Efecto combinado de la interacción genética sobre el desarrollo del bocio nodular con tiroiditis autoinmune y adenoma tiroideo en los habitantes de Bucovina del Norte / Combined effect of gene-gene interaction on the development of nodular goiter with autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid adenoma in the inhabitants of Northern Bukovyna

ABSTRAC This article presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of the combined influence of genetic polymorphisms associated with various links of apoptosis regulation (BCL-2, CTLA-4 and APO-1/Fas) on the development of nodular goiter with autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid adenoma in the studied population. The analysis was performed using the Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction (MDR) method by calculating the prediction potential. Graphic models of gene-gene interaction with the highest cross-validation consistency created by the MDR method showed complex "synergistic or independent" impact of polymorphic loci of the CTLA-4 (+49G/A), Fas (-1377G/A) and BCL-2 (63291411 A>G) genes on the onset of thyroid pathology in general, or its individual types (nodular goiter with autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid adenoma) in the population of Northern Bukovyna.

RESUMEN Este artículo presenta los resultados de un análisis exhaustivo de la influencia combinada de polimorfismos genéticos asociados a diversos enlaces en la regulación de la apoptosis (BCL-2, CTLA-4 y APO-1/FAS) sobre el desarrollo de bocio nodular con tiroiditis autoinmune y adenoma tiroideo en la población estudiada. Para ello, se utilizó el método de reducción de dimensionalidad multifactorial (MDR) mediante el cálculo de los potenciales de predicción. Los modelos gráficos de interacción gen-gen con la mayor consistencia de validación cruzada creada por el método MDR mostraron un complejo impacto «sinérgico o independiente¼ de los loci polimórficos de los genes CTLA-4 (+49G/A), FAS (-1377G/A) y BCL-2 (63291411A>G) en el inicio de la patología tiroidea en general, o sus tipos individuales (bocio nodular con tiroiditis autoinmune y adenoma tiroideo) en la población de Bucovina septentrional.

Efficacy, safety and tolerability of using abatacept for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

The objective is to provide an update on the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of the use of abatacept for treating rheumatoid arthritis. A systematic review (up to June 2011) followed by meta-analyses was performed. Randomized controlled clinical trials comparing abatacept at a dose of 10 mg/kg with a placebo, both with concomitant methotrexate, were used. Only high- or moderate-quality studies were included. The efficacy was evaluated based on changes in the ACR, DAS and HAQ; safety was assessed based on serious adverse events, serious infections, malignancies and deaths; tolerability was evaluated based on the withdrawals due to adverse events, serious adverse events and lack of efficacy. All these parameters were evaluated within one year of treatment. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 4,219 patients. For all of the efficacy parameters, the abatacept group had better results than the placebo group, except in the case of HAQ improvement >0.3, which presented no statistically significant difference. None of the safety parameters presented a significant difference between the groups. The tolerability parameters were also similar between groups, with the exception of withdrawals due to lack of efficacy. For this criterion, the abatacept group presented favorably compared to the control group. Abatacept showed a higher efficacy compared to placebo without significant differences between the abatacept and control group in terms of safety.

O objetivo foi fornecer dados atualizados sobre eficácia clínica, segurança e tolerabilidade do uso de abatacepte para o tratamento da artrite reumatoide. Realizaram-se uma revisão sistemática (com dados até junho/2011) e metanálises. Somente estudos clínicos controlados randomizados comparando o abatacepte (10 mg/kg) com placebo, ambos com uso concomitante de metotrexato, foram incluídos; todos possuíam qualidade alta ou moderada. A eficácia foi avaliada baseando-se em mudanças no ACR, DAS e HAQ; a segurança foi avaliada pelos eventos adversos e infecções graves, malignidades e mortes e a tolerabilidade pelo abandono do tratamento devido a eventos adversos (graves ou não) e falta de eficácia. Todos esses parâmetros foram avaliados ao final de um ano de tratamento. Nove estudos se adequaram aos critérios de inclusão, envolvendo 4219 pacientes. Em todos os parâmetros avaliados, o grupo tratado com abatacepte obteve melhores resultados, exceto para a melhora (>0,3) no HAQ (sem diferença estatisticamente significativa). Nenhum critério de segurança ou tolerabilidade apresentou diferença significativa entre os grupos, com exceção dos abandonos devido à falta de eficácia (grupo abatacepte apresentou resultados favoráveis em relação ao controle). O abatacepte possui maior eficácia quando comparado com o placebo, sem diferença significativa entre os grupos em termos de segurança.