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The existence of abnormal cytokine profile in Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) may contribute to find potential SS biomarkers and accompanying comorbidities. We aimed to investigate and compare gene expressions in the labial salivary glands of SS and of healthy subjects (HS) by means of microarray analysis. The study group comprised 8 SS patients and 8 HS in microarray analysis. The relative gene expression changes were validated with real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 25 SS and 20 HS. Among the differently expressed genes belonging to the “cellular response to cytokine stimulus”, “cytokine-mediated signaling pathway” and “innate immune response” ontology groups with a fold change >1.5 and with a p value < 0.05, the adiponectin, C1Q and collagen domain containing (ADIPOQ), S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100A9), leptin receptor (LEPR), and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) gene expressions in SS group were higher than in HS. Increased expression of the assessed genes are determined by the presence of SS and the accompanying inflammation and may be a valuable diagnostic biomarker of SS. Their selected systemic effects may suggest their role as potential prognostic biomarkers of the risk of accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications in SS.

The role of anti-HLA antibodies in transplant rejection is well-known but the injury associated with non-HLA antibodies is now widely discussed. The aim of our study was to investigate a role of non-HLA antibodies in hand allografts rejection. The study was performed on six patients after hand transplantation. The control group consisted of: 12 kidney transplant recipients and 12 healthy volunteers. The following non-HLA antibodies were tested: antibody against angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R-Ab), antibody against endothelin-1 type-A-receptor (ETAR-Ab), antibody against protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1-Ab) and anti-VEGF-A antibody (VEGF-A-Ab). Chosen proinflammatory cytokines (Il-1, IL-6, IFNγ) were used to evaluate the post-transplant humoral response. Laboratory markers of endothelial activation (VEGF, sICAM, vWF) were used to assess potential vasculopathy. The patient with the highest number of acute rejections had both positive non-HLA antibodies: AT1R-Ab and ETAR-Ab. The same patient had the highest VEGF-A-Ab and very high PAR1-Ab. All patients after hand transplantation had high levels of laboratory markers of endothelial activation. The existence of non-HLA antibodies together with multiple acute rejections observed in patient after hand transplantation should stimulate to look for potential role of non-HLA antibodies in humoral injury in vascular composite allotransplantation.

Early identification of allograft vasculopathy and the concomitant elimination of adverse risk factors is essential for improving the long-term prognosis of heart transplant (HTx) recipients with underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD). The major aim of this pilot study was to conduct a non-invasive imaging evaluation of the HTx patient microcirculation by employing nailfold video-capillaroscopy (NVC) in a well-characterized patient and control cohort, and to correlate these data with endothelial cell function, accompanied by studies of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and non-HLA antibodies in HTx recipients. Ten patients undergoing HTx (mean age of 38 ± 14 years) were recruited for the study and compared to a control group of 12 well-matched healthy volunteers (mean age 35 ± 5 years) with normal body mass index (BMI). Detailed medical records were collected from all individuals. NVC was performed using CapillaryScope 200 MEDL4N microscope. For functional readout and correlation analysis, endothelial cell network formation in conjunction with measurements of patient serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and non-HLA autoantibodies directed against the angiotensin II type-1-receptor (anti-AT1R-Ab), endothelin-1 type-A-receptor (anti-ETAR-Ab), protease-activated receptor-1 (anti-PAR-1-Ab), and VEGF-A (anti-VEGF-A-Ab) were studied. Our NVC analysis found that the average apical loop diameter of nailfold capillaries was significantly increased in HTx recipients (p = 0.001). In addition, HTx patients with more prominent changes in capillaroscopic patterns were characterized by the presence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and HTx patients had increased levels of anti-AT1R-ab, anti-ETAR-ab, and anti-VEGF-A-Ab (p = 0.017, p = 0.025, and p = 0.003, respectively). Capillary diameters most strongly correlated with elevated serum levels of troponin T and triglycerides (R = 0.69, p = 0.028 and R = 0.81, p = 0.004, respectively). In conclusion, we found that an abnormal NVC pattern in HTx patients is associated with traditional CVD risk factors and that NVC is a useful non-invasive tool to conveniently monitor changes in the microvasculature of HTx patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic and multi-systemic autoimmune disease, which has a deleterious impact on patients’ psychological well-being. This paper aims to review the existing literature on empirical research on psychological outcomes of SLE and psychological interventions to improve well-being in SLE patients. A search of significant English language articles was conducted in PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and ResearchGate databases. Titles and abstracts were screened for the relevant terms, including “systemic lupus erythematosus”, “childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus”, “juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus”, “lupus nephritis”, and their respective synonyms along with “depression”, “anxiety”, “fatigue”, “medical adherence”, “health-related quality of life”, “self-management” or “intervention”. The articles were evaluated by independent reviewers and the lists of eligible publications were compared whilst disagreements were settled by discussion. Of the 59 publications sought for retrieval, 35 papers were shortlisted based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. They were classified according to their content and the methodology applied. Research topics including “anxiety and depression in SLE” and “self-management interventions for SLE patients” were identified and are presented in this review. As the prognosis and life expectancy of SLE patients are improving, further research on the psychological outcomes of SLE and the evidence-based psychological interventions to improve patients’ well-being are justified.

Celem leczenia reumatoidalnego zapalenia stawow jest szybkie i trwale ograniczenie procesu zapalnego, co nie dopuszcza do rozwoju zmian stawowych i poprawia komfort zycia pacjentow, ale takze zapobiega rozwojowi powaznych powiklan (takze narządowych). Obecnie mamy do dyspozycji wiele lekow znajdujących zastosowanie w terapii reumatoidalnego zapalenia stawow. Jednak, wedlug aktualnych zalecen EULAR, lekami pierwszego wyboru nadal pozostają klasyczne syntetyczne leki modyfikujące przebieg choroby, do ktorych nalezy leflunomid. Leflunomid znalazl zastosowanie w reumatologii z uwagi na jego wlaściwości immunomodulujące i immunosupresyjne. Zasadniczym celem dzialania leflunomidu są aktywowane limfocyty T, ktore do intensywnej proliferacji wymagają wielokrotnie zwiekszonej puli nukleotydow pirymidynowych, powstających na szlaku de novo . Leflunomid hamuje wiec ich proliferacje i ekspansje. W badaniach porownawczych wykazano, ze leflunomid jest rownie skuteczny w terapii reumatoidalnego zapalenia stawow w porownaniu z metotreksatem, sulfasalazyną, a nawet rituksymabem. Jak praktycznie kazdy lek, takze leflunomid wykazuje pewne dzialania niepoządane. Dzialania niepoządane po leflunomidzie wystepują zwykle w ciągu pierwszych 1–3 miesiecy terapii. Rzadko są one jednak na tyle powazne, aby wymagaly odstawienia leku. Najcześciej zalecaną dawką leku jest 20 mg/dobe, jednak u cześci chorych konieczna jest redukcja dawki nawet do 10 mg/dobe, co pozwala na zapewnienie wiekszego profilu bezpieczenstwa terapii.

(1) Background: Muscle tension around the head and neck influences orofacial functions. The data exist concerning head posture during increased salivation; however, little is known about muscle tightness during this process. This study aims to investigate whether or not any muscles are related to problems with eating, such as drooling in individuals with cerebral palsy; (2) Methods: Nineteen patients between the ages of 1 and 14 were examined prior to the physiotherapy intervention. This intervention lasted three months and consisted of: relaxing muscles via the strain-counterstrain technique, functional exercises based on the NeuroDevelopmental Treatment-Bobath method, and functional exercises for eating; (3) Results: the tone of rectus capitis posterior minor muscle on the left side (p = 0.027) and temporalis muscle on the right side (p = 0.048) before the therapy, and scalene muscle on the right side after the therapy (p = 0.024) were correlated with drooling behavior and were considered statistically significant. Gross motor function was not considered statistically significant with the occurrence of drooling behavior (p ≤ 0.05). Following the therapeutic intervention, the frequency of drooling during feeding decreased from 63.16% to 38.89% of the total sample of examined patients; (4) Conclusions: The tightness of the muscles in the head area can cause drooling during feeding.

Przebieg naturalny chorob reumatycznych zmienil sie wraz z rozwojem farmakoterapii. Leflunomid jest jednym z nowszych klasycznych, syntetycznych lekow modyfikujących przebieg choroby, powszechnie stosowanym w terapii reumatoidalnego zapalenia stawow i luszczycowego zapalenia stawow. Wydaje sie, ze leflunomid jest rownie skuteczny w porownaniu z metotreksatem. Dodatkowo, leflunomid moze byc takze stosowany w politerapii — w polączeniu z metotreksatem czy lekami biologicznymi. Wielokierunkowy mechanizm dzialania leflunomidu sprawil, ze oprocz reumatologii, znajduje on miejsce rowniez w innych dziedzinach medycyny, na przyklad transplantologii. W trakcie obecnej pandemii SARS-CoV2 podjeto takze probe zastosowania leflunomidu w celu leczenia wspomagającego w ciezkim przebiegu COVID-19. Leflunomid daje wiec duze mozliwości terapeutyczne. Jednak leflunomid, jak praktycznie kazdy lek, moze powodowac dzialania niepoządane. Z uwagi na mozliwe dzialania niepoządane, trwają wciąz dyskusje i badania mające na celu wybranie najbardziej optymalnej dawki i schematu leczenia leflunomidem. Szczegolną ostroznośc zaleca sie u pacjentow obciązonych licznymi chorobami wspolistniejącymi lub w przypadku politerapii. Redukcje dawki mozna rozwazyc takze przy dlugotrwalej remisji. U takich pacjentow, zamiast standardowej dawki 20 mg/dobe, korzystną alternatywą moze byc dawka 15 mg/dobe. Wydaje sie wiec, ze indywidualne dobranie dawki u pacjentow moze przynieśc najwiecej korzyści.

W początkowym okresie badan nad patogenezą spondyloartropatii seronegatywnych (SpA) kluczową role przypisywano limfocytom Th1 oraz czynnikowi martwicy nowotworow-alfa (TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha ). Kolejne lata przyniosly jednak dowody na istotne znaczenie odmiennych czynnikow zapalnych miedzy innymi interleukiny-17 (IL-17). Sekukinumab, ktory jest w pelni ludzkim przeciwcialem monoklonalnym neutralizującym prozapalną interleukine-17A, jest pierwszym i obecnie jedynym zarejestrowanym lekiem biologiczny o innym niz inhibicja TNF-α mechanizmie dzialania, ktorego skutecznośc w leczeniu SpA zostala potwierdzona w badaniach klinicznych. W niniejszej publikacji przedstawimy informacje na temat zastosowania sekukinumabu w leczeniu SpA, wraz z wlasnymi doświadczeniami klinicznymi.

Background The cranial osteopathic manipulative medicine has been shown to alter regional cerebral tissue oxygenation (cStO2) in adult patients; however, there are no reports regarding the neonatal population. Objectives To assess the influence of compression of the 4th ventricle (CV4) osteopathic procedure on cStO2 in neonates. Material and methods Thirty-one patients born between 25 and 39 weeks of gestation were screened for inclusion in the neonatal unit. Twenty-two infants presenting with hyperstimulation of autonomous nervous system (ANS) according to the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale were enrolled in the study. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used for continuous cStO2 monitoring; pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) measured with pulse oximetry were simultaneously monitored 10 min before CV4, during the therapy and 10 min after it was stopped. Results Patients' condition remained stable throughout the study. There were no significant differences in the mean cStO2 values recorded before (69 ±8%), during (69 ±8%) and after CV4 (70 ±8%; p > 0.05). Mean SpO2 was almost constant during the study (96 ±4% before, 95 ±3% during and 95 ±4% after the intervention). Heart rate was also stable pre-, during and post-therapy (153 ±21 min, 151 ±18 min and 151 ±20/min, respectively). Conclusions Compression of the 4th ventricle osteopathic procedure does not influence the cStO2 in newborns. This method seems to be well-tolerated but its clinical efficacy needs to be further investigated in this group of patients.

There have been numerous publications investigating the relationship between periodontitis (PD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) so far. This publication presents the common risk factors for the development of PD and RA. The major impact of the pathological bacterial factor and cigarette smoking with chronic inflammation playing the key role in both diseases has been confirmed by numerous studies in various populations over the years. More research focuses nowadays also on the role of improper diet and obesity. Pathophysiological pathways, such as increased concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, indirectly affecting the cardiovascular complications and coagulation disorders, which has an impact on function disorders of tissue metalloproteinase inhibitors and the plasminogen activation system, were also researched. This systematic review of current literature has shown numerous discrepancies in previous analyses and the need for further detailed research on the relationship between periodontal status and RA.

The dynamic development of modern therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been observed in recent years. Most of the new drugs are monoclonal antibodies, which are usually directed against specific proinflammatory cytokines. Unfortunately, despite an undoubted progress in the field of biological treatment, it is estimated that about 20–30% of patients with RA do not receive an adequate response to the treatment used. That is why new solut ons are constantly being sought. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAK) are drugs with a different intracellular mechanism of action. These drugs, due to their innovative mechanism of action, give hope for effective treatment of patients who do not respond to therapy with currently available drugs. One of the representatives of JAK inhibitors is tofacitinib. In this manuscript, we provide information on tofacitinib in the context of RA treatment.

Background: The development of graft vasculopathy may play a role in the long-term deterioration of hand grafts. The aim of study was to examine the patterns of the nailfold capillaries in hand transplant recipients. Methods: the study was performed on six patients who received hand transplantation. To normalize for the effect of immunosuppression an age- and sex-matched group of 12 patients with active kidney transplant was selected. As an additional control group, 12 healthy volunteers were recruited. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy was performed in all participants. Additionally, serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured. Results: Videocapillaroscopic examination of the hand allografts revealed significant abnormalities: including capillary disorganization and microhaemorrhages. The number of capillaries was reduced, the vessels were enlarged and branched. Surprisingly, similar, albeit slightly less pronounced, changes were seen in the nailfolds of healthy hands of the limb transplant recipients. In kidney transplant recipients the capillaroscopic pattern was general normal and comparable to healthy individuals. Moreover, serum concentrations of VEGF in all participants correlated with average capillary diameter in capillaroscopy. Conclusions: in hand transplant recipients advanced microvascular abnormalities are found in nailfold capillaroscopic pattern in both transplanted and own extremities connected with elevated levels of VEGF.

Background: The neonatal behavioral assessment scale (NBAS) was primarily developed to aid in the assessment of full-term neonates. The aim of this study was to detect if the NBAS was also valuable in the assessment of preterm neonates. Materials and Methods: We assessed 112 infants at a neonatal unit using the NBAS, 4th edition. The inclusion criteria included an oxygen saturation level between 88–95% and a heartrate of 100–205 beats per minute. Infant neurobehavior was assessed using the NBAS. Results: For full-term and preterm neonates, we observed that the NBAS enabled us to assess both groups of infants and gave relevant information pertaining to them. We found a significant correlation between the average week of gestation and response to touch, sensory input, peak of excitement, cost of attention, hand-to-mouth, and quality of alertness. Conclusions: The NBAS is a valuable scale for evaluating the neurobehavior of preterm neonates. The week of gestation at birth affects certain aspects of neurobehavior, such as response to sensory input, putting hand to mouth, peak of excitement, and cost of attention. The NBAS as an individually structured assessment may help in planning for early rehabilitation and intervention for this vulnerable population.

Objective: Ego-resiliency is attributed the status of a “meta resource” that is responsible for a flexible selection of coping strategies depending on the requirements of a specific difficult situation. A considerably burdensome critical life event is the development of a chronic illness such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Apart from coping with the symptoms, a fundamental task confronting patients is maintaining their quality of life. This raises the question of whether ego-resiliency serves as a mediator between coping strategies and quality of life. Materials and Methods: 210 RA patients were invited to participate in this study. They were requested to complete a questionnaire that included the Satisfaction with Life scale, the stress coping inventory Mini-COPE, and the Ego-Resiliency scale. The collected data were analyzed by a simple mediation procedure and estimation of simple correlation coefficients. Results: The analysis demonstrated that ego-resiliency (r = 0.46; p < 0.001) and emotion-focused coping (r = 0.39; p < 0.001) determined life satisfaction. Additionally, ego-resiliency mediated the relation between emotion-oriented coping strategies and life satisfaction. Partial mediation was observed (a = 0.45**; b = 0.36**; c = 0.39**; c’ =0.22**; R2 = 0.24; F = 35.65; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our observations partly support the assumption about a controlling role of ego-resiliency in the process of selecting coping strategies according to demands of situations.

Background Klotho, originally identified as an anti-aging factor, is a transmembrane protein expressed in the kidney. It has been reported that Klotho deficiency could be associated with a loss of residual renal function and cardiovascular complications in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Objectives The main aim of the study was to evaluate whether serum levels of Klotho correlate with residual diuresis and hydration status in PD patients. Material and methods The cross-sectional study involved 57 PD patients ≥18 years of age who had been on PD ≥ 3 months. Serum Klotho was measured using high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hydration status was assessed with bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Results Serum levels of soluble Klotho ranged from 100 pg/mL to 700 pg/mL. The patients were divided into 2 subgroups, with Klotho levels below and above the median (260 pg/mL). The data revealed a tendency for lower residual diuresis (1.3 ±1.0 L vs 1.8 ±0.8 L; p = 0.055) in patients with lower levels of Klotho in serum. Serum Klotho correlated negatively with overhydration according to BIA (r = -0.27; p = 0.044) and positively with residual diuresis (r = 0.26; p = 0.045). Conclusions Soluble Klotho correlates inversely with hydration status in BIA. Residual urine output, but not dialysis parameters, could be associated with the levels of serum soluble Klotho in PD patients.

Introduction Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) inhibitors have significantly improved the outcomes of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present study, we aimed to determine whether serum levels of TNFα during therapy with TNFα inhibitors do really reflect the disease activity and correspond to the intensity of pain experienced. Materials and methods Thirty RA patients were examined before and after 12 weeks of routine therapy with TNFα inhibitors. Serum levels of TNFα were measured with a high-sensitivity immunoassay and related to patients’ clinical and biochemical status. Disease activity was assessed by the modified disease activity score (DAS28). Results A median relative change in TNFα was 13%. The patients were stratified according to whether the relative change in serum TNFα after therapy was above or below this median value. The patients from both subgroups did not differ in baseline characteristics and response to therapy. However, the patients in whom serum TNFα increased after therapy above the median value had more tender joints after treatment than patients from the other group. Consequently, the number of tender joints after the treatment correlated with absolute TNFα concentrations at this time (r = 0.37; p = 0.049) and the magnitude of changes in serum TNFα correlated with a change in the number of tender joints (r = − 0.48; p = 0.008). Conclusions Circulating TNFα levels did not decrease in RA patients treated with TNFα inhibitors, despite clinical and biochemical improvement. It is possible, that circulating TNFα is responsible for the persistence of joint pain in this group of patients.

Background The aim of this study was to determine the impact of umbilical cord arterial pH, gestational age, and birth weight on neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm neonates. Methods We examined 112 neonates. Inclusion criteria were: Saturations greater than 88%, and heart rates between 100–205 beats per minute. Measurements We assessed several neurodevelopmental factors as part of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS), 4th edition, such as asymmetric tonic neck reflex (ATNR), motor maturity, response to sensory stimuli, habituation, and state regulation. Initial assessment parameters such as APGAR score and umbilical cord arterial pH were used to assess neonates. Results We found a strong correlation between the presence of the sucking reflex and umbilical cord arterial pH (r = 0.32; p = 0.018981). Umbilical cord arterial pH was also correlated with the presence of asymmetric tonic neck reflex (r = 0.27; p = 0.047124), cost of attention (r = 0.31; p = 0.025381) and general motor maturity (r = 0.34; p = 0.011741). Conclusions We found that the sucking reflex may be affected in infants with low umbilical cord arterial pH values. Practitioners and parents can use the NBAS to help determine neurodevelopmental factors and outcomes in preterm infants, possibly leading to safer and more effective feeding practices and interventions.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by neurodevelopmental disorders and alterations in immune function and cytokine levels. The aim of this study is to determine the salivary levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), Regulated on Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES), and Eotaxin in children with ASD and in healthy controlsto assess their predictive potential. We explored correlations between the cytokine levels and the neurodevelopmental disorders related to ASD. The study comprised 19 children with ASD and 19 typically developing (TD) ones. We analyzed salivary levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNFα, MCP-1, RANTES, and eotaxin on Luminex with custom-designed 7-plex kits. The level of RANTES in ASD children was significantly lower than those of TD. In TDs, the salivary levels of IL-1β, MCP-1, and TNFα correlated positively with age. In ASD, the cytokine levels did not correlate with age. There were statistically significant differences between the RANTES level and aggression and gait disturbances, between IL-8 level and fixations/stimulations, and between IL-1β level and no active speech. The levels of the cytokine detected can manifest both systemic and local changes related to ASD. The cytokine pattern cannot be used as a sole ASD predictor, but the salivary levels may be helpful in categorizing the ASD subtype.

The concerns about reproducibility and validity of animal studies are partly related to poor experimental design and reporting. Here, we undertook a scoping review of the literature to determine the extent and quality of reporting of animal studies on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Online databases were searched to identify 567 relevant original articles published between 1979 and 2018. These were analyzed with respect to bibliographic parameters and general aspects of animal experimentation. A subgroup of 120 studies was analyzed in detail in terms of the impact on the reporting quality of the Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines for animal studies. The number of animal studies on PD increased continuously over the years with a thematic shift toward long-term preservation of the peritoneum as a dialyzing organ. There were significant deficiencies in research design with the lack of sample size estimation, randomization, and blinding being the commonest shortcomings. The description of animal numbers, housing conditions, use of medication, and statistical analysis was incomplete. The introduction in 2010 of the ARRIVE guidelines produced very little improvement in the completeness of reporting regardless of journal impact factor. The animal studies on PD suffer from deficits in experimental protocols and transparent reporting. These drawbacks need to be corrected to ensure high-quality and much-needed animal research in PD.

Niesteroidowe leki przeciwzapalne (NLPZ) wykazują wysoką skutecznośc w terapii przeciwzapalnej i przeciwbolowej. Leki tej grupy są obarczone dośc licznymi dzialaniami niepoządanymi, czesto rowniez powaznymi. Dzialanie przeciwzapalne i przeciwbolowe NLPZ związane jest z blokowaniem cyklooksygenaz. Mechanizm ten stanowi rowniez podstawe wystepowania wiekszości dzialan niepoządanych NLPZ. Co roku uaktualniamy opracowany algorytmu wyboru NLPZ, w zalezności od ryzyka rozwoju powiklan związanych z lekami tej grupy, w indywidualnych przypadkach. Obecna wersja — obok uwzglednionych wcześniej zagadnien: wynikow badania PRECISION, tak zwanej koncepcji NLPZ „zlotego środka” oraz wiedzy na temat interakcji pomiedzy niektorymi NLPZ a kwasem acetylosalicylowym stosowanym kardioprotekcyjnie — bierze pod uwage opracowanie grupy ekspertow na temat jednego z nowoczesnych NLPZ, aceklofenaku, i przedstawia algorytm wyboru NLPZ w zalezności od indywidualnego ryzyka gastroenterologicznego i sercowo-naczyniowego. Forum Reumatol. 2018, tom 4, nr 3: 143–151

Introduction While adiponectin is typically viewed as an anti-inflammatory mediator, such an activity of adiponectin in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not so obvious. In the present study we examined whether serum levels of adiponectin reflect the clinical phenotype of RA patients and/or correlate with severity of the disease and the response to anti-TNF-α therapy. Material and methods Twenty-one female RA patients qualified to receive anti-TNF-α treatment were prospectively assessed before and after 12 weeks of therapy. Patients underwent full clinical and biochemical assessment. Disease activity was assessed by the Modified Disease Activity Scores (DAS28). Serum concentrations of adiponectin were measured with an immunoassay. The individuals were divided into two subgroups according to whether their baseline serum adiponectin was below or above the median value. The subgroups did not differ in basic demographic, anthropometric, and clinical parameters. Results Anti-TNF-α treatment resulted in a significant clinical (DAS28) improvement in patients from both subgroups, but no significant differences between basal and post-treatment serum adiponectin concentrations were observed. However, patients with higher baseline adiponectin experienced a significant and more pronounced improvement in laboratory parameters of inflammation (ESR, CRP, neutrophil count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio). Conclusions It is possible that adiponectin exerts systemic anti-inflammatory effects independently of the local activity of RA.

Introduction Interleukin 17 (IL-17) and CC-chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) are increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A correlation has been reported to exist between serum levels of IL-17 and CCL20 and the disease activity. However, such an effect has not been universally demonstrated. The aim of the present study was to investigate if serum levels of IL-17 and/or CCL20 reflect the disease activity and response to anti-TNF-α therapy in patients with RA. Material and methods Twenty-two RA patients qualified to receive anti-TNF-α treatment were prospectively assessed before and after 12 weeks of therapy. Serum concentrations of IL-17 and CCL20 were measured with high-sensitivity immunoassays. Disease activity was assessed by the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28). Results Twelve weeks of therapy resulted in a satisfactory therapeutic response in the majority (91%) of patients (reflected both by clinical and standard biochemical criteria). However, serum concentrations of IL-17 and CCL20 did not change significantly over the course of therapy Moreover, they did not correlate with the disease activity, patient characteristics, and their response to therapy. Conclusions Serum levels of IL-17 and CCL20 do not reflect changes in the clinical and biochemical status that occur in patients undergoing anti-TNF-α treatment for RA. The lack of such an association indicates that IL-17 signalling is not affected by anti-TNF-α therapy and is thus not critically involved in the disease pathogenesis.

Background High mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is associated with the presence of nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as malnutrition. However, hypoalbuminemia in patients undergoing PD may have gender-dependent consequences. Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between hypoalbuminemia, overhydration (OH), inflammation, and cardiovascular risk, depending on gender. Material and methods The group studied consisted of 54 PD patients: 26 male (mean age: 59 ±19 years) and 28 female (mean age: 52 ±15 years). Serum albumin levels were measured routinely by the hospital central laboratory. The degree of OH was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured as inflammatory markers. Levels of N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and troponin T (TnT) were used to assess cardiovascular risk. Results Median serum albumin concentration was 3.9 g/dL (3.6-4.2 g/dL). Both genders were comparable regarding most parameters except body weight (79 ±16 kg vs 67 ±16 kg; p = 0.009), but no differences were observed in body mass index (BMI) (26.3 ±5.0 kg/m2 vs 26.2 ±5.9 kg/m2; non significant (NS)). There was also no difference in the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia between female and male PD patients (23% vs 21%; NS). In females, low serum albumin concentrations were associated with OH, inflammation and cardiovascular risk, while in males serum albumin levels correlated with the parameters of dialysis and cardiovascular risk. Conclusions The impact of hypoalbuminemia may be gender-dependent. It seems that hypoalbuminemia is more important for female patients. It is also possible that different mechanisms regulate serum albumin concentration in female and male PD patients.

Introduction Saliva has been increasingly used as a diagnostic medium for disease detection and monitoring. The aim of this observational, prospective, pilot study was to investigate whether salivary concentrations of CRP and IL-6 correlate with those in serum and with the clinical course of a rheumatic disease. Materials and methods Nineteen patients with rheumatic disease newly scheduled for anti-TNFα therapy were included. Patients received anti-TNFα treatment (adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab or infliximab) as per standard protocols. CRP and IL-6 were measured with high-sensitivity immunoassays before and after 12 weeks of therapy, according to standard regimens. The data were analyzed with nonparametric statistics. Results Concentrations of CRP in saliva correlated significantly with those in serum (R = 0.62; p

Background The components of lifestyle of medical students, with comprehensive reporting of their physical activity and drinking and eating behavior, are rarely evaluated. Being overweight (increased body mass index - BMI) is associated with health problems, an unhealthy lifestyle (inadequate sleep, diet and exercise) being implicated. Objectives The aim was to determine if there were discrepancies between assessments of actual lifestyle and advice regarding the principles of a healthy lifestyle. Material and methods The relationship between lifestyle and BMI was investigated in 270 medical students (158 females, 112 males) who answered a questionnaire about aspects of their lifestyle. Results The mean ±SD BMI in males (23.41 ±0.25kg/m2) was significantly higher than in females (20.52 ±0.16kg/m2). Many aspects of lifestyle differed significantly with gender, including sleep habits, number of meals eaten, types of food eaten (fast food, amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables, sweets, etc.) and alcohol consumption, males generally having less healthy lifestyles. After correcting the associations between BMI and lifestyle factors for gender, one main finding was a positive association between BMI and alcohol intake, BMI rising by 0.014 kg/m2/g alcohol intake per week. Conclusions These results show clear differences between actual and advised lifestyle with regard to many aspects of sleep, food and fluid intake, and exercise. Most students, particularly males, had not adopted a healthy lifestyle. Possible future problems associated with this require more emphasis.

Objectives: Report on one-year results from the Polish Spondyloarthritis Initiative registry (PolSPI), containing the cross-sectional analysis of clinical and imaging data as well as database methodology. Material and methods: The PolSPI registry includes patients with axial (axSpA) and peripheral (perSpA) spondyloarthritis according to ASAS classification criteria, and/or patients with ankylosing spondylitis according to modified New York criteria, psoriatic arthritis according to CASPAR criteria, arthropathy in inflammatory bowel disease, reactive arthritis, juvenile spondyloarthritis or undifferentiated spondyloarthritis. Epidemiologic data and history of signs, symptoms and treatment of spondyloarthritis are collected and assessment of disease activity is performed. Radiographic images of sacroiliac joint, cervical and lumbar spine, and results of bone densitometry are collected. Every 6 months blood samples for inflammatory markers, and for long-term storage are taken. Results: During a one-year period from September 2015 to August 2016, 63 patients were registered on an electronic database; 44 (69.8%) of patients were classified as axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and 19 (30.2%) as peripheral spondyloarthritis (perSpA) according to ASAS criteria. Statistically significant differences between axSpA and perSpA were discovered in the percentage of HLA-B27 antigen occurrence (92.6% and 50%, respectively), BASDAI (2.8% and 4.1%, respectively), DAS 28 (2.66% and 4.03%, respectively), percentage of peripheral arthritis (20% and 88.8%, respectively), enthesitis (26.7% and 70.6%, respectively), dactylitis (6.7% and 88.9%, respectively), as well as extra-articular symptoms: acute anterior uveitis (26.7% and 5.6% , respectively) and psoriasis (6.9% and 55.6%, respectively). Patients with axSpA had significantly higher mean grade of sacroiliac involvement according to New York criteria, higher mSASSS score, and lower T-score in femoral neck in bone densitometry. Conclusions: At the early stage of the disease patients with axSpA compared to those with perSpA, have more advanced structural damage of sacroiliac joints and spine, and lower bone mineral density in the femoral neck. In the upcoming years the PolSPI registry will prospectively follow-up patients with SpA, recording response to treatment and carrying out research on interaction of inflammation and bone remodelling.

Kidney amyloidosis is one of the most serious potential complication of chronic inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis. Interleukin-6 blockade is frequently effective in rheumatic disease, however, there are only few published data on its use in AA amyloidosis. Here, we report a case of patient with rheumatoid arthritis complicated by nephrotic syndrome due to secondary type A amyloidosis successfully treated with tocilizumab. Forum Reumatol. 2018, tom 4, nr 3: 184–186

The existence of seasonal changes in secretion of stress hormones and inflammatory mediators by humans is not certain. Here, we aimed to determine whether concentrations of cortisol and IL-6 displayed seasonal rhythmicity. The study was performed in Poznań, Poland (52°N, 16°E) in 7 healthy female volunteers (age 22.6 ± 0.8 yr). Samples of whole mixed unstimulated saliva were collected in winter (February) and summer (June) at 2-h intervals over a 24-h period and analyzed for cortisol and IL-6 by immunoassays. During each season, the subjects answered questionnaires related to their sleeping habits, food intake, physical activity, and perceived seasonality. It turned out that salivary concentrations of cortisol followed a daily rhythm both in winter and summer, as determined by a cosine analysis. However, compared with the winter season, a midline-estimating statistic of rhythm in the summer was significantly higher. Moreover, the rhythm acrophase occurred ~4 h later in the summer than in the winter, whereas the amplitudes did not differ. These fluctuations did not correspond to sleeping habits, food and fluid intake, physical exercise, and the self-assessed chronotype. However, the individuals with higher scores on the seasonal affective disorder scale showed a tendency toward lower relative cortisol amplitude in the summer. In contrast to cortisol, salivary IL-6 concentration did not display daily rhythmicity, and its concentrations did not differ significantly between the seasons. In conclusion, in the summer, cortisol level in saliva is elevated, and its circadian pattern of secretion is shifted. The causes for these alterations do not seem to be related to lifestyle and thus remain to be established.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with preserved residual diuresis have a lower risk of death and complications. Here we analyzed associations between residual diuresis and presence of fluid overload and biomarkers of cardiac strain and nutrition in PD patients. Among 44 PD patients placed into three subgroups, depending on volume of residual diuresis (group A ≤ 500; group B 600–1900; and group C ≥ 2000 mL/day), we examined: overhydration (OH) assessed by bioimpedance analysis (BIA; yielding OH index OHBIA) and by clinical criteria (edema and hypertension); nutritional status (by subjective global assessment, SGA); metabolic status (electrolytes, serum lipid profile, CRP, and albumin); biomarkers of fluid overload and cardiac strain (N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide, NT-proBNP, and troponin T, TnT); and, echocardiography and chest X-ray. With increasing residual diuresis in group A, B and C, fewer patients had signs of overhydration defined as OHBIA > 1.1 L (75.0, 42.9 and 33.3 %) or peripheral edema (25.0, 21.4 and 0 %) and NT-proBNP (15199 ± 16150 vs. 5930 ± 9256 vs. 2600 ± 3907 pg/mL; p

We report a case of a 20-year-old patient with Cushing’s syndrome as a component of Carney syndrome. Carney syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease with co-existing bilateral pigmented nodular adrenal disease, heart and skin myxoma, skin pigmentation, breast fibroadenoma, testicular and ovarian tumours, thyroid tumours, and pituitary adenomas. (Endokrynol Pol 2017; 68 (1): 70–72)

Introduction. The functional assessment of general movements (GMs) is a common test for the developing nervous system. The high predictive validity of abnormal GMs for cerebral palsy has been documented among preterm infants. Aim. The present study examined whether term infants without any documented risk factors for neurodevelopment delay may benefit from an assessment of GMs. Material and Methods. One hundred and four infants ranging in age from 1–4 months were evaluated using Prechtl’s method, of which, thirty-eight were younger than two months of age and the remaining sixty-eight were older than two months of age (with available detailed neonatal characteristics). The following movements were considered among younger infants, writhing, poor repertoire and cramped synchronised, whereas fidgety, cramped synchronised, poor repertoire, chaotic and abnormal GMs were evaluated in older infants. Infants were classified as ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ groups based on their presenting GMs. We determined postural positional preference, following Kaplan recommendations, with features categorised as either ‘present’ or ‘absent’, as well as activity level and general muscle tone (‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’). Results. Cramped synchronised GMs were observed in seven (18.4%) younger infants and in eleven (16.7%) older infants. There was no difference in the clinical characteristics of children with normal vs. abnormal GMs. Abnormal muscle tone was associated with a higher OR (p = 0.0039) of presenting with abnormal GMs (4.6063; 95%CI: 1.6303–13.0149). Although the infants studied were not at risk for developmental disorders, almost one-fifth required follow-up neurological consultation. Conclusions. An assessment of GMs should be considered as a universal screening tool among healthy infants without risk factor(s) for developmental deficits.

Background Saliva has been increasingly used as a diagnostic medium for disease detection and monitoring. Since saliva contains many of mediators of inflammation, collagen breakdown and/or bone remodelling, they may be of potential use for the rheumatic disease monitoring.1, 2 Objectives The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether and how well salivary concentrations of CRP and IL-6 correlate with those in serum and with the clinical course of a rheumatic disease. Methods The nineteen consenting patients with rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, newly scheduled for anti-TNFα therapy, were analysed. CRP and IL-6 were measured with high-sensitivity immunoassays before and after 12 weeks of anti-TNFα therapy, according to standard regimens. Disease activity and oral health parameters were also assessed. Results The patients’ baseline characteristics were summarised in Table 1. The treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the clinical status and standard biochemical parameters in the majority of patients (table 2). Concentrations of CRP in saliva correlated significantly with those in serum (R=0.62; p In contrast to CRP, the salivary concentrations of IL-6 did not change significantly over the course of therapy and they did not correlate with serum IL-6 concentrations. Salivary levels of neither CRP nor IL-6 corresponded to parameters of oral health and hygiene. Conclusions These data indicate, that salivary CRP but not IL-6 could be of potential use for monitoring the rheumatic disease activity. References [1] Buczko P, Zalewska A, Szarmach I. Saliva and oxidative stress in oral cavity and in some systemic disorders. Journal of physiology and pharmacology: an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society. 2015;66(1):3–9. [2] Mirrielees J, Crofford LJ, Lin Y, Kryscio RJ, Dawson DR, 3rd, Ebersole JL, et al. Rheumatoid arthritis and salivary biomarkers of periodontal disease. Journal of clinical periodontology. 2010;37(12):1068–74. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Objective A primary aim of this study was to establish possible daily and seasonal rhythms of interleukin 6 and cortisol in the saliva using 15 healthy female volunteers. Methods All of the females...

Background In presented study the amino acid analysis was performed in serum derived from rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) according to undertaken therapy and classification of physical disability. The results were compared with previously published data. Methods The levels of 31 free amino acids were determined in 50 serum samples derived from RA subjects and 51 controls. The RA patients were divided into two groups according to the therapy (methotrexate/leflunomide, infliximab/adalimumab/etanercept/tocilizumab, prednisolone/NSAID) and classification of physical disability of the patients. Levels of amino acids were measured by LC-MS/MS. The obtained results were subjected to multivariate statistical tests. Results According to the therapy that was being used, threonine differentiated RA patients treated with methotrexate/leflunomide - infliximab/adalimumab/etanercept/tocilizumab (p = 0.00954) and infliximab/adalimumab/etanercept/tocilizumab - prednisolone/NSAID (p = 0.03109), while tryptophan differentiated RA patients treated with methotrexate/leflunomide - infliximab/adalimumab/etanercept/tocilizumab (p = 0.01723). In the functional classification, arginine differentiated RA samples between class III and IV (p = 0.02332), while glycine differentiated them between class I+II and III of the Steinbrocker functional classification (p = 0.03366). Conclusions An analysis of the metabolome profile requires the use of validated bioanalytical methods that are strictly dedicated for this purpose. The obtained results are not accidental (p value less than 0.05), and all of the selected amino acids play an important role in inflammation and immune response. It is suggested that studied amino acids can be considered as a markers for diagnosis of RA and monitoring pharmacotherapy of the disease.