Sacroiliac and spine imaging in spondyloarthritis: Does phenotype or sex matter?

BACKGROUND: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) encompasses a spectrum of immune-mediated inflammatory conditions primarily affecting the axial skeleton, including sacroiliitis and spondylitis, each with distinct features. This study aimed to investigate imaging disparities, focusing on sacroiliac magnetic resonance and spine radiography, across phenotypes and between males and females in axial SpA. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess clinical data, laboratory findings, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scores of sacroiliac joints using the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) and Sacroiliac Joint Structural Score (SSS), and cervical and lumbar spine radiographs utilizing the Modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS). The study aimed to compare these parameters between two groups: axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA, radiographic and non-radiographic) and axial psoriatic arthritis (axPsA), as well as between males and females. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients were included, with 62 patients in the axSpA group and 32 patients in the axPsA group. There were no differences in disease activity, mobility, radiographic damage in the spine (Modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score- mSASSS), or sacroiliac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scores (Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada Magnetic Resonance Imaging Index - SPARCC and Sacroiliac Joint Structural Score - SSS) between the two phenotypes. Regarding sex, in imaging exams, men had higher mSASSS (p = 0.008), SSS (p = 0.001), and fat metaplasia (MG) score based on SSS (p = 0.001), while women had significantly higher SPARCC scores (p = 0.039). In the male group, the presence of HLA-B27 allele had an impact on more structural lesions on MRI (SSS), p = 0.013. CONCLUSION: In this study, imaging of sacroiliac joints and spine in patients with axial SpA did not show differences in phenotypes but did reveal differences based on sex, which may have an impact on future diagnostic recommendations. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Recombinant Inga Laurina Trypsin Inhibitor (ILTI) Production in Komagataella Phaffii Confirms Its Potential Anti-Biofilm Effect and Reveals an Anti-Tumoral Activity.

Protease inhibitors have a broad biotechnological application ranging from medical drugs to anti-microbial agents. The Inga laurina trypsin inhibitor (ILTI) previously showed a great in vitro inhibitory effect under the adherence of Staphylococcus species, being a strong candidate for use as an anti-biofilm agent. Nevertheless, this is found in small quantities in its sources, which impairs its utilization at an industrial scale. Within this context, heterologous production using recombinant microorganisms is one of the best options to scale up the recombinant protein production. Thus, this work aimed at utilizing Komagataella phaffii to produce recombinant ILTI. For this, the vector pPIC9K+ILTI was constructed and inserted into the genome of the yeast K. phaffii, strain GS115. The protein expression was highest after 48 h using methanol 1%. A matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization⁻time-of-flight (MALDI⁻TOF) analysis was performed to confirm the production of the recombinant ILTI and its activity was investigated trough inhibitory assays using the synthetic substrate Nα-Benzoyl-D,L-arginine p-nitroanilide hydrochloride (BAPNA). Finally, recombinant ILTI (rILTI) was used in assays, showing that there was no significant difference between native and recombinant ILTI in its inhibitory activity in biofilm formation. Anti-tumor assay against Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells showed that rILTI has a potential anti-tumoral effect, showing the same effect as Melittin when incubated for 48 h in concentrations above 25 µg/mL. All together the results suggests broad applications for rILTI.

Female breast cancer mortality in Brazil and its regions.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze female breast cancer mortality trends in Brazil and its regions. METHODS: female breast cancer mortality in Brazil and its regions was analyzed using mortality data from the Ministry of Health's Mortality Information System and the National Cancer Institute between 1991 and 2010. The variables analyzed were. proportional mortality from female breast cancer in relation to total deaths in women, mortality rates of the five primary locations of the neoplasms most common in women, and mortality rates for female breast cancer: Linear regression models were estimated to analyze mortality trends: RESULTS: a growth in proportional mortality due to female breast cancer in Brazil and its regions was observed: In relation to the mortality rates for the five primary types of cancer, breast cancer persisted in first place in Brazil and its regions, except the North region, where cervical cancer was the most frequent: Rising female breast cancer mortality rates were observed for Brazil (p = 0.017), Northeastern (p < 0.001), North (p < 0.001) and the Mid-West (p = 0.001), regions, and declining rates for the Southeast region (p = 0.047), and stable rates for the South region. CONCLUSION: the results emphasize the importance of the disease in terms of public health in the country, reinforcing the need for early detection and appropriate treatment.

Female breast cancer mortality in Brazil and its regions / Câncer de mama feminino: análise da mortalidade no Brasil e regiões

Objective: to analyze female breast cancer mortality trends in Brazil and its regions. Methods: female breast cancer mortality in Brazil and its regions was analyzed using mortality data from the Ministry of Health's Mortality Information System and the National Cancer Institute between 1991 and 2010. The variables analyzed were. proportional mortality from female breast cancer in relation to total deaths in women, mortality rates of the five primary locations of the neoplasms most common in women, and mortality rates for female breast cancer: Linear regression models were estimated to analyze mortality trends: Results: a growth in proportional mortality due to female breast cancer in Brazil and its regions was observed: In relation to the mortality rates for the five primary types of cancer, breast cancer persisted in first place in Brazil and its regions, except the North region, where cervical cancer was the most frequent: Rising female breast cancer mortality rates were observed for Brazil (p = 0.017), Northeastern (p < 0.001), North (p < 0.001) and the Mid-West (p = 0.001), regions, and declining rates for the Southeast region (p = 0.047), and stable rates for the South region. Conclusion: the results emphasize the importance of the disease in terms of public health in the country, reinforcing the need for early detection and appropriate treatment. .

Objetivo: analisar a evolução da mortalidade por câncer de mama feminino nas regiões do Brasil. Métodos: foi analisada a mortalidade por câncer de mama feminino nas regiões do país, com dados do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade do Ministério da Saúde e do Instituto Nacional do Câncer, entre 1991 e 2010. As variáveis analisadas foram: mortalidade proporcional por câncer de mama feminino em relação ao total de óbitos em mulheres; taxas de mortalidade das cinco localizações primárias das neoplasias mais frequentes em mulheres; e taxas de mortalidade por câncer de mama feminino. Modelos de regressão linear foram estimados para analisar a tendência de mortalidade. Resultados: foi observado o crescimento da mortalidade proporcional por câncer de mama feminino para as regiões brasileiras. Com relação às taxas de mortalidade das cinco localizações primárias de câncer mais frequentes, o câncer de mama é o que persiste em primeiro lugar nas regiões e no Brasil, com exceção da região Norte, onde o câncer de colo do útero foi o mais frequente. Observou-se tendência significativa de aumento das taxas de mortalidade por câncer de mama no Brasil (p = 0,017) e nas regiões Nordeste (p < 0,001), Norte (p < 0,001) e Centro-Oeste (p = 0,001), de diminuição na região Sudeste (p = 0,047) e estacionária na região Sul. Conclusão: os resultados encontrados enfatizam a importância da doença em termos de saúde pública no país, reforçando a necessidade da detecção precoce e do tratamento adequado. .