Chronic systemic inflammation is essential in many chronic non-infectious diseases, including type 2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS). This study aimed at characterization of systemic inflammatory reaction as a component of diet-induced MS in rat model. Thirty-three male Wistar rats were distributed into two groups designated 'control' (n = 15) and 'experimental (MS)' (n = 18). The groups were fed, respectively, regular and high-fat/high-carbohydrate diets for 12 weeks. The intensity of systemic inflammatory process against the background of metabolic impairments was assessed by total and differential counts of white blood cells and serum levels of total protein, C-reactive protein, cytokines (IL6, IL10 and TNFα), insulin and leptin. We also assessed the production of reactive oxygen species in adipose tissue samples. The experiment revealed signs of systemic inflammation in MS as compared to control, including reactive leukocytosis, hyperproteinemia and increased serum levels of C-reactive protein (2.6-fold; р = 0.001), IL10 (3.7-fold; р = 0.029) and TNFα (4.2-fold; р = 0.035). The observed changes were accompanied by elevated metabolic activity of visceral adipose tissue, indicated by hyperleptinemia and increased free radical oxidation intensity. Pairwise positive correlations of serum levels were revealed for leptin and insulin (r = 0.701; р = 0.001) and leptin and IL10 (r = 0.523; р = 0.012). Thus, high-fat/ high-carbohydrate diet promoted metabolic impairments concomitantly with early signs of systemic inflammation characteristic of MS and obesity.
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Stanford neuromodulation therapy (SNT) is the state-of-the-art magnetic stimulation protocol that has been developed for management of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The study was aimed to assess the possibility of SNT implementation in clinical practice and to define the protocol safety and efficacy in patients with TRD being an episode of the recurrent depressive disorder or bipolar disorder at the independent center. The study involved six patients (among them three women aged 21–66) with TRD associated with recurrent depression and type 1 or 2 bipolar disorder. The patients received intermittent theta-burst stimulation in accordance with the SNT protocol for five days: applying 10 triple blocks of stimulation daily at intervals of 1 hr between the blocks to the selected stimulation site showing maximum negative functional connectivity with subgenual cingulate cortex within the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was used for clinical assessment of the effects, the follow-up period was three months. The improvement of depressive symptoms to the levels characteristic of remission immediately after the SNT completion was observed in five patients (MADRS score ≤10). After three months, two patients still had remission, the condition of three patients met the criteria of mild depressive episode, and one female patient withdrew from the study due to logistical difficulties. No serious adverse events were reported. The findings confirm safety and potentially high efficacy of SNT, including in patients with type 1 and 2 bipolar disorders.
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The regulation of TNF inhibitor therapy-associated immune responses in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in children remains an urgent problem. The study aimed at analyzing the expression of CD39/CD73 endonucleotidases by different subsets of peripheral blood T cells in children with IBD including Crohn's disease (n = 34) and ulcerative colitis (n = 33) having received TNF inhibitors in comparison with conditionally healthy children (n = 45). Lymphocyte subsets including regulatory T cells (Treg, CD4+CD127lowCD25high), activated T cells (Tact, CD4+CD25+CD127high) and Th17 cells (CD4+CD161+CD3+) were studied by flow cytometry. The results are presented as medians (Me) and quartiles (Q25–Q75). In children with IBD the highest and the lowest relative counts of CD39+ cells were found in Treg and Tact subsets — 31% (15–38) and 4% (1–7), respectively. The highest relative counts of CD73+ cells were found in Tact — 13% (8–21). The CD39 and CD73 expression ratio in patients with IBD, and in the control group as well, depended on particular subset. CD39 expression in Treg, Tact and Th17 of patients with IBD was not age-dependent. Patients with acute Crohn's disease revealed decreased expression of CD39 in Treg compared with the control group (12% (9–23) vs 35% (28–39), respectively; р = 10–6). Patients with Crohn's disease in remission revealed increased expression of CD39 in Treg compared with the acute of the disease (31% (27–40) vs 12% (9–23); р = 9.4 × 10–5). Patients with Crohn's disease in remission revealed no significant differences with the control group apart from reduced expression of CD73 by Treg in Crohn's disease. The results indicate significant association of CD39 and CD73 expression levels in particular subsets of CD4+ cells with the phase of the disease (acute vs remission) and, accordingly, with the anti-TNF regimen efficacy.
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