Metabolic Syndrome-related Diseases Research Articles

Wounding stress enhances the anti-obesogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of carrots (Daucuscarota)

This study evaluated the health benefits of carrots (Daucus carota) subjected to post-harvest wounding stress, emphasizing their anti-obesogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Carrots were shredded and stored at 15 ± 2 °C for 48 h to induce wounding stress, leading to a significant increase in chlorogenic acid content, by over 112.5 % compared to control. The study utilized 3T3-L1 cell differentiation assays to evaluate the anti-obesogenic potential, monitoring changes in lipid accumulation and adipogenesis-related gene expression. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages by measuring nitrite production, while the antioxidant capacity was assessed using the DCFH-DA assay in Caco-2 cells. Key findings include a notable reduction in lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells with stressed carrot extracts, particularly at 166 μg/mL concentration, showing an 18 % decrease compared to the control. Furthermore, there was a significant alteration in the expression of adipogenesis-related genes, with a 73 % decrease in FAS expression and a 160 % increase in ATGL expression. The stressed carrot extracts at 125 μg/mL also exhibited enhanced anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting nitrite production by 44.60 %, a 153.26 % increase over the lower concentration. Additionally, antioxidant activity in stressed carrot extracts increased by 77.15 % at 125 μg/mL. These results indicate that wounding stress significantly boosts the health-promoting properties of carrots, suggesting their potential as functional foods for combating obesity and metabolic syndrome-related diseases. The study highlights the value of post-harvest treatments in enhancing the nutraceutical quality of vegetables.

In Vivo Studies of Lepidium meyenii or Maca in Animal Models of Diabetes Mellitus and Other Metabolic Syndrome-Related Diseases- A Scoping Review

In Vivo Studies of Lepidium meyenii or Maca in Animal Models of Diabetes Mellitus and Other Metabolic Syndrome-Related Diseases- A Scoping Review

Peripheral artery disease mediating the effect of metabolic syndrome related diseases on lower limb ulcers: Mendelian randomization analysis.

Previous observational studies have demonstrated a correlation between metabolic syndrome related diseases and an elevated susceptibility to ulcers of lower limb. It has been suggested that this causal relationship may be influenced by the presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Nevertheless, the precise contribution of these factors as determinants of ulcers of lower limb remains largely unexplored. This research incorporated information on hypertension, BMI, hyperuricemia, type 2 diabetes, PAD, and ulcers of lower limb sourced from the GWAS database. Univariate Mendelian randomization (SVMR) and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) methods were employed to assess the association between metabolic syndrome related diseases, including hypertension, obesity, hyperuricemia, and type 2 diabetes, as well as to investigate whether this association was influenced by PAD. Univariate Mendelian randomization analysis showed that genetically predicted hypertension, BMI, and type 2 diabetes were associated with an increased risk of PAD and ulcers of lower limb, and PAD was associated with an increased risk of ulcers of lower limb, but there is no causal relationship between hyperuricemia and ulcers of lower limb. The results of multivariate Mendelian randomization showed that PAD mediated the causal relationship between hypertension, obesity and ulcers of lower limb, but the relationship between type 2 diabetes and ulcers of lower limb was not mediated by PAD. Hypertension, BMI and type 2 diabetes can increase the risk of ulcers of lower limb, and PAD can be used as a mediator of hypertension and obesity leading to ulcers of lower limb, These findings may inform prevention and intervention strategies directed toward metabolic syndrome and ulcers of lower limb.

SAT671 SGLT2 Inhibition Decreases Adipose Tissue And Global Inflammaging Profile Of Older Obese Adults With Pre-Diabetes

Abstract Disclosure: J. Nie: None. M.K. Semwal: None. F.M. Acosta: None. A.R. Stepanenko: None. M. Brown: None. A.J. Moody: None. N. Sanchez: None. T.M. Cortes: None. Y. Qin: None. C. Triplitt: None. G. Clarke: None. S.E. Espinoza: None. N. Musi: None. C. Solis-Herrera: None. Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are drugs for treating T2D. Through their glucosuric effect, you see a reduced HbA1c, weight loss, and improved insulin sensitivity/ β-cell function. Beyond their glycemic properties, SGLT2i provide substantial cardio-renal benefits. Given their multiple therapeutic advantages and established safety profile, there is the presupposition that SGLT2i may have various beneficial possibilities in medical practice. An area of interest for SGLT2i is their use as agents for late-aging and longevity. SGLT2i are known to promote a calorie restriction (CR) state by promoting glucosuria and fatty acid-oxidation/ketogenesis and reducing insulin levels. CR activates a myriad of anti-aging-related pathways, including senescence-associated “inflammaging,” which can be triggered by obesity and states of overnutrition. However, clinical research in this area remains largely unexplored. A single-center, open-label, randomized-controlled clinical trial was designed to determine the effect of SGLT2i on the aging-related processes of global and adipose tissue inflammation and senescence. Twenty older, obese, pre-diabetic subjects (Age=70±1.5, BMI=33.7±0.6, A1c=5.9±0.03) were randomized dapagliflozin 10mg/day (SGLT2i) vs. nutritional counseling for weight loss (control) in a 1:1 fashion for 12 weeks. Healthspan and clinical evaluation were performed at baseline and weeks 10-12 of the study. The SGLT2i group showed a significant decrease (-5.4±1.7, p=0.01) in weight loss, downward trend in HbA1c (-0.02±0.06 vs. +0.06±0.04), and significant loss in %Fat vs. control (-1%, p=0.05 vs. -0.5%, p=0.1). Given adiposity changes observed with SGLT2i, in a subset of subjects (n=10), subcutaneous fat biopsies were performed, and single nuclei (sn)RNA-seq done to map changes in adipose cellular populations (mature adipocytes, immune, endothelial, and adipogenic progenitor cells) and molecular profiling. Notably, with SGLT2i, the mature adipocyte, immune, and adipogenic progenitor cells, saw a significant (p≤0.05) decrease in senescent score. Globally, plasma-measured inflammaging-associated factors in the IL8 and TNFα families, also saw a significant decrease (p≤0.05) with SGLT2i.Aging and metabolic homeostasis are bidirectional processes. As you age, adiposity tends to increase, associated with an upsurge in the development of metabolic syndrome-related diseases in older adults. Here we demonstrate that in the high-risk population of older obese adults with pre-diabetes, SGLT2i targets multiple points in the spectrum that delay the aging process. In particular, we show evidence that SGLT2i treatment improves the global and adipose senescent and inflammatory profile, alongside glycemic and weight control. These findings support the notion that SGLT2i may contribute to the increase of both healthspan and lifespan. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

SAA1 exacerbates pancreatic β-cell dysfunction through activation of NF-κB signaling in high-fat diet-induced type 2 diabetes mice

Insufficient decompensated insulin secretion and insulin resistance caused by pancreatic β-cell dysfunction are the pathological bases of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Glucolipotoxicity in pancreatic β-cells is an important factor leading to their dysfunction, closely related to inflammatory signals, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERs). However, there may be other unproven regulatory mechanisms that govern pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. Therefore, further elucidation of the underlying mechanisms that lead to pancreatic β-cells dysfunction will provide a sufficient theoretical basis for the more effective prevention and treatment of T2DM. As a stress protein with pro-inflammatory properties, Serum Amyloid 1 (SAA1) promotes the progression of metabolic syndrome-related diseases by activating immune cells and damaging endothelial cells. In the development of T2DM, the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling aggravates pancreatic β-cells dysfunction under the stimulation of free fatty acids (FFAs), inflammatory factors, and chemokines. Moreover, the facilitating effect of SAA1 on the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway has been demonstrated in other studies. In the present study, we demonstrated that SAA1 inhibits insulin secretion and promotes apoptotic molecular expression in pancreatic cells and islets and that NF-κB signaling inhibitors could reduce this effect of SAA1. SAA1 deficiency improved high-fat diet (HFD)-induced pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and decreased expression of NF-κB signaling molecules. Our findings suggested that HFD-induced SAA1 might exacerbate T2DM by enhancing pancreatic β-cell dysfunction; such a function of SAA1 might depend on NF-κB signaling activation.

Intermittent fasting – a novel approach to treating overweight and obesity? – meta-analysis and literature review

Introduction Intermittent fasting (IF) is a form of dietary intervention that includes periods of regular calorie intake alternated with periods of fasting. IF has gained a lot of attention as a potential approach to treating metabolic syndrome-related diseases. Therefore, health care professionals need to be able to provide their patients with evidence-based information on IF. The aim of this article is to review data on effectiveness of IF in weight loss, especially in comparison with calorie restriction.
 MethodsPubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies published from 1.01.2017 to 31.12.2022 that included phrases “intermittent fasting” or “alternate day fasting”, “intermittent fasting obesity”, “alternate day fasting obesity”. Intervention studies on obese or overweight patients were included. We excluded studies of short duration and studies that focused on intercurrent medical conditions. In total, 14 articles that suited those criteria were identified.
 ResultsIntermittent fasting induces pronounced metabolic changes in the body due to strict and time-limited restriction of calorie intake and in animal models was proved to prolong lifespan and modulate tumorigenesis and aging. It is a proposed new approach to treating obesity, which is a a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
 ConclusionsIn our study, IF was found as effective, but not superior to calorie restriction in reducing body mass, improving body composition and reducing other cardiometabolic risk factors. Our findings are consistent with other recent systematic reviews. Further research is needed to directly compare various IF regimens and determine patients’ characteristics that may be associated with more successful implementation of intermittent fasting regimens.

MP24-02 CLUSTER ANALYSIS IDENTIFIES BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY CLINICAL PHENOTYPES

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP24-02 CLUSTER ANALYSIS IDENTIFIES BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY CLINICAL PHENOTYPES Matthew Simmons, Nathaniel Taylor, W Carter Reed, Pablo Santamaria, Zachary Klaassen, Sherita King, and Martha Terris Matthew SimmonsMatthew Simmons More articles by this author , Nathaniel TaylorNathaniel Taylor More articles by this author , W Carter ReedW Carter Reed More articles by this author , Pablo SantamariaPablo Santamaria More articles by this author , Zachary KlaassenZachary Klaassen More articles by this author , Sherita KingSherita King More articles by this author , and Martha TerrisMartha Terris More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003249.02AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a heterogeneous disease that is affected by multiple variables including infection, genetics and inflammation. This study assessed whether hierarchical cluster analysis could better characterize BPH patients. METHODS: Patients who underwent TURP or simple prostatectomy between January 2017 to August 2022 were reviewed. 92 patients who had CT imaging within 18m of surgery were selected. CT-based prostate volumes (PV) were calculated using the ellipsoid volume formula (L*W*H*(π/6)). Metabolic syndrome score (MetX) was calculated by adding normalized BMI score to the number of metabolic syndrome-related diseases present (i.e., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type II diabetes mellitus each disease given a score of 1). Data were scaled using Z transformation. Hierarchical clustering was conducted with Heatmapper software using average linkage and Pearson distance measurement methodology. RESULTS: Mean age of the cohort was 68 (SD=8.5), and 40% were African American. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia and type II diabetes mellitus were present in 73%, 58% and 32% of patients, respectively. Mean prostate volume was 84 ml (SD=56). Median lobes (ML) were present in 26%. Intraprostatic calcifications (IPCs) were present in 37%. Clustering revealed three clear groupings. Group 1 cnsisted of men with IPCs. These men had lower than average age, PV, and MetX scores. Group 2 consisted of men with either MLs or high PV without concomitant high MetX score. Two categories of men were included in Group 2 - younger than average men with MLs; and older than average men men with high PVs. Group 3 consisted of men with high MetX score. Age and PV was lower than average in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Cluster analysis identified three distinct clinical phenotypes of BPH. Classification of BPH subtypes may allow for improved diagnosis and therapy. Future studies will correlate molecular subtyping data and clinical outcomes data to further validate findings. Source of Funding: Medical College of Georgia © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e317 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Matthew Simmons More articles by this author Nathaniel Taylor More articles by this author W Carter Reed More articles by this author Pablo Santamaria More articles by this author Zachary Klaassen More articles by this author Sherita King More articles by this author Martha Terris More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Preconception paternal comorbidities and offspring birth defects: Analysis of a large national data set.

Despite the fact that the father contributes half the genome to a child, associations between paternal factors and birth defects are poorly understood. To investigate the association between preconception paternal health and birth defects in the offspring. We conducted analysis of a national cohort study utilizing the IBM Marketscan Research Database, which includes data on reimbursed private healthcare claims in the United States from 2007 to 2016. The potential association between paternal comorbidities, as measured by the components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and any birth defect in the offspring was analyzed. Of the 712,774 live births identified, 21.2% of children were born to fathers with at least one component of the metabolic syndrome (MetS ≥1) prior to conception. Compared to infants born to fathers with no components of the metabolic syndrome, a modestly higher percentage of infants with cardiac birth defects were born to fathers with more components of MetS (MetS=1, OR [95% CI]: 1.07 [1.01-1.13]; MetS ≥2, 1.17 [1.08-1.26], in comparison to MetS=0) after adjusting for maternal and paternal factors. Similarly, a higher percentage of infants with respiratory defects were born to fathers with two or more components of metabolic syndrome (MetS ≥2, OR [95% CI]: 1.45 [1.22-1.71]). In this private insurance claims-based study, we found that fathers with metabolic syndrome-related diseases before conception were at increased risk for having a child affected by birth defects, especially cardiac and respiratory defects, and this association was not influenced by paternal age or assessed maternal factors.

Inonotus obliquus and its bioactive compounds alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via regulating FXR/SHP/SREBP-1c axis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. However, there is still lack of specific drugs for treating NAFLD in clinic. Inonotus obliquus (IO), a folk medicinal fungus, has long been used to prevent against metabolic syndrome related diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, etc. However, the study of IO anti-NAFLD effect has been reported rarely. This study aimed to investigate whether IO has an inhibitory effect on NAFLD, identify the active compounds in IO and clarify the underlying mechanisms of its anti-NAFLD effects. The results of Oil Red O(ORO) and Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining, lipid extraction and determination showed that IO and its extracts, including inotodiol (Ino), lanosterol (Lan) and trametenolic acid (TA), could remarkably ameliorate lipid accumulation in MCD diet-induced mouse livers or OA-induced LO2 hepatocytes. Moreover, qPCR analysis revealed that IO and its compounds significantly downregulated the mRNA levels of lipogenic genes, such as SREBP-1c, ACC1 and FASN, and upregulated the mRNA levels of FXR and SHP. We found that the administration of guggulsterone (GS), a FXR inhibitor, abolished the inhibitory effect of Ino on lipid deposition in OA-induced LO2 cells. In conclusion, IO and its compounds attenuate hepatic lipid accumulation in NAFLD by inhibiting liver lipogenesis. The anti-NAFLD effects of Ino, a bioactive compound in IO, are through regulating FXR/SHP/SREBP-1c pathway. Our results suggested that IO and its bioactive compound Ino may become promising drugs to treat NAFLD.

Pediococcus acidilactici CECT9879 (pA1c) Counteracts the Effect of a High-Glucose Exposure in C. elegans by Affecting the Insulin Signaling Pathway (IIS).

The increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome-related diseases, including type-2 diabetes and obesity, makes it urgent to develop new alternative therapies, such as probiotics. In this study, we have used Caenorhabditis elegans under a high-glucose condition as a model to examine the potential probiotic activities of Pediococcus acidilactici CECT9879 (pA1c). The supplementation with pA1c reduced C. elegans fat accumulation in a nematode growth medium (NGM) and in a high-glucose (10 mM) NGM medium. Moreover, treatment with pA1c counteracted the effect of the high glucose by reducing reactive oxygen species by 20%, retarding the aging process and extending the nematode median survival (>2 days in comparison with untreated control worms). Gene expression analyses demonstrated that the probiotic metabolic syndrome-alleviating activities were mediated by modulation of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway (IIS) through the reversion of the glucose-nuclear-localization of daf-16 and the overexpression of ins-6 and daf-16 mediators, increased expression of fatty acid (FA) peroxisomal β-oxidation genes, and downregulation of FA biosynthesis key genes. Taken together, our data suggest that pA1c could be considered a potential probiotic strain for the prevention of the metabolic syndrome-related disturbances and highlight the use of C. elegans as an appropriate in vivo model for the study of the mechanisms underlying these diseases.

Antioxidants in Hops: Bioavailability, Health Effects and Perspectives for New Products.

Hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) has been used by humans for ages, presumably first as a herbal remedy, then in the manufacturing of different products, from which beer is the most largely consumed. Female hops cones have different useful chemical compounds, an important class being antioxidants, mainly polyphenols. This narrative review describes the main antioxidants in hops, their bioavailability and biological effects, and the results obtained by now in the primary and secondary prevention of several non-communicable diseases, such as the metabolic syndrome related diseases and oncology. This article presents in vitro and in vivo data in order to better understand what was accomplished in terms of knowledge and practice, and what needs to be clarified by additional studies, mainly regarding xantohumol and its derivates, as well as regarding the bitter acids of hops. The multiple protective effects found by different studies are hindered up to now by the low bioavailability of some of the main antioxidants in hops. However, there are new promising products with important health effects and perspectives of use as food supplements, in a market where consumers increasingly search for products originating directly from plants.

Natural Products Targeting Liver X Receptors or Farnesoid X Receptor.

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a superfamily of transcription factors induced by ligands and also function as integrators of hormonal and nutritional signals. Among NRs, the liver X receptors (LXRs) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) have been of significance as targets for the treatment of metabolic syndrome-related diseases. In recent years, natural products targeting LXRs and FXR have received remarkable interests as a valuable source of novel ligands encompassing diverse chemical structures and bioactive properties. This review aims to survey natural products, originating from terrestrial plants and microorganisms, marine organisms, and marine-derived microorganisms, which could influence LXRs and FXR. In the recent two decades (2000–2020), 261 natural products were discovered from natural resources such as LXRs/FXR modulators, 109 agonists and 38 antagonists targeting LXRs, and 72 agonists and 55 antagonists targeting FXR. The docking evaluation of desired natural products targeted LXRs/FXR is finally discussed. This comprehensive overview will provide a reference for future study of novel LXRs and FXR agonists and antagonists to target human diseases, and attract an increasing number of professional scholars majoring in pharmacy and biology with more in-depth discussion.

Drug Therapy for Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis-Induced Liver Fibrosis

Aim. An overview of current pharmacotherapy for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-associated liver fibrosis.Key points. In current clinical recommendations, therapeutic measures in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease should include lifestyle change, body weight normalisation, NASH-associated liver fibrosis-specific drug therapy and treatment for metabolic syndrome-related diseases. Given a lack of approved antifibrotic therapies in NASH, several drugs have nevertheless demonstrated an adequate efficacy and safety in phase 3 clinical trials, also in compensated cirrhosis, which allows their practical validation in phase 4.Conclusion. The understanding of liver fibrosis as an adverse natural consequence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease clearly attests for an early introduction and wide use of antifibrotic therapy to improve NASH outcomes and avoid associated complications. 

Propolis of stingless bees for the development of novel functional food and nutraceutical ingredients: A systematic scoping review of the experimental evidence

Propolis is a resinous and complex phytocompounds collected by the bees to serve various critical physical and physiological functions in a beehive. Propolis has been used by humans for centuries to alleviate many ailments including chronic, nutrition-related, and metabolic syndrome-related diseases. The majority of propolis research has been carried out in the propolis harvested from the hives of Apis mellifera. However, a growing body of evidence shows that the propolis from the stingless bees (>600 species) possesses similar biological activities and therapeutic benefits such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and antimicrobial activity. The aim of this article is to review the experimental evidence of the biological activities of propolis from stingless bees, relevant to the development of high-value functional food and nutraceutical ingredients derived from meliponiculture in 4 continents; Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Americas.

Negative Association between Acrylamide Exposure and Metabolic Syndrome Markers in Adult Population.

Metabolic syndrome encompasses multiple conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and exposure to environmental chemicals can cause metabolic syndrome. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003–2006) on 4318 adult participants to assess the association between acrylamide (AA) exposure and metabolic syndrome. Concentrations of hemoglobin-adducted AA (HbAA) and hemoglobin-adducted glycidamide (HbGA) were evaluated. Metabolic syndrome markers related to HbAA and HbGA and the effect of exposure to AA and GA on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome were studied by ANOVA and multivariate logistic regression analyses, respectively. HbAA concentration inversely correlated with the number of metabolic syndrome markers (p < 0.05). An increased HbAA concentration was noted with reduced high triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the adjusted model (p < 0.05). High fasting plasma glucose level significantly correlated with HbGA concentration in the adjusted model. In conclusion, AA exposure alters metabolic syndrome markers in adults. Additional clinical and animal studies will clarify the role of AA exposure at different stages in the progression of metabolic syndrome-related diseases.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with the development of obstructive sleep apnea

Increasing evidence suggests that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a metabolic syndrome-related disease; however, the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and OSA is not firmly established. In this study, we investigated the relationship between NAFLD and OSA in a general population drawn from a nationwide population-based cohort. Data from the Korean National Health Insurance System between January 2009 and December 2009 were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards model. NAFLD was defined as a fatty liver index (FLI) ≥ 60 in patients without excessive alcohol consumption (who were excluded from the study). Newly diagnosed OSA during follow-up was identified using claims data. Among the 8,116,524 participants, 22.6% had an FLI score of 30–60 and 11.5% had an FLI ≥ 60. During median follow-up of 6.3 years, 45,143 cases of incident OSA occurred. In multivariable analysis, the risk of OSA was significantly higher in the higher FLI groups (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–1.18 for FLI 30–60 and aHR 1.21, 95% CI 1.17–1.26 for FLI ≥ 60). These findings were consistent regardless of body mass index and presence of abdominal obesity. In conclusion, a high FLI score may help identify individuals with a high risk of OSA. Understanding the association between NAFLD and OSA may have clinical implications for risk-stratification of individuals with NAFLD.

Diet Supplementation with Fish-Derived Extracts Suppresses Diabetes and Modulates Intestinal Microbiome in a Murine Model of Diet-Induced Obesity.

Metabolic syndrome-related diseases affect millions of people worldwide. It is well established that changes in nutritional habits and lifestyle can improve or prevent metabolic-related pathologies such as type-2 diabetes and obesity. Previous reports have shown that nutritional supplements have the capacity to limit glucose intolerance and suppress diabetes development. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with fish-derived extracts on obesity and type 2 diabetes and their impact on gut microbial composition. We showed that nutritional supplements containing Fish Complex (FC), Fish Complex combined with Cod Powder (FC + CP), or Cod Powder combined with Collagen (CP + C) improved glucose intolerance, independent of abdominal fat accumulation, in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes. In addition, collagen-containing supplements distinctly modulate the gut microbiome in high-fat induced obesity in mice. Our results suggest that fish-derived supplements suppress diet-induced type 2 diabetes, which may be partly mediated through changes in the gut microbiome. Thus, fish-derived supplements and particularly the ones containing fish collagen have potential beneficial properties as dietary supplements in managing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome via modulation of the gut microbiome.

A reappraisal of the prevalence of pediatric hypertension through a nationwide database in Taiwan

Hypertension in childhood and adolescence is associated with adult cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the reported prevalence of pediatric hypertension varies considerably. We conducted a pioneer nationwide population-based study to investigate the prevalence of hypertension among children and adolescents. Pediatric patients who had been diagnosed with hypertension between 2000 and 2013 were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Other metabolic syndrome-related diseases that would increase cardiovascular risk, including diabetes mellitus (DM), hyperlipidemia, and obesity, were also retrieved for further evaluation. In total, 10,364 children and adolescents diagnosed with hypertension were identified. The prevalence of pediatric hypertension in Taiwan ranged from 0.19 to 0.38 per 1000 children and adolescents between 2000 and 2013. Essential hypertension was most commonly coded (90.6%), which was much more than secondary hypertension (14.3%). Children and adolescents with hypertension were often associated with DM, hyperlipidemia, and obesity, with the odds ratios as 14.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) 11.74–16.81, p < 0.001), 10.65 (95% CI 9.48–11.97, p < 0.001), and 19.08 (95% CI 15.65–23.26, p < 0.001), respectively. To improve lifelong cardiovascular health, our results emphasize the importance of early proper recognition and suitable management of hypertension, as well as metabolic syndrome-related diseases, among children and adolescents.

Characterization of a Structural Leoligin Analog as Farnesoid X Receptor Agonist and Modulator of Cholesterol Transport.

The ligand-activated farnesoid X receptor is an emerging therapeutic target for the development of drugs against metabolic syndrome-related diseases. In this context, selective bile acid receptor modulators represent a novel concept for drug development. Selective bile acid receptor modulators act in a target gene- or tissue-specific way and are therefore considered less likely to elicit unwanted side effects. Based on leoligin, a lignan-type secondary plant metabolite from the alpine plant Leontopodium nivale ssp. alpinum, 168 synthesized structural analogs were screened in a farnesoid X receptor in silico pharmacophore-model. Fifty-six virtual hits were generated. These hits were tested in a cell-based farnesoid X receptor transactivation assay and yielded 7 farnesoid X receptor-activating compounds. The most active one being LT-141A, with an EC50 of 6 µM and an Emax of 4.1-fold. This analog did not activate the G protein-coupled bile acid receptor, TGR5, and the metabolic nuclear receptors retinoid X receptor α, liver X receptors α/β, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors β/γ. Investigation of different farnesoid X receptor target genes characterized LT-141A as selective bile acid receptor modulators. Functional studies revealed that LT-141A increased cholesterol efflux from THP-1-derived macrophages via enhanced ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 expression. Moreover, cholesterol uptake in differentiated Caco-2 cells was significantly decreased upon LT-141A treatment. In conclusion, the leoligin analog LT-141A selectively activates the nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor and has an influence on cholesterol transport in 2 model systems.

NcRNA2MetS: a manually curated database for non-coding RNAs associated with metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of the most dangerous heart attack risk factors (diabetes and raised fasting plasma glucose, abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure), and has become a major global threat to human health. A number of studies have demonstrated that hundreds of non-coding RNAs, including miRNAs and lncRNAs, are involved in metabolic syndrome-related diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, etc. However, these research results are distributed in a large number of literature, which is not conducive to analysis and use. There is an urgent need to integrate these relationship data between metabolic syndrome and non-coding RNA into a specialized database. To address this need, we developed a metabolic syndrome-associated non-coding RNA database (ncRNA2MetS) to curate the associations between metabolic syndrome and non-coding RNA. Currently, ncRNA2MetS contains 1,068 associations between five metabolic syndrome traits and 627 non-coding RNAs (543 miRNAs and 84 lncRNAs) in four species. Each record in ncRNA2MetS database represents a pair of disease-miRNA (lncRNA) association consisting of non-coding RNA category, miRNA (lncRNA) name, name of metabolic syndrome trait, expressive patterns of non-coding RNA, method for validation, specie involved, a brief introduction to the association, the article referenced, etc. We also developed a user-friendly website so that users can easily access and download all data. In short, ncRNA2MetS is a complete and high-quality data resource for exploring the role of non-coding RNA in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and seeking new treatment options. The website is freely available at http://www.biomed-bigdata.com:50020/index.html