Inactive Subjects Research Articles

Role of FDG PET-CT in Takayasu Arteritis: Sensitive Detection of Recurrences

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the maximum standardized uptake value (max SUV) of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) provides a quantitative indication of disease activity in Takayasu arteritis (TA) cases. The clinical value of FDG-PET for assessing TA has been investigated. Clinical evaluation of disease activity is often difficult, because most patients develop recurrent inflammation while receiving corticosteroid treatment. Thirty-nine TA patients underwent FDG-PET/CT at Tokyo Medical and Dental University from 2006 to 2010 (35 women and 4 men; median age, 30 years). Disease activity was defined according to National Institutes of Health criteria. Biomarkers including C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured. Forty subjects without vasculitis served as control subjects. The max SUV was significantly higher in active than in inactive cases and control subjects (active [n = 27], median value, 2.7 vs. inactive [n = 12], 1.9; control [n = 40], 1.8; p < 0.001 each). Given a max SUV cutoff of 2.1, sensitivity for active-phase TA was 92.6%, specificity 91.7%, positive predictive value 96.2%, and negative predictive value 84.6%. In receiver-operating characteristic curves comparison, max SUV was superior to C-reactive protein (p < 0.05) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.05). Max SUV was significantly higher in relapsing on treatment cases (n = 17) than in stable on treatment cases (n = 12) (median value, 2.6 vs. 1.9; p < 0.001). FDG-PET/CT is useful for detection of active inflammation not only in patients with active TA before treatment but also in relapsing patients receiving immunosuppressive agents. The max SUV is useful for assessing subtle activity of TA with high sensitivity.

The role of physical activity in changes in walking mechanics with age

While age-related declines in walking mechanics have been documented, it remains unclear if changes in walking mechanics with age occur as a natural consequence of aging and to what extent these changes are related to a reduction in fitness and physical activity with aging. The study aim was to determine if the walking mechanics of an older (>50) yet highly active population are different from a younger population (<40).Gait mechanics data for 79 middle-aged (50–64yrs) and 54 older (65–80yrs) individuals with ≥7500 steps/day, based on a 7 day activity monitoring history, and 33 younger adults (ages 18–40) were collected.The older subjects did not reduce self-selected walking speed relative to the younger subjects. However, the walking speed was maintained by increasing cadence while reducing stride-length for middle-aged and older subjects. Middle-aged and older adults had less ankle dorsi-flexion landing at heel-strike and older adults also had less plantar flexion at toe-off. Small decreases in the ankle dorsi-flexion moments (p=0.019, p=0.008) and increases in the hip extension moments (p=0.004, p=0.005) were found for two normalized walking speeds for the middle-aged and older adults compared to the young adults.These results provide quantitative evidence that increased activity with aging can mitigate declines in walking performance and mechanics with age. The high volume of walking activity in the older subjects did not fully prevent changes in gait mechanics, but may have minimized the magnitude of age-related changes on ambulatory function relative to other reports of older inactive subjects.

The Effect of Exercise on Pulpal and Gingival Blood Flow in Physically Active and Inactive Subjects as Assessed by Laser Doppler

The effects of exercise on pulpal and gingival blood flow are undefined. The autonomic nervous system response suggests that they could increase or decrease with exercise, and they may be independent of each other. This study attempts to answer these questions.Materials and Methods:15 “physically active” subjects and 15 “physically inactive” subjects exercised on a treadmill. Laser Doppler recordings of pulpal and gingival blood flow were taken before and after exercise.Results:There was a mean increase of approximately 50% in both pulpal (range -66%-+509%) and gingival (-72%- +1022%) blood flow after exercise, with wide variations, with no significant differences between the two groups of subjects.Conclusion:Exercise could increase pulpal and/or gingival blood flow as part of the overall increase in cardiac output with exercise, or could decrease pulpal and/or gingival blood flow due to diversion of blood to the somatic muscles during exercise. This study suggests that the former physiological phenomenon usually takes place at both sites,though there were some contradictory results.

PWC75%/kg, a Fitness Index Not Linked to Resting Heart Rate: Testing Procedure and Reference Values

Batcho CS, Thonnard J-L, Nielens H. PWC75%/kg, a fitness index not linked to resting heart rate: testing procedure and reference values. ObjectivesTo develop a fitness index unlinked to resting heart rate and suitable for clinical use, and to obtain reference values of this new index for healthy subjects. DesignCross-sectional study. SettingResearch laboratory. ParticipantsA volunteer sample of healthy subjects (N=100; 50 men; age range, 20–70y) randomly recruited from the general community. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresParticipants performed a submaximal, multistage cycle ergometer test. A new fitness index, the physical working capacity at 75% of the predicted maximal heart rate per kilogram of body weight (PWC75%/kg), was calculated. Its concordance with a previously described fitness index and its relationship with age were examined, as well as differences attributable to sex and lifestyle. Reference values of the PWC75%/kg (mean ± SD and 95% confidence interval) were calculated and categorized by age classes of 10 years and by sex. ResultsThe intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between PWC75%/kg and the working capacity index at 65% of the heart rate reserve per kilogram of body weight (WCI65%HRreserve/kg) was very high (ICC=.96, P<.001), indicating that the fitness index can be estimated without measuring the resting heart rate. PWC75%/kg decreased as age increased. The average PWC75%/kg was significantly higher in men than in women (P<.001), and in active than in inactive subjects (P<.01). ConclusionsThis study presents a new fitness index, the PWC75%/kg, which is suitable for measuring fitness in active and sedentary people aged 20 to 70 years. It may also be a suitable fitness index for selected chronically ill individuals. This study also provides reference values of the PWC75%/kg obtained from healthy men and women.

Exercise, Vascular Health, and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Exercise, Vascular Health, and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Nitro-Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Active and Inactive Men

Oxidative stress markers are novel factors shown to be related to cardiovascular (CVD) risk. We examined the effects of long-term exercise, age, and their interaction on plasma oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), nitrotyrosine, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels, all biomarkers of oxidative stress, and determined their association with plasma nitric oxide (NOx) levels as an index of NO bioavailability. Older (62±2 yr) active men (n=12) who had exercised for >30 years and young (25±4 yr) active men (n=7) who had exercised for >3 years were age- and BMI-matched to older (n=11) and young (n=8) inactive men. Young subjects had lower plasma nitrotyrosine levels than older subjects (P=0.047). Young inactive subjects had higher ox-LDL levels than either the young active (P=0.042) or the older active (P=0.041) subjects. In addition, plasma oxidative stress levels, particularly ox-LDL, were correlated with various conventional plasma lipoprotein-lipid levels, and in older subjects were associated with Framingham risk score (r=0.49, P=0.015). We found no relationships between plasma oxidative stress markers and NOx levels. The findings suggest that a sedentary lifestyle may be associated with higher ox-LDL levels and that the levels of oxidative stress markers are related to levels of other conventional CVD risk factors and overall CVD risk.

Does Physical Activity Increase Life Expectancy? A Review of the Literature

Physical activity reduces many major mortality risk factors including arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer. All-cause mortality is decreased by about 30% to 35% in physically active as compared to inactive subjects. The purpose of this paper was to synthesize the literature on life expectancy in relation to physical activity. A systematic PubMed search on life expectancy in physically active and inactive individuals was performed. In addition, articles comparing life expectancy of athletes compared to that of nonathletes were reviewed. Results of 13 studies describing eight different cohorts suggest that regular physical activity is associated with an increase of life expectancy by 0.4 to 6.9 years. Eleven studies included confounding risk factors for mortality and revealed an increase in life expectancy by 0.4 to 4.2 years with regular physical activity. Eleven case control studies on life expectancy in former athletes revealed consistently greater life expectancy in aerobic endurance athletes but inconsistent results for other athletes. None of these studies considered confounding risk factors for mortality. In conclusion, while regular physical activity increases life expectancy, it remains unclear if high-intensity sports activities further increase life expectancy.

Prevalence and Correlates of Dyslipidemia among Adults in Saudi Arabia: Results from a National Survey

Data were collected and analyzed from a cross-sectional study using the World Health Organization’s STEPwise approach, to estimate the prevalence of various types of dyslipidemia and determine their associated factors among adults in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study population included 4490 Saudi adults aged 15 years and older who were selected by a stratified, multistage, cluster random sampling technique. Lipid profile was determined by spectrophotometrically by biochemical methods, high total cholesterol (TC) was defined as TC of 5.2 mmol/L or more, hypertriglyceridemia as serum triglycerides level 1.7 mmol/L or more and. low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as serum HDL-C 0.9 mmol/L or less, LDL-C 3.35 mmol/L or more and TC/HDL ratio 5 or more. Of the 4490 subjects (94.4 % of total sample) included in the final analysis, 51% were females, 23% of study subjects were less than 25years and 11% were 55 or more years of age. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia ranged from about 20% to 40%. The highest prevalence was for triglycerides where about 44% of all subjects were affected. About a fifth of the subjects had high level of total cholesterol. Males had significantly higher prevalence of all types of dyslipidemia than female except LDL-C and TC. Higher dyslipidemia prevalence of total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly found in older subjects, illiterates and housekeepers. Lower prevalence rates for HDL-C was significantly observed in retired and youngest subjects. There were significant regional variations and significantly higher prevalence of dyslipidemia among hypertensives, diabetics, obese/overweight, smokers and physically inactive subjects. There were no significant differences according to income or fruits and vegetable consumption. Logistic regression analysis revealed that obesity/overweight, gender, age, diabetes were the most important significant predictors of dyslipidemia. The findings of this study suggest that the prevalence of dyslipidemia is high in Saudi Arabia. Multisectorial intervention strategies are needed targeting the predictors and significant risk factors identified.

EFFECT OF ZOBO DRINK (HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA WATER EXTRACT) ON BIOCHEMICAL AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN MALE CYCLISTS

The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in a group of male cyclists the effects of short-term consumption of aqueous extract of the dried calyx of Hibiscus sabdariffa (popularly referred to as zobo in Nigeria) on some hematological and biochemical indices. Mmale clyclists who consumed the placebo (test control group) had significantly reduced hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) count, while the white blood cell (WBC) was signifi- cantly increased relative to inactive control subjects after one and two months of study. These pa- rameters were restored to a level comparable to controls in the group of cylists who consumed zobo drink (test group) for one and two months. The levels of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were significantly elevated in cyclists in the test control group relative sedentary controls after both durations of the study. These parameters were restored toward control values after two months of ingestion of zobo drink. The lactate dehy- drogenase activity in the erythrocyte of the cyclist was significantly high with or without zobo in- gestion relative to control after both durations of the study. In conclusion, the results obtained indi- cate that consumption of zobo drink (which is rich in antioxidants and other components) may be beneficial to athletes as it restored the exercise induced alterations of some hematological and bio- chemical parameters in cyclists under regular training.

Does a History of Exercise in COPD Patients Affect Functional Status? A Study Using a Lifetime Physical Activity Questionnaire Investigates a Correlation between Exercise and Functional Status as Evidenced by Six-Minute Walk Distance

Recent studies have shown strong associations between chronic exercise and improved spirometric values. Building on these findings, we investigated whether habitual lifetime exercise influences six-minute walk test performance (6MWT) in subjects with at least 10 pack-years smoking history. The 6MWT was chosen for its correlation with performance on activities of daily living and predictive value for inactivity, morbidity and mortality in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) versus spirometric values, which are less adept at predicting functional status. Because COPD is a global cause of disability, therapeutic measures that delay symptom-induced immobility are more cost-effective versus late-stage interventional therapies. Among 49 subjects, we compared lifetime exercise assessed with a validated physical activity questionnaire with six-minute walk distances (6MWD). The American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) recommended exercise levels (30 minutes/day, 1000 kcal/week) were used as a benchmark. Among subjects with spirometry-determined lung obstruction (n = 21), those who have not met at least half of ACSM guidelines (500 kcal/week) were classified as “Inactive,” while others were “Active.” A significant difference in 6MWD was found between Inactive and Active subjects: (1123.86ft vs. 1468.25ft, STDev = 210.07 vs. 240.25, p = 0.0045). This difference was not found in subjects without lung obstruction. Pack-years was a significant covariate: subjects who smoked less walked farther distances. No relation was found between exercise and predicted FEV1%. In summary, our case-control study suggests that meeting even half of ACSM exercise guidelines could improve functional status in smokers if habitual exercise is adopted early in life.

Influence of physical activity and dietary habits on lipid profile, blood pressure and BMI in subjects with metabolic syndrome.

The present study was determined the influence of physical activity and dietary habits on lipid profile, blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI) in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). Identify the relationship between physical activity and proper nutrition and the probability of suffering from myocardial infarction (MI). Hundred chronically ill with MS who were active and followed a healthy diet were classified as compliant, while the remaining subjects were classified as non-compliant. The compliant subjects show lower BMI values (30.8±4.9 vs 32.5±4.6), as well as lower levels of triacylglycerol (130.4±48.2 vs 242.1±90.1), total cholesterol (193.5±39 vs 220.2±52.3) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (105.2±38.3 vs 139.2±45). They show higher values in terms of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (62.2±20.1 vs 36.6±15.3), with statistically significant differences. In terms of both systolic and diastolic pressure, no differences were revealed between the groups; however, those who maintain proper dietary habits show lower systolic blood pressure levels than the inactive subjects. The probability of suffering from MI greatly increases among the group of non-compliant subjects. Our results demonstrate how performing aerobic physical activity and following an individualized, Mediterranean diet significantly reduces MS indicators and the chances of suffering from MI.

INFLUENCIA DE LA ACTIVIDAD FÍSICA Y LOS HÁBITOS NUTRICIONALES SOBRE EL PERFIL LIPÍDICO, PRESIÓN ARTERIAL E IMC EN SUJETOS CON SÍNDROME METABÓLICO

Background: The present study was determined the influence of physical activity and dietary habits on lipid profile, blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI) in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). Aims: Identify the relationship between physical activity and proper nutrition and the probability of suffering from myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: Hundred chronically ill with MS who were active and followed a healthy diet were classified as compliant, while the remaining subjects were classified as non-compliant. Results: The compliant subjects show lower BMI values (30.8 ± 4.9 VS 32.5 ± 4.6), as well as lower levels of triacylglycerol (130.4 ± 48.2 VS 242.1 ± 90.1), total cholesterol (193.5 ± 39 VS 220.2 ± 52.3) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (105.2 ± 38.3 VS 139.2 ± 45). They show higher values in terms of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (62.2 ± 20.1 VS 36.6 ± 15.3), with statistically significant differences. In terms of both systolic and diastolic pressure, no differences were revealed between the groups; however, those who maintain proper dietary habits show lower systolic blood pressure levels than the inactive subjects. The probability of suffering from MI greatly increases among the group of non-compliant subjects. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate how performing aerobic physical activity and following an individualized, Mediterranean diet significantly reduces MS indicators and the chances of suffering from MI.

Whole-body vibration training elevates creatine kinase levels in sedentary subjects

Whole body vibration (WBV) is an increasingly popular modality of muscle training, especially in sedentary subjects. We hypothesised that the vigorous muscle contractions elicited by WBV can cause muscle damage expressed as an elevation in muscle enzymes. Twenty inactive subjects, ten male and ten female, aged 22.7 ± 2.6, BMI 22.4 ± 2.1 were included based on the absence of regular physical activity as defined by international guidelines, and no history of recent trauma, musculoskeletal pathology, implanted prosthetics, cardiovascular disease or drug intake. The intervention consisted of one bout of high intensity WBV corresponding to a typical training session, involving all the major muscle groups. Plasma levels of muscle enzymes prior to and at 24, 48 and 96 hours post exercise (creatine kinase - CK, MB fraction, troponin I, aminotransferases and lactate dehydrogenase) were measured. In addition, blood lactate was assayed immediately after exercise. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) was evaluated using a visual analogical scale. Five participants (25%) showed a significant increase in post exercise CK levels (> double of baseline). Maximal value was 3520 U/l. No change was observed in CK-MB or troponin I. Lactate increased to 10.0 ± 2.4 in men and 6.9 ± 2.4 in women. All participants had some degrees of DOMS, without correlation to enzymatic changes. WBV can provoke high CK elevation in healthy, medication-free inactive subjects. Such an elevation is transient and harmless, but could be wrongly attributed to drug induced myopathy, as in patients treated with statins. Practitioners should bear this in mind before discontinuing a potential life saving drug.

Predictive values at risk of falling in physically active and no active elderly with Berg Balance Scale

The consequences of falls are a major cause of autonomy and independence loss among the elderly. In this context, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) has been widely used to detect the risk of falls in elderly.To evaluate the predictive value of the BBS for fall risk in physically active and inactive elderly subjects.The sample included 188 older adults with a mean age of 66 (±9) years. Of these, 91 participated in a regular physical activity program and 96 did not. We analyzed the cut-off scores of 45, 47, 49, 51 and 53 in both groups regarding the sensitivity (S), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the test, including the positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (RVN) for diagnosing the risk of falls.The mean BBS score was 54.7 in physically active subjects and 50.8 in inactive subjects, which was statistically significant (ρ=0.001). The best cut-off was a score of 49 for physically inactive subjects, with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 92%. On the other hand, the BBS had low sensitivity (from 0 to 15%) and high specificity (between 83% and 100%) for physically active subjects at the cut-off points analyzed.The scale did not achieve sufficient sensitivity to individual differences among physically active older people with higher levels of functional balance ability.

The effects of bed-rest and countermeasure exercise on the endocrine system in male adults: evidence for immobilization-induced reduction in sex hormone-binding globulin levels.

There is limited data on the effects of inactivity (prolonged bed-rest) on parameters of endocrine and metabolic function; we therefore aimed to examine changes in these systems during and after prolonged (56- day) bed-rest in male adults. Twenty healthy male subjects underwent 8 weeks of strict bed-rest and 12 months of follow-up as part of the Berlin Bed Rest Study. Subjects were randomized to an inactive group or a group that performed resistive vibration exercise (RVE) during bed-rest. All outcome parameters were measured before, during and after bed-rest. These included body composition (by whole body dual X-ray absorptiometry), SHBG, testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), PRL, cortisol (C), TSH and free T3 (FT3). Serum SHBG levels decreased in inactive subjects but remained unchanged in the RVE group (p<0.001). Serum T concentrations increased during the first 3 weeks of bed-rest in both groups (p<0.0001), while E2 levels sharply rose with re-mobilization (p<0.0001). Serum PRL decreased in the control group but increased in the RVE group (p=0.021). C levels did not change over time (p≥0.10). TSH increased whilst FT3 decreased during bed-rest (p all ≤0.0013). Prolonged bed-rest has significant effects on parameters of endocrine and metabolic function, some of which are related to, or counteracted by physical activity.

Lipid profile of adult Nigerians attending medical outpatient clinic of Baptist medical center Ogbomoso

Background: Economic development and urbanization in many developing countries has led to a nutritional transition characterized by a shift to a higher caloric content of diet and/or to the reduction of physical activity, and whose consequences are changes in the body composition of the individuals and elevated blood lipid levels. This study's aim was to determine the lipid profile and to determine if there is any association between lipid profile and abdominal obesity among adults attending the outpatient clinic at the Baptist Medical Centre, Ogbomoso, a semi urban environment. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 400 adults aged 18 years and above was carried out. Participants were administered a standardized questionnaire and had measurements of waist circumference and serum lipids taken. Results: Four hundred subjects were randomly selected (221 females and 179 males) with a mean age of 48.65 ± 16.56 years. The mean total cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, Triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were 3.78 ± 1.07 mmol/L, 1.18 ± 1.02 mmol/L, 0.97 ± 0.58 mmol/L and 2.15 ± 0.86 mmol/L respectively. The prevalence of abdominal obesity among the study population was 33.75%. The subjects who had abdominal obesity had the highest mean values for total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. The mean values of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol obtained among the physically inactive subjects were higher than those of the subjects who were physically active. Conclusion: Higher mean values for total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDLcholesterol were found among the subjects who had abdominal obesity and those who were physically inactive in Ogbomoso. Keywords: Lipid profile, abdominal obesity, physical activity, Nigeria.

Efficacy and educational role of a daily employment of the accelerometer to improve the life style in overweight-hypertensive population

The daily evaluation of the life style is funda- mental for the “exercise as prescription” to re- duce the cardiovascular risks factors. The reg- istration by an accelerometer can identify active from inactive subjects. The aim of the present study is to verify, in a small cohort of subjects at high risk level (obese–hypertensive), the health outcomes. A group of 22 subjects were evalu- ated by the questionnaire and also by an accel- erometer positioned on belt for 5 days to estab- lish the daily Physical Activity Level (PAL).The anthropometrics parameters, Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference, Hip Circumference, Fat Mass, Free Fat Mass, Total Body–Intracellular and Extracellular Water and Phase Angle (PA) were measured at the beginning and after 3 months of regular exercise. The amount of the exercise prescribed for three months and at least 3 times in a weak, was determined by the Cardiopulmonary test at the 60% of the VO2. Sta-tistical analysis included T-Student test for paired data with a significance at P < 0.05value. Respect of the questionnaire the accelerometer report showed a predominantly inactive life style (PAL = 1.49 ± 0.13). After three months the BMI was significantly reduced in all (p < 0.05) and in addi-tion a trend toward a reduction was also observed for Fatty Mass and for the body composition parameters. The employment of the accelerometer is therefore associated to an improvement of the parameters strongly related with the cardiovascular risk. The results obtained are suggestive for an educational role of this tool in subjects at high risk level.

Relationship Between Physical Activity and Mental Health in a Nationwide Sample of Korean Adults

There is widespread recognition of the effect of physical activity on mental health. The authors examined the relationships between physical activity and mental health in a nationwide sample of Korean adults. A total of 6,510 subjects aged 18 to 64 years participated in the study. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to estimate the level of physical activity. Mental health was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, the Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the prevalence of CES-D and GHQ cases and psychiatric disorders among the following physical activity categories: inactive, minimally active, and health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) active. HEPA-active or minimally active subjects were less likely to be classified as "depressed" on the CES-D (≥21) and "psychologically distressed" on the GHQ (≥3) than were physically inactive subjects. HEPA was associated with a significantly decreased 1-year prevalence of major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and with a significantly increased 1-year prevalence of alcohol abuse, relative to physical inactivity. In addition, HEPA was associated with a significantly increased 1 year prevalence of alcohol abuse, relative to minimal physical activity. Physical inactivity was associated with a significantly increased 1-year prevalence of alcohol dependence, relative to physical inactivity. The results indicate a negative association between physical activity and depressive and anxiety disorders. A high level of physical activity seems to be associated with alcohol abuse, but a moderate level of physical activity may play a role in preventing alcohol dependence.

Serum concentration of interleukin 15, interleukin 2 receptor and TNF receptor in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis: correlation to disease activity

Cytokines are implied in polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) pathogenesis. Our aim was to evaluate the serum levels of interleukin-15 (IL-15), soluble receptors for IL-2 (sIL-2R) and TNF-alpha type 1 receptor (sTNF-R1) in PM/DM patients and their relation to disease activity and clinical symptoms. Thirty-eight patients who met definite or probable criteria of Bohan and Peter for DM/PM were included into the study. Results in patients with active (41 observations) and inactive disease (24 observations) were compared with control (15 subjects). The median level of IL-15 was 47.6 ± 170 pg/ml in active patients, 25.15 ± 240 pg/ml in inactive and 28.5 ± 28.89 pg/ml in controls. We demonstrated significant differences between active patients and controls in levels of IL-15 (0.016, 95%CI 1.39–57.1). The median level of sIL-2R was 314 ± 388, 235.3 ± 269 and 144.3 ± 152.9 pg/ml, and the median level of sTNF-R1 was 350 ± 388; 294.7 ± 204.7; 209.5 ± 105.9 pg/ml in active, inactive and control subjects, respectively. There were significantly higher serum levels of these cytokines in active patients than in control subjects (for sIL-2R P = 0.05, CI95% 0.4–331; and sTNF-R1 P = 0.031, CI95% 15.1–321.5). The interleukin levels did not differ between inactive patients and controls. Elevation of IL-15, sIL2-R and sTNF-R1 in active patients provides preliminary evidence for the activation of inflammatory response during PM/DM flares. Further studies may be needed to explain the mechanisms driving these diseases.

Expression, localization and systemic concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors in patients with ulcerative colitis

Vascular endothelial grow factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis by activating the specific receptors KDR and Flt-1. We investigate the expression of genes encoding VEGF and its receptors KDR and Flt- 1 by RT-QPCR reaction using Quanti Tect SYBR Green RT-PCR in patients with active and inactive ulcerative colitis (UC) and control subjects. The localization and level of VEGF protein and its receptors protein in intestinal tissue were estimated by immunohistochemistry. VEGF concentration in serum and plasma was determined by ELISA. We found a significant increase of VEGF gene expression and increase expression of genes encoding receptor Flt-1 in patients with active UC when compared with controls, but KDR was present in trace amount. VEGF and Flt-1 proteins were colocalized in enterocytes as well as in endothelium and muscularis layer of the intestine. The specific staining reaction for VEGF protein as well as for Flt-1 protein was significantly higher in active UC compared with controls. Serum level of VEGF was significantly higher in active UC patients as compared with inactive UC patients as well as with controls. The plasma VEGF level was found to be significantly higher in active UC patients as compared with controls. The increase of gene expression as well as protein level for VEGF and its receptor in UC – inflamed colon, and VEGF action via Flt-1 receptor may have a functional role in UC. Increased VEGF levels in both serum and plasma in active UC patients may reflect VEGF overexpression in intestinal inflammatory tissue.