Decreased Serum Triglyceride Levels Research Articles

Association of lipid levels with motor and cognitive function and decline in Parkinson's disease.

Most studies have focused on comparing blood lipid biomarkers between Parkinson's disease (PD) and normal controls (NC). However, further research is necessary to explore the impact of blood lipid levels on motor and cognitive function, as well as the progression of motor dysfunction and cognitive decline over time. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between blood lipid biomarkers and these indicators in individuals with PD. The cohort study enrolled 157 PD patients and 146 NC from the Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from September 2017 to September 2019. Serum lipid fractions were detected in fasting serum samples. PD patients were followed up at 2 ± 0.6 years for clinical assessment. PD patients exhibited lower serum triglyceride (TG) levels as compared to NC (P = 0.008). PD male patients exhibited lower serum lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) levels than female patients (LDL-C: P = 0.034; TC: P = 0.019). Serum TG levels correlated significantly with Unified PD Rating Scale III, Hoehn and Yahr stage and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores in PD patients. Additionally, serum TG levels were associated with follow-up motor function decline and cognitive decline in adjusted regression models in PD patients. To summarise, the study findings suggest that decreased serum TG levels are significantly associated with greater motor dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction and the greater deterioration of the two indicators.

A novel fully human anti-NT-ANGPTL3 antibody from phage display library exhibits potent ApoB, TG, and LDL-C lowering activities in hyperlipidemia mice.

Dyslipidemia is characterized by elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and TG-rich lipoprotein (TGRLs) in circulation, and is closely associated with the incidence and development of cardiovascular disease. Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) deficiency has been identified as a cause of familial combined hypolipidemia in humans, which allows it to be an important therapeutic target for reducing plasma lipids. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of a novel fully human antibody F1519-D95aA against N-terminal ANGPTL3 (NT-ANGPTL3), which potently inhibits NT-ANGPTL3 with a KD as low as 9.21 nM. In hyperlipidemic mice, F1519-D95aA shows higher apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and TG-lowering, and similar LDL-C reducing activity as compared to positive control Evinacumab (56.50% vs 26.01% decrease in serum ApoB levels, 30.84% vs 25.28% decrease in serum TG levels, 23.32% vs 22.52% decrease in serum LDLC levels, relative to vehicle group). Molecular docking and binding energy calculations reveal that the F1519-D95aA-ANGPTL3 complex (10 hydrogen bonds, -65.51 kcal/mol) is more stable than the Evinacumab-ANGPTL3 complex (4 hydrogen bonds, -63.76 kcal/mol). Importantly, F1519-D95aA binds to ANGPTL3 with different residues in ANGPTL3 from Evinacumab, suggesting that F1519-D95aA may be useful for the treatment of patients resistant to Evinacumab. In conclusion, F1519-D95aA is a novel fully human anti-NT-ANGPTL3 antibody with potent plasma ApoB, TG, and LDL-C lowering activities, which can potentially serve as a therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia and relevant cardiovascular diseases.

Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome Can Benefit from Consumption of Enriched Chicken Eggs: The Effects on Microvascular Function, Inflammatory Biomarkers, and Oxidative Status—Randomized Clinical Study

The aim of this clinical study was to determine the impact of the consumption of chicken eggs enriched with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, selenium, vitamin E, and lutein on micro- and macrovascular endothelium-dependent dilation, inflammation biomarkers, and oxidative stress levels in participants with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study that included 30 CCS participants (9 women, 21 men) randomized into the control group (N = 15), who ate ordinary chicken eggs (three per day), and the Nutri4 group (N = 15), who ate enriched eggs (three per day) for 21 days. Microvascular and macrovascular endothelium-dependent vasodilation was evaluated by measuring forearm skin post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) and acetylcholine-induced dilation (AChID) and the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, respectively. The serum lipid profile, anti- and proinflammatory cytokine levels, serum concentration of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms, and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured before and after the diet protocols. Enriched, but not regular, chicken eggs significantly improved microvascular PORH and AChID and macrovascular FMD, increased the serum concentration of inducible NOS, decreased serum triglyceride levels, and decreased proinflammatory cytokine IL-17A and TGF-1β levels compared to initial measurements. Patients with CCS can benefit from the consumption of enriched chicken eggs due to improved lipid biomarkers, a more favorable anti-inflammatory milieu, and improved vascular relaxation at micro- and macrovascular levels.

Effect of Plasma Exchange Treatment in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis.

Background and Objectives: To describe the clinical and biological characteristics of patients with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) and to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in the management of HTG-AP. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 81 HTG-AP patients (30 treated with TPE and 51 treated conventionally). The main outcome was a decrease in serum triglyceride levels (<11.3 mmol/L) within 48 h of hospitalization. Results: The mean age of participants was 45.3 ± 8.7 years, and 82.7% were male. Abdominal pain was the most frequent clinical sign (100%), followed by dyspepsia (87.7%), nausea or vomiting (72.8%), and a bloated stomach (61.7%). The HTG-AP patients treated with TPE had significantly lower calcemia and creatinemia levels but higher triglyceride levels than those who received conservative treatment. They also had more severe diseases than those treated conservatively. All patients in the TPE group were admitted to the ICU, whereas the ICU admission rate in the non-TPE group was 5.9%. The TPE patients were more likely to experience a rapid decrease in triglyceride levels within 48 h of treatment than those treated conventionally (73.3% vs. 49.0%, p = 0.03, respectively). The decrease in triglyceride levels did not depend on the age, gender, or comorbidities of the HTG-AP patients or the severity of disease. However, TPE and early treatment in the first 12 h of disease onset were effective in rapidly reducing serum triglyceride levels (adjusted OR = 3.00, p = 0.04 and aOR = 7.98, p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: This report demonstrates the effectiveness of early TPE in reducing triglyceride levels among HTG-AP patients. More randomized clinical trials studies with a large sample size and post-discharge follow-up are needed to confirm the effectiveness of TPE methods in managing HTG-AP.

Alterations of Systemic and Hepatic Metabolic Function Following Exposure to Trans-nonachlor in Low and High Fat Diet Fed Male Sprague Dawley Rats.

The overall prevalence of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and associated co-morbidities have increased at an alarming rate in the United States and worldwide. There is a growing body of epidemiological evidence implicating exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including legacy organochlorine (OC) pesticides and their bioaccumulative metabolites, in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to determine if exposure to trans-nonachlor, a bioaccumulative OC pesticide contaminant, in concert with high fat diet intake induced metabolic dysfunction. Briefly, male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to trans-nonachlor (.5 or 5 ppm) in either a low fat (LFD) or high fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. At 8 weeks of intake, trans-nonachlor decreased serum triglyceride levels in LFD and HFD fed animals and at 16 weeks compared to LFD fed animals. Interestingly, serum glucose levels were decreased by trans-nonachlor (5 ppm) in LFD fed animals at 16 weeks. Serum free fatty acids were increased by trans-nonachlor exposure (5 ppm) in LFD fed animals at 16 weeks. HFD fed animals displayed signs of hepatic steatosis including elevated liver triglycerides, liver enzymes, and liver lipid peroxidation which were not significantly altered by trans-nonachlor exposure. However, there was a trans-nonachlor mediated increase in expression of fatty acid synthase in livers of LFD fed animals and not HFD fed animals. Thus, the present data indicate exposure to trans-nonachlor in conjunction with LFD or HFD intake produces both diet and exposure dependent effects on lipid and glucose metabolism.

Prenatal exposure to corn oil, CMC-Na or DMSO affects physical development and multi-organ functions in fetal mice

Corn oil, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are widely used as solvents or suspensions in animal experiments, but the effects of prenatal exposure to them on fetal development have not been reported. In this study, Kunming mice were given a conventional dose of corn oil (9.2 g/kg·d), CMC-Na (0.05 g/kg·d) or DMSO (0.088 g/kg·d) during gestation days 10–18, and the pregnancy outcome, fetal physical development, serum phenotype, and multi-organ function changes were observed. The results showed that corn oil decreased serum triglyceride level in males but increased their serum testosterone and CORT levels, and affected female placenta and female/male multi-organ functions (mainly bone, liver, kidney). CMC-Na increased female/male body lengths and tail lengths, decreased serum glucose and total cholesterol levels in males as well as increased their serum LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and testosterone level, decreased female serum bile acid level, and affected male/female placenta and multi-organ functions (mainly bone, liver, hippocampus). DMSO decreased male body weight and serum glucose level, decreased male/female serum bile acid levels, and affected male/female placenta and multi-organs functions (mainly bone, hippocampus, adrenal gland). In conclusion, prenatal exposure to a conventional dose of corn oil, CMC-Na or DMSO could affect fetal physical development and multi-organ functions, and has the characteristics of "multi-pathway, multi-organ and multi-target". This study provides the experimental basis for the rational selection of solvents or suspensions in pharmacology and toxicology studies.

Concurrent Dietary Incorporation of Bentonite Clay Reduces Aflatoxin Induced Health Effects In White Pekin Ducks

An experiment was carried out to assess the efficacy bentonite clay supplementation to the diet of white pekin ducks, experimentally fed with aflatoxin B1 contaminated diet (96 ppb) on production performance, and biochemical parameters including oxidative stress indices. The experimental birds (n=72) were provided with standard duck feed and ad libitum water. The grower white pekin ducks, aged 9 weeks, were randomly divided into six groups containing twelve birds in each group. The birds of group I served as healthy controls and was fed with basal diet without addition of toxin or bentonite clay. The birds of group II were provided with a diet with toxin level of 48 µg/kg of feed. The grower ducklings of group III to VI were fed with a diet containing 96 µg of toxin/kg of feed. The experimental feed was provided from 9th week of age (grower stage) for a period of 6 weeks. The birds of group IV, V and VI were provided with feed containing 96 µg aflatoxin /kg of feed along with bentonite clay the dose rate of 1, 2 or 3g of clay/ kg of feed, respectively. The birds fed with aflatoxin-treated diet showed significant (P&lt;0.05) decrease in body weight gain by 4th week of experiment in group II and III. However, the body weight was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in bentonite clay supplemented group IV, V, and VI, as compared to toxin-exposed positive group II and III. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) increased significantly in Group II and III by 4th week. At the end of 6th week, group II and III showed significantly higher FCR. Significantly decreased serum triglyceride level and increased cholesterol level was recorded in group II and III in comparison to all other groups on 4th week. There was significant decrease in creatinine level in group IV, V, and VI, compared to group II and III on completion of 4th week of the experiment. The activity of GGT increased significantly in all aflatoxin exposed groups. The feeding of aflatoxin contaminated feed increased the erythrocytic malonaldehyde (MDA) production and activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. It is concluded from the experiment that bentonite clay supplementation in the diet at the dose rate of 3g/ kg of feed reduced the toxic effects of aflatoxin on production performance and oxidative stress in white pekin ducks.

Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation on Serum Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) supplementation on serum lipid profile and blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane library from database inception to 30 April 2022. This meta-analysis included eight trials with 387 participants. We found that supplementation of n-3 PUFAs has no significant reduction in TC level (SMD = -0.02; 95% CI: -0.22 ~ 0.18, I2 = 23.7%) and LDL-c level in serum (SMD = 0.18; 95% CI: -0.18 ~ 0.53, I2 = 54.9%) of patients with metabolic syndrome. Moreover, we found no significant increase in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (SMD = 0.02; 95% CI: -0.21 ~ 0.25, I2 = 0%) in patients with metabolic syndrome after consuming n-3 PUFAs. In addition, we found that n-3 PUFAs can significantly decrease serum triglyceride levels (SMD= -0.39; 95% CI: -0.59 ~ -0.18, I2 = 17.2%), systolic blood pressure (SMD = -0.54; 95% CI: -0.86 ~ -0.22, I2 = 48.6%), and diastolic blood pressure (SMD = -0.56; 95% CI: -0.79 ~ 0.33, I2 = 14.0%) in patients with metabolic syndrome. The results from the sensitivity analysis confirmed that our results were robust. These findings suggest that n-3 PUFA supplementation may serve as a potential dietary supplement for improving lipids and blood pressure in metabolic syndrome. Given the quality of the included studies, further studies are still needed to verify our findings.

Patient Selection for Pemafibrate Therapy to Prevent Adverse Cardiovascular Events.

Background: pemafibrate is a newly-introduced selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α modulator, which decreases serum triglyceride levels with few drug-related adverse events and may reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in carefully selected patients with hypertriglyceridemia. We aimed to understand which specific cohorts may benefit or not from pemafibrate therapy for adverse cardiovascular event risk reduction. Methods: patients with hypertriglyceridemia at baseline received pemafibrate therapy for two years or until October 2022. The factors that were associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events, defined as heart failure hospitalization, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes, were investigated. Results: a total of 121 patients (median 62 years, 88 men) remained on pemafibrate therapy for a median of 566 days without any drug-related adverse events. During a 3-month therapeutic period, triglyceride levels improved significantly from 302 (205, 581) mg/dL to 178 (117, 253) mg/dL (p < 0.001). During the overall therapeutic period, there were nine cardiovascular events. Comorbid chronic heart failure, comorbid coronary disease, and a lower pemafibrate dosing were independently associated with the primary endpoint (p < 0.05 for all). Those with multiple risk factors (N = 30) had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint as compared with others (27% versus 3%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: pemafibrate significantly improves hypertriglyceridemia. A higher dose of pemafibrate should be considered to reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, particularly in patients with chronic heart failure or coronary disease.

Lactobacillus salivarius SNK-6 Regulates Liver Lipid Metabolism Partly via the miR-130a-5p/MBOAT2 Pathway in a NAFLD Model of Laying Hens

Lactobacillus spp., as probiotics, have shown efficacy in alleviating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here, we screened a new probiotic strain, Lactobacillus salivarius SNK-6 (L. salivarius SNK-6), which was isolated from the ileum of healthy Xinyang black-feather laying hens in China. We investigated the beneficial activity of L. salivarius SNK-6 in a NAFLD model in laying hens and found that L. salivarius SNK-6 inhibited liver fat deposition and decreased serum triglyceride levels and activity of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase. MBOAT2 (membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain containing 2) was directly targeted by miR-130a-5p, which was downregulated in the liver of NAFLD laying hens but reversed after L. salivarius SNK-6 treatment. Downregulation of MBOAT2, L. salivarius SNK-6 supplementation in vivo, and L. salivarius SNK-6 cell culture treatment in vitro suppressed the mRNA expression of genes involved in the PPAR/SREBP pathway. In addition, 250 metabolites were identified in the supernatants of L. salivarius SNK-6 culture media, and most of them participated in metabolic pathways, including amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. Targeted metabolomic analysis revealed that acetate, butyrate, and propionate were the most abundant short-chain fatty acids, while cholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, and tauroursodeoxycholic acid were the four most-enriched bile acids among L. salivarius SNK-6 metabolites. This may have contributed to the reparative effect of L. salivarius SNK-6 in the NAFLD chicken model. Our study suggested that L. salivarius SNK-6 alleviated liver damage partly via the miR-130a-5p/MBOAT2 signaling pathway.

Transcriptome Analysis of Protection by Dendrobium Nobile Alkaloids (DNLA) against Chronic Alcoholic Liver Injury in Mice.

To investigate the protective effects of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. alkaloids (DNLA) against chronic alcoholic liver injury. C57BL/6J mice were fed with the Lieber-DeCarli alcohol diet to induce chronic alcoholic liver injury. DNLA (20 mg/kg/day) was gavaged along with the alcohol diet for 28 days. Liver injury was evaluated by serum enzymes. Triglyceride levels, histopathology, and transcriptome changes were examined by RNA-Seq and qPCR. DNLA decreased serum triglyceride levels in mice receiving alcohol. Hepatocyte degeneration and steatosis were ameliorated by DNLA, as evidenced by H&E and Oil-red O staining. DNLA brought the alcohol-induced aberrant gene expression pattern towards normal. Alcohol induced 787 differentially expressed genes (padj &lt; 0.01). DNLA induced 280 differentially expressed genes to a much less extent. Ingenuity pathway analysis showed that DNLA ameliorated alcohol-induced oxidative stress and xenobiotic metabolism disruption. qPCR verified that DNLA alleviated over-activation of Cyp2a4, Cyp2b10, and Abcc4; attenuated oxidative stress (Hmox1, Gstm3, Nupr1), reduced the expression of Nrf2 genes (Nqo1, Gclc, Vldlr); and rescued some metabolic genes (Insig1, Xbp1, Socs3, Slc10a2). In conclusion, DNLA was effective against alcohol-induced fatty liver disease, and the protection may be attributed to alleviated oxidative stress and restored metabolism homeostasis, probably through modulating nuclear receptor CAR-, PXR-, and Nrf2-mediated gene expression pathways.

The Effects of Atorvastatin Consumption on Biochemical Variables in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Pre-diabetes

Background and Aims: Atorvastatin may alter glycemic traits and lipid profiles. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of atorvastatin on biochemical variables in patients with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes (borderline diabetes).&#x0D; Materials and Methods: This study included 80 individuals divided into five groups. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes used atorvastatin 20 mg/day for three months. After three months, variables such as serum fasting blood glucose (FBS), cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were measured to assess the status of diabetes and pre-diabetes condition. Linear regression was applied to determine the association between atorvastatin uses and alters of biochemical variables levels.&#x0D; Results: The serum FBS and HbA1c levels in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes who use atorvastatin were significantly lower than in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes who did not use atorvastatin (p=0.001). Serum cholesterol and LDL-C levels decreased in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients who used atorvastatin in comparison with diabetic and pre-diabetic patients who did not use atorvastatin (p=0.001). In patients with pre-diabetes, the use of atorvastatin slightly increased serum HDL-C levels. However, in patients with diabetes, the use of atorvastatin slightly decreased serum HDL-C level (p= 0.001). Diabetic and pre-diabetic patients who use atorvastatin significantly decreased serum triglyceride levels (p=0.016), while in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients, using atorvastatin slightly increased the serum insulin level (p= 0.003).&#x0D; Conclusions: Atorvastatin using alters fat and sugar indices in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients.

Incidence and clinical characteristics of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis: A retrospective single-center study.

BACKGROUNDThe incidence of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) has increased yearly, but updated population-based estimates on the incidence of HTG-AP are lacking. Reducing serum triglyceride (TG) levels quickly is crucial in the early treatment of HTG-AP. Decreased serum TG levels are treated by non-invasive methods, which include anti-lipidemic agents, heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, and insulin, and invasive methods, such as blood purification including hemoperfusion (HP), plasmapheresis, and continuous renal replacement therapy. However, authoritative guidelines have not been established. Early selection of appropriate treatment is important and beneficial in controlling the development of HTG-AP.AIMTo evaluate the effect between patients treated with intravenous insulin (INS) and HP to guide clinical treatment.METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 371 patients with HTG-AP enrolled in the Department of Fujian Provincial Hospital form April 2012 to March 2021. The inpatient medical and radiologic records were reviewed to determine clinical features, severity, complications, mortality, recurrence rate, and treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze risk factors for severe HTG-AP. Propensity score matching was used to compare the clinical outcomes of INS and HP.RESULTSA total of 371 patients met the HTG-AP criteria. The incidence of HTG-AP was increased by approximately 2.6 times during the 10 years (8.4% in April 2012-March 2013 and 22.3% in April 2020-March 2021). The highest incidence rate of acute pancreatitis was observed for men in the age group of 30-39 years. The amylase level was elevated in 80.1% of patients but was only three times the normal value in 46.9% of patients. The frequency of severe acute pancreatitis (26.9%), organ failure (31.5%), rate of recurrence (32.9%), and mortality (3.0%) of HTG-AP was high. Improved Marshall score, modified computed tomography severity index score, baseline TG, baseline amylase, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, hemoglobin, free triiodothyronine, admission to intensive care unit, and mortality were significantly different between patients with different grades of severity (P < 0.050). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that high CRP [P = 0.005, odds ratio (OR) = 1.011, 95%CI: 1.003-1.019], low calcium (P = 0.003, OR = 0.016, 95%CI: 0.001-0.239), and low albumin (P = 0.023, OR = 0.821, 95%CI: 0.693-0.973) were risk factors of severe HTG-AP. After propensity score matching adjusted by sex, age, severity of HTG-AP, and baseline TG, the serum TG significantly decreased in patients treated with INS (P < 0.000) and HP (P < 0.000) within 48 h. However, the clearance rate of TG (57.24 ± 33.70% vs 56.38 ± 33.61%, P = 0.927) and length of stay (13.04 ± 7.92 d vs 12.35 ± 6.40 d, P = 0.730) did not differ between the two groups.CONCLUSIONThe incidence of HTG-AP exhibited a significant increase, remarkable severity, and recurrent trend. Patients with mild and moderately severe acute pancreatitis can be treated effectively with INS safely and effectively without HP.

Effects of Avocado Oil Supplementation on Insulin Sensitivity, Cognition, and Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Different Tissues of Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Obesity induces insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurocognitive impairment. Avocado oil (AO) has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. This study evaluated the effect of AO supplementation on obese mice in the adipose tissue, muscle, liver, and hippocampus. Male C57BL/6J mice received a standard and high-fat diet (20 weeks) and then were supplemented with AO (4 mL/kg of body weight, 90 days) and divided into the following groups: control (control), control + avocado oil (control + AO), diet-induced obesity (DIO), and diet-induced obesity + avocado oil (DIO + AO) (n = 10/group). AO supplementation was found to improve insulin sensitivity and decrease hepatic fat accumulation and serum triglyceride levels in DIO mice. AO improved cognitive performance and did not affect mood parameters. Oxidative marker levels were decreased in DIO + AO mice in all the tissues and were concomitant with increased catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in the epididymal adipose tissue and quadriceps, as well as increased catalase activity in the liver. AO in obese animals further induced reductions in TNF-α and IL-1β expressions in the epididymal adipose tissue and quadriceps. These results suggest that AO supplementation has the potential to be an effective strategy for combating the effects of obesity in rats, and human studies are needed to confirm these findings.

The effects of different extraction methods on physicochemical, functional and physiological properties of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber from Rubus chingiiHu. fruits

• IDF and SDF extracted from Rubus chingii Hu. fruits by four methods are analyzed. • W-SDF and AC-SDF represented distinctive features in physicochemical properties. • W-SDF and AC-SDF displayed the excellent oil holding capacity in vitro. • W-SDF and AC-SDF promoted oil excretion and decreased oil absorption in vivo. In this study, we compared the chemical, physical, and functional properties of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) and soluble dietary fiber (SDF) that were extracted from Rubus chingii Hu. fruits using four methods. The results showed a wide variation in structural and functional properties among IDFs and SDFs extracted by different methods. Compared with the other DFs, water extraction SDF (W-SDF) and acid extraction SDF (AC-SDF) exhibited a more complete structure, higher thermal stability, and larger apparent viscosity, which in turn enhanced their functional properties. Notably, the oil holding capacity of W-SDF and AC-SDF reached very high levels at 19.89 ± 1.47 g/g and 12.62 ± 1.31 g/g, respectively. In vivo experiments in mice showed that W-SDF and AC-SDF effectively inhibited soybean oil absorption, promoted its release from the body and decreased serum triglyceride levels. In summary, W-SDF and AC-SDF from R. chingii fruits can effectively reduce the absorption of fats.

Influence of Pregnancy Stages on Thyroid Status and Blood Metabolites in Desert Ewes Raised under Range Conditions in West Kordufan State, Sudan

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the stages of pregnancy in two ecotypes of sheep, located in different grazing areas on thyroid status and certain blood metabolites. Eighty clinically healthy ewes (40 Hamari and 40 Kabashi ecotype) aged 2-5 years were used in the study. For each ecotype, the ewes were divided into four groups according to the reproductive status. Group (A): 10 ewes non-pregnant non-lactating (dry) served as the control. Group (B): 10 ewes in the early stage of pregnancy (first trimester). Group (C): 10 ewes in mid-stage of pregnancy (second trimester). Group (D): 10 ewes in the late stage of pregnancy (third trimester). Blood samples were used to measure serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), plasma glucose concentration and serum triglyceride levels. The study detected that Hamari ecotype was supplied with salt and minerals block during watering by its owners. The results showed that in both ecotypes, the serum TSH levels were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher during the early stage of pregnancy then, it decreased significantly (P&lt;0.01) as the pregnancy advanced. While serum T4 levels were higher during the early stage of pregnancy, then it decreased significantly (P&lt;0.01) during the late pregnancy in both ecotypes. Serum T3 level was significantly (P&lt;0.001) higher in both ecotypes during early and mid-pregnancy, then declined to the lowest value during the late stage. The plasma glucose level was significantly (P&lt;0.001) lower during mid and late pregnancy in both ecotypes. There was a significant (P&lt;0.05) decrease in serum triglyceride level when pregnancy advanced in both ecotypes. Kabashi ecotype showed significantly higher serum triglyceride levels in the control group (P&lt;0.001) during early pregnancy stage (P&lt;0.01) and mid pregnancy stage (P&lt;0.05) compared to the values of serum triglyceride levels in Hamari ecotypes. This study indicated that pregnancy altered thyroid status in both ecotypes, however, the influence of pregnancy on the thyroid status was less in the Hamary ecotype which supplemented by mineral and salt blocks. Therefore, supplementation with minerals during pregnancy might enhance the metabolic profile on the natural pasture grazing.

Effect of melatonin on C-reactive protein and lipid profile of hemodialysis patients

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death in hemodialysis patients. Lipid metabolism abnormalities and increased inflammatory factors are related factors. In recent studies, melatonin inhibits dyslipidemia and reduces inflammatory factors by inhibiting LDL-C oxidation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of melatonin supplement on hyperlipidemia and C-reactive protein (CRP) level in hemodialysis patients. Objectives: We aimed to determine the effect of melatonin on CRP and lipid profile of hemodialysis patients. Patients and Methods: Among 200 hemodialysis patients, only 28 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria to enroll in the study. Patients were treated with melatonin supplements 3 mg/d at bedtime for 12 weeks. Serum lipid profile and CRP levels were measured after 12 weeks. Five patients were excluded, 2 patients underwent kidney transplantation, and three patients did not cooperate. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the two groups according to the number of participants (less than 30) and study type (pre-test and post-test). P &lt;0.05 was considered as the level of significance. Results: A total of 23 patients completed the treatment protocol. Participants was composed of 13 male and 10 female. The participants’ mean age was 30.6± 11.6 years. After treatment mean total cholesterol levels decreased from 139.95±35.49 mg/dL to 131.13 ± 34.96 mg/dL (P=0.194) which was not statistically significant. However, the decrease in serum triglyceride level was statistically significant (P=0.004). Plasma HDL-C increased significantly after treatment (P=0.032). Serum CRP levels did not change. Conclusion: Melatonin supplement improves serum triglyceride and HDL-C levels in hemodialysis patients but has no effect on total cholesterol and CRP in hemodialysis patients. Trial Registration: This randomized controlled trial was registered by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (identifier: IRCT20200308046724N1; https://en.irct.ir/trial/46407, ethical code; IR.SBMU.RETECH.REC.1397.687).

Liraglutide in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundA few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have assessed the use of liraglutide as a treatment option in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed at critically appraising and summarizing these RCTs, providing precise effect estimates regarding the safety and efficacy of liraglutide in NAFLD. MethodsWe searched major databases and grey literature from their inception to May 2019, for RCTs comparing liraglutide with placebo or active comparator in patients with NAFLD. We defined as primary efficacy outcomes the observed changes in hepatic fat content (HFC) and alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT). Metabolic outcomes of interest and major safety endpoints were also assessed. ResultsWe included five trials with 371 randomised participants in total. Liraglutide produced a non-significant decrease in HFC and ALT levels, compared to control. It induced a significant reduction in body mass index, primarily driven by reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes, while it did not affect significantly glycated hemoglobin levels and Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance. We also showed that liraglutide significantly decreased serum triglyceride levels, also driven by the observed reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes, however it did not significantly affect the rest lipid parameters. Liraglutide was associated with increased incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events, while, no other safety issues were identified. ConclusionOur results do not substantiate the use of liraglutide in patients with NAFLD yet, despite its promising role.

Retrospective analysis of outcomes in patients with acute hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis treated without therapeutic plasma exchange.

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is often used to decrease serum triglyceride levels in hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis (HTGP), although there is a lack of high-quality data directly attributing improved clinical outcomes to TPE. There are currently no large studies evaluating the treatment of HTGP without TPE. This study retrospectively analyzes clinical and laboratory outcomes of 115 encounters at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) wherein a HTGP patient was treated without TPE and compares these outcomes to those of HTGP patients in the literature treated with TPE. After management without TPE, the median reduction in serum triglycerides was 48% (IQR 29%-63%) on day one and 74% (IQR 60%-84%) on day two in 115 episodes of acute HTGP. The reductions were comparable to those reported in several large published case series after a course of TPE (65.8% to 81% reduction). In 25 episodes among 24 patients, treatment included admission to an intensive care unit. There was no significant difference in mortality or rates of local complication, mechanical ventilation, or use of vasoactive medication or renal replacement therapy between this ICU subset and published cohorts (all P > .05). HTGP patients who do not receive TPE do not experience inferior outcomes compared to patients in the literature treated with TPE. The added value of TPE in HTGP, if any exists, needs to be demonstrated in controlled trials.

Effects of chitooligosaccharide supplementation on laying performance, egg quality, blood biochemistry, antioxidant capacity and immunity of laying hens during the late laying period

The effects of chitooligosaccharide (COS) supplementation in laying hen diets on egg production, egg quality, blood biochemistry, antioxidant capacity and immunity during the late laying period were investigated in this 10-week trial. A total of 3000 Fengda No.1 laying hens, 52 weeks of age, were randomly allocated to three treatment groups, each of which included five replicates of 200 hens. Treatments consisted of the basal diet only or the basal diet supplemented with COS at 75 or 125 mg/kg. Hens fed with both COS supplemented diets had improved hen-day egg production, egg mass and feed conversion ratio than control birds. The higher level of COS supplementation exerted positive effects on eggshell strength and eggshell thickness, but significantly decreased yolk colour. Addition of 125 mg/kg COS was also found to significantly increase serum albumin content and significantly decrease serum cholesterol level. Dietary supplementation with COS significantly decreased serum triglyceride level compared with birds fed the control diet. Moreover, COS significantly increased total antioxidative capacity and significantly decreased malondialdehyde level in serum, but had no significance on the activities of antioxidant enzymes. The only change in blood immune response compounds observed in this study was a significantly increased concentration of C3 when laying hens were fed COS supplemented diets. In conclusion, COS could improve laying performance and egg quality in hens during the late laying period. Inclusion of COS in the diet might be beneficial to hens’ health by lowering serum lipids, enhancing antioxidant activity and slightly enhancing immune ability. HIGHLIGHTS COS improved laying performance and egg quality in hens during the late laying period. Inclusion of COS in the diet might be beneficial to hens’ health by lowering serum lipids, enhancing the antioxidant activity and slightly enhancing immune ability. The optimum concentration of COS is 75 mg/kg in the basal diet in order to achieve an increased egg production, egg quality and health condition.