Nutritional effect on lipoproteins and their subfractions in patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: a 12-week randomized trial-the DIETA trial.

Introduction: Patients with psoriatic arthritis have some lipid metabolism changes and higher risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular diseases, regardless of traditional risk factors, suggesting that chronic inflammation itself plays a central role concerning the atherosclerosis. However, there is a lack of information regarding atherogenic pattern and lipoprotein subfractions burden in these individuals.

Aim: To evaluate the HDL and LDL-cholesterol plasmatic levels and their subfractions after a nutritional intervention in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Potential Risk Factors for Ocular Pain in Patients Undergoing Multiple Intravitreal Injections of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

Purpose: To assess ocular pain in patients undergoing multiple intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) who have previous factors that may influence pain sensitivity.

Methodology: This is a prospective, observational, case series study involving patients who underwent multiple (≥3) pro re nata intravitreal injections of ranibizumab or aflibercept to treat any cause of chorioretinal vascular disease. Ocular pain was assessed by the numerical analog scale during intravitreal injection.

Effects of phytosterol supplementation on lipoprotein subfractions and LDL particle quality.

Phytosterols are natural components of plant-based foods used as supplements because of their known cholesterol-lowering effect. However, their effects on lipoprotein subfractions and the quality of the LDL particle have not been studied in greater detail. We aimed to evaluate the effects of phytosterols supplements on lipids, lipoproteins subfractions, and on the quality of LDL.

Effect of adjuvant probiotic therapy (Lactobacillus reuteri) in the treatment of periodontitis associated with diabetes mellitus: clinical, controlled, and randomized study.

Objectives: Subgingival instrumentation (SI) with probiotics may be a proposal for the treatment of periodontitis (P), for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The Lactobacillus reuteri probiotic as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of P associated with T2DM was evaluated.

Materials And Methods: Forty diabetic participants diagnosed with P (stage III and IV, grade B) were randomized into SI + Placebo (n = 20): subgingival instrumentation plus placebo lozenges and SI + Probi (n = 20): subgingival instrumentation plus probiotics.

Regular Practice of Physical Activity Improves Cholesterol Transfers to High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and Other HDL Metabolic Parameters in Older Adults.

The effects of regular physical activity on two important anti-atherosclerosis functions of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), namely its capacity to receive both forms of cholesterol and its anti-oxidant function, were investigated in this study comparing older adults with young individuals. One-hundred and eight healthy adult individuals were enrolled and separated into the following groups: active older (60-80 yrs, n = 24); inactive older (60-79 yrs, n = 21); active young (20-34 yrs, n = 39); and inactive young (20-35 yrs, n = 24). All performed cardiopulmonary tests.

Association of dyslipidemia with single nucleotide polymorphisms of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene and cardiovascular disease risk factors in a highly admixed population.

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are major causes of mortality worldwide, leading to premature deaths, loss of quality of life, and extensive socioeconomic impacts. Alterations in normal plasma lipid concentrations comprise important risk factors associated with CVD due to mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Genetic markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are known to be associated with lipid metabolism, including variants in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene.

Branch retinal artery occlusion with paracentral acute middle maculopathy related to a COVID-19 infection in a patient with Anosmia.

Purpose: To report a case of paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) due to branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) as a complication of COVID-19.

Methods: A case report evaluated through spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fluorescein angiography, and OCT angiography.

Results: A 55-year-old man complained of blurred vision in the right eye.

Red Blood Cells' Omega-6 and Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Have a Distinct Influence on LDL Particle Size and its Structural Modifications.

Background: While Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 and n-6 PUFAs) have established effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, little is known about their impacts on LDL quality markers.

Objective: To assess the associations of n-3 and n-6 PUFA within red blood cells (RBC) with LDL particle size, small dense LDL-c (sdLDL-c), and electronegative LDL [LDL(-)] in adults with CVD risk factors.

Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 335 men and women aged 30 to 74 with at least one cardiovascular risk factor.

Influence of polymorphisms in IRS1, IRS2, MC3R, and MC4R on metabolic and inflammatory status and food intake in Brazilian adults: An exploratory pilot study.

Polymorphisms in genes of leptin-melanocortin and insulin pathways have been associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that polymorphisms in IRS1, IRS2, MC3R, and MC4R influence metabolic and inflammatory markers and food intake composition in Brazilian subjects. This exploratory pilot study included 358 adult subjects.

Stearic Acid, but not Palmitic Acid, is Associated with Inflammatory and Endothelial Dysfunction Biomarkers in Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk.

Background: Several studies have associated dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs) with cardiovascular risk but there are still many controversies. Most of these studies have focused on the effects of palmitic acid on circulating lipids. Stearic acid usually shows a neutral effect on blood lipids, however, there is a lack of clinical studies assessing the link with inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction markers.

Perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex and resembling lesions treated with intravitreal triamcinolone.

Purpose: To report the use of intravitreal triamcinolone to treat macular edema associated with isolated perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PVAC) and resembling lesion (PVAC-RL).

Methods: In this case series, three diabetic patients (3 eyes) with PVAC-RLs and one healthy patient (1 eye) with PVAC lesion associated with cystic spaces underwent three intravitreal injections of aflibercept before switching to one intravitreal triamcinolone injection in each patient.

Results: Macular edema improved from 297.

Effects of turmeric extract supplementation on the lipid and lipoprotein subfraction profile in hemodialysis patients: A randomised, double-blind, crossover and controlled trial.

Dyslipidemia is common in patients with chronic kidney disease. Curcumin, a bioactive polyphenol from Curcuma longa, can improve lipid profile. This study aims to analyze the effects of Curcuma Longa extract supplementation on lipid profile and lipoprotein subfractions in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Effect of Nuts on Markers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: A Narrative Review.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are mediators in the pathophysiology of several non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Tree nuts and peanuts lower risk factors of cardiometabolic disease, including blood lipids, blood pressure and insulin resistance, among others. Given their strong antioxidant/anti-inflammatory potential, it is plausible that nuts may also exert a favorable effect on inflammation and oxidative stress.

[Meat consumption by adults and the elderly in a city colonized by Germans in the south of Brazil: a population-based study].

Excessive meat consumption, especially red and processed meats, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The pattern of meat consumption varies in Brazil and is influenced by economic and cultural factors in the world. The study aimed to analyze the consumption of meat by adults and the elderly in a city colonized by Germans in the south of Brazil.

Retinal microvascular abnormalities, cotton wool-like lesions, and macular edema following COVID-19 in a patient previously vaccinated with AstraZeneca and idiopathic myopathy.

In this case study, the authors describe peculiar bilateral cotton wool-like retinal lesions associated with macular edema in a patient with COVID-19 who was vaccinated with a single dose of AstraZeneca one month earlier. This patient had no pulmonary or systemic cardiovascular complications from COVID-19, as reported in other papers that found retinal lesions. However, the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic myopathy when discovering the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Dietetic intervention in psoriatic arthritis: the DIETA trial.

Aim: To evaluate whether dietary pattern changes, antioxidant supplementation or 5-10% weight loss could improve disease activity (skin and joint) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: A total of 97 PsA patients were enrolled in this 12-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized into three groups: Diet-placebo (hypocaloric diet + placebo supplementation); Diet-fish (hypocaloric diet + 3 g/day of omega-3 supplementation; and Placebo.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Improve Functionality of High-Density Lipoprotein in Individuals With High Cardiovascular Risk: A Randomized, Parallel, Controlled and Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids have been extensively studied for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular health, but their ability to modulate HDL functionality remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of ω-3, rich in eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA), on HDL functionality. For that, 147 individuals with high cardiovascular risk were randomized in ω-3 (1 g of fish oil each - 370 mg of EPA and 230 mg of DHA, 3 times per day total EPA+DHA = 1,800 mg) or ω-6 groups (1 g of sunflower oil each - 760 mg of linoleic acid, 3 times per day; total linoleic acid = 2,280 mg).

Transient central retina artery occlusion in patients undergoing intravitreal anti vegf injections.

Purpose: To evaluate the occurrence of transient central retinal artery occlusion following intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection.

Methods: Prospective, observational study of 807 patients (807 eyes) who were given intravitreal injections of ranibizumab or aflibercept to treat any cause of retinal vascular diseases between 1 January 2017 and 30 November 2018 at the Federal Fluminense University Hospital in Niteroi, and a private facility in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Patients who did not present transient central retinal artery occlusion were excluded.

Tumor aggressiveness is associated with cell integrity changes in breast cancer-surviving women: a follow-up study.

Introduction: cell integrity and fat mass had been studied as a prognostic marker for cancer survival. Objective: our aim was to evaluate the association between tumor aggressiveness and cell integrity changes and adiposity in breast cancer (BC) survivors. Methods: women with BC (n = 114) were evaluated at diagnosis and 5 years later.

Main differences between two highly effective lipid-lowering therapies in subclasses of lipoproteins in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Large observational studies have shown that small, dense LDL subfractions are related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This study assessed the effects of two highly effective lipid-lowering therapies in the atherogenic subclasses of lipoproteins in subjects with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: Patients of both sexes admitted with their first myocardial infarction and submitted to pharmacoinvasive strategy (N = 101) were included and randomized using a central computerized system to receive a daily dose of simvastatin 40 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg or rosuvastatin 20 mg for 30 days.

Bioelectrical impedance vector applied to body composition evaluation of women survivors of breast cancer: A longitudinal study.

Background And Aims: Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the changes in the body composition of the women survivors of breast cancer and its association with clinical staging, using the bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA), over five years of follow-up.

Methods: At baseline time 114 patients (T0) were selected and after 5 years (T1) of follow-up (n = 35) data of weight, body mass index, waist circumference, phase angle, resistance/height, reactance/height, %fat free mass and %fat mass were monitored. Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) and the vector displacement assessment took place according to the initial and advanced clinical staging (CS 1 and 2, respectively) and time of follow-up and have been showed using mean graph and RXc score graph.

Cardiovascular risk estimated in individuals with multiple sclerosis: A case-control study.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) had a 1.5-fold increase in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) mortality, compared with those without MS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the CVD risk in MS patients by multiple cardiometabolic indexes and to investigate associated factors.

Reply to Ravnskov, U. Is High Cholesterol Deleterious? An Alternative Point of View. Comment on "Burén et al. A Ketogenic Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet Increases LDL Cholesterol in Healthy, Young, Normal-Weight Women: A Randomized Controlled Feeding Trial. 2021, , 814".

We thank Ravnskov [...