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Patients with rheumatic diseases suffer depression at a far greater rate than the general population. Aside from evident mental health degradation, in this group of patients depression can often lead to failures in the treatment of the basic disease. The aim of the study was to assess the concentration of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) in the skin autofluorescence (SAF) exam in patients with select rheumatic diseases depending on depression concomitance. 139 patients with rheumatic diseases were enrolled into the study—43 (39F/4 M) patients with RA, 31 (24F/7 M) patients with PsA, 27 (22F/5 M) patients with SLE and 38 (33F/5 M) patients with SSc. In all patients, the concentration of AGE was assessed using the AGE Reader device (DiagnOptics BV Groningen, The Netherlands). The Beck Depression Inventory II was used to assess depression in the patients. Patients who scored 14 points or more in the BDI-II were diagnosed with depression. In the studied group, depression was identified in 73 (53%) patients—25 with RA, 21 with PsA, 11 with SLE and 16 with SSc. Mean SAF in patients with depression was 2.8 ± 0.4, and in the group with no depression—2.2 ± 0.5 (p < 0.001). The study results indicate that in the course of rheumatic diseases, the presence of depression may influence the increase in AGE concentration in the skin. Therefore, evaluating AGE levels in the skin may be clinically relevant as it can help identify patients who may be at risk of developing depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that skin autofluorescence (SAF), measured with an advanced glycation end product (AGE) reader, estimates the accumulation of AGEs in tissues. SAF is predictive of incident type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and CV mortality in the general population. Studies in diabetic mice have shown that activation of the receptor for AGEs in hematopoietic progenitor cells increases blood neutrophils and monocytes, impairing atherosclerosis regression. We asked whether SAF is associated with blood neutrophil and monocyte counts in the general population, and whether this was moderated by prediabetes, diabetes, and sex. We examined the associations between SAF and blood neutrophil/monocyte counts in participants of the Lifelines cohort (n = 58,923: n = 24,382 men, and n = 34,541 women), a prospective population-based cohort from the North of the Netherlands, employing multivariable regression analyses. SAF positively associated with blood neutrophil and monocyte counts in the whole cohort. The positive association between SAF and monocyte, but not neutrophil, counts was moderated by prediabetes and diabetes. Positive associations between SAF and blood neutrophil and monocyte counts were moderated by male sex. Moreover, three-way interaction analyses revealed that the positive associations between SAF and neutrophil and monocyte counts were moderated by prediabetes, but not diabetes, in male sex. SAF is positively associated with blood neutrophil and monocyte counts in the general population, especially in men with prediabetes. This may contribute to the increased CV risk in men with prediabetes. [Display omitted] • Skin autofluorescence (SAF) is positively associated with blood neutrophil and monocyte counts in the Lifelines cohort. • The association between SAF and blood monocyte, but not neutrophil, counts is moderated by prediabetes and diabetes. • The associations between SAF and blood neutrophil and monocyte counts are moderated by male sex. • The associations between SAF and blood neutrophil and monocyte counts are moderated by prediabetes in male sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The process of protein glycation described by Brownlee et al. is a crucial pathogenic mechanism in the development of chronic complications of diabetes. Objectives. To assess advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the skin of patients with type 1 diabetes (DM1) and excess body fat (EBF) accumulation. Material and methods. The study group consisted of 227 DM1 patients (121 women and 106 men) whose mean age was 31 ±9.2 years; the mean duration of diabetes was 12 ±7.7 years; and the mean HbA1c was 8.9 ±1.8%. The inclusion criteria were as follows: age 18-65 years, DM1, and lack of acute inflammations and uncontrolled chronic diseases. The exclusion criteria were: anemia (hemoglobin (Hb) <11 g/dL), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 mL/min/1.73 m2) and elevated aminotransferase levels (more than twice the upper normal limits). Total adipose tissue content was assessed using the electrical bioimpedance method, with the Tanita BC-418 MA analyzer (Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan). The Tanita ViScan AB 140 (Tanita Corp.) was used to evaluate visceral fat tissue (VTF). The content of glycation end products in the skin was assessed using a DiagnOptics AGE Reader device (type 214D00102; DiagnOptics, Groningen, the Netherlands). Results. The group with normal body fat (NBF) consisted of 123 subjects, whereas 104 subjects had EBF. No significant statistical differences were found between the NBF and EBF groups with regard to age, duration of diabetes, current HbA1C value, and tobacco use. A significantly higher AGE score was observed in the EBF group. Conclusions. Increased body fat affects the amount of AGE in the skin, which correlates with a higher risk of developing chronic diabetes complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased in RA. This study was designed to evaluate whether a reduction in disease activity influences early markers of CVD. Methods. In a prospective longitudinal study, 58 newly diagnosed RA patients and 58 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included. Endothelial dysfunction was measured by small artery elasticity (SAE) and endothelial cell activation was assessed by measuring soluble vascular cellular activation molecule 1(sVCAM-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF). Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were quantified by skin autofluorescence. After 1 year, measurements were repeated in all RA patients. Results. At entry, SAE was decreased in RA vs HCs [median 3.4 ml/mmHg100 (range 1.2–9.0) vs 6.1 (range 5.0–15.3), P < 0.0001] and sVCAM-1 and vWF were increased: 391 ng/ml (range 256–680) vs 341 (range 223–691) (P = 0.0015) and 120 ng/ml (range 26.5–342) vs 99 (range 22–298) (P = 0.02), respectively. SAE was inversely correlated with the 28-joint DAS (DAS28; r = −0.31, P = 0.016). AGEs were increased by 2.55 arbitrary units (range 1.29–4.65) vs 2.12 (range 1.32–3.82) in HCs (P = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, the presence of RA, age and systolic blood pressure were independently and inversely related to SAE. After 1 year, SAE had significantly improved in RA, from 3.4 (range 1.2–9.0) to 3.8 (range 1.5–10.3) (P = 0.03). Conclusion. Endothelial dysfunction is present in newly diagnosed RA patients, independently of traditional risk factors and is inversely correlated with disease activity. By reducing disease activity, endothelial dysfunction improves, although not to normal values. Also, a reduction in disease activity targeting traditional risk factors remains important in preventing CVD in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in skeletal muscle has been implicated in development of sarcopenia., Aim: To obtain further insight in the pathophysiology of sarcopenia, we studied its relationship with skin AGEs in the general population., Methods: In a cross-sectional analysis, 2744 participants of northern European background, mean age 74.1 years, were included from the Rotterdam Study. Skin AGEs were measured as skin autofluorescence (SAF) using AGE ReaderTM, appendicular skeletal mass index (ASMI) using insight dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, hand grip strength (HGS) using a hydraulic hand dynamometer, and, in a subgroup, gait speed (GS) measured on an electronic walkway (n = 2080). We defined probable sarcopenia (low HGS) and confirmed sarcopenia (low HGS and low ASMI) based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) revised criteria cutoffs. Multivariate linear and logistic regression were performed adjusting for age, sex, body fat percentage, height, renal function, diabetes, and smoking status., Results: The prevalence of low ASMI was 7.7%; probable sarcopenia, 24%, slow GS, 3%; and confirmed sarcopenia, 3.5%. SAF was inversely associated with ASMI [β -0.062 (95% CI -0.092, -0.032)], HGS [β -0.051 (95% CI -0.075, -0.026)], and GS [β -0.074 (95% CI -0.116, -0.033)]. A 1-unit increase in SAF was associated with higher odds of probable sarcopenia [odds ratio (OR) 1.36 (95% CI 1.09, 1.68)] and confirmed sarcopenia [OR 2.01 (95% CI 1.33, 3.06)]., Conclusion: Higher skin AGEs are associated with higher sarcopenia prevalence. We call for future longitudinal studies to explore the role of SAF as a potential biomarker of sarcopenia., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.)

Background: Dicarbonyls are highly reactive compounds and major precursors of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Both dicarbonyls and AGEs are associated with development of age-related diseases. Dicarbonyls are formed endogenously but also during food processing. To what extent dicarbonyls from the diet contribute to circulating dicarbonyls and AGEs in tissues is unknown., Objectives: To examine cross-sectional associations of dietary dicarbonyl intake with plasma dicarbonyl concentrations and skin AGEs., Methods: In 2566 individuals of the population-based Maastricht Study (age: 60 ± 8 y, 50% males, 26% with type 2 diabetes), we estimated habitual intake of the dicarbonyls methylglyoxal (MGO), glyoxal (GO), and 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG) by combining FFQs with our dietary dicarbonyl database of MGO, GO, and 3-DG concentrations in > 200 commonly consumed food products. Fasting plasma concentrations of MGO, GO, and 3-DG were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Skin AGEs were measured as skin autofluorescence (SAF), using the AGE Reader. Associations of dietary dicarbonyl intake with their respective plasma concentrations and SAF (all standardized) were examined using linear regression models, adjusted for age, sex, potential confounders related to cardiometabolic risk factors, and lifestyle., Results: Median intake of MGO, GO, and 3-DG was 3.6, 3.5, and 17 mg/d, respectively. Coffee was the main dietary source of MGO, whereas this was bread for GO and 3-DG. In the fully adjusted models, dietary MGO was associated with plasma MGO (β: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.13) and SAF (β: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.17). Dietary GO was associated with plasma GO (β: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.16) but not with SAF. 3-DG was not significantly associated with either plasma 3-DG or SAF., Conclusions: Higher habitual intake of dietary MGO and GO, but not 3-DG, was associated with higher corresponding plasma concentrations. Higher intake of MGO was also associated with higher SAF. These results suggest dietary absorption of MGO and GO. Biological implications of dietary absorption of MGO and GO need to be determined. The study has been approved by the institutional medical ethical committee (NL31329.068.10) and the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports of the Netherlands (Permit 131088-105234-PG)., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)