An Observational Study Suggests That Natural HAdV-36 Infection Decreases Blood Glucose Levels without Affecting Insulin Levels in Obese Young Subjects.

Human adenovirus-36 (HAdV-36) infection has been linked to obesity, low lipid levels, and improvements in blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity in animal models and humans, although epidemiological studies remain controversial. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between HAdV-36 seropositivity and glycemic control in youths. This observational study examined 460 youths (246 with normal weight and 214 obese subjects). All participants underwent assessments for anthropometry, blood pressure, circulating fasting levels of glucose, lipids, insulin, and anti-HAdV-36 antibodies; additionally, the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. In all, 57.17% of the subjects were HAdV-36 seropositive. Moreover, HAdV-36 seroprevalence was higher in obese subjects compared to their normal weight counterparts (59% vs. 55%). BMI (33.1 vs. 32.3 kg/m2, p = 0.03), and waist circumference (107 vs. 104 cm, p = 0.02), insulin levels (21 vs. 16.3 µU/mL, p = 0.003), and HOMA-IR (4.6 vs. 3.9, p = 0.02) were higher in HAdV-36-positive subjects with obesity compared to seronegative subjects. In the obese group, HAdV-36 seropositivity was associated with a reducing effect in blood glucose levels in a model adjusted for total cholesterol, triglyceride levels, age and sex (ß = -10.44, p = 0.014). Furthermore, a statistically significant positive relationship was observed between HAdV-36 seropositivity and insulin levels in the obesity group. These findings suggest that natural HAdV-36 infection improves glycemic control but does not ameliorate hyperinsulinemia in obese subjects.

Levels of sCD163 in women rheumatoid arthritis: Relationship with cardiovascular risk markers.

AIM: The soluble scavenger receptor differentiation antigen 163 (sCD163), a monocyte/macrophage activation marker, is related to cardiovascular mortality in the general population. This study aimed to evaluate their relationship between serum levels of sCD163 with cardiovascular risk indicators in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on 80 women diagnosed with RA. The cardiovascular risks were determined using the lipid profile, metabolic syndrome, and QRISK3 calculator. For the assessment of RA activity, we evaluated the DAS28 with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR). The serum levels of sCD163 were determined by the ELISA method. Logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were used to assess the association and predictive value of sCD163 with cardiovascular risk in RA patients. RESULTS: Levels of sCD163 were significantly higher in RA patients with high sensitivity protein C-reactive to HDL-c ratio (CHR)≥0.121 (p=0.003), total cholesterol/HDL-c ratio>7% (p=0.004), LDL-c/HDL-c ratio>3% (p=0.035), atherogenic index of plasma>0.21 (p=0.004), cardiometabolic index (CMI)≥1.70 (p=0.005), and high DAS28-ESR (p=0.004). In multivariate analysis, levels of sCD163≥1107.3ng/mL were associated with CHR≥0.121 (OR=3.43, p=0.020), CMI≥1.70 (OR=4.25, p=0.005), total cholesterol/HDL-c ratio>7% (OR=6.63, p=0.044), as well as with DAS28-ESR>3.2 (OR=8.10, p=0.008). Moreover, levels of sCD163 predicted CHR≥0.121 (AUC=0.701), cholesterol total/HDL ratio>7% (AUC=0.764), and DAS28-ESR>3.2 (AUC=0.720). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of sCD163 could be considered a surrogate of cardiovascular risk and clinical activity in RA.

Exploring the mediating role of promoting school physical activity on the relationship between low socioeconomic status and academic achievement and school climate: evidence from 4,990 Chilean schools.

There is evidence that promoting school physical activity (PSPA) benefits children and adolescents, but little is understood about how this promotion may relate to academic achievement and school climate across varying levels of socioeconomic status (SES). Hence, the study aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining two main objectives: (1) determining the association between PSPA and academic achievement and school climate according to schools' SES and (2) exploring the potential mediating role of PSPA in the relationship between schools' SES and academic achievement and school climate. This cross-sectional study at the school level focused on 4,990 schools (including public, subsidized, and private schools) that participated in the National Educational Study 2018 (Chile), which was applied to primary schoolchildren (4th grade, aged 8-10 years). Schools were divided into non-PSPA (n = 4,280) and PSPA (n = 710) during the year 2018. Changes in academic achievement from 2017 to 2018 and school climate were considered. PSPA was associated with improvements in maths (low-SES OR: 1.80, p < 0.001) and reading (middle-SES OR: 1.45, p = 0.029; low-SES OR: 1.47, p < 0.001). The indirect effect (IE) showed that PSPA partially mediated the relationship between SES and academic achievement in reading (IE = 1.017; SE = 0.12; 95%CI, -1.27, -0.77), maths (IE = -1.019; SE = 0.12; 95%CI, -1.25, -0.78), and school climate (IE = -0.46; SE = 0.52; 95%CI, -0.56, -0.35). In conclusion, PSPA was linked to positive changes in academic achievement, especially among low SES, and PSPA presented a potential mediating role in the relationship between SES of schools and academic achievement and school climate.

Association of PADI2 and PADI4 polymorphisms in COVID-19 host severity and non-survival.

Background: Enzymes of the peptidylarginine deiminase family (PADs) play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. However, the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in their genes with COVID-19 severity and death is unknown. Methodology: We included 1045 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between October 2020 and December 2021. All subjects were genotyped for PADI2 (rs1005753 and rs2235926) and PADI4 (rs11203366, rs11203367, and rs874881) SNPs by TaqMan assays and their associations with disease severity, death, and inflammatory biomarkers were evaluated. Results: 291 patients presented had severe COVID-19 according to PaO2/FiO2, and 393 had a non-survival outcome. Carriers of the rs1005753 G/G genotype in the PADI2 gene presented susceptibility for severe COVID-19, while the heterozygous carriers in rs11203366, rs11203367, and rs874881 of the PADI4 gene showed risk of death. The GTACC haplotype in PADI2-PADI4 was associated with susceptibility to severe COVID-19, while the GCACC haplotype was a protective factor. The GCGTG haplotype was associated with severe COVID-19 but as a protective haplotype for death. Finally, the GTACC haplotype was associated with platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the GCACC haplotype with neutrophil-to-hemoglobin and lymphocyte and the GCGTG haplotype as a protective factor for the elevation of procalcitonin, D-dimer, CRP, LCRP, NHL, SII, NLR, and PLR. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the haplotypic combination of GTACC and some individual genotypes of PADI2 and PADI4 contribute to the subjects' susceptibility for severity and death by COVID-19.

Función pulmonar, capacidad funcional y calidad de vida en pacientes con fibrosis pulmonar idiopática. Revisión de la literatura / Pulmonary function, functional capacity and quality of life in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Literature review

Resumen Introducción. La fibrosis pulmonar idiopática (FPI) es un tipo de enfermedad intersticial, crónica y progresiva que suele manifestarse con disnea y deterioro progresivo de la tolerancia al ejercicio y a las actividades de la vida diaria, llegando a comprometer el nivel psicológico y la interacción social. Objetivos. Seleccionar y sintetizar información acerca de la respuesta de la capacidad funcional, la función pulmonar y la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en pacientes con FPI luego de ser sometidos a un programa de rehabilitación pulmonar. Materiales y métodos. Revisión de la literatura desde 2000 a 2016, utilizando las bases de datos PubMed y ScienceDirect. Resultados. Se seleccionaron 10 ensayos clínicos randomizados. Se observó tendencia al aumento significativo en la distancia recorrida en test de marcha de 6 minutos. Respecto a la función pulmonar, los resultados variaron entre las poblaciones estudiadas. En la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud se observó mejora en los pacientes sometidos a rehabilitación, pero los niveles de disnea mostraron resultados discordantes. Conclusión. Se evidenciaron beneficios en términos de capacidad funcional y calidad de vida relacionada con la salud, pero los estudios siguen siendo escasos y con poblaciones pequeñas; los efectos de los programas de rehabilitación no se mantienen a los 6 meses de evaluación post-entrenamiento.

Abstract Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial, chronic and progressive disease that usually appears with dyspnea and progressive deterioration of exercise tolerance and activities of daily living, compromising psychological well-being and social interaction. Objectives: To select and summarize information about functional capacity response, pulmonary function and health-related quality of life in patients with IPF after being subjected to a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Materials and methods: Literature review from 2000 to 2016, using the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. Results: 10 randomized clinical trials were selected. A tendency to a significant increase in the distance traveled in the 6-minute walk test was found. Regarding pulmonary function, results were variable among the studied populations. Quality of life related to health improvement was observed in all patients undergoing rehabilitation, but dyspnea levels showed discordant results. Conclusion: The trials show benefits in terms of functional capacity and health-related quality of life; however, studies are still scarce, done on small populations, and the effects of rehabilitation programs are not sustained 6 months after post-training evaluation.

Body image dissatisfaction and its association with antropometrics parameters, weight status and self-esteem in Chilean schoolchildren

Although an increasing number of children are becoming obese, the psychological comorbidities associated with obesity are not well established. This research was aimed at determining if there is association between body image dissatisfaction with anthropometrics parameters, weight status and self-esteem in children from public schools. The sample comprised 712 schoolchildren age 11.94 ± 1.16 years (351 girls and 361 boys). Self-esteem, body image dissatisfaction, body fat (BF), body mass index (BMI), Waist circumference (WC) and waist to height ratio (WHtR) were evaluated. 372 children (52.2%) presented normal weight, 201 (28.2%) children presented overweight and 139 children (19.5%) presented obesity. There were no differences in proportions between boys and girls (p = 0.778). Girls presented a higher proportion of body image dissatisfaction (p = 0.0045). The children with obesity presented the highest proportion with low or very low self-esteem (p < 0.001) and presented a higher proportion of body image dissatisfaction (p<0.001). The body image dissatisfaction was associated with overweight/obesity status (OR = 4.12, p < 0.001), WtHR (OR = 3.53, p < 0.001) and self-esteem (OR = 2.91, p = 0.03). In conclusion the body image dissatisfaction in the sample of study was associated with antropometric parameters and self- esteem(AU)

A pesar de que un número creciente de niños se está volviendo obeso, las comorbilidades psicológicas asociadas con la obesidad no están bien establecidas. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar si existe asociación entre la insatisfacción con la imagen corporal con parámetros antropométricos, el estatus corporal y la autoestima en niños de escuelas públicas. La muestra comprendía a 712 niños en edad escolar 11,94 ± 1,16 años (351 niñas y 361 niños). Se evaluaron la autoestima, la insatisfacción con la imagen corporal, la grasa corporal (GC), el índice de masa corporal (IMC), la circunferencia de la cintura (CC) y la relación cintura estatura (RCE). 372 niños (52,2%) presentaron peso normal, 201 (28,2%) sobrepeso y 139 niños (19,5%) presentaron obesidad. No hubo diferencias en las proporciones entre niños y niñas (p = 0.778). Las niñas presentaron una mayor proporción de insatisfacción con la imagen corporal (p = 0,0045). El grupo obeso presentó la proporción más alta con baja o muy baja autoestima (p <0.001) y presentó una mayor proporción de insatisfacción con la imagen corporal (p <0.001). La insatisfacción con la imagen corporal se asoció con el estado de sobrepeso/obesidad (OR = 4.12, p <0.001), RCE (OR = 3.53, p <0.001) y autoestima (OR = 2.91, p = 0.03). En conclusión, la insatisfacción con la imagen corporal en la muestra de estudio se asoció con parámetros antropométricos y la autoestima(AU)

Significant associations between C-reactive protein levels, body adiposity distribution and peripheral blood cells in school-age children / Asociaciones significativas entre los niveles de proteína C reactiva, distribución de la adiposidad corporal y células sanguíneas periféricas en niños escolares

Obesity is associated with a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. Generally, there are significant correlations between body mass index and increased C-reactive protein levels. We investigated the relationship of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels with body adiposity distribution and blood cell count in obese children. A cross-sectional study was performed in 225 Mexican children. In the study were included 106 obese and 119 normal-weight children, aged 6-13 years old. The body composition was evaluated by BMI, body circumferences and skinfold thickness. hsCRP levels and hematological parameters were analyzed in all children. The hsCRP levels were higher in obese children than in the control group (1.5 and 0.41 mg/L respectively, P<0.001). Interestingly, hsCRP levels >3 mg/L were associated with the increase of circumferences of the waist, hip and arms (ORs= 9.08, 6.78 and 8.73, respectively, P<0.001), and a higher thickness of triceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds (ORs= 4.73, 6.39 and 5.26, respectively, P=0.001), as well as a higher leukocyte and platelet counts. The data suggest that hsCRP levels are associated with skinfold thickness and body circumferences, and a moderate relationship was found with leukocyte and platelet counts in the studied children.

La obesidad se asocia con un estado de inflamación crónica de bajo grado. Generalmente, hay correlaciones significativas entre el índice de masa corporal y el incremento en los niveles de la proteína C reactiva (CRP). Se investigó la relación de los niveles de CRP de alta sensibilidad (hsCRP) con la distribución de la adiposidad corporal y la cuenta de las células sanguíneas en niños obesos. Se realizó un estudio transversal en 225 niños mexicanos. En el estudio se incluyeron 106 niños obesos y 119 con peso normal, edad de 6-13 años. La composición corporal fue evaluada por IMC, circunferencias corporales y grosor de pliegues cutáneos. Los niveles de la hsCRP de alta sensibilidad y los parámetros hematológicos fueron analizados en todos los niños. Los niveles de la hsCRP presentaron un incremento en los niños obesos con respecto al grupo control (1,5 y 0,41 mg/L respectivamente, P<0,001). Es interesante que los niveles de hsCRP>3 mg/L se asociaron con mayor circunferencia de cintura, cadera y brazo (ORs= 9,08, 6,78 y 8,73, respectivamente, P<0,001) y mayor grosor de los pliegues como tríceps, subescapular y suprailiaco (ORs= 4,73, 6,39 y 5,26, respectivamente, P=0,001), así como con el aumento en la cuenta de leucocitos y plaquetas. Los datos sugieren que los niveles de la hsCRP se asocian con el grosor de los pliegues cutáneos y las circunferencias corporales y fue encontrada una relación moderada con las cuentas de leucocitos y plaquetas en los niños estudiados.