Influence of middle-distance running on muscular micro RNAs

A specific subset of micro RNAs (miRs), including miR-133 and miR-206, is specifically expressed in muscle tissue, so that they are currently defined as muscular miRs (myomiRs). To further elucidate the role of myomiRs in muscle biology, we measured miR-133a and miR-206 in plasma of 28 middle-age recreational athletes. The study population consisted of 28 middle aged, recreation athletes (11 women and 17 men; mean age, 46?years) who completed a 21.1?km, half-marathon. The plasma concentration of miR-133a and miR-206, the serum concentration of creatine kinase (CK) and high-sensitivity (HS) cardiac troponin T (cTnT), as well as capillary lactate, were measured before and immediately after the run. The median serum concentration of total CK (257 versus 175?U/L; p?p??4; p??4; p?=?.001) were considerably increased immediately after the half-marathon run. In multivariate analysis only post-exercise capillary lactate was found to be independently associated with running time. A significant and independent correlation was observed between plasma variations of the two miRs, but not with other physiological or laboratory parameters. The results of this study suggest that the biological significance of miR-133a and 206 variation after middle-distance running parallels but not overlaps the release of biomarkers of nonspecific tissue damage. Enhanced plasma values of these myomiRs may hence reflect a physiological response to high-intensity and/or prolonged exercise rather than tissue injury.     

Prediction of Falls in Subjects Suffering From Parkinson Disease,Multiple Sclerosis,and Stroke

Objective

To compare the risk of falls and fall predictors in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and stroke using the same study design.

Growing Strong and Healthy with Mister Bone: An Educational Program to Have Strong Bones Later in Life

Optimal peak bone mass and bone health later in life are favored by a sufficient calcium intake in infancy, childhood and adolescence. The purpose of this study was to test a new educational program created to monitor and to improve calcium and vitamin D intake in children. Nutritional habits in children were evaluated through a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess the intake of calcium, vitamin D, dairy products, and total caloric energy at baseline and after seven months of exposure to a unique educational program applied between November 2013 and May 2014 in 176 schoolchildren (48% male, 52% female) attending the fourth and fifth grades of two selected primary schools in Florence, Italy. A significant increase of calcium (from 870 ± 190 to 1100 ± 200 mg/day, p < 0.05), and vitamin D (from 3.6 ± 1.53 to 4.1 ± 2 µg/day) intake in children was documented after the educational program. The amount of specific foods important for bone health consumed, such as milk and vegetables, increased significantly, both in male and female children (p < 0.05). The proposed educational program appears to be effective in modifying calcium intake in children, with a significant increase in the consumption of dairy products and vegetables, but without a significant change in the total caloric intake.     

Immune reconstitution and associated infections following axicabtagene ciloleucel in relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma

CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T)-cell therapy with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) for relapsed or refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) may lead to durable remissions, however, prolonged cytopenias and infections may occur. In this single center retrospective study of 85 patients, we characterized immune reconstitution and infections for patients remaining in remission after axi-cel for LBCL. Prolonged cytopenias (those occurring at or after day 30 following infusion) were common with ≥grade 3 neutropenia seen in 21 of 70 (30%) patients at day 30 and persisting in 3 of 31 (9.7%) patients at 1 year. B cells were undetectable in 30 of 34 (88.2%) patients at day 30, but were detected in 11 of 19 (57.9%) at 1 year. Median immunoglobulin G levels levels reached a nadir at day 180. By contrast, CD4 T cells decreased from baseline and were persistently low with a median CD4 count of 155 cells/mL at 1 year after axi-cel (n=19, range: 33– 269). In total, 23 of 85 (27.1%) patients received intravenous immunoglobulins after axi-cel, and 34 of 85 (40%) received granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. Infections in the first 30 days occurred in 31 of 85 (36.5%) patients, of which 11 of 85 (12.9%) required intravenous antibiotics or hospitalization (“severe”) and were associated with cytokine release syndrome, neurotoxicity, tocilizumab use, corticosteroid use, and bridging therapy on univariate analyses. After day 30, seven severe infections occurred, with no late deaths due to infection. Prolonged cytopenias are common following axi-cel therapy for LBCL and typically recover with time. Most patients experience profound and prolonged CD4 T-cell immunosuppression without severe infection.     

Psoriatic arthritis and depressive symptoms: does systemic inflammation play a role?

Clinical Rheumatology - Depression is commonly associated with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but its risk factors in these patients are largely unrecognized. Pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in the...     

Diagnostic value of echocardiographic markers for diastolic dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Heart Failure Reviews - This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of echocardiographic markers of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and left ventricular diastolic...     

ApoC-III bound to apoB-containing lipoproteins increase with insulin resistance in Cherokee Indian youth

Because Native Americans are predisposed to obesity and type 2 diabetes associated with coronary artery disease, we assessed whether apoC-III bound to apoB-containing (LpB:C-III) and apoA-containing (LpA:C-III) lipoproteins, total apoC-III, apoB, and plasma lipids are associated with insulin resistance, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference in Cherokee children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years (n = 975). A cross-sectional analysis was done to determine associations of the lipoproteins with the homeostasis index (HOMA-IR) and BMI. When the data were grouped by quartiles for HOMA-IR and separated by three 5-year age groups (5-9, 10-14, and 15-19 years), the trend for LpB:C-III, triglyceride, and BMI z score to increase was significant for all age groups and both genders (P < .001). The trend to increase LpB:C-III with age was greater in boys (P < .0001) than in girls (P < .05) who tended to plateau after the age of 10 years. In contrast, the ratio of LpA:C-III to LpB:C-III decreased and the decrease was greater in boys (P < .0001) than girls (P < .01). Body mass index z score and waist circumference were correlated with LpB:C-III, triglyceride, apoB, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol within each gender (P < .001). In multiple regression models, LpB:C-III, the dependent variable, was associated with HOMA-IR for both genders. We conclude that increases in LpB:C-III in childhood and adolescence are associated with insulin resistance and obesity supporting the need for prevention programs.