Ceramides in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: Existing Evidence and Therapeutic Considerations for Diet as an Anticeramide Treatment.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) constitute a set of connective tissue disorders and dysfunctions with akin clinical manifestations and autoantibody responses. AIRD treatment is based on a comprehensive approach, with the primary aim being achieving and attaining disease remission, through the control of inflammation. AIRD therapies have a low target specificity, and this usually propels metabolic disturbances, dyslipidemias and increased cardiovascular risk. Ceramides are implicated in inflammation through several different pathways, many of which sometimes intersect. They serve as signaling molecules for apoptosis, altering immune response and driving endothelial dysfunction and as regulators in the production of other molecules, including sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P). With lipid metabolism being severely altered in AIRD pathology, several studies show that the concentration and variety of ceramides in human tissues is altered in patients with rheumatic diseases compared to controls. As a result, many in vitro and some in vivo (animal) studies research the potential use of ceramides as therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, fibromyalgia syndrome, primary Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, myositis, systemic vasculitis and psoriatic arthritis. Furthermore, the majority of ceramide synthesis is diet-centric and, as a result, dietary interventions may alter ceramide concentrations in the blood and affect health. Subsequently, more recently several clinical trials evaluated the possibility of distinct dietary patterns and nutrients to act as anti-ceramide regimes in humans. With nutrition being an important component of AIRD-related complications, the present review details the evidence regarding ceramide levels in patients with AIRDs, the results of anti-ceramide treatments and discusses the possibility of using medical nutritional therapy as a complementary anti-ceramide treatment in rheumatic disease.

Estudio piloto de la prevalencia de obesidad materna en condados griegos seleccionados / A pilot study on the prevalence of maternal obesity in selected Greek counties

OBJETIVO: Notificar una prevalencia piloto de sobrepeso, obesidad y bajo peso maternos en condados griegos seleccionados. MÉTODOS: Para este estudio transversal se reclutó a un total de 441 mujeres adultas fértiles de maternidades de seis condados griegos. El estado ponderal pregrávido se definió de acuerdo con los puntos de corte de la OMS, y el estado ponderal grávido se diagnosticó con la tabla de ganancia de peso de Mardones y Rosso. RESULTADOS: Durante la gestación, la mayoría de las participantes (34,0%) tenían peso corporal (PC) normal. El 25,6% de la muestra tenía obesidad, el 23,8% bajo peso, y el 16,6% restante tenía sobrepeso. Globalmente, el embarazo triplicaba la prevalencia de bajo peso, aumentaba la prevalencia de obesidad (el 388,0%) y reducía el número de participantes en la categoría PC normal (p≤0,001 para todos) La mayoría de las participantes clasificadas en cada categoría de peso pregrávida permanecieron en la misma categoría de peso durante la gestación. Todas las mujeres obesas antes del embarazo siguieron siéndolo durante éste. El peso bajo fue más prevalente en Kavala (37,5%), y la obesidad fue más frecuente en Tesalónica (30,8%). Las mujeres con sobrepeso antes de la concepción tenían muchas probabilidades de presentar sobrepeso u obesidad durante el embarazo (OR: 23,8, IC: 11,1-51,0). CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados indican una prevalencia alta de sobrepeso, obesidad y bajo peso en las mujeres griegas embarazadas

OBJECTIVE: To report a pilot prevalence of maternal overweight, obesity and underweight in selected Greek counties. METHODS: A total of 441 adult childbearing women were recruited from maternity clinics in 6 Greek counties for this cross-sectional study. Pre-gravid weight status was defined according to the WHO cut-offs and gravid weight status was diagnosed with the Mardones and Rosso weight gain chart. RESULTS: During gestation the majority of the participants were of normal body weight (BW) (34.0%), obesity was apparent in 25.6% of the sample, 23.8% of the participants were underweight, and the remaining 16.6% were overweight. Overall, pregnancy tripled the prevalence of underweight, increased the prevalence of obesity (by 388.0%) and decreased the number of participants in the normal BW category (p ≤ 0.001 for all). The majority of participants classified in each pre-gravid weight-category remained in the same weight category during their gestation. All the pre-gravidly obese women were also obese during pregnancy. Underweight was more prevalent in Kavala (37.5%) and obesity was more frequent in Thessaloniki (30.8%). Women who were overweight prior to conception were highly likely to be overweight/obese during pregnancy (OR: 23.8, CI: 11.1-51.0). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a high prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight among pregnant women in Greece

A pilot study on the prevalence of maternal obesity in selected Greek counties.

OBJECTIVE: To report a pilot prevalence of maternal overweight, obesity and underweight in selected Greek counties. METHODS: A total of 441 adult childbearing women were recruited from maternity clinics in 6 Greek counties for this cross-sectional study. Pre-gravid weight status was defined according to the WHO cut-offs and gravid weight status was diagnosed with the Mardones and Rosso weight gain chart. RESULTS: During gestation the majority of the participants were of normal body weight (BW) (34.0%), obesity was apparent in 25.6% of the sample, 23.8% of the participants were underweight, and the remaining 16.6% were overweight. Overall, pregnancy tripled the prevalence of underweight, increased the prevalence of obesity (by 388.0%) and decreased the number of participants in the normal BW category (p≤0.001 for all). The majority of participants classified in each pre-gravid weight-category remained in the same weight category during their gestation. All the pre-gravidly obese women were also obese during pregnancy. Underweight was more prevalent in Kavala (37.5%) and obesity was more frequent in Thessaloniki (30.8%). Women who were overweight prior to conception were highly likely to be overweight/obese during pregnancy (OR: 23.8, CI: 11.1-51.0). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a high prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight among pregnant women in Greece.

Sunflower seed oil and oleic acid utilization for the production of rhamnolipids by Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The potential production of rhamnolipids was demonstrated using the thermophilic eubacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8 and sunflower seed oil or oleic acid as carbon sources. Sunflower seed oil was directly hydrolyzed by secretion of lipase and became a favorable carbon source for rhamnolipids production. Rhamnolipids levels were attainted high values, comparable to those produced by Pseudomonas strains from similar sources. Rhamnolipids synthesis in oleic acid exhibited a long period of induction, while in sunflower seed oil, the synthesis is more rapid. Glucose resulted in a more protracted period of rhamnolipids production after exhaustion of each or both carbon sources. Both mono- and di-rhamnolipids were identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in the total rhamnolipids extract. The molecular composition of the produced biosurfactant was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and LC-MS analysis. Furthermore, secretion of rhamnolipids was confirmed on agar plates. The antimicrobial activity of rhamnolipids was detected against the bacterium Micrococcus lysodeikticus using a lysoplate assay. These results demonstrate that rhamnolipids produced in these substrates can be useful in both environmental and food industry applications by using cheap oil wastes. The alternative use of this thermophilic microorganism opens a new perspective concerning the valorization of wastes containing plant oils or frying oils to reduce the cost of rhamnolipids production.