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Articular cartilage and periarticular muscle tissues are strongly affected during knee osteoarthritis (OA). Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme expressed in several tissues, but the isoform CK-MM is specific of skeletal muscle, and its serum concentration is used as a biomarker of muscle damage. Genetic variants of the CKM gene have been associated with various pathologies, but to date, there are no reports of association with OA. Due to the rs4884 polymorphism being well represented in the Mexican population, it is used as an ancestry informative marker; thus, the goal of this preliminary report was to evaluate the association of this polymorphism in primary knee OA Mexican patients.Eighty-seven patients with primary knee OA were compared with 107 healthy controls. Serum CK-MM was determined using the dot blot system, and genotyping was performed using the OpenArray system. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between the rs4884 polymorphism and OA susceptibility adjusting by gender, age, and body mass index.There were no significant differences in serum CK-MM values between patients and controls. The GG genotype and the G allele had a higher frequency in the control group compared with the OA group (24.3% vs. 12.6%, OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.14-0.84, P = 0.019; and 40.2% vs. 28.2%, OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.32-0.82, P = 0.005, respectively).Our results suggest a protection role of the rs4884 polymorphism against knee OA development; further studies are required to confirm it. Key Points • CK-MM enzyme catalyzes the conversion of creatine and ATP to create phosphocreatine and ADP; this reaction is reversible. • In tissues that consume ATP rapidly, such as skeletal muscle, the phosphocreatine serves as an important energy reservoir. • During knee OA, peripheral muscle tissues of the joint may be affected. • The rs4884 polymorphism of the CKM gene may participate as a protective factor in the development of OA.

Introducción: La manera en que los profesionales de la salud mental realizan la evaluación del riesgo de violencia y la planificación de intervención tiene impacto en las decisiones judiciales, en el bienestar social y en la responsabilidad profesional. Objetivos: Determinar la confiabilidad de instrumentos de evaluación de psicopatía e instrumentos de juicio profesional estructurado para la evaluación de riesgo de violencia en el ámbito del Instituto de Criminología, Criminalística e Intervención Psicosocial Familiar de la Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador. Método: Duplas de psicólogos y de trabajadores sociales, previamente entrenados, evaluaron simultáneamente a 37 casos derivados al instituto con instrumentos de evaluación de riesgo de violencia general-HCR-20- y conyugal -SARA- y de evaluación de psicopatía -Hare PCL-R-. Se calcularon indicadores de concordancia y de consistencia interna. Resultados: La concordancia de la valoración del riesgo de violencia hacia la pareja fue excelente -CCI: 0.76 y 0.90 para las psicólogas y las trabajadoras sociales respectivamente-. Los indicadores para las diferentes secciones del HCR-20 y del SARA también fueron excelentes, con rango entre 0.75 y 0.94. El indicador para el PCL-R total fue 0.96. Conclusiones: Los resultados permiten sostener que el uso de estos instrumentos en el ámbito ecuatoriano, con el correspondiente entrenamiento, resulta confiable. El uso de estos instrumentos contribuye a la sistematización y transparencia del procedimiento y al resguardo de la responsabilidad profesional., Introduction: The way professionals of mental health carry out violence risk assessment and intervention planning has an impact on judicial decisions, social wellbeing and professional responsibility. Objectives: To determine the reliability of the psychopathy evaluation instruments and structured professional guides in violence risk assessment used at the Institute of Criminology and Family Psychosocial Intervention of the University of Cuenca, Ecuador. Method: Previously trained pairs of psychologists and social workers assessed simultaneously 37 cases, who were transferred to the Institute, using structured violence risk assessment instruments -HCR 20 and SARA- and psychopathy evaluation instrument -Hare PCL-R-. Indicators of internal agreement and consistency were calculated. Results: The agreement of the assessment of the risk of violence towards the couple was excellent. The intraclass coefficient was respectively 0.76 and 0.90 for psychologists and social workers. The indicators for the different sections of the HCR-20 and SARA were also excellent, ranging between 0.75 and 0.94. The indicator for PCL-R total was 0.96. Conclusions: The results support the reliability of these instruments in Ecuador provided the users receive adequate training. The use of these instruments contributes to the systematization and transparency of the risk assessment procedures and the protection of the professional responsibility., Facultad de Ciencias Médicas

PM2.5 exposure is associated with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) reduction, and renal tissue damage. The goal of this study was demonstrate the acute effect of PM2.5 on the kidney. Male rats were acutely exposed to PM2.5 or filtered air. Blood pressure was mesure and early kidney biomarkers were evaluated in serum and urine samples, and also IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα were determined. Oxidative biomarkers, angiotensin/bradykinin-related proteins, KIM-1, IL-6 and histology were determined. Blood pressure, GFR, and early kidney damage biomarkers increase together with oxidative biomarkers and angiotensin/bradykinin endocrine-related proteins increased after exposure to PM2.5. Urinary IL-6 increased after exposure to PM2.5, whereas in kidney cortex decreased. Histological changes were observed and accompanied by the induction of KIM-1. Acute exposure to PM2.5 not decline kidney function. However, it can induce early kidney damage biomarkers, oxidative stress, inflammation and angiotensin mediators, which perhabs culminates in a lose of renal function.

Background An essential element imbalance in the joint might favor gradual degeneration of the articular cartilage. It has been reported that cadmium (Cd) plays an antagonistic role with regards to the presence of essential elements, such as zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn), which may favor the development of disabling diseases, like osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis. Methods 3D cultures of human chondrocytes were phenotyped with the Western blot technique and structurally evaluated with histological staining. The samples were exposed to 1, 5, and 10 μM of CdCl2 for 12 h, with a non-exposed culture as control. The concentration of Cd, Fe, Mn, Zn, chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) was quantified through plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The data were analyzed with a Kruskal Wallis test, a Kendall’s Tau test and Spearman’s correlation coefficient with the Stata program, version 14. Results Our results suggest that Cd exposure affects the structure of micromass cultures and plays an antagonistic role on the concentration of essential metals, such as Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, and Cr. Conclusion Cd exposure may be a risk factor for developing joint diseases like OA, as it can interfere with cartilage absorption of other essential elements that maintain cartilage homeostasis.

Background Particulate matter exposure is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular system dysfunction. Recently, we demonstrated that fine particles, also named PM2.5, modify the expression of some components of the angiotensin and bradykinin systems, which are involved in lung, cardiac and renal regulation. The endocrine kidney function is associated with the regulation of angiotensin and bradykinin, and it can suffer damage even as a consequence of minor alterations of these systems. We hypothesized that exposure to PM2.5 can contribute to early kidney damage as a consequence of an angiotensin/bradykinin system imbalance, oxidative stress and/or inflammation. Results After acute and subchronic exposure to PM2.5, lung damage was confirmed by increased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) differential cell counts and a decrease of surfactant protein-A levels. We observed a statistically significant increment in median blood pressure, urine volume and water consumption after PM2.5 exposure. Moreover, increases in the levels of early kidney damage markers were observed after subchronic PM2.5 exposure: the most sensitive markers, β-2-microglobulin and cystatin-C, increased during the first, second, sixth and eighth weeks of exposure. In addition, a reduction in the levels of specific cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10, INF-γ, IL-17a, MIP-2 and RANTES), and up-regulated angiotensin and bradykinin system markers and indicators of a depleted antioxidant response, were also observed. All of these effects are in concurrence with the presence of renal histological lesions and an early pro-fibrotic state. Conclusion Subchronic exposure to PM2.5 induced an early kidney damage response that involved the angiotensin/bradykinin systems as well as antioxidant and immune imbalance. Our study demonstrates that PM2.5 can induce a systemic imbalance that not only affects the cardiovascular system, but also affects the kidney, which may also overall contribute to PM-related diseases. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12989-016-0179-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Two major subsets of human Mo are identified based on CD14 and CD16 expression: the classical CD16– Mo and the minor CD14+CD16+ Mo. In vitro studies suggested distinct function and differentiation potential for each cell population. However, the in vivo relevance of these findings remains unclear. To evaluate the development and function of human Mo in an in vivo model, we transferred both Mo subpopulations into the peritoneum of immunocompromised mice in homeostatic or inflammatory conditions. Inflammation was induced with soluble LPS or particulate zymosan. CD16+ were more phagocytic and produced higher amounts of TNF and IL-6 than CD16– Mo early after transfer with zymosan. They also produced higher levels of β2-defensin in any condition evaluated, which could represent a new marker for this subpopulation. In contrast, differentiating CD16– Mo (24 h after transfer) acquired greater APC capacity in LPS-induced peritonitis, whereas none of the Mo subsets attained this ability with zymosan. CX3CL1 supported the survival of both Mo subsets in vivo. Similar Mo subpopulations were present in human peritonitis. These results support the idea of specialized roles of the Mo subset, where CD16+ might act in an immediate innate immune response, whereas CD16– could have a major role as APCs.

Dendritic cells (DC) are powerful inducers of primary T-cell responses, but their role in secondary responses has not been extensively analysed. Here, we address the role of two DC subsets derived from human CD16(+) (16(+) mDC) or CD16(-) (16(-) mDC) monocytes on the reactivation of memory responses. CD4(+) CD45RA(-) memory T cells were obtained from adult blood donors, and central (T(CM)) and effector (T(EM)) memory T cells were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting with anti-CCR7 antibodies. The 16(+) mDC and 16(-) mDC were cocultured with autologous lymphocytes, either unpulsed or loaded with purified protein derivatives of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (PPD) or tetanus toxoid (TT), and were analysed for up to 8 days. Over a range of doses, 16(+) mDC drove stronger T-cell proliferative responses against both antigens. Overall, antigen-specific memory cells tended to acquire a phenotype of T(EM) at later time-points in the culture, whereas cells that had completed fewer cycles of division were similar to T(CM). The 16(+) mDC induced higher rates of proliferation on both T(CM) and T(EM) lymphocytes than 16(-) mDC. This phenomenon was not related to the ability of both DC to induce CD25 expression on T cells, to lower secretion of interleukin-2, or to raise production of interleukin-10 during T-cell/16(-) mDC cocultures. The induction of T(CM) effector capacity in terms of interferon-gamma production was faster and more pronounced with 16(+) mDC, whereas both DC had similar abilities with T(EM). In conclusion, these data might reveal new potentials in vaccination protocols with 16(+) mDC aimed at inducing strong responses on central memory T cells.