Gait Characteristics in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Application of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in ankylosing spondylitis: Based on bibliometric and visualization analysis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) as a autoimmune disease involves inflammatory responses in the development of the disease, often causing changes in the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR). In the past few decades, research on the relationship between NLR and AS has generally shown an upward trend. This study adopts the bibliometrics method to analyze the development trend, frontier, and hotspots of global research in this field in the past 2 decades. By searching for publications in the SCI-Expanded edition of the Web of Science Core Collection, the information of literature published between 2000 and 2023 is recorded. Based on the VOSviewer, CiteSpace and Excel, bibliometric analysis, and visualization analysis are conducted on the overall distribution of annual output, leading countries, active institutions, journals, authors, co-cited references, and keywords. Through retrieving and screening, a total of 1654 papers are obtained for analysis. In the past 2 decades, the number of publications related to this field has shown an increasing trend. The United States has the highest Hirsch index (H-index) and publication volume. The most productive institution is Harvard University, while the H-index of the University of Milan in Italy is far ahead. Frontiers in Immunology is the institution with the highest output. The H-index of the Annals of the Rheumatic holds the top position. This study has uncovered the main emphasis on NLR in AS research and has provided clarification regarding the value of NLR as a biomarker for immune inflammatory response in the diagnosis and prognosis of AS.

Future Challenges and Critical Approach to Metrology in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a rheumatic inflammatory chronic disease that mainly affects the spine, producing inflammation and structural damage at the vertebral level (erosions, syndesmophytes, and bony bridges) [...].

MicroRNA let-7i-3p affects osteoblast differentiation in ankylosing spondylitis via targeting PDK1

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which let-7i has been studied to involved. But, whether let-7i-3p could regulate osteoblast differentiation in AS remains unclear. This research targeted to decipher the impact of let-7i-3p on AS progression by modulating pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1). The bone mineral density of femur and lumbar vertebra and the maximum loading and bending elastic modulus of tibia, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) in serum of AS mice, the pathological condition of synovial tissue were determined via let-7i-3p inhibitor and OE-PDK1 in animal experiment. Also, the cell viability and ALP activity were measured by let-7i-3p inhibitor and OE-PDK1 in cell experiments. let-7i-3p and PDK1 expression were detected. Let-7i-3p raised and PDK1 declined in AS mice. Depleted let-7i-3p and restored PDK1 increased bone mineral density and maximum loading and bending elastic modulus of tibia, reduced TNF-α, MMP-3 and RANKL contents, attenuated the pathological condition of synovial tissue and raised OPG content in AS mice. In cell experiments, up-regulating PDK1 and down-regulating let-7i-3p enhanced cell viability and ALP activity in AS mice. Low expression of let-7i-3p could enhance osteoblast differentiation in AS by up-regulating PDK1.Abbreviations: AS: Ankylosing spondylitis; PDK1: pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α MMP: matrix metalloproteinase; OPG: osteoprotegerin; RANKL: receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand; miRNAs: MicroRNAs; BMD: bone mineral density; PFA: paraformaldehyde; NC: negative control; OE: overexpression; HE: Hematoxylin-eosin; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; EDTA: ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid; DMEM: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium; RT-qPCR: Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase; UTR: untranslated region; WT: wild type; MUT: mutant type.

Foot-Worn Inertial Sensors Are Reliable to Assess Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Axial Spondyloarthritis under Single and Dual Task Walking in Axial Spondyloarthritis

The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the relative and absolute reliability of gait parameters during walking in single- and dual-task conditions in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), (2) to evaluate the absolute and relative reliability of dual task effects (DTE) parameters, and (3) to determine the number of trials required to ensure reliable gait assessment, in patients with axSpA. Twenty patients with axSpa performed a 10-m walk test in single- and dual-task conditions, three times for each condition. Spatiotemporal, symmetry, and DTE gait parameters were calculated from foot-worn inertial sensors. The relative reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients-ICC) and absolute reliability (standard error of measurement-SEM and minimum detectable change-MDC) were calculated for these parameters in each condition. Spatiotemporal gait parameters showed good to excellent reliability in both conditions (0.59 < ICC < 0.90). The reliability of symmetry and DTE parameters was low. ICC, SEM, and MDC were better when using the mean of the second and the third trials. Spatiotemporal gait parameters obtained from foot-worn inertial sensors assessed in patients with axSpA in single- and dual-task conditions are reliable. However, symmetry and DTE parameters seem less reliable and need to be interpreted with caution. Finally, better reliability of gait parameters was found when using the mean of the 2nd and the 3rd trials.

Gait as predictor of physical function in axial spondyloarthritis: the prospective longitudinal FOLOMI (Function, Locomotion, Measurement, Inflammation) study protocol

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease affecting predominantly sacroiliac joints and axial skeleton. axSpA progression being irregular and hardly predictable, identifying functional decline is particularly important in patient with axSpA to allow delivery of timely and targeted interventions. Pain, reduced range of motion or altered posture can have adverse consequences on gait. Although gait has previously been used as a sensitive measure of physical outcomes in elderly and pathological populations, to the best of our knowledge, no study has used gait as a predictor of physical function in patients with axSpA. The objective of our study is hence to determine if gait parameters measured in patients with axSpA could predict the evaluation at 18 months of physical function as assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). This is a prospective and longitudinal study. Sixty patients with axSpA and 30 healthy age- and sex-matched controls will be included. Patients should be aged 18-65 years at time of their first evaluation, followed at Grenoble Alpes University Hospital for axSpA or ankylosing spondylitis, able to walk 180 m without technical help and with stable treatment for at least 12 months. Clinical characteristics, BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), clinical and laboratory measurements of gait will be assessed during four visits (at baseline and at months 6, 12, and 18). Similar assessments will be performed once for the healthy control group. A linear mixed model at 6, 12 and 18 months will be constructed to answer to the first objective, with the BASFI as dependent variable and gait parameters as explanatory variables. The data collection started in August 2018 and will be completed with the inclusion and follow-up of all the participants. We believe that the combination of clinical and laboratory measurements of gait in patients with axSpA could strengthen the capacity to monitor disease's evolution and to predict changes in patients' physical function. Results of the present study could ultimately allow delivering targeted, timely, personalized interventions and treatment in patients with axSpA.Trial registration: The study was approved by local ethic committee (CPP Ile De France 1, RCB: 2017-A03468-45, date of agreement: July 17th, last version: V4.0, 2018, March 5th, 2019) and is retrospectively registered in Clinical trials (NCT03761212).