Blood Serum Lipids Research Articles

Proximate nutrient analysis of elephant apple (Dillenia indica) fruit and its hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic potentials in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Elephant apple (Dillenia indica) fruit is widely used in traditional and ayurvedic medicine. AimsTo estimate the nutrient contents of this fruit with the evaluation of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities in alloxan-induced diabetes rats. MethodologyProximate composition and twenty bioactive compounds of elephant apple (EA) fruit were determined using standard methods. Rats were randomly divided into four groups, and each group consisted of six rats. Elephant apple (EA) fruit powder (500 mg/kg body wt./rat/day) was orally fed to the experimental rats in addition to the regular diet for six consecutive weeks. Fasting blood glucose level and lipid profile parameters were analysed from the serum samples of the experimental animals. ResultElephant apple (EA) fruit is rich in carbohydrates (64.52 %), protein (6.81 %), fiber (1.38 %), phosphorus (0.026 %), and ascorbic acid (0.004 %). This fruit also contains different phytochemicals viz. alkaloids, anthraquinone, phenol, flavonoids, terpenoids, and coumarin, except carotenoids and triterpenoids. This study found that oral administration of EA powder significantly (p ≤ 0.01) reduced fasting blood glucose levels (FBG) and serum lipid profiles such as total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), but improves high-density lipoprotein (HDL). ConclusionsEA fruit is potentially important to manage diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

Evaluation of antidiabetic potential of Syzygium kanarense (Talbot) Raizada in streptozotocin- nicotinamide induced diabetic rats.

Worldwide diabetes is the major killer disease and the antidiabetic drugs which are in use cause many side effects. Traditionally, some of the Syzygium spp. are in use for treating diabetes, and many species are being assessed for their antidiabetic property. This study is to assess the antidiabetic effectiveness of the bark of Syzygium kanarense (Talbot) Raizada. The antidiabetic efficacy of methanol and water extracts of the leaf (SKLM, SKLW) and the bark (SKBM, SKBW) were evaluated in vitro by the alpha-glucosidase- and alpha-amylase-inhibitory assays. The in vivo antidiabetic activity of the bark was assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and streptozotocin- nicotinamide (STZ-NA)-induced non-obese type 2 diabetic rat model. The serum biochemical parameters and histopathology of the pancreas, liver and kidney were evaluated after 21 days of treatment. The total phenolics and flavonoids were quantified in all the extracts. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay. Administration of SKBM and SKBW to STZ-NA-induced diabetic rats at 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg orally for 21 days exhibited statistically significant (P < 0.001) and dose-related drop in blood sugar levels, serum lipid and hepatorenal parameters. The extract-treated rats showed rejuvenated islets and increased beta-cell density in the pancreas, improved liver architecture and glomerular regeneration without fat deposition. Bark extracts showed the strongest alpha –glucosidase- and alpha –amylase-inhibitory activity in contrast to the leaf extracts. Antioxidants, phytoconstituents and antidiabetic action, as well as protection against free radical damage, were proved to be significantly correlated.

Saponins from Momordica charantia exert hypoglycemic effect in diabetic mice by multiple pathways.

The antidiabetic activity of saponins extracted from Momordica charantia (MCS) on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice was investigated in order to elucidate the mechanism of MCS for exerting hypoglycemic effects. Saponins were first extracted from M. charantia L. and their composition was analyzed. The diabetic Kunming mice were fed low-dose saponins from M. charantia L. and high-dose MCS, using normal mice and diabetic mice as controls. Body weight, blood glucose level, oral glucose tolerance, serum C-peptide level, hepatic antioxidant capacity, hepatic glycogen and hexokinase in liver tissues, serum blood lipid level, and alpha-glucosidase activity in small intestines were measured, and microstructure of pancreatic islet was analyzed. The results showed that the total content of seven triterpenoid compounds in MCS was 18.24 μg/mg, with Momordicoside K having the highest content at 11.66 μg/mg. Diabetic mice treated with MCS at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight daily for 30 days showed a maximum glucose reduction (p < .05) of 12.63% and 26.47%, respectively. MCS significantly decreased levels of postprandial hyperglycemia, serum lipid, α-glucosidase activity, and liver malondialdehyde. Additionally, levels of serum C-peptide and liver glycogen, as well as hexokinase and antioxidant enzyme activity, were significantly increased compared to the diabetic control groups. Histopathological results showed that MCS markedly reduced degenerative changes in islet β-cells. It is concluded that MCS exerts antidiabetic effects by improved hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects, increased hexokinase activity and glycogen synthesis, and enhanced reparative effects on the histological architecture and insulin secretion function of the pancreas.

Body mass index affects the association between plasma lipids and peripheral eosinophils in a general chinese population: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundLipid metabolism affects type 2 immunity; however, the association between plasma lipids and eosinophilic inflammation in humans is uncertain. This study analysed the relationship between plasma lipids and peripheral eosinophils and whether patterns differ with different body mass indexes (BMI).MethodsA cross-sectional survey including 62,441 healthy participants recruited from a regular health screening programme was conducted. Participants were divided into normal weight, overweight and obese subgroups according to BMI.ResultsMultiple linear regression analysis revealed that elevated logarithmic-transformed eosinophil counts (log(EOS)) significantly correlated with high total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C)levels in the overall population, as well as in men and women, while certain associations between peripheral blood eosinophil percentage and serum lipids varied by gender. These correlations existed across almost all BMI subgroups, and standardised β values decreased sequentially with increasing BMI. HDL-C had the most significant effect on eosinophils in obese women. Two-factor analysis of variance showed log(EOS) increased with higher BMI and hyperlipidemia whether in male or female and a synergistic effect exists of lipid levels (TG and LDL-C) and BMI in men.ConclusionsBlood eosinophil counts were correlated with blood lipid levels and modified by body mass index status. The effects of lipid levels and body mass index on blood eosinophil counts were synergistic. Therefore, lipid metabolism may be involved in systemic eosinophil inflammation.

Pioglitazone Alters Ace/Ace 2 Balance to Favour Ace2 Independently Of Glycaemia Levels in Diabetic Rat Heart.

The activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiac damage during diabetes. In the present study, we investigated the role of pioglitazone, dapagliflozin and their combination on RAS components in streptozotocin-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy in Wistar rats. Blood glucose, serum lipids, and ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme), ACE2 levels were determined. mRNA levels of Myh6 (myosins heavy chain), Myh7, Ace, Ace2, Nppa, Nppb (natriuretic peptide A, B) and Ppars (peroxisome proliferator activating receptors) genes in the heart were determined by real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Protein expression of ACE and ACE2 was assessed by western blotting. After six weeks pioglitazone suppressed Ace mRNA and protein levels (p<0.05) and modified the Ace/Ace2 ratio (p<0.05) in the cardiac tissue of diabetic rats. Pioglitazone significantly decreased serum lipids (p<0.05) but did not significantly influence blood glucose and ACE serum levels of diabetic animals. Dapagliflozin had a significant glucose-lowering action (p<0.05) however, it had no impact on the Ace/Ace2 ratio. The combination of both compounds markedly improved blood glucose (p<0.05) as well as the Myh6/Myh7 ratio (p<0.05) but had no further impact on the Ace to Ace2 balance in cardiac tissue compared to pioglitazone monotherapy. We found that pioglitazone improves the cardiac Ace/ Ace2 ratio in diabetic rats suggesting a potential cardioprotective effect. This effect is independent of its antidiabetic and metabolic effects.

Ampelopsis grossedentata improves type 2 diabetes mellitus through modulating the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism

Ampelopsis grossedentata is a flavonoid-rich healthy tea, traditionally used as a Chinese herbal medicine, that effectively treats T2DM. In the present study, we investigated the anti-diabetic effect of total flavonoids extracted from Ampelopsis grossedentata (AGT) and the underlying mechanisms using 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics. The results indicated that after AGT treatment for 6 weeks, the body weight, liver index, fasting blood glucose (FBG), OGTT-AUC, and serum lipid levels were reduced, and pathological injuries of the liver improved significantly in ZDF rats. Meanwhile, AGT increased the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota, especially BSH-active bacteria, which reduced T-β-MCA and T-α-MCA levels and further activate FXR and FGF15. The activation of FXR-FGF15 axis inhibited excessive bile acid accumulation and liver gluconeogenesis upon AGT treatment. Taken together, our results suggested that AGT ameliorated glycolipid metabolism disorder via the “microbiota-gut-liver” axis, indicating that AGT may be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating T2DM.

Longer-Term Effects of Cardiac Telerehabilitation on Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cardiac telerehabilitation offers a flexible and accessible model for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), effectively transforming the traditional cardiac rehabilitation (CR) approach. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of cardiac telerehabilitation. We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in 7 electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WANFANG. The primary outcome focused on cardiopulmonary fitness. For secondary outcomes, we examined cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, BMI, and serum lipids), psychological scales of depression and anxiety, quality of life (QoL), cardiac telerehabilitation adherence, and adverse events. In total, 10 RCTs fulfilled the predefined criteria, which were reviewed in our meta-analysis. The results showed that after cardiac telerehabilitation, there was a significant difference in the improvement in long-term peak oxygen uptake compared to center-based CR (mean difference [MD] 1.61, 95% CI 0.38-2.85, P=.01), particularly after 6-month rehabilitation training (MD 1.87, 95% CI 0.34-3.39, P=.02). The pooled effect size of the meta-analysis indicated that there were no significant differences in the reduction in cardiovascular risk factor control. There was also no practical demonstration of anxiety scores or depression scores. However, cardiac telerehabilitation demonstrated an improvement in the long-term QoL of patients (MD 0.92, 95% CI 0.06-1.78, P=.04). In addition, the study reported a high completion rate (80%) for cardiac telerehabilitation interventions. The incidence of adverse events was also low during long-term follow-up. Cardiac telerehabilitation proves to be more effective in improving cardiopulmonary fitness and QoL during the long-term follow-up for patients with CAD. Our study highlights monitoring-enabled and patient-centered telerehabilitation programs, which play a vital role in the recovery and development of CAD and in the long-term prognosis of patients.

Effect of Curcumex on Serum Lipid Profile and Fasting Blood Glucose, HbA1c, and Insulin Resistance Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Background: Diabetes is one of the causes of mortality worldwide. Turmeric, ginger, and black pepper have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Objectives: The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of Curcumex supplement (Turmeric herbal capsule (320 mg), ginger (150 mg), and black pepper (4 mg) on fasting blood glucose levels, HbA1c levels, insulin resistance, and serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: This study was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial conducted on 60 patients with type 2 diabetes who were randomly divided into the intervention (n = 30) and placebo (n = 30) groups. The intervention group received the Curcumex supplement capsule twice a day, every 12 hours for 90 days, and the placebo group received the same amount and duration of the starch capsule. At the beginning and end of the study, blood sugar indices, including fasting blood sugar levels, plasma insulin levels, HbA1C levels, HOMA-B, HOMA-IR, and lipid profile (high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol (Chol), triglyceride (TG), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)) were assessed. Results: The mean values of age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) were not significantly different between the two groups before the study. There was a statistically significant difference and decrease between mean scores of blood sugar indices, including serum levels of HbA1C (P = 0.003), plasma insulin (P = 0.015), HOMA-IR (P = 0.001), fasting blood glucose (P = 0.06), and BMI (P = 0.016) after the intervention. After the intervention, no significant changes were not observed in other variables, such as HDL, LDL, Chol, TG, and VLDL. Conclusions: The consumption of curcumex supplement capsules in patients with type 2 diabetes reduces serum levels of HbA1C, plasma insulin, HOMA-IR, fasting blood glucose, and BMI.

Association between metabolism-related chronic disease combination and prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in community residents in Shanghai

Objective: To explore the combination of metabolism-related chronic diseases associated with the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in community residents in Shanghai. Methods: The baseline data of Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank were used to understand the prevalence of five metabolism-related chronic diseases, including obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, gout and diabetes, based on questionnaire survey, physical examination and blood biochemical detection. NAFLD was diagnosed by B-ultrasound detection and questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze the association of 31 metabolism-related chronic diseases combinations with the prevalence of NAFLD. Results: The median age (Q1, Q3) of 65 477 subjects was 60 (51, 66) years, and men accounted for 40.6%. The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 38.2%, and the prevalence of HAFLD in patients without any of the five metabolism-related chronic diseases was 12.0%. The chronic disease combination with the strongest association with NAFLD was obesity + hypertension + hyperlipidemia + gout + diabetes in the total population (OR=37.94, 95%CI: 31.02-46.41), in women (OR=36.99, 95%CI: 28.78-47.54) and in age group ≥60 years (OR=36.19, 95%CI: 28.25-46.36). The chronic disease combination with the strongest association with NAFLD was obesity + hyperlipidemia + gout + diabetes in men (OR=50.70, 95%CI: 24.62-104.40) and in age group <60 years (OR=49.58, 95%CI: 24.22-101.47). Conclusions: The prevalence of NAFLD in community residents in Shanghai was high. Attention needs to be paid to health of obese people and weight loss should be promoted for them. Community health education should be strengthened for patients complicated with gout, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension and it is necessary to correct abnormal serum uric acid, blood sugar, blood lipids and blood pressure in a timely manner to reduce the risk of NAFLD.

Midazolam infusion might preserve glucose and lipid homeostasis during surgery under general anesthesia: Placebo-controlled comparative study

Abstract Background Anesthesia and surgery each per se is a stressful condition that may affect the postoperative patients’ outcomes. Hyperglycemia is the commonest result of surgical stress response and must be adjusted not only in diabetics to improve outcomes. Aims To determine changes in blood glucose (BG) and serum lipids and cortisol levels after intraoperative midazolam infusion for patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. Patients and Methods: 160 ASA I or II non-diabetic patients were randomly divided as Control patients received placebo infusion and Study patients received midazolam infusion (0.35 µg/kg/min). All patients gave blood samples before (S1) and 30-min after the start (S2) and at the end of infusion (S3) for estimation of BG and serum lipids and cortisol levels. The study outcome was the change in the levels of estimated parameters in relation to their preoperative levels. Results BG levels estimated in S2 and S3 samples were significantly higher than S1 levels of all patients but were significantly lower in samples of study than control patients. Serum levels of triglycerides and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), and cortisol in S3 study samples were significantly lower than in S3 control samples. Conclusion Intraoperative midazolam infusion could minimize surgical stress response with a significant decrease in serum cortisol, triglycerides, and VLDL and significantly lower BG concentrations in comparison to placebo infusion.

Association of brain morphology and phenotypic profile in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm.

Studies have found a varying degree of cognitive, psychosocial, and functional impairments in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs), whereas the neural correlates underlying these impairments remain unknown. To examine the brain morphological alterations and white matter lesions in patients with UIA, we performed a range of structural analyses to examine the brain morphological alterations in patients with UIA compared with healthy controls (HCs). Twenty-one patients with UIA and 23 HCs were prospectively enrolled into this study. Study assessment consisted of a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan with high-resolution T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging data, a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and laboratory tests including blood inflammatory markers and serum lipids. Brain MRI data were processed for cortical thickness, local gyrification index (LGI), volume and shape of subcortical nuclei, and white matter lesions. Compared to the HCs, patients with UIA showed no significant differences in cortical thickness but decreased LGI values in the right posterior cingulate cortex, retrosplenial cortex, cuneus, and lingual gyrus. In addition, decreased LGI values correlated with decreased MoCA score (r = 0.498, p = 0.021) and increased white matter lesion scores (r = -0.497, p = 0.022). The LGI values were correlated with laboratory values such as inflammatory markers and serum lipids. Patients with UIA also showed significant regional atrophy in bilateral thalami as compared to the HCs. Moreover, the LGI values were significantly correlated with thalamic volume in the HCs (r = 0.4728, p = 0.0227) but not in the patients with UIA (r = 0.11, p = 0.6350). The decreased cortical gyrification, increased white matter lesions, and regional thalamic atrophy in patients with UIA might be potential neural correlates of cognitive changes in UIA.

Evaluation of the Effect of Barberry Root (Berberis Vulgaris) on the Prevention of Metabolic Syndrome Caused by Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Three-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome is a potential side effect of atypical antipsychotics which are the current standard treatment for schizophrenia. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effect of barberry root (Berberis vulgaris) on the prevention of metabolic syndrome caused by atypical antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia. Method : Our research was a three-blind randomized clinical trial. The participants included all patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia through the SCID-5 questionnaire and based on the DSM-5-TR criteria by two psychiatric experts. These patients were randomly divided into intervention and placebo groups. During a three-month treatment period, the intervention group received three 500 mg capsules of barberry root extract daily, whereas the placebo group received the same capsules containing 500 mg of starch powder. Metabolic syndrome variables including fasting blood glucose, serum lipids (triglyceride and cholesterol), blood pressure, weight and waist circumference were measured before and after the treatment as outcome measure. Chi-square and t-tests were used for data analysis using SPSS-22 software. Results: At the beginning of the study, there was no significant difference between the intervention group (n = 41) and the placebo group (n = 47) in terms of demographic factors, and pre-treatment assessments including weight, waist size, fasting blood HDL, fasting blood triglycerides and systolic and diastolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose (P > 0.05). Within group analysis showed that some metabolic factors significantly increased in both groups after the treatment (P < 0.05). Indeed, in both groups, metabolic syndrome measures worsened after the three-month treatment period. The parameters of weight and waist size were significantly higher in the intervention group than the placebo group after treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Barberry root extract was not able to control the Effects of antipsychotic drugs on metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia.

Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi (FTZ) capsule ameliorates diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis via suppressing YTHDF2-mediated m6A modification of SIRT3 mRNA

Ethnopharmacological relevanceFufang Zhenzhu TiaoZhi (FTZ), a Chinese medicinal decoction, has continuously been used to treat metabolic syndrome. Atherosclerosis is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular disease. The N6 methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a highly dynamic and reversible process involving a variety of important biological processes. Aim of the studyHere, we investigated the therapeutic effects and mechanism of FTZ in diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis. Materials and methodsDoppler ultrasonography was used to examine the carotid intima-media thickness and plaque area in diabetic atherosclerosis patients. HFD mice were injected with streptozotocin to induce diabetes. HE and Oil red O staining were used to assess the effect of FTZ on lipid deposition. HUVECs were induced with HG/ox-LDL as a model of diabetic atherosclerosis. Furthermore, application of m6A methylation level kit, qRT-PCR, Western blot, tunel staining, reactive oxygen species staining and mPTP staining were performed to analyze the detailed mechanism. ResultsClinical trials of FTZ have shown obvious effect of lowering blood glucose and blood lipids. These effects were reversed after FTZ intervention. Compared with the control, lipid deposition decreased significantly after FTZ administration. FTZ reduced endothelial cell apoptosis. At the same time, we found that FTZ reversed the increase of methylation reader YTHDF2 caused by ox-LDL treatment. Subsequently, we discovered that YTHDF2 degraded SIRT3 mRNA, leading to endothelial cell apoptosis and oxidative stress. ConclusionFTZ attenuated diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis by decreasing blood glucose and serum lipids levels, and increased endothelial cell antioxidant capacity, inhibited endothelial cell apoptosis via inhibiting YTHDF2-mediated m6A modification of SIRT3 mRNA, which reduced mRNA degradation.

Whole Grain Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) Attenuates Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetic Mice: Involvement of miRNA Profile.

This work aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effects and underlying mechanism of whole grain proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.; WPM) on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The results showed that WPM supplementation significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) and serum lipid levels in T2DM mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) combined with streptozotocin (STZ), with improved glucose tolerance, liver and kidney injury, and insulin resistance. In addition, WPM significantly inhibited the expression of gluconeogenesis-related genes G6pase, Pepck, Foxo1, and Pgc-1α. Further study by miRNA high-throughput sequencing revealed that WPM supplementation mainly altered the liver miRNA expression profile of T2DM mice by increasing the expression of miR-144-3p_R-1 and miR-423-5p, reducing the expression of miR-22-5p_R-1 and miR-30a-3p. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the target genes of these miRNAs were mainly enriched in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. WPM supplementation significantly increased the level of PI3K, p-AKT, and GSK3β in the liver of T2DM mice. Taken together, WPM exerts antidiabetic effects by improving the miRNA profile and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to inhibit gluconeogenesis. This study implies that PM can act as a dietary supplement to attenuate T2DM.

LRFN5 and OLFM4 as novel potential biomarkers for major depressive disorder: a pilot study

Evidences have shown that both LRFN5 and OLFM4 can regulate neural development and synaptic function. Recent genome-wide association studies on major depressive disorder (MDD) have implicated LRFN5 and OLFM4, but their expressions and roles in MDD are still completely unclear. Here, we examined serum concentrations of LRFN5 and OLFM4 in 99 drug-naive MDD patients, 90 drug-treatment MDD patients, and 81 healthy controls (HCs) using ELISA methods. The results showed that both LRFN5 and OLFM4 levels were considerably higher in MDD patients compared to HCs, and were significantly lower in drug-treatment MDD patients than in drug-naive MDD patients. However, there were no significant differences between MDD patients who received a single antidepressant and a combination of antidepressants. Pearson correlation analysis showed that they were associated with the clinical data, including Hamilton Depression Scale score, age, duration of illness, fasting blood glucose, serum lipids, and hepatic, renal, or thyroid function. Moreover, these two molecules both yielded fairly excellent diagnostic performance in diagnosing MDD. In addition, a combination of LRFN5 and OLFM4 demonstrated a better diagnostic effectiveness, with an area under curve of 0.974 in the training set and 0.975 in the testing set. Taken together, our data suggest that LRFN5 and OLFM4 may be implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD and the combination of LRFN5 and OLFM4 may offer a diagnostic biomarker panel for MDD.

Effects of Antioxidant Supplementation on Graves’ Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Objective. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of antithyroid drugs combined with antioxidant supplementation represented by selenium in the treatment of Graves’ disease. Methods. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library databases, and the Chinese Medical Association. The search was conducted from the time of library construction to December 20, 2022. Three writers gradually examined, evaluated, and graded the literature and then used RevMan 5.3 to analyze the data and develop conclusions. Results. A total of seven papers were screened according to the search requirements. The results showed that free triiodothyronine (FT3) (WMD = −2.29, 95% CI: −3.55 to −1.02, P = 0.0004 ), free thyroxine (FT4) (WMD = −0.62, 95% CI: −1.05 to −0.18, P = 0.0005 ), thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) (WMD = −1.31, 95% CI: −1.63 to −0.99, P &lt; 0.00001 ), and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) (WMD = −9.8, 95% CI: −16.57 to −3.03, P = 0.005 ) in the observation group (selenium supplementation combined with antithyroid drugs) were significantly lower than those in the control group (antithyroid drugs combined with or without placebo). In addition, selenium supplementation can increase serum selenium (WMD = 33.29, 95% CI: 30.7 to 35.87, P &lt; 0.00001 ), selenoprotein levels (WMD = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.8 to 1.8, P &lt; 0.00001 ), and blood lipid levels (WMD = 32.3, 95% CI: 17.87 to 46.74, P &lt; 0.0001 ). It cannot be excluded that the process of selenium supplementation treatment will affect the patient’s lipid levels. Conclusion. Selenium is a trace mineral that is crucial for human health. In patients with Graves’ disease, the use of antithyroid medications along with selenium supplementation can considerably enhance thyroid function. It has the potential to drastically lower TPOAb and TRAb levels as well as FT3 and FT4 levels, which is crucial for the treatment, recovery, and prognosis of hyperthyroid patients. Further research is required to determine whether the impact of antioxidant supplementation on blood lipids will restrict the use of this medication.

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Blood Pressure and Serum Lipids Across Age-Groups.

Aging plays a crucial role in the mechanisms of the impacts of genetic and environmental factors on blood pressure and serum lipids. However, to our knowledge, how the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the correlation between blood pressure and serum lipids changes with age remains to be determined. In this study, data from the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) were used. Resting blood pressure, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and fasting serum lipids, including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TGs) were measured in 2378 participants (1189 twin pairs). Univariate and bivariate structural equation models examined the genetic and environmental influences on blood pressure and serum lipids among three age groups. All phenotypes showed moderate to high heritability (0.37-0.59) and moderate unique environmental variance (0.30-0.44). The heritability of all phenotypes showed a decreasing trend with age. Among all phenotypes, SBP and DBP showed a significant monotonic decreasing trend. For phenotype-phenotype pairs, the phenotypic correlation (Rph) of each pair ranged from -0.04 to 0.23, and the additive genetic correlation (Ra) ranged from 0.00 to 0.36. For TC&SBP, TC&DBP, TG&SBP and TGs&DBP, both the Rph and Ra declined with age, and the Ra difference between the young group and the older adult group is statistically significant (p < .05). The unique environmental correlation (Re) of each pair did not follow any pattern with age and remained relatively stable with age. In summary, we observed that the heritability of blood pressure was affected by age. Moreover, blood pressure and serum lipids shared common genetic backgrounds, and age had an impact on the phenotypic correlation and genetic correlations.

Associations between genetic variants of HSD17B13 and fasting plasma glucose in Chinese children

Background and aimsGenetic variants in 17-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17B13) were demonstrated to protect against NAFLD, which is highly related with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. However, the effects of NAFLD associated HSD17B13 variants on circulating glucose and lipids have not been adequately investigated in children. This study aimed to investigate associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HSD17B13 and NAFLD or its related phenotypes, such as blood glucose and serum lipids in Chinese children. Methods and resultsWe studied 1027 Chinese Han children aged 7–18 years old, which included 162 NAFLD children and 865 controls without NAFLD. Three SNPs (rs13112695, rs7692397, rs6834314) in HSD17B13 were genotyped. The multivariable logistic and linear regression models were applied to detect the associations between three SNPs and NAFLD or its related phenotypes [alanine transaminase (ALT), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and serum lipids]. The effect allele A of rs7692397 was negatively associated with FPG [β (SE) = −0.088 (0.027) mmol/L, P = 0.001], whereas the effect allele G of rs6834314 was positively associated with FPG (β (SE) = 0.060 (0.019) mmol/L, P = 0.002). After Bonferroni correction, the significant associations still remained (both P < 0.0024). No significant associations were found for NAFLD or serum lipids. ConclusionThe study firstly revealed the association between two HSD17B13 variants and FPG in Chinese children, providing evidence for HSD17B13 variants and abnormal glucose metabolism.

Bempedoic acid for the treatment of dyslipidemia

Miglė Montvidaitė1 1Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania Abstract Background. Dyslipidemia is the imbalance of lipids in blood serum, which are usually increased. Typically, statins are the first-choice drug for the treatment of dyslipidemia, although they are often associated with adverse side effects and the target lipid concentration is not always achieved. According to latest research, bempedoic acid is another suitable medication for treating dyslipidemia. Aim: to review the effectiveness of treatment of dyslipidemia with bempedoic acid based on recent literature. Methods. A literature review was performed using PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. Scientific articles were analyzed according to keywords and their combinations: dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, bempedoic acid. Results. Bempedoic acid is suitable for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia in adults, as well as an adjunct to statins or as an alternative when statin therapy is not tolerated or contraindicated. Scientific research reveals that bempedoic acid decreases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 17-24 percent. However, the most effective reduction of LDL cholesterol is achieved with the combined use of statins, bempedoic acid and ezetimibe, which is over 60 percent. Conclusion. Bempedoic acid monotherapy is not as effective in the treatment of dyslipidemia compared to maximally tolerated statin therapy. However, administration of bempedoic acid in combination with statins and ezetimibe may be beneficial for patients who fail to achieve target lipid levels with statins. Bempedoic acid is also a suitable alternative in case of statin intolerance. Keywords: dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, bempedoic acid. Full article https://doi.org/10.53453/ms.2023.5.19

РАСПРОСТРАНЕННОСТЬ ДИАБЕТИЧЕСКОЙ РЕТИНОПАТИИ В ПОПУЛЯЦИИ БОЛЬНЫХ САХАРНЫМ ДИАБЕТОМ ЖИТЕЛЕЙ АСТРАХАНИ

The purpose of the study: analysis of examination and treatment data of patients with diabetic reti-nopathy in the adult population of the city of Astrakhan. Materials and methods. The medical records of 1111 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus who were treated in the ophthalmological and endocrinological departments of the Aleksandro-Mariinsky Regional Clinical Hospital from January to August 2022 were studied. All patients were examined using standard clinical, laboratory, and instru-mental examination methods. Research results. According to our data, in recent years, the incidence of diabetes mellitus among the adult population of Astrakhan has more than doubled. Of the 1111 ex-amined patients, 185 were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus (16,7 %), and the remaining 926 patients were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (83,3 %). The diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy of vary-ing severity during the examination of patients with diabetes mellitus was established in 77 out of 185 examined patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 (41,6 %) and in 665 out of 926 with diabetes mellitus type 2 (71,8 %). Thus, against the background of an increase in the incidence of diabetes, there is a tendency to reduce the incidence of diabetic retinopathy among the adult population of Astrakhan, which can be explained not only by the widespread use of transretinal laser photocoagulation and vitrectomy, but also by new methods for monitoring blood glucose, hypertension and serum lipids. Conclusion. Diabetic retinopathy is a highly specific vascular complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of retinopathy is closely related to the duration of diabetes. After 20 years of diabetes, almost all patients with type 1 diabetes and more than 60 % of patients with type 2 diabetes have some degree of retinopathy. The best screening method for diabetic retinopathy is an extended eye examination performed by an ophthalmologist. Modern ophthalmic diagnostic and treatment methods can prevent or delay the onset of diabetic retinopathy, as well as prevent vision loss in a significant proportion of diabetic patients.