Insulin resistance in non-diabetes patients with spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: Insulin resistance (IR) constitutes a major underlying abnormality driving cardiovascular disease in the general population and has been linked to inflammatory diseases. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of IR in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and whether IR can be explained by disease-related features in such cases. Method: The study included 577 subjects: 306 patients diagnosed with SpA according to Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria and 271 controls. Insulin and C-peptide serum levels, IR and ß-cell function (%B) indices by homoeostatic model assessment (HOMA2), and lipid profiles were assessed in patients and controls. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to evaluate the differences in IR indices between patients and controls and to determine how IR is associated with disease-related characteristics in SpA patients. Results: HOMA2-%B and HOMA2-IR scores, both calculated with insulin or C-peptide, had significantly higher values in SpA patients compared to controls in multivariable analysis adjusted for age, gender, traditional IR-related factors, and glucocorticoid intake. Disease activity, functional status, and metrological SpA indices were positively related to IR, but only in univariable analysis. Disease duration and positivity for human leucocyte antigen-B27 were independently associated with a higher HOMA2-%B after multivariable analysis. Conclusion: Patients with SpA have an increased IR compared to controls. SpA disease-related data are independently associated with ß-cell dysfunction.

Tercer reporte de eventos adversos con tratamientos biológicos en Argentina. Informe de registro biobadasar / Thrid report of adverse events with biologics in Argentina. Report from biobadasar registry

Introducción: BIOBADASAR (Registro Argentino de Eventos Adversos con Tratamientos Biológicos en Reumatología) comenzó en agosto de 2010. La importancia de este registro es mostrar datos locales que, probablemente, puedan diferir de otros registros. El objetivo es comunicar los resultados del tercer reporte de BIOBADASAR. Métodos: Todos los pacientes con enfermedades reumáticas que requirieron tratamiento con agentes biológicos y pacientes controles sin estos tratamientos fueron incluidos en la base de datos provenientes de 32 centros participando a lo largo de la Argentina. Tres áreas de datos son analizados: características de los pacientes, tratamientos y eventos adversos...

Introduction: BIOBADASAR (Argentine Registry of Adverse Events with Biological Treatments in Rheumatology) began in August 2010. The importance of this registry is to show local data that may probably differ from other registries. The objective is to communicate the results of the third BIOBADASAR report. Methods: All patients with rheumatic diseases who required treatment with biological agents and control patients without these treatments were included in the database from 32 participating centers throughout Argentina. Three areas of data are analyzed: patient characteristics, treatments and adverse events...

Odorous constituents of ovine milk in relationship to diet.

The neutral volatile compounds of ovine milk from ewes fed on natural pasture, grass meadow, and on mixed grain rations were isolated by distillation under vacuum and then collected in traps that were cooled with liquid nitrogen. The distillate was extracted with dichloromethane, and the extract obtained was analyzed using high resolution gas chromatography and high resolution gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Seventy compounds were identified and quantitatively determined. The volatile compounds obtained were mainly esters, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons, and lactones. The olfactometric indices and olfactory properties of 16 compounds were determined by gas chromatography and olfactometry. All of the substances were present in all three milk types with the exception of two sesquiterpenes, which were not detected in the milk from ewes fed the mixed grain ration. The two sesquiterpenes were absent also in ovine cheese obtained from milk from ewes fed the mixed grain ration, but the two sesquiterpenes were identified in cheese produced from milk of sheep fed on natural pasture. The presence of these constituents in the milk can be significant because of their potential role in determining milk and cheese flavor. Accordingly, cheese obtained during summer may be identified using sesquiterpenes as chemical markers of the milk used to make cheese.