Glycemic control as the main determinant factor of serum VEGF levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a main endocrine disorder that may cause vascular complications as the disease progresses. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been linked to the development of micro and macrovascular diabetic complications. This study aimed to assess several factors including blood pressure, body mass index, lipid profile, kidney function, and glycemic control that may provide the rise of serum VEGF levels in type 2 DM subjects. Methods. This cross-sectional study was carried out among 65 type 2 DM subjects. Systole, diastole, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and body mass index (BMI) were measured. The levels of serum VEGF were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were measured by latex agglutination inhibition test, while serum glucose, lipid profiles, urea, and creatinine levels were tested by enzymatic photometric method. Results. The levels of serum VEGF had a significant correlation with BMI (p = 0.001, r = 0.397), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (p = 0.001, r = 0.418), HbA1c (p < 0.001, r = 0.600), systole (p = 0.001), r = 0.397), diastole (p = 0.021, r = 0.286), and MAP (p = 0.001, r = 0.001). Further multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that HbA1c logarithm (log) was the determinant factor of VEGF levels (p < 0.001, β = 0.631, Adjusted R2 = 38.9%) Conclusion. HbA1c is the main determinant factor of serum VEGF levels among type 2 DM patients.

Dynamic interaction of obesity, age, MCP-1 Level, and ACE-1 gene with the severity of knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study

The risk factors most strongly associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA) are old age and obesity. However, few studies have evaluated the interaction between aging and obesity in conjunction with inflammatory markers and knee OA severity as part of a complete assessment of knee OA management. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the interaction between obesity, age, inflammation [including the I/D polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme-1 (ACE-1)], and the severity of knee OA.

METHODS

A total of 80 knee OA patients were included in this cross-sectional study. The severity of knee OA was determined based on the Kellgren-Lawrence system. All patients underwent physical and radiological examination; monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) markers were measured. The parameters of the ACE-1 gene were examined with sequencing DNA.

RESULTS

There was a significant relationship between age and severity of knee OA (P=0.007), with subjects aged greater than or equal to 65 having a 3.56-fold higher risk of developing moderate to severe OA than subjects aged less than 65. There was a significant difference between body weight and knee OA severity (P=0.026), in which subjects weighing greater than or equal to 60 kg had 3.14 times the risk of experiencing severe knee OA. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that age was the strongest independent variable for knee OA severity compared with body weight. MCP-1 levels were significantly higher in mild knee OA than in moderate to severe knee OA. The DD genotype of the ACE-1 gene increases the risk of severe knee OA by four times in subjects aged greater than or equal to 65 compared to subjects aged less than 65. However, the DD genotype of the ACE-1 gene does not increase the risk of severe knee OA in subjects weighing greater than or equal to 60 kg.

CONCLUSION

While obesity and age were found to be associated with the severity of knee OA, age emerged as the independent risk factor for knee OA severity. Furthermore, MCP-1 levels were significantly higher in cases of mild knee OA compared to severe knee OA. It was observed that the DD genotype of the ACE-1 gene increases the risk of severe knee OA in individuals aged 65 years or older.

The level of ratio between matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) after prolotherapy intervention and the functional outcome in patient with frozen shoulder: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of prolotherapy on functional outcome changes, along with ratio of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1)/tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) as an indicator of tissue repair in the glenohumeral joint in frozen shoulder patients.

DESIGN

Single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

SUBJECTS/PATIENTS

Participants with frozen shoulder.

METHODS

The prolotherapy group is the study group, and the normal saline (NS) group is the control group. Each group was given injections at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6. Level of biomarker levels was measured at week 6 and week 12 after there. Functional outcomes were measured at weeks 0, 6, and 12.

RESULTS

A significant difference in week 6 and week 12 was demonstrated in the ratio of MMP-1/TIMP-1 level between the prolotherapy group and the normal saline group (P value = .002). Both groups performed well regarding the Numerical Rating Scale score and functional outcome. Compared to the normal saline group, prolotherapy changed the mean range of motion in flexion and internal rotation.

CONCLUSION

Prolotherapy is considered to play a role in repairing cartilage based on biomarker assessment, particularly the ratio of MMP-1/TIMP-1-prolotherapy effectiveness in improving functional outcome and Numerical Rating Scale score.

A Case Series: Effect of Comorbidities on the Outcomes of Prolotherapy Injection for Frozen Shoulder Patients

Frozen shoulder (FS) is a disease caused by an inflammatory condition that causes severe pain and decreased range of motion by loss of glenohumeral mobility. Frozen Shoulder restricts daily life's functional aspect, increasing morbidity. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are risk factors that make an FS poor prognosis during treatment because of the diabetes glycation process and hypertension-enhanced vascularization. Prolotherapy injects an irritant solution into the tendon, joints, ligaments, and joint spaces to release growth factors and collagen deposition, reducing pain, restoring joint stability, and increasing the quality of life. We report 3 cases of patients with confirmed FS. Patient A with no comorbidity, patient B with diabetes mellitus, and patient C with hypertension, with all patient's chief complaints of shoulder pain and limited ROM, and symptoms affected the general quality of daily life. This patient was provided injection with Prolotherapy treatment combined with physical therapy intervention. Patient A had significantly improved ROM to maximum after 6 weeks with relieved pain and improved shoulder function. Patients B and C showed increased ROM, still tiny, decreased pain, and improved shoulder function. In conclusion, prolotherapy demonstrated a beneficial effect in a patient with FS with comorbidities, although not to the maximum extent in patients without comorbidity.

Effectiveness of Prolotherapy Combined with Physical Therapy Versus Physical Therapy Only for Frozen Shoulder: A Case Report

Case series

Patients: Male, 66-year-old • Male, 65-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Frozen shoulder

Symptoms: Limited range of motion of shoulder • pain radiating into the neck and elbows • shoulder pain

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Injection of prolotherapy • physical therapy

Specialty: Rehabilitation

Changes in levels of cartilage oligomeric proteinase and urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen in subjects with knee osteoarthritis after dextrose prolotherapy: A randomized controlled trial

Objective

To assess the effects of dextrose prolotherapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis on the levels of serum cartilage oligomeric proteinase and urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen, and on the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Index and numerical rating scale score for pain.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial, in which participants were randomly allocated into 2 groups, receiving injections of either hyaluronic acid or dextrose prolotherapy. The hyaluronic acid group received 5 injections, 1 each on weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and the dextrose prolotherapy group received 3 injections, 1 each on weeks 1, 5 and 9. Serum cartilage oligomeric proteinase, urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen, Western Ontario McMaster Universities Index score, and numerical rating scale score for pain were measured at baseline and 3 weeks after the last injection. Comparative analysis was conducted using Wilcoxon test within groups and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test between groups.

Results

A total of 47 participants (21 allocated to hyaluronic acid, 26 allocated to dextrose prolotherapy) completed the protocol. Both interventions resulted in significant improvements in numerical rating scale scores for pain, total Western Ontario McMaster Universities Index scores, and its subscales score. However, the dextrose prolotherapy outperformed hyaluronic acid in numerical rating scale score for pain and level of urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen, with score changes differences of 0.93 (p = 0.042) and 0.34 (p = 0.048), respectively. No significant changes in level of serum cartilage oligomeric proteinase were found in either group.

Conclusion

Dextrose prolotherapy is an alternative injection therapy for knee osteoarthritis, which was found to be associated with a significant reduction in urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen compared with hyaluronic acid injection. Neither injection method resulted in reduced serum cartilage oligomeric proteinase.

Body mass index as the most influential factor of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in non-diabetic adults

BACKGROUNDHigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) has been widely accepted as a predictor of future cardiovascular risk that reflects a microinflammatory state. Obesity linked to microinflammation increases the prevalence of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine the association between several obesity indices namely body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (fat), and visceral fat (VF) with hsCRP in non-diabetic adults. METHODSThis was a cross-sectional study performed on 80 non-diabetic adults with ages ranging from 20-40 years. The obesity indices BMI, WC, body fat percentage, and VF were measured. We then measured the hsCRP levels using an immunoturbidimetric method. Simple and multiple linear regression tests were used to analyze the association between obesity indices and hsCRP levels. RESULTSMean of log BMI, log WC, and log VF was 1.41 ± 0.08 kg/m2, 1.93 ± 0.06 cm, and 0.95 ± 0.27 units, respectively. Simple linear regression tests showed that log BMI (â=3.506; p<0.001), log WC (â=3.672; p<0.001), log VF (â=0.833; p<0.001), and log systolic blood pressure (â=3.739; p=0.024) had a significant positive correlation with log hsCRP levels. Further multiple linear regression test showed that log BMI (â=3.772; Beta=0.674; p<0.001) had the greater effect on log hsCRP levels compared to other indices. CONCLUSIONS    BMI had a greater influence on hsCRP levels compared to other obesity indices in non-diabetic adults. Body mass index can be used as a better index in predicting hsCRP levels compared to other indices.

Relationship between insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome components and serum uric acid

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome is cluster of abnormality related with increasing cardiovascular events. Hyperuricemia is level of uric acid more than 7 mg/dL for men. Some research have reported relation between metabolic syndrome mediated by insulin resistance with increasing of serum uric acid level.

OBJECTIVE

Assess relationship between insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome components with the level of serum uric acid.

METHOD

Observational study with cross sectional approach conducted on 102 outpatient subjects at Dr. RSUP Wahidin Sudirohusodo (RSWS) hospital and Hasanuddin University Hospital in the period of July-September 2018.

RESULTS

Subjects with IR were found to be significantly higher for having MetS (88.23% vs. 11.77% p = 0,000). In subjects with IR, the average serum uric acid level was higher compared to non-IR subjects, but this difference was not significant (6.63 vs 6.42 mg/dL; P = 0.325). In subjects with MetS, the average serum uric acid level was higher compared to subjects with non-MetS but this difference was not significant (6.62 vs. 6.28 mg/dL; P = 0.556). No significant relationship was found between IR and MetS with serum uric acid level.

CONCLUSION

Insulin resistance is related to the incidence of MetS and in both of these circumstances an independent tendency is found to increase uric acid levels. The role of insulin resistance in the relationship between metabolic syndrome and uric acid levels was not proven in this study.

Human tolerogenic dendritic cells generated with protein kinase C inhibitor are optimal for functional regulatory T cell induction - A comparative study

Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs) are a promising therapeutic tool for specific induction of immunological tolerance. Human tDCs can be generated ex vivo using various compounds. However, the compound(s) most suitable for clinical application remain undefined. We compared the tolerogenic properties of tDCs treated with protein kinase C inhibitor (PKCI), dexamethasone, vitamin D3 (Vit D3), rapamycin (Rapa), interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and a combination of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist and retinoic acid. All tDCs had a semi-mature DC phenotype. PKCI-, TGF-β-, and Rapa-tDCs showed CCR7 expression and migration to CCL19, but other tDCs showed little or none. PKCI- and IL-10-tDCs induced functional regulatory T cells more strongly than other tDCs. The tolerogenic properties of all tDCs were stable against proinflammatory stimuli. Furthermore, PKCI-tDCs were generated from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and primary Sjögren's syndrome. Therefore, PKCI-tDCs showed the characteristics best suited for tolerance-inducing therapy.