Objective To investigate the association of Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP) infection with disease activity of ankylosing spondylitis. Methods A total of 158 subjects in our hospital were enrolled in this study, including patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS, n=66), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n=31),osteoarthritis(OA, n=25) and normal controls(NC, n=36). MP infection was defined as anti-MP IgM antibody positive. Anti-MP IgM antibodies were determined by a mycoplasma pneumoniae(Mac strain)membrane-based agglutination test. AS patients were divided into two groups: MP infection group and non-MP infection group. T-test was used for statistical analysis of age, blood white cells, ESR, CRP, immunoglobulin, BASDAI index, global assessment on VAS scale, Schober test and chest expansion reflecting spinal mobility.χ2-test was used to compare the positive rate of MP infection in different groups. Gender difference and prevalence of clinical infection in past four weeks between MP infection and MP-free group in AS patients was also compared. Ridit analysis was used to analyze the association of MP infection with degree of sacroiliac damage on CT. Results The prevalence of MP infection in AS (52%, 34/66) was much higher than that in rheumatoid arthritis (RA, 6%, P＜0.01 ), osteoarthritis(OA, 4%, P＜0.01 ) and normal controls (NC, 11%, P＜0.01) . Compared with the non-MP infection group, the MP infection group had more active disease in term of BASDAI(4.0±1.1 vs 3.0±1.9, P=0.017), ESR[(44±32) mm/1h vs (28±23) mm/1h, P=0.029], CRP [(40±38) mg/L vs (22±21) mg/L, P=0.025] serum total IgG level [(18±3) g/L vs (16±5) g/L, P=0.027],but not in serum total IgA and IgM. Regarding to the sacroiliac joint and spinal mobility, MP infection group did not exhibit any association with the sacroiliac grading on CT, Schober test and expansion. In AS patients with MP infection, only 44.1%(15/34) was complicated by clinical manifestations of upper respiratory tract in the past 4 weeks. However, a higher prevalence of MP infection was found in AS patients with clinical manifestation of upper respiratory tract, compared with those with negative clinical manifestation(71% vs 42%,P=0.027). Conclusion Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the most common reported pathogen in ankylosing spondylitis and relates to the disease activity of AS. MP infection is probably a principal triggering factor in the pathogenesis of AS.

Background: SM-like (LSM) genes a family of RNA-binding proteins, are involved in mRNA regulation and can function as oncogenes by altering mRNA stability. However, their roles in B-cell progression and tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. Methods: We analyzed gene expression profiles and overall survival data of 123 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The LSM index was developed to assess its potential as a prognostic marker of MCL survival. Results: Five of the eight LSM genes were identified as potential prognostic markers for survival in MCL, with particular emphasis on the LSM.index. The expression levels of these LSM genes demonstrated their potential utility as classifiers of MCL. The LSM.index-high group exhibited both poorer survival rates and lower RNA levels than did the overall transcript profile. Notably, LSM1 and LSM8 were overexpressed in the LSM.index-high group, with LSM1 showing 2.5-fold increase (p < 0.001) and LSM8 depicting 1.8-fold increase (p < 0.01) than those in the LSM.index-low group.Furthermore, elevated LSM gene expression was associated with increased cell division and RNA splicing pathway activity. Conclusions The LSM.index demonstrates potential as a prognostic marker for survival in patients with MCL. Elevated expression of LSM genes, particularly LSM1 and LSM8, may be linked to poor survival outcomes through their involvement in cell division and RNA splicing pathways. These findings suggest that LSM genes may contribute to the aggressive behavior of MCL and represent potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

Background: SM-like (LSM) genes a family of RNA-binding proteins, are involved in mRNA regulation and can function as oncogenes by altering mRNA stability. However, their roles in B-cell progression and tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. Methods: We analyzed gene expression profiles and overall survival data of 123 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The LSM index was developed to assess its potential as a prognostic marker of MCL survival. Results: Five of the eight LSM genes were identified as potential prognostic markers for survival in MCL, with particular emphasis on the LSM.index. The expression levels of these LSM genes demonstrated their potential utility as classifiers of MCL. The LSM.index-high group exhibited both poorer survival rates and lower RNA levels than did the overall transcript profile. Notably, LSM1 and LSM8 were overexpressed in the LSM.index-high group, with LSM1 showing 2.5-fold increase (p < 0.001) and LSM8 depicting 1.8-fold increase (p < 0.01) than those in the LSM.index-low group.Furthermore, elevated LSM gene expression was associated with increased cell division and RNA splicing pathway activity. Conclusions The LSM.index demonstrates potential as a prognostic marker for survival in patients with MCL. Elevated expression of LSM genes, particularly LSM1 and LSM8, may be linked to poor survival outcomes through their involvement in cell division and RNA splicing pathways. These findings suggest that LSM genes may contribute to the aggressive behavior of MCL and represent potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

Background: SM-like (LSM) genes a family of RNA-binding proteins, are involved in mRNA regulation and can function as oncogenes by altering mRNA stability. However, their roles in B-cell progression and tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. Methods: We analyzed gene expression profiles and overall survival data of 123 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The LSM index was developed to assess its potential as a prognostic marker of MCL survival. Results: Five of the eight LSM genes were identified as potential prognostic markers for survival in MCL, with particular emphasis on the LSM.index. The expression levels of these LSM genes demonstrated their potential utility as classifiers of MCL. The LSM.index-high group exhibited both poorer survival rates and lower RNA levels than did the overall transcript profile. Notably, LSM1 and LSM8 were overexpressed in the LSM.index-high group, with LSM1 showing 2.5-fold increase (p < 0.001) and LSM8 depicting 1.8-fold increase (p < 0.01) than those in the LSM.index-low group.Furthermore, elevated LSM gene expression was associated with increased cell division and RNA splicing pathway activity. Conclusions The LSM.index demonstrates potential as a prognostic marker for survival in patients with MCL. Elevated expression of LSM genes, particularly LSM1 and LSM8, may be linked to poor survival outcomes through their involvement in cell division and RNA splicing pathways. These findings suggest that LSM genes may contribute to the aggressive behavior of MCL and represent potential targets for therapeutic interventions.