Growth hormone directly favors hepatic ketogenesis in persons with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with empagliflozin.

Purpose: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors increase glucagon secretion by pancreatic alpha cells and the susceptibility to ketoacidosis. On the other hand, growth hormone (GH) stimulates peripheral lipolysis and provides free fatty acids (FFA) for ketogenesis; however, it remains unresolved whether GH directly impacts hepatic ketogenesis. We aimed to investigate the role of physiologic GH levels in promoting ketogenesis in prediabetic or type 2 diabetic patients under empagliflozin treatment.

Functional iron deficiency in patients on hemodialysis: prevalence, nutritional assessment, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Introduction: Anemic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be divided into anemic patients without or with functional iron deficiency (FID). The increase in the number of cases of hemosiderosis in patients on hemodialysis (HD) attributed to excessive intravenous iron replacement has called for the investigation of the factors involved in the genesis of FID.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of FID in patients with CKD on HD, characterize the included individuals in terms of clinical and workup parameters, and assess their nutritional, oxidative stress, and inflammation statuses.

Elevated plasma homocysteine levels are associated with disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The aims of this study were to verify whether hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with disability progression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and whether TNF pathways and cellular adhesion molecules (CAM) are involved in this process. This study included 180 MS patients, who were divided according to their levels of homocysteine (Hyperhomocysteinemia ≥11.35 μmol/L) and 204 healthy individuals (control group).

Parkinson's Disease is Accompanied by Intertwined Alterations in Iron Metabolism and Activated Immune-inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Pathways.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a complex interplay between peripheral and central inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.

Objective: To investigate immune-inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways in relation to iron metabolism in peripheral blood of PD patients and healthy controls.

Method: We recruited 56 healthy individuals and 56 PD patients in stages 1-3 of Hoehn and Yahr Scale.

Insulin resistance, atherogenicity, and iron metabolism in multiple sclerosis with and without depression: Associations with inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uric acid.

Depression is accompanied by metabolic disorders in iron metabolism, lipoproteins, and insulin resistance. We measured plasma levels of ferritin, iron, lipids, insulin, and glucose and computed the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA2IR) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in MS patients with and without depression and healthy controls. Explanatory variables were serum uric acid, interleukin (IL)-6, lipid hydroperoxides (CL-LOOH), albumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Disease progression and oxidative stress are associated with higher serum ferritin levels in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Hyperferritinemia and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of ferritin and to verify their association with oxidative stress markers and MS progression. This study included 164 MS patients, which were divided in two groups according to their levels of ferritin (cut off 125.

Are PTH levels related to oxidative stress and inflammation in chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis?

Introduction:: Patients at end stage renal disease have higher levels of inflammation and oxidative stress than the general population. Many factors contribute to these issues, and the parathyroid hormone (PTH) is also implicated.

Objective:: The study was conducted in order to assess the relationship between PTH levels and inflammation and oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients.

Immune-Inflammatory and Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress Biomarkers of Depression Symptoms in Subjects with Multiple Sclerosis: Increased Peripheral Inflammation but Less Acute Neuroinflammation.

There is evidence that activated immune-inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative stress (IO&NS) pathways play a role in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) and depression. This study examines serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10; peroxides (LOOH); nitric oxide metabolites (NOx); albumin; ferritin; C-reactive protein (CRP); and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-β NcoI polymorphism (rs909253) and gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan in MS patients with (n = 42) and without (n = 108) depression and normal controls (n = 249). Depression is scored using the depressive subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Inflammatory and metabolic markers and short-time outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke in relation to TOAST subtypes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between inflammatory and metabolic markers and short-time outcome with acute ischemic stroke subtypes. A total of 121 patients was classified according to TOAST criteria, such as large artery atherosclerosis (LAAS), lacunar infarct (LAC), cardioembolic infarct (CEI), other determined etiology (ODE), and undetermined etiology (UDE). The functional impairment was evaluated within the first eight hours of stroke and the outcome after three-month follow-up using the modified Rankin Scale.

CCR5Δ32 (rs333) polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in female Brazilian patients.

The role of CCR5Δ32 (rs333) polymorphism in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been evaluated worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the association between CCR5Δ32 polymorphism with the susceptibility to SLE and the activity of disease in female Southern Brazilian patients. The study enrolled 169 female SLE patients and 132 unrelated female healthy individuals.

Fish oil N-3 fatty acids increase adiponectin and decrease leptin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as an important cause of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Reduced adiponectin and elevated leptin levels may contribute to CVD in SLE patients. The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of fish oil (FO) on adiponectin and leptin in patients with SLE.

Tumor necrosis factor beta NcoI polymorphism is associated with inflammatory and metabolic markers in multiple sclerosis patients.

To evaluate the association between the tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β) NcoI polymorphism and inflammatory and metabolic markers in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and the association of these markers with disease disability, a 782 base-pair fragment of the TNF-β gene was amplified from genomic DNA and digested with the NcoI restriction enzyme. The serum levels of numerous cytokines (IL-1β, IL-12, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17) serum lipid levels, plasma insulin levels, and the Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were evaluated in 123 female and 43 male patients with MS. Females carrying the TNFB2/B2 genotype presented with decreased IL-4 and IL-10 levels and increased TNF-α, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels; moreover, there were positive correlations between EDSS and glucose and between EDSS and HOMA-IR in these females.

Tumor necrosis factor beta NcoI polymorphism (rs909253) is associated with inflammatory and metabolic markers in acute ischemic stroke.

Polymorphisms in genes coding for pro-inflammatory molecules represent important factors for the pathogenesis and outcome of stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β) NcoI (rs909253) polymorphism with inflammatory and metabolic markers in acute ischemic stroke. Ninety-three patients and 134 controls were included.

Beneficial effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on glycemia and homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in postmenopausal women is an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity, especially stroke and coronary heart disease and mortality. Preventing and treating MetS would be useful in preventing disability and promoting normal aging. Previous human studies have found some beneficial effects of Lactobacillus species on some isolated parameters of MetS.

Disability in patients with multiple sclerosis: influence of insulin resistance, adiposity, and oxidative stress.

Objective: The aims of the present study were to report the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS); to verify differences in metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress in patients with MS with or without IR; and to assess if IR and adiposity are associated with disability in these patients.

Methods: The study enrolled 110 patients with MS and 175 healthy individuals. Patients with MS were divided in those with IR (n = 44) and those without (n = 66).

Inability to detect human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2-specific antibodies in a patient coinfected with HIV-1, human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1, human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2, and hepatitis C virus.

HIV-1, human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and type 2 (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are common among intravenous drug users (IDUs) and can cause chronic infections in the host. Usually, the diagnosis of such viruses employs serological assays; however, some difficulties in confirming HTLV-2 infection have been reported in high-risk populations in Brazil. We present data of an unusual case of coinfection with HIV-1, HTLV-1, HTLV-2, and HCV in a male IDU in which HTLV-2 was detected only by molecular assays.

Reduced-energy cranberry juice increases folic acid and adiponectin and reduces homocysteine and oxidative stress in patients with the metabolic syndrome.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises pathological conditions that include insulin resistance, arterial hypertension, visceral adiposity and dyslipidaemia, which favour the development of CVD. Some reports have shown that cranberry ingestion reduces cardiovascular risk factors. However, few studies have evaluated the effect of this fruit in subjects with the MetS.

Gestational toxoplasmosis in Paraná State, Brazil: prevalence of IgG antibodies and associated risk factors.

The aim of the present study was to verify the association between seropositivity for IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and social, economic and environmental variables of pregnant women attending the public health centers of Paraná, Brazil. From January 2007 to July 2010, 2226 pregnant women were interviewed and detection of anti-T. gondii specific IgG and IgM antibodies was performed by chemiluminescence test.

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2a strains among HIV type 1-coinfected patients from Brazil have originated mostly from Brazilian Amerindians.

The human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2 (HTLV-2) is found mainly in Amerindians and in intravenous drug users (IDUs) from urban areas of the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Worldwide, HTLV-2a and HTLV-2b subtypes are the most prevalent. Phylogenetic analysis of HTLV-2 isolates from Brazil showed the HTLV-2a subtype, variant -2c, which spread from Indians to the general population and IDUs.

Serum levels of high sensitive C reactive protein in healthy adults from southern Brazil.

Background: With the emergence of more sensitive assay techniques, it has been shown that C reactive protein (CRP) is present at low levels in the serum of all the clinically healthy individuals.

Objective: To determine the interval values of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) in healthy adults.

Methods: Serum hs-CRP level was evaluated in 176 healthy blood donors.

Cytokine profile in relapsing‑remitting multiple sclerosis patients and the association between progression and activity of the disease.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive immune‑ mediated disease caused by demyelination of the central nervous system. Cytokines and their receptors have an important role in the evolution of MS lesions, and pro‑ and anti‑inflammatory cytokine levels have been found to correlate with changes in MS disease activity. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the pro‑inflammatory [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α and interleukin (IL) ‑1β, ‑6 and ‑12], T helper (Th) 1 [interferon (IFN)‑γ], Th17 (IL‑17) and Th2 (IL‑4 and ‑10) cytokine serum levels in relapsing‑remitting (RR)‑MS patients and to evaluate the association between the cytokine profile and the progression and activity of the disease.

Human endogenous RNAs: Implications for the immunomodulation of Toll-like receptor 3.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a family of mammalian receptors, are able to recognize nucleic acids. TLR3 recognizes double-stranded (ds)RNA, a product of the replication of certain viruses. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, referred to as poly(I:C), an analog of viral dsRNA, interacts with TLR3 thereby eliciting immunoinflammatory responses characteristic of viral infection or down-regulating the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4.