Value of precision nutrition in the inflammatory control of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies directed against endogenous antigens causing various clinical manifestations, chronic inflammation and tissue damage. Although the pathophysiology of SLE remains unknown, it is recognized that genetic, epigenetic, environmental and neuroendocrine factors are involved in the development of the disease and its complications. A notable proportion of patients with SLE also present obesity, and this dysmetabolic profile can cause renal, musculoskeletal and/or respiratory deterioration, fatigue, various pathophysiological alterations and functional deterioration. In this context, precision nutrition emerges as a promising tool in the inflammatory control of SLE, especially in patients with associated obesity. Various studies demonstrate the beneficial influence of balanced dietary patterns in macronutrients with foods rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and polyphenols on the inflammatory control of SLE and the most diverse pathologies, highlighting the Mediterranean diet and plant-based diets. Finally, the intestinal microbiota may play a relevant role in this clinical scenario, since dysbiosis is associated with inflammatory processes and immune deregulation. It is believed that precision nutrition can modulate inflammatory profiles and immune dysfunctions to ensure better quality of life and metabolic well-being of SLE patients with the support of precision omics technologies.

El lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) es una enfermedad autoinmune caracterizada por la producción de autoanticuerpos dirigidos contra antígenos endógenos causando diversas manifestaciones clínicas, inflamación crónica y daño tisular. Aunque la fisiopatología del LES sigue siendo desconocida, se reconoce que factores genéticos, epigenéticos, ambientales y neuroendocrinos están implicados en el desarrollo de la enfermedad y sus complicaciones. Una proporción notable de pacientes con LES presenta también obesidad, y este perfil dismetabólico puede producir deterioro renal, musculoesquelético y/o respiratorio, fatiga, diversas alteraciones fisiopatológicas y deterioro funcional. En este contexto, la nutrición de precisión emerge como una herramienta prometedora en el control inflamatorio del LES, especialmente en pacientes con obesidad asociada. Diversos estudios demuestran la influencia beneficiosa de patrones dietéticos equilibrados en macronutrientes con alimentos ricos en fibra, vitaminas, minerales, antioxidantes y polifenoles en el control inflamatorio del LES y de las más diversas patologías, destacando la dieta Mediterránea y las dietas basadas en plantas/vegetales. Por último, la microbiota intestinal puede tener un papel relevante en este escenario clínico, ya que la disbiosis se asocia con procesos inflamatorios y desregulación inmune. Se cree que con la nutrición de precisión se pueden modular los perfiles inflamatorios y las disfunciones inmunitarias para garantizar una mejor calidad de vida y el bienestar metabólico de los pacientes con LES con el apoyo de las tecnologías de precisión ómicas.

Food and Nutrition Public Policies in Brazil: From Malnutrition to Obesity.

"Nutrition transition" describes the shifts in dietary consumption and energy expenditure influenced by economic, demographic, and epidemiological changes at a population level. This phenomenon has been associated with rising obesity rates worldwide, especially in developed countries. In Brazil, the historical analysis of temporal trends between malnutrition and obesity characterized the nutrition transition in the country and interweaved it with the formulation and implementation of public food and nutrition policies. Such analysis is crucial for understanding certain principles in each context. Thus, this review contextualized the consolidation of obesity as a critical health and public policy issue in Brazil. Our review suggested that the country may still be at the initial stage of care for obesity, and more efforts are needed to contain the advance of the disease in Brazil.

Differential Expression of MMP2 and TIMP2 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their endogenous inhibitor, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP), are expressed in many different cell types and play an important role in physiologic and pathological degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Starting from these observations and considering the activation state of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in obesity, we investigated the gene expression of metalloproteinases before and after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYBG). The study was performed in the Ribeirão Preto Medical School University Hospital. Seventy-three women were divided into a study group (SG), composed of 53 individuals with severe obesity before and after 6 months of RYGB, and a control group (CG), composed of 20 normal-weight individuals. Anthropometric and body composition data were collected, and peripheral blood for ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction. The biological samples were submitted to a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the expression of MMP2 and TIMP2 genes. Alterations in weight loss, body mass index (BMI), and fat mass (FM) were observed after 6 months of RYGB (p < 0.05). A reduction of gene expression of TIMP2 was observed after 6 months of RYGB, contributing positively to the weight loss (R 2 = 0.33 p = 0.04). The enrichment analyses highlighted the interaction between TIMP2 and MMP2 genes and the molecular pathways involving the ECM remodeling in the obesity condition. RYGB contributes significantly to weight loss, improved BMI, reduced FM, and reduced TIMP2 expression in PBMCs, which might contribute to the ECM remodeling in the obesity and could be useful as a circulating biomarker.

Regional cerebral blood flow at rest in obesity.

OBJECTIVES: Imaging studies have shown brain abnormalities associated with eating behavior (taste perception, food intake, and food reward), neural connectivity, and cognition related to obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether obese individuals have changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during fasting and rest using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and whether these differences are associated with body fat and serum levels of leptin, insulin, and glucose. METHODS: For this purpose, rCBF assessed by ([99]mTc)-ECD-SPECT was compared between 10 obese women (30 ± 5 y of age, body fat: 38 ± 3 kg) and 10 lean women (30 ± 6 y of age, body fat: 17 ± 5 kg) using statistical parametric mapping. Pearson's coefficient and linear regression were used to search for associations among variables. RESULTS: The obese women showed antagonic rCBF in the left frontoparietal region and greater rCBF in areas related to the default mode network and the salience network (P = 0.0001). Positive linear correlations of rCBF, body fat, and the serum levels of glucose and insulin were found, but no associations were detected using linear regression. CONCLUSION: Obese women showed rCBF differences in areas related to the frontoparietal neural circuit, the default mode network, and the salience network, suggesting loss of cognitive control and a higher perception of physiologic processes, such as hunger. Hyperactivation in these areas might jeopardize the recognition of changes in energy homeostasis.

Impacto da informatização intra-hospitalar sobre a gestão de custos: Integração da prescrição eletrônica das fórmulas pediátricas e das dietas enterais com suas respectivas áreas de produção / Impact of intrahospital informatization on cost management: Integration of electronic prescription of pediatric formulas and enteral diets with their respective production areas

Introduction: Informatization contributes to the integration among various sectors, cost reduction, and improved quality of services. This study aimed to assess the impact on cost/benefit of the integration of electronic prescription of pediatric formulas and enteral diets in the respective production areas in a hospital. Methods: We analyzed the quantitative consumption and financial cost of the products corresponding to 80% of the budget ceiling for the annual programming of each modality during 2 consecutive months in two steps, i.e., before and after the implementation of the new module. Results: A more effective control of the quantities produced and of the final products dispensed was observed, reducing both the traceable and untraceable demands (an 85% reduction in financial terms from R$ 3770.25/months before to R$ 566.73/month after). Conclusion: The change represented a technological innovation that improved the quality of the service provided and contributed to waste reduction.

Introducción: La informatización contribuye para la integración entre distintos sectores, la reducción de costes y la mejora de la calidad de los servicios. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el impacto sobre los costes y beneficios que ofrece la integración de la receta electrónica de formulaciones pediátricas y la alimentación enteral con sus respectivas zonas de producción de un hospital. Métodos: Se analizaron el consumo cuantitativo y financiero de los productos correspondientes al 80% del límite máximo del presupuesto de la programación anual de cada modalidad durante 2 meses consecutivos en dos etapas, antes y después de la implementación del nuevo módulo. Resultados: Hubo un control más efectivo de las cantidades producidas, dio a conocer los productos finales, reduciendo las demandas tanto trazables y no rastreables (reducción de 85% en términos financieros, de R$ 3770,25 / mes por adelantado y R$ 566,73 / mes más tarde). Conclusión: El cambio representó una innovación tecnológica que proporciona una mejor calidad de servicio y ha contribuido a la reducción de residuos.

Indice de masa corporal no está asociado con la oxidación de los lípidos y carbohidratos en pacientes hospitalizados / The body mass index is not associated with lipid or carbohydrate oxidation in hospitalized patients

Introducción: El balance de energía se ve influenciado por la oxidación de macronutrientes (proteínas, carbohidratos y lípidos). Objetivo: Caracterizar la utilización de sustratos en sujetos con peso normal y obesos. Metodología: se realizó una impedancia bioeléctrica y una calorimetría indirecta para determinar la oxidación de carbohidratos y lípidos de pacientes hospitalizados. Los sujetos fueron divididos en tres grupos, el grupo 1: IMC 18,5-24,9 kg / m2, grupo 2: IMC 25-29.9 kg / m2 y el grupo 3: IMC> 30 kg / m2. Los grupos de individuos se compararon mediante la prueba de ANOVA y, en algún caso, después de la prueba se aplicó el Dunn (p< 0,05 consi-derado significativo). Resultados: Se estudiaron 38 personas (11 hombres y 27 mujeres) con una edad media de 44,3±16,5 años; 18 normales, 10 con sobrepeso y 10 obesos. Los sujetos obesos tenían un mayor gasto energético en reposo que los individuos normales. Obesos y no obesos oxidan cantidades similares de carbohidratos y lípidos. Conclusiones: El índice de masa corporal no se asoció con la oxidación de los lípidos y carbohidratos en pacientes hospitalizados. La cantidad de masa sin grasa se asocia con la cantidad total de hidratos de carbono y oxidación de lípidos.

Introduction: Energy balance is influenced by the oxidation of macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids). Objective: To characterize substrate utilization in normal weight and obese. Subjects and Methods: Bioelectrical impedance analysis and indirect calorimetry were used to determine the oxidation of carbohydrates and lipids in hospitalized patients. Subjects were divided into three groups: group 1: BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m, group 2: BMI 25-29.9 kg / m and Group 3: BMI> 30 k/m². Groups of individuals were compared using ANOVA and, in some cases, after the Dunn test was applied (p <0.05 were considered significant). Results: 38 individuals (11 men and27 women) with a mean age of 44.3 ± 16.5 years ofwhich 18 were eutrophic, 10 overweightand10 obese. Obese subjects had higher resting energy expenditure than normal individuals. Obese and non-obese individuals oxidized similar amounts of carbohydrates and lipids. Conclusions: BMI was not associated with the oxidation oflipids and carbohydrates in hospitalized patients. The amount offat mass is associated with the total amount of carbohydrate and lipid oxidation.