IL-10 and IL-1ß Serum Levels, Genetic Variants, and Metabolic Syndrome: Insights into Older Adults' Clinical Characteristics.

Populational aging is marked by chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). IL-10 and IL-1ß are pleiotropic cytokines with multiple biological effects linked to metabolic disorders. This cross-sectional study assessed 193 participants' IL-10 and IL-1ß serum levels regarding their role in developing MetS, clinical characteristics, and their IL1B rs1143627 and IL10 rs1800890 variants' genotype frequencies in a population over 60. IL-10 levels correlated weakly with HDL levels and fat mass and inversely with triglycerides, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and estimated average blood glucose levels. IL-10 levels were also indirectly influenced by the patient's T2DM duration, lean mass amount, and bone mineral content. Participants with altered HDL, elevated serum glucose, raised HbA1c levels, or those over 80 had reduced serum IL-10 levels compared to those with normal levels or other age groups, respectively. Women also had higher serum IL-10 levels than men. Dissimilarly, IL-1ß levels correlated directly only with the number of total leukocytes and segmented neutrophils, showing only significant variations with self-reported alcohol consumption. Our study also found that those with the IL10 AA genotype (lower IL-10 levels) had a significantly higher risk of developing MetS. These findings may help direct future research and more targeted therapeutic approaches in older adults.

Barreiras para o encaminhamento para o cuidado paliativo exclusivo: a percepção do oncologista / Barriers for referring to exclusive palliative care: the oncologist's perception

RESUMO Pacientes com câncer avançado demandam cuidados paliativos. Nosso objetivo foi o de avaliar as barreiras ao encaminhamento ao cuidado paliativo na percepção de oncologistas. Desenvolvemos um estudo com oncologistas de uma instituição de referência nacional, questionando-os quanto a aspectos da sua formação acadêmica, à compreensão dos significados de cuidados paliativos, bem como limites e benefícios do encaminhamento de pacientes a uma unidade de cuidados paliativos exclusivos. A análise qualitativa foi realizada por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Participaram 19 oncologistas, que, apesar de definirem o cuidado paliativo com características multidisciplinares, voltado para doença avançada, com o objetivo de melhorar a qualidade de vida, relataram dificuldades no encaminhamento relacionadas ao próprio profissional, expectativas dos pacientes ou familiares, obstinação terapêutica e características institucionais. A criação de um 'time consultor' nas unidades de cuidados usuais foi a principal estratégia relatada como potencial facilitadora para essa transição de cuidados. Concluímos que a deliberação do cuidado paliativo exclusivo para pacientes com câncer avançado é uma tarefa difícil, que perpassa diferentes barreiras. A dicotomia existente entre 'tratamento' e 'paliação' na modalidade do cuidado paliativo exclusivo deve ser repensada, contrapondo a ideia do cuidado paliativo ofertado a partir do diagnóstico.

ABSTRACT Patients with advanced cancer demand palliative care. Our objective was to assess the barriers for referral to the palliative care in the perception of oncologists. In a study with the oncologists from a national reference institution who were asked about aspects related to their academic background, the understanding of the meanings of palliative care, as well as limits and benefits the referral of patients to an exclusive palliative care unit. Qualitative analysis was performed using Bardin's content analysis. Nineteen oncologists participated. Despite defining the palliative care with multidisciplinary characteristics, aimed at advanced disease, with the objective of improving quality of life, they reported difficulties in the referral, related to the professional, expectations of patients/relatives, therapeutic obstinacy and institutional characteristics. The creation of a 'Consulting Team' in the usual care units was the main strategy reported as a facilitator potential for this care transition. We concluded that the deliberation of the exclusive palliative care for patients with advanced cancer is a difficult task, which goes through different barriers, which can result in a late referral. The dichotomy that exists between 'treatment' and 'palliative care' in the exclusive palliative care must be rethought, opposing the idea of palliative care offered from diagnosis.

Polimorfismo IL1B -511 e associação com suscetibilidade e prognóstico em pacientes com carcinoma papilífero de tireoide / IL1B -511 polymorphism and association with susceptibility and prognosis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma / IL1B -511 polimorfismo y asociación con susceptibilidad y pronóstico en pacientes con carcinoma papilar de tiroides

Objetivo: Associar a presença do SNP IL1B -511 (rs16944) à susceptibilidade ao CPT, bem como comparar níveis séricos da citocina antes e sete dias após a Iodoterapia, juntamente com outras características clínicas dos pacientes. Método: Trata-se de um estudo caso-controle, no qual foram obtidas amostras de sangue de 52 indivíduos (26 em cada grupo). A genotipagem foi realizada por meio da estratégia PCR-RFLP. Os níveis séricos de IL-1ß foi medido por meio de kit para ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA). Testes para médias e estudos de associação foram executados considerando-se um nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Não houve diferença estatística com relação a distribuição genotípica entre indivíduos caso e controle, e estes grupos não diferiram em relação às dosagens de citocina. Porém, os níveis de citocina aumentaram significativamente após a Iodoterapia, sendo que os portadores do genótipo CC apresentaram maior produção da proteína, mas este aumento não estava correlacionado com a dose de radiofármaco administrada. Conclusão: O polimorfismo IL1B -511 não foi associado à susceptibilidade ao CPT, porém os níveis séricos da citocina elevaram-se com o tratamento da iodoterapia, e esta elevação foi genótipo dependente

Objective: To associate the presence of SNP IL1B -511 (rs16944) with susceptibility to TLC, as well as to compare serum cytokine levels before and seven days after iodotherapy, along with other clinical characteristics of patients. Method: This is a case-control study, in which blood samples were obtained from 52 individuals (26 in each group). Genotyping was performed using the PCR-RFLP strategy. Serum IL-1ß levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit (ELISA). Tests for means and association studies were performed considering a significance level of 5%. Results: There was no statistical difference regarding genotypic distribution between case and control individuals, and these groups did not differ in relation to cytokine dosages. However, cytokine levels increased significantly after iodine therapy, and patients with the CC genotype showed higher protein production, but this increase was not correlated with the administered radiopharmaceutical dose. Conclusion: IL1B-511 polymorphism was not associated with susceptibility to TLC, but serum cytokine levels increased with the treatment of iodotherapy, and this elevation was genotype dependent.

Objetivo: investigar la asociación entre el polimorfismo VNTR del gen IL4, localizado en la región intrón 3, en pacientes diagnosticados de accidente cerebrovascular hemorrágico (Stroke) o aneurisma intracerebral en una muestra del Distrito Federal. Método: Estudio observacional, retrospectivo, transversal, con 55 individuos, del cual se registraron las características clínicas de las historias clínicas y se realizó un análisis de genotipado mediante la estrategia de PCR. Las frecuencias genotípicas se estimaron mediante conteo directo. El nivel de significancia adoptado fue del 5% y la prueba estadística utilizada fue Chi-Cuadrado. Resultados: Se verificó que el genotipo más frecuente fue B1/B2 (50,9%; n=28), seguido del genotipo ancestral B1/B1 (27,3%, N=15), y el menos frecuente fue el genotipo B2/B2 (21,8%, N=12). No se encontró asociación estadística entre las variables hipertensión arterial sistémica, diabetes, tabaquismo y consumo de alcohol y la presencia de polimorfismo en el grupo estudiado. Conclusión: La presencia del polimorfismo IL4 INTRON 3 VNTR se asoció con la variable género, demostrando que en la muestra estudiada, AVEH es más frecuente en mujeres que en hombres, divergiendo de los estudios en los que los varones tienen más probabilidades de desarrollar una VENa.

BAX gene (-248 G > A) polymorphism in a sample of patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the Federal District, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Papillary thyroid cancer corresponds to approximately 1% of all carcinomas; nevertheless, it is the most prevalent endocrine neoplasm in the world. Studies reveal that the BAX (-248 G > A) polymorphism may be associated with negative regulation of BAX gene transcription activity, causing a decrease in its protein expression. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to describe the genotype and allele frequencies of BAX single nucleotide polymorphisms (-248 G > A) (rs4645878) in the research patients, and to associate its presence with susceptibility to papillary thyroid cancer. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted with 30 patients with papillary thyroid cancer. For the evaluation of genetic polymorphisms, the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique was employed. Allele and genotype frequencies were estimated using the SPSS program, and significant associations were considered when p < 0.05. RESULTS: There was a significant genotypic difference between papillary thyroid cancer and the control group (p = 0.042). The GG genotype provided a protective factor for papillary thyroid cancer (p = 0.012, odds ratio (OR) = 0.313; confidence interval (CI) = 0.123-0.794). Likewise the G allele was a protective factor for papillary thyroid cancer (p = 0.009; OR = 0.360; CI = 0.163-0.793). The BAX gene polymorphism (-248 G > A) was associated with papillary thyroid cancer. CONCLUSION: BAX (-248 G > A) GG genotype carriers, or at least one mutated allele, was associated with papillary thyroid cancer in the Brazilian population studied, and the G allele presence is considered a protective factor against papillary thyroid cancer occurrence.