Analysis of human urinary extracellular vesicles reveals disordered renal metabolism in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the genetic disorder myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) each are associated with progressive muscle wasting, whole-body insulin resistance, and impaired systemic metabolism. However, CKD is undocumented in DM1 and the molecular pathogenesis driving DM1 is unknown to involve the kidney. Here we use urinary extracellular vesicles (EVs), RNA sequencing, droplet digital PCR, and predictive modeling to identify downregulation of metabolism transcripts Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-1, 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, Dihydropyrimidinase, Glutathione S-transferase alpha-1, Aminoacylase-1, and Electron transfer flavoprotein B in DM1.

Circulating cell-free DNA as a potential biomarker for prediction of disease activity and prognosis among Egyptian rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a potential biomarker for assessing disease activity and prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the association between cfDNA levels and the established RA markers of inflammation and disease severity remains unclear. The current study aimed to detect plasma levels of cfDNA in patients with RA and to investigate their association with RA activity indicators (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), disease activity score-28 (DAS28)), prognostic markers (rheumatoid factor (RF), anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA)), and the musculoskeletal ultrasonographic (US7) scores.

Thoracic electrical impedance tomography for assessing progression of pulmonary dysfunction in ALS.

: We compared thoracic electrical impedance tomography (EIT) with slow vital capacity (SVC) to determine if EIT could monitor pulmonary function in ALS patients longitudinally. : Of 32 ALS patients and 32 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) initially enrolled in the Pulmonary Function via Impedance Tomography (PuFIT) study, 22 ALS and 20 HCs returned for a follow-up visit ∼3.9 months later.

Role of Interleukin-17 in Predicting Activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Background: Although high serum levels of interleukin (IL)-17 and its producing cells have been found in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in earlier research, it is still unclear how these findings relate to disease activity.

Objectives: This study examines the link between serum levels of IL-17 and the activity of both RA and SLE.

Design: This pilot case-control study included 100 patients with RA, 100 with SLE, and 100 healthy controls.

Multiple sclerosis treatment underutilization predicts high risk for obstructive sleep apnea in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is more common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in the general population, which suggests MS may predispose patients to OSA. However, the relationships between MS treatment, disease activity, disease severity, fatigue, and OSA are unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate the connections between OSA risk, MS fatigue, and MS severity, controlling for well-established risk factors for OSA in the general population.