Impact of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Serum Levels and the -675 4G/5G Variant in the SERPINE1 Gene on Systemic Sclerosis in a Mexican Population.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by a complex interplay of vascular damage, inflammation, and fibrosis, affecting the skin and internal organs. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a protein encoded by the gene, is a potential biomarker of SSc because it is primarily involved in fibrinolysis and is associated with the severity of some autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to determine the association between variant -675 4G/5G and soluble PAI-1 (sPAI-1) levels with the clinical characteristics and risk of SSc in a Mexican population.

Levels of sCD163 in women rheumatoid arthritis: Relationship with cardiovascular risk markers.

Aim: The soluble scavenger receptor differentiation antigen 163 (sCD163), a monocyte/macrophage activation marker, is related to cardiovascular mortality in the general population. This study aimed to evaluate their relationship between serum levels of sCD163 with cardiovascular risk indicators in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 80 women diagnosed with RA.

Gene Variant Is Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity and Anti-CCP Levels in the Western but Not in the Southern Population of Mexico.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease. Currently, several genes play an important role in the development of the disease. The objective was to evaluate the association of the and gene variants with RA susceptibility, DAS28, RF, and anti-CCP in Western and Southern Mexico populations.

Palpation and Ultrasonography Reveal an Ignored Function of the Inferior Belly of Omohyoid: A Case Series and a Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: Palpation, a traditional haptic ability, is used daily by practitioners of all medical and surgical specialties to assess patients. In the current study, one of the authors, in a routine clinical setting, was able to deduce the dynamic features of the putative inferior belly of omohyoid. This led to a proof-of-concept study that yielded results consistent with the clinical findings.

IFABP2 as a new prognostic biomarker for secondary non-response in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Increased intestinal permeability promotes the translocation of bacterial products from the local microbiome to the circulation, inducing inflammation and increasing clinical activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study evaluates whether intestinal fatty acid binding protein 2 (IFABP2) serum levels are prognostic biomarkers of non-response to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy (csDMARDs) in RA.

Methods: The therapeutic schemes administered to 60 women with RA for at least 18 months were assessed retrospectively, and the treatment response was classified according to the change in DAS28-ESR over time.