doi:10.1002/acr.24167. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32058672.

Jee AS, Sheehy R, Hopkins P, Corte TJ, Grainge C, Parker MJS et al. Diagnosis and management of connective tissue disease‐associated interstitial lung disease in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. Respirology 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13977

Khandkar C, Vaidya K, Penglase R, Cai K, Shin JS, Hunyor I, Keech A, McGill N. Rare case of infiltrative cardiomyopathy secondary to scleromyxoedema. Intern Med J. 2020 Jan;50(1):127-128. doi: 10.1111/imj.14695. PMID: 31943623.

Liu C, Abdel Shaheed C, McLachlan AJ, Latimer J, Li Q, Buchbinder R, Day RO, Maher CG, Richards B, Oliveira JS, Lin CC. OASIS-a randomised, placebo-controlled trial of oral glucocorticoids for leg pain in patients with acute sciatica: trial protocol. BMJ Open 2020;10:e040559. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040559

Loarce-Martos J, Lilleker JB, Parker MJS, McHugh N, Chinoy H. Polymyositis: is there anything left? A retrospective diagnostic review from a tertiary myositis centre. Rheumatology 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keaa801

Machado GC, O'Keeffe M, Richards B, Needs C, Storey H, Maher CG. Why a dearth of sports and exercise medicine/physiotherapy research using hospital electronic medical records? A success story and template for researchers. Br J Sports Med. 2020 May 21:bjsports-2019-101622. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-101622. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32439629.

Oliveira CB, Amorim HE, Coombs DM, Richards B, Reedyk M, Maher CG, Machado GC. Emergency department interventions for adult patients with low back pain: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Emerg Med J. 2021 Jan;38(1):59-68. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2020-209588. Epub 2020 Oct 9. PMID: 33037020.

Parker MJS, Corte TJ. First risk, next reward? A new clinico‐radiological risk model predicts mortality in rheumatoid arthritis‐associated interstitial lung disease. Respirology 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13924

Patel S, Morrisroe K, Proudman S, Hansen D, Sahhar J, Sim MR, Ngian GS, Walker J, Strickland G, Wilson M, Ferdowsi N, Major G, Roddy J, Stevens W, Nikpour M; Australian Scleroderma Interest Group. Occupational silica exposure in an Australian systemic sclerosis cohort. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 Dec 1;59(12):3900-3905. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa446. PMID: 32911541.

Ross L, Stevens W, Wilson M, Huq M, Strickland G, Walker J, Sahhar J, Ngian GS, Roddy J, Youssef P, Proudman S, Nikpour M. Performance of the 2017 EUSTAR activity index in an scleroderma cohort. Clin Rheumatol. 2020 Dec;39(12):3701-3705. doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05126-z. Epub 2020 Jul 21. PMID: 32696281.

Sammel AM, Hsiao E, Schembri G, Bailey E, Nguyen K, Brewer J, Schrieber L, Janssen B, Youssef P, Fraser CL, Laurent R. Cranial and large vessel activity on positron emission tomography scan at diagnosis and 6 months in giant cell arteritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2020 Apr;23(4):582-588. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.13805. Epub 2020 Feb 26. PMID: 32100451.

Sammel AM, Spies MC, DeCarle R, Rayment M, Joshua F. Shear-wave elastographic ultrasound of metacarpophalangeal synovium in rheumatoid arthritis - A pilot study. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 2017. 20.2: 58-65 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajum.12047

Speerin R, Needs C, Chua J, Woodhouse LJ, Nordin M, McGlasson R, Briggs AM. Implementing models of care for musculoskeletal conditions in health systems to support value-based care. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology. 2020 Jul 25:101548.

Spies MC, Gutjahr-Holland JA, Bertouch JV, Sammel AM. Prevalence of neuropsychiatric lupus in psychosis patients with a positive antinuclear antibody. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published online October 1, 2020. doi:10.1002/acr.24472

Taylor J, McLean L, Richards B, Glozier N. Personalised yoga for burnout and traumatic stress in junior doctors. Postgrad Med J. 2020 Jun;96(1136):349-357. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-137413. Epub 2020 Apr 16. PMID: 32300055.

Youssef P, Marcal B, Button P, Truman M, Bird P, Griffiths H, Roberts L, Tymms K, Littlejohn G. Reasons for Biologic and Targeted Synthetic Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drug Cessation and Persistence of Second-line Treatment in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Dataset. J Rheumatol. 2020 Aug 1;47(8):1174-1181. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.190535. Epub 2019 Dec 1. PMID: 31787605.

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