Oxalate (dys)Metabolism: Person-to-Person Variability, Kidney and Cardiometabolic Toxicity.

Oxalate is a metabolic end-product whose systemic concentrations are highly variable among individuals. Genetic (primary hyperoxaluria) and non-genetic (e.g., diet, microbiota, renal and metabolic disease) reasons underlie elevated plasma concentrations and tissue accumulation of oxalate, which is toxic to the body. A classic example is the triad of primary hyperoxaluria, nephrolithiasis, and kidney injury. Lessons learned from this example suggest further investigation of other putative factors associated with oxalate dysmetabolism, namely the identification of precursors (glyoxylate, aromatic amino acids, glyoxal and vitamin C), the regulation of the endogenous pathways that produce oxalate, or the microbiota's contribution to oxalate systemic availability. The association between secondary nephrolithiasis and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity) inspired the authors to perform this comprehensive review about oxalate dysmetabolism and its relation to cardiometabolic toxicity. This perspective may offer something substantial that helps advance understanding of effective management and draws attention to the novel class of treatments available in clinical practice.

The impact of the ABO/Rh blood group on susceptibility and severity among COVID-19 patients in Luanda, Angola

SARS-CoV-2 is a public health concern worldwide. Identification of biological factors that could influence transmission and worsen the disease has been the subject of extensive investigation. Herein, we investigate the impact of the ABO/Rh blood group on susceptibility and severity among COVID-19 patients in Luanda, Angola. This was a multicentric cohort study conducted with 101 COVID-19 patients. Chi-square and logistic regression were calculated to check factors related to the worsening of the disease and deemed significant when p<0.05. Blood type O (51.5%) and Rh-positive (93.1%) were the most frequent. Patients from blood type O had a high risk to severe disease [OR: 1.33 (95% CI: 0.42 - 4.18), p=0.630] and hospitalization [OR: 2.59 (95% CI: 0.84 - 8.00), p=0.099]. Also, Rh-positive blood type presented a high risk for severe disease (OR: 10.6, p=0.007) and hospitalization (OR: 6.04, p=0.026). We find a high susceptibility, severity, hospitalization, and mortality, respectively, among blood group O and Rh-positive patients, while blood group AB presented a low susceptibility, severity, hospitalization, and mortality, respectively. Our findings add to the body of evidence suggesting that ABO/Rh blood groups play an important role in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Attenuation of adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats by phonophoresis with an aqueous gel of the Amazonian plant Elaeoluma nuda (Sapotaceae).

BACKGROUND: Various species of the genus Pouteria (Elaeoluma) are used by the native population of Brazil because of, among other factors, their anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-inflammatory properties of the extract of the Amazonian plant Elaeoluma nuda were recently identified in prospective pharmacological studies. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of phonophoresis with aqueous gel extract of E. nuda in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis. METHODOLOGY: Arthritis was induced in Lewis rats with an adjuvant. Phonophoresis with E. nuda gel was then administered daily and the results compared with those obtained with phonophoresis of diclofenac diethylammonium gel and ultrasound therapy without phonophoresis. Arthritis in the different groups was evaluated by plethysmometry. Proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1α were quantified by cytometric bead array (CBA). RESULTS: The effect of phonophoresis of aqueous gel with E. nuda extract on arthritis in rats' paws (a 33% reduction compared with the controls) was the same as that produced by phonophoresis with diclofenac diethylammonium. Ultrasound therapy without phonophoresis produced no significant effect on the 21st day of therapy. There was a significant reduction in TNF-α and IL-1α levels in the group treated with phonophoresis with E. nuda gel (p=0.0042; p=0.0003, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effect of phonophoresis with E. nuda gel on cytokines TNF-α, IL-1α and adjuvant-induced arthritis.