Intermittent fasting reduces inflammation and joint damage in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis: insights from transcriptomic and metagenomic analyses.

Background: Intermittent fasting (IF) has shown benefits in various pathological conditions. Although its anti-inflammatory potential has been recognized, its effects on the mechanism underlying rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to investigate the effects of IF in a murine model of RA.

[Phenotyping and genotyping in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in a reference center in Colombia].

Introduction: Attempts have been made to identify the genetic factors related to susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and the current conclusions are in favor of a complex pathology model, without a clear hereditary pattern.

Objective: To perform phenotypic and genotypic characterization of patients with IBD in Colombian population and to describe its possible association with predisposition.

Materials And Methods: case series, 16 patients with IBD according to clinical and pathological criteria, onset of gastrointestinal symptoms after 18 years of age.

[HLA alleles heterogeneity in a sample of colombian patients with a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis].

Objective: The objective is to describe the HLA allelic frequency in PsA and correlate it with demographic and clinical variables.

Methods: Retrospective study of adult patients with a diagnosis of PsA (n=23) and healthy controls (n=46), all with a request for HLA-A, B, C, DR. Typing was performed using HLA-PCR/SSO LifeCodes and analyzed on the LUMINEX IS100/200 xMAP system.

[Faecal microbiota study reveals specific dysbiosis in spondyloarthritis according to subtype, disease activity and treatment].

Objective: To compare the diversity and composition of the gastrointestinal microbiome of patients with SpA.

Methods: MiSeq sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was performed on DNA isolated from stool. Patients with concurrent SpA and IBD were excluded.

[HLA genotypes associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with spondyloarthritis without inflammatory bowel disease].

Objective: This study aimed to establish the association between HLA-A, B, DR genotypes and gastrointestinal variables in patients with SpA without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Retrospective study of 91 patients with SpA and 401 healthy controls, with typing by Illumina Sequencing/PacBio and LIFECODES HLA-PCR/SSO multiplex sequencing technology. The presence of gastrointestinal symptoms was evaluated by administering a survey, and those who presented 2 or more symptoms were taken for clinical evaluation by rheumatology and gastroenterology, colonoscopy and histopathological study.

Low Frequency of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Despite Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Corticosteroids in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease. It has been identified that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids can be essential risk factors for developing complications such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB).

Objective: This study aimed to describe the safety profile of drugs used to treat RA focused in UGIB.

Gene variants for the WNT pathway are associated with severity in periodontal disease.

Objective: Studies of Wnt variants-related to bone resorption in periodontitis are limited. The aim of this study was to establish the genotype and allele frequency of gene variants associated with the Wnt pathway in systemically healthy individuals with and without periodontitis (PD).

Materials And Methods: One hundred fifty-seven systemically healthy individuals were evaluated, 90 with PD and 67 without PD.

Seroprevalence, infection, and personal protective equipment use among Colombian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the forefront of the COVID-19 response and frequently come into close contact with patients and their virus-contaminated body fluids. Recent studies have identified differential risks of infection and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among HCWs. However, available data might be interpreted with caution because of differences in the national health systems, local implementation issues, and adherence limitations to guidelines.

Tofacitinib in the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis in Colombian pediatric patients: Real world experience.

Introduction: There are no studies on efficacy of tofacitinib for moderate-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) in pediatric patients in Latin America. The aim of this study was to describe the efficacy and safety, in real world, treated with tofacitinib in our setting.

Materials And Methods: Case series of pediatric patients with UC who received treatment with tofacitinib in induction phase for 8 weeks and then maintenance therapy between November 2021 and February 2023.

Colombian experience with the use of tofacitinib in severe acute ulcerative colitis: A case series study.

Introduction: Tofacitinib is indicated in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC); however, given its rapid onset of action, it may constitute an alternative in patients with hospitalized severe acute UC. There are few data on this indication in the literature. The aim of this study was to describe the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in the management of patients with hospitalized UC, as well as its clinical characteristics and other treatment patterns.

Differential gut microbiome in spondyloarthritis patients associated to Blastocystis colonization.

The role of Blastocystis in intestinal health is an open controversy, and little is known about the potential effect of this microorganism in autoinflammatory diseases such as spondyloarthritis (SpA). Here, we analyzed the gut microbiome of 36 SpA patients and 13 control individuals and demonstrated that the richness, diversity, and taxonomic composition between these two groups are different. We also showed that colonization by Blastocystis in control individuals increases the richness and diversity of the intestinal microbiome, whereas in SpA patients, it does not seem to have any impact.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus without systemic activity.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is an uncommon subtype of peripheral neuropathy, especially in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report a case of SLE presenting with CIDP successfully treated. The patient presented with bilateral, progressive, ascending, sensory, and motor neuropathy.

Porphyromonas gulae and PPAD antibodies are not related to citrullination in rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Porphyromonas gulae have the enzyme PPAD, as P. gingivalis, which is responsible for citrullination related to the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis; this implies the presence of two species of PPAD-producing bacteria in the mouth as well as the presence of citrullinated proteins. There are no previous reports or studies investigating an association between P.

Colonoscopy aspiration lavages for mucosal metataxonomic profiling of spondylarthritis-associated gastrointestinal tract alterations.

The study of the GI-tract microbiota of spondylarthritis (SpA) patients has focused on the analysis of feces samples, that picture mostly the luminal microbiota. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of mucosal and luminal microbiome to the gut dysbiosis in SpA, using colonoscopy aspiration lavages (CAL), a recent alternative for regional studies of the GI-tract. We analyzed 59 CAL (from sigmoid colon and distal ileum), and 41 feces samples, from 32 SpA patients and 7 healthy individuals, using 16S rRNA gene-targeted metataxonomic profiling.

The Interaction Effect of Anti-RgpA and Anti-PPAD Antibody Titers: An Indicator for Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis.

secretes virulence factors like Arg-gingipains and peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD), that are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. However, there is no information regarding the antibody titers for these bacterial enzymes as systemic indicators or biomarkers in RA. In this cross-sectional study, 255 individuals were evaluated: 143 were diagnosed with RA, and 112 were without RA.

High Levels of Leptin and Adipsin Are Associated with Clinical Activity in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Overweight and Periodontal Infection.

Adipokines are associated with the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are potential biomarkers of disease activity, periodontitis, and obesity. The aim of this was to establish the association between adipokine profile, RA disease activity, body mass index, and periodontal infection. This study evaluated 51 patients with early-RA and 51 controls including serum rheumatological markers, adipokine levels, detection of and serum anti- antibodies, clinical and periodontal measurements.

Expression of Homing Receptors in IgMIgDCD27 B Cells and Their Frequencies in Appendectomized and/or Tonsillectomized Individuals.

Background: In humans, blood circulating IgMIgDCD27 B cells are considered analogous to those described in the marginal zone of the spleen and are involved in important immunological processes. The homing receptors they express, and the organs involved in their development (for example, intestinal organs in rabbits) are only partially known. We recently reported that this population is heterogeneous and composed of at least two subsets: one expressing high levels of IgM - IgM B cells - and another low levels - IgM B cells.

Sickle Cell Trait, Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Colombia: Increasing Rate of Symptomatic Subjects Living in High Altitude.

Background: Sickle cell trait (SCT) is an autosomal recessive blood disorder in which patients are heterozygous carriers for hemoglobin S (HbAS) and are usually asymptomatic. We performed a descriptive analysis of clinical manifestations and outcomes associated with SCT.

Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study that included patients with SCT from 2014 to 2020 at Hospital Militar Central, the reference center of the Military forces in Bogota, Colombia.

Differences in the distribution of hemoglobin variants according to the geographic regions in a Colombian population.

Introduction: Colombia has been subject to intense genetic and cultural currents due to its geographical location. Hemoglobinopathies are the most common recessive diseases found worldwide and represent an important public health problem, according to the region and ancestry of each country.

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of hemoglobin variants according to the geographical region in a population group adjusted to sex and age in Colombia.

A Rapid and Simple Method for Purification of Nucleic Acids on Porous Membranes: Simulation vs. Experiment.

Paper-based microfluidic systems have emerged as one of the most promising technologies for developing point-of-care diagnostic platforms (POCT) for detecting and monitoring various diseases. Saliva is a non-invasive biofluid easily collected, transported, and stored. Due to its accessibility and connection to systemic diseases, saliva is one of the best candidates for medical advancement at the point of care, where people can easily monitor their health.

Decreased fecal calprotectin levels in Spondyloarthritis patients colonized by Blastocystis spp.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic inflammatory systemic diseases mainly characterized by inflammation in the spine and/or peripheral joints. Although a link between SpA-pathogenesis, intestinal inflammation and gut dysbiosis has been proposed, studies have been focused on bacteria-host interactions and very little has been reported regarding intestinal parasites. Here, intestinal parasitic infection of 51 SpA-patients were evaluated and compared to healthy control individuals.