Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors for smoking-associated inflammatory lung diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analytical systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies.

An evaluation of the inflammatory enzymatic interactions related to pulmonary function can help identify biomarkers for interventions or prophylactic measures to improve patient prognosis. This study aimed to determine the effect of epoxide hydrolase inhibition by GSK2256294 in different pulmonary inflammation models. A secondary search was performed using Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, Cochrane Library, Embase, Academic Google, and gray literature by two independent reviewers, who analyzed the methodological quality and consistency of the data. Different variables were compared using a meta-analysis. A total of 86 studies were found, 4 of which were selected from the gray literature. Based on the eligibility criteria, two clinical and one preclinical studies were evaluated. GSK2256294 inhibited the soluble epoxide hydrolase enzyme in both clinical and preclinical models, exhibiting greater effectiveness in clinical studies and contributing to the anti-inflammatory activity mediated by the eicosatrienoic pathway by reducing the levels of dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids and leukotoxin-diol. Overall, GSK2256294 was identified as a promising drug for controlling the deleterious manifestations of lung inflammation. Further clinical and preclinical studies are required to ensure consistency among the evidence and identify other biological activities mediated by GSK2256294.

Eficácia e segurança da alfa-agalsidase e a beta-agalsidase para intervenção na doença de Fabry: revisão rápida / Effectiveness and safety of agalsidase alfa and agalsidase beta for intervention in fabry disease: rapid review

Tecnologia: Alfa-agalsidase e/ou beta-agalsidase, comparada aos cuidados paliativos e ao tratamento sintomático associado aos órgãos alvos da doença de Fabry. Indicação: Manejo e intervenção aos desfechos clínicos em pacientes com a doença de Fabry. Pergunta: A intervenção por alfa-agalsidase e/ou beta-agalsidase é mais eficaz e segura que o manejo para o tratamento de sintomas ou paliativo aos desfechos clínicos esperados para a doença de Fabry? Métodos: Estudo de revisão sistemática rápida. A base consultada foi a Medline/Pubmed por meio de estratégias de buscas predefinidas. Foi feita avaliação da qualidade metodológica das revisões sistemáticas com a ferramenta AMSTAR-2 (Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews version 2). Resultados: Foram selecionadas 3 revisões sistemáticas, que atendiam aos critérios de inclusão. Conclusão: A intervenção com alfa-agalsidase e/ou beta-agalsidase promove redução para acúmulo de globotriaosilceramida; no entanto a redução é dependente do período de intervenção e concentração do fármaco, assim como o tecido avaliado e o tempo de sinais clínicos da doença. Há evidências de melhora na função renal, dor, desconfortos gastrointestinais e qualidade de vida. É importante considerar a heterogeneidade para as diferentes características dos grupos afetados, como idade, sexo e estágio da doença. No entanto, a compreensão consistente da relação tratamento e os desfechos são afetados pela baixa frequência de pessoas atingidas, e isso diminui o poder para inferências entre os diferentes estudos, reportando para as limitações da geração de protocolos de intervenção mais robustos e assertivos. Portanto, há necessidade de se seguir com novas avaliações, sobretudo para os estudos clínicos aleatorizados

Technology: Alphagalsity and/or beta-agalsidase compared to palliative care and symptomatic treatment associated with target organs in Fabry disease. Indication: Management and intervention to clinical outcomes in patients with Fabry disease. Question: Is alfagalsidase and/or beta-agalsidase intervention more effective and safer than management to treat symptoms or palliate expected clinical outcomes for Fabry disease? Methods: Rapid systematic review. Medline/Pubmed was consulted using predefined search strategies. The methodological quality of systematic reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 (Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews version 2) tool. Results: Three systematic reviews were selected that met the inclusion criteria. Conclusion: Intervention with alfagalsidase and/or beta-agalsidase promotes a reduction in the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide; however, the reduction is dependent on the period of intervention and concentration of the drug, as well as the evaluated tissue and the time of clinical signs of the disease. There is evidence for improvements in kidney function, pain, gastrointestinal discomfort and quality of life. It is important to consider heterogeneity for different characteristics of affected groups, such as age, sex and disease stage; however, the consistent understanding of the relationship between treatment and outcomes is affected by the low frequency of people affected, and this reduces the power for inferences between different studies, referring to the limitations of generating more robust and assertive intervention protocols. There is therefore a need to continue with new assessments, especially for randomized clinical studies

Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in a Brazilian population of healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To determine Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) minimum rim width (MRW) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) measurements, acquired with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in healthy Brazilian individuals self-reported as African Descent (AD), European Descent (ED) and Mixed Descent (MD). METHODS: 260 healthy individuals (78 AD, 103 ED and 79 MD) were included in this cross-sectional study conducted at the Clinics Hospital of the University of Campinas. We obtained optic nerve head (24 radial B scans) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (3.5-mm circle scan) images in one randomly selected eye of each subject. RESULTS: After adjustment for BMO area and age, there were no significant differences in mean global MRW (P = 0.63) or RNFLT (P = 0.07) among the three groups. Regionally, there were no significant differences in either MRW or RNFLT in most sectors, except in the superonasal sector, in which both MRW and RNFLT were thinner among ED (P = 0.04, P<0.001, respectively). RNFLT was also thinner in ED in the inferonasal sector (P = 0.009). In all races, global MRW decreased and global RNFLT increased with BMO area. AD subjects had higher rates of global RNFLT decay with age (-0.32 µm/year) compared to ED and MD subjects (-0.10 µm/year and -0.08 µm/year, respectively; P = 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: While we found no significant differences in global MRW and RNFLT among the three races, age-related thinning of the RNFLT was significantly higher in the AD subgroup, which warrants further study.

New approach to phenotypic variability and karyotype-phenotype correlation in Turner syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Phenotypic variability of Turner syndrome (TS) challenges clinicians, and undiagnosed mosaicism may lead to conflicting results of karyotype-phenotype correlations. This study assessed the extent of phenotypic variability and investigated the presence of karyotype-phenotype correlations. METHODS: The sample comprised 80 patients with ≥50 cells analyzed in karyotype. Twenty were 45,X/46,X,+mar; three groups of 20 patients were constructed by matching those girls with the nearest-aged patient with 45,X, 45,X/46,XX and 45,X/46,X,i(Xq) or 46,X,i(Xq) karyotype. RESULTS: Data were obtained on height z-score, dysmorphic features, echocardiogram and urinary system sonography. The number of dysmorphic features ranged from one to 16 and was not correlated to age at diagnosis or height. The groups did not differ in height, number of dysmorphic features, cardiovascular and urinary system anomalies and frequency of any specific feature, except for short fourth metacarpal. CONCLUSIONS: Wide phenotypical variability of TS may be objectively described and its clinical picture is not correlated to karyotype.

Fatores associados a atraso no diagnóstico da síndrome de turner / Variables associated with diagnostic delay in turner syndrome / Investigación de factores asociados a retraso en el diagnóstico del síndrome de turner

OBJETIVO: Investigar as possíveis razões do atraso no diagnóstico da síndrome de Turner (ST), ou seja, aquele realizado após a idade em que se pode estabelecer o atraso puberal. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com obtenção de dados dos prontuários de 29 pacientes com ST diagnosticadas com mais de dois anos, entre 2004 e 2007. Foram comparados antecedentes pessoais e familiares e dados de exame físico das pacientes diagnosticadas com menos de 13 anos (limite a partir do qual se pode caracterizar atraso puberal em meninas) com os daquelas diagnosticadas após os 13 anos por meio dos testes t de Student e exato de Fisher. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferenças significativas quanto à estatura materna e da própria paciente, história de afecções associadas (consideradas individualmente), escolaridade dos pais, recorrência familiar de baixa estatura, presença de cada sinal dismórfico isoladamente e total de sinais observados. Os dois grupos diferiram quanto à presença de ao menos uma afecção sugestiva dessa síndrome (associada ao diagnóstico mais precoce) e ao número de irmãos (maior no diagnóstico tardio e associado à menor escolaridade materna). CONCLUSÕES: O diagnóstico precoce relacionou-se mais à presença de alguma das afecções associadas à ST (possivelmente determinando-se encaminhamento a serviços de maior complexidade) do que a sinais dismórficos. Há indicações de que déficit de crescimento menos evidente, dificuldade dos médicos em reconhecer anomalias sugestivas dessa síndrome e determinantes socioeconômicos contribuam para o atraso no diagnóstico. É necessário enfatizar na formação pediátrica o reconhecimento do espectro clínico dessa síndrome e ampliar os serviços públicos de genética.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible reasons for diagnostic delay in Turner syndrome (TS), i.e., a diagnosis made after the age when pubertal delay may be established. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with data obtained from the records of 29 TS patients aged more than two years who were diagnosed between 2004 and 2007. Data on personal and family history and physical examination from patients diagnosed before 13 years old (age limit from which pubertal delay may be characterized in girls) were compared to those of girls diagnosed after 13 years by Fisher exact test and Student's t-test. RESULTS: No significant differences were noted regarding mothers' and patients' stature, personal history of TS-associated diseases (considered individually), parental schooling, familial recurrence of short stature, presence of each dysmorphic feature considered separately, and total number of dysmorphic features. The two groups differed regarding the presence of at least one TS-associated disease (which was associated to early diagnosis) and number of siblings (which was higher among patients with delayed diagnosis and associated with lower maternal schooling). CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis was more associated with the presence of a TS-associated disease (which may have required referral to secondary or tertiary health care services) than with the presence of dysmorphic signs. The results indicate that less evident growth deficit, physicians' inability to recognize abnormalities associated with TS and socioeconomic aspects may contribute to diagnostic delay. Pediatric training should emphasize recognition of the clinical spectrum of TS and public genetic services should be expanded.

OBJETIVO: Investigar las posibles razones del retraso en el diagnóstico del síndrome de Turner (ST), es decir, aquél realizado después de la edad en que se puede establecer retraso puberal. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal con obtención de datos de los prontuarios de 29 pacientes diagnosticadas con ST mayores de 2 años de edad entre 2004 y 2007. Se compararon antecedentes personales y familiares y datos de examen físico de las pacientes diagnosticadas a una edad menor de 13 años (límite a partir del cual se puede caracterizar retraso puberal en niñas) con los de aquellas diagnosticadas después de los 13 años mediante las pruebas t y chi-cuadrado. RESULTADOS: No hubo diferencias significativas respecto a la estatura materna y de la paciente misma, historial de afecciones asociadas (consideradas individualmente), escolaridad de los padres; recurrencia familiar de baja estatura, presencia de cada señal dismórfica aislada y total de señales observadas. Los dos grupos difirieron respecto a la presencia de al menos una afección sugestiva de ese síndrome (asociada al diagnóstico más temprano) y al número de hermanos (mayor en el diagnóstico tardío y asociado a la menor escolaridad materna). CONCLUSIONES: El diagnóstico temprano se relacionó más a la presencia de alguna de las afecciones asociadas al ST (posiblemente determinando encaminamiento a servicios de mayor complejidad) que a señales dismórficas. Hay indicaciones de que déficit de crecimiento menos evidente, dificultades de los médicos en reconocer anomalías sugestivas de ese síndrome y factores socioeconómicos contribuyan para el retraso en el diagnóstico. Es necesario enfatizar en la formación pediátrica el reconocimiento del espectro clínico de ese síndrome y ampliar los servicios públicos de genética.