Dose-Response Effects of Pecan Consumption on Blood Lipid Profiles in Adults with Excess Body Weight and/or Dyslipidemia: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Non-HDL cholesterol and remnant cholesterol are better indicators of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk than LDL cholesterol in patients with chronic kidney disease.

We investigated the relationship between heart failure etiology and lipoprotein subfractions, and to explore their associations with left ventricular dimension and function in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients. Cross-sectional investigation of serum lipoprotein subfractions from 205 HFrEF patients in the SMARTEX heart failure study. Serum levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, free cholesterol, phospholipids, lipoproteins (Apolipoproteins; A-1, A-2, and B), very-low-density (VLDL), intermediate-density (IDL), low-density (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were determined using 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. Stable HFrEF patients [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35%, NYHA class II-III], with ischemic (ICM, n = 119) or non-ischemic (NICM, n = 86) cardiomyopathy were studied. NICM patients had higher levels of 48 lipoproteins compared to ICM patients, including 29 LDL, 13 VLDL, and 6 HDL subfractions [p <0.05]. NICM patients had 22% higher cholesterol and 27% higher remnant cholesterol levels, with 24% more atherogenic ApoB containing subfractions (VLDL, IDL, LDL) (p <0.05). Heart failure etiology and statin treatment explained 23-24% of the variability in cholesterol, free cholesterol, and ApoB (p <0.001). Triglyceride content in some VLDL and LDL subfractions was weakly associated with left ventricular end-diastolic volume, end-diastolic diameter, ejection fraction, and S'. NICM patients had the highest atherosclerotic lipoprotein burden, attributed to elevated ApoB particles and partly due to less statin treatment. The triglyceride content of some VLDL and LDL subfractions was weakly associated with left ventricular structure and function. However, further research is needed to determine their prognostic significance before implementation into strategies for prevention and treatment.Trail Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov database (NCT00917046).

This study evaluated the effects of treated walnut green husk (WGH) on growth performance, cecal microflora, jejunal morphology, nutrient digestibility, blood biochemistry, and meat quality in broiler chickens. A total of 180 day-old Ross 308 broilers were assigned to three dietary treatments for a 42-day trial, with six replicates (10 birds per cage). The dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (control), the basal diet supplemented with 2.1 g/kg fermented WGH (FWGH), and the basal diet containing 2.0 g/kg WGH plus 0.1 g/kg multi-enzyme (EWGH). Both FWGH and EWGH improved broiler growth performance during the grower, finisher, and overall periods, as indicated by enhanced feed conversion ratio and European production efficiency index, with FWGH producing marginally greater improvements. Both treatments reduced cecal total aerobic bacteria, while FWGH additionally increased Lactobacillus spp. and decreased Clostridium perfringens. Jejunal villus height increased in both WGH-treated groups, whereas villus surface area improved in FWGH group. Both FWGH- and EWGH-supplemented diets increased ileal digestibility of dry matter, while FWGH also improved organic matter digestibility. Both FWGH and EWGH had a modulatory effect on blood parameters by increasing lymphocyte (L) percentage and decreasing WBC count, percentage of heterophil (H), H:L ratio, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. In addition, FWGH increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level and reduced alanine transaminase (ALT) activity. Both FWGH and EWGH improved meat quality by reducing breast muscle press loss and malondialdehyde content in thigh muscle, while EWGH further decreased malondialdehyde and increased pH in breast muscle, and enhanced water-holding capacity and pH in thigh muscle compared with the control. Overall, the dietary inclusion of treated-WGH improved growth performance, intestinal health, nutrient digestibility, blood lipid profile, and meat quality in broiler chickens, with FWGH showing slightly superior effects.

Introduction: Pleural Effusion (PE) results from an imbalance between pleural fluid production and absorption. It may occur due to multiple aetiologies, including heart failure, infections, malignancies, and liver disease. While Light’s criteria remain the gold standard for classification, they misclassify up to 25% of transudates. Additional biochemical markers such as pleural fluid cholesterol, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), and D-dimer have shown promise in enhancing diagnostic accuracy. Aim: To compare the diagnostic efficacy of pleural fluid total cholesterol, pleural ALP, and D-dimer levels with Light’s criteria in differentiating exudative from transudative PEs. Materials and Methods: The present hospital-based crosssectional study was conducted jointly in the Departments of Respiratory Medicine and Biochemistry at Adesh Medical College and Hospital, Shahabad (M), Kurukshetra, Haryana, India, from November 2022 to October 2023. A total of 100 adult patients presenting with PE were recruited. Each patient underwent detailed clinical history, physical examination, chest radiography or Computed Tomography (CT) when indicated, and routine laboratory investigations. Pleural fluid samples were analysed for protein, Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), cholesterol, ALP, and D-dimer, while corresponding serum levels were also measured. Effusions were classified as transudative or exudative using Light’s criteria. Data were statistically analysed using independent t-test, Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, binary logistic regression, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. A p-value &lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In the present study, 71% of participants were male, and the mean age was comparable between the exudative and transudative groups. Pleural fluid cholesterol, pleural ALP, pleural/serum ALP ratio, pleural D-dimer, and pleural/serum D-dimer ratio were significantly higher in exudates than in transudates (p &lt;0.001). ROC analysis demonstrated that all parameters had an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 1.0, with 100% sensitivity and specificity at the identified cut-off values. Logistic regression analysis identified serum ALP as a protective factor and the pleural/serum LDH ratio as an independent predictor of exudative effusion. Conclusion: Pleural fluid cholesterol, ALP, and D-dimer, along with their respective ratios, are highly reliable in differentiating exudative from transudative PEs and may serve as valuable adjuncts to Light’s criteria. These findings warrant validation in larger multicentric studies.

Dioscin attenuates hyperlipidemia by dual modulation of intestinal triglyceride and cholesterol absorption.

Risk score development for pancreatic cancer in Chinese men: A population-based cohort study.

Facile Formulation of an Oral Nanovesicular Carrier Co-Encapsulating Simvastatin and Ezetimibe for Enhanced Lipid-Lowering Effect.

Xia Ku Cao Paste restores intestinal microbiota homeostasis and improves hepatic metabolism disturbances to alleviate hyperlipidemia.

Structural characterization, physicochemical properties and hypolipidemic activity of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) protein hydrolysates prepared via enzyme-microbial synergy.

High-cholesterol-load-triggered pyroptosis of gingival fibroblasts promotes periodontitis.

To clarify the clinical correlations and causal relationships between lipid metabolism and the progression of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). This case-control study retrieved clinical data from 2018 to 2023. A total of 2591 patients were enrolled, including 197 patients with TAO (case group) and 2394 patients with hyperthyroidism without TAO (control group). Serum lipid parameters, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and the HDL/total cholesterol ratio, as well as thyroid function markers, were compared between the two groups. Correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between serum lipid levels and key ocular manifestations of TAO, including exophthalmos degree, clinical activity score, and disease severity. Furthermore, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted using genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets, with hyperthyroidism as the exposure variable and serum lipid parameters as the outcome variables, to infer the causal relationship between hyperthyroidism, lipid metabolism, and TAO progression. The TAO group consisted of 101 males and 96 females, while the hyperthyroidism group included 706 males and 1688 females. Compared with the control group, patients with TAO had significantly higher levels of triglycerides (1.83±1.21 vs 1.40±1.08 mmol/L, P<0.01), total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL. Correlation analysis showed that triglyceride levels were positively correlated with exophthalmos degree, whereas HDL levels were inversely correlated with exophthalmos degree. No significant associations were found between serum lipid levels and clinical activity score (P>0.1). MR analysis confirmed that hyperthyroidism exerted a causal effect in reducing serum triglycerides [inverse-variance weighting odds ratio (OR)=0.035, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01-0.12] and total cholesterol (OR=0.085, 95%CI: 0.02-0.34), with no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy (MR-PRESSO P>0.05). Elevated serum triglyceride levels are an independent risk factor for TAO severity, especially exophthalmos, and triglyceride metabolism is inversely regulated by thyroid function.

Steatosis is the accumulation of neutral lipids in the cytoplasm. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a suitable acronym to define steatosis associated with metabolic dysfunction. Autophagy is a conserved quality-control process in lysosomes that destroys cytoplasmic contents. Lipophagy is the process through which autophagy destroys lipid droplets. This study investigates effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on MASLD induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were fed 60% HFD for 8 weeks, and Dex (1 mcg/kg/day and 5 mcg/kg/day) was given intraperitoneally. Dex decreased liver integrity markers and improved antioxidant status by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, it decreased serum levels of both total cholesterol and triglycerides. Autophagic markers (Beclin 1, ULK1, AMPK, LC3) were improved by Dex treatment and protein expression of p62 was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, it decreased apoptosis by decreasing caspsae-3 and increasing Bcl-2. Histopathological examination was used to assess the degree of steatosis. Dex was found to induce autophagy in MASLD in a dose-dependent manner and improve liver function and degree of steatosis. Dex, therefore, may be a potential adjunctive therapeutic option in clinical settings for treating MASLD.

Dietary supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, and their combination (synbiotics) can improve pig health through direct and indirect mechanisms. This study evaluated the effects of probiotics, inulin, and their combination on: (1) blood biochemistry parameters reflecting lipid metabolism, liver function, oxidative stress, and immune status; (2) liver and kidney gene expression and biochemical markers related to energy and reactive oxygen species metabolism; and (3) mineral profiles in blood plasma, liver, and kidneys, including renal aquaporin gene expression. Inulin increased total protein, while raising total and LDL-cholesterol but lowering hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and upregulating apolipoprotein A1 expression. Probiotics lowered AST and ALT activity and enhanced the expression of energy metabolism genes in the liver and kidneys, similarly to the combined treatment. Inulin increased plasma sodium and phosphorus but reduced liver magnesium and copper contents; probiotics elevated selenium, iron, and phosphorus concentrations in the blood and kidneys. Both supplements improved antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory responses, although their combination unexpectedly elevated renal interleukin-6 expression. Overall, probiotics, inulin, and their combination positively affected lipid metabolism, liver function, oxidative balance, and immune status, supporting their potential as natural alternatives to antibiotics in pig nutrition.

To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) circadian rhythm in patients with essential hypertension, and to analyze differences in lipid profiles and carotid plaque prevalence across different dipping patterns. A total of 443 patients with essential hypertension were enrolled from the Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, between July 1, 2024, and July 30, 2025. Based on 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), they were categorized into four groups: dippers (n = 79), nondippers (n = 224), reverse-dippers (n = 127), and extreme-dippers (n = 13). Clinical data were collected to analyze the associations between BP circadian rhythm, BMI, blood lipid profiles, and carotid plaque formation. Significant differences were observed among the four groups in BMI (P = 0.038, η2 = 0.019), total cholesterol (P = 0.040, η2 = 0.019), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.028, η2 = 0.021), and triglyceride levels (P = 0.025). The prevalence of carotid intima-media thickening (P < 0.05, Cramer's V = 0.265) and carotid plaque formation (P < 0.05, Cramer's V = 0.303) also significantly differed among the groups. The reverse-dipper group had a higher detection rate of carotid intima-media thickening (85, 66.9%) than the dipper (27, 34.2%) and nondipper (90, 40.2%) groups. The detection rate of carotid plaque formation in the reverse-dipper group (80, 63%) was higher than in the other three groups. BMI levels were significantly higher in the nondipper group (26.43 ± 4.30) and the reverse-dipper group (26.25 ± 4.41) compared with the dipper group (24.82 ± 4.48) (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the nondipper group (4.89 ± 1.09) than in the dipper group (4.52 ± 1.03) (P = 0.006). LDL-C levels were significantly elevated in the nondipper group (3.06 ± 0.84) and the extreme-dipper group (3.38 ± 0.93) compared with the dipper group (2.77 ± 0.82) (P < 0.05). Triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the nondipper group (1.79 [1.38, 2.53]) than in the dipper group (1.44 [0.95, 2.36]) (P = 0.015). Logistic regression analysis indicated that BMI and the presence of carotid plaque were independent risk factors for an abnormal BP circadian rhythm (P < 0.05). Advanced age, an abnormal BP circadian rhythm, and comorbid coronary heart disease were identified as risk factors for carotid plaque formation (P < 0.05). In patients with essential hypertension, elevated BMI levels and carotid plaque formation may be associated with abnormal circadian BP rhythms. Patients with abnormal circadian BP rhythms exhibit varying degrees of elevated blood lipid levels, which may also be correlated with carotid plaque formation.

Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Guideline Recommendations for Key Aspects of Familial Hypercholesterolemia Management in Australia: Primary Care Integration, Paediatric Management, and Treatment Adherence.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common inborn metabolic disease, characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and increased risk for premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are promising biomarkers in CVD, but their role in pediatric FH remains unclear. We investigated circulating ncRNAs in pediatric heterozygous FH (heFH), focusing on lipid-lowering regimens and cardiovascular risk. Fifty-one heFH patients and 17 controls (age 5-19 years) were prospectively enrolled and fasting serum and clinical data, including carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and echocardiography, collected. Small RNA sequencing was followed by targeted qPCR validation of candidate ncRNAs. Subgroup analyses compared newly diagnosed, diet-treated, and pharmacological lipid-lowering therapy (LLT)-obtaining patients. Additionally, miRNAs formerly described as atherosclerosis-associated were assessed. MiR-182-5p (p = 0.012) and hsa-piR-28004 (p = 0.024) were significantly downregulated in newly diagnosed heFH patients vs. controls. MiR-122-5p was significantly upregulated in patients under LLT compared to both newly diagnosed patients (p = 0.037) and controls (p = 0.013). Hsa-piR-28004 expression levels correlated with oxidized LDL (r = 0.345, p = 0.005), HDL-C (r = -0.282; p = 0.023) and cIMT (r ≈ -0.34, p = < 0.01). MiR-182-5p and hsa-piR-28004 may serve as early indicators of disease, independent of traditional risk factors. Upregulation of miR-122-5p under LLT suggests involvement in treatment response. This is the first comprehensive profiling of both microRNAs (miRNAs) and piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH). Circulating miR-182-5p, miR-122-5p and hsa-piR-28004 are potential early indicators of disease and treatment response in pediatric heFH. MiRNAs identified to be associated with atherosclerosis in adults are not robustly expressed in pediatric heFH, underscoring age-specific molecular differences. These findings support the potential of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as non-invasive biomarkers for improved diagnosis, monitoring, and personalized risk assessment in children and adolescents with heFH beyond traditional lipid metrics.

Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Cusp Thickening and Reduced Cusp Motion after the Ozaki Procedure.

BackgroundDementia is an escalating global public health concern, with Alzheimer's disease accounting for the largest proportion of cases. However, evidence on its association with lipid abnormalities remains limited in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan AfricaObjectiveTo examine the association between lipid profile parameters and dementia risk among older adults in Ghana.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using records from 16 individuals diagnosed with dementia and 28 age-matched controls. Lipid levels including total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, non-HDL cholesterol, and coronary risk index, were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression.ResultsDementia cases had higher median levels of total cholesterol (5.29 versus 4.69 mmol/L), triglycerides (1.20 versus 0.86 mmol/L), low-density lipoprotein (3.38 versus 2.75 mmol/L), non-HDL cholesterol (3.89 versus 3.23 mmol/L), and coronary risk index (5.18 versus 3.15) compared to controls. Elevated coronary risk was strongly associated with dementia (aOR = 13.87, p = 0.010), indicating a markedly increased likelihood of cognitive impairment among individuals with higher cardiovascular risk. However, none of the individual lipid levels remained significant after adjustment for hypertension and the potential confounding effects of each lipid parameter on the others.ConclusionsOverall cardiovascular risk, rather than isolated lipid markers, appears more relevant in dementia risk assessment among older Ghanaian adults. Early evaluation and management of coronary risk may play a critical role in dementia prevention.

Growing evidence suggests that lowering non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) events. However, data on this relationship remain scarce in the Arabian Gulf region. The Gulf TriglyCeride And ResiduaL CardiovascuLar RiSk (Gulf CALLS) study investigated the association between failure to achieve non-HDL-C targets (<2.6 mmol/L) and residual CVD risk in very high-risk patients from the region who were on statin therapy and had well-controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (<1.8 mmol/L [70 mg/dL]). This retrospective study evaluated patients across 5 Arabian Gulf countries, aged > 45 years with established CVD or diabetes, LDL-C levels <1.8 mmol/L (<70 mg/dL), and triglyceride levels <4.5 mmol/L (<400 mg/dL) on lipid-lowering therapy. A total of 22% (521/2344) of the patients did not achieve the non-HDL-C target. In the adjusted Cox regression model, patients who achieved the non-HDL-C goal at baseline had a 25% lower risk of subsequent CVD events than those who did not (hazard ratio, .75; 95% confidence interval: .58-.97; P = .028). In the present study involving very high-risk patients on statin therapy, failure to achieve non-HDL-C targets was associated with a significantly higher residual CVD risk, despite well-controlled LDL-C levels.