Higher HDL Research Articles

Vitamin D and Metabolic Health: A Study of Lipid and Glucose Profiles in Benghazi, Libya

Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin and it acts in the body like a steroid hormone with a multitude of functions. Vitamin D deficiency is common in Benghazi, Libya especially among females and in the older age groups. Recent reports have found that hypo 25-(OH) D is associated with many diseases. The relationship between vitamin D status and dyslipidemia and diabetes is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of vitamin D level in all lipid parameters, fasting blood glucose and cumulative blood glucose levels in Libyan adult sample. Clinical investigatory data of (110) random subjects was obtained from Alrazi laboratory in Benghazi, Libya over a four-month period. The mean concentration of TC, VLDL-C, TG levels, FBG and (Hb1AC) levels were higher in (25(OH)D) deficient group, when compared to subjects with sufficient 25(OH)D group. While the mean concentration of HDL-C and LDL-C were lower in deficient group. A higher percentage of subjects who had high TG, VLDL, FBG and low HDL in 25(OH)D deficient group in compare to sufficient group. While, a lesser percentage of subjects who had high TC and LDL in 25(OH)D deficient group in compare to sufficient group. However, there are a statistically significant correlation of 25(OH)D deficiency and overall elevation of all lipid parameters serum levels, concurrent elevation of VLDL and triglycerides and concurrent elevation of VLDL and FBG. Our results may indicate that there is a negative correlation between vitamin D deficiency and high TG, VLDL, FBG and positive correlation with TC and LDL and HDL.

Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases among Medical Staff in Saudi Arabia

Healthcare workers have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases as a work-related disease and also due to the sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy behavior, and occupational stress to which they are exposed. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of CVDs among medical staff at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 291 medical staff at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through the WHO STEPS questionnaire, physical measurements (BMI, blood pressure), and biochemical assessments (lipid profiles, glucose levels). Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were performed using SPSS version 26 to identify the prevalence and determinants of CVD risk factors. Ethical approval was obtained, and all participants provided informed consent.The mean age of participants was 35 years, with 20% being smokers and 50% insufficiently active. Obesity (50%), hypertension (30%), and diabetes (10%) were prevalent clinical risk factors. High LDL cholesterol (30%) and low HDL cholesterol (20%) were observed. Key predictors of CVD included hypertension (OR = 3.20), diabetes (OR = 2.80), obesity (OR = 2.50), and high stress levels (OR = 1.60). This study underscores the need for workplace health interventions targeting modifiable CVD risk factors among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia.

Correlation of the FIB-4 Liver Biomarker Score with the Severity of Heart Failure.

Background and Objectives: Heart failure is associated with high morbidity and mortality and linked with several pre-existing health conditions and risk factors. Early detection and prompt management in heart failure improves patient outcomes. Liver involvement is associated with heart failure disease progression, and hence liver biomarkers and liver fibrosis may have a prognostic impact. Several blood test based markers and scoring systems estimate liver fibrosis and hence can be useful prognostic tools. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a series of 303 patients with decompensated heart failure in a city in western Romania over a period of 6 months. Several biochemical parameters were measured, the FIB-4 score was estimated and echocardiography was performed. Results for targeted variables are presented using descriptive statistics. Patients were analyzed based on their LVEF categories. Statistical analysis was based on ANOVA one-way tests for continuous variables and Chi-square tests for categorical variables. Pairwise comparisons were performed based on Bonferroni adjusted significance tests. The correlations between FIB-4 score, LVEF and NT-pro BNP in patients with and without diabetes and hypertension were explored using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Result: Age, gender, NYHA class, death, history of (h/o) type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), h/o coronary artery disease (CAD), h/o arrhythmias, sodium, potassium, creatinine, eGFR, uric acid, NT-pro BNP, left atrial volume, LDL, HDL, and TG were analyzed by LVEF categories using ANOVA one-way tests, Chi-square tests, and Bonferroni correction comparisons. We found a strong statistically significant correlation between each of NT-pro BNP, left atrial volume, LDL, and HDL with the LVEF categories. Discussion: Early detection of cardiac dysfunction leads to better management in patients with cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes and hypertension. High LDL and low HDL levels contribute to a reduction in left ventricular (LV) function. Available literature suggests the FIB-4 score as superior to other non-invasive markers of fibrosis. It utilizes the patient's age, platelet count, AST, and ALT, which can be available retrospectively, making it an easy and inexpensive tool. FIB-4 score has a few limitations. Conclusions: Our study has shown a statistically significant positive correlation between severity categories of LVEF and FIB-4 score for heart failure patients with and without diabetes, and for heart failure patients with or without hypertension. We propose the implementation of FIB-4 score as a prognostic tool for heart failure.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Neem Leaf Powder (Azadirachta Indica) on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Broilers

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with neem leaf powder (NLP) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and serum biochemical parameters of broilers. A total of 225 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were used in a 35-day experiment using a completely randomized design. The birds were divided into 5 dietary base treatments with 3 replicates of 15 birds per pen. The treatments consisted of supplementation of 0, 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5 g/kg of NLP to a basal diet. The experiment included an evaluation of the following characteristics: performance, internal organs, and serum biochemical parameters. The results showed that the addition of different levels of NLP to the diet had no significant effect on the growth performance of broilers at different ages. Broilers fed with 2-3.5 g/kg NLP had a smaller breast size compared to the control group, while thigh weight increased linearly. The gizzard's weight showed a linear increase. Other organ weights did not differ significantly. The addition of 3.5 g/kg NLP to the broiler diet increased total protein and albumin levels. ALT, AST, and MDA levels decreased significantly with increasing NLP levels, while SOD and CAT levels increased. Broilers fed 2.5–3.5 g/kg NLP had higher HDL and lower LDL levels compared to the control group. No significant effect was observed on TG, total cholesterol, or VLDL levels. In summary, NLP supplementation in the broiler diet led to smaller breast sizes, increased thigh weight, an improved lipid profile, and enhanced liver health.

Abstract 4134249: Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Associations of Chronic Inflammatory-Related Disease in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background: Inflammation plays a role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have defined various non-cardiovascular and non-cancer conditions, both infectious and non-infectious, with a common basis of inflammation; collectively termed Chronic Inflammatory-Related Disease (ChrIRD). We have previously described that ChrIRD is common, associated with baseline inflammatory marker levels, associated with high mortality, and has a bidirectional association with CVD. The clinical implications of these data require further study. Aims: We hypothesize that many traditional risk factors for CVD are also associated with ChrIRD and that ChrIRD has additional unique risk factors. We also hypothesize that the treatment of traditional CVD risk factors is associated with a decreased likelihood of ChrIRD. Methods: We studied MESA participants free of overt CVD or significant illness at baseline. ChrIRD was determined based on review of ICD codes for hospitalizations and deaths. Incident CVD was adjudicated by review of medical records. We performed proportional hazards regression (time-dependent for CVD) to identify factors associated with a first diagnosis of ChrIRD. All variables were simultaneously entered into the model. Results: Participants (n=6155) had mean age 62±10 years and 47% male gender. ChrIRD was observed in 24% and CVD in 18%; including 8% with both conditions. Participants with a diagnosis of CVD, older age, higher heart rate, higher BMI, current or ever smoking status, higher HDL, higher baseline IL6 and GlycA levels, and NSAID use had increased likelihood of ChrIRD. Whereas those with female sex, higher total cholesterol, and statin use had a decreased likelihood of ChrIRD. Participant race/ethnicity, blood pressure, diabetes status, antihypertensive use, aspirin use, baseline CRP level, and baseline D-dimer level were not associated with ChrIRD. Regression results are summarized in Table 1. Conclusions: ChrIRD shares some risk factors with CVD, while other risk factors are opposite. Better understanding of ChrIRD could eventually lead to improved patient care.

Delving into diversity: Exploring different risk factors of premature greying of hair.

Dear Madam, Hair is said to grey prematurely when a minimum of five grey hairs occur before the age of 20 in Caucasians, 25 in Asians and 30 in Africans1. Some authors propose using 25 years as a cut-off for people in the South Asian subcontinent. Also, there's no universal grading system for premature greying of hair (PGH). This letter addresses the various evolving risk factors for PGH in young adults worldwide. PGH may be familial or genetically influenced, traveling in an Autosomal Dominant pattern. A positive family history, in particular the paternal history is the most powerful risk factor2. PGH is also linked to nutritional deficiencies including vitamins (especially B12) and minerals. For example in one study, significantly lower levels of serum calcium, ferritin, vitamin B12, and high HDL were observed in patients3. T3 and T4 act on hair follicles to cause melanogenesis and their deficiency is therefore associated with PGH, alopecia, and changes in hair morphology. Another study found notably reduced levels of copper in cases (PGH) as compared to the control group. This study, however, did not observe lower levels of zinc or iron among the affected population. A separate case-control study concerning the association of epidemiological and biochemical factors with PGH reported that a significantly higher percentage of individuals with premature greying had atopic diathesis, led sedentary lifestyles, had family histories of the condition, smoked, and had reported higher levels of perceived stress compared to controls. Though, interestingly enough, regular application of hair oil seemed to confer a safeguarding effect against premature greying. Upon further review of the literature, it became apparent that both BMI and exposure to sunlight emerged as substantial predictors of PGH. Despite the prescription of various vitamins and minerals like biotin, calcium pantothenate, zinc, copper, and selenium (all of which have been recognized as risk factors), the outcomes have been disappointing. Calcium pantothenate is frequently recommended for premature greying of hair (PGH)4. This highlights an existing knowledge gap concerning the precise causative risk factors, necessitating further investigation for a comprehensive understanding and improved management of individuals experiencing premature greying of hair.

Cardio-Metabolic Risk Profile of Women With Endometriosis: A Population-Based Study.

Endometriosis (EM) and metabolic disorders are frequent health problems among reproductive-aged women worldwide. Cardio-metabolic risk profile of women with EM is not well understood. We aimed to investigate the cardio-metabolic risk profile of Iranian reproductive-aged women with EM. This study included 976 female participants aged 20-45 years of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Endometriosis was diagnosed based on the participants' self-reported previous diagnosis of EM, which was confirmed by reviewing the relevant medical documentation. All biochemical measures (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL], triglycerides [TG], and fasting blood glucose concentrations [FBG]) and measurement of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and anthropometric parameters were performed according to the standard protocol of TLGS. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratio of cardio-metabolic disease. Of the 976 study participants, 161 individuals (16.5%) had a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis. There were no significant differences in the median of metabolic parameters among women with and without endometriosis (p > 0.05). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in women with EM group compared to the non-EM group (21.9% vs. 14.9%). The presence of endometriosis was associated with an increased odds of metabolic syndrome (adjusted odds ratio 1.99 [95% CI 1.20-3.30]; p = 0.007). And endometriosis significantly increased odds of low HDL by 2.07 (1.02-4.20); after adjustment, it still remained significant (p = 0.03). Endometriosis also increased odds of high waist circumstance significantly (1.58 [1.06-2.37]; p = 0.02). Women with endometriosis may be at an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, high waist circumstance and low HDL compared to their counterparts without the condition. Given the potential cardio-metabolic implications, healthcare providers should consider assessing the metabolic profile of women diagnosed with endometriosis.

6366 Elevated Baseline Triglycerides As an Independent Risk Factor For Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract Disclosure: E. Askar: None. H. Moran: None. D. Bleich: None. Introduction: Diabetes is considered a coronary artery disease (CAD) risk equivalent. Studies have shown that the baseline level of triglycerides plays a role in cardiovascular risk independent of LDL levels lowered with statins. Numerous studies demonstrate that, in the general population, coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring predicts and reclassifies cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, even in the absence of other risk factors. Here, we present a case of a 65 -year-old Caucasian male with elevated baseline triglycerides and a high CAC score, increasing his CVD risk despite the normalization of his triglycerides with statin therapy.Case presentation: A 65-year-old Caucasian male with a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes presented to our endocrinology clinic for the management of hyperlipidemia and diabetes. His medications included empagliflozin 10 mg daily, repaglinide 1 mg three times a day, atorvastatin 20 mg daily, and amlodipine 10 mg daily. He had no complaints, and the physical examination was unremarkable. His recent HbA1c was 7.4%. Six months prior to presentation, he was found to have elevated triglycerides of 253 mg/dL (normal range: 10-149 mg/dL), low HDL of 34 mg/dL (normal range: >39 mg/dL), LDL of 84 mg/dL (normal range: 0-99 mg/dL), and total cholesterol of 167 mg/dL (normal range: 100-200 mg/dL). At that time, he was started on atorvastatin, and his recent triglycerides and HDL levels normalized. He was referred for CAC scoring, and the result was 2733 , which is above the 90th percentile for men between the ages of 65 and 69. As a result, he was further referred to a coronary angiogram. Conclusion: McGarry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center was the first to describe the elevated triglyceride along with low HDL phenotype associated with insulin resistance. They explained this phenotype as a result of hepatic insulin resistance. Elevated insulin levels reduce the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL). As a result of that, the VLDL triglycerides rise, forming small dense LDL with a strong atherogenic potential.In the 2010 published ACCORD study, the effects of simvastatin alone versus simvastatin and fenofibrate were compared in 5500 Patients with type 2 diabetes. The experimental group did not exhibit any significant adverse cardiovascular events after eight years. However, the mean triglyceride was only 162 mg/dL. Consequently, no assumptions about the impact of the treatment on cardiovascular events in a more pertinent subset of people with greater baseline triglycerides could be made.While there has been controversy on the role of triglycerides in CVD, the idea of lowering triglycerides in diabetes patients with high triglycerides and low HDL to lower the risk of CVD is well supported. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Elevated Alanine Transaminase-to-Platelet Index (APRI) Is Associated with Obesity and Distinct Forms of Dyslipidemia: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Obesity is a pathological condition and a major risk factor for dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Recent research highlighted the association of non-invasive serum markers with these conditions but the clinical utility of ALT APRI in obesity and its relationship with dyslipidemia remain unexplored. Methods: We examined the association of ALT APRI in 165 non-diabetic adults stratified by BMI and serum lipid parameters. Results: Obese subjects had significantly higher APRI than lean subjects, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.65 (p = 0.019). Medians of APRI were significantly increased in subjects with high TG, TG/HDL, TC/HDL, and LDL/HDL and low HDL. Notably, all lipid parameters and ratios were significantly elevated in the highest APRI tertile, compared with patients in the lowest tertile. APRI was weakly yet significantly correlated with BMI (R2 = 0.032, p = 0.022), HDL (R2 = 0.071), TG/HDL (R2 = 0.031), TC/HDL (R2 = 0.063), LDL/HDL (R2 = 0.072), and TyG index (R2 = 0.081). While APRI only showed a discriminating capacity for HDL (AUC: 0.69, p = 0.003), TG/HDL (AUC: 0.63, p = 0.020), LDL/HDL (AUC: 0.68, p < 0.001), and TyG index (AUC: 0.65, p = 0.037), the highest diagnostic performance of APRI was observed with TC/HDL (AUC: 0.74, p < 0.001). Additionally, APRI was a risk factor for high TG (OR: 1.6, p = 0.028), low HDL (OR: 2.7, p = 0.0002), high TG/HDL (OR: 1.94, p = 0.0011), high TC/HDL (OR: 2.3, p < 0.0001), high LDL/HDL (OR: 2.2, p = 0.0001), and high TyG index (OR: 2.1, p = 0.008). Conclusions: Our findings argue for the role of APRI as a potential marker for obesity and dyslipidemia, which requires further confirmation in longitudinal studies.

Elevated blood glucose levels are associated with the progression of brain hypometabolism, and HDL-C and APOE4 add to this association.

Brain glucose hypometabolism has consistently been found in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). High blood glucose and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels have also been linked to neurodegeneration and AD. However, there is limited understanding of the relationships between dementia-related risk factors in the brain and blood. A linear mixed model was used to examine the relationship between blood glucose and HDL-C levels and the progression of brain hypometabolism, adjusting for APOE4 and other clinical covariates. The hypometabolic convergence index (HCI) was measured by fluorodeoxyglucose-18 (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Data visualizations were generated to understand the joint effects of plasma glucose, HDL-C, and APOE4 on HCI. There were 336 individuals (781 observations), of whom 22.62% had AD. The majority were male (63.98%) and of white race, and 48.51% were carriers of APOE4. Over time, high blood glucose level was associated with the progression of brain glucose hypometabolism (β=0.33, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.64, p<0.05). A high plasma HDL-C level (β=1.22, 95% CI: 0.09, 2.35, p<0.05), more study visits (β=1.67, 95% CI: 1.37, 1.98, p<0.001), and being an APOE4 allele carrier (β=1.29, 95% CI: 0.15, 2.42, p<0.05) were also significant predictors of brain hypometabolism progression. APOE4 carrier status and number of visits account for the largest proportion of the variance from the fixed effects model. Random effects due to participant characteristics and fixed effects together accounted for 95.2% of the model variance. Subgroup analysis revealed that these effects were observed only in those without AD. High plasma glucose levels facilitated the progression of brain hypometabolism. The effect was more prominent in the APOE4 double-carriers with elevated HDL-C. Elevated blood glucose may reflect systemic insulin resistance, which could impair brain glucose uptake, resulting in brain hypometabolism. Controlling blood glucose and HDL-C levels in APOE4 carriers may improve brain metabolism, potentially delaying the onset of dementia.

IMPACT OF TURMERIC-GARLIC-GINGER POWDER AND THEIR COMBINATIONS ON CHOLESTEROL, TRIACYLGLYCEROL, HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS AND LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS OF RABBIT MEAT

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of turmeric (Tr), garlic (Ga), ginger (Gn) powder and their combinations on cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high density and low density lipoproteins of rabbit meat. Forty-eight weaner rabbits (8 weeks) were randomly allotted into eight dietary groups designated T1 to T8 in a completely randomized design. T1 contained 0% phytobiotic, T2, T3 and T4 contained 0.6% Tr, Ga and Gn powder respectively, T5, T6 and T7 contained combination of 0.3% each of Tr+Ga, Tr+Gn and Ga+Gn while T8 contained 0.2% each of the three. Data were collected on cholesterol, triacylglycerol, HDL and LDL. There was an increase in cholesterol concentration associated with feeding phytobiotic blends in 3gGaGn (65.40 mg/g) when compared to Control and 6gTr meat samples where a reduced values of 37.70 and 44.53 were recorded. However, meat samples from 3gTrGa had elevated triacylglycerol of 183.30 while Control, 6gTr, 6gGa and 6gGn had comparable reduced values (66.87, 107.57, 100.70 and 110.77 respectively). Data pooled for HDL showed significant (p&lt; 0.01) increase in 3gTrGa (40.65) and 3gGaGn (41.10) while 6gTr and 6gGn groups recorded minimal value of 25.27 and 27.20 HDL respectively. Elevated LDL concentration was recorded in 3gTrGa (23.27mg/g) as compared to Control (9.87), 6gTr (10.87) and 3gTrGn (10.47) where a comparable lower LDL were recorded. It was concluded that dietary phytobiotics improved rabbit meat quality and 6g turmeric is recommended for lower meat cholesterol while combinations (turmeric and or garlic) at 3g will increase the nutritional composition, evident with higher HDL.

Evaluation of lipid profile and hematological parameters among patients attending Ram Janaki Hospital, Janakpurdham

Background &amp; Objectives: Hematological and lipid profiles play crucial roles in assessing healthconditions and monitoring physiological abnormalities. Hematological and lipid profiles serve as valuable tools in this context, providing insights into various health conditions. However, due to various factors like diet, socioeconomic status, and literacy, these profiles can differ significantly across populations. Therefore, we aimed to find out the hematological as well as biochemical parameters among the patients attending Ram Janaki Hospital, Janakpurdham.Materials and Methods: This hospital based study involved 140 patients attending the medicineOPD between September 2023 and February 2024. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure,and BMI was calculated. Venous blood samples were collected. Hematological parameters wereassessed using a fully a utomated hematology analyzer, while lipid profiles were evaluated usingsemi analyzer Erba Chem 7 analyzer with ErbaDiagnostics kits. Data analysis was performedusing SPSS version 21.Results: The study population comprised an equal distribution of males and females. Males exhibitedhigher values in weight, height, BMI, and blood pressure as compared to females. Hematologicalanalysis revealed higher hemoglobin levels, red blood cell counts, and packed cell volume in males,while females showed higher total leukocyte counts. Lipid profile analysis indicated higher totalcholesterol and LDL levels in males, whereas females had higher HDL, triglyceride, and VLDLlevels. Conclusion: The finding highlights significant gender based differences in anthropometric,hematological, and biochemical parameters among patients in Janakpurdham. The findings emphasizethe importance of considering gender differences in clinical evaluations and treatment plans. Theobserved variations from international norms underscore the need for population specificreference ranges.

Major depletion of insulin sensitivity-associated taxa in the gut microbiome of persons living with HIV controlled by antiretroviral drugs

BackgroundPersons living with HIV (PWH) harbor an altered gut microbiome (higher abundance of Prevotella and lower abundance of Bacillota and Ruminococcus lineages) compared to non-infected individuals. Some of these alterations are linked to sexual preference and others to the HIV infection. The relationship between these lineages and metabolic alterations, often present in aging PWH, has been poorly investigated.MethodsIn this study, we compared fecal metagenomes of 25 antiretroviral-treatment (ART)-controlled PWH to three independent control groups of 25 non-infected matched individuals by means of univariate analyses and machine learning methods. Moreover, we used two external datasets to validate predictive models of PWH classification. Next, we searched for associations between clinical and biological metabolic parameters with taxonomic and functional microbiome profiles. Finally, we compare the gut microbiome in 7 PWH after a 17-week ART switch to raltegravir/maraviroc.ResultsThree major enterotypes (Prevotella, Bacteroides and Ruminococcaceae) were present in all groups. The first Prevotella enterotype was enriched in PWH, with several of characteristic lineages associated with poor metabolic profiles (low HDL and adiponectin, high insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)). Conversely butyrate-producing lineages were markedly depleted in PWH independently of sexual preference and were associated with a better metabolic profile (higher HDL and adiponectin and lower HOMA-IR). Accordingly with the worst metabolic status of PWH, butyrate production and amino-acid degradation modules were associated with high HDL and adiponectin and low HOMA-IR. Random Forest models trained to classify PWH vs. control on taxonomic abundances displayed high generalization performance on two external holdout datasets (ROC AUC of 80–82%). Finally, no significant alterations in microbiome composition were observed after switching to raltegravir/maraviroc.ConclusionHigh resolution metagenomic analyses revealed major differences in the gut microbiome of ART-controlled PWH when compared with three independent matched cohorts of controls. The observed marked insulin resistance could result both from enrichment in Prevotella lineages, and from the depletion in species producing butyrate and involved into amino-acid degradation, which depletion is linked with the HIV infection.

Serum cholesterol levels and Parkinson’s disease: a detailed investigation in Turkish population

ABSTRACT Objectives Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and the accumulation of α-synuclein. Elevated cholesterol levels may exacerbate α-synuclein aggregation, potentially contributing to PD. This study investigates the link between lipid profiles and PD severity, as well as cognitive functions in patients, aiming to inform pathogenesis and management strategies. Methods Data from 250 PD patients and 100 healthy controls were analyzed. Serum cholesterol levels were compared with disease severity using Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and modified Hoehn & Yahr Rating Scale (mH&Y). Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) assessed cognitive functions. Results Of the participants, 45.4% were female, 54.6% male, with a mean age of 69.09 ± 11.13 years. Mean UPDRS score was 52.34 ± 26.32, mH&Y was 2.28 ± 0.91. Patients had significantly higher HDL levels (47.92 ± 11.63) than controls (45.40 ± 13.89) (p = 0.024). HDL levels were significantly higher in patients with cognitive impairment than in patients with cognitive normal (p = 0.004). On the contrary, triglyceride levels were significantly lower in those with cognitive impairment compared to those with cognitively normal (p = 0.005). Multivariate logistic regression showed being male associated with 3.796 times higher risk of illness, and HDL is associated with 1.030 times increased illness risk. Conclusion High HDL levels and male gender particularly increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, HDL and triglyceride levels affect the cognition of PD patients. Further studies on the impact of cholesterol metabolism on the pathogenesis of PD could contribute to identifying effective treatment targets.

Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases after Bariatric Surgery Based on the New PREVENT Equations.

We applied the novel Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease EVENTs (PREVENT) equations to evaluate cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health and estimated CVD risk, including heart failure (HF), after bariatric surgery. Among 7804 patients (20-79 years) undergoing bariatric surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center during 1999-2022, CVD risk factors at pre-surgery, 1-year, and 2-year post-surgery were extracted from electronic health records. The 10- and 30-year risks of total CVD, atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and HF were estimated for patients without a history of CVD or its subtypes at each time point, using the social deprivation index-enhanced PREVENT equations. Paired t-tests or McNemar tests were used to compare pre- with post-surgery CKM health and CVD risk. Two-sample t-tests were used to compare CVD risk reduction between patient subgroups defined by age, sex, race, operation type, weight loss, and history of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. CKM health was significantly improved after surgery with lower systolic blood pressure, non-high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL), and diabetes prevalence, but higher HDL and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The 10-year total CVD risk decreased from 6.51% at pre-surgery to 4.81% and 5.08% at 1- and 2-year post-surgery (relative reduction: 25.9% and 16.8%), respectively. Significant risk reductions were seen for all CVD subtypes (i.e., ASCVD, CHD, stroke, and HF), with the largest reduction for HF (relative reduction: 55.7% and 44.8% at 1- and 2-year post-surgery, respectively). Younger age, White race, >30% weight loss, diabetes history, and no dyslipidemia history were associated with greater HF risk reductions. Similar results were found for the 30-year risk estimates. Bariatric surgery significantly improves CKM health and reduces estimated CVD risk, particularly HF, by 45-56% within 1-2 years post-surgery. HF risk reduction may vary by patient's demographics, weight loss, and disease history, which warrants further research.

Hypoglycemic Ability of Sericin-Derived Oligopeptides (SDOs) from Bombyx mori Yellow Silk Cocoons and Their Physiological Effects on Streptozotocin (STZ)-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Patients with diabetes require daily medication to maintain blood sugar levels. Nevertheless, the long-term use of antidiabetics can lose efficacy and cause degeneration in some patients. For long-term diabetes care, integrating natural dietary foods and medicine is being considered. This study investigated the impact of SDOs on blood sugar levels and their physiological effects on diabetic rats. We induced diabetes in male Wistar rats with STZ (50 mg/kg) and then administered an oral glucose tolerance test to determine the SDO dosage comparable to glibenclamide. The rats were divided into nine groups: normal, diabetic, and diabetic with insulin (10 U/kg), glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg), bovine serum albumin (BSA; 200 mg/kg), soy protein isolate (200 mg/kg), or SDOs (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Diabetic rats administered SDOs had a higher body weight and serum insulin but a lower blood sugar than diabetic control rats. Biochemical assays indicated lower AST/SGOT, ALT/SGPT, BUN, and triglycerides but higher HDL in the SDO groups. Immunohistochemistry showed that SDOs reduced damaged islet cells, increased beta-cell size, and improved insulin levels while decreasing alpha cell size and glucagon. The vascular effects of SDOs were like those of normal control treatment and insulin treatment in diabetic rats. SDOs, a yellow silk protein, show potential for long-term diabetes care.

Increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes and its correlates: a cross-sectional, matched case–control survey

BackgroundSo far, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and mortality were shown to have a U-shaped relationship. Additionally, high HDL-C levels increase the risk of developing a variety of diseases. However, a paucity of data exists regarding the characteristics of people with high HDL-C levels. The aim of this study was to assess the demographics and characteristics of patients with high HDL-C levels and compare their features with normal and low HDL-C groups.MethodsAs a cross-sectional, matched case–control study, a total of 510 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were enrolled in the study and categorized into three matched groups according to their HDL-C concentrations. The studied groups were matched by their age and gender. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were designed to evaluate the relationship between height, blood pressure, triglyceride, and vitamin D concentrations with the probability of having high HDL-C levels. Furthermore, violin plots were conducted to illustrate the distribution of continuous variables within each group.ResultsThis study showed that having high HDL-C (more than 70 mg/dL) compared to having low HDL-C (less than 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women) was significantly associated with height (OR 0.918, 95% CI 0.866–0.974), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (0.941, 0.910–0.972), vitamin D (0.970, 0.941–0.999), and triglyceride (0.992, 0.987–0.998) serum concentrations. Further analysis investigated that having high HDL-C levels compared to desired HDL-C levels (40 ≤ HDL-C levels < 70 in men and 50 ≤ HDL-C levels < 70 in women) was inversely associated with having SPB values greater than 130 mmHg. Besides, sufficient vitamin D levels (above 20 ng/ml) could 0.349 times decrease the odds of having high HDL-C versus normal HDL-C levels.ConclusionSufficient vitamin D levels, SPB values higher than 130 mmHg, as well as increased triglyceride levels, were inversely associated with having high HDL levels. However, higher height values were associated with a decreased likelihood of having high HDL.

Differences Between Afro-Caribbean and White Caucasian Olympic Athletes in Plasma Lipids Profile: A Cross-Sectional Single Center Study.

Ethnic and gender differences in plasma lipid composition have been widely reported among the general population, but there are scarce data on athletes. To assess ethnic and gender differences in lipid profile across a large cohort of Olympic athletes practicing different sport disciplines METHODS: We enrolled 1165 Olympic athletes divided into power, endurance, and mixed disciplines according to European Society of Cardiology classification. Sixty-two (5.3%) were Afro-Caribbean. Body composition and fat mass percentage were measured. Blood samples were collected and lipid profile was investigated. Compared to Caucasians, Afro-Caribbeans had better lipid profile characterized by lower LDL (90 ± 25 mg/dL vs. 97.1 ± 26.2 mg/dL, p = 0.032) lower LDL/HDL ratio (1.39 ± 0.5 vs. 1.58 ± 0.6, p = 0.012), lower non-HDL-cholesterol (102.5 ± 27.4 mg/dL vs. 111.5 ± 28.5 mg/dL, p = 0.015) and lower TC/HDL (2.59 ± 0.6 vs. 2.82 ± 0.7, p = 0.010). Female Afro-Caribbeans showed lower TG/HDL ratio (p = 0.045) and TC/HDL ratio (p = 0.028), due to higher HDL (p = 0.005) compared to male Afro-Caribbeans. In Caucasian athletes, females showed even more evident differences with lower TC, LDL, and higher HDL with subsequent lower ratios compared to men. Moreover, endurance Caucasian athletes had lower LDL (p = 0.003) and TG (p = 0.017) plasmatic levels and higher HDL levels compared to non-endurance Caucasian athletes (p< 0.0001) CONCLUSIONS: Ethnicity and gender have a significant influence on plasmatic lipid balance in elite athletes and Afro-Caribbeans have favorable lipid profiles compared to Caucasians. Moreover, endurance sports, particularly in Caucasian athletes, are associated with better lipid profile compared to other type of sports.

Effect of vitamin D deficiency on uric acid/HDL cholesterol ratio

Aims: It has been suggested that vitamin D deficiency is involved in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases. High uric acid and low HDL cholesterol levels are critical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. High uric acid levels, high total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and low HDL-C levels are often encountered in cases with vitamin D deficiency. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and uric acid /HDL-C (UHR) and plasma atherogenic index (PAI, triglyceride /HDL-C) in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Methods: This retrospective study included patients whose vitamin D levels were checked in our clinic. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their vitamin D levels and the relationship between laboratory variables, such as uric acid, HDL cholesterol, UHR, and plasma atherogenic index, was examined. Results: A total of 675 patients, 167 (24.7%) males and 508 (75.3%) females, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 53.6±15.2 years. It was found that patients with vitamin D deficiency had high UHR and PAI levels and low HDL-C levels (p=0.001, p=0.025; p=0.032, p=0.016). Conclusion Our results suggest that vitamin D deficiency has a positive correlation with HDL cholesterol levels and an impact on the risk of cardiovascular diseases by increasing the uric acid/HDL ratio and plasma atherogenic index.

Paraoxonase 1: evolution of the enzyme and of its role in protecting against atherosclerosis.

To review the discoveries which led to the concept that serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is inversely related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) incidence, how this association came to be regarded as causal and how such a role might have evolved. Animal models suggest a causal link between PON1 present on HDL and atherosclerosis. Serum PON1 activity predicts ASCVD with a similar reliability to HDL cholesterol, but at the extremes of high and low HDL cholesterol, there is discordance with PON1 being potentially more accurate. The paraoxonase gene family has its origins in the earliest life forms. Its greatest hydrolytic activity is towards lactones and organophosphates, both of which can be generated in the natural environment. It is active towards a wide range of substrates and thus its conservation may have resulted from improved survival of species facing a variety of evolutionary challenges. Protection against ASCVD is likely to be the consequence of some promiscuous activity of PON1, but nonetheless has the potential for exploitation to improve risk prediction and prevention of ASCVD.