Rheumatoid Factor Titer as an Indicator of the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity: Dose-Effect Analysis with the Restricted Cubic Spline Model.

Background: Rheumatoid factor (RF) titer is known to be correlated to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity, but the ideal cut-off titer of RF remains unclear. Here, the relationship between RF titer and RA activity was investigated in order to determine the ideal RF value indicative of the risk of RA activity.

Methods: Clinical data from 2044 eligible patients were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from February 2022 to October 2023.

Preoperative C-reactive protein to albumin ratio may be a good prognostic marker in patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

Background: Systemic inflammatory response represented by C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) was shown to be associated with long-term outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative CAR in patients undergoing hepatectomy for HCC.

Methods: We searched four databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Library) from inception to May 10th, 2024.

Tumor-derived exosome PPP3CB induce gemcitabine resistance by regulating miR-298/STAT3 in pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Due to resistance to gemcitabine (GEM), patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) usually have poor prognosis and low survival rate. The purpose of our research was to explore the impact of exosome PPP3CB on GEM resistance in PC, and concurrently analyze the regulatory role of the miR-298/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Methods: Exosomes isolated from PC cells were verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and western blotting (WB).

Differential lncRNA profiles of blood plasma-derived exosomes from systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) dysregulation is key in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the role of exosomal lncRNAs in SLE has not been well studied. We elucidated the profiles of plasma exosomal lncRNAs expression in patients with SLE and predictd their potential clinical significance in SLE.

Methods: In the screening stage, six newly diagnosed and untreated patients with SLE and six healthy controls were examined by high-throughput sequencing technology, and differential exosomal lncRNA profiles were constructed.

Skeletal muscle index together with body mass index is associated with secondary osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the associations of body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), skeletal mass index (SMI) and secondary osteoporosis (OP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The bone mineral density (BMD) at sites of the femur neck (Neck), total hip (Hip) and lumbar vertebrae 1-4 (L1-4) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The skeletal muscle index, body fat percentage and mineral content were measured by biological electrical impedance for calculating BMI, FMI and SMI.

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid suppresses biliary epithelial cell apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress by miR-107/NCK1 axis in a FXR-dependent manner.

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA can activate farnesoid X receptor (FXR) to involve in the formation of gallstones. Here, this study aimed to probe the potential mechanism of TUDCA-FXR network in the formation of bile duct stone. The levels of TUDCA, FXR and NCK1 were decreased, while the level of miR-107 was increased in the serum of bile duct stone patients.

A dynamic spatiotemporal model for fall warning and protection.

Early detection of falls is important for reducing fall injuries. However, existing fall detection strategies mostly focus on reducing impact injuries rather than avoiding falls. This study proposed the concept of identifying "Imbalance Point" to warn the body imbalance, allowing sufficient time to recover balance.

Differences of RUNX2 gene promoter methylation and transcription level in ankylosing spondylitis.

Background And Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis is a refractory immune disease that seriously affects the life and work of patients. Epigenetic modifications, especially DNA methylation, have become a research hotspot in complex diseases. We aim to explore the changes in runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) gene promoter methylation and transcription level in AS.

RIOK3 potentially regulates osteogenesis-related pathways in ankylosing spondylitis and the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which are key effectors of gene expression, play critical roles in inflammation and immune regulation. However, the potential biological function of RBPs in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains unclear. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of five patients with AS and three healthy persons by RNA-seq, obtained differentially expressed RBPs by overlapping DEGs and RBPs summary table.

Association of sarcopenia and vitamin D deficiency with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: The study aimed to explore the association of sarcopenia and vitamin D deficiency with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Method: Skeletal muscle mass, serum 25(OH)D levels, and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed.

Results: The prevalence of OP, sarcopenia, and vitamin D deficiency in RA patients was significantly higher than in controls (all P < 0.

Association between exposure to mixture of heavy metals and hyperlipidemia risk among U.S. adults: A cross-sectional study.

Previous studies have suggested that exposure to heavy metals might increase the risk of hyperlipidemia. However, limited research has investigated the association between exposure to mixture of heavy metals and hyperlipidemia risk. To explore the independent and combined effects of heavy metal exposure on hyperlipidemia risk, this study involved 3293 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including 2327 with hyperlipidemia and the remaining without.

Causal relationship between endometriosis with infertility and ankylosing spondylitis.

Retrospective studies have identified an increased risk of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in endometriosis patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causal relationship between clinical phenotypes of endometriosis and AS using mendelian randomized analysis (MR). MR was performed using data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs).

Frailty predicts knee pain trajectory over 9 years: results from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objective: Frailty is a multisystem syndrome and its relationship with symptomatic osteoarthritis has been reported. We aimed to identify trajectories of knee pain in a large prospective cohort and to describe the effect of frailty status at baseline on the pain trajectories over 9 years.

Methods: We included 4419 participants (mean age 61.

Clinical features and prognostic factors of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease in Chinese patients.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate clinical features and prognostic factors of antimelanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5)-positive dermatomyositis with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) in Chinese patients.

Methods: Clinical features and prognostic factors of patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent dermatomyositis patients were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into the anti-MDA5-positive or negative dermatomyositis, and with or without RP-ILD groups.

Could endothelial progenitor cells complement the diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to systematically review existing evidence and evaluate variations in levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) among individuals with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Relevant studies were identified through database searches, and 20 records were enrolled. We used the fixed-effect model or random-effect model to estimate the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in circulating EPC levels between inflammatory arthritis patients and controls.

Polysaccharide-Based Injectable Hydrogels with Fast Gelation and Self-Strengthening Mechanical Kinetics for Oral Tissue Regeneration.

Oral defects lead to a series of function disorders, severely threatening the patients' health. Although injectable hydrogels are widely studied in tissue regeneration, their mechanical performance is usually stationary after implant, without further self-adaption toward the microenvironment. Herein, an injectable hydrogel with programmed mechanical kinetics of instant gelation and gradual self-strengthening along with outstanding biodegradation ability is developed.

Global burden and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among adolescents and young adults in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019.

Background: Current studies on musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders mainly focus on the elderly, while adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are often neglected despite their unique epidemiology, healthcare needs and societal implications. To bridge this gap, we evaluated the global burden and temporal trends of MSK disorders among AYAs from 1990 to 2019, as well as their common categories and main risk factors.

Methods: Data on the global burden and risk factors of MSK disorders were obtained from the Global Burden of Diseases study 2019.

Association of Sleep Disturbance With Catastrophizing and Knee Pain: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between sleep disturbance, catastrophizing, and knee pain in middle-aged and older individuals.

Methods: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort from months 48 to 96 were used, where month 48 was treated as baseline. Knee pain (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain scale score ≥5 [range 0-20]), catastrophizing (extracted from Coping Strategies Questionnaire score ≥3 [range 0-6]), and sleep quality (extracted from Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [range 1-4]) were assessed annually.

Systemic lupus erythematosus associated with multiple myeloma: Two case reports and a literature review.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by multiple myeloma (MM) is a relatively rare clinical presentation, and is easily ignored due to their similar or even identical manifestation, which may lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

Case Report: We report two cases of SLE with MM. Case 1 was a 59-year-old male who was diagnosed with SLE 11 years ago.

Laparoscopic versus open liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of propensity score-matched studies.

Purpose: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is a widely practiced therapeutic method and holds several advantages over open liver resection (OLR) including less postoperative pain, lower morbidity, and faster recovery. However, the effect of LLR for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in elderly patients remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to perform the first meta-analysis of propensity score-matched (PSM) studies to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of LLR versus OLR for elderly patients with HCC.

Screening Key lncRNAs of Ankylosing Spondylitis Using Bioinformatics Analysis.

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Few studies have examined the lncRNA-RNA binding protein (RBP) interaction in AS. This study performed bioinformatics analysis and clinical verification to identify key lncRNAs and propose their RBP interaction.

A Real-World Study on the Effect of Imrecoxib for Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Purpose: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have generally been viewed as first-line therapy for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Imrecoxib is a selective COX-2 inhibitor developed independently in China. At present, only one single-center RCT trial has shown that imrecoxib is equally effective as celecoxib in treating axSpA.