Satralizumab, Novel Interleukine-6 Inhibitor for Preventing Descending Thoracic Aorta Aneurysm Development.

BACKGROUND: Descending thoracic aorta aneurysm (dTAA) has increasing incidence and, if left untreated, could lead to death. There is not any study of satralizumab treatment for preventing dTAA formation and progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male 10-week-old Rattus norvegicus were enrolled in the experiment. They were divided into four equal groups: dTAA treated with saline (dTAA-P) and dTAA treated with satralizumab (dTAA-S). One of the control groups was treated with saline (C-P), and the other was treated with satralizumab (C-S). Satralizumab and saline were used once every 2 weeks, subcutaneously 120 mg for 4 weeks. dTA diameter was measured at days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. RESULTS: IL-6 level was measured on the 7th day that showed significantly increased IL-6 serum level in dTAA-P rats compared to C-P. Maximal dTA diameter (%MAD) was obtained at day 14, which was scientifically matched to the aorta aneurysm definition (>50% increase in diameter). From the seventh day, a significant difference in %MAD was observed between dTAA-P and dTAA-S groups. However, the %MAD of these two groups was significantly higher than control groups till the end of the 28th day. CONCLUSION: Using an IL-6 inhibitor agent to prevent dTAA formation and progression showed promising results. It suggests that using the IL-6 inhibitors in susceptible persons can be considered a lifesaving therapeutic approach.

Advanced Glycation End Product Blocker Drugs Have a Great Potential to Prevent Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in an Animal Model of Diabetes Mellitus Type-2.

Introduction: Sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) is a product of the sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) enzyme. Increased S1P can lead to tissue fibrosis that is also one of the pathways for developing diabetic cardiomyopathy. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) increase S1P in cells. The study is aimed at using aminoguanidine (AG) as an AGEs blocker drug to prevent diabetic cardiomyopathy. Materials and methods. 210 rats were enrolled in the study. Diabetes mellitus type-2 was induced, and rats were divided into AG treated diabetic and nondiabetic groups. The heart histology was assessed with Masson's trichrome and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Cardiac function was measured with transthoracic echocardiography. S1P level and SphK1 gene expression were measured by western-blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. Results: Results showed that S1P level increases in diabetes, and its augmentation in cardiac tissue with K6PC-5 leads to cardiac fibrosis. 50 and 200 mg/kg of AG prevented cardiac fibrosis, but 100 mg/kg had no significant preventive effect. AG suppressed the SphK1 gene expression and reduced the fibrotic effect of S1P. AG preserved cardiac function by keeping ejection fraction and fractional shortening within the normal range in diabetic rats. Conclusion: AG has a suppressor effect on SphK1 gene expression besides its AGEs blocker role. AG is a potential drug to use in diabetic patients for preventing the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Other drugs that have AGEs or S1P blocker effects are a good choice for diabetic cardiomyopathy prevention.

Effect of weight losing on the clinical status improvement of patients with knee osteoarthritis / Efecto de la pérdida de peso sobre la mejora de la situación clínica de los pacientes con osteoartritis de rodilla

Objective: Osteoarthritis causes severe pain and disability in joints, one of the most prevalent involved joints is the knee joint. There are several therapeutics ways to control pain and disability, but almost none of them are definite treatment. In this article, we tried to reveal the effect of weight loss on improving symptoms of knee osteoarthritis as an effective and permanent therapeutic approach. Methods: We chose 62 patients with grade 1-2 (mild to moderate) knee osteoarthritis and divided them equally into case and control groups. Patients should not had used NSAIDs at least for 6 months before study initiation. Symptoms severity was measured by WOMAC and VAS questionnaires before and after 3 months follow up. Weight and BMI were recorded too. Case group was suggested to have weight loss diet of less fat and carbohydrates and control group did not have any limitation. Results: Comparison of variables' average of case and control groups was not logistically meaningful at the initiation and after the end of the study. But there was a meaningful correlation between variables' changes and lifestyle change in both groups, especially in WOMAC and VAS scores. All variables in case group had statistically meaningful differences between their amounts at the beginning and after the end of the study, on the contrary of the control group. Conclusion: In the comparison of our study with similar studies in the world. We deduced that weight loss can improve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis even in short time weight loss diet (3 months)

Objetivo: La osteoartritis causa dolor e incapacidad articulares severos. Una de las articulaciones con mayor prevalencia es la rodilla. Existen diversos enfoques terapéuticos para controlar el dolor y la incapacidad, pero ninguno de ellos constituye un tratamiento definitivo. En el presente artículo, tratamos de demostrar el efecto de la pérdida de peso sobre la mejora de la osteoartritis de rodilla, como enfoque terapéutico efectivo y permanente. Métodos: Elegimos a 62 pacientes con osteoartritis de rodilla de grado 1-2 (de leve a moderado), dividiéndolos equitativamente entre el grupo de casos y el grupo control. Los pacientes no debían haber utilizado AINE al menos durante los 6 meses previos al inicio del estudio. La gravedad de los síntomas se midió mediante los cuestionarios WOMAC y VAS al inicio del estudio, y durante el seguimiento a los 3 meses. También se registraron el peso y el IMC. Se recomendó al grupo de casos que siguieran una dieta baja en grasas y carbohidratos para perder peso, y al grupo de control no se le indicó limitación alguna. Resultados: La comparación de las medias de las variables de los grupos de casos y controles no fue logísticamente significativa al inicio y al final del estudio, pero sí se produjo una correlación significativa entre los cambios de las variables y el cambio de estilo de vida en ambos grupos, especialmente en las puntuaciones WOMAC y VAS. Todas las variables del grupo de casos reflejaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los valores al inicio y al final del estudio, al contrario que en el grupo control. Conclusión: En la comparación de nuestro estudio con estudios similares a nivel mundial dedujimos que la pérdida de peso puede mejorar los síntomas de la osteoartritis de rodilla, incluso en dietas para pérdida de peso de corta duración (3 meses)

Effect of weight losing on the clinical status improvement of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis causes severe pain and disability in joints, one of the most prevalent involved joints is the knee joint. There are several therapeutics ways to control pain and disability, but almost none of them are definite treatment. In this article, we tried to reveal the effect of weight loss on improving symptoms of knee osteoarthritis as an effective and permanent therapeutic approach. METHODS: We chose 62 patients with grade 1-2 (mild to moderate) knee osteoarthritis and divided them equally into case and control groups. Patients should not had used NSAIDs at least for 6 months before study initiation. Symptoms severity was measured by WOMAC and VAS questionnaires before and after 3 months follow up. Weight and BMI were recorded too. Case group was suggested to have weight loss diet of less fat and carbohydrates and control group did not have any limitation. RESULTS: Comparison of variables' average of case and control groups was not logistically meaningful at the initiation and after the end of the study. But there was a meaningful correlation between variables' changes and lifestyle change in both groups, especially in WOMAC and VAS scores. All variables in case group had statistically meaningful differences between their amounts at the beginning and after the end of the study, on the contrary of the control group. CONCLUSION: In the comparison of our study with similar studies in the world. We deduced that weight loss can improve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis even in short time weight loss diet (3 months). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ZUMS.REC.1394.94.