Biomechanical Properties of Common Carotid Arteries Assessed by Circumferential 2D Strain and β Stiffness Index in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) related to atherosclerosis, preceded by arterial stiffness. We aimed to examine common carotid artery (CCA) biomechanical properties using ultrasound to calculate β stiffness index (indicating arterial stiffness) and, a more recently developed technique, 2-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking strain (indicating arterial motion and deformation, strain) to (1) compare with age- and sex-matched controls, and (2) analyze relationships between strain and stiffness with disease characteristics and traditional risk factors for CVD in patients with AS.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a cohort of 149 patients with AS, mean age 55.

Patterns of comorbidity and disease characteristics among patients with ankylosing spondylitis-a cross-sectional study.

The knowledge of the development of comorbidities in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is limited. The aim of this study was to analyse associations between AS disease characteristics and comorbidity and to evaluate patterns of comorbidities in patients with AS. Patients with AS, fulfilling the modified New York Criteria, were identified (n = 346, mean age 56 ± 15 years, 75% men, 99% HLA B27 positive).

Gut-derived lipopolysaccharide augments adipose macrophage accumulation but is not essential for impaired glucose or insulin tolerance in mice.

Background: Obesity is associated with accumulation of macrophages in white adipose tissue (WAT), which contribute to the development of insulin resistance. Germ-free (GF) mice have reduced adiposity and are protected against diet-induced obesity,

Objective: To investigate whether the gut microbiota and, specifically, gut-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) promote WAT inflammation and contribute to impaired glucose metabolism.

Method: Macrophage composition and expression of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers were compared in WAT of GF, conventionally raised and Escherichia coli-monocolonised mice.