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Axial Spondyloarthritis
Axial spondyloarthritis (also often referred to as axSpA) is a chronic, immune-mediated disease predominantly affecting the axial skeleton (sacroiliac joints and spine). The term itself is an umbrella term characterizing a diverse disease family united by shared clinical and genetic features, such as the involvement of the axial skeleton. The 2009 introduced term axial spondyloarthritis is a preferred term nowadays and substitutes the old term ankylosing spondylitis. Classification Along with peripheral spondyloarthritis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and enteropathic arthritis (or inflammatory bowel disease-associated spondyloarthritis), axial spondyloarthritis belongs to the spondyloarthritis disease family, also known as the spondyloarthritides or spondyloarthropathies. These arthritic conditions can sometimes overlap with one another. For example, psoriatic arthritis can cause both peripheral and axial symptoms. Likewise, reactive arthritis can transform into chron ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sacroiliac Joint
The sacroiliac joint or SI joint (SIJ) is the joint between the sacrum and the ilium bones of the pelvis, which are connected by strong ligaments. In humans, the sacrum supports the spine and is supported in turn by an ilium on each side. The joint is strong, supporting the entire weight of the upper body. It is a synovial plane joint with irregular elevations and depressions that produce interlocking of the two bones. The human body has two sacroiliac joints, one on the left and one on the right, that often match each other but are highly variable from person to person. Structure Sacroiliac joints are paired C-shaped or L-shaped joints capable of a small amount of movement (2–18 degrees, which is debatable at this time) that are formed between the auricular surfaces of the sacrum and the ilium bones. However, mostBogduk, Nicolai "Clinical and Radiological Anatomy of the Lumbar Spine" Elsevier Health Sciences, 2022, p. 172. agree that only slight movements occur on thes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Interleukin 23
Interleukin 23 (IL-23) is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of an IL-12B (IL-12p40) subunit (which is shared with IL-12) and an IL-23A (IL-23p19) subunit. IL-23 is part of the IL-12 family of cytokines. The functional receptor for IL-23 (the IL-23 receptor) consists of a heterodimer between IL-12Rβ1 and IL-23R. Discovery IL-23 was discovered in the year 2000 by Robert Kastelein and colleagues at the DNAX research institute using a combination of computational, biochemical and cellular immunology approaches. Function IL-23 is an inflammatory cytokine. It has been shown to be a key cytokine for T helper type 17 cell (Th17 cell) maintenance and expansion. Polarisation to a Th17 phenotype is triggered by IL-6 and TGF-β, which activate the Th17 transcription factor RORγt. IL-23 stabilises RORγt and thus enables Th17 cells to release their effector cytokines, such as IL-17, IL-21, IL-22 and GM-CSF, which mediate protection against extracellular fungi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
C-reactive Protein
C-reactive protein (CRP) is an annular (ring-shaped) pentameric protein found in blood plasma, whose circulating concentrations rise in response to inflammation. It is an acute-phase protein of hepatic origin that increases following interleukin-6 secretion by macrophages and T cells. Its physiological role is to bind to lysophosphatidylcholine expressed on the surface of dead or dying cells (and some types of bacteria) in order to activate the complement system via C1q. CRP is synthesized by the liver in response to factors released by macrophages, T cells and fat cells (adipocytes). It is a member of the pentraxin family of proteins. It is not related to C-peptide (insulin) or protein C (blood coagulation). C-reactive protein was the first pattern recognition receptor (PRR) to be identified. History and etymology Discovered by William S. Tillett, Tillett and Francis in 1930, it was initially thought that CRP might be a pathogenic secretion since it was elevated in a variety ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HLA-B27
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27 (subtypes B*2701-2759) is a class I surface molecule encoded by the B locus in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 and presents antigenic peptides (derived from self and non-self antigens) to T cells. HLA-B27 is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis and other associated inflammatory diseases, such as psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and reactive arthritis. Prevalence The prevalence of HLA-B27 varies markedly in the global population. In the United States, the estimated prevalence is 6-8%. 4% of North African#People, North Africans, 2–9% of Han Chinese, Chinese, and 0.1–0.5% of persons of Yamato people, Japanese descent possess the gene that codes for this antigen. Among the Sámi people, Sami in Northern Scandinavia (Sápmi), 24% of people are HLA-B27 positive, while 1.8% have associated ankylosing spondylitis, compared to 14-16% of Northern Scandinavians in general. In Finland, an estimated 14 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blood Test
A blood test is a medical laboratory, laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a hypodermic needle, or via fingerprick. Multiple tests for specific blood components, such as a glucose test or a cholesterol test, are often grouped together into one test panel called a blood panel or blood work. Blood tests are often used in health care to determine physiological and biochemical states, such as disease, mineral content, pharmaceutical drug effectiveness, and organ function. Typical medicine#Clinical practice, clinical blood panels include a basic metabolic panel or a complete blood count. Blood tests are also used in drug tests to detect drug abuse. Extraction A venipuncture is useful as it is a Invasiveness of surgical procedures, minimally invasive way to obtain cell (biology), cells and extracellular fluid (blood plasma, plasma) from the body for analysis. Blood flows throughout the body, acting as a medium that prov ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Synovitis
Synovitis is the medical term for inflammation of the synovial membrane. This membrane lines joints that possess cavities, known as synovial joints. The condition is usually painful, particularly when the joint is moved. The joint usually swells due to synovial fluid collection. Synovitis may occur in association with arthritis as well as lupus, gout, and other conditions. Synovitis is more commonly found in rheumatoid arthritis than in other forms of arthritis, and can thus serve as a distinguishing factor, although it is also present in many joints affected with osteoarthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the fibroblast-like synoviocytes, highly specialized mesenchymal cells found in the synovial membrane, play an active and prominent role in the synovitis. Long term occurrence of synovitis can result in degeneration of the joint. Signs and symptoms Synovitis causes joint tenderness or pain, swelling and hard lumps, called nodules. When associated with rheumatoid arthritis, sw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Enthesitis
Enthesitis is inflammation of the entheses (singular: enthesis), the sites where tendons, ligaments and joint capsules attach to bones. It is a type of enthesopathy, meaning any pathologic condition of the entheses, with or without inflammation. There are some cases of isolated, primary enthesitis which are very poorly studied and understood. It is known to be associated with other autoimmune diseases, like spondyloarthropathies and psoriasis (thought to often precede psoriatic arthritis). A common autoimmune enthesitis is at the heel, where the Achilles tendon attaches to the calcaneus. It is associated with HLA B27 arthropathies, such as ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and reactive arthritis. Signs and symptoms Early clinical manifestations are an aching sensation akin to "working out too much", and it gets better with activity. It is worse in the morning (after sleeping and not moving). The muscle insertion hurts very focally as it joins into the bone, but ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Radiography
Radiography is an imaging technology, imaging technique using X-rays, gamma rays, or similar ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation to view the internal form of an object. Applications of radiography include medical ("diagnostic" radiography and "therapeutic radiography") and industrial radiography. Similar techniques are used in airport security, (where "body scanners" generally use backscatter X-ray). To create an image in conventional radiography, a beam of X-rays is produced by an X-ray generator and it is projected towards the object. A certain amount of the X-rays or other radiation are absorbed by the object, dependent on the object's density and structural composition. The X-rays that pass through the object are captured behind the object by a X-ray detector, detector (either photographic film or a digital detector). The generation of flat two-dimensional images by this technique is called Projection radiography, projectional radiography. In computed tomography (C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to generate pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes inside the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves to form images of the organs in the body. MRI does not involve X-rays or the use of ionizing radiation, which distinguishes it from computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. MRI is a medical application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) which can also be used for imaging in other NMR applications, such as NMR spectroscopy. MRI is widely used in hospitals and clinics for medical diagnosis, staging and follow-up of disease. Compared to CT, MRI provides better contrast in images of soft tissues, e.g. in the brain or abdomen. However, it may be perceived as less comfortable by patients, due to the usually longer and louder measurements with the subject in a long, confining tube, although ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sacroiliitis
Sacroiliitis is inflammation within the sacroiliac joint. It is a feature of spondyloarthropathies, such as axial spondyloarthritis (including ankylosing spondylitis), psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis or arthritis related to inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. It is also the most common presentation of arthritis from brucellosis. Symptoms and signs People suffering from sacroiliitis can often experience symptoms in a number of different ways, however it is commonly related to the amount of pressure that is put onto the sacroiliac joint. Sacroiliitis pain is typically axial, meaning that the location of the condition is also where the pain is occurring. Symptoms commonly include prolonged, inflammatory pain in the lower back region, hips or buttocks. However, in more severe cases, pain can become more radicular and manifest itself in seemingly unrelated areas of the body including the legs, groin and feet. Symptoms are typic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sclerostin
Sclerostin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SOST'' gene. It is a secreted glycoprotein with a C-terminal cysteine knot-like (CTCK) domain and sequence similarity to the DAN (differential screening-selected gene aberrative in neuroblastoma) family of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists. Sclerostin is produced primarily by the osteocyte but is also expressed in other tissues, and has anti-anabolic effects on bone formation. Structure The sclerostin protein, with a length of 213 residues, has a secondary structure that has been determined by protein NMR to be 28% beta sheet (6 strands; 32 residues). Function Sclerostin, the product of the SOST gene, located on chromosome 17q12–q21 in humans, was originally believed to be a non-classical bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist. More recently, sclerostin has been identified as binding to LRP5/ 6 receptors and inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway. The inhibition of the Wnt pathway leads to decrea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dickkopf
Dickkopf (DKK) is a family of proteins consisting of five members as of 2020. That is, vertebrates usually contain five genes that are members of the family. The most well-studied is Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1). DKK proteins inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway coreceptors LRP5 and LRP6. They bind with high affinity as ligands to KREMEN1 and KREMEN2, which are transmembrane proteins. DKK proteins have important roles in the development of vertebrates. Etymology is a German word meaning "stubborn person", or literally, "thick head". It was coined as the name for these proteins in a 1998 ''Nature'' paper by Glinka ''et al.'' in reference to the discovery that DKK1 induces head formation in the embryogenesis of ''Xenopus''. Structure DKK proteins are glycoproteins consisting of 255–350 amino acids. DKK1, DKK2, and DKK4 have similar molecular weights, at 24–29 k Da (kilodaltons). DKK3 is heaviest, at 38 kDa. In addition to having similar weights, DKK1, -2, and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
