C-reactive protein is associated with impaired working capacity in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis in paid employment: the real-world evidence from Smart-phone SpondyloArthritis Management System / 中华内科杂志

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.

Prognostic factors of grade Ⅲ- Ⅳ mixed hemorrhoids with anorectal resting hypertension and the therapeutic effect of MMH / 国际外科学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of external dissection and internal ligation (MMH) in the treatment of grade Ⅲ to Ⅳ mixed hemorrhoids with anorectal resting hypertension and its prognostic risk factors.Methods:The clinical data of 48 patients with grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ mixed hemorrhoids complicated with rectal and anal resting hypertension treated by MMH in Nanjing Jiangbei people′s Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University from February 2018 to February 2020 were analyzed retrospectively (observation group), including 24 males and 24 females; The age ranged from 22 to 55 (41.87±7.52) years. Another 48 patients with grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ mixed hemorrhoids complicated with anorectal resting hypertension treated by PPH were selected as the control group, including 20 males and 28 females; The average age was (42.68±7.14) years. The clinical effective rates , pain score at 6, 24 and 72 h after operation, postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the related risk factors affecting the prognosis.Results:There was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups at 6 h after operation ( t=0.25, P=0.807); the VAS score of the observation group at 24 h and 72 h after operation was lower than that of the control group ( t=7.044, P<0.001; t=5.307, P<0.001); the total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (93.75% vs 77.08%, χ2=5.35, P=0.021); the total incidence of postoperative anal edema, defecation difficulty, bloody stool, anal pain and fecal incontinence in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (12.50% vs 33.33%, χ2=5.879, P=0.015). Age, course of disease, grading of internal hemorrhoids and treatment methods were related to the prognosis of patients ( P<0.05); logistic regression analysis showed that age (> 45 years), course of disease (>10 years), grade of internal hemorrhoids (grade Ⅳ) and treatment (PPH) were independent risk factors for prognosis of patients ( P<0.05). Conclusions:MMH has less complications, less postoperative pain and satisfactory curative effect in the treatment of Ⅲ to Ⅳ mixed hemorrhoids and anorectal resting hypertension. The older the patients, the longer the course of disease, the higher the degree of internal hemorrhoids and the choice of treatment methods were the risk factors for the prognosis. Early diagnosis and reasonable treatment are helpful to improve the prognosis of patients.

Risk of tuberculosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biological and targeted drugs: meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

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.

Clinical characteristics of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and inflammatory bowel disease / 中华内科杂志

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.

Clinical characteristics of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and inflammatory bowel disease / 中华内科杂志

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.

The effect of arthroscopic synovectomy on refractory knee arthritis with popliteal cyst in 153 patients / 中华内科杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy of arthroscopic synovectomy on refractory knee arthritis complicated with popliteal cyst.Methods Patients diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthritis (SPA) with refractory knee arthritis who underwent knee arthroscopic synovectomy in our hospital from 2010 to 2017 were enrolled,including 20 patients (16 RA,4 SpA) with popliteal cyst.Clinical data,RA disease activity score (DAS28),SpA back pain score,etc,were collected to evaluate the efficacy of knee surgery.Results Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) [58(17,79)mm / 1h vs.19(9,30)mm/1h,P＜ 0.001],C reactive protein (CRP) [3.72(0.92,8.14) mg/L vs.0.85(0.10,3.08) mg/L,P＜0.001],rheumatoid factor [64.6(20.2,193.3) vs.20.5(10.0,58.4),P＜0.001],DAS28 score(4.67±1.25 vs.2.81±1.23,P＜0.001),knee joint discomfort score [5(4,6) vs.2(1,3),P＜0.001] and the volume of knee joint effusion by ultrasound (P＜0.05) in 95 RA patients were significantly decreased compared to those before operation.ESR [27(12,54)mm/1h vs.20 (16,28) mm/1 h,P＜0.001],CRP [3.27(1.06,6.95) mg/L vs.1.41(0.34,3.03)mg/L,P＜0.001],knee discomfort score [2(0,5) vs.1(0,3),P＜0.05],back pain visual analogue score (VAS) [5(4,5) vs.2(1,3),P＜0.001],and the volume of knee joint effusion by ultrasound (P＜0.001) in 58 SpA patients were significantly lower than those before the operation.The rate [16.84％(16/95) vs.6.32％(6/95),P=0.023] and grading (P=0.007) of popliteal cyst in RA were decreased after the operation.No statistically difference was observed in the rate [6.90％ (4/58) vs.5.17％(3/58),P=0.697] of popliteal cyst in patients with SpA,yet with a trend of decrease in 4 patients.Conclusion This study provide evidence that knee arthroscopic synovectomy has a good effect for refractory knee arthritis,which can reduce disease activity,improve joint symptoms and decrease the grading of popliteal cyst.

A new method to evaluate hip joint damage in ankylosing spondylitis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective In order to assess the structure damage of hip joint in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a new radiograph-based scoring method was developed according to the radiological characteristics of hip involvement in AS, as well referring to prior existing scoring indexes. Methods A new scoring method consti-tuted of erosion, sclerosis and joint space narrowing was developed, pelvis anterior-posterior plain films acquired from patients with AS at baseline and follow-up were collected and assessed by two physicians who were trained in image reading by radiologists. All films were scored independently and blindly. Intra- and inter-reader reliability were assessed by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), the feasibility of this new scoring method was assessed by the mean time acquired to score a plain (two hips), its ability to detect the change of structure damage was assessed by the comparison of score differences between baseline and different follow-ups. The date were analyzed by paired-t test or nonparametric tests. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) or nonparametric tests were utilized for the comparison of means of quantitative variables among the three groups, while Chi-square test for rates of categorical variables. Results No statistically significant differences existed in demographic data and suspected risk factors among the three groups at baseline (P>0.05). Intra-observer reliability was good (0.84 and 0.89), as well as the inter-observer reliability (0.72), the mean time needed to score was (33 ±10) seconds. Score changes were not statistically significant in the groups with follow-up duration of 1-2 and 3-4 years, but in the group of over 5 years, baseline/final scores assessed by the two observers were (6.0±2.7/7.5±3.7) and (5.6±2.1/7.1±3.6), respectively, both changes were statistically significant (t=2.86, Z=-2.99; P<0.01). Conclusion This new method is not only reproducible and easy to operate in clinic practice, but also can tell the changes of hip joint structure damage in the interval of over 5 years, further validation is requeired to demonstrate its discriminability in large populations.

Comparison of clinical manifestations according to HLA-B27 genotype in ankylosing spondylitis patients: real-world evidence from smart management system for spondyloarthritis / 中华内科杂志

Objective The aim of this study was to set up a large,longitudinal and prospective database to compare the clinical manifestations in human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 positive and negative patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS) based on real-world evidence in Chinese population.Methods A total of 897 outpatients with confirmed AS were recruited consecutively by smart management system for spondyloarthritis (SMSP) from April 13,2016 to June 6,2017 in Chinese PLA General Hospital from 30 provinces and autonomous regions.801 patients with HLA-B27 data were included in the analysis.Demographic and clinical parameters including Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI),Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI),ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS),arthritis,enthesitis,Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrology index (BASMI),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared between HLA-B27 positive and negative groups.Results A total of 801 patients were included in the analysis with an average age of (30.7± 8.8) years.There were 659 males and 142 females and HLA-B27 was present in 88.0％(705/801).Males were significantly more in HLA-B27 positive patients [83.3％ (587/705) vs.75.0％ (72/96);P=0.047].The average age at disease onset was (22.3 ±7.6)years in HLA-B27 positive patients and (24.4 + 8.7) years in HLA-B27 negative ones (P=0.028).There was significant difference in diagnose delay between two groups [14.3(2.5,43.6)months in HLA-B27 positive patients vs.20.3(5.0,67.4) months in HLA-B27 negative ones,P=0.041].Anterior uveitis was found to be significantly more common in HLA-B24 positive patients [18.9％ (133/705) vs.7.3％ (7/96),P=0.005],and knee involvement less common in HLA-B27 positive patients [4.0％ (27/682) vs.10.0％(9/90),P=0.010],conversely.CRP[6.5(3.0,16.4)mg/L vs.3.5(1.6,12.3)mg/L] and ESR[11.0(4.0,24.0)mrn/1h vs.7.0(3.0,16.0)mm/1h] were significantly higher in HLA-B27 positive patients(P=0.005,0.013,respectively).But no differences in BASDAI,ASDAS,BASFI and BASMI were obtained between two groups.Conclusions HLA-B27 positive patients had a higher proportion of males,a younger age of onset and a greater risk for occurrence of anterior uveitis,suggesting a poorer prognosis.

Imaging of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Adult Onset Still's Disease / 中国医学影像学杂志

Purpose The diagnosis of adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) is usually difficult due to the lack of specific clinical manifestation.This paper summarizes the manifestations of 18F-FDG PET/CT in adult onset Still's disease and investigates the value of PET/CT in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of AOSD.Materials and Methods Fiftyfour patients who was diagnosed as AOSD were selected and underwent 1 8F-fluorodeoxyglueosepositron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT).The clinical features,laboratory examination and the maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of liver,spleen,bone marrow,lymph node were collected.Then the main PET/CT manifestations of patients with AOSD,the influence factor of SUVmax and correlation between SUVmax and laboratory indexes were analyzed.Results FDG accumulation occurred mainly in bone marrow (88.89％;SUVmax:3.91 ± 1.16),spleen (79.63％,SUVmax:3.24±0.89) and lymph node (77.78％;SUVmax:3.83± 1.97).FDG accumulation can also occurred in joints,parotid gland,submandibular gland,pleural and other organs.Compared with the nonglucocorticoid group,SUVmax of the spleen,bone marrow and lymph node were significantly decreased in the glucocorticoid group with or without fever (P＜0.05),whereas the SUVmax of liver,spleen,bone marrow and lymph node between the two glucocorticoid groups were not statistically different (P＞0.05).The SUVmax of liver,spleen,bone marrow and lymph node between two groups with or without disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were not statistically different (P＞0.05).Correlation analysis showed that spleen SUVmax and lactate dehydrogenase,bone marrow SUVmax and C reactive protein were weakly correlated (r=0.33 and 0.30,P＜0.05).Conclusion The main manifestations of 18F-FDG PET/CT of AOSD are FDG accumulation in spleen,bone marrow and lymph nodes.Glucocorticoid can reduce the SUVmax.18F-FDG PET/CT can help to rule out malignancy,guide biopsy and assist in definite diagnosis of AOSD.

An investigation of work disability and related factors in ankylosing spondylitis patients / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To study the characteristics of work disability and its influencing factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods The demographic data, work conditons and disease related characteristics of 277 patients with AS were recorded, and randomly selected from the Department of Rheumatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital from November 2014 to January 2016. Work and productivity activity impair-ment questionnaire (WPAI) was used to survey the work disability and productivity loss, then explore its in-fluencing factors and the relationships between patient-reported outcomes and WPAI scores. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associated factors of work disability. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the predictive factors of lose of work productivity. Results The prevalence of work disability was 30.3%. Twenty patients were unemployed because of working disability. Two hudreds patients were employed, with average 36.5 (24.0, 50.0) hours workingtime in the past week. Average AS related absenteeism was 4.4 (0, 10) hour. Average workproductivity loss was 26.4%(2.5%, 40.0%). Logistic multiple regression analysis showed that Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) scores might be the important influencing factors among those clinical measures ( OR=1.270, 0.959). Presenteeism and overall work impairment were moderately correlated with patients' global assessment of disease activity (VAS), BASDAI, bath AS functional index (BASFI), SF-36 physical Functioning (PF), SF-36 body pain (BP) and SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) (|r|=0.539-0.648). Linear multivariate analyses indicated that work presente-eismand absenteeismwere significantly associated with BASDAI (P<0.01). Conclusion High prevalence of work disability in patients with AS is noted, which is closely related with disease activity and body function;High attention should be paid to AS patients with work disability.

Diagnosis and scr eening for antimalarial retinopathy：two cases report and literature review / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To analyze antimalarial assosiated retinopathy detected by different methods with of modern ocular fundus examination, and explore screening strategy and the diagnosis of hydroxych-loroquine assosiatedretinopathy according to clinical experience and international guidelines. Methods Full fundus examination was performed in two patients with antimalarial retinopathy. The related literature were reviewed. Results Two patients had bull's eyes maculopathy and abnormal visual fields. Conclusion Clin-icians' alertness to hydroxychloroquine related retinopathy may improve early diagnosis of hydroxychloroquine toxicity. New objective tests are more sensitive than visual fields examination. Visible bull's-eye maculopathy is a late change, and the goal of screening is to recognize toxicity at early stage.

A study on calculating the ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score according to the C-reactive protein level / 中华内科杂志

Objective To study the prediction value of C-reactive protein (CRP) level to ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS),the most widely used activity score in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods A total of 386 patients with AS were enrolled and divided into 2 groups by CRP≥3.5 mg/L (n =266) and CRP ＜ 3.5 mg/L(n =120).ASDAS-CRP was evaluated in patients with CRP below the normal range (3.5 mg/L) in different subgroups.Three methods were used to test the consistency between ASDAS-CRP and ASDAS-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).Results The ASDAS-CRP showed a good correlation with the ASDAS-ESR when CRP level was ≥ 3.5 mg/L (r =0.899,P =0.000).In the group of CRP ＜ 3.5 mg/L,ASDAS-ESR showed better consistency with ASDAS-CRP when CRP level was below 1.5 mg/L(intra-class correlation coefficient 0.902;kappa coefficient 0.70).By the evaluation of variant gradient matrix,CRP 1.5 mg/L coincided with disease activity states.Conclusion There is good consistency between ASDAS-CRP and ASDAS-ESR.When CRP level is below the normal range,1.5 mg/L could be a cut-off value to calculate the optimal ASDAS-CRP score.