Humans ; Arthritis, Psoriatic/drug therapy* ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin Inhibitors ; Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/therapeutic use* ; Interleukin-23/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of the combined anteversion angle technique in total hip arthroplasty (THA) for treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) affecting the hip joint. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 73 patients with AS affecting the hip joint who underwent THA between August 2018 and August 2021. According to whether the combined anteversion angle technique was used in THA, the patients were divided into study group (37 cases, combined anteversion angle technique was used in THA) and control group (36 cases, traditional THA). There was no significant difference in baseline data such as gender, age, body mass index, disease duration, preoperative Harris score, range of motion (ROM), acetabular anteversion angle, acetabular abduction angle, femoral anteversion angle, and combined anteversion angle between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, hospital stay, and complications of the two groups were recorded and compared. The Harris score and hip ROM were compared between the two groups before operation, at 1, 3, 6, 12 months after operation, and at last follow-up. The acetabular component anteversion angle, femoral component anteversion angle, acetabular component abduction angle, and component combined anteversion angle were measured postoperatively. RESULTS: The operation time in the study group was significantly shorter than that in the control group ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no intraoperative complication such as acetabular and proximal femoral fractures, neurovascular injuries in both groups, and the incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 2-3 years, with an average of 2.4 years; there was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the two groups ( P>0.05). During the follow-up period, there was no complication such as hip dislocation, wound infection, delayed wound healing, deep venous thrombosis, and hip dislocation in both groups. The hip Harris score and ROM of the two groups gradually increased with time after operation, and the differences were significant when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05); the above two indicators of the study group were significantly better than those of the control group at each time point after operation ( P<0.05). Extensive bone ingrowth on the surface of the components could be observed in the anteroposterior X-ray films of the hip joint of the two groups at 12 months after operation, and the acetabular components was stable without femoral stem subsidence, osteolysis around the components, and heterotopic ossification. At last follow-up, the acetabular component anteversion angle, femoral component anteversion angle, and component combined anteversion angle in the study group were significantly superior to those in the control group ( P<0.05), except that there was no significant difference in the acetabular component abduction angle between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION For patients with AS affecting the hip joint, the use of the combined anteversion angle technique during THA effectively promotes the recovery of hip joint function and enhances the postoperative quality of life of patients when compared to traditional THA.
Humans ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/methods* ; Hip Dislocation/surgery* ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Hip Joint/surgery* ; Hip Prosthesis

Humans ; Spinal Fractures/etiology* ; Fractures, Compression/etiology* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/complications* ; Vertebroplasty/adverse effects* ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic/complications* ; Punctures/adverse effects* ; Treatment Outcome ; Bone Cements ; Retrospective Studies

Humans ; Osteoblastoma/surgery* ; Neck/surgery* ; Spinal Neoplasms ; Cervical Vertebrae

Axial Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine associated with the gene HLA-B27.Non-radiographic spondyloarthritis (nr-SpA), an early stage of axial SpA often goes unrecognized in many settings including the Philippines. We describe five Filipinos from a tertiary health care facility who fulfill the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) 2009 criteria for non-radiographic SpA with the aim of increasing awareness of this disease in the Philippines. All five patients presented with chronic low back pain. There were two women and three men in this series. All had varying degrees of inflammatory back pain. Uveitis was diagnosed in four. HLA-B27 was positive in four patients. MRI findings confirmed sacroiliitis where plain radiographs of the sacroiliac joints were interpreted as normal. Treatment included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and anti-interleukin-17 (IL-17) antibodies. Among Filipinos, we recommend that in both male and female patients with symptoms of inflammatory low back pain and uveitis, evaluation for Spondyloarthritis particularly non-radiographic SpA should be undertaken. Early diagnosis and treatment will potentially prevent long-term irreversible joint and bone damage and disability of the spine and improve quality of life.

Psoriasis may manifest as severe hyperkeratotic lesions resembling an oyster shell called ostraceous psoriasis. This type of psoriasis is extremely rare and is often associated with psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints presenting with pain, stiffness, swelling, tenderness, and limited movements. This is a case of a 16-year-old Filipino female presenting with pruritic erythematous plaques topped with thick adherent ostraceous scales associated with bilateral knee and elbow pains. Laboratory tests and biopsy were done. Histopathology is consistent with psoriasiform dermatitis and psoriatic arthritis is established through Early Psoriatic Arthritis (EARP) Screening Questionnaire and Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR). Patient was started on potent topical corticosteroids and Narrow-band Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy with minimal improvement. Hence, Secukinumab was initiated which showed significant improvement on the skin lesions and joint pains 7 days after the first dose of Secukinumab. Ostraceous psoriasis is rarely found in pediatric population. It is commonly associated with psoriatic arthritis that should be screened during routine consult. Its characteristic firmly adherent thick scales are resistant to topical treatments. One of the therapeutic options is Secukinumab, an IL-17A selective inhibitor targeting the release of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines and mediators of tissue damage. It demonstrates immediate effect, significant and sustained improvement in the skin lesions, minimal adverse reactions, as well as improved quality of life and physical function. It is therefore a preferred treatment for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis requiring rapid clearance.

Parturients with both ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and SARS-CoV-2 Infection (COVID-19) present unique challenges to anesthesiologists. Neuraxial analgesia for labor remains the gold standard in obstetric patients. However, in patients with AS, this approach may be deemed difficult to impossible. Administration of systemic opioids for labor analgesia can be an option, bearing in mind the potential respiratory depressant effect to both the mother and the fetus, especially in the setting of concomitant COVID-19. This paper reports the successful management of such a patient using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with intravenous remifentanil.
Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Remifentanil ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesia, Obstetrical ; COVID-19

Humans ; Uric Acid ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Spondylarthritis/diagnostic imaging* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

BACKGROUND: The clinical features of enthesitis in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have been reported in some Western countries, but data in China are very limited. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of enthesitis in Chinese patients with PsA and compared them with those in other cohorts. METHODS: Patients with PsA enrolled in the Chinese Registry of Psoriatic Arthritis (CREPAR) (December 2018 to June 2021) were included. Data including demographics, clinical characteristics, disease activity measures, and treatment were collected at enrollment. Enthesitis was assessed by the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC), Maastricht ankylosing spondylitis enthesitis score (MASES), and Leeds enthesitis index (LEI) indices. A multivariable logistic model was used to identify factors related to enthesitis. We also compared our results with those of other cohorts. RESULTS: In total, 1074 PsA patients were included, 308 (28.7%) of whom had enthesitis. The average number of enthesitis was 3.3 ± 2.8 (range: 1.0-18.0). More than half of the patients (165, 53.6%) had one or two tender entheseal sites. Patients with enthesitis had an earlier age of onset for both psoriasis and arthritis, reported a higher proportion of PsA duration over 5 years, and had a higher percentage of axial involvement and greater disease activity. Multivariable logistic regression showed that axial involvement (odds ratio [OR] 2.21, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59-3.08; P <0.001), psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04; P = 0.002), and disease activity score 28-C reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.01-1.55; P = 0.037) were associated with enthesitis. Compared with the results of other studies, Chinese patients with enthesitis had a younger age, lower body mass index (BMI), a higher rate of positive human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27, more frequent dactylitis, and a higher proportion of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs' (csDMARDs) use. CONCLUSIONS Enthesitis is a common condition among Chinese patients with PsA. It is important to evaluate entheses in both peripheral and axial sites.
Humans ; Arthritis, Psoriatic/drug therapy* ; East Asian People ; Enthesopathy/complications* ; Registries ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spondylarthritis/epidemiology*

BACKGROUND: Congenital scoliosis (CS) is a complex spinal malformation of unknown etiology with abnormal bone metabolism. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), secreted by osteoblasts and osteocytes, can inhibit bone formation and mineralization. This research aims to investigate the relationship between CS and FGF23. METHODS: We collected peripheral blood from two pairs of identical twins for methylation sequencing of the target region. FGF23 mRNA levels in the peripheral blood of CS patients and age-matched controls were measured. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were conducted to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of FGF23. The expression levels of FGF23 and its downstream factors fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFr3)/tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP)/osteopontin (OPN) in primary osteoblasts from CS patients (CS-Ob) and controls (CT-Ob) were detected. In addition, the osteogenic abilities of FGF23-knockdown or FGF23-overexpressing Ob were examined. RESULTS: DNA methylation of the FGF23 gene in CS patients was decreased compared to that of their identical twins, accompanied by increased mRNA levels. CS patients had increased peripheral blood FGF23 mRNA levels and decreased computed tomography (CT) values compared with controls. The FGF23 mRNA levels were negatively correlated with the CT value of the spine, and ROCs of FGF23 mRNA levels showed high sensitivity and specificity for CS. Additionally, significantly increased levels of FGF23, FGFr3, OPN, impaired osteogenic mineralization and lower TNAP levels were observed in CS-Ob. Moreover, FGF23 overexpression in CT-Ob increased FGFr3 and OPN levels and decreased TNAP levels, while FGF23 knockdown induced downregulation of FGFr3 and OPN but upregulation of TNAP in CS-Ob. Mineralization of CS-Ob was rescued after FGF23 knockdown. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested increased peripheral blood FGF23 levels, decreased bone mineral density in CS patients, and a good predictive ability of CS by peripheral blood FGF23 levels. FGF23 may contribute to osteopenia in CS patients through FGFr3/TNAP / OPN pathway.
Humans ; Osteopontin/genetics* ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism* ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3/metabolism* ; Scoliosis/genetics* ; Osteoblasts/metabolism* ; Calcinosis ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic/metabolism* ; Fibroblast Growth Factors/genetics*