The sociotype questionnaire: assessing the social burden of skin diseases

Skin diseases can cause a significant psychosocial burden. A number of studies have considered issues such as a lower quality of life, increased anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and other psychological disorders. However, adequate means for evaluating social interaction difficulties, diminished social networks, and the impoverished conversational exchanges that affect the wellbeing and mental health of the individual, have not been sufficiently developed. This study is based on the sociotype approach that has recently been proposed as a new theoretical construct implemented in the form of a questionnaire; it examines the social bonding structures and relational factors associated with dermatological conditions..

Enfoque de Manejo Costero Integrado aplicado a la cuenca baja del arroyo El Potrero, Maldonado, Uruguay = The Integrated Coastal Management approach in the lower basin of the El Potrero stream, Maldonado, Uruguay

En la cuenca del arroyo El Potrero, departamento de Maldonado, confluyen una particular diversidad de ambientes, actores, intereses y problemáticas socioambientales. El objetivo de este trabajo es proponer medidas para el manejo de los conflictos, problemáticas y oportunidades socioambientales en el área, aplicando herramientas de Manejo Costero Integrado (MCI). El MCI busca un balance entre intereses sociales, ambientales y económicos en la zona costera, con un enfoque basado en ecosistemas e incorporando en el proceso a los distintos actores de una comunidad dada. A partir de revisión documental, entrevistas a 11 actores con incidencia local, talleres internos del equipo de trabajo y un taller abierto de validación se reconocieron cuatro asuntos sobre los que enfocar las propuestas de manejo: fortalecimiento de la gobernanza, fomento de la integridad ambiental de la costa balnearia, conservación del arroyo y sus márgenes y consolidación de una trama urbana de bajo impacto ambiental. Cada asunto de manejo dio origen a un programa del cual se desprenden proyectos con acciones específicas. Todos los programas se agrupan en un ”Plan integrado de manejo de la cuenca baja del arroyo El Potrero”. El espacio de intercambio entre actores diversos promovido en este estudio favoreció la generación de nuevos lazos y mostró el potencial del trabajo conjunto

Amino acid profile in malnourished patients with liver cirrhosis and its modification with oral nutritional supplements: Implications on minimal hepatic encephalopathy

Low plasma levels of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) in liver cirrhosis are associated with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). We aimed to identify a metabolic signature of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in malnourished cirrhotic patients and evaluate its modification with oral nutritional supplements (ONS) enriched with ß-Hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB), a derivative of the BCAA leucine. Post hoc analysis was conducted on a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 43 individuals with cirrhosis and malnutrition, who were randomized to receive, for 12 weeks, oral supplementation twice a day with either 220 mL of Ensure® Plus Advance (HMB group, n = 22) or with 220 mL of Ensure® Plus High Protein (HP group, n = 21). MHE evaluation was by psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES). Compared to the HP group, an HMB-specific treatment effect led to a larger increase in Val, Leu, Phe, Trp and BCAA fasting plasma levels. Both treatments increased Fischer’s ratio and urea without an increase in Gln or ammonia fasting plasma levels. MHE was associated with a reduced total plasma amino acid concentration, a reduced BCAA and Fischer´s ratio, and an increased Gln/Glu ratio. HMB-enriched ONS increased Fischer´s ratio without varying Gln or ammonia plasma levels in liver cirrhosis and malnutrition, a protective amino acid profile that can help prevent MHE. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Identification of novel targets in adipose tissue involved in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression

Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We hypothesize that a dysfunctional subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) may lead to an accumulation of ectopic fat in the liver. Our aim was to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the causative role of scWAT in NALFD progression. We performed a RNA-sequencing analysis in a discovery cohort (n = 45) to identify genes in scWAT correlated with fatty liver index, a qualitative marker of liver steatosis. We then validated those targets in a second cohort (n = 47) of obese patients who had liver biopsies available. Finally, we obtained scWAT mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from 13 obese patients at different stages of NAFLD and established in vitro models of human MSC (hMSC)-derived adipocytes. We observed impaired adipogenesis in hMSC-derived adipocytes as liver steatosis increased, suggesting that an impaired adipogenic capacity is a critical event in the development of NAFLD. Four genes showed a differential expression pattern in both scWAT and hMSC-derived adipocytes, where their expression paralleled steatosis degree: SOCS3, DUSP1, SIK1, and GADD45B. We propose these genes as key players in NAFLD progression. They could eventually constitute potential new targets for future therapies against liver steatosis

Correlational analysis and predictive validity of psychological constructs related with pain in fibromyalgia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fibromyalgia (FM) is a prevalent and disabling disorder characterized by a history of widespread pain for at least three months. Pain is considered a complex experience in which affective and cognitive aspects are crucial for prognosis. The aim of this study is to assess the importance of pain-related psychological constructs on function and pain in patients with FM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Design</p> <p>Multicentric, naturalistic, one-year follow-up study.</p> <p><it>Setting and study sample</it>. Patients will be recruited from primary care health centres in the region of Aragon, Spain. Patients considered for inclusion are those aged 18-65 years, able to understand Spanish, who fulfil criteria for primary FM according to the American College of Rheumatology, with no previous psychological treatment.</p> <p>Measurements</p> <p>The variables measured will be the following: main variables (pain assessed with a visual analogue scale and with sphygmomanometer and general function assessed with Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and), psychological constructs (pain catastrophizing, pain acceptance, mental defeat, psychological inflexibility, perceived injustice, mindfulness, and positive and negative affect), and secondary variables (sociodemographic variables, anxiety and depression assessed with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and psychiatric interview assessed with MINI). Assessments will be carried at baseline and at one-year follow-up.</p> <p>Main outcome</p> <p>Pain Visual Analogue Scale.</p> <p>Analysis</p> <p>The existence of differences in socio-demographic, main outcome and other variables regarding pain-related psychological constructs will be analysed using Chi Square test for qualitative variables, or Student <it>t </it>test or variance analysis, respectively, for variables fulfilling the normality hypothesis. To assess the predictive value of pain-related psychological construct on main outcome variables at one-year follow-up, use will be made of a logistic regression analysis adjusted for socio-demographic and clinical variables. A Spearman Rho non-parametric correlation matrix will be developed to determine possible overlapping between pain-related psychological constructs.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>In recent years, the relevance of cognitive and affective aspects for the treatment of chronic pain, not only in FM but also in other chronic pain diseases, has been widely acknowledged. However, the relative importance of these psychological constructs, the relationship and possible overlapping between them, or the exact meaning of them in pain are not enough known.</p

O -GlcNAc and Neurodegeneration: Biochemical Mechanisms and Potential Roles in Alzheimer\u27s Disease and Beyond

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a growing problem for aging populations worldwide. Despite significant efforts, no therapeutics are available that stop or slow progression of AD, which has driven interest in the basic causes of AD and the search for new therapeutic strategies. Longitudinal studies have clarified that defects in glucose metabolism occur in patients exhibiting Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and glucose hypometabolism is an early pathological change within AD brain. Further, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a strong risk factor for the development of AD. These findings have stimulated interest in the possibility that disrupted glucose regulated signaling within the brain could contribute to the progression of AD. One such process of interest is the addition of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) residues onto nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins within mammals. O-GlcNAc is notably abundant within brain and is present on hundreds of proteins including several, such as tau and the amyloid precursor protein, which are involved in the pathophysiology AD. The cellular levels of O-GlcNAc are coupled to nutrient availability through the action of just two enzymes. O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) is the glycosyltransferase that acts to install O-GlcNAc onto proteins and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) is the glycoside hydrolase that acts to remove O-GlcNAc from proteins. Uridine 5′-diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is the donor sugar substrate for OGT and its levels vary with cellular glucose availability because it is generated from glucose through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBSP). Within the brains of AD patients O-GlcNAc levels have been found to be decreased and aggregates of tau appear to lack O-GlcNAc entirely. Accordingly, glucose hypometabolism within the brain may result in disruption of the normal functions of O-GlcNAc within the brain and thereby contribute to downstream neurodegeneration. While this hypothesis remains largely speculative, recent studies using different mouse models of AD have demonstrated the protective benefit of pharmacologically increased brain O-GlcNAc levels. In this review we summarize the state of knowledge in the area of O-GlcNAc as it pertains to AD while also addressing some of the basic biochemical roles of O-GlcNAc and how these might contribute to protecting against AD and other neurodegenerative diseases

Gene Therapy Based on Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Adipose Tissue for the Treatment of Obesity and Its Metabolic Complications

Obesity is a highly prevalent condition often associated with dysfunctional adipose tissue. Stem cell-based therapies have become a promising tool for therapeutic intervention in the context of regenerative medicine. Among all stem cells, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) are the most easily obtained, have immunomodulatory properties, show great ex vivo expansion capacity and differentiation to other cell types, and release a wide variety of angiogenic factors and bioactive molecules, such as growth factors and adipokines. However, despite the positive results obtained in some pre-clinical studies, the actual clinical efficacy of ADMSCs still remains controversial. Transplanted ADMSCs present a meager rate of survival and proliferation, possibly because of the damaged microenvironment of the affected tissues. Therefore, there is a need for novel approaches to generate more functional ADMSCs with enhanced therapeutic potential. In this context, genetic manipulation has emerged as a promising strategy. In the current review, we aim to summarize several adipose-focused treatments of obesity, including cell therapy and gene therapy. Particular emphasis will be given to the continuum from obesity to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and underlying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Furthermore, we will provide insights into the potential shared adipocentric mechanisms involved in these pathophysiological processes and their remediation using ADMSCs