Hypertension With High Homocysteine Is Associated With Default Network Gray Matter Loss.

Hypertension with high homocysteine (Hcy, ≥10 µmol/L) is also known as H-type hypertension (HHT) and proposed as an independent risk factor for stroke and cognitive impairment. Although previous studies have established the relationships among hypertension, Hcy levels, and cognitive impairment, how they affect brain neuroanatomy remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether and to what extent hypertension and high Hcy may affect gray matter volume in 52 middle-aged HHT patients and 51 demographically matched normotensive subjects. Voxel-based morphological analysis suggested that HHT patients experienced significant gray matter loss in the default network. The default network atrophy was significantly correlated with Hcy level and global cognitive function. These findings provide, to our knowledge, novel insights into how HHT affects brain gray matter morphology through blood pressure and Hcy.

Associations between interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus risk: a meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), however, the results are controversial. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis to evaluate a more accurate estimation of the associations. METHODS: Eligible studies were retrieved by searching PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, VIP, Wan Fang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was evaluated. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Heterogeneity was evaluated by Q statistic and I2 statistic. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis (stratified by HWE, region, event sample size, source of controls, genotyping method) were conducted and the potential for publication bias was assessed. Trial sequential analysis was introduced to assess the information size and the positive results. RESULTS: Twenty case-control studies were included. Overall results from IL10-1082A/G polymorphism showed increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus, but no significant associations were observed in both IL10-819C/T and IL10-592C/A polymorphism. Increased risk of SLE was also observed in IL10A/G polymorphism in Asian population, hospital-based and PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism) subgroups. In addition, decreased risk of SLE was widely detected in IL10-819C/T and IL10-592C/A polymorphisms in subgroup analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the IL10-1082A/G polymorphism is a risk factor in systemic lupus erythematosus. A decreased risk of SLE in the IL10-819C/T and IL10-592C/A polymorphisms in subgroups was also observed, but further rigorously studies are needed to confirm these results.

Severity and distribution of cartilage damage and bone marrow edema in the patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joints in knee osteoarthritis determined by MRI.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the distribution and severity of cartilage damage (CD) and bone marrow edema (BME) of the patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joints (PFJ and TFJ, respectively) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and to determine whether a correlation exists between BME and CD in knee OA, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Forty-five patients diagnosed with knee OA (KOA group) and 20 healthy individuals (control group) underwent sagittal multi-echo recalled gradient echo sequence scans, in addition to four conventional MR sequence scans. Knee joints were divided into 15 subregions by the whole-organ MRI scoring method. MRIs of each subregion were analyzed for the presence of CD, CD score and BME score. The knee joint activity functional score was determined using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) in the KOA group. Statistical analyses were used to compare the CD incidence; CD score and BME score between the PFJ and TFJ. Whether a correlation existed among body mass index, BME score, WOMAC pain score and CD score was also examined. Among the 675 subregions analyzed in the KOA group, 131 exhibited CD (CD score, 1-6). These 131 subregions were primarily in the PFJ (80/131, 61.07%), with the remainder in the TFJ (51/131, 38.93%). Thirty-three subregions had a CD score of 1, including 24 PFJ subregions (72.73%) and 9 TFJ subregions (27.27%). Among the 103 subregions with BME, the PFJ accounted for 60 (58.25%) and the TFJ for 43 (41.75%). A significant positive correlation was found between the BME and CD scores. In conclusion, CD and BME occurred earlier and more often in the PFJ compared to the TFJ in knee OA, and BME is an indirect sign of CD.