BACKGROUND:Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with chronic rheumatic immunity.Soft tissue ossification and fusion and spinal stiffness can cause biomechanical changes. OBJECTIVE:To reconstruct the lumbar-sacral intervertebral disc in ankylosing spondylitis patients with lumbar kyphosis by finite element analysis,and to study the range of motion of each segment of T11-S1 and the biomechanical characteristics of annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. METHODS:The imaging data were obtained from an ankylosing spondylitis patient with lumbar kyphosis.The original CT image data of continuously scanned spine were imported into Mimics 21.0 in DICOM format,and T11-S1 was reconstructed respectively.The established model was imported into 3-Matic software in the format of"Stl"to reconstruct the intervertebral disc,and the fibrous intervertebral disc model was obtained.The improved model was further imported into Hypermesh software,and the vertebra,nucleus pulposus,annulus fibrosus and ligament were mesh-divided.After the material properties were given,the model was imported into ABAQUS software to observe the range of motion of each vertebral body in seven different working conditions of T11-S1,and analyze the biomechanical characteristics of each segment of annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The range of motion of L1 vertebrae was higher than that of other vertebrae under six different working conditions:extension,forward flexion,rotation(left and right),and lateral flexion(left and right).The maximum range of motion was 2.18° during L1 vertebral flexion,and the minimum range of motion was 0.12° during L5 vertebral extension.(2)The annular fiber flexion at L2-L3 segments was greater than the extension(P<0.05),and the annular fiber flexion at L3-L4 and L4-L5 segments was less than the extension(P<0.05).The left rotation of L1-L2 annular fibers was greater than the right rotation(P<0.05).The left flexion of the annulus was greater than the right flexion in L1-L2,L2-L3,L3-L4,L4-L5 and L5-S1 segments(P<0.05).(3)The nucleus pulposus stresses of T11-L12,L1-L2,L2-L3,L3-L4 and L4-L5 segments in forward flexion were greater than in extension(P<0.05).The left rotation of T12-L1 and L3-L4 segments was smaller than the right rotation(P<0.05),and that of T11-T12,L1-L2,and L2-L3 segments was larger than the right rotation(P<0.05).The left flexion was larger than the right flexion in the T11-S1 segment.(4)It is concluded that in ankylosing spondylitis patients with lumbar kyphosis,the minimum range of motion of the vertebral body is located at the L5 vertebral body in extension.To prevent fractures,it is recommended to avoid exercise in the extension position.During the onset of lumbar kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis,the maximum stress of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus is located in the L1-L2 segment,which is fixed and will not alter with the change of body position.The late surgical treatment and correction of deformity should focus on releasing the pressure of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus in this segment to avoid the rupture of the annulus fibrosus and the injury of the nucleus pulposus.

BACKGROUND:Ankylosing spondylitis is a progressive inflammation of spinal stiffness deformity caused by tissue ossification and fibrosis.The posture of ankylosing spondylitis patients is abnormal and their activities are limited that minor injuries can lead to thoracolumbar fractures.Traditional medical image observation limits doctors'preoperative decision planning and postoperative disease prevention for ankylosing spondylitis treatment. OBJECTIVE:Based on the spinal model of ankylosing spondylitis patients before and after posterior spinal cancellous ossification osteotomy("Y"osteotomy for short),to explore the biomechanical changes of"Y"osteotomy and fixation in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. METHODS:Based on the preoperative and postoperative CT images of an ankylosing spondylitis patient who went to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University,a three-dimensional spine model(T11-S1)before and after"Y"osteotomy(L3 osteotomy)was reconstructed in Mimics 19.0 software.A 7.5 Nm torque was applied to the top of T11 vertebral body to simulate the movement of the spine under six conditions:flexion,extension,left bending,right bending,left rotation and right rotation.Finally,the range of motion of each vertebral body,the stress of each intervertebral disc,and the stress of the screw rod system were simulated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)After"Y"type osteotomy and posterior fixation,the range of motion of all vertebrae in the spine decreased,and the loss rate of upper vertebrae was large(L1:77.95%).(2)The maximum stress of the spinal intervertebral disc before operation occurred at the L1-L2 segment(0.55 MPa),and the maximum stress of the spinal intervertebral disc after operation occurred at the T11-T12 segment(0.50 MPa),and the stress of intervertebral disc below T12 was far less than that before operation.(3)The maximum stress of the screw rod system(166.67 MPa)occurred in the upper and middle segments of the rod body and the root of the pedicle screw.(4)In conclusion,the"Y"type posterior fixation operation enhances the stability of the spine and reduces the range of motion of the spine.The vertebral body decompression of the fixed segment is great and the stress-shielding phenomenon of the lower vertebral body is significant.The stiffness of the rod body and the stress concentration area of the pedicle screw should be strengthened to avoid the fracture of the rod caused by stress fatigue.

To compare the differences in clinical features and treatment choices between peripheral spondyloarthritis(pSpA) and axial spondyloarthritis(axSpA), and better understand the clinical characteristics and medication needs of pSpA.

To investigate the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and work impairment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) based on real-world evidence. Outpatients with confirmed AS at Chinese PLA General Hospital were recruited consecutively by Smart-phone SpondyloArthritis Management System (SpAMS) from April 2016 to April 2018. The relationship between CRP and work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire (WPAI) were evaluated. Five hundred and fifty-one outpatients with AS in paid employment were recruited. The presenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment rates increased by 1.4% (1.1%, 1.8%), 1.1% (0.5%, 1.6%), and 1.7% (1.3%, 2.1%), respectively, for every 10 mg/L increase in the CRP level (all P value<0.01). However, the CRP level was not associated with absenteeism after adjusting for covariates [0.5%(-0.4%, 1.0%), P>0.05]. There is a significant association between increased serum CRP levels at baseline and the previous 7-day work impairment in patients with AS. Higher CRP levels contribute to worse presenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment rates, which suggests the necessity of monitoring CRP on treatment, and also indicates that anti-inflammatory therapy may be effective for improving work productivity.

BACKGROUND: Concerns exist regarding the potential development of tuberculosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with biological and targeted drugs. We assessed systematically whether biological therapy increased the risk of tuberculosis in patients with RA by meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and China Biology Medicine disc for RCTs evaluating biological therapy in patients with RA from inception through August 2021. Traditional meta-analysis and network meta-analysis were performed to compare the risk of tuberculosis for each biologics class in patients with RA. Peto odds ratio (Peto OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated as the primary effect measure. RESULTS: In total, 39 studies with 20,354 patients were included in this meta-analysis, and 82 patients developed tuberculosis. The risk of tuberculosis was increased in patients treated with biologics compared with non-biologics (Peto OR: 3.86, 95% CI: 2.36-6.32, P < 0.001). Also, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors had a higher probability of developing tuberculosis than placebo (Peto OR: 3.98, 95% CI: 2.30-6.88, P < 0.001). However, network meta-analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the risk of tuberculosis for each biologics class in patients with RA. Noticeably, tuberculosis was significantly more common in patients treated with a high dose compared with patients receiving a low dose of tofacitinib (Peto OR: 7.39, 95% CI: 2.00-27.31, P = 0.003). CONCLUSION This meta-analysis demonstrates the evidence of an elevated risk of tuberculosis in patients with RA treated with TNF-α inhibitors, and a dose-dependent elevated risk of tuberculosis in patients treated with tofacitinib.
Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Network Meta-Analysis ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Tuberculosis/drug therapy*

Objective To explore the association between lipid profiles and left ventricular hypertrophy in a Chinese general population. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study to investigate the relationship between lipid markers [including triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein[a], and composite lipid profiles] and left ventricular hypertrophy. A total of 309,400 participants of two populations (one from Beijing and another from nationwide) who underwent physical examinations at different health management centers between 2009 and 2018 in China were included in the cross-sectional study. 7,475 participants who had multiple physical examinations and initially did not have left ventricular hypertrophy constituted a longitudinal cohort to analyze the association between lipid markers and the new-onset of left ventricular hypertrophy. Left ventricular hypertrophy was measured by echocardiography and defined as an end-diastolic thickness of the interventricular septum or left ventricle posterior wall > 11 mm. The Logistic regression model was used in the cross-sectional study. Cox model and Cox model with restricted cubic splines were used in the longitudinal cohort. Results In the cross-sectional study, for participants in the highest tertile of each lipid marker compared to the respective lowest, triglycerides [odds ratio (OR): 1.250, 95％CI: 1.060 to 1.474], HDL-cholesterol (OR: 0.780, 95％CI: 0.662 to 0.918), and lipoprotein(a) (OR: 1.311, 95％CI: 1.115 to 1.541) had an association with left ventricular hypertrophy. In the longitudinal cohort, for participants in the highest tertile of each lipid marker at the baseline compared to the respective lowest, triglycerides [hazard ratio (HR): 3.277, 95％CI: 1.720 to 6.244], HDL-cholesterol (HR: 0.516, 95％CI: 0.283 to 0.940), non-HDL-cholesterol (HR: 2.309, 95％CI: 1.296 to 4.112), apolipoprotein B (HR: 2.244, 95％CI: 1.251 to 4.032) showed an association with new-onset left ventricular hypertrophy. In the Cox model with forward stepwise selection, triglycerides were the only lipid markers entered into the final model. Conclusion Lipids levels, especially triglycerides, are associated with left ventricular hypertrophy. Controlling triglycerides level potentiate to be a strategy in harnessing cardiac remodeling but deserve to be further investigated.

Background::Concerns exist regarding the risk of infections in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) treated with biologics. We assessed the risk of infections of biological and targeted drugs in patients with SpA by performing a meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Methods::A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and China Biology Medicine Disc for RCTs evaluating the risk of infections of biological therapy in patients with SpA from inception through August 9, 2021. We calculated a pooled Peto odds ratio (OR) for infections in biologics-treated patients vs. placebo patients. The risk of bias on the included RCTs was assessed by using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Results::In total, 62 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the risk of infection (Peto OR: 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.26, P < 0.001), serious infection (Peto OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.26-2.17, P < 0.001), upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) (Peto OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04-1.32, P = 0.008), nasopharyngitis (Peto OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10-1.42, P < 0.001), and Candida infection (Peto OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.48-4.71, P = 0.001) were increased in SpA patients treated with biologics compared with placebo. Sensitivity analysis based on biologics classes was conducted, and results demonstrated that compared with placebo, there was a higher risk of infection for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors (Peto OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.13-1.68, P = 0.001) and interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors (Peto OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.08-2.22, P = 0.018) in axial SpA, and for Janus kinase inhibitors in peripheral SpA (Peto OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.14-1.69, P = 0.001); higher risk of serious infection for IL-17 inhibitors in peripheral SpA (Peto OR: 3.46, 95% CI: 1.26-9.55, P = 0.016) and axial SpA (Peto OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.38-2.91, P < 0.001); higher risk of URTI for TNF-α inhibitors in axial SpA (Peto OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.05-1.78, P= 0.019), and for apremilast in peripheral SpA (Peto OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.08-2.36, P = 0.018); higher risk of nasopharyngitis for TNF-α inhibitors in axial SpA (Peto OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.05-1.90, P = 0.022) and peripheral SpA (Peto OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.09-2.05, P = 0.013), and for IL-17 inhibitors in axial SpA (Peto OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.01-1.82, P = 0.044); higher risk of herpes zoster for Janus kinase inhibitors in peripheral SpA (Peto OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.03-4.62, P = 0.043); higher risk of Candida infection for IL-17 inhibitors in peripheral SpA (Peto OR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.31-4.84, P= 0.006). Conclusions::This meta-analysis shows that biological therapy in patients with SpA may increase the risk of infections, including serious infections, URTI, nasopharyngitis, and Candida infection, which should be paid attention to in our clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanism of sodium hydrosulfide on rat epidermal cells intervened with serum from burned rat (hereinafter referred to as burn serum).Methods:The experimental research method was used. Ten male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged eight months were taken to prepare normal rat serum (hereinafter referred to as normal serum), 30 male SD rats aged eight months were taken to prepare burn serum after full-thickness burn, and epidermal cells (the third passage)isolated from 10 SD rats born one day were used for the experiments. The cells were divided into normal serum group treated with normal serum and burn serum group treated with burn serum. Cell counting kit 8 method was used to detect cell survival rate after 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h of culture, respectively, to screen the subsequent intervention time of burn serum. The cells were divided into burn serum control group treated only with burn serum and 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 μmol/L sodium hydrosulfide groups treated with burn serum+ sodium hydrosulfide at corresponding final molarity. After 30 min of culture following the burn serum intervention, the cell survival rate was detected as above to screen the subsequent intervention concentration of sodium hydrosulfide. The cells were divided into burn serum control group treated with burn serum only and sodium hydrosulfide only group, glibenclamide only group, and sodium hydrosulfide+ glibenclamide group treated with burn serum+ corresponding reagents. After 5, 10, 15 min of culture following the burn serum intervention, the cell survival rate was detected as above to screen the subsequent intervention time of glibenclamide. The cells were divided into burn serum control group treated with burn serum and sodium hydrosulfide only group, glibenclamide only group, and sodium hydrosulfide+ glibenclamide group treated with burn serum+ corresponding reagents. After completing corresponding culture time of each reagent, the mitochondria were extracted to detect cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity using a spectrophotometer, and the protein expression level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channel was detected by Western blotting. Except for the number of samples for ATP-sensitive potassium channel protein detection, which was 3, the number of samples for the other indicators was 10. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for factorial design, one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference (LSD)- t test, LSD test, and Bonferroni correction. Results:Compared with that of normal serum group, the cell survival rate was significantly decreased in burn serum group after only 4 and 6 h of culture ( t=4.02, 6.42, P<0.05). An overall comparison showed statistically significant differences in cell survival rate among the time points within normal serum group and burn serum group ( F=19.74, 4.48, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Four hours of culture was selected as the subsequent intervention time of burn serum. After 30 min of culture following the burn serum intervention, compared with that of burn serum control group, only 150, 200, 250 μmol/L sodium hydrosulfide groups had a significantly higher cell survival rate ( P<0.01), thus 150 μmol/L was selected as the subsequent intervention concentration of sodium hydrosulfide. Compared with that of burn serum control group, the cell survival rate decreased significantly in glibenclamide only group after 5 and 15 min of culture following burn serum intervention ( P<0.05) and increased significantly in glibenclamide only group after 10 min of culture following the burn serum intervention and sodium hydrosulfide only group at each time point ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). The cell survival rate in sodium hydrosulfide+ glibenclamide group was significantly lower than that of sodium hydrosulfide only group at each time point ( P<0.05). The difference in cell survival rate was statistically significant among the time points within glibenclamide only group ( F=11.81, P<0.01). Five minutes of culture was selected as the subsequent intervention time of glibenclamide. After 35 min of culture following the burn serum intervention, compared with (1.62±0.08) nmol·min -1·mg -1 and 0.682±0.063 in burn serum control group, the CCO activity of cells and the protein expression level of ATP-sensitive potassium channel were significantly increased in sodium hydrosulfide only group ((1.99±0.09) nmol·min -1·mg -1 and 0.932±0.014, P<0.01) and significantly decreased in glibenclamide only group ((1.44±0.09) nmol·min -1·mg -1 and 0.600±0.012, P<0.01); the CCO activity of cells and the protein expression level of ATP-sensitive potassium channel in sodium hydrosulfide+ glibenclamide group ((1.79±0.06) nmol·min -1·mg -1 and 0.744±0.071) was significantly lower than those of sodium hydrosulfide only group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions:Sodium hydrosulfide can improve the survival rate of rat epidermal cells after burn serum intervention, by a mechanism which is related to the alleviation of epidermal cell mitochondrial damage and mediated by ATP-sensitive potassium channel.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with inflammation bowel disease (IBD). Methods: AS patients fulfilling the 1984 modified New York diagnostic criteria were recruited in Chinese AS Prospective Imaging Cohort (CASPIC) consecutively from April 2016 to June 2017 in Chinese People′s Liberation Army General Hospital by using smart management system for spondyloarthritis (SpAMS). The diagnosis of IBD was confirmed by tissue pathology via ileocolonoscopy. Demographic, clinical and biochemical data were collected. Results: In total, 893 patients with AS were recruited with the mean age 30.8 years. The majority were men (739, 82.8%). There were 64 (7.2%) patients concomitant with IBD. The mean age [(34.5±7.5) years vs. (30.5±8.8) years, P<0.001] was older and the disease duration [(10.8±6.9) years vs. (8.1±5.9) years, P=0.001] was longer in patients with IBD than patients without. Compared with patients without IBD, patients with IBD had more frequent involvement of the cervical spine [(21.9% (14/64) vs. 10.5% (87/829), P=0.006) and thoracic spine [29.7% (19/64) vs. 12.3% (102/829), P<0.001]. Uveitis [28.1% (18/64) vs. 16.4% (136/829), P=0.017] and psoriasis [7.8% (5/64) vs. 2.3% (19/829), P=0.009] were also more common in patients concomitant with IBD. In addition, patients with IBD had significantly higher scores in BASDAI (3.3±2.1 vs. 2.4±1.8, P<0.001), BASFI [2.2 (1.0,3.3) vs. 1.1(0.2,2.4), P<0.001)] and ASAS HI (7.1±4.3 vs. 5.3±3.7, P= 0.001) than patients without IBD. Conclusions Compared with patients without IBD, AS patients concomitant with IBD have more severe disease activity and organ dysfunction. Furthermore, the uveitis and psoriasis are more frequently accompanied in AS patients with IBD.

Objective:To investigate the application of 3D printing technique in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) of patients with complicated kidney stones.Methods:From January 2015 to December 2017, 60 patients with complicated kidney stones were enrolled in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University for prospective study, and PCNL was proposed.All the patients were randomly divided into 3D print group (30 cases) and conventional image inspection group (30 cases, control group). Before operation, CT urography (CTU) was used in both groups.In 3D printing group, digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) files of CT were extracted for 3D image postprocessing, and thermoplastic materials were used to print 3D model.In the 3D printing group, the digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) files of CT were extracted for 3D image post-processing, and the 3D model was printed with thermoplastic materials.According to the comprehensive planning of 3D kidney model, a virtual safe and reliable percutaneous renal access was established for each patient, and PCNL was executed.The patients in the two groups were compared before, during and after operation.Preoperative: age, sex, body mass index, blood creatinine, stone size and CT value.During the operation: (1) the target renal calices location time; (2) the conformity between the preoperative planning and the actual operation; (3) the operation completion time.After operation: (1) stone removal rate; (2) hemoglobin reduction level; (3) postoperative recovery.Results:All the 60 patients successfully completed the operation, 30 patients successfully printed out the 3D model, which can accurately express the relationship between the stone and the adjacent anatomical structure, the internal renal artery and the collecting system.Positioning time of 3D printing group in target renal calices((2.9 ± 1.5) min vs.(5.8 ± 1.7) min, P=0.023), coincidence between simulated and actual puncture calices((89.5 ± 3.5)% vs.(60.2 ± 5.7)%, P=0.005), postoperative stone removal rate ((89.9 ± 4.5)% vs.(75.9 ± 5.2)%, P=0.009), and hemoglobin levels((1.4 ± 0.5) g/L vs.(2.9 ± 1.4) g/L, P=0.032) were superior to the control group, and the difference was statistically significant.But there was no significant difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The 3D printed kidney model truly restores the anatomical details around the kidneys and stones, providing a stereoscopic and intuitive way to perform surgery, so it maybe has a significance guidance for percutaneous nephrolithotomy.