YKL-40 serum levels are predicted by inflammatory state, age and diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

YKL-40 increase according to the aging process, and its functions have been associated with tissue remodeling and systemic inflammation. In Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) it has been proposed as a possible biomarker of activity and severity, however; in the field of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) the role of YKL-40 in IIM is not clear. Thus, we aimed to evaluate if there is an association between the serum levels and muscle tissue expression of YKL-40 with age, IIM phenotype, muscle strength and myositis disease activity. The main finding was that age is the most important variable that affects the YKL-40 serum levels. In muscle biopsy, we observed that YKL-40 is mainly expressed in infiltrating lymphoid cells than in muscle tissue. Using ANCOVA according to the b-coefficients, YKL-40 serum levels are predicted by inflammatory state, age, and IIM diagnosis.

Naringin reduces body weight, plasma lipids and increases adiponectin levels in patients with dyslipidemia.

Naringin is a citrus-flavonoid which has been shown to have positive metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects. For this reason, we believe it would be interesting to study the effects of Naringin administration on body weight, BMI, lipid profile and adiponectin levels in patients with dyslipidemia, especially considering that dyslipidemias along with obesity and subsequent cardiometabolic complications are some of the most important public health issues plaguing our society today. A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted in a group of 28 adult patients previously diagnosed with dyslipidemia who attended the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics. Patients were divided into two groups; the first group (n = 14) received 450 mg of naringin every 24 hours, in the mornings, while the second group (n = 14) was given a homologated placebo over the course of a 90-day period. Significant differences were observed in naringin group compared to the placebo group in terms of decreased BMI (30.6 ± 3.19 vs 33.3 ± 3.23 kg/m2; p = 0.03), total cholesterol (182 ± 20.2 vs 245 ± 24.1 mg/dl; p < 0.01), LDL cholesterol (100 ± 17.5 vs 125 ± 38.3 mg/dl; p = 0.03) and an increase in adiponectin levels (0.82 ± 0.25 vs 0.59 ± 0.19 µg/ml; p = 0.01). Our results support the use of Naringin as a potential therapeutic agent which could play an important role in the management of metabolic disorders.

Geographical Latitude Remains as an Important Factor for the Prevalence of Some Myositis Autoantibodies: A Systematic Review.

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are characterized by muscular weakness, cutaneous manifestations, muscle damage revealed by increase of muscular enzymes, muscle biopsy, electromyography and changes on magnetic resonance imaging. However, the hallmark of these IIM, is the development of myositis specific antibodies (MSA) or myositis associated antibodies (MAA). The theories about their presence in the serum of IIM is not known. Some studies have suggested that some of these MSA, such as anti-Mi-2 increases according to the intensity of UV radiation. There is scarce information about the environmental factors that might contribute in order to be considered as triggering factors as UV radiation might be. In this review, we analyzed the reported prevalence of MSAs and MAAs regarding to their geographical location and the possible relation with UV radiation. We collected the prevalence data of fifteen MSA and thirteen MAA from 22 countries around the world and we were able to observe a difference in prevalence between countries and continents. We found differences in anti-PL7, anti-Ro52, anti-La and anti-Ku prevalence according to UV radiation level. Otherwise, we observed that anti-Mi-2 prevalence increases near to the Equator meanwhile anti-MJ/NXP2 and anti-ARS prevalence had an opposite behavior increasing their prevalence in the geographical locations farther to the Equator. Our results highlighted the importance to include the UV radiation and other environmental factors in IIM studies, in order to clarify its association with MSA and MAA prevalence as well as its possible role in the immunopathogenesis of these diseases.

Combination effect naringin and pravastatin in lipid profile and glucose in obese rats.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of naringin 100mg/kg in combination with pravastatin 10mg/kg by gavage for 6weeks compared with monotherapy over lipid profiles, glucose levels and weight in murine model of obesity. MAIN METHODS: The study design was planned with 5 groups of 6 male Wistar Albina rats: Group 1: control with balanced food and vehicle (C-); Group 2: control with Obesity and vehicle (C+); Group 3: Obesity+naringin (N); Group 4: Obesity+pravastatin (P); Group 5: Obesity+pravastatin+naringin (NP). Obesity was developed with a food model. KEY FINDINGS: The naringin groups showed a decrease in weight gain and low glucose values compared to the control group (weight NP:311.4 vs C+:348.6; glucose NP: 173.12 vs C+:235.56) (p<0.05); the group with naringin+pravastatin combination showed the total cholesterol (TC), LDL and triglycerides (TGs) to normal levels (TC NP:51.6 vs C+:83.4; LDL NP:9.32 vs C+:32.32; TGs NP:39.4 vs C+:89.4) (p<0.05); but was not statistically significant compared with monotherapy. SIGNIFICANCE: The combination of naringin and pravastatin did not appear to be better than monotherapy on lipids, but its use could generate euglycemic and antiobesogenic effects, in addition to diminishing the adverse hepatic effects of pravastatin in rats.

Efecto de la ingesta de tortilla con inulina sobre perfil metabólico en pacientes con dislipidemia e IMC > 25 / Effect of consumption of tortilla with inulin on metabolic profile in patients with dyslipidemia and BMI > 25

Introducción: La inulina es un prebiótico usado como tratamiento alternativo o preventivo de enfermedades como la obesidad, la hiperglucemia o diabetes mellitus y la dislipidemia, una estrategia para su consumo es ofrecerla en un alimento de consumo diario como lo es la tortilla. Objetivo: Evaluar la ingesta de tortillas de maíz enriquecidas con inulina sobre perfil metabólico en pacientes con dislipidemia e IMC >25. Métodos: Ensayo clínico de 1 brazo, se incluyeron 22 pacientes con sobrepeso u obesidad (IMC ≥25) y dislipidemia; que reportaron ingesta de al menos 5 tortillas diarias, las cuales se cambiaron por tortillas enriquecidas con 1 gr de inulina por 90 días. Resultados: Se mostraron cambios en la glucosa sérica, al disminuir 10% en comparación con cifras basales (p>0.016). Se mostró tendencia clínica a disminución de insulina y colesterol total, resto sin cambios significativos. Discusión: Se encontraron diferencias clínicas con reducción de cifras de colesterol total de 40 mg en promedio, aunque no resultó estadísticamente significativo, lo que contrasta con estudios anteriores con ingesta de inulina en los cuales se reporta disminución estadísticamente significativa de los lípidos séricos como LDL y/o colesterol total, cabe señalar que la inulina utilizada fue de Agave Tequilana Weber, que presenta cambios en su estructura molecular con otras inulinas, además que en el presente estudio el consumo promedio fue de 4.32 g/día contra 7.4 g y hasta 30 g/día en otros estudios. El efecto hipoglucemiante resultante fue estadísticamente significativo para pacientes sin hiperglucemia ni diabetes, el probable mecanismo de acción es por aumento del péptido similar al glucagón tipo 1, por otra parte no hubo cambios en el peso corporal aunque la inulina suele hacer cambios en la microbiota intestinal que suele generar disminución del sobrepeso o la obesidad. Conclusiónes: El consumo diario de tortillas de maíz adicionadas de 1 g de inulina disminuye la glucemia y muestra una tendencia no estadística a disminuir los niveles de insulina sérica y colesterol total (AU)

Introduction: Inulin is a prebiotic that could help as an alternative or preventive treatment of diseases such as obesity, hyperglycemia or diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, a strategy for its consumption is to offer it in a food of daily consumption as is the tortilla. Objective: To evaluate the intake of corn tortillas enriched with inulin on a metabolic profile in patients with dyslipidemia and BMI> 25. Methods: One arm clinical trial included 22 patients with overweight or obesity (BMI ≥25) and dyslipidemia; That they present an ingestion of at least 5 tortillas daily, which were changed by tortillas enriched with 1 gr of inulin for 90 days. Results: Changes in serum glucose were shown, decreasing 10% compared to baseline (p> 0.016). Clinical tendency to decrease insulin and total cholesterol, rest without significant changes. Discussion: Clinical differences were found with a reduction in total cholesterol levels of 40 mg on average, but not statistically significant, which contrasts with previous inulin intake studies in which a statistically significant decrease in serum lipids such as LDL and / or Total cholesterol, it should be noted that the inulin used was Agave Tequilana Weber, which presents changes in its molecular structure versus other inulins, and in the present study the average consumption was 4.32 g / day against 7.4 g and up to 30 g / day in other studies. The resulting hypoglycaemic effect was statistically significant for patients without hyperglycemia or diabetes, the mechanism of action is by increased glucagon-like peptide type 1, on the other hand there were no changes in body weight although inulin usually makes changes in the intestinal microbiota, which usually leads to a decrease in overweight or obesity. Conclusion: The daily consumption of corn tortillas added with 1 g of inulin lowers glycemia and shows a non-statistical tendency to decrease serum insulin and total cholesterol levels (AU)