Inflammatory Risk Factors Research Articles

Inflammatory Risk Factors for Chronic Subdural Hematoma in a Nationwide Cohort.

The discovery of biomarkers in chronic subdural haematomas (CSDH) suggests that inflammation is part of CSDH pathophysiology. It is unknown whether inflammation reflects an independent CSDH driver or haematoma degeneration. This knowledge holds a potential target for anti-inflammatory treatment in patients at risk of CSDH. This study investigated the association of pro- and anti-inflammatory factors with CSDH development. This cohort study included all individuals in Denmark over 50 years between 2007-2018. The outcome was first-time CSDH surgery. Hazard ratios (HR) according to potential risk factors were estimated using Cox regression, with age as underlying time scale. Among the 2,391,853 individuals, head trauma was registered in 427,612 individuals (17%), and among these, only 812 were operated for CSDH (0.18%). Among individuals without registered head trauma, the pro-inflammatory conditions of alcohol addiction, diabetes, anti-hypertensive treatment, and chronic hepatic disease were significantly associated with CSDH among individuals (50-74 years). The use of glucocorticoids displayed a decreased risk in cohort members aged 75 and older. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and statins appeared to be risk factors for CSDH in individuals between the ages of 50-64 and 65-74. Although head trauma was a risk factor for CSDH, the absolute risk was low (0.18%), which does not support preventive measures after emergency room contacts for head trauma. Interestingly, pro-and anti-inflammatory factors were significantly associated with CSDH in patients without registered head trauma, and the pronounced age-dependency of the associations suggests that the pathophysiological mechanisms vary with age.

Esophageal cancer: new developments in prevention and therapy

Esophageal carcinomas comprise 2 entities, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, which differ in pathogenesis and treatment. Elimination of inflammatory influences and risk factors, such as obesity and gastroesophageal reflux that contribute to a rising incidence of adenocarcinoma, is crucial for tumor prevention. In Germany, general endoscopic screening for upper GI tumors is not recommended, whereas endoscopic surveillance is applied in the presence of Barrett's metaplasia. In the future, better prediction models will be needed to identify patients at risk who will benefit from endoscopic surveillance. Precancerous lesions and early tumor stages can be removed endoscopically using modern resection methods. In recent years, therapeutic strategies for advanced esophageal tumors have undergone significant changes. In the multimodal treatment of locally advanced stages, radiochemotherapy remains to play a key role for squamous cell carcinoma, whereas new evidence highlights the importance of perioperative chemotherapy for the optimal management of adenocarcinoma. Systemic treatment options for both tumor entities have been significantly expanded due to the successful use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in adjuvant and palliative treatment regimen. Determination of PD-L1 and MSI status has therefore become decisive for the choice of therapy. In metastatic stages of adenocarcinoma, chemotherapy can now be supplemented by multiple antibodies directed against Her2, PD1, or claudin 18.2, and the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan has become a Her2-targeted option in second line treatment.

Higher CALLY index levels indicate lower sarcopenia risk among middle-aged and elderly community residents as well as hospitalized patients.

The C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index, which integrates albumin, lymphocytes, and C-reactive protein levels, has emerged as a novel method to assess nutritional and inflammatory statuses in patients. This study examined the correlation between the CALLY index and sarcopenia risk using two cohorts: 1804 community dwellers from the NHANES database in the United States and 139 patients from the Department of Gerontology at Kunshan Hospital, China. In the US community cohort, RCS curve analysis was used to examine the non-linear relationship between inflammatory/nutritional markers and sarcopenia, subgroup analysis was also conducted. Logistic regression was employed to evaluate the association between the CALLY index and the risk of sarcopenia in both cohorts. Results demonstrated a significant non-linear relationship between the CALLY index and the risk of sarcopenia (P < 0.001). Elevated levels of the CALLY index are independently linked to a decreased risk of sarcopenia in both community residents (OR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.20-0.57, Q3 CALLY index and OR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.11-0.56, Q4 CALLY index) and hospitalized patients (OR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.12-0.96). This finding identified low CALLY index as a conveniently measurable parameter, serving as a nutritional and inflammatory risk factor for sarcopenia.

Exploring Inflammatory Markers and Risk Factors Associated with Pericarditis Development after Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: This study aimed to explore the association between inflammatory markers and the occurrence of post-atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation pericarditis (PAP), while also examining the PAP's incidence and contributing factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2021 and November 2023, including patients who underwent successful AF ablation. Inflammatory markers of interest included the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Results: Among the 231 patients examined, 22 (9.52%) were classified as suspected PAP, and 14 (6.06%) as definitive PAP. The median age was 58 years, with no age difference between groups. Males comprised 51.52% of the sample, with male sex frequency significantly higher in the suspected PAP group relative to the other groups (p = 0.007). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that AF duration (p = 0.026) and cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation (p = 0.001) were associated with definitive PAP, whereas analysis for any pericarditis (suspected or definitive PAP) revealed independent relationships with CTI ablation (p = 0.003) and sleep apnea (p = 0.008). SII, NLR, and PLR were not associated with PAP. Conclusions: Prolonged AF duration, CTI ablation, and sleep apnea are risk factors for PAP. The inflammatory markers (SII, NLR, and PLR) showed no association, warranting further investigation into other markers.

Chios Mastic Gum: A Promising Phytotherapeutic for Cardiometabolic Health.

Chios mastic gum (CMG) is a resin obtained from the Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia tree that grows in the Mediterranean. For millennia, it has been renowned for its medicinal properties, but recently, CMG has gained attention due to its pronounced anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties and its use in oral health, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and risk factors related to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This narrative review seeks to briefly overview its bioactive constituents and examine and describe its potential as a cardiometabolic disease (CMD) phytotherapeutic. The results of clinical trials and in vivo, in vitro, and in silico studies provide accumulating evidence of the mechanisms underlying CMG's impacts on lipid and glucose metabolism, cardiovascular and hepatic health, inflammation, oxidative stress, body composition, and microbiota. Despite the relatively limited studies with mixed results, they have provided the foundation to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities moving forward that may help to establish CMG and its bioactives as viable therapeutics for CMD.

Transcriptomic Analysis of Arachidonic Acid Pathway Genes Provides Mechanistic Insight into Multi-Organ Inflammatory and Vascular Diseases.

Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites have been associated with several diseases across various organ systems, including the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal systems. Lipid mediators generated from AA oxidation have been studied to control macrophages, T-cells, cytokines, and fibroblasts, and regulate inflammatory mediators that induce vascular remodeling and dysfunction. AA is metabolized by cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX), and cytochrome P450 (CYP) to generate anti-inflammatory, pro-inflammatory, and pro-resolutory oxidized lipids. As comorbid states such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity become more prevalent in cardiovascular disease, studying the expression of AA pathway genes and their association with these diseases can provide unique pathophysiological insights. In addition, the AA pathway of oxidized lipids exhibits diverse functions across different organ systems, where a lipid can be both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory depending on the location of metabolic activity. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the gene expression of these lipid enzymes and receptors throughout multi-organ diseases via a transcriptomic meta-analysis using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Database. In our study, we found that distinct AA pathways were expressed in various comorbid conditions, especially those with prominent inflammatory risk factors. Comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity appeared to contribute to elevated expression of pro-inflammatory lipid mediator genes. Our results demonstrate that expression of inflammatory AA pathway genes may potentiate and attenuate disease; therefore, we suggest further exploration of these pathways as therapeutic targets to improve outcomes.

Insights into inflammation and implications for the pathogenesis and long-term outcomes of endometrial cancer: genome-wide surveys and a clinical cohort study

BackgroundDespite evidence showing a connection between inflammation and endometrial cancer (EC) risk, the surveys on genetic correlation and cohort studies investigating the impact on long-term outcomes have yet to be refined. We aimed to address the impact of inflammation factors on the pathogenesis, progression and consequences of EC.MethodsFor the genetic correlation analyses, a two-sample of Mendelian randomization (MR) study was applied to investigate inflammation-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms involved with endometrial cancer from GWAS databases. The observational retrospective study included consecutive patients diagnosed with EC (stage I to IV) with surgeries between January 2010 and October 2020 at the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College.ResultsThe 2-sample MR surveys indicated no causal relationship between inflammatory cytokines and endometrial cancer. 780 cases (median age, 55.0 years ) diagnosed with EC were included in the cohort and followed up for an average of 6.8 years. Increased inflammatory parameters at baseline were associated with a higher FIGO stage and invasive EC risk (odds ratios [OR] 1.01 to 4.20). Multivariate-cox regression suggested that multiple inflammatory indicators were significantly associated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) (P < 0.05). Nomogram models based on inflammatory risk and clinical factors were developed for OS and PFS with C-index of 0.811 and 0.789, respectively. LASSO regression for the validation supported the predictive efficacy of inflammatory and clinical factors on the long-term outcomes of EC.ConclusionsDespite the fact that the genetic surveys did not show a detrimental impact of inflammatory cytokines on the endometrial cancer risk, our cohort study suggested that inflammatory level was associated with the progression and long-term outcomes of EC. This evidence may contribute to new strategies targeted at decreasing inflammation levels during EC therapy.

Interpretation of inflammatory markers in lung cyst hydatid disease.

Studies on alterations in inflammatory markers and risk factors for perforation in hydatid cysts of the lung are rare. In our study, we planned to investigate the effect of inflammatory markers on prognosis of hydatid cyst disease. 37 patients underwent surgery for pulmonary hydatid cyst between February 2022 and October 2023 and analyzed retrospectively. Inflammatory markers were calculated from preoperative and postoperative 3rd-month peripheral blood results. Cyst size was 58.5 ± 28.0mm, 5 patients had bilateral cysts and 11 patients had multifocal cysts. Preoperative white blood cell, white blood cell difference, preoperative and postoperative eosinophils, preoperative neutrophils, neutrophils difference, preoperative systemic immune inflammatory index, systemic immune inflammatory index difference and preoperative eosinophil lymphocyte ratio were higher in patients with perforated cysts, the cut-off value for preoperative white blood cell for perforation was 10,535, preoperative cut-off value for eosinophils was 230, preoperative cut-off value for neutrophils was 8815, the cut-off value for preoperative systemic immune inflammatory index was 1129.83 and the cut-off value for preoperative eosinophil-lymphocyte ratio was 0.09. In patients with preoperative eosinophil, neutrophil, white blood cell, eosinophil-lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune inflammatory index values above the cut-off value, the probability of perforation increased 7.5, 13.6, 6.3, 9.6, and 9.3 times, respectively.

RETRACTED: Saadh et al. A Mendelian Randomization Analysis Investigates Causal Associations between Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Variable Risk Factors. Nutrients 2023, 15, 1202.

The Nutrients Editorial Office retracts the article, "A Mendelian Randomization Analysis Investigates Causal Associations between Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Variable Risk Factors" [...].

P128 Predicting Persistent Inflammatory Arthritis in patients with Palindromic Rheumatism: Development of Scores for Risk Stratification

Abstract Background/Aims Palindromic rheumatism (PR) is a recognised precursor of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Up to 50% of PR patients will progress to persistent inflammatory arthritis (PIA) but risk factors for progression remain unclear. Analysis of this large UK prospective PR cohort has been used to develop the first risk stratification tool to predict progression to PIA. Methods The Leeds PR cohort was recruited from regional primary and secondary care referrals. PR was defined as ‘a confirmed history/physical examination consistent with episodes of joint pain and swelling that returned to normal in the absence of an alternative diagnosis’. Clinical, serological and immunogenetic parameters were assessed at baseline and three monthly for the first year, then six monthly. Progression to PIA was defined as clinical synovitis persisting for &amp;gt;3 weeks as confirmed by a rheumatologist. Prediction models were developed by performing a Cox regression analysis, then applying LASSO to select the most important risk variables (using R). Results 161 PR patients were followed between July 2008 and January 2023. 33% (53/161) developed PIA and 91% of progressors met criteria for RA. 90% of patients were DMARD naive at baseline. Female gender, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) positivity, rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity, age&amp;gt;40, smoking (ever) and a typical interval between attacks of &amp;lt; 1 month were all associated with progression (Table 1). Cox regression analysis showed female gender (HR 2.2CI1.1-4.7, p = 0.03) and anti-CCP&amp;gt;3x upper limit of normal (HR 5.9, CI 2.0-17.4, p = 0.002) were strongly associated with progression. 'Ever’ and 'Two-year’ prediction models were created to calculate risk of developing PIA (Table 1). Patients could be stratified into high, moderate and low risk groups, with progression rates of 53% (34/64), 25% (19/77) and 0% respectively in the ‘Ever’ model and 37% (27/ 73), 16% (11/69) and 0% respectively in the ‘Two-year’ model. Conclusion In patients with PR, female gender, positive anti-CCP, positive RF, age &amp;gt;40, smoking and a typical interval between attacks of &amp;lt; 1 month were predictive of progression to PIA. Combining these factors allows feasible risk stratification in clinical practice. High and moderate risk groups should be monitored in secondary care and considered for interventional trials. Disclosure R. Chowdhury: None. F. Shuweihdi: None. N. Sidhu: None. L. Duquenne: None. L. Garcia-Montoya: None. J. Nam: None. A. Di Matteo: None. K. Harnden: None. D. Sahin-Eroglu: None. P. Emery: Consultancies; BMS, AbbVie, MSD, Pfizer, Novartis, and Roche. Honoraria; Abbvie, Gilead, Lilly, Novartis. Grants/research support; AbbVie, BMS, Lilly, Samsung. K. Mankia: Honoraria; Abbvie, Lilly, UCB, Galapagos. Grants/research support; Gilead, Lilly.

Association between dietary inflammation index and inflammatory bowel disease in adults: Results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2010.

Previous study has demonstrated that the Dietary Inflammation Index (DII) played a role in the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), however, the prevalence and risk factors for IBD are distinct across locations and groups, and therefore, the findings are debatable and warrant further investigation. A total of 4363 participants were calculated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009 to 2010, of whom 1.21% self-reported a history of IBD. DII values were performed as a good predictor of dietary inflammation based on data from two 24-h dietary reviews in the NHANES database. Comparing the multifarious effects along with variations of the whole population by grouping populations according to DII quartiles, dietary inflammation levels increased progressively from DII quartile 1(Q1) to quartile 4(Q4). The association between DII and IBD was tested with multi-variable logistic regression models, subgroup analyses and weighted generalized additive models. Participants in the Q4 group showed the highest levels of C-reactive protein and reduced haemoglobin and albumin levels. Logistic regression confirmed the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of IBD for DII were 0.99 (0.86, 1.15), 0.97 (0.84, 1.13) and 0.80 (0.66, 0.98) in models 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The negative correlation between DII and IBD among United States adults from the NHANES database became increasingly apparent as covariates were adjusted. Subgroup analyses and smoothed curve fitting confirmed the inverse results. The study revealed that DII was correlated with the overall physical well-being of participants. However, there was no significant association between DII and IBD.

Physiological Impact Of Aerobic Exercise During Fasting On Inflammatory Risk Factors In Obese Women

Physical exercise during fasting is an interesting therapeutic agent in preventing increased inflammation in obesity. Therefore, this study aims to prove the physiological impact of a combination of physical exercise and fasting on inflammatory risk factors in obese women. This research involved 18 obese women as research subjects who met the predetermined criteria and were then randomly selected. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: a control group (K1; n = 9) and a group that combined physical exercise and fasting (K2; n = 9). Physical exercise is done aerobically using a treadmill for 40 minutes at moderate intensity while fasting is done intermittently: fasting for 16 hours, followed by not fasting for 8 hours. The combination of physical exercise and fasting was carried out for 2 weeks. Blood samples were taken to measure the risk of inflammation, using the CRP biomarker, from the cubital vein in as much as 4 mL, which was carried out before and after treatment. Data analysis used a paired sample t-test with a significance level of 5%. Based on the research results, there are significant differences. The level of CRP reduction between the treatment and control groups (p ≤ 0.05). Based on the results of this research, physiological evidence shows that aerobic exercise during intermittent fasting reduces inflammatory risk factors in obese women. Therefore, aerobic exercise during fasting can be recommended as an approach to reducing inflammatory risk factors in obesity. Keywords: Obese women, aerobic exercise, intermittent fasting, risk of inflammation

Assessment of inflammatory biomarkers and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in overweight and obesity

Aim. To study biomarkers of inflammation in overweight and obese individuals.Material and methods. A total of 180 people with overweight or obesity were included. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were determined in all patients. The concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were studied.Results. The following significant correlations have been established: IL-6 — with the levels of central aortic pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), levels of glucose, uric acid, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); TNF-α — with concentrations of uric acid, triglycerides, cystatin C, creatinine and glomerular filtration rate; CRP — with body mass index, diastolic BP, heart rate, levels of uric acid, LDL-C, cystatin C. A significant correlation of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α with the proteinuria level was established.Conclusion. In individuals with overweight or obesity, a direct correlation was found between serum concentrations of IL-6 and levels of BP, heart rate, lipids, carbohydrates, uric acid and proteinuria. In overweight or obesity, the serum TNF-α level has a direct correlation with hyperuricemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, hypertriglyceridemia, proteinuria and reduced renal filtration function, and the level of CRP is associated with an increase in diastolic BP, heart rate, uric acid, fibrinogen, LDL-C and cystatin C.

Early post-COVID-19 common psychiatric complications: role of basic inflammatory, coagulation, and clinical risk factors

BackgroundThe infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to the emergence of a novel diagnostic entity known as “post-COVID syndrome” (PCS). It is characterized by a constellation of medical and psychiatric symptoms that occur and persist for variable duration following the COVID infection. Among these post-COVID psychiatric symptoms are depressive and anxiety disorders, which were found to be the highest prevalence in the post-COVID period. The frequency and severity of post-COVID symptoms are correlated with the severity of the infection. Many inflammatory and coagulation markers have been involved in the severity of post-COVID symptoms and hence the development of post-COVID psychiatric symptoms/disorders. Limited research has been conducted to examine the psychological challenges experienced by individuals in the early stages of post-COVID recovery in Egypt, specifically within a timeframe of 1 to 3 months. The current study aims to estimate the occurrence rate of early post-COVID psychiatric symptoms/disorders such as depression and anxiety and to detect its association with clinical and severity parameters of COVID-19 infection.MethodsThe current study was a comparative cross-sectional approach, from the chest department’s “post-COVID-19 follow-up” outpatient clinic at Kobri ElKoba Medical Complex in Cairo, Egypt. A convenient sample of adult Egyptian patients were recruited between October 2021 and June 2022. They were subjected to the following: a pre-designed questionnaire to collect the patients’ demographic characteristics, Arabic version of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) to identify potential cases, Arabic version of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID I) Clinician Version (SCID-CV) and retrieval of essential related clinical and laboratory data like C-reactive protein (CRP), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII): (neutrophils × platelets)/lymphocytes), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and D-dimer and COVID-19 treatment lines together with a liker scale questionnaire to assess the severity of COVID-19 infection.ResultsDepression was found to be the most prevalent psychiatric disorder (45.6%) among the study participants, followed by generalized anxiety disorder (42.1%). Subthreshold GAD and depression were found in 17.5% and 14% of patients respectively. COVID was a major predictor of GAD (p 0.000), while being on antibiotics (p = 0.033), having cardiac illnesses (p = 0.007), and an increased D dimer (p = 0.022) were the most predictive factors for depression.ConclusionCOVID-19 infection has demonstrated an increased risk of mental health problems in multiple domains. It was evident that depression was the most presenting psychiatric illness among the studied sample (45.6%), while generalized anxiety disorder was the second most prevalent disorder (42.1%). And suicide was found in 9.6% of the study sample. It is worth noting that our results displayed a high prevalence of subthreshold psychiatric symptoms. These findings emphasize the utmost need for mental health assessments for all survivors.

Association between menstrual cycle phase and metabolites in healthy, regularly menstruating women in UK Biobank, and effect modification by inflammatory markers and risk factors for metabolic disease

BackgroundPreliminary evidence demonstrates some parameters of metabolic control, including glycaemic control, lipid control and insulin resistance, vary across the menstrual cycle. However, the literature is inconsistent, and the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the association between the menstrual cycle phase and metabolites and to explore potential mediators and moderators of these associations.MethodsWe undertook a cross-sectional cohort study using UK Biobank. The outcome variables were glucose; triglyceride; triglyceride to glucose index (TyG index); total, HDL and LDL cholesterol; and total to HDL cholesterol ratio. Generalised additive models (GAM) were used to investigate non-linear associations between the menstrual cycle phase and outcome variables. Anthropometric, lifestyle, fitness and inflammatory markers were explored as potential mediators and moderators of the associations between the menstrual cycle phase and outcome variables.ResultsData from 8694 regularly menstruating women in UK Biobank were analysed. Non-linear associations were observed between the menstrual cycle phase and total (p < 0.001), HDL (p < 0.001), LDL (p = 0.012) and total to HDL cholesterol (p < 0.001), but not glucose (p = 0.072), triglyceride (p = 0.066) or TyG index (p = 0.100). Neither anthropometric, physical fitness, physical activity, nor inflammatory markers mediated the associations between the menstrual cycle phase and metabolites. Moderator analysis demonstrated a greater magnitude of variation for all metabolites across the menstrual cycle in the highest and lowest two quartiles of fat mass and physical activity, respectively.ConclusionsCholesterol profiles exhibit a non-linear relationship with the menstrual cycle phase. Physical activity, anthropometric and fitness variables moderate the associations between the menstrual cycle phase and metabolite concentration. These findings indicate the potential importance of physical activity and fat mass as modifiable risk factors of the intra-individual variation in metabolic control across the menstrual cycle in pre-menopausal women.

Association of selected inflammatory markers and risk factors with pain in patients undergoing cervical or lumbar disc herniation

Introduction&#x0D; Studies have suggested that radicular pain following disc herniation may be associated with local or systemic inflammatory responses produced in the vicinity of the herniated disc rather than compression of the nerve. Present study assessed the association of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and related risk factors in patients undergoing discectomy following cervical disc herniation (CDH) or lumbar disc herniation (LDH).&#x0D; Methods&#x0D; Study recruited 77 patients undergoing discectomy for LDH and CDH. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic, behavioral and occupational data. IL-6 and hs-CRP levels were measured in each individual. IL-6 was analyzed by ELISA method and hs-CRP was determined using auto analyzer. Results were analyzed by using SPSS version 25.0.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results&#x0D; Significant correlation was not found with serum IL-6 and hs-CRP levels (r=0.02, p˃0.05) for acute and chronic CDH and LDH. Patients with chronic neck or back pain showed significantly (p=0.043) higher IL-6 level compared to patients with acute neck or back pain. Serum hs-CRP level was significantly higher (p=0.048) in patients with acute neck or back pain compared to patients with chronic neck or back pain. Significant association was not observed between; level of physically demanding nature of occupation (p=0.542), duration of occupation (p=0.446), type of exercise (p=0.371), type of sports (p=0.339) and CDH or LDH.&#x0D; Conclusion&#x0D; Though significant correlation was not observed between inflammatory markers IL-6, hs-CRP and CDH or LDH. The mean IL-6 was higher in chronic back pain and neck pain patients with LDH and CDH whereas mean hs-CRP mean was higher in acute back pain and neck pain patients. Significant association was not reported between selected known risk factors (behavioral, occupational) and CDH or LDH.

Association between the dietary inflammatory index and markers of endothelial and systemic inflammation in hemodialysis patients.

The current survey aimed to investigate the link between energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII) and risk factors for CVD including markers of endothelial and systemic inflammation in Iranian hemodialysis patients. Patients on hemodialysis for at least 6 months prior to enrollment were considered eligible in this cross-sectional study. The usual dietary intakes of the hemodialysis individuals were examined through 4 non-consecutive days including 2 dialysis days and 2 non-dialysis days using a 24-h recall approach to calculate E-DII. Multiple linear regression analysis was utilized to investigate the link between E-DII and selected biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress including high-sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM), serum vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM), malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide (NO), sE-selectin, and endothelin-1, and beta (β) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported. Value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Overall, 291 hemodialysis patients make up our study population. In the crude model, the E-DII score was positively associated with a higher sVCAM-1 (β = 177.39; 95% CI: 60.51, 294.26; ptrend = 0.003). Further adjustment for potential confounders attenuated the findings in a way that an increase of 128.72 in the sVCAM-1 was observed when the E-DII score increased from -2.68 to -1.14 (95% CI: 13.50, 243.94). After controlling for potential confounders, E-DII was associated with sE-selectin in hemodialysis patients in the highest category of E-DII as compared to the lowest category (β = 4.11; 95% CI: 0.22, 8.00; ptrend = 0.039). The present findings suggest that adherence to a pro-inflammatory diet among hemodialysis patients is associated with a higher inflammatory status as evidenced by sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin; however, bidirectionality may exist and the role of residual confounders should be taken into account. Therefore, more longitudinal investigations are needed to elucidate the role of diet on the inflammatory status of hemodialysis patients.

The Correlation between Blood Glucose and Lipid Profile with Skin tag

Background: Skin tags or acrochordons are benign fibroepithelioma skin tumors with soft consistency, usually pedunculated, primarily originating from the dermis. High levels of blood sugar and a high lipid profile are risk factors for inflammation and hormonal imbalance, which can contribute to the development of skin tags. Purpose: The objective of this study is to identify the association between blood sugar and lipid profile with skin tags. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study conducted from April to August 2019 at the Dermatovenereology and Endocrine Policlinic, Dr. Zainoel Abidin General Hospital, Banda Aceh. The sampling method of this study was consecutive sampling with 60 samples that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A blood glucose, lipid profile, and skin tag examination was conducted on all subjects. Result: The majority of the subjects are women (61.5%), have an average age of 41-50 years old (43.3%), are obese (41.7%), and have one to five lessions of 1-5 (53.3%). There was a significant correlation between blood glucose, 2 hours post-prandial, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels with skin tags with Spearman’s correlation values of 0.645, 0.645, 0.794, 0.704, 0.606, and 0.606 consecutively. Conclusion: A high level of blood sugar and lipid profile, whether it is total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, or LDL level, can contribute to the development of skin tags.

Differential effects of plant and animal fats on obesity-induced dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/-.Leiden mice.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is closely associated with obesity through risk factors such as dyslipidemia and chronic low-grade inflammation, which may be affected by diet. Dietary fats have been extensively studied in relation to CVD risk, however these studies have not always yielded consistent results, most likely due to lack in control of experimental conditions and confounding factors. Here we studied the effects of different plant and animal fats on dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Ldlr-/-.Leiden mice were fed isocaloric energy-dense diets with translational macronutrient composition for 28 weeks. The diets were identical apart from the type of fat they contained: either (1) a mixture of olive and rapeseed oil, (2) sunflower oil, (3) pork fat, (4) beef fat, or (5) milk fat. The fatty acid composition of the diets was determined and effects on circulating lipid and inflammatory risk factors and atherosclerosis were examined, complemented by adipose tissue histology and liver transcriptomics. While visceral fat mass, adipocyte size, and adipose tissue inflammation were not differentially affected by the diets, atherosclerotic lesion load and severity was more pronounced with increasing dietary saturated fatty acid content and decreasing monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid content, and hence most pronounced with beef and milk fat. These differential effects were accompanied by increases in pro-atherogenic plasma lipids/lipoproteins (e.g., triglycerides, apolipoprotein B), activation of pro-atherogenic cytokine/chemokine signaling pathways in liver, and with circulating pro-atherogenic mediators of inflammation altogether providing a rationale for the differential effects of plant and animal fats.

Interactions between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota are associated with biomarkers of stress-related psychiatric symptoms

BackgroundHumans vary in their sensitivity to stressful and supportive environments and experiences. Such individual differences in environmental sensitivity are associated with mechanisms of stress-related psychiatric symptoms. In recent years, researchers have focused on bidirectional interactions in the brain-gut-microbiota axis as a neurophysiological pathway contributing to the mechanisms of stress-related psychiatric symptoms, and evidence is rapidly accumulating. MethodsData on environmental sensitivity, gut microbiota, gut permeability (lipopolysaccharide-binding protein; LBP) and inflammation (C-reactive protein; CRP) were collected from 90 adults (50 % female; Mage = 42.1; SDage = 10.0). Environmental sensitivity was measured using a self-report questionnaire. Study participants' feces were analyzed, and observed operational taxonomic units for richness, Shannon's index for evenness, and phylogenetic diversity for biodiversity were evaluated as indicators of gut microbiota. In addition, participants' serum was analyzed for CRP and LBP. We investigated whether the interaction between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota is associated with biomarkers of inflammation and gut permeability. ResultsThe interaction between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota (excluding the Shannon's index) explained the levels of these biomarkers. Individuals with high environmental sensitivity displayed higher levels of CRP and LBP, when the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota was low. However, even highly susceptible individuals had lower levels of CRP and LBP, when the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota was high. ConclusionsOur study indicates that high environmental sensitivity can be a risk factor for inflammation and gut permeability, when the gut microbiota diversity is low, suggesting a brain-gut-microbiota axis interaction.