Lipocalin-2 Serum Levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Adalimumab and Its Correlation with Proinflammatory Factors.

Background: Obesity is associated with an increased risk for different chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In fact, adipose tissue is now recognized as an endocrine organ able to secrete a wide variety of factors called adipokines, which have been demonstrated to participate in the pathophysiology of RA by regulating inflammation and immunity. LCN2 is one of these adipose tissue-derived factors. However, scarce information is available about the levels of this adipokine in different rheumatic diseases. Therefore, we aimed to analyze LCN2 serum levels in healthy, OA, and RA patients under different treatments. Methods: Serum levels of LCN2, among other proinflammatory and chemotactic factors, have been measured by ELISA or Multiplex in the following four groups of individuals: healthy, OA, and RA patients treated with conventional treatment or adalimumab. Results: We found increased serum levels of LCN2 in OA and RA patients. Interestingly, LCN2 serum levels show a similar pattern to that observed for different proinflammatory and chemotactic factors, being increased in RA conventional treated patients in comparison to RA patients treated with adalimumab. Also, RA patients under conventional treatment revealed a positive and significant correlation between LCN2 and CCL2, CCL3, IL-8, IL-1ß, IL-6, and CRP. In patients with RA treated with adalimumab, only IL-6 and CRP correlated significantly with LCN2. Conclusions: Our results clearly suggest that LCN2 is modulated and associated with inflammation in rheumatic diseases. Therefore, the serum levels of this adipokine might be used as an additional biomarker of the inflammatory/disease activity.

Rheumatic diseases and metabolism: where centre and periphery meet.

Over the past few decades, the connection between metabolism and various inflammatory and rheumatic diseases has been an area of active investigation. Nonetheless, the precise mechanisms underlying these relationships remain a topic of ongoing debate, owing in part to conflicting data. This discrepancy can be attributed to the predominant focus on peripheral mechanisms in research into the metabolic consequences of rheumatic diseases. However, a wealth of evidence supports the notion that the central nervous system, specifically the hypothalamus, has an important influence on metabolic homeostasis. Notably, links have been established between crucial hypothalamic mechanisms responsible for regulating energy balance (including food intake, thermogenesis, and glucose and lipid metabolism), such as AMP-activated protein kinase, and the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis. This Review aims to comprehensively examine the current understanding of central metabolic control in rheumatic diseases and explore potential therapeutic options that target this pathophysiological mechanism.

A retrospective study describing the acetabular consequences of Legg- Calve-Perthes disease.

PURPOSE: Legg Calve Perthes disease (LCPD) is a paediatric hip disorder caused by ischemia of the femoral epiphysis, causing femoral head deformity when untreated. This study aims to determine if previously validated pelvic obliquity radiographic parameters, used for assessing acetabular retroversion in developmental dysplasia of the hip, are applicable to patients with LCPD and its prognostic value. METHOD: A retrospective study of patients with Legg Calve Perthes disease was carried out, analysing 4 pelvic parameters: Ilioischial Angle, Obturator Index, Sharp's Angle and Acetabular Depth-Width Ratio (ADR). The differences between healthy and affected hips were studied, and subsequently, it was assessed whether these parameters have prognostic value in the disease outcome. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences have been obtained in the ilioischial angle, obturator index and ADR, between the affected and healthy hip. However, only the Acetabular Depth-Width Ratio showed predictive value for the disease outcome. CONCLUSION: Although this study revealed differences in pelvic parameters between healthy and diseased hips, with only the ADR showing statistical significance in the disease's evolution and prognosis, further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary.

Injectable Carrageenan/Green Graphene Oxide Hydrogel: A Comprehensive Analysis of Mechanical, Rheological, and Biocompatibility Properties.

In this work, physically crosslinked injectable hydrogels based on carrageenan, locust bean gum, and gelatin, and mechanically nano-reinforced with green graphene oxide (GO), were developed to address the challenge of finding materials with a good balance between injectability and mechanical properties. The effect of GO content on the rheological and mechanical properties, injectability, swelling behavior, and biocompatibility of the nanocomposite hydrogels was studied. The hydrogels' morphology, assessed by FE-SEM, showed a homogeneous porous architecture separated by thin walls for all the GO loadings investigated. The rheology measurements evidence that G' > G″ over the whole frequency range, indicating the dominant elastic nature of the hydrogels and the difference between G' over G″ depends on the GO content. The GO incorporation into the biopolymer network enhanced the mechanical properties (ca. 20%) without appreciable change in the injectability of the nanocomposite hydrogels, demonstrating the success of the approach described in this work. In addition, the injectable hydrogels with GO loadings ≤0.05% w/v exhibit negligible toxicity for 3T3-L1 fibroblasts. However, it is noted that loadings over 0.25% w/v may affect the cell proliferation rate. Therefore, the nano-reinforced injectable hybrid hydrogels reported here, developed with a fully sustainable approach, have a promising future as potential materials for use in tissue repair.

Adipokines as potential pharmacological targets for immune inflammatory rheumatic diseases: Focus on rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and intervertebral disc degeneration.

Adipokines are a heterogeneous group of signalling molecules secreted prevalently by adipose tissue. Initially considered as regulators of energy metabolism and appetite, adipokines have been recognized for their substantial involvement in musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and many others. Understanding the role of adipokines in rheumatic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, as well as in other musculoskeletal diseases such as intervertebral disc degeneration, is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Targeting adipokines, or their signalling pathways, may offer new opportunities for the treatment and management of these conditions. By modulating adipokines levels or activity, it may be possible to regulate inflammation, to maintain bone health, and preserve muscle mass, thereby improving the outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by musculoskeletal diseases. The aim of this review article is to update the reader on the multifaceted role of adipokines in the main rheumatic diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and to unravel the complex interplay among adipokines, cartilage metabolism, bone remodelling and muscles, which will pave the way for innovative therapeutic intervention in the future. For completeness, the role of adipokines in intervertebral disc degeneration will be also addressed.

Human recombinant relaxin-2 (serelaxin) regulates the proteome, lipidome, lipid metabolism and inflammatory profile of rat visceral adipose tissue.

Recombinant human relaxin-2 (serelaxin) has been widely proven as a novel drug with myriad effects at different cardiovascular levels, which support its potential therapeutic efficacy in several cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Considering these effects, together with the influence of relaxin-2 on adipocyte physiology and adipokine secretion, and the connection between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) dysfunction and the development of CVD, we could hypothesize that relaxin-2 may regulate VAT metabolism. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of a 2-week serelaxin treatment on the proteome and lipidome of VAT from Sprague-Dawley rats. We found that serelaxin increased 1 polyunsaturated fatty acid and 6 lysophosphatidylcholines and decreased 4 triglycerides in VAT employing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) based platforms, and that regulates 47 phosphoproteins using SWATH/MS analysis. Through RT-PCR, we found that serelaxin treatment also caused an effect on VAT lipolysis through an increase in the mRNA expression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and a decrease in the expression of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), together with a reduction in the VAT expression of the fatty acid transporter cluster of differentiation 36 (Cd36). Serelaxin also caused an anti-inflammatory effect in VAT by the decrease in the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), chemerin, and its receptor. In conclusion, our results highlight the regulatory role of serelaxin in the VAT proteome and lipidome, lipolytic function, and inflammatory profile, suggesting the implication of several mechanisms supporting the potential benefit of serelaxin for the prevention of obesity and metabolic disorders.

Exploring the Spectrum of VEGF Inhibitors' Toxicities from Systemic to Intra-Vitreal Usage in Medical Practice.

The use of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor inhibitors (VEGFi) has become prevalent in the field of medicine, given the high incidence of various pathological conditions necessitating VEGF inhibition within the general population. These conditions encompass a range of advanced neoplasms, such as colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cancer, ovarian cancer, and others, along with ocular diseases. The utilization of VEGFi is not without potential risks and adverse effects, requiring healthcare providers to be well-prepared for identification and management. VEGFi can be broadly categorized into two groups: antibodies or chimeric proteins that specifically target VEGF (bevacizumab, ramucirumab, aflibercept, ranibizumab, and brolucizumab) and non-selective and selective small molecules (sunitinib, sorafenib, cabozantinib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, etc.) designed to impede intracellular signaling of the VEGF receptor (RTKi, receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors). The presentation and mechanisms of adverse effects resulting from VEGFi depend primarily on this distinction and the route of drug administration (systemic or intra-vitreal). This review provides a thorough examination of the causes, recognition, management, and preventive strategies for VEGFi toxicities with the goal of offering support to oncologists in both clinical practice and the design of clinical trials.

Poly(ethylene Glycol) Methyl Ether Methacrylate-Based Injectable Hydrogels: Swelling, Rheological, and In Vitro Biocompatibility Properties with ATDC5 Chondrogenic Lineage.

Here, we present the synthesis of a series of chemical homopolymeric and copolymeric injectable hydrogels based on polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEM) alone or with 2-dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate (DMAEM). The objective of this study was to investigate how the modification of hydrogel components influences the swelling, rheological attributes, and in vitro biocompatibility of the hydrogels. The hydrogels' networks were formed via free radical polymerization, as assured by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). The swelling of the hydrogels directly correlated with the monomer and the catalyst amounts, in addition to the molecular weight of the monomer. Rheological analysis revealed that most of the synthesized hydrogels had viscoelastic and shear-thinning properties. The storage modulus and the viscosity increased by increasing the monomer and the crosslinker fraction but decreased by increasing the catalyst. MTT analysis showed no potential toxicity of the homopolymeric hydrogels, whereas the copolymeric hydrogels were toxic only at high DMEAM concentrations. The crosslinker polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) induced inflammation in ATDC5 cells, as detected by the significant increase in nitric oxide synthase type II activity. The results suggest a range of highly tunable homopolymeric and copolymeric hydrogels as candidates for cartilage regeneration.

Oleocanthal, an Antioxidant Phenolic Compound in Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO): A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Its Potential in Inflammation and Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean diet is linked to various health benefits, especially the consumption of olive oil as a key component. Multiple studies highlight its advantages, particularly due to its fatty acid composition and additional components like phenolic compounds. A significant antioxidant compound, oleocanthal, known for its antioxidant properties, has gained attention in the pharmaceutical industry for its anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects. It shows promise in addressing cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and neuroprotection. This systematic review aims to evaluate the existing literature on oleocanthal, examining its role in biological processes and potential impact on conditions like inflammation and cancer. METHODS: We performed several searches in PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science (WOS), and Cochrane based on the terms "Oleocanthal", "Cancer", and "Inflammation". The inclusion criteria were as follows: studies whose main topics were oleocanthal and cancer or inflammation. On the other hand, the exclusion criteria were studies that were not focused on oleocanthal, reviews, or editorial material. Given that these findings are explanatory rather than derived from clinical trials, we refrained from employing methods to assess potential bias. This systematic review did not receive any external funding. RESULTS: We found 174 records from these searches, where we discarded reviews and editorial material, duplicated articles, and 1 retracted article. Finally, we had 53 reports assessed for eligibility that were included in this review. DISCUSSION: OC exhibits promising therapeutic potential against both inflammation and cancer. We addressed its ability to target inflammatory genes and pathways, offering potential treatments for conditions like rheumatic diseases by regulating pathways such as NF-kB and MAPK. Additionally, OC's anticancer properties, particularly its notable inhibition of c-Met signaling across various cancers, highlight its efficacy, showcasing promise as a potential treatment.

Metabolomic signature and molecular profile of normal and degenerated human intervertebral disc cells.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is an incurable, specific treatment-orphan disease with an increasing burden worldwide. Although great efforts have been made to develop new regenerative therapies, their clinical success is limited. PURPOSE: Characterize the metabolomic and gene expression changes underpinning human disc degeneration. This study also aimed to disclose new molecular targets for developing and optimizing novel biological approaches for IVDD. STUDY DESIGN: Intervertebral disc cells were obtained from IVDD patients undergoing circumferential arthrodesis surgery or from healthy subjects. Mimicking the harmful microenvironment of degenerated discs, cells isolated from the nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) were exposed to the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1ß and the adipokine leptin. The metabolomic signature and molecular profile of human disc cells were unraveled for the first time. METHODS: The metabolomic and lipidomic profiles of IVDD and healthy disc cells were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). Gene expression was investigated by SYBR green-based quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Altered metabolites and gene expression were documented. RESULTS: Lipidomic analysis revealed decreased levels of triacylglycerols (TG), diacylglycerol (DG), fatty acids (FA), phosphatidylcholine (PC), lysophosphatidylinositols (LPI) and sphingomyelin (SM), and increased levels of bile acids (BA) and ceramides, likely promoting disc cell metabolism changing from glycolysis to fatty acid oxidation and following cell death. The gene expression profile of disc cells suggests LCN2 and LEAP2/GHRL as promising molecular therapeutic targets for disc degeneration and demonstrates the expression of genes related to inflammation (NOS2, COX2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1ß, and TNF-α) or encoding adipokines (PGRN, NAMPT, NUCB2, SERPINE2, and RARRES2), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP9 and MMP13), and vascular adhesion molecules (VCAM1). CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the presented results disclose the NP and AF cell biology changes from healthy to degenerated discs, allowing the identification of promising molecular therapeutic targets for intervertebral disc degeneration. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our results are relevant to improving current biological-based strategies aiming to repair IVD by restoring cellular lipid metabolites as well as adipokines homeostasis. Ultimately, our results will be valuable for successful, long-lasting relief of painful IVDD.

The prognostic role of p53 mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: P53 is one of the most frequently mutated genes in colorectal cancer (CRC). The present study was undertaken to provide a solid estimate of the prognostic value of p53 mutations in metastatic CRC patients. METHODS: This meta-analysis was done in accordance to the Preferred Reporting Item For Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis 2020 guidelines. Studies in English published in the last ten years were searched through PubMed and Google Scholar. Final selection criteria were: 1) association with overall survival, 2) presence of Hazard Ratios (HRs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). The articles were evaluated for quality and risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and QUIPS tool, respectively. The meta-analysis was conducted with random-effects model according to the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method and results were depicted in classical Forest plots. Studies heterogeneity was determined by I2 and Tau2 statistics. The relationship between p53 mutation and clinic-pathological variables was examined using the χ2 test. RESULTS: Nine articles met the eligibility criteria and went to the final analysis. Sample size ranged from 51 to 1043 patients. All studies were retrospective. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale score was > 6 in all studies, QUIPS risk of bias was low in 6, moderate in 3 studies. Only three studies analysed the entire p53 gene coding region. The DNA sequencing technological platforms varied from Sanger to NGS sequencing techniques. The p53 mutational frequencies ranged from 35.0 % to 73.0 %. A strong association (p < 0.0001) emerged between p53 alteration and left-sided CRC. The final pooled HR (p53 mutated vs p53 wild-type tumors) for overall survival was 1.30 (95 % CI: 0.75-2.25) at random-effects model. CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence does not support a prognostic role for p53 in metastatic CRC patients. Prospective studies, with larger sample sizes and consistent and harmonized methodology, are needed to explore the prognostic role of p53 in metastatic CRC patients.

Monomeric CRP regulates inflammatory responses in human intervertebral disc cells.

CRP is an acute-phase protein that is used as a biomarker to follow severity and progression in infectious and inflammatory diseases. Its pathophysiological mechanisms of action are still poorly defined. CRP in its pentameric form exhibits weak anti-inflammatory activity. The monomeric isoform (mCRP) exerts potent proinflammatory properties in chondrocytes, endothelial cells, and leucocytes. No data exist regarding mCRP effects in human intervertebral disc (IVD) cells. This work aimed to verify the pathophysiological relevance of mCRP in the aetiology and/or progression of IVD degeneration. We investigated the effects of mCRP and the signalling pathways that are involved in cultured human primary annulus fibrosus (AF) cells and in the human nucleus pulposus (NP) immortalized cell line HNPSV-1. We determined messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of relevant factors involved in inflammatory responses, by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot. We also studied the presence of mCRP in human AF and NP tissues by immunohistochemistry. We demonstrated that mCRP increases nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) expression in human AF and NP cells. We also showed that nuclear factor-κß (NF-κß), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) are at play in the intracellular signalling of mCRP. Finally, we demonstrated the presence of mCRP in human AF and NP tissues. Our results indicate, for the first time, that mCRP can be localized in IVD tissues, where it triggers a proinflammatory and catabolic state in degenerative and healthy IVD cells, and that NF-κß signalling may be implicated in the mediation of this mCRP-induced state.

Cranial and extracranial giant cell arteritis do not exhibit differences in the IL6 -174 G/C gene polymorphism.

OBJECTIVES: Since interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pivotal proinflammatory cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis (GCA), we aimed to determine the potential association of the functional IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism with GCA as well as if the single base change variation at the promoter region in the human IL-6 gene may account for differences in the clinical spectrum of GCA between cranial and extracranial large vessel vasculitis (LVV)-GCA. METHODS: The IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism (rs1800795) was genotyped in 191 patients with biopsy-proven GCA who had typical cranial manifestations of the disease, 109 patients with extracranial LVV-GCA, without cranial ischaemic manifestations of GCA, and 877 ethnically matched unaffected controls. A comparative study was carried out between patients with cranial and extracranial LVV-GCA and controls. RESULTS: No significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism were found between the whole cohort of GCA patients and healthy controls. It was also the case when cranial and extracranial LVV-GCA were compared or when each of these subgroups was compared to controls. Moreover, no significant results in genotype and allele frequencies of IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism were disclosed when the whole cohort of GCA patients were stratified according to the presence of polymyalgia rheumatica, severe ischaemic manifestations, including permanent visual loss and peripheral arteriopathy, and HLA-DRB1*04:01 status. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism does not influence the phenotypic expression of GCA.

Oligo-Metastatic Cancers: Putative Biomarkers, Emerging Challenges and New Perspectives.

Some cancer patients display a less aggressive form of metastatic disease, characterized by a low tumor burden and involving a smaller number of sites, which is referred to as "oligometastatic disease" (OMD). This review discusses new biomarkers, as well as methodological challenges and perspectives characterizing OMD. Recent studies have revealed that specific microRNA profiles, chromosome patterns, driver gene mutations (ERBB2, PBRM1, SETD2, KRAS, PIK3CA, SMAD4), polymorphisms (TCF7L2), and levels of immune cell infiltration into metastases, depending on the tumor type, are associated with an oligometastatic behavior. This suggests that OMD could be a distinct disease with specific biological and molecular characteristics. Therefore, the heterogeneity of initial tumor burden and inclusion of OMD patients in clinical trials pose a crucial methodological question that requires responses in the near future. Additionally, a solid understanding of the molecular and biological features of OMD will be necessary to support and complete the clinical staging systems, enabling a better distinction of metastatic behavior and tailored treatments.

The lipidomic and inflammatory profiles of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues are distinctly regulated by the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

The pharmacological inhibition of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) has emerged as a treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease and/or other metabolic disturbances, although some of the mechanisms implicated in their beneficial effects are unknown. The SGLT2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) empagliflozin has been suggested as a regulator of adiposity, energy metabolism, and systemic inflammation in adipose tissue. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of a 6-week-empagliflozin treatment on the lipidome of visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from diabetic obese Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats using an untargeted metabolomics approach. We found that empagliflozin increases the content of diglycerides and oxidized fatty acids (FA) in VAT, while in SAT, it decreases the levels of several lysophospholipids and increases 2 phosphatidylcholines. Empagliflozin also reduces the expression of the cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), monocyte-chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and IL-10, and of Cd86 and Cd163 M1 and M2 macrophage markers in VAT, with no changes in SAT, except for a decrease in IL-1ß. Empagliflozin treatment also shows an effect on lipolysis increasing the expression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in SAT and VAT and of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in VAT, together with a decrease in the adipose content of the FA transporter cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36). In conclusion, our data highlighted differences in the VAT and SAT lipidomes, inflammatory profiles and lipolytic function, which suggest a distinct metabolism of these two white adipose tissue depots after the empagliflozin treatment.

Hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and p53 mutations negatively correlate with metastatic colorectal cancer patients' survival.

Introduction: We studied the predictive and prognostic influences of hypertension (HT), type 2 diabetes (T2D), weight, and p53 mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Patients and methods: T2D was diagnosed according to the ADA criteria. HT was classified according to the ACC/AHA guidelines. BMI (body-mass index) was calculated and classified according to the WHO criteria. TruSigt™Oncology 500 kit was applied to construct the genomic libraries for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis. The Illumina NovaSeq 6000 technological platform and the Illumina TruSight Oncology 500 bioinformatics pipeline were applied to analyze results. Overall survival (OS) was calculated through Kaplan-Meier curves. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the relationships between clinical and/or molecular covariates. Associations between HT, T2D, BMI, p53, and clinical variables were evaluated by the χ2 test. P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Two-hundred-forty-four patients were enrolled. One-hundred-twenty (49.2%), 110 (45.1%), and 50 (20.5%) patients were affected by overweight, HT, and T2D, respectively. DC (disease control) was achieved more frequently in patients without T2D (83.1%) compared to the diabetic ones (16.9%) (P = 0.0246). DC, KRAS mutational status, T2D, BMI, and concomitant presence of T2D, BMI, and HT associated with survival (P < 0.05). At multivariate analysis, age (≥65 vs. <65 years), response to first-line chemotherapy (DC vs. no DC), and concomitant presence of T2D, BMI, and HT (HR: 4.56; 95% CI: 2.40-8.67; P = 0.0217) emerged as independent prognostic variables. P53 was mutated in 31/53 analyzed cases (60.4%). The most frequent gene variants were p.Arg175His and p.Cys135Tyr. High BMI (>25 kg/m2) associated with occurrence of p53 mutations (P < 0.0001). P53 mutated patients presented a worse prognosis compared to the wild-type ones (HR: 3.21; 95% CI: 1.43-7.23; P = 0.0047). Conclusion: Diabetic, hypertensive and overweight metastatic CRC patients are a negative prognostic subgroup deserving specific therapeutic strategies. P53 mutations associate with prognosis and BMI unrevealing complex and unexplored connections between metabolism and cancer occurrence.

Injectable hybrid hydrogels physically crosslinked based on carrageenan and green graphene for tissue repair.

Injectable and biocompatible novel hybrid hydrogels based on physically crosslinked natural biopolymers and green graphene for potential use in tissue engineering are reported. Kappa and iota carrageenan, locust bean gum and gelatin are used as biopolymeric matrix. The effect of green graphene content on the swelling behavior, mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the hybrid hydrogels is investigated. The hybrid hydrogels present a porous network with three-dimensionally interconnected microstructures, with lower pore size than that of the hydrogel without graphene. The addition of graphene into the biopolymeric network improves the stability and the mechanical properties of the hydrogels in phosphate buffer saline solution at 37 °C without noticeable change in the injectability. The mechanical properties of the hybrid hydrogels were enhanced by varying the dosage of graphene between 0.025 and 0.075 w/v%. In this range, the hybrid hydrogels preserve their integrity during mechanical test and recover the initial shape after removing the applied stress. Meanwhile, hybrid hydrogels with graphene content of up to 0.05 w/v% exhibit good biocompatibility for 3T3-L1 fibroblasts; the cells proliferate inside the gel structure and show higher spreading after 48 h. These injectable hybrid hydrogels with graphene have promising future as materials for tissue repair.

Endothelin-1 as a Biomarker of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Autoimmune Diseases.

The aim of this study was to determine the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a molecule involved in multiple vascular and fibrosing abnormalities, as a biomarker of interstitial lung disease (ILD), as well as its use for the differential diagnosis between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and ILD associated with autoimmune diseases (AD-ILD), using a large and well-defined cohort of patients with ILD. A total of 112 patients with IPF, 91 patients with AD-ILD (28 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 26 systemic sclerosis, 20 idiopathic inflammatory myositis and 17 interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features) and 44 healthy controls were included. ET-1 serum levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A significant increase in ET-1 levels was found in patients with IPF compared to controls. Likewise, AD-ILD patients also showed higher ET-1 levels than controls when the whole cohort was stratified by the type of AD. Similar ET-1 levels were found in IPF and AD-ILD patients, regardless of the underlying AD. Interestingly, increased ET-1 levels were correlated with worse lung function in IPF and RA-ILD patients. Our study supports that serum ET-1 may be useful as a biomarker of ILD, although it could not help in the differential diagnosis between IPF and AD-ILD. Moreover, ET-1 levels may be associated with ILD severity.