Among the complex network of inflammatory cells involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Th17 cells have recently been identified as key cells in the promotion of autoimmune processes, and joint destruction. The IL-23/Th17 signalling pathway, consisting of IL-23/IL-23R, IL-17A and IL-17F encoding genes, represents a candidate way for RA development with possible involvement in disease susceptibility and effect on disease progression. The present study aimed to determine the association between the polymorphic variants of the IL-17A (rs2275913), IL-17F (rs763780) and IL-23R (rs11209026) genes and RA susceptibility, progression and response to therapy with TNF-α inhibitors. Eighty-nine patients and 125 healthy individuals were investigated. The IL-17A polymorphism was found to affect RA progression and response to anti-TNF treatment. Female patients carrying the IL-17A wild-type genotype more frequently presented with stage 4 (8/24 vs. 6/47; p = 0.058) and were characterized by more active disease (the highest DAS28 score >5.1) after 3 months of therapy with the TNF inhibitors (12/23 vs. 15/45; p = 0.040). The IL-17F polymorphism appeared to be associated with susceptibility to the disease. The presence of the IL-17F minor variant (OR 3.97; p < 0.001) and its homozygosity (OR 29.62; p < 0.001) was more frequent among patients than healthy individuals. These results suggest that the polymorphisms within the IL-17A and IL-17F genes play a significant role in RA.

No abstract

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass and the deterioration of bone microarchitecture leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures. Conventional anti-osteoporotic pharmaceutics are effective in the treatment and prophylaxis of osteoporosis, however they are associated with various side effects that push many women into seeking botanicals as an alternative therapy. Traditional folk medicine is a rich source of bioactive compounds waiting for discovery and investigation that might be used in those patients, and therefore botanicals have recently received increasing attention. The aim of this review of literature is to present the comprehensive information about plant-derived compounds that might be used to maintain bone health in perimenopausal and postmenopausal females.

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruits possess potential cardiovascular, lipid-lowering and hypoglycemic bioactivities. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of resin-purified cornelian cherry extract rich in iridoids and anthocyanins on several transcription factors, intima/media ratio in aorta and serum parameters, which determine or are valuable indicators of the adverse changes observed in the course of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. For this purpose, male New Zealand rabbits were fed a diet enriched in 1% cholesterol for 60 days. Additionally, one group received 10 mg/kg b.w. of cornelian cherry extract and the second group 50 mg/kg b.w. of cornelian cherry extract. PPAR-α and PPAR-γ expression in the aorta, LXR-α expression in the liver; cholesterol, triglycerides, adipokines, apolipoproteins, glucose and insulin levels in serum; the intima and media diameter in the thoracic and abdominal aorta were determined. Administration of cornelian cherry extract resulted in an enhancement in the expression of all tested transcription factors, a decrease in triglycerides, leptin and resistin, and an increase in adiponectin levels. In addition, a significant reduction in the I/M ratio was observed for both the thoracic and abdominal aorta. The results we have obtained confirm the potential contribution of cornelian cherry extract to mitigation of the risk of developing and the intensity of symptoms of obesity-related cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders such as atherosclerosis or metabolic syndrome.

No abstract