Total Cholesterol Concentrations Research Articles

Impacts of dietary different levels of thyme leave powder as a natural growth promoter on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood indices of broilers

The objective of the present study was to ascertain the influence of thyme leaf powder (TLP) on growth rate, carcass features, and blood indicators in broiler diets as a natural antioxidant and antibiotic substitute. A fully randomized design experiment divided 264-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) into 4 experimental groups. Six replicates of each group, each containing 11 unsexed chicks, were created. The following were the therapies: control group without additive (basal diet); TLP1, TLP2 and TLP3: basal diet + 1, 2 and 3 g thyme leaves powder/kg diet, respectively. Results showed that TLP added at 2 or 3 g/kg of feed significantly enhanced body weight gain (except for the period from 16 to 30 d of life), feed intake (except for the period from 1 to 15 d of life), and feed conversion ratio throughout study period. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in creatinine and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with different TLP levels, particularly at a 3 g TLP/kg diet. Compared with the control group, the birds' 2 g TLP/kg diet included the highest levels of albumin and total protein and A/G (albumin/globulin) ratio. Furthermore, the birds fed 1 g TLP/kg feed had the lowest concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol (TC). Moreover, chicks fed all treatment diets containing TLP had higher IgY concentrations than the control group. Nevertheless, the group that was fed a diet including 2 g TLP/kg had the highest IgM levels. Additionally, the superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) levels were highest in the birds fed a 1g TLP/kg diet and minimum in the birds fed the control diet. Notably, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were maximum in birds fed a control meal and lowest in birds with a diet containing 1 g of TLP/kg. We may conclude that using TLP in broiler diets increases the birds' immunity, productivity, and overall health, especially at level 2 g of TLP/kg diet.

Universal screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia: how can we maximise benefits and minimise potential harm for children and their families?

Universal Screening programmes to identify subjects with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) have been the subject of much recent interest. However, any screening programme can cause harm as well as having potential benefits. Here we review recent papers using different ages and strategies to identify subjects with FH, and examine to what extent the publications provide quantitative or qualitative evidence of benefit or harm to children and adults. Three studies have been published over the last 2 years where Universal Screening for FH has been carried out in infancy, at the time of routine vaccinations, or at preschool age. Next-generation sequencing of all known FH-causing genes has been used to determine the proportion of screened individuals, who have total or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations above a predetermined threshold (such as >95th percentile), with genetically confirmed FH. While we fully support the concept of Universal Screening for FH, which appears feasible and of potential clinical utility at all of the different ages examined, there is little data to document potential benefit or how to mitigate potential harms. Future study protocols should include collection of such data to strengthen the case of roll out of Universal Screening programmes.

Methionine and vitamin E supplementation improve production performance, antioxidant potential, and liver health in aged laying hens

Sulfur metabolites of methionine (Met) and vitamin E (VE) have antioxidant potential and can maintain liver health in chickens. This study explored the underlying mechanisms of Met sources, the ratio of total sulfur amino acids to lysine (TSAA: Lys), and VE levels on production performances, antioxidant potential, and hepatic oxidation in aged laying hens. Eight hundred and sixty-four, Hy-Line Brown laying hens (70-week age) were divided into 12 treatment groups, each having 6 repeats and 12 birds/each repeat. The dietary treatments consisted of DL-Met (DL-Met), DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (OH-Met), 3 ratios of TSAA: Lys (0.90, 0.95, and 1.00), and 2 levels of VE (20 and 40 g/ton). Albumen height and Haugh unit significantly increased at a lower level of VE (P < 0.05). Triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in serum and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities (CAT) in the liver significantly reduced at 0.95 TSAA: Lys ratio (P < 0.05). Fatty acid synthase (FAS), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 alpha (CPT-1α) also upregulated at this TSAA: Lys ratio (P < 0.05). Compared with the DL-Met group, the OH-Met group had lower Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 (DPP4) and higher TC, LDL, and VLDL concentrations (P < 0.05).The expression of FAS,CPT-1α), glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), glutathione synthetase (GSS), and Nrf2 were significantly higher in OH-Met compared with the DL-Met group (P < 0.05). OH-Met at 0.95 and DL-Met at 0.90 TSAA: Lys ratio showed higher CAT and lower aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities. Moreover, OH-Met at 0.90 and DL-Met at 0.95 of the TSAA: Lys ratio had a significant reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05). Overall, these results suggest that OH-Met source with a lower level of VE positively influenced production performance and improved liver health in aged laying hens through improved lipid metabolism and hepatic antioxidant function.

Effect of barley processing and enzyme supplementation on broiler performance, gut morphometry, and the occurrence of ascites syndrome in broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of processed barley grains and their influence upon growth performance, gut function, and the occurrence of ascites syndrome in broiler chickens. Day-old broilers (n=504) were randomly assigned to six treatments (3 levels of grain processing × 2 levels of enzyme supplementation). Results showed that chicks fed with germinated barley significantly gained more weight compared to unprocessed barley in all feeding stages (P = 0.0001). Chicks received roasted barley showed a slowdown in their growth so that their weight gain was significantly lower than the control and germinated barley groups in the finishing period and the entire experiment (P = 0.0001). Enzyme supplementation of barley-based diets improved weight gain so that a significant improvement was observed in the growing (P = 0.0002) and throughout the trial (P = 0.0098) over the unsupplemented diets. Chickens fed with germinated barley had a higher length of jejunal villi whereas they had a lower crypt depth compared to untreated or roasted barley groups. As a result, the ratio of villus length to crypt depth as well as villus absorptive surface were significantly higher in birds received germinated barley than those fed with unprocessed or roasted barley. Barley processing resulted in a lower viscosity of digesta in the jejunum so that both processing methods showed a significantly lower viscosity compared to unprocessed barley. Birds received unprocessed barley showed a significantly lower concentration of total cholesterol (P = 0.0370) and LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.01) than those received processed barley. Plasma uric acid (P = 0.0350) and total protein (P = 0.0050) concentrations were significantly greater in birds fed with germinated barley as opposed to other experimental treatments. The mortality from ascites was lower in broilers fed with germinated barley compared to untreated barley, particularly in the absence of NSP-degrading enzyme supplement. In conclusion, germinated barley could significantly improve the performance, gut morphometry, and ascites indices of broiler chickens when compared to untreated barley.

Can Rosuvastatin Reduce the Risk of Thrombosis in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia with its Effect on Coagulation Factors and Homocysteine Levels?

Hypercholesterolemia is one of the main risk factors for vascular thrombosis in individuals. Therefore, the use of statins is very effective in reducing cholesterol and can reduce the risk of thrombosis in these patients. Rosuvastatin, a member of the statin family which, inhibits cholesterol synthesis. Very few studies have been done in relation to how rosuvastatin can affect thrombosis. So, this research has been tried whether rosuvastatin can have an effect on coagulation factors and homocysteine as risk factors for thrombosis in hypercholesterolemia? In this experimental study, 60 patients (30 men and 30 women with a mean age of 40- 70 years) diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia (cholesterol > 250 mg/dl) participated in this research. 30 patients were prescribed rosuvastatin (20 mg/day), and 30 patients were simultaneously taken placebo for three months. All parameters, including FVIII, FV, Fibrinogen, DDimer, plasma homocysteine level and lipid profile, were measured before and after treatment. All the results were statistically compared between the two groups. In patients who took rosuvastatin, the drug was able to significantly reduce the concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P < 0.001). Also, rosuvastatin was able to reduce the concentrations of homocysteine significantly, D-Dimer (P < 0.001), coagulation factor VIII and factor V (P < 0.05). In patients with hypercholesterolemia who took the placebo, did not affect the mentioned variables (P > 0.05). According to the results, it seems that rosuvastatin may be able to reduce the risk of thrombosis in patients by affecting coagulation factors and homocysteine levels.

Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolomics Analysis Reveals That Probiotics and Tea Polyphenols Synergetically Regulate Lipid Metabolism in Laying Hens

Tea polyphenols (TP) and probiotics (PB) have been recognized for their ability to improve lipid metabolism and regulate immune function. However, their specific impact on lipid metabolism in laying hens has not been thoroughly elucidated. Therefore, this study sought to examine the effect of TP and Bacillus subtilis on lipid metabolism in laying hens through transcriptome and metabolome analyses. Two hundred Hy-line Brown layers were randomly allocated into four groups with supplemental dietary TP and PB alone and their combination for 8 weeks. Each treatment had 10 replicates of five birds. Supplementation with a TP and PB combination (TP-PB) increased redness (a*) (p &lt; 0.05) compared to the control basal diet (CT). Dietary TP-PB decreased egg yolk and serum total cholesterol (TC) concentrations (p &lt; 0.05) without affecting the content of total bile acid (TBA). The combined use of TP and PB significantly improved hepatic fatty acid synthetase (FAS) activity (p &lt; 0.05) and reduced liver fat particles. Dietary TP-PB primarily influenced the transcript levels of genes involved in fat metabolic pathways. In particular, TP-PB supplementation reduced lipid storage by activating the Notch signaling pathway. Furthermore, the addition of TP-PB in the diet modulated the abundance of metabolic biomarkers associated with bile secretion and valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation. An interaction network of mRNAs and metabolites was constructed associated with lipid metabolism, such as deoxycholic acid, TAG (14:3–14:3–20:5), PDK4, and HES4. Overall, these findings emphasized the potential health advantages of the TP and PB combination as a possible functional feed supplement in livestock nutrition.

Lipid variability in drug-naïve individuals affected with Major Depressive Disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background This study aimed to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the evidence examining lipid profiles in drug-naïve MDD patients. Materials and methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science up to August 2023 for total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels in drug-naïve MDD patients. Results A total of 17 articles comprising 2174 individuals including drug-naïve MDD subjects and controls were included. Our results showed that concentrations of total cholesterol were lower in drug-naïve MDD patients compared with healthy controls (SMD −0.49, 95% CI −0.881 to −0.105; p = 0.015; I2 = 90.6%). However, comparison of other lipid levels between MDD patients and healthy controls demonstrated no significant difference. The results revealed that the association of total cholesterol levels with MDD is more prominent in male-dominant studies (SMD −1.20, 95% CI −2.23 to −0.18, I2 = 87.9%) than in female-dominant studies (SMD −0.25, 95% CI −0.63–0.13, I2 = 89.0%). In meta-regression, none of the factors including year of publication, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score, sample size, BMI, and mean age of participants had a significant influence on the association between cholesterol levels and MDD. Conclusions Lower levels of total cholesterol, especially in males, are associated with MDD, so early lipid monitoring and targeted interventions are necessary.

Dynamics of Blood Taurine Concentration and its Correlation with Nutritional and Physiological Status during the Fattening Period of Japanese Black Cattle.

Taurine, biosynthesized from methionine or cysteine in the liver, plays a crucial regulatory role in bile acid conjugation, antioxidant effects, and glucose and cholesterol metabolism. This may influence the metabolic changes associated with fat accumulation in beef cattle. However, the physiological role of taurine in this species has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the physiological role of taurine in Japanese Black steers (Bos taurus) in different phases during the fattening period. To examine the correlation among plasma taurine concentrations, various physiological parameters, and genes related to taurine synthesis in the liver, we used biopsied liver tissues, blood samples, and rumen fluids collected from 21 steers at three different stages, i.e., early (T1; 13 months of age), middle (T2; 20 months of age), and late (T3; 28 months of age) phases. Additionally, to investigate the regulatory mechanisms underlying the expression profile of taurine synthesis genes, primary bovine hepatocytes obtained from 4-week-old Holstein calves were treated with palmitate, oleate, acetate, propionate, or β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA). Plasma taurine and cholesterol concentrations significantly (P < 0.001) increased in the T2 phase, which is potentially attributable to increased energy intake and assimilation induced by increased intake of concentrated feed. Cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (CSAD) expression significantly increased (P < 0.01) in T2 than in other phases. The expression levels of cysteine dioxygenase type 1 (CDO1) and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in T2 than in T3; moreover, the CDO1/glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) ratio was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 than in T1. Plasma taurine concentrations were positively correlated with plasma methionine (r = 0.51; P < 0.05) and total cholesterol (r = 0.56; P < 0.05) concentrations at T2. Relative CDO1 mRNA expression was upregulated in cultured bovine hepatocytes treated with oleate and propionate, whereas it was downregulated upon acetate treatment. These findings indicate that the increase in plasma taurine concentrations in the T2 phase is associated with changes in lipid and methionine metabolism in Japanese Black steers.

Effects of the Dietary Fat Concentration and Fatty Acid Pattern on the Urine Composition, Apparent Nutrient Digestibility, and Selected Blood Values of Healthy Adult Cats

Background/Objectives: The dietary fat concentration and fatty acid profile can influence various aspects of the feline organism. This study examined their effects on the urine composition, apparent nutrient digestibility, and selected blood variables. Methods: Ten healthy adult cats (46.6 ± 14.1 months old, initial body weight 4.99 ± 0.91 kg) received a low-fat basic diet with or without the addition of sunflower oil, fish oil, or lard in a randomized crossover design. The oil and lard were added to the daily amount of food at 0.5 or 1 g/kg body weight of the cats. At the end of each 3-week feeding period, urine, feces, and fasting blood samples were collected. Results: The results demonstrated only small effects of the dietary fat concentration and source on the urine composition of the cats. In addition, the apparent nutrient digestibility was unaffected by the dietary treatments. The supplementation with fish oil, but not sunflower oil or lard, lowered the triglycerides and increased the total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in the plasma of the cats (p &lt; 0.05). However, these blood values were within the physiological reference ranges among all groups. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the dietary fat content and fatty acid profile did not adversely affect the urine composition or nutrient digestibility in healthy adult cats. The lipid metabolism of the animals was modulated by the supplementation with fish oil, a relevant source of n-3 fatty acids. The observed triglyceride-lowering effect should be further investigated in clinical studies.

Effect of terracotta drinker and/or water addition of ASPRO‐C plus on behavior, growth, and physiological response of broiler chickens exposed to high temperature

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of a terracotta drinker and/or water supplementation with ASPRO‐C Plus on the zootechnical performance of broiler chickens reared in a hot environment. A total of 160 Cobb 500 broiler chicks of 15 days old (240.2 ± 39.82 g) were divided into four treatment groups in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of drinker type (plastic or terracotta) and water with or without ASPRO‐C Plus (1 g/L) supplementation, each consisting of 4 replicate pens. Respiratory rate, water intake, feed intake, and live body weight were recorded weekly. At 49 days old, 12 birds per group were randomly selected, fasted for 12 h, weighed, and slaughtered for carcass evaluation and blood collection. The respiration rate of broilers decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.01) with the terracotta drinker as compared to the plastic drinker. The water intake, the feed intake and the body weight gain increased significantly (p &lt; 0.01) with the terracotta drinker as compared to the plastic drinker. The water addition of ASPRO‐C Plus significantly increased (p &lt; 0.01) the relative weight of abdominal fat and spleen in broilers. The alpha‐amylase activity was significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.01) with the water addition of ASPRO‐C Plus. The serum content of total cholesterol was significantly increased (p &lt; 0.01) with the terracotta drinker. It can be concluded that ASPRO‐C Plus can slightly improve liveability, but using the terracotta drinker can be more efficient in reducing the behavioral response to heat stress and can improve the growth performance.

Effects of compatibility of Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, lipid metabolism, antioxidant status and cecal microflora of broilers during the starter phase.

This study aimed to determine the effects of compatibility of Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, lipid metabolism, antioxidant status and cecal microflora of broilers during the starter phase. A total of 600 1-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into two groups with six replicates in each group. Chickens in the control group were fed a basal diet, while chickens in the experimental group were fed a diet supplemented with 2×108 colony forming units (CFU)/kg of C. butyricum and 1×109 CFU/kg of B. subtilis. The experimental period was 21 days. Addition of C. butyricum and B. subtilis significantly increased (p<0.05) the body weight and liver nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-malic enzyme (NADP-ME) activity of broilers, enhanced (p<0.05) the average daily gain and average daily feed intake of broilers. However, the addition of C. butyricum and B. subtilis did not significantly affect the concentrations of triglyceride and total cholesterol in the serum, the activities of fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the liver, the total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase activity and malondialdehyde content in the serum and liver. Besides, microbial analysis revealed that supplementation of C. butyricum and B. subtilis increased (p<0.05) the abundance of Firmicutes such as CHKCI001 and Faecalibacterium, decreased (p<0.05) the abundance of Bacteroidota such as Bacteroides and Alistipes. Spearman correlation analysis confirmed that the above cecal microbiota were closely related to the growth performance of broilers (p<0.05). In addition, simultaneous supplementation of C. butyricum and B. subtilis significant affected (p<0.05) 33 different functional pathways such as lipid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. This explains the phenomenon of increased growth performance and liver NADP-ME activity in the probiotics group. The compatibility of C. butyricum and B. subtilis could improve the growth of broilers during the starter phase by changing the cecal microflora.

Lactobacillus plantarum LP104 improved intestinal and brain inflammation by modulating TLR4 pathway and gut flora in alcohol liver injury mice

In this study, Lactobacillus plantarum LP104 (LP104) originating from kimchi was treated to C57BL/6N mice fed a chronic-plus-single-binge ethanol diet for ten days, aiming to evaluate the effects of the probiotics on intestinal and brain inflammation in the alcohol-induced liver injury model. Dietary supplementation with LP104 significantly reduced the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in alcoholic hepatic injury mice. The 16S rDNA sequencing results inferred that LP104 modulated the intestinal microbiota by depleting inflammation-related bacterial genera Proteobacteria and enriching Lactobacillus and Roseburia. Furthermore, LP104 intervention attenuated alcohol-induced gut inflammation by the TLR4 signaling pathway, which regulated the expressions of intestinal tight junction proteins such as ZO-1, Claudin-1 and Occludin. Subsequently, LP104 intake exerted neuroprotection by restoring neurotrophic factor levels and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) function to decrease lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in the serum. The western blotting results suggested LP104 ameliorated alcohol-induced brain inflammation by inhibiting the LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway in mice. Spearman's correlation analysis demonstrated that differential intestinal bacterial taxa were connected with the expressions of inflammation-related proteins in both gut and brain of alcohol liver injury mice.

Antipsychotic-Treated Schizophrenia Patients Develop Inflammatory and Oxidative Responses Independently From Obesity: However, Metabolic Disturbances Arise From Schizophrenia-Related Obesity.

To define the impact of obesity on inflammatory and oxidative disturbances in antipsychotic-treated schizophrenia patients. Several cytokines, inflammatory, metabolic, and oxidative status markers were evaluated in obese (n=40) and non-obese (n=40) antipsychotic-treated patients and compared with age-and BMI-matched controls (n=80). Schizophreniapatients had higher leptin, TNF-α, adiponectin, visfatin, resistin, P-selectin, NPY, BDNF, CD40-L, MCP-1, and malondialdehyde, and lower IL-6, ghrelin, neopterin, and vitamin E levels compared to their respective controls (p<0.001). Total oxidant status was higher in non-obese patients compared to controls (p<0.001), total antioxidant capacity was higher in obese compared to non-obese patients (p<0.01), but vitamin A and paraoxonase levels were not different. High sensitive-CRP levels were higher in obsese controls relative to non-obese controls (p<0.05) and in obese patients relative to non-obese patients (p<0.001). Fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, uric acid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations were higher in obese patients compared to non-obese patients. Insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR were also higher in obese controls than in non-obese controls. Our results suggest that inflammatory responses and oxidative stress develop independently from obesity in antipsychotic-treated schizophrenia patients. However, schizophrenia-induced obesity causes metabolic disturbances; thereby, obese schizophrenia patients are more liable to cardiovascular events and progress of metabolic syndrome than non-obese patients.

Potential hepatoprotective properties of synthetic derivatives of thiourea — 2-aminobenzothiazole and IEM-2320

BACKGROUND: Toxic hepatitis is characterized by a significant severity of the course and by high mortality. So, search for effective means of correcting this condition seems to be relevant. It has previously been shown that some thiazolo[5,4-b]indole derivatives are capable to prevent experimental toxic liver damage in laboratory animals. In continuation of this direction, the study of the hepatoprotective properties of synthetic derivatives of thiourea 2-aminobenzothiazole and IEM-2320 was undertaken. AIM: To study the potential hepatoprotective properties of 2-aminobenzothiazole and IEM-2320 in acute carbon tetrachloride poisoning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were carried out on 30 male white outbred rats (150–270 g). On a model of carbon tetrachloride poisoning (50% solution of CCl4 in vaseline oil, 0.2 ml/100 g of body weight), the potential hepatoprotective properties of 2-aminobenzothiazole (32 mg/kg) and IEM-2320 (20 mg/kg) were investigated. Ademethionine (Heptral, AbbVie, S.r.L, Italy) at a dose of 20 mg/kg was used as a comparison drug. The studied drugs were administered intraperitoneally 4 times: one hour before the introduction of CCl4, and then — for three subsequent days after the poisoning with CCl4. The results were compared with those of 2 control groups. Animals of the 1st control group were not exposed to CCl4, instead of the studied drugs, they were injected with an equivalent volume of saline solution (0.2 ml/100 g of body weight). Animals of the 2nd control group did not receive any treatment after the CCl4 poisoning. Blood was taken on the seventh day of the experiment. The total contents of protein, glucose, and total cholesterol in blood serum were determined, and the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were evaluated. RESULTS: Under the CCl4 poisoning, the administration of 2-aminobenzothiazole led to a significant decrease in the concentrations of glucose, total protein, total cholesterol and alanine aminotransferase activity. When IEM-2320 was administered under the condition of poisoning, a decrease in the concentrations of total protein, glucose, urea, total cholesterol, and the alanine aminotransferase activity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A significant decrease in the biochemical parameters of blood serum after administration of 2-aminobenzothiazole and IEM-2320 under the condition of CCl4 poisoning demonstrates thir potential hepatoprotective properties under acute hepatotropic poisonings.

Transcriptome and targeted metabolome analysis of lipid profiles, nutrients compositions and volatile compounds in longissimus dorsi of different pig breeds.

Improving meat quality is important for commercial production and breeding. The molecular mechanism of intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition and meat characteristics remain further study. This study aimed to study the mechanism of IMF deposition and meat characteristics including redox potential, nutrients compositions and volatile compounds in longissimus dorsi (LD) by comparing with different pig breeds including Shanghai white (SW), Duroc x (Landrace Yorkshire) (DLY) and Laiwu (LW) pigs. Results showed that the contents of IMF, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and redox potential parameters were lower, while the content of MDA and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were higher in LD of SW pigs compared with LW pigs (p<0.05). No differences were observed about these parameters between SW and DLY pigs. Also, the contents of medium-long chain fatty acids and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were higher, while Asp was lower in LD of SW pigs compared with LW pigs (p<0.05). Volatile compounds results showed that 6 ketones, 4 alkenes, 11 alkanes, 2 aldehydes, 1 alcohol were increased and cholesterol was decreased in SW pigs compared with LW pigs. Transcriptome results showed that differential expressed genes involved in lipid synthesis, metabolism and transport in LD between SW and LW pigs, which were further verified by qPCR. Spearman correlation showed that HSL and Nedd4 were positively related to contents of TG and IMF, while negatively related to volatile compounds and fatty acids (p<0.05). Plin3 and Mgll were negatively related to contents of TG, IMF and cholesterol, while positively related to MDA, LDH, and volatile compounds (p<0.05). PPARA was negatively related to contents of TC and IMF, and activity of SOD, while positively related to volatile compounds (p<0.05). Our study provided new insights into potential mechanisms of IMF deposition, nutrients composition and volatile compounds of muscular tissues of different pig breeds.

Evaluation of naples prognostic score to predict long-term mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism

Abstract Background/Introduction APE mortality rates are still not satisfactory despite new diagnosis and treatment methods (1). Thus, risk classification is crucial due to the wide range of clinical presentations. Several risk stratifications have been developed such as simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) (2). Nonetheless, there remains a need for an optimal indicator that can be conveniently measured with a high degree of precision to predict clinical outcomes. Naples prognostic score (NPS) is a newly defined index that is developed to determine the prognosis of cancer patients and reflects the inflammatory and nutritional status of the patients (3). Purpose The aim of our study was to determine the long-term prognostic value of NPS in APE patients. Methods Two hundred ninety-three patients diagnosed with APE between November 2016 and February 2022 were included in the study. NPS consists of 4 parameters: serum albumin, total cholesterol (TC) concentration, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR). Naples scores of all patients were calculated and the patients were divided into 2 groups according to their NPS and their long-term mortality was compared. The primary endpoint of the study was long-term mortality. Results The long-term mortality was observed in 38 patients out of 293 patients in the mean follow-up of 24 (16-42) months. In the low-Naples risk group (group 1), there were 215 patients, while the high-Naples risk group (group 2) had 78 patients. Multivariate analysis showed that NPS as a categorical parameter (HR: 3.458, 95%CI:1.734-6.896, p&amp;lt;0.001), NPS as a numerical parameter, (HR:1.651, 95%CI:1.217-2.241, p=0.001) and simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) (HR:1.887, 95%CI:1.223-2.911), p=0.004) score were independent predictors of long-term mortality. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the model 2 with NPS as continuous had higher discriminative ability than the baseline model for detecting patients with mortality (Area under curve (AUC) values = 0.791 vs. 0.723, respectively, p=0.04) (Figure 1A). The long-term predictive capability of NPS was non-inferior than the sPESI score (Figure 1B). Conclusions The current study highlights that NPS, which reflects systemic inflammation and nutritional status may have potential to predict long-term mortality in APE patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show the relationship between long-term mortality and NPS in APE patients.

Deletion of the asialyloglycoprotein receptor-1 (ASGR1) causes atheroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo

Abstract Introduction The asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 (ASGR1) is a hepatic receptor that clears desialylated glycoproteins from the circulation. A loss-of-function mutation in ASGR1 was reported to associate with a 34% reduction in coronary artery disease (CAD) risk, suggesting a role for ASGR1 in CAD. Aim To determine the role of ASGR1 in atherosclerosis and whether deletion of ASGR1 elicits atheroprotective effects. Methods Western blotting, mass spectrometry and flow cytometry assessed ASGR1 expression in cultured macrophages or immune cells collected from the blood and aortas of wildtype mice. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from wildtype and Asgr1-/- mice were subjected to cholesterol efflux and oxidised low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) uptake in vitro functionalassays. ELISA and qPCR measured changes in lipid regulators in BMDMs. Asgr1-/- mice were crossed with atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein (Apo)e-/- mice (Apoe-/-Asgr1-/-). Stable plaque area was assessed histologically in the aortic sinuses of mice fed a high-cholesterol diet for 8 weeks (n=16/group). Using the tandem stenosis surgical model, unstable plaque was assessed in carotid arteries (n=10/group). Human ASGR1 was measured by ELISA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from patient samples (n=18). Results Western blotting and mass spectrometry discovered ASGR1 is expressed in macrophages. Immunofluorescence identified the presence of ASGR1 in aortic sinus plaque. Flow cytometry revealed ASGR1 is expressed in both inflammatory and patrolling monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells of blood and aortas. Asgr1-/- BMDMs elicited greater cholesterol efflux (+39%, P&amp;lt;0.05) and decreased oxLDL uptake (-15%, P&amp;lt;0.05), compared to wildtype BMDMs. Moreover, Asgr1-/- BMDMs had significantly higher LDL receptor protein levels (+2-fold), and Lxra (+2-fold) and Pparg (+1.5-fold) mRNA levels than wildtype BMDMs, P&amp;lt;0.001. Plasma from Asgr1-/- mice had lower total (-25%, P&amp;lt;0.05) and LDL (-36%, P&amp;lt;0.05) cholesterol concentrations than wildtype mice. Apoe-/-Asgr1-/- mice developed less stable plaque in aortic sinuses (-37%, P&amp;lt;0.001) than Apoe-/- controls, as well as smaller unstable plaques in carotid arteries (-49%, P&amp;lt;0.05). Finally, in a human population, ASGR1 protein levels were higher in PBMCs from patients with coronary plaque (+61%, P&amp;lt;0.05), than those without plaque, determined from coronary angiograms. Conclusion ASGR1 is expressed on monocytes, macrophages and in plaques, and human PBMC ASGR1 associates with coronary plaque. Deletion of ASGR1 causes atheroprotective functions in macrophages in vitro and reduced plaque burden in vivo. Our findings demonstrate ASGR1 is important in atherosclerosis with implications for ASGR1 as a therapeutic target.

Identification and Analysis of Phenolic Compounds in Vaccinium uliginosum L. and Its Lipid-Lowering Activity In Vitro.

Vaccinium uliginosum L. (VU), rich in polyphenols, is an important wild berry resource primarily distributed in extremely cold regions. However, the detailed composition of Vaccinium uliginosum L. polyphenols (VUPs) has not been reported, which limits the development and utilization of VU. In this study, VU-free polyphenols (VUFPs) and VU-bound polyphenols (VUBPs) were, respectively, extracted using an ultrasonic, complex enzyme and alkali extraction method; the compositions were identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and lipid-lowering activity in vitro was evaluated. The results showed that 885 polyphenols and 47 anthocyanins were detected in the VUFPs and VUBPs, and 30 anthocyanin monomers were firstly detected in VU. Compared with the model group, the accumulation of lipid droplets and the total cholesterol and triglyceride contents in the high-concentration VUP group reduced by 36.95%, 65.82%, and 62.43%, respectively, and liver damage was also alleviated. It was also found that VUP can regulate the level of Asialoglycoprotein receptor 1, a new target for lipid lowering. In summary, this study provides a detailed report on VUP for the first time, confirming that VUP has lipid-lowering potential in vitro. These findings suggest new strategies and theoretical support for the development and utilization of VU, especially in the field of functional foods.

Effects of Dietary Ferroporphyrin Supplementation on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Immune Response, and Oxygen-Carrying Capacity in Gibel Carp (Carassius auratus gibelio).

An eight-week experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary ferroporphyrin (FPR) supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and oxygen-carrying capacity in gibel carp. The results demonstrated that the addition of FPR increased the moisture content of the whole fish body. Supplementation with 0.01% FPR significantly increased the plasma albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), and total cholesterol (TC) contents. The addition of 0.03% and 0.04% FPR significantly increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, respectively, while the glucose (GLU), TC, and total triglyceride (TG) levels showed opposite trends. In terms of antioxidant capacity, the 0.03% and 0.04% dietary FPR supplementation increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) exhibited an opposite trend to MDA levels. The supplementation of 0.03% of FPR resulted in a notable reduction in mRNA expression levels of nrf2, keap1, cat, and gpx. Regarding immunity, 0.01% FPR supplementation down-regulated the expression levels of il-1β mRNA, while 0.02% FPR down-regulated il-6 and nf-κb expression levels. Furthermore, 0.02% FPR supplementation significantly up-regulated the il-10 mRNA expression levels. In terms of oxygen-carrying capacity, high levels of FPR (0.03% and 0.04%) were found to influence the epo and vegf mRNA expression. In conclusion, the incorporation of dietary 0.01-0.02% FPR improved the immune system of gibel carp without affecting their antioxidant and oxygen-carrying capacity. However, supplementation with higher levels of FPR (0.03-0.04%) led to decreased antioxidant and oxygen-carrying capacity.

Healthy Dietary Pattern Cycling Affects Gut Microbiota and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: Results from a Randomized Controlled Feeding Trial with Young, Healthy Adults.

Previous research demonstrates that adopting, abandoning, and re-adopting (i.e., cycling) a healthy dietary pattern (HDP) improved, reverted, and re-improved cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. In addition, changes in CVD risk factors are associated with dietary modifications of gut microbiota. We sought to assess the effects of cycling an HDP on gut microbiota and CVD risk factors. Retrospectively, we used data from a randomized controlled, crossover trial with three 3-week controlled dietary interventions, each separated by a 5-week period of participant-chosen, uncontrolled food intake. Seventeen participants (10 males, 7 females, age 26 ± 4 years old, BMI 23 ± 3 kg/m2) all consumed intervention diets that followed healthy U.S.-style dietary patterns. Gut microbiota composition and cardiovascular risk factors were measured before and after each HDP. Repeatedly adopting and abandoning an HDP led to a cycling pattern of changes in the gut microbial community and taxonomic composition. During the HDP cycles, relative abundances of several bacterial taxa (e.g., Collinsella, Mediterraneibacter, Romboutsia, and Dorea) decreased and returned to baseline repeatedly. Similar HDP cycling occurred for multiple CVD risk factors (i.e., serum total cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations). Consistent negative associations were observed between changes in Mediterraneibacter or Collinsella and serum total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio. These results support previous findings that HDP cycling affected multiple CVD risk factors and expand the HDP cycling phenomenon to include several bacterial taxa. Young adults are encouraged to adopt and sustain a healthy dietary pattern to improve cardiovascular health, potentially through modifying gut microbiota composition.