Serum Levels of IFABP2 and Differences in Lactobacillus and Porphyromonas gingivalis Abundance on Gut Microbiota Are Associated with Poor Therapeutic Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study.

Intestinal dysbiosis is related to the physiopathology and clinical manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the response to pharmacologic treatment. The objectives of this study were (1) to analyze the effect of conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) on the abundance of gut microbiota's bacteria; (2) to evaluate the relationship between the differences in microbial abundance with the serum levels of intestinal fatty-acid binding protein 2 (IFABP2), cytokines, and the response phenotype to csDMARDs therapy in RA. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 23 women diagnosed with RA. The abundance of bacteria in gut microbiota was determined with qPCR. The ELISA technique determined serum levels of IFABP2, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-17A. We found that the accumulated dose of methotrexate or prednisone is negatively associated with the abundance of Lactobacillus but positively associated with the abundance of Bacteroides fragilis. The Lactobacillus/Porphyromonas gingivalis ratio was associated with the Disease Activity Score-28 for RA with Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (DAS28-ESR) (r = 0.778, p = 0.030) and with the levels of IL-17A (r = 0.785, p = 0.027) in the group treated with csDMARD. Moreover, a relation between the serum levels of IFABP2 and TNF-α (r = 0.593, p = 0.035) was observed in the group treated with csDMARD. The serum levels of IFABP2 were higher in patients with secondary non-response to csDMARDs therapy. In conclusion, our results suggest that the ratios of gut microbiota's bacteria and intestinal permeability seems to establish the preamble for therapeutic secondary non-response in RA.

Association between relative handgrip strength and abdominal obesity, type-2 diabetes and hypertension in a Mexican population.

INTRODUCTION: Background: handgrip strength (HGS) is a health-status parameter associated with multicomorbidity in the adult population. Objective: the aim of the present study was to determine the association between HGS (i.e., absolute and relative) and abdominal obesity (AO), type-2 diabetes (T2D), and hypertension (HT), as well as to determine the association between low relative HGS with the presence of multicomorbidity (i.e., the co-occurrence of two or more comorbidities together) in a Mexican population. Methodology: a cross-sectional study was carried out in 860 participants from the south of Mexico (661 women and 199 men). The age range evaluated was from 18 to 65 years. Assessments were made of sociodemographic data, clinical history, anthropometric parameters, and measurement of maximal HGS. Results: the regression models adjusted by age show that the presence of comorbidities (i.e., AO, HT and T2D) was linked negatively to HGS (i.e., absolute and relative). Moreover, in men, a low relative HGS in both hands reported an association with the presence of three simultaneous comorbidities (right, RR: 17.2, p < 0.001; left, RR: 11.92, p = 0.020). In women the same association was found (right, RR: 10.42, p < 0.001; left, RR: 9.90, p < 0.001). Conclusion: lower levels of relative HGS were linked to the presence of simultaneous comorbidities (i.e., the joint presence of AO, T2D and HT). Furthermore, HGS (i.e., absolute and relative) presented an inverse association with individual anthropometric and clinical parameters related to cardiovascular risk in the Mexican population.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: la fuerza prensil de la mano (FPM) es un parámetro asociado con la multicomorbilidad en la población adulta. Objetivo: el objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la asociación entre la FPM (absoluta y relativa) y la obesidad abdominal (OA), la diabetes tipo 2 (DT2) y la hipertensión (HT), así como su asociación con la multicomorbilidad (co-occurrencia de dos o más comorbilidades conjuntas) en una población mexicana. Metodología: se presenta un estudio transversal realizado en 860 participantes del sur de México (661 mujeres y 199 hombres). El rango de edad de los participantes fue de 18 a 65 años. Se evaluaron las características sociodemográficas de la población, los parámetros clínicos y antropométricos, y la medición de la FPM máxima. Resultados: los resultados demostraron una asociación entre la disminución de la FPM (absoluta y relativa) y la presencia de comorbilidades (OA, DT2 e HT). En los hombres, la disminución de la FPM relativa reportada en ambas manos se asoció con la presencia simultánea de tres comorbilidades (derecha, RR: 17,2, p < 0,001; izquierda, RR: 11,92, p = 0,020). Se observó una asociación similar también en las mujeres (derecha, RR: 10,42, p < 0,001; izquierda, RR: 9,90, p < 0,001). Conclusión: los bajos niveles de FPM relativa se asocian con la presencia simultánea de comorbilidades (presencia conjunta de OA, DT2 y HT). Además, la FPM (absoluta y relativa) se relaciona negativamente con los parámetros clínicos y antropométricos relacionados con el riesgo cardiovascular en la población mexicana.

[Circulating levels of MCP-1, VEGF-A, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin and sVE-cadherin: Relationship with components of metabolic syndrome in young population]. / Concentraciones circulantes de MCP-1, VEGF-A, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE-selectina y sVE-cadherina: su relación con componentes del síndrome metabólico en población joven.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are considered the primary manifestations of the cardiovascular disease. Studies have established a relationship among components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with inflammatory markers and the loss of permeability, vasoconstriction and vasodilatation endothelial. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship among the concentrations of soluble endothelial dysfunction molecules and inflammation cytokines and components of the metabolic syndrome in young population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study was performed in 240 young adult students ages 18-28 years. To define the presence of clinical and metabolic alterations and MetS the modified ATP-III criteria was considered. In all subjects were determined sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measures and the metabolic profile. Circulating levels of MCP-1, VEGF-A, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin and sVE-cadherin were determined by ELISA immunoassay (Bioscience). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA statistical software v. 9.2. RESULTS: From all the participants, 44.6% had obesity, 59.9% had abdominal obesity, 49.6% low HDL-c and 16.7% high levels triglycerids. The 16.25% of the population showed 3 or more components of the MetS. Elevated MCP-1, sICAM-1 and sE-selectin levels were linked to the presence of obesity. In a model adjusted by age-gender, high soluble levels of MCP-1 and VEGF-A were linked with abdominal obesity (OR=1.83; 1.02-3.28 and OR=2.03; 1.15-3.56, respectively), as well as to the presence of the 2 components of MetS. sVCAM-1 levels were associated with impaired glucose (OR=4.74; 1.32-17.0); sE-selectin with low HDL-c (OR=1.99; 1.05-3.75), although sICAM-1 and sVE-cadherin were associated with impaired systolic blood pressure (OR=4.04; 1.24-13.1 and OR=6.28; 1.90-20.7, respectively). CONCLUSION: Levels of circulating MCP-1 and VEGF-A were associated with adiposity, levels of sVCAM-1 with the presence of impaired glucose, sE-selectin with low HDL-c, while the levels of sICAM-1 and sVE-cadherin were associated with impaired systolic blood pressure in young adults independently of other traditional risk factors.