Effect of Different Dietary Patterns on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Background/objectives: Lifestyle interventions such as dietary changes have been proposed to control the cardiometabolic risk factors and thus prevent cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD). We performed an umbrella review to investigate whether different dietary patterns affect CV risk in individuals with at least one cardiometabolic risk factor (hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome) but not established CVD.

Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed and Scopus databases (up to August 2024) for the systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Evidence for the Impact of Stress and Trauma on Sexual Function in Women: Review and Clinical Recommendations.

Stressors occur in a spectrum, ranging from daily hassles to life-threatening experiences, and can significantly impact sexual functioning. Thus, this review summarizes the intricate relationship between trauma spectrum experiences and women's sexual functioning. Biological mechanisms are described to elucidate the physiologic complexity that manifests because of trauma-related experiences.

Outcomes of COVID-19 re-infections: a single-center cohort of 167 patients with systemic rheumatic diseases.

Data on COVID-19 re-infections in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs) are lacking. We aimed to describe the course and outcomes of COVID-19 re-infections in these patients versus controls. In this single-center retrospective study, we included 167 consecutive SRD patients with at least one COVID-19 re-infection (mean age 47.

Glucocorticoid discontinuation rate and risk factors for relapses in a contemporary cohort of patients with giant cell arteritis.

The rates of relapses and therapy discontinuation in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) in the modern therapeutic era have not been defined. We aimed to evaluate the glucocorticoid (GC) discontinuation rate and the factors associated with relapses in a contemporary GCA cohort. Patient and treatment data were collected cross-sectionally at first evaluation and 2 years later (second evaluation), in a multicenter, prospective GCA cohort.

The Role of Interleukins in HBV Infection: A Narrative Review.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide medical issue with significant morbidity and mortality, as it is the main cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both innate and adaptive immune responses play a key role in HBV replication and suppression. Recently, the pathophysiological function of interleukins (IL) in the natural course of HBV has gained much attention as a result of the broad use of anti-interleukin agents for a variety of autoimmune diseases and the accompanying risk of HBV reactivation.

Virtual Reality in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery Training.

The advantages of laparoscopic colorectal surgery have been proven in several studies, but its use is limited in some countries and not widely practiced. One of the primary benefits of laparoscopic surgery is that it reduces patient discomfort and hospital stays compared to traditional open surgery. This study presents an overview of the virtual reality training method for laparoscopic colorectal surgery and offers evidence for the effectiveness of this training curriculum and the associated learning curve.

Omicron variant dominance and anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are key determinants for a milder course of COVID-19 in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine whether the introduction of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and the dominance of the omicron variant had a significant impact on the outcome of COVID-19 in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SAIRDs).

Methods: Using data entered to the Greek Rheumatology Society COVID-19 registry, we investigated the incidence of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, during the successive periods of the pandemic according to the prevalent strain (wild-type, Alpha, Delta, Omicron) in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Variables independently associated with hospitalization and death were explored using multivariate regression analyses, while Kaplan-Meier curves were used to depict survival data.

A randomized clinical trial of bermekimab treatment for clinical improvement of systemic sclerosis.

Increased concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α have been recently described in tissues of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) suggesting that IL-1α inhibition may be a target for treatment. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety and efficacy of the fully humanized IL-1α blocking monoclonal antibody bermekimab in SSc. To evaluate response to treatment, we developed the score of inhibition of progression of SSc which was validated using the CRISS index and the modified CRISS index.

Higher frequency but similar recurrence rate of uveitis episodes in axial spondylarthritis compared to psoriatic arthritis. A multicentre retrospective study.

Background/objective: Data on risk factors predicting uveitis development in spondyloarthritis (SpA) is scarce. Our aim was to examine associations between demographic, clinical and/or laboratory characteristics of SpA with the occurrence and the course of uveitis, including ocular damage and recurrence rate.

Methods: Characteristics (at disease diagnosis and ever-present) from axSpA and Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients followed in 3 tertiary rheumatology-clinics were retrospectively recorded.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and COVID-19.

Purpose Of Review: To describe the current state of knowledge regarding COVID-19 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We focus on (i) SARS-CoV-2 vaccination uptake, immunogenicity and safety, and (ii) outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with SLE and pertinent risk factors for adverse sequelae.

Recent Findings: Notwithstanding the potential concern of patients about possible post-vaccination side-effects, the safety of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with SLE has been undisputedly confirmed in numerous studies.

Augmented oxidative stress, accumulation of DNA damage and impaired DNA repair mechanisms in thrombotic primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare autoimmune disorder with complex pathogenesis. Studies have shown that oxidative stress may contribute to APS pathophysiology. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from thrombotic Primary APS (thrPAPS) patients and age/sex-matched healthy controls (HC), as well as a control group of asymptomatic antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) positive individuals without APS (aPL+/non-APS), we examined oxidative stress, abasic (apurinic/apyrimidinic) sites, and DNA damage response (DDR)-associated parameters, including endogenous DNA damage (single- and double-strand breaks) and DNA repair mechanisms, namely nucleotide excision repair (NER) and double-strand breaks repair (DSB/R).

Effect of body mass index on treatment response of biologic/targeted-synthetic DMARDs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or axial spondyloarthritis. A systematic review.

Background: Overweight and/or obese patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) have higher disease activity and lower chances of achieving and/or maintaining the treatment targets. Weight/obesity also appears to negatively affect the response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in IA patients, including rheumatoid arthritis -RA, psoriatic arthritis -PsA, axial spondyloarthritis -AxSpA. We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) for the effect of weight/body-mass-index (BMI) in the efficacy of all approved biologic (b) and targeted-synthetic (ts) DMARDs for the treatment of IA.

Chronological Age and DNA Damage Accumulation in Blood Mononuclear Cells: A Linear Association in Healthy Humans after 50 Years of Age.

Aging is characterized by the progressive deregulation of homeostatic mechanisms causing the accumulation of macromolecular damage, including DNA damage, progressive decline in organ function and chronic diseases. Since several features of the aging phenotype are closely related to defects in the DNA damage response (DDR) network, we have herein investigated the relationship between chronological age and DDR signals in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy individuals. DDR-associated parameters, including endogenous DNA damage (single-strand breaks and double-strand breaks (DSBs) measured by the alkaline comet assay (Olive Tail Moment (OTM); DSBs-only by γH2AX immunofluorescence staining), DSBs repair capacity, oxidative stress, and apurinic/apyrimidinic sites were evaluated in PBMCs of 243 individuals aged 18-75 years, free of any major comorbidity.

Unidirectional and phase-gated signaling synchronizes murine presomitic mesoderm cells.

Oscillator systems achieve synchronization when oscillators are coupled. The presomitic mesoderm is a system of cellular oscillators, where coordinated genetic activity is necessary for proper periodic generation of somites. While Notch signaling is required for the synchronization of these cells, it is unclear what information the cells exchange and how they react to this information to align their oscillatory pace with that of their neighbors.

Deregulated DNA damage response network in Behcet's disease.

Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic, relapsing systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. Since the DNA repair enzyme NEIL1 has been identified as one of the two genetic risk factors for BD by whole exome study, we examined the potential involvement of the DNA damage response (DDR) network in BD. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 26 patients and 26 age-/sex-matched healthy controls were studied.

Geriatric Frailty Is Associated With Oxidative Stress, Accumulation, and Defective Repair of DNA Double-Strand Breaks Independently of Age and Comorbidities.

Defects in the DNA damage response and repair (DDR/R) network accumulate during the aging process. Physical frailty, a state of reduced physiological function and decreased resilience to biological stressors, is also exacerbated by aging, but its link with DDR/R aberrations beyond the effect of age and comorbidities is unclear. Fifty-three community-dwelling older adults, aged 65-102 years, who underwent frailty classification according to the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), and 51 healthy adults younger than 45 years were examined in parallel.

Normal C-reactive protein in active psoriatic arthritis: results from real-world clinical practice.

Background: The value of normal C-reactive protein (CRP) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is debatable.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that CRP is frequently normal in contemporary real-world PsA patients, despite active disease.

Design: In this cross-sectional study, patients were divided into two groups: CRP ⩽ 0.

Ancient mitochondrial diversity reveals population homogeneity in Neolithic Greece and identifies population dynamics along the Danubian expansion axis.

The aim of the study is to investigate mitochondrial diversity in Neolithic Greece and its relation to hunter-gatherers and farmers who populated the Danubian Neolithic expansion axis. We sequenced 42 mitochondrial palaeogenomes from Greece and analysed them together with European set of 328 mtDNA sequences dating from the Early to the Final Neolithic and 319 modern sequences. To test for population continuity through time in Greece, we use an original structured population continuity test that simulates DNA from different periods by explicitly considering the spatial and temporal dynamics of populations.

Cranial giant cell arteritis mimickers: A masquerade to unveil.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large-vessel vasculitis that affects cranial and extra-cranial arteries. Extra-cranial GCA presents mainly with non-specific symptoms and the differential diagnosis is very broad, while the cranial form has more typical clinical picture and physicians have a lower threshold for diagnosis and treatment. Although temporal artery biopsy (TAB) has an established role, ultrasound (US) is being increasingly used as the first-line imaging modality in suspected GCA.