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OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of serum Dickkopf-3 (sDKK3) in predicting Early Neurological Deterioration (END) and in-hospital adverse outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. METHODS: AIS patients (n = 200) were included and assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Rating Scale. Serum Dkk3 levels were assessed by ELISA. END was defined as an increase of ≥ 4 points in NIHSS score within 72h. The biological threshold of sDKK3 level and END occurrence were predicted based on X-tile software. Primary outcomes were END and all-cause death, and the secondary outcome was ICU admission during hospitalization. The logistic regression model and Cox risk regression model were applied to evaluate the relationship between DKK3 level and END incidence, all-cause in-hospital mortality, and in-hospital adverse outcomes (ICU admission). RESULTS: During hospitalization, the incidence of END in patients with AIS was 13.0 %, and the mortality rate within 7 days after END was 11.54 % (3/26). In patients below the serum DKK3 cutoff (93.0 pg/mL), the incidence of END was 43.5 % (20/48). Patients with lower sDKK3 levels were associated with a 1.188-fold increased risk of developing END (OR = 1.188, 95 % CI 1.055‒1.369, p < 0.0001). However, there was no significant association with admission to the ICU. sDKK3 below the threshold (93.0 pg/mL) was a risk factor for death. CONCLUSION: Predictive threshold levels of serum DKK3 based on X-tile software may be a potential predictive biomarker of in-hospital END in patients with AIS, and low levels of DKK3 are independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality.

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OBJECTIVE Sclerostin is a glycoprotein that plays a catabolic role in bone and is involved in the regulation of bone metabolism by increasing the osteoclastic bone resorption. In this study, serum sclerostin levels were measured in chronic otitis media (COM) with and without cholesteatoma, assuming that it might have a role in the aetiopathogenesis of bone resorption. METHODS A total of 44 patients with cholesteatomatous COM (cCOM) (n = 22) and non-cholesteatomatous COM (ncCOM) (n = 22) were included in this study, and 26 healthy volunteers without any chronic ear disease problem(s) constituted the control group (n = 26). RESULTS No significant difference was not found in terms of serum iPTH, ALP, and vitamin D levels between ncCOM, cCOM, and the control groups. A significant difference was found in terms of serum sclerostin, Ca, and P levels between ncCOM, cCOM, and the control groups (p<0.05). Serum sclerostin levels in the study groups were significantly higher but their serum Ca and P levels were significantly lower compared to the control group. CONCLUSION We think that serum sclerostin concentrations, which were significantly higher in patients with cCOM and ncCOM compared to healthy controls are associated with bone erosion. There is a need for further studies with larger samples in order to determine the relationship between sclerostin and bone erosion in cholesteatoma to help in establishing preventive measures against cholesteatoma and set new targets for the development of non-surgical treatments.

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The first degree relatives of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a higher risk of developing RA, which is related to the expression of autoantibodies against citrullinated proteins (ACPA). Remarkably, prior to the onset of RA, cartilage damage is already initiated, whereas ACPA autoantibodies are already expressed. Here we show that both TNF-α and IL-6 are also increased prior to the onset of RA. Furthermore, when the levels of DKK1 and Sclerostin were evaluated in first degree relatives of RA patients, we found that the serum levels of TNF- α correlate with the expression levels of both DKK1 and Sclerostin. Interestingly, when the disease is already established, the correlation of TNF- α with DKK1 is lost in RA patients, whereas the correlation of Sclerostin with both TNF- α and IL-6 is further increased. Our data suggest a subclinical inflammation in patients at high risk of developing RA, which might lead to an increase in the levels of both DKK1 and Sclerostin, contributing to joint damage in the preclinical phase of the disease linked to the expression of ACPA autoantibodies.

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SUMMARY OBJECTIVE Sclerostin is a glycoprotein that plays a catabolic role in bone and is involved in the regulation of bone metabolism by increasing the osteoclastic bone resorption. In this study, serum sclerostin levels were measured in chronic otitis media (COM) with and without cholesteatoma, assuming that it might have a role in the aetiopathogenesis of bone resorption. METHODS A total of 44 patients with cholesteatomatous COM (cCOM) (n = 22) and non-cholesteatomatous COM (ncCOM) (n = 22) were included in this study, and 26 healthy volunteers without any chronic ear disease problem(s) constituted the control group (n = 26). RESULTS No significant difference was not found in terms of serum iPTH, ALP, and vitamin D levels between ncCOM, cCOM, and the control groups. A significant difference was found in terms of serum sclerostin, Ca, and P levels between ncCOM, cCOM, and the control groups (p<0.05). Serum sclerostin levels in the study groups were significantly higher but their serum Ca and P levels were significantly lower compared to the control group. CONCLUSION We think that serum sclerostin concentrations, which were significantly higher in patients with cCOM and ncCOM compared to healthy controls are associated with bone erosion. There is a need for further studies with larger samples in order to determine the relationship between sclerostin and bone erosion in cholesteatoma to help in establishing preventive measures against cholesteatoma and set new targets for the development of non-surgical treatments.

RESUMO OBJETIVO A esclerostina é uma glicoproteína que desempenha um papel catabólico no osso e também envolve a regulação do metabolismo ósseo, aumentando a reabsorção óssea osteoclástica. Neste estudo, os níveis séricos de esclerostina foram medidos em otite média crônica (OMC) com e sem colesteatoma, e presumiu-se se que ela poderia ter um papel na etiopatogênese da reabsorção óssea. MÉTODOS Um total de 44 pacientes com otite média crônica colesteatomatosa (OMCc) (n=22), não colesteatomatosa (OMCnc)(n=22) foram incluídos neste estudo, e 26 voluntários saudáveis e sem doenças crônicas do ouvido constituíram o grupo de controle (n=26). RESULTADOS Não foi encontrada diferença significativa em termos de níveis séricos de iPTH, ALP e vitamina D entre OMCnc, OMCc e o grupo de controle. Foi encontrada uma diferença significativa em termos de níveis séricos de esclerostina, Ca e P entre OMCnc, OMCc e o grupo de controle (p<0,05). Os níveis séricos de esclerostina nos grupos de estudo foram significativamente mais altos, mas os níveis séricos de Ca e P foram significativamente mais baixos em comparação com o grupo de controle. CONCLUSÃO Acreditamos que as concentrações séricas de esclerostina, significativamente maiores em pacientes com OMCc e OMCnc em relação aos controles saudáveis, estão associadas à erosão óssea. Há necessidade de mais estudos com amostras maiores para determinar a relação entre esclerostina e erosão óssea no colesteatoma, já que essas pesquisas podem ajudar a estabelecer medidas preventivas contra o colesteatoma e novas metas para o desenvolvimento de tratamentos não cirúrgicos.

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AIMS: The objective of this research was to quantify the levels of circulating HspBP1 and anti-HspBP1 IgG in HIV-infected individuals and to correlate them with CD4 T cell counts and viral load, as well as to determine the kinetics of those proteins during acute phase. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty serum samples from HIV-positive outpatients, thirty with high viral load and thirty with low viral load were analysed. The HspBP1 and anti-HspBP1 were quantified by ELISA. To investigate the kinetic of HspBP1 and anti-HspBp1 during the acute phase, these proteins and antibodies were quantified in samples of a commercial seroconverting HIV panel. All dosages were compared with the CD4 and CD8 T cell counts and HIV viral load. The results indicated that HIV positive outpatients presented significant increase in HspBP1 and anti-HspBP1 serum levels, compared with uninfected healthy. HspBP1 and anti-HspBP1 were negatively correlated with CD4 counts and CD4:CD8 ratio. In the acute phase, HspBP1 became significantly elevated 15 days after HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the quantification of HspBP1 can be associated to others well-established parameters of the HIV progression. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The discovery that HspBp1 and anti-HspBp1 are associated with progression of HIV infection is new and corroborates to validate the quantification of these proteins as an additional strategy in the management of the HIV infection.

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