1.
Relationship between erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition and obesity in children and adolescents.
Tang, J, Yan, Y, Li, J, Yang, B, Zhao, X, Wan, Y, Zheng, JS, Mi, J, Li, D
Journal of clinical lipidology. 2019;(1):70-79.e1
Abstract
BACKGROUND Observational studies have reported inconsistent results on the association between circulating fatty acids and obesity. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition and obesity in children and adolescents. METHODS We conducted a case-control study including 1442 obese and 1442 normal-weight children and adolescents. Circulating fatty acid composition between cases and controls were compared both in the present study and literature-based meta-analysis. Individual fatty acids contributing most to discriminating cases and controls were identified by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis and their associations with obesity were explored by a conditional logistic regression model. RESULTS Five saturated fatty acids (14:0, 16:0, 17:0, 18:0, 20:0) were higher, 9 polyunsaturated fatty acids (18:3n-3, 20:3n-3, 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3, 18:2n-6, 20:2n-6, 20:3n-6, 20:4n-6) were lower in cases than in controls, while pooled results from the comparative meta-analysis were only consistent in 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3 and 18:2n-6. The orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis model indicated that 16:0, 18:0, 20:4n-6, and 22:6n-3 were the fatty acids contributing most to discriminating cases and controls. In the conditional logistic regression model, significant positive associations were found for 16:0 (per 1 SD OR = 1.43, 95% CI, 1.35-1.52) and 18:0 (per 1 SD OR = 1.12, 95% CI, 1.09-1.16), while significant inverse associations were found for 20:4n-6 (per 1 SD OR = 0.63, 95% CI, 0.58-0.69) and 22:6n-3 (per 1 SD OR = 0.56, 95% CI, 0.52-0.61). CONCLUSIONS Erythrocyte phospholipid 16:0 and 18:0 were positively and 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3 were inversely associated with obesity in children and adolescents.
2.
Drugs for preventing red blood cell dehydration in people with sickle cell disease.
Nagalla, S, Ballas, SK
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2018;(10):CD003426
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin, resulting in abnormal red blood cells. These are rigid and may block blood vessels leading to acute painful crises and other complications. Recent research has focused on therapies to rehydrate the sickled cells by reducing the loss of water and ions from them. Little is known about the effectiveness and safety of such drugs. This is an updated version of a previously published review. OBJECTIVES To assess the relative risks and benefits of drugs to rehydrate sickled red blood cells. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's Haemoglobinopathies Trials Register. We also searched online trials registries for any ongoing trials (01 July 2018).Last search of the Group's Haemoglobinopathies Trials Register: 08 October 2018. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of drugs to rehydrate sickled red blood cells compared to placebo or an alternative treatment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Both authors independently selected studies for inclusion, assessed study quality and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS Of the 51 studies identified, three met the inclusion criteria, including 524 people with sickle cell disease aged between 12 and 65 years of age. One study tested the effectiveness of zinc sulphate as compared to placebo and the remaining two assessed senicapoc versus placebo. No deaths were seen in any of the studies (low-quality evidence). The zinc sulphate study showed a significant reduction in painful crises (in a total of 145 participants) over one and a half years, mean difference -2.83 (95% confidence interval -3.51 to -2.15) (moderate-quality evidence). However, analysis was restricted due to limited statistical data. Changes to red blood cell parameters and blood counts were inconsistent (very low-quality evidence). No serious adverse events were noted in the study. The Phase II dose-finding study of senicapoc (a Gardos channel blocker) compared to placebo showed that the high dose senicapoc showed significant improvement in change in hemoglobin level, the number and proportion of dense red blood cells, red blood cell count and indices and hematocrit value (very low-quality evidence). The results with low-dose senicapoc were similar to the high-dose senicapoc group but of lesser magnitude. There was no difference in the frequency of painful crises between the three groups (low-quality evidence). A subsequent Phase III study of senicapoc was terminated early since there was no difference observed between the treatment and control groups in the primary end point of painful crises. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS While the results of zinc for reducing sickle-related crises are encouraging, larger and longer-term multicenter studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this therapy for people with sickle cell disease.While the Phase II and the prematurely terminated phase III studies of senicapoc showed that the drug improved red blood cell survival (depending on dose), this did not lead to fewer painful crises.Given this is no longer an active area of research, this review will no longer be regularly updated.