Background and Objectives: This study investigated the impact of nutritional status and foods consumed on inflammation and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and Methods: We designed a cross-sectional observational study, involving 110 patients diagnosed with RA. The patients included were between 18 and 75 years old, diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis two years ago or earlier, with stable treatment for the last 8 weeks. Data on anthropometric parameters, body mass composition, nutritional status, individual food consumption records, inflammation, disease activity, quality of life, clinical, and laboratory parameters were collected for each study participant. The evaluation parameters of the patients were the simple disease activity index (SDAI), clinical disease activity index (CDAI), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and individual food consumption records. A bioimpedance device and measuring tape were used to take body composition and anthropometric measurements of the patients. Results: According to the body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio, in our study, we found that 60% of the patients were obese, 80% were at a very high health risk, and approximately 91% were in need of nutritional treatment. There was a significant negative correlation between the dietary intake of total energy, total fat, omega 3, calcium, zinc, cobalamin and the disease activity (SDAI, CDAI). There was a significant negative correlation between polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega 3, carotene, vitamin E, selenium and the SII. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between omega 6 and the SII, SDAI, CDAI (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study show that the foods consumed in the nutrition of RA patients may have effects on their inflammation and disease activity.

Purpose: Neuropeptide-S (NPS) is a novel 20-amino acid peptide, mainly expressed in the central nervous system and endocrine tissues. NPS has been linked to anxiety and fear-related behaviors. The association of NPS with depression in a human population has not been previously examined. The aim of the current study was to explore the potential association of NPS with clinical depression and comorbid anxiety. Materials and methods: Seventy-nine patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder and seventy-eight controls were included in the study. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) were used to measure depression and anxiety levels, respectively. Venous blood samples were obtained to measure plasma NPS levels. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the patients and controls in terms of sex, marital status, and smoking status. Plasma NPS levels were also not significantly different between the patients and controls. In patients with major depressive disorder, HAM-A and HAM-D scores were significantly higher than those of controls. No correlation was found between plasma NPS levels and age, body mass index (BMI), median HAM-A scores, and median HAM-D scores. Conclusions: Despite a significantly high level of comorbid anxiety among the patient group, we found no relationship between plasma NPS levels and depressive symptomatology.

Current approaches to vitamin D supplementation are generally limited to its oral intake. In this experimental study, the effects of applying vitamin D supplemented sunscreen cream on serum vitamin D metabolites were investigated. Forty 8-week-old male Wistar Albino rats were used in the study. Eight rats (Group B) were sacrificed to determine the baseline values of biochemical parameters. The remaining 32 rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups as follows: Group S, only the back skin of the rats were shaved; Group SD, only vitamin D3 diluted with sunflower oil was applied to the shaved area; Group SC, only sunscreen cream was applied to the shaved area; and Group SDC, sunscreen cream supplemented with vitamin D3 was applied to the shaved area. Serum 25(OH)D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3 levels were determined at the end of 8 weeks. Skin samples taken from the shaved areas were examined histopathologically. Mean (±S.D.) serum 25(OH)D3 levels of Groups B, S, SD, SC, and SDC were determined as 17.7±5.7, 13.5±3.1, 54.1±13.0, 19.6±2.7, 67.2±16.5 ng/mL, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in serum 25(OH)D3 values between Groups S and SD (p<0.001) and between Groups SC and SDC (p=0.002). A positive correlation was found between serum 25(OH)D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3 parameters (r=0.772; p<0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of histopathologic findings (vascular proliferation, sebaceous gland hyperplasia, inflammatory response and epithelial thickness). With this study, it was concluded that vitamin D added to sunscreen cream increases serum vitamin D levels by exerting transdermal activity.

Objective: Nesfatin-1 is a satiety neuropeptide involved in the regulation of metabolic pathways and food intake. Some studies have shown nesfatin-1 to be also associated with stress responses and stress-related behaviors. In the present study, we evaluated nesfatin-1 levels in obese individuals and investigated whether nesfatin-1 levels could be associated with anxiety levels in obese populations. Methods: Fifty-eight obese (29 anxious and 29 non-anxious) patients and 25 healthy control subjects between 18 and 65 years old were enrolled in the study. Plasma nesfatin-1 levels were measured with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and anxiety levels were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.Results: Plasma nesfatin-1 levels were significantly lower in both obese and anxious subjects and obese and non-anxious subjects than in the control group. No significant differences were found between the obese+anxious group and the obese+nonanxious group.Conclusion: Our results suggest that plasma nesfatin-1 levels are decreased and not associated with anxiety levels in obese populations