Multiple Joints Research Articles

Comparison between dual-energy computed tomography and ultrasound in the diagnosis of gout

Objectives: Gout is one of the most common inflammatory arthritic conditions that arise due to the super saturation of urate levels in body tissues, resulting in the formation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals that get deposited in and around the joints. Clinical diagnosis of gout is generally made based on signs and symptoms. The biochemical diagnosis is based on the levels of serum uric acid. However, hyperuricemia is a weak marker for gout diagnosis. The gold standard for diagnosing gout is the identification of MSU crystals in the synovial fluid by Polaroid microscopy. However, it is an invasive procedure that could lead to complications such as joint effusion and intra-articular hemorrhage. Imaging offers a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of gout. Ultrasound (USG) has emerged as a useful measure for detecting joint effusion and synovitis, studying cartilage, describing early bone erosions, and evaluating tendons and crystal deposition. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is a useful non-invasive technique that helps visualize MSU crystals, along with other soft tissue changes and erosive pathologies, at high resolution, much earlier than conventional radiography could do. Material and Methods: Clinically suspected or diagnosed gout patients in the age group of 20–75 years of both genders attending outpatient services were selected for the study. All the patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria of clinical suspicion of gout or already proven cases of gout were clinically examined, and body mass index, presenting complaints, symptomatic joints, past medical history, family history, and personal habits were noted. The diagnosis of gout was confirmed using the 2015 American college of rheumatology/European league against rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria: A cut-off score >8 was considered diagnostic. Thereafter, all the patients underwent ultrasonographic and computed tomography evaluations. All the patient’s assessments were made at nine locations bilaterally – shoulder, neck, wrist, metacarpal, metatarsophalangeal, ankle, hip, knee, and elbow to check for multiple joint involvements. All the DECT images were post-processed, allowing analysis of images using the three material decomposition methods. On reconstructed DECT images, green color-coded MSU crystals were considered suggestive of gout. Results: The present study reported a higher detection of gout on DECT (97.1%) as compared to the USG (88.2%). Similarly, several studies reported a higher detection rate of MSU crystal deposition by DECT as compared to the detection of the double-contour sign by USG. This study reported sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV) of USG as 91%, 92%, 95%, and 85%, respectively. In contrast, DECT’s sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPVs were 96%, 100%, 100%, and 92%, respectively. DECT showed to have a high sensitivity as well as specificity. Conclusion: The study showed that DECT is more sensitive and had a better PPV and accuracy than USG in the diagnosis of gout. Keeping in view the high efficacy of DECT in diagnosing gouty joints, it is a strong candidate to emerge as a non-invasive imaging modality of choice for diagnosing gout.

Adaptive Parallel Iterative Learning Control with A Time-Varying Sign Gain Approach Empowered by Expert System

This study explores the incorporation of time-varying sign gain into a parallel iterative learning control (ILC) architecture, augmented by an expert system, to enhance the performance and stability of a robotic arm system. The methodology involves iteratively tuning the learning control gains using time-varying sign gain guided by an expert system. Stability analysis, encompassing asymptotic and monotonic convergence, demonstrates promising results across multiple joints, affirming the effectiveness of the proposed control architecture. In comparison with traditional PID control, fixed gain ILC, and ILC with adaptive learning in the expert system, the analysis focuses on stability, precision, and adaptability, using root mean square error (RMSE) as a key metric. The results show that ILC with adaptive learning from the expert system consistently reduces RMSE, even in the presence of learning transients. This adaptability effectively controls the learning transients, ensuring improved performance in subsequent iterations. In conclusion, the integration of time-varying sign gain with expert system assistance in a parallel ILC architecture holds promise for advancing adaptive control in robotic systems. Positive outcomes in stability, precision, and adaptability suggest practical applications in real-world scenarios. This research provides valuable insights into the implementation of dynamic learning mechanisms for enhanced robotic system performance, laying the groundwork for future refinement in robotic manipulator control systems.

Development of Hot Isostatic Pressing Technology for Joining Multiple Joints of Dissimilar Materials of Stainless Steels with IN 718 and Ti–6Al–4V

Development of Hot Isostatic Pressing Technology for Joining Multiple Joints of Dissimilar Materials of Stainless Steels with IN 718 and Ti–6Al–4V

Contemplating the Role of Panchakarma in the Management of Psoriatic Arthritis and its Ayurvedic Perspective

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory disorder that is chronic and progressive, which affects both skin and joints. Approximately 10-15% of patients who have psoriasis also develop an associated inflammation of their joint. Genetics, dietary, lifestyle related, environmental and psychological factors play a major role in pathogenesis. It is characterized by scaly skin lesion, itching, discharge, joint pain, swelling and stiffness. By considering these signs and symptoms, nearly it can be correlate to Dhatugata kusta, is a condition where in Vatapradhana tridosha affects the Gambhira dhatus causing by deterioration of Uttarottara dhatu. Thus, it is necessary to plan a treatment considering all the factors like Dosha, Dushya, Desha, Kala, Bala and Avastha of disease. Samshodhana is renowned for its ability to eradicate diseases at their core by eliminating morbid Doshas. The Doshas that are pacified by Shodhana never recurs; hence repeated Shodhana chikitsa helps in Bahudoshavastha. A 42 year male patient presented with complaints of silvery blackish scaly skin lesion all over the body. Associated with itching, blood mixed serous discharge, foul smell, multiple joint pain and stiffness visited Panchakarma OPD, GAMC Bengaluru. Patient treated with Pachana Deepana, Virechana, Takradhara and Kustaghna Basti. The present case study is intended to understand the accuracy of multimodal Panchakarma approach, which gives promising results and balance the Tridosha by eliminating the root cause of the disease.

Prevalence of Psoriatic Arthritis among Patients with Arthritis: Insights from a Tertiary Rheumatology Clinic in Bangladesh

Background: Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is a complex seronegative inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis, characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of PsA in arthritic patients along with associated demographic and clinical characteristics in a tertiary care setting in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Rheumatology Clinic of Dhaka Medical College Hospital over a period of 6 months from March 2018 to August 2018. A total of 600 arthritis patients underwent screening for PsA, with subsequent evaluations of confirmed cases based on the CASPAR criteria. Demographic and clinical characteristics were documented through face-to-face interviews and physical examination. For data collection, a pre-structured questionnaire was used. Disease activity was assessed using the DAPSA score. The study was conducted according to the ‘Declaration of Helsinki’. The statistical analysis was done with SPSS v-21. Results: The prevalence of PsA in arthritis patients was 5%. Age distribution of PsA showed a majority in between 30-39 years age group with a mean of 36.33±11.86 (SD). Slight female predominance was reported with a percentage of 53.3%. Almost three-fourths of study patients presented with a current diagnosis of psoriasis while the rest had a personal history or family history. A higher incidence (67.7%) of plaque psoriasis was observed followed by sebopsoriasis (20%) and for the rest of the patients, the type of psoriasis was unknown. The disease mostly involved multiple joints (90%), with ankle and metacarpal joints being the most commonly affected at 43.3% and 33.3%, respectively. Disease activity was high in the majority of the patients according to the DAPSA score, representing 53.34% of the patients, with the remainder exhibiting moderate to low disease activity. Conclusion: The study revealed a significant incidence of PsA among the arthritic population which indicates a pressing need for further extensive research on PsA across diverse populations. J MEDICINE 2024; 25: 35-40

Changes in type VI collagen degradation reflect clinical response to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with tocilizumab

ObjectivesRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in multiple articular joints, causing pain, joint damage, and loss of joint function. Despite the successful development of disease-modifying therapies, the heterogeneity of RA means that a significant proportion of patients respond poorly to treatment. This highlights the need for personalized medicine and predictive biomarkers to optimize treatment efficacy, safety, and cost. This study aimed to explore the relationship between type VI collagen (Col VI) remodeling and clinical response to anti-IL-6 receptor treatment.MethodsType VI collagen degradation was quantified using the C6M biomarker, a fragment of type VI collagen degraded by MMPs. Longitudinal differences in average biomarker levels between placebo and treatment groups were estimated using linear mixed models. The predictive capacity of the marker based on change from baseline to 4 weeks was analyzed using logistic regression.ResultsBoth 4 mg and 8 mg doses of Tocilizumab (TCZ) reduced serum C6M concentrations compared to the placebo. Furthermore, C6M levels were more reduced in patients responding to treatment compared to early non-responders. A lower early reduction in C6M was associated with reduced odds of ACR treatment response and lowered disease activity.ConclusionThese findings suggest that quantifying type VI collagen turnover may aid in identifying patients less likely to respond to treatment, indicating a new path towards optimizing patient care. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms driving the observed relationships.

IgA Vasculitis in an Adult Man- a Case Report

IgA vasculitis is rare in adult. A significant portion of adult cases may present with renal involvement. Although most of these cases can be managed symptomatically, some cases may require immunosuppressive treatment. Unless diagnosis and appropriate treatment is initiated early IgA nephropathy in adult may result in chronic kidney disease. Immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) is an acute disorder causing generalized vasculitis principally involving skin, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, kidneys and joints. Here, a 28 year old man was presented with purpuric rash with leg ulcer, inflammatory arthritis involving multiple joints, abdominal pain and vomiting. He had mild pedal edema and normal blood pressure. Investigations showed raised inflammatory markers, haematuria, and nephrotic range proteinuria with normal liver and renal function. Biochemical and immunological evaluation of lupus nephritis, ANCA associated vasculitis and other causes of glomerulonephritis were negative. Renal biopsy with direct immunofluorescence showed features of IgA nephropathy. Patient was treated with steroid and mycophenolate mofetil with a good response. Bangladesh Med J. 2022 Sept; 51(3): 47-50

Role of Matra Basti and Akshitarpan in the Management of Sjogren’s Syndrome W.S.R Vatadhikya Vatarakta: A Case Study

Sjögren’s syndrome, characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of salivary and lacrimal glands leading to glandular fibrosis and exocrine failure with Clinical manifestations of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, resulting from inadequate lubrication due to inflammatory infiltration of lacrimal glands, and xerostomia, manifesting as a dry mouth. In Ayurveda patient’s symptomatic representation can be correlated with vataadhkiya vatarakta. In the present case report, a 50-year-old female Lucy Chaudhary from Noida, Uttar Pradesh with complaints of dry eyes, dry mouth and pain in multiple joints with generalized weakness for the past three years. Previously she had taken allopathic treatment, but she did not have any relief. The patient was managed with Panchkarma procedures including Matra Basti and Akshi Tarpan for 16 days with an interval of 8 days. The therapy got its effective results in treating Sjögren's syndrome which depicts that Ayurveda therapeutic protocols can be successfully adopted in the case of Sjögren's syndrome.

Hybrid Directed Hypergraph Learning and Forecasting of Skeleton-Based Human Poses

Forecasting 3-dimensional skeleton-based human poses from the historical sequence is a classic task, which shows enormous potential in robotics, computer vision, and graphics. Currently, the state-of-the-art methods resort to graph convolutional networks (GCNs) to access the relationships of human joint pairs to formulate this problem. However, human action involves complex interactions among multiple joints, which presents a higher-order correlation overstepping the pairwise (2-order) connection of GCNs. Moreover, joints are typically activated by the parent joint, rather than driving their parent joints, whereas in existing methods, this specific direction of information transmission is ignored. In this work, we propose a novel hybrid directed hypergraph convolution network (H-DHGCN) to model the high-order relationships of the human skeleton with directionality. Specifically, our H-DHGCN mainly involves 2 core components. One is the static directed hypergraph, which is pre-defined according to the human body structure, to effectively leverage the natural relations of human joints. The second is dynamic directed hypergraph (D-DHG). D-DHG is learnable and can be constructed adaptively, to learn the unique characteristics of the motion sequence. In contrast to the typical GCNs, our method brings a richer and more refined topological representation of skeleton data. On several large-scale benchmarks, experimental results show that the proposed model consistently surpasses the latest techniques.

Synergistic effects of transcutaneous spinal stimulation and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on lower limb force production: Time to deliver.

Transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can facilitate self-assisted standing in individuals with paralysis. However, individual variability in responses to each modality may limit their effectiveness in generating the necessary leg extension force for full body weight standing. To address this challenge, we proposed combining TSS and NMES to enhance leg extensor muscle activation, with optimizing timing adjustment to maximize the interaction between the two modalities. To assess the effects of TSS and NMES on knee extension and plantarflexion force, ten neurologically intact participants underwent three conditions: (1) TSS control, (2) NMES control, and (3) TSS + NMES. TSS was delivered between the T10 and L2 vertebrae, while NMES was delivered to the skin over the right knee extensors and plantarflexors. TSS and NMES were administered using a 15 Hz train of three 0.5 ms biphasic pulses. During the TSS + NMES condition, the timing between modalities was adjusted in increments of ¼ the interval within a 15 Hz frequency, i.e., 66, 49.5, 33, 16.5, and 1 ms. NMES combined with TSS, produced synergistic effects even on non-targeted muscle groups, thereby promoting leg extension across multiple joints in the kinematic chain. The sequence of NMES or TSS trains relative to each other did not significantly impact motor output. Notably, a delay of 16.5 to 49.5 ms between interleaved TSS and NMES pulses, each delivered at 15 Hz, results in more robust and synergistic responses in knee extensors and plantarflexors. By adjusting the timing between TSS and NMES, we can optimize the combined use of these modalities for functional restoration. Our findings highlight the potential of integrated TSS and NMES protocols to enhance motor function, suggesting promising avenues for therapeutic applications, particularly in the rehabilitation of individuals with SCI.

Aetiological Diagnosis of children with False Diagnosis of Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita

Background: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita is the usual misdiagnosis given for children born with multiple joint dislocation syndromes. The purpose of the study was to refute the term arthrogryposis multiplex congenita as well as contractures and replace them with a precise diagnostic entity. Methods: Eight unrelated children referred to our orthopaedic departments with the presumptive misdiagnosis of arthrogryposis multiplex because of multiple joint contractures. Five boys and three girls (aged 1 month-5 year) and one adult-15-year-old-boy have been included. We performed extensive clinical and radiographic phenotypic characterization of every single patient associated with confirmatory genotype. Results: We accomplished the diagnoses in all these children. Three diagnostic entities emerged. Larsen syndrome, diastrophic dysplasia and Escobar syndrome. The genotype has been performed accordingly. Conclusion: The reason for presenting this study is threefold; Firstly, to illustrate the necessity of the etiological diagnosis in children with the misdiagnosis of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita in connection with the presumptive misdiagnosis of fetal akinesia, Pena-Shokeir syndrome or congenital myopathy. Secondly, full consideration of the phenotypic characterization and the additional pathological features allowed us to achieve proper management. Thirdly, is to clarify that excessive vigorous attempts to correct the dislocations in children with skeletal dysplasia were felt to not be recommended because of the risk of damaging the dysplastic epiphyses.

Loss of Axin1 in limb mesenchymal cells leads to multiple synostoses syndrome-like phenotype in mice

<p>Multiple synostoses syndrome (SYNS) is a disease characterized by the fusion of multiple joints. Unfortunately, the underlying and critical signaling pathways of this disorder remain poorly understood. Given the pivotal role of Wnt/��-catenin signaling in skeletal development and the key regulatory effect of Axin1 and Axin2 in the ��-catenin pathway, limb mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) specific <i>Axin1</i> conditional KO (cKO) mice and <i>Axin1</i>/<i>Axin2</i> double KO (dKO) mice were generated to explore their involvement in joint formation. Abnormalities, such as developmental defects in joints and fusions in multiple joint tissues were observed in both <i>Axin1</i> cKO and <i>Axin1</i>/<i>Axin2</i> dKO mice, which resemble to the characteristics of human SYNS disease including synostoses of carpal and tarsal bones, as well as ankylosis of elbow joint and knee joint. Administration of ��-catenin or BMP inhibitor significantly reversed the joint fusion phenotype in <i>Axin1</i> cKO mice. Our findings suggest that Axin1 plays a key role in joint formation by inhibiting ��-catenin-BMP signaling and could potentially serve as a therapeutic target for SYNS.</p>

A ROLE OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT IN AAMVATA W.S.T TO RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS A CASE STUDY

One of the most prevalent disorders, aamavat is caused due to impairement of agni (digestive fire) and vitiation of vata dosha in addition to two other doshas. Aamavata is the consequence of Aam combining with Vata dosha and occupying Shleshmsthan (Asthisandhi). The primary pathogenic elements that cause the Aamvata are Vata and Aama. It is Madhyam Rogamarg's vyadhi. The primary locations where cardinal symptoms like Sandhishool, Sandhisotha, and Sandhigraha appear are Asthi and Sandhi. In modern textbooks, it is associated with the disease "Rheumatoid Arthritis"¹ based on clinical sympto matology. Present case is a female patient aged 54 years female having history of pain and morning stiffness in multiple small joints for one year, swelling in both hand and knee joints for 4 months, and lowgrade fever. On taking complete history and clinical evaluation lead to the diagnosis of Aamvata.considering the symptoms of Aamvata patient is treated according to the line of treatment of Aamvata². i.e Swedan, deepan, virechan, snehpan etc. Along with oral drugs for 30 days. Before starting the treatment, the grading was done on the basis of subjective criteria and after treatment, the grade was reduced. There was no side effect observed during and after the treatment. Therapy gives significant relief in symptoms of Aamvata.

BatchEval Pipeline: batch effect evaluation workflow for multiple datasets joint analysis.

The source code of the BatchEval Pipeline is available at https://github.com/STOmics/BatchEval.

Frontiers and hotspots evolution in mild cognitive impairment: a bibliometric analysis of from 2013 to 2023.

Mild cognitive impairment is a heterogeneous syndrome. The heterogeneity of the syndrome and the absence of consensus limited the advancement of MCI. The purpose of our research is to create a visual framework of the last decade, highlight the hotspots of current research, and forecast the most fruitful avenues for future MCI research. We collected all the MCI-related literature published between 1 January 2013, and 24 April 2023, on the "Web of Science." The visual graph was created by the CiteSpace and VOSviewer. The current research hotspots and future research directions are summarized through the analysis of keywords and co-cited literature. There are 6,075 articles were included in the final analysis. The number of publications shows an upward trend, especially after 2018. The United States and the University of California System are the most prolific countries and institutions, respectively. Petersen is the author who ranks first in terms of publication volume and influence. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease was the most productive journal. "neuroimaging," "fluid markers," and "predictors" are the focus of current research, and "machine learning," "electroencephalogram," "deep learning," and "blood biomarkers" are potential research directions in the future. The cognition of MCI has been continuously evolved and renewed by multiple countries' joint efforts in the past decade. Hotspots for current research are on diagnostic biomarkers, such as fluid markers, neuroimaging, and so on. Future hotspots might be focused on the best prognostic and diagnostic models generated by machine learning and large-scale screening tools such as EEG and blood biomarkers.

Toward Swimming Speed Optimization of a Multi-Flexible Robotic Fish With Low Cost of Transport

Due to the complex mechanism and fabrication process of flexible materials, it remains extremely challenging for a flexible robotic fish to achieve fast and efficient locomotion. In this article, taking advantage of the passive bending and energy storage properties of flexible materials, we propose an untethered robotic fish with multiple flexible joints to achieve high performance and low Cost of Transport (COT). First, combining rigid links and flexible materials, a compact flexible tail with a simple and efficient structure is proposed. Next, the pseudo-rigid body theory is applied to analyze the deformation of passive joints, and a full-state dynamic model is established. More importantly, an optimization method by adjusting the phase differences of the passive joints is used to obtain high aquatic performance. Finally, extensive simulations and experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, and the robotic fish can achieve a maximum speed of 1.63 body length (BL) per second and a minimum COT of 4.8 J/m (2.87 J/m <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\cdot$</tex-math> </inline-formula> kg). Compared with the multi-joint robotic fish with a similar design, the COT is reduced by up to 81.05% with the basically same aquatic ability. Excitingly, the flexible robotic fish can achieve a COT of 7.36 J/m at 1.23 BL/s, which is 15.72%-36.34% lower than that of the bluefin tuna and is within the range of yellowfin tuna, offering valuable insight into high speed and long endurance applications for underwater robots. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Note to Practitioners</i> –This paper is motivated by the design and optimization of an efficient bionic flexible underwater robot with high aquatic abilities, which is conducive to aquatic tasks that require long-time and long-distance sailing, such as underwater topographic exploration, submarine archaeology, and underwater search and rescue. Existing studies of free-swimming bionic underwater robots usually focus on the improvement of swimming speed and rarely consider achieving both high swimming performance and low energy cost. Thus, this paper proposes a bionic underwater robot design with two joints made of flexible materials on the tail to address the problem. Based on detailed analyses of the hydrodynamic force and flexible joint deformation, we propose an effective optimization method for swimming performance. A series of simulations and experiments suggest that the mechatronic design and optimization method are practical and valid. Hopefully, our design and method can provide theoretical guidance for engineers to design and optimize robots with flexible joints.

Design and Improvement of the Connection Between the Steel Wire Rope and Shell for Cobalt-60 Afterloading Source Whip

This article studied a novel connection method between the steel wire rope and the outer shell of a cobalt-60 afterloading brachytherapy source delivery whip. The performance requirements for the connection between the steel wire rope and the shell are described by analyzing the structural characteristics and usage environment of the source whip. Multiple joint forms and process ideas are proposed and explored. After repeated testing and improvement, a set of embedded adhesive bonding connection methods is finally proposed. The small-diameter cobalt-60 afterloading radiation source whip produced by this method meets the requirements of experimental verification and clinical use, effectively solving the problem of connection between the radiation source shell and steel wire rope.

A Case of Thymoma Masquerading as Hiatus Hernia, Pericardial Effusion: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Thymoma is a rare neoplasm of the thymus gland, and as an adult, it accounts for 30% of anterior mediastinal tumors. The peak incidence is between 55 and 65 years old. Thymoma is a cancer that is extremely uncommon, accounting for just 0.2-1.5% of all malignancies, with an estimated incidence of between 0.13 and 0.32 per 100,000 people each year. We discuss a rare instance of a 58-year-old female patient who was admitted after complaining of multiple joint pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and generalized weakness. She was initially diagnosed with hiatus hernia and pericardial effusion based on imaging studies. However, her symptoms persisted despite treatment, and further evaluation revealed the presence of a thymoma. It was hard to make a diagnosis because the patient had a thymoma, a hiatus hernia, and pericardial effusion all at the same time. The initial diagnosis was complicated by the fact that the patient had unusual and refractory symptoms, which means they needed a thorough evaluation and follow-up. The case highlights the diagnostic complexity associated with thymoma, especially when coexisting with other conditions such as hiatus hernia and pericardial effusion. Despite its rarity, thymoma necessitates considerations in patients presenting with nonspecific symptoms, emphasizing the importance of thorough evaluation and follow-up. This underscores the need for a comprehensive diagnostic approach to ensure timely and accurate management, particularly in cases with an atypical and refractory presentation. In the described case, nurses' initial assessment skills are crucial for identifying the need for critical care intervention. Their role extends beyond the perioperative phase, encompassing patient education on procedures and potential outcomes.

Cytoplasmic DNA and AIM2 inflammasome in RA: where they come from and where they go?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease of undetermined etiology characterized by symmetric synovitis with predominantly destructive and multiple joint inflammation. Cytoplasmic DNA sensors that recognize protein molecules that are not themselves or abnormal dsDNA fragments play an integral role in the generation and perpetuation of autoimmune diseases by activating different signaling pathways and triggering innate immune signaling pathways and host defenses. Among them, melanoma deficiency factor 2 (AIM2) recognizes damaged DNA and double-stranded DNA and binds to them to further assemble inflammasome, initiating the innate immune response and participating in the pathophysiological process of rheumatoid arthritis. In this article, we review the research progress on the source of cytoplasmic DNA, the mechanism of assembly and activation of AIM2 inflammasome, and the related roles of other cytoplasmic DNA sensors in rheumatoid arthritis.

Multiple Joint Chance Constraints Approximation for Uncertainty Modeling in Dispatch Problems

Multiple Joint Chance Constraints Approximation for Uncertainty Modeling in Dispatch Problems