Role of specialized pro-resolving mediators on inflammation, cardiometabolic health, disease progression, and quality of life after omega-3 PUFA supplementation and aerobic exercise training in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized 16-week, placebo-controlled interventional trial.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by autoantibody production and synovial membrane damage. It significantly impairs overall function and quality of life. Consumption of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and regular aerobic exercise (AEx) training are reported to have positive effects on the progression of RA. However, the mechanisms behind these benefits are still inconclusive. This study protocol will investigate the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation and AEx training on disease progression, cardiometabolic health, and quality of life, and their association with the plasma and synovial fluid levels of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in subjects with RA. Methods: The study consists of a 16-week intervention period, during which participants will be randomly assigned in a double-blinded manner to one of four groups: placebo control (PLA), PLA+AEx, n-3, or n-3+AEx. The PLA groups will be given a gelatin-filled capsule, while the n-3 groups will be given n-3 PUFAs equivalent to 2.5 g/d of docosahexaenoic acid and 0.5 g/d of eicosapentaenoic acid. The AEx groups will perform exercise three times per week on a stationary electronically braked cycle ergometer at 60-70% of their VO2peak for 50-60 minutes. Before and after the intervention, participants will undergo RA-specific and functional measurements, peak aerobic capacity test, and a dietary and physical activity assessment. Venous blood and synovial fluid from the knee joint will be collected. Changes in disease progression, cardiometabolic health, and quality of life, as well as erythrocyte membrane composition to assess n-3 incorporation, SPM levels, inflammatory markers, and gene expression from blood and synovial fluid will be analyzed. Conclusions: The study aims to elucidate the SPMs that regulate the inflammatory gene expression pathways and associate them with the improvements in disease progression, cardiometabolic health, and quality of life after n-3 PUFA supplementation and AEx training. Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT05945693.

Role of depressive symptoms in the health-related quality of life of Venezuelan patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Results from a tertiary care center.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of depressive symptoms on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in Venezuelan patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: HR-QoL was assessed in a cross-sectional, single-center study of 212 consecutive Venezuelan patients with RA (1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria) using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36), which includes a Physical Composite Scale (PCS) and a Mental Composite Scale (MCS); depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Covariates included socio-demographics, comorbidities, disease characteristics, body mass index, and disability. Unadjusted and multivariable linear regression analysis were used to determine the effect of depressive symptoms on HR-QoL. RESULTS: Mean age was 50.2 years and 89.6% were female. Twenty-five percent of patients had depressive symptoms. In the multivariable regression analysis, the presence of depressive symptoms changed the mental SF-36 scores by - 4.81 (p = 0.0052) and the physical SF-36 scores by - 3.33 (p = 0.0527). Other factors significantly associated with scores on the PCS of the SF-36 were functional class, disability and job loss due to RA. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of depressive symptoms negatively affected the HR-QoL in our patients, with a predominant effect on the MCS of the SF-36. The PCS of the SF-36 was mainly affected by those symptoms related to the functional impairment and inflammatory activity of the disease. The routine assessment and early treatment of depressive symptoms, targeting mental and mood manifestations, may improve the HR-QoL and thus contribute to healthier outcomes in Venezuelan RA patients.

Alprazolam una alternativa terapéutica en Urgencia Hipertensiva / Alprazolam A Therapeutic Alternative in Hypertensive Urgency

Objetivo: Comparar la terapia combinada de captopril mas alprazolam versus captopril mas placebo en el manejo de urgencia hipertensiva (UH). Método: Es un ensayo clínico, uncéntrico, doble ciego, semialeatorizado, en edades comprendidas entre 45 y 80 años con UH que cumplían los criterios del JNC VII, atendidos en el servicio de emergencia entre Agosto 2017 ­ Febrero del 2018, distribuidos en grupo A (Control, n=41) y grupo B (experimental, n= 55) los cuales recibieron captopril mas placebo y alprazolam y captopril respectivamente. Resultados: Hubo predominio del género femenino en ambos grupos, y también el grado de ansiedad leve fue la más frecuente. En el grupo experimental hubo un descenso significativo a los 30, 60 y 90 minutos de la PAM de - 19%, -24 y -27% con una P 0.0000, en PAS a los 30 minutos era de -17%, 60 minutos de -22% y 90 minutos -26%, y en la PAD en los intervalos de tiempo antes citado fue -21%, -26% y -28%. Con una reducción igual o mayor a 25% de la presión arterial media en el grupo B, luego de 90 min de tratamiento. Según el RR aquellos que recibieron el tratamiento experimental tuvieron cerca de 7,5 veces más probabilidades de disminuir la presión arterial de forma efectiva a los 90 min, el NNT indica que es necesario tratar únicamente a 2 pacientes para que uno se beneficie. Conclusión: Acorde con estos resultados podemos discernir que el uso del alprazolam puede ser una alternativa terapéutica en la urgencia hipertensiva.

Objective: To compare the combination therapy of captopril plus alprazolam versus captopril plus placebo in the management of hypertensive emergency (UH). Method:It is a clinical trial, uncentric, double blind, semi-randomized, in ages between 45 and 80 years withUH that met the criteria of JNC VII, attended in the emergency service between August 2017 -February 2018, distributed in group A (Control, n = 41) and group B (experimental, n = 55) who received captopril plus placebo and alprazolam and captopril respectively. Results: There was a predominance of the female gender in both groups, and also the degree of mild anxiety was the most frequent. In the experimental group there was a significant decrease at 30, 60 and 90 minutes of the MAP of -19%, -24 and -27% with a P 0.0000, in PAS at 30 minutes it was -17%, 60 minutes of -22% and 90 minutes -26%, and in the PAD in the aforementioned time intervals it was -21%, -26% and -28%. With a reduction equal to or greater than 25% of the average blood pressure in group B, after 90 min of treatment. According to the RR those who received the experimental treatment were about 7.5 times more likely to lower blood pressure effectively at 90 min, the NNT indicates that it is necessary to treat only 2 patients for one to benefit. Conclusion:According to these results we can discern that the use of alprazolam can be a therapeutic alternative in the hypertensive emergency