High serum uric acid level is associated with greater handgrip strength in the aged population

Abstract Background We aimed to investigate the association of serum UA level with muscle strength assessed by handgrip strength (HGS) in a large Korean adult population. Methods Cross-sectional data were obtained from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016. The KNHANES 2016 study included 8150 subjects, of whom 4230 subjects were analyzed in this study. The association between serum UA level and HGS was investigated with adjustment for confounding factors. Results Serum UA was divided into sex-specific tertiles After adjustment for potential confounding factors, HGS was significantly greater in the high serum UA group (the third tertile) than in the low UA group (the first tertile) in the elderly (age ≥ 60 years) population (coefficient β [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 1.017 [0.115–1.920]). When the elderly population was subdivided according to the presence of metabolic syndrome (metS), the impact of UA remained significant only in individuals with metS. In the aged population, high serum UA level reduced the risk for low HGS (OR, 95% CI = 0.69, 0.48–0.98, p = 0.041) only in male subjects. Conclusions A population-based cross-sectional survey in Korea revealed that high serum UA level is associated with increased HGS in the aged population. The antioxidant property of UA may enhance muscle strength, especially in the elderly population

Low bone mineral density predicts the formation of new syndesmophytes in patients with axial spondyloarthritis

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate whether the presence of low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) predicts formation of new syndesmophytes over 2 years. Methods One hundred and nineteen patients fulfilling the imaging arm of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society axSpA criteria were enrolled. All patients were under 50 years of age. The modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) was assessed by two trained readers blinded to the patients’ data. BMD (lumbar spine, femoral neck or total hip) at baseline was assessed using dual-energy absorptiometry. Low BMD was defined as Z score ≤ − 2.0. Spinal radiographic progression was defined as worsening of the mSASSS by ≥ 2 points over 2 years. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors associated with development of new syndesmophytes and spinal radiographic progression. Results At baseline, 19 (16%) patients had low BMD. New syndesmophytes had developed in 22 (21%) patients at 2-year follow-up. New syndesmophyte formation after 2 years occurred more in patients with low BMD than in those with normal BMD (p = 0.047). In the multivariable analysis, current smoking, existing syndesmophytes and low BMD at baseline were associated with spinal radiographic progression (OR (95% CI) 3.0 (1.1, 7.7), 4.6 (1.8, 11.8) and 3.6 (1.2, 11.2), respectively). The presence of syndesmophytes at baseline and low BMD were predictors of new syndesmophytes over the following 2 years (OR (95% CI) 5.5 (2.0, 15.2) and 3.6 (1.1, 11.8), respectively). Conclusions Low BMD and existing syndesmophytes at baseline were independently associated with the development of new syndesmophytes in young axSpA patients

Fat Metaplasia on Sacroiliac Joint Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Baseline Is Associated with Spinal Radiographic Progression in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis.

To study the relationship between inflammatory and structural lesions in the sacroiliac joints (SIJs) on MRI and spinal progression observed on conventional radiographs in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).One hundred and ten patients who fulfilled the ASAS axSpA criteria were enrolled. All underwent SIJ MRI at baseline and lumbar spine radiographs at baseline and after 2 years. Inflammatory and structural lesions on SIJ MRI were scored using the SPondyloArthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) method. Spinal radiographs were scored using the Stoke AS Spinal Score (SASSS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of spinal progression.Among the 110 patients, 25 (23%) showed significant radiographic progression (change of SASSS≥2) over 2 years. There was no change in the SASSS over 2 years according to the type of inflammatory lesion. Patients with fat metaplasia or ankyloses on baseline MRI showed a significantly higher SASSS at 2 years than those without (p<0.001). According to univariate logistic regression analysis, age at diagnosis, HLA-B27 positivity, the presence of fat metaplasia, erosion, and ankyloses on SIJ MRI, increased baseline CRP levels, and the presence of syndesmophytes at baseline were associated with spinal progression over 2 years. Multivariate analysis identified syndesmophytes and severe fat metaplasia on baseline SIJ MRI as predictive of spinal radiographic progression (OR, 14.74 and 5.66, respectively).Inflammatory lesions in the SIJs on baseline MRI were not associated with spinal radiographic progression. However, fat metaplasia at baseline was significantly associated with spinal progression after 2 years

Gas transport and dynamic mechanical behavior in modified polysulfones with trimethylsilyl groups: effect of degree of substitution

Trimethylsilyl (TMS) groups were introduced with controlled degree of substitution (DS) onto the phenylene rings of various polysulfones. The introduction of TMS groups resulted in a marked increase in oxygen permeabilities with small concurrent decreases in oxygen/nitrogen permselectivities. Although TMS groups are bulky, they are highly mobile and are expected to reduce chain packing as evidenced by larger specific volumes and d-spacings with increasing DS. The higher is DS, the greater the reduction in the chain packing that occurs. Dynamic mechanical analyses of sub-glass-transition relaxation, i.e., \u3b3-relaxation behavior, showed that the TMS groups affected the local chain motion. In particular, the motion of unsubstituted phenylene rings increases with DS. Therefore, both the loosened chain packing and the increased local motion by substitution of TMS may result in the increase in the gas permeability.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye