Proteomics in Psoriasis: Recent Advances.

Psoriasis continues to affect a large percentage of patients worldwide and strongly appears to be a systematic disease. Efforts are being made to understand its etiology, which have led to research extended to genomic analysis with a focus on the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which play a major role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Plasma proteomic analysis in various diseases has provided promising results for choosing the right treatment for psoriasis, suggesting that it could play a key role in the prevention, prognosis, and treatment of the disease by individualizing treatment choices based on the proteomic profile of each patient. In this review, we focus on existing data in the bibliography on proteomic analysis in psoriasis and relevant approaches to future targeted therapies.

Effect of a 36-Week Supervised Exercise Training Program on Physical and Cognitive Function in Older Patients With Dementia.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To investigate the effects of an exercise training program on physical and cognitive function in older patients with dementia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with early-middle dementia (31 females and seven males), aged 80.6±6.9 years, residents in an Elderly Care Unit, either completed a 36-week structured exercise program (Intervention Group, IG; n=19), or received the usual medical care (Control Group, CG; n=19). Before and after the 36-week intervention, cognitive function was evaluated in both groups by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and depression by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS); physical function was assessed using handgrip test, Timed Up to Go (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Chair-Stand Test (CST), and daily living functionality by Functional Rating Scale for Symptoms of Dementia (FRSSD). RESULTS: As a result of exercise intervention, participants scored better in all functional and cognitive test assessments compared to the control group, as reflected by absolute and relative (%) differences in all metrics after the 36-week exercise program (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: A 36-week supervised exercise training program was found to result in significant improvements in physical and cognitive function of elderly patients in early to middle stages of dementia at an Elderly Care Unit. The promising results of this study shed more light on the adaptability of elderly patients with early and mild dementia to long-term exercise training and verified the feasibility of applying such programs in this clinical population.

The Role of Exercise in Cancer-Related Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity.

One of the most common adverse effects of cancer and its therapeutic strategies is sarcopenia, a condition which is characterised by excess muscle wasting and muscle strength loss due to the disrupted muscle homeostasis. Moreover, cancer-related sarcopenia may be combined with the increased deposition of fat mass, a syndrome called cancer-associated sarcopenic obesity. Both clinical conditions have significant clinical importance and can predict disease progression and survival. A growing body of evidence supports the claim that physical exercise is a safe and effective complementary therapy for oncology patients which can limit the cancer- and its treatment-related muscle catabolism and promote the maintenance of muscle mass. Moreover, even after the onset of sarcopenia, exercise interventions can counterbalance the muscle mass loss and improve the clinical appearance and quality of life of cancer patients. The aim of this narrative review was to describe the various pathophysiological mechanisms, such as protein synthesis, mitochondrial function, inflammatory response, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which are regulated by exercise and contribute to the management of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity. Moreover, myokines, factors produced by and released from exercising muscles, are being discussed as they appear to play an important role in mediating the beneficial effects of exercise against sarcopenia.

The Effects of a Short-Term Combined Exercise Program on Liver Steatosis Indices and the Lipidemic and Glycemic Profile in NAFLD Individuals: A Pilot Study.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common liver disease associated with obesity, unhealthy diet, and lack of physical exercise. Short-term aerobic or resistance exercise has been shown to result in reduced liver fat in patients with NAFLD; however, the impact of the combination of these types of exercise has received less attention. This study investigated the effect of a short-term (7 days) concurrent exercise training program performed daily on liver steatosis indices, as well as the glycemic and lipidemic profile of overweight/obese sedentary volunteers. Twenty adult patients (age: 47.3 ± 12.3 yrs, body mass index: 32.4 ± 3.4 kg/m2) with NAFLD, detected by ultrasound and hematological indices, participated in the study. Pre- and post-exercise intervention assessment included body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), hip/waist ratio (H/W), Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), blood lipids, and steatosis indices. Fatty Liver Index, Lipid Accumulation Index, WC, H/W, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were improved (p < 0.05) post-exercise, while no differences (p > 0.05) were observed in BW, HOMA-IR, HDL, LDL, Hepatic Steatosis Index, and Framingham Steatosis Index compared to pre-exercise values. It is concluded that a 7-day combined exercise program can have beneficial effects on hepatic steatosis and central adiposity indices, independently of weight loss, in patients with NAFLD.

Vitamin D and Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone with potent immune-modulating properties. It has been shown to stimulate innate immunity and induce immune tolerance. Extensive research efforts have shown that vitamin D deficiency may be related to the development of autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D deficiency has been observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and has been shown to be inversely related to disease activity. Moreover, vitamin D deficiency may be implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. Vitamin D deficiency has also been observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It has been found to be inversely related to disease activity and renal involvement. In addition, vitamin D receptor polymorphisms have been studied in SLE. Vitamin D levels have been studied in patients with Sjogren's syndrome, and vitamin D deficiency may be related to neuropathy and the development of lymphoma in the context of Sjogren's syndrome. Vitamin D deficiency has been observed in ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Vitamin D deficiency has also been observed in systemic sclerosis. Vitamin D deficiency may be implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, and it may be administered to prevent autoimmune disease and reduce pain in the context of autoimmune rheumatic disorders.

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)/GnRH Receptors and Their Role in the Treatment of Endometriosis.

Endometriosis, defined as the development of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity, is a common gynecological disorder. The prevalence of pelvic endometriosis approaches 6%-10% in the general female population, and in women with pain, infertility, or both, the frequency is 35%-50%. The gold standard recommended process for diagnosing endometriosis is laparoscopy, an invasive surgical procedure, with or without histologic verification. The currently available nonsurgical treatments include oral contraceptives (estrogen-progestogen preparations), progestogen preparations (containing progesterone derivatives), androgenic hormones (danazol), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists. Two GnRH types have been discovered in mammals, GnRH I and GnRH II. In particular, GnRH I is released by the hypothalamus; however, it can be present in various tissues and organs of the body, including neural tissue, where it exerts neuroendocrine, autocrine, and paracrine actions in the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS). Interestingly, another GnRH isoform, GnRH III, has been identified, which has 60% similarity with GnRH I from which it varies by four amino acids. This peptide has been shown to have a significant role in reproduction, specifically in gametogenesis and steroidogenesis. Further research is needed to identify innovative treatment options for endometriosis, such as the therapeutic exogenous administration of GnRH II or antagonists of the GnRH I receptor. In this review, we examined the role of GnRH in endometriosis, outlining the specific actions of GnRH and GnRH receptors (GnRHRs). The innovative use of GnRH analogs and antagonists in the treatment of endometriosis is also discussed.

The Role of Mitophagy in Skeletal Muscle Damage and Regeneration.

Mitochondria are cellular organelles that play an essential role in generating the chemical energy needed for the biochemical reactions in cells. Mitochondrial biogenesis, i.e., de novo mitochondria formation, results in enhanced cellular respiration, metabolic processes, and ATP generation, while autophagic clearance of mitochondria (mitophagy) is required to remove damaged or useless mitochondria. The balance between the opposing processes of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy is highly regulated and crucial for the maintenance of the number and function of mitochondria as well as for the cellular homeostasis and adaptations to metabolic demands and extracellular stimuli. In skeletal muscle, mitochondria are essential for maintaining energy homeostasis, and the mitochondrial network exhibits complex behaviors and undergoes dynamic remodeling in response to various conditions and pathologies characterized by changes in muscle cell structure and metabolism, such as exercise, muscle damage, and myopathies. In particular, the involvement of mitochondrial remodeling in mediating skeletal muscle regeneration following damage has received increased attention, as modifications in mitophagy-related signals arise from exercise, while variations in mitochondrial restructuring pathways can lead to partial regeneration and impaired muscle function. Muscle regeneration (through myogenesis) following exercise-induced damage is characterized by a highly regulated, rapid turnover of poor-functioning mitochondria, permitting the synthesis of better-functioning mitochondria to occur. Nevertheless, essential aspects of mitochondrial remodeling during muscle regeneration remain poorly understood and warrant further characterization. In this review, we focus on the critical role of mitophagy for proper muscle cell regeneration following damage, highlighting the molecular mechanisms of the mitophagy-associated mitochondrial dynamics and network reformation.

Differential Expression of Insulin Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) Isoforms in Different Types of Endometriosis: Preliminary Results of a Single-Center Study.

Endometriosis is a benign, estrogen-dependent gynecological condition with an uncertain exact pathogenetic mechanism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential differential expression of Insulin Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) isoforms in deeply infiltrating endometriotic (DIE) lesions, in ovarian endometriomas, and in the eutopic endometrium of the same endometriosis patients and to compare their expression with that in the eutopic endometrium of women without endometriosis. A total of 39 patients were included: 28 with endometriosis, of whom 15 had endometriomas only, 7 had DIE nodules only, and 6 had both DIE and endometriomas, and 11 without endometriosis served as controls. We noticed a similar pattern of expression between IGF-1Ea and IGF-1Ec, which differed from that of the IGF-1Eb isoform, possibly implying differential biological actions of different isoforms in DIE subtypes. We observed a tendency of lower expression of IGF-1Ea and IGF-1Ec in endometriomas without DIE compared to endometriomas with concurrent DIE or in DIE nodules. In conclusion, differential expression of IGF-1 isoforms may indicate that DIE with its associated ovarian lesions and simple ovarian endometriosis should be considered as two forms of the disease developing under different molecular pathways.

Effect of Mechanical Loading of Senescent Myoblasts on Their Myogenic Lineage Progression and Survival.

BACKGROUND: During aging, muscle cell apoptosis increases and myogenesis gradually declines. The impaired myogenic and survival potential of the aged skeletal muscle can be ameliorated by its mechanical loading. However, the molecular responses of aged muscle cells to mechanical loading remain unclear. This study examined the effect of mechanical loading of aged, proliferating, and differentiated myoblasts on the gene expression and signaling responses associated with their myogenic lineage progression and survival. METHODS: Control and aged C2C12 cells were cultured on elastic membranes and underwent passive stretching for 12 h at a low frequency (0.25 Hz) and different elongations, varying the strain on days 0 and 10 of myoblast differentiation. Activation of ERK1/2 and Akt, and the expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and key myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), MyoD and Myogenin, were determined by immunoblotting of the cell lysates derived from stretched and non-stretched myoblasts. Changes in the expression levels of the MRFs, muscle growth, atrophy, and pro-apoptotic factors in response to mechanical loading of the aged and control cells were quantified by real-time qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Mechanical stretching applied on myoblasts resulted in the upregulation of FAK both in proliferating (day 0) and differentiated (day 10) cells, as well as in increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in both control and aged cells. Moreover, Akt activation and the expression of early differentiation factor MyoD increased significantly after stretching only in the control myoblasts, while the late differentiation factor Myogenin was upregulated in both the control and aged myoblasts. At the transcriptional level, mechanical loading of the proliferating myoblasts led to an increased expression of IGF-1 isoforms and MRFs, and to downregulation of muscle atrophy factors mainly in control cells, as well as in the upregulation of pro-apoptotic factors both in control and aged cells. In differentiated cells, mechanical loading resulted in an increased expression of the IGF-1Ea isoform and Myogenin, and in the downregulation of atrophy and pro-apoptotic factors in both the control and aged cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a diminished beneficial effect of mechanical loading on the myogenic and survival ability of the senescent muscle cells compared with the controls, with a low strain (2%) loading being most effective in upregulating myogenic/anabolic factors and downregulating atrophy and pro-apoptotic genes mainly in the aged myotubes.

Development of a predictive model for luteal phase oocyte retrieval in poor responders undergoing natural cycle IVF.

The aim of this study is the development of a prediction model indicating successful application of Oocyte Retrieval performed during the Luteal Phase (LuPOR) in poor responders, as defined by the retrieval of at least one MII oocyte. Recruitment included 1688 poor responders diagnosed as per Bologna Criteria, undergoing natural cycle ICSI between 2012 and 2020. Oocyte collections were performed during the follicular phase and during the luteal phase similarly. Antral Follicle Count (AFC), Estradiol (E2) levels evaluated on both trigger days prior to Follicular Phase Oocyte Retrieval (FoPOR) and LuPOR, and the number of small follicles 8-12 mm that were not aspirated during FoPOR were identified as predictive factors indicative of an efficient LuPOR practice with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.86, 0.86, 0.89 as well as 0.82 respectively. The combination of the above-mentioned characteristics into a prediction model provided an AUC of 0.88, specificity and a sensitivity of 0.73 and 0.94 respectively and an accuracy of 0.89. The model provided a positive predictive value (PPV) of 93.5% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 46.8%. The clinical conclusion of the present study aims to be of added value to the clinician, by providing a prediction model defining the POR population benefiting from LuPOR. The high PPV of this model may renders this tool helpful for the practitioner that considers LuPOR.

The Immunomodulatory Properties of Vitamin D.

Since its discovery, vitamin D was shown to have both immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory effects on the immune system. A growing body of evidence so far linked vitamin D deficiency with the development and severity of several systemic and organ specific autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis. In the present report, the multiple and diverse effects of vitamin D on the immune system are reviewed.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: Association with Clinical Manifestations and Immune Activation Markers.

Vitamin D is an agent involved in bone and mineral homeostasis. It has been recognized as a potent immunomodulator. It has immune-enhancing properties, and it induces immune tolerance. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to be related to the development of autoimmune disorders. Vitamin D deficiency has been observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and it has been shown to be related with disease activity. Vitamin D deficiency has also been found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and it was shown to be related to disease activity and renal involvement. Vitamin D deficiency has also been observed in multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D has been found to act as a supplemental therapeutic agent in multiple sclerosis. Sjögren's syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease affecting the exocrine glands, known as an autoimmune epithelitis. The disease has a complex pathogenesis, requiring a genetic background, immune cell activation, and autoantibody production. The disease affects the exocrine glands, lacrimal, and salivary glands leading to ocular and oral dryness. Vitamin D levels have been measured in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and an association was observed between low vitamin D levels, peripheral neuropathy and the presence of lymphoma. In other cohorts, such as a Turkish cohort, vitamin D deficiency was observed in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. The aim is to measure serum vitamin D levels in consecutive patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and the presence of immunologic markers, clinical, serological, and histopathological characteristics.

Physical Exercise Restrains Cancer Progression through Muscle-Derived Factors.

A growing body of in vitro and in vivo studies suggests that physical activity offers important benefits against cancer, in terms of both prevention and treatment. However, the exact mechanisms implicated in the anticancer effects of exercise remain to be further elucidated. Muscle-secreted factors in response to contraction have been proposed to mediate the physical exercise-induced beneficial effects and be responsible for the inter-tissue communications. Specifically, myokines and microRNAs (miRNAs) constitute the most studied components of the skeletal muscle secretome that appear to affect the malignancy, either directly by possessing antioncogenic properties, or indirectly by mobilizing the antitumor immune responses. Moreover, some of these factors are capable of mitigating serious, disease-associated adverse effects that deteriorate patients' quality of life and prognosis. The present review summarizes the myokines and miRNAs that may have potent anticancer properties and the expression of which is induced by physical exercise, while the mechanisms of secretion and intercellular transportation of these factors are also discussed.

The impact of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) on clinical outcomes in high risk patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) improves the clinical outcome in patients with advanced maternal age (AMA), recurrent miscarriages (RM), and recurrent implantation failure (RIF). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study from a single IVF center and a single genetics laboratory. One hundred seventy-six patients undergoing PGT-A were assigned to three groups: an AMA group, an RM group, and a RIF group. Two hundred seventy-nine patients that did not undergo PGT-A were used as controls and subgrouped similarly to the PGT-A cohort. For the PGT-A groups, trophectoderm biopsy was performed and array comparative genomic hybridization was used for PGT-A. Clinical outcomes were compared with the control groups. RESULTS: In the RM group, we observed a significant decrease of early pregnancy loss rates in the PGT-A group (18.1% vs 75%) and a significant increase in live birth rate per transfer (50% vs 12.5%) and live birth rate per patient (36% vs 12.5%). In the RIF group, a statistically significant increase in the implantation rate per transfer (69.5% vs 33.3%) as well as the live birth rate per embryo transfer (47.8% vs 19%) was observed. In the AMA group, a statistically significant reduction in biochemical pregnancy loss was observed (3.7% vs 31.5%); however, live birth rates per embryo transfer and per patient were not significantly higher than the control group. CONCLUSION: Our results agree with recently published studies, which suggest caution in the universal application of PGT-A in women with infertility. Instead, a more personalized approach by choosing the right candidates for PGT-A intervention should be followed.

The Effects of Mechanical Loading Variations on the Hypertrophic, Anti-Apoptotic, and Anti-Inflammatory Responses of Differentiated Cardiomyocyte-like H9C2 Cells.

Cardiomyocytes possess the ability to respond to mechanical stimuli by adapting their biological functions. This study investigated cellular and molecular events in cardiomyocyte-like H9C2 cells during differentiation as well as the signalling and gene expression responses of the differentiated cells under various mechanical stretching protocols in vitro. Immunofluorescence was used to monitor MyHC expression and structural changes during cardiomyoblast differentiation. Moreover, alterations in the expression of cardiac-specific markers, cell cycle regulatory factors, MRFs, hypertrophic, apoptotic, atrophy and inflammatory factors, as well as the activation of major intracellular signalling pathways were evaluated during differentiation and under mechanical stretching of the differentiated H9C2 cells. Compared to undifferentiated cells, advanced-differentiation cardiomyoblasts exhibited increased expression of cardiac-specific markers, MyHC, MRFs, and IGF-1 isoforms. Moreover, differentiated cells that underwent a low strain/frequency mechanical loading protocol of intermediate duration showed enhanced expression of MRFs and hypertrophic factors, along with a decreased expression of apoptotic, atrophy, and inflammatory factors compared to both high-strain/frequency loading protocols and to unloaded cells. These findings suggest that altering the strain and frequency of mechanical loading applied on differentiated H9C2 cardiomyoblasts can regulate their anabolic/survival program, with a low-strain/frequency stretching being, overall, most effective at inducing beneficial responses.

Vitamin D levels in Greek patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D deficiency has been observed in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The aim was to study vitamin D in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its relationship with disease activity. METHODS: In a cohort of 45 patients with SLE, 41 females and 4 males, aged 47.07 ± 2.17 years (mean ± SEM), and range = 21-79 years, 25(OH)D3 levels were determined by electrochemiluminescence. C3 and C4 levels were also analyzed. SLE disease activity was estimated by SLEDAI-2K. Observations were also performed in a control group matched for age and sex. RESULTS: In this cohort of SLE patients, 25(OH)D3 levels were 40.36 ± 2.41 nmol/L (mean ± SEM) as opposed to 60.98 ± 4.28 nmol/L in the control group (p < 0.001, Student's t test). Vitamin D levels were related to C3 (p < 0.001, linear regression analysis), correlation coefficient 0.106, r2 = 0.011, and C4 (p < 0.001); correlation coefficient 0.316 and r2 = 0.100; and inversely related to disease activity (p < 0.001), correlation coefficient -0.572 and r2 = 0.327. 25(OH)D3 levels were 17.73 ± 1.20 nmol/L and 12.24 ± 0.93 nmol/L, in the groups without and with renal involvement, respectively (p = 0.001, Student's t test). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D levels are low in SLE patients and are inversely related to disease activity. Routine screening for vitamin D levels should be performed in SLE patients.

Topography of the deep temporal arteries and implications for performing safe aesthetic injections.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have started investigating the safety of temporal rejuvenation using soft tissue fillers. However, as the temporal region is highly vascularized, adverse events due to intravascular injection are of primary concern. The scarcity of treatment guidelines to date have focused primarily on avoiding the superficial and middle temporal arteries. The aim of the present anatomical study was to describe the topography of the deep temporal arteries (DTAs) with reference to superficial landmarks, to aid clinicians who perform temporal injections. METHODS: The tissue layers of eight fresh-frozen cephalic cadavers were dissected and assessed, bilaterally in the temporal region (N = 16). Distance (D) of the anterior (D1 and D3) and posterior (D2 and D4) arteries was measured from (i) the zygomaticofrontal suture line at the lateral orbital rim (D1 and D2) and (ii) the junction of the superior border of the zygomatic arch and lateral orbital rim (D3 and D4). The distance between the anterior and posterior DTAs was also recorded, at the two regions (D5). RESULTS: Bifurcations of the DTAs were observed in 18.75% (3/16) and 12.5% (2/16) of cases, for the anterior and posterior branches, respectively. On average [mean (standard deviation)], D1 (anterior DTA to the zygomaticofrontal suture line at the lateral orbital rim) = 1.56 cm (0.59); D2 (posterior DTA to the zygomaticofrontal suture line at the lateral orbital rim) = 2.98 cm (0.70); D3 (anterior DTA to the junction of the superior border of the zygomatic arch and lateral orbital rim) = 1.14 cm (0.63); D4 (posterior DTA to the junction of the superior border of the zygomatic arch and lateral orbital rim) = 2.37 cm (0.62); and D5 (distance between the anterior and posterior DTAs) = 1.54 cm (0.68). CONCLUSION: To help avoid vascular adverse events while performing temporal injections, aesthetic clinicians should be conscientious of safety implications related to the anatomical location of the DTAs and their ramifications.

+3179G/A Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Receptor Polymorphism: A Novel Susceptibility Contributor in Anti-Ro/SSA Positive Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome: Potential Clinical and Pathogenetic Implications.

BACKGROUND: Alterations of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway along with genetic variations of the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) gene have been linked to the development of systemic autoimmunity, possibly through apoptosis induction. This study aims to investigate whether genetic variations of the IGF1R contribute to Sjögren's syndrome (SS) pathogenesis and explores potential functional implications. METHODS: DNA extracted from whole peripheral blood derived from 277 primary SS patients, complicated or not by lymphoma, and 337 Healthy controls (HC) was genotyped for the rs2229765 IGF1R polymorphism using the RFLP-PCR assay. Gene expression of IGF1R and IGF1 isoforms, caspases 1, 4, and 5, and inflammasome components NLRP3, ASC, IL1ß, IL18, IL33, IGFBP3, and IGFBP6 were quantitated by RT-PCR in total RNA extracted from minor salivary gland biopsies (MSGs) of 50 SS patients and 13 sicca controls (SCs). In addition, IGF1R immunohistochemical (IHC) expression was assessed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded MSG tissue sections derived from 10 SS patients and 5 SCs. RESULTS: The prevalence of the A/A genotype of the rs2229765 IGF1R polymorphism was significantly higher in the anti-Ro/SSA positive SS population compared to healthy controls (24.8% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.001). Moreover, IGF1Rs at both mRNA and protein levels were reduced in SS-derived MSGs compared to SCs and were negatively associated with caspase 1 transcripts. The latter were positively correlated with NLRP3, ASC, and IL1ß at the salivary gland tissue level. IGF1R expression in peripheral blood was negatively correlated with ESR and IgG serum levels and positively correlated with urine-specific gravity values. CONCLUSIONS: The rs2229765 IGF1R variant confers increased susceptibility for seropositive primary SS. Dampened IGF1R mRNA and protein expression in salivary gland tissues could be related to increased apoptosis and subsequently to the activation of inflammasome pathways.

Role of exercise in preventing and restoring gut dysbiosis in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: A review.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) include a spectrum of chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract whose pathogenesis is yet to be elucidated. The intestinal microbiome has been studied as a causal component, with certain microbiotic alterations having been observed in subtypes of IBD. Physical exercise is a modulator of the intestinal microbiome, causing shifts in its composition that are partially corrective of those observed in IBD; furthermore, physical exercise may be beneficial in patients with certain IBD subtypes. This review studies the effects of physical exercise on the human gut microbiome while investigating pathophysiologic mechanisms that could explain physical activity's clinical effects on patients with IBD.