Common gene variants interactions related to uric acid transport are associated with knee osteoarthritis susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: The presence of genetic variants in uric acid (UA) transporters can be associated with hyperuricemia, and therefore with an increased risk of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal precipitation. The inflammatory process triggered by these crystals leads to cartilage damage, which, in turn, could promote knee osteoarthritis (KOA). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether genetic polymorphisms of the UA transporters and their interactions are associated with KOA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred forty-three unrelated Mexican-mestizo individuals were recruited for this case-control study. Ninety-three of them were KOA patients but without gout, and one hundred and fifty healthy individuals with no symptoms or signs of KOA were recruited as controls. Forty-one single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involved in the UA transporters were genotyped with OpenArray technology in a QuantStudio 12K flex-System with both cases and controls. RESULTS: After adjusting by age, gender, BMI, and ancestry, significant associations were found for eight SNPs: rs1260326 (GCKR), rs780093 (GCKR), rs17050272 (INHBB), rs1471633 (PDZK1), rs12129861 (PDZK1), rs7193778 (IGF1R), rs17786744 (STC1), and rs1106766 (R3HDM2). With respect to gene-gene interactions, the pairwise interactions of rs112129861 (PDZK1) and rs7193778 (IGF1R); rs17050272 (INHBB) and rs1106766 (R3HDM2); rs1106766 (R3HDM2) and rs780093 (GCKR); rs1260326 (GCKR) and rs17786744 (STC1); and rs17786744 (STC1) and rs1106766 (R3HDM2) make it possible to visualize the synergistic or antagonistic effect of their genotypes or alleles on KOA development. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results show that the common gene variants related to UA transport are associated with KOA in the Mexican population. Further studies must be carried out to corroborate it.

Black bean extract ameliorates liver fibrosis in rats with CCl4-induced injury.

UNLABELLED: We assessed the anti-fibrotic effects of methanolic black bean extract antioxidants in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) liver injury model in rats. Experimentally intoxicated animals received CCl4 for eight weeks, the reference and test groups received daily intragastric quercetin or daily intragastric black bean extract. Liver fibrosis was assessed and quantified using morphometric analysis. Expression of fibrosis related genes was measured by real time RT-PCR. Qualitative and quantitative histological analysis showed that administration of 70 mg/kg b.w. of black bean extract reduced hepatic fibrosis index by 18% compared to positive controls (P 0.006), as a result of a decrease in type I (44.3% less, P 0.03) and type IV (68.9% less, P 0.049) collagen gene expression compared to CCl4-injured and Quercetin treated rats. In conclusion, we provide evidence that this methanol black bean extract ameliorates liver fibrosis and types I and IV collagen gene expression, in the animal model used. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The compounds contained in this black bean extract exhibited strong antifibrotic effects in the CCl4 chronic liver injury model used; considering that this compounds are contained in a leguminous that has been used in human diet for a long time, their toxic potential should be very low, and this characteristic should favor their potential use in some other chronic or degenerative states that include an increase in inflammation and oxidative burst in their pathogenesis. Another possible application of this kind of extract could be its use as an antimicrobial or even antiparasitic therapeutic agent, although it is purely speculative.

[Giant Baker's cyst treated with intralessional methotrexate]. / Quiste de Baker gigante tratado con metrotrexato intralesional.

INTRODUCTION: Synovial cyst is composed by a fibrous wall; lining by a thin layer of synovial cells containing synovial fluid, the prototype of these, in the knee is the Baker's cyst, which is located abnormally in the gastrocnemius semimembranous bursa. Baker's cyst prevalence ranges from 5 - 38%. Clinical diagnosis is supported by the presence of increased volume of soft tissues located in the popliteal region. CLINICAL CASE: A 74 year-old woman with longstanding active rheumatoid arthritis who developed a large, recurrent Baker's cyst. The Baker's cyst had two flare-ups of pain and soft tissue swelling which eventually limited knee movements; was treated with needle aspiration guided by ultrasound and synovectomy with methotrexate twice. At 18-months follow-up, the patient remains without evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Local infiltration of methotrexate represents an alternative therapy for those refractory Baker's cyst with partial response to conventional treatment, where the surgical procedure carries a high risk.

Microbiological and toxicological effects of Perla black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) extracts: in vitro and in vivo studies.

We investigated the microbiological and toxicological effects of three Perla black bean extracts on the growth and culture of selected pathogenic microorganisms, the toxicity over Vero cell lines and an in vivo rat model. Three different solvents were used to obtain Perla black bean extracts. All three Perla black bean extracts were tested for antibacterial and antiparasitic activity and further analysed for intrinsic cytotoxicity (IC(50)). Methanol Perla black bean extract was used for acute toxicity test in rats, with the up-and-down doping method. All Perla black bean extracts inhibited bacterial growth. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Listeria monocytogenes showed inhibition, while Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes did not. Acidified water and acetic acid Perla black bean extract were tested in parasites. The best IC(50) was observed for Giardia lamblia, while higher concentrations were active against Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis. The Vero cells toxicity levels (IC(50)) for methanol, acidified water and acetic acid Perla black bean extract were [mean +/- S.D. (95% CI)]: 275 +/- 6.2 (267.9-282.0), 390 +/- 4.6 (384.8-395.2) and 209 +/- 3.39 (205.6-212.4) microg/ml, respectively. In vivo acute toxicity assays did not show changes in absolute organ weights, gross and histological examinations of selected tissues or functional tests. The acetic acid and methanol Perla black bean extract proved to exhibit strong antibacterial activity and the acidified water Perla black bean extract exerted parasiticidal effects against Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba hystolitica and Trichomonas vaginalis. The three Perla black bean extracts assayed over Vero cells showed very low toxicity and the methanol Perla black bean extract in vivo did not cause toxicity.