Lipocalin-2 Variants and Their Relationship With Cardio-Renal Risk Factors

ObjectivesTo investigate the serum, plasma and urine levels of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) variants in healthy humans and their associations with risk factors for cardiometabolic (CMD) and chronic kidney (CKD) diseases.MethodsFifty-nine males and 41 females participated in the study. Blood and urine were collected following an overnight fasting. LCN2 variants were analyzed using validated in-house ELISA kits. Heart rate, blood pressure, lipids profile, glucose, adiponectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), creatinine, cystatin C, and biomarkers for kidney function were assessed.ResultsThe levels of hLcn2, C87A and R81E in serum and urine, but not plasma, were significantly higher in men than women. Increased levels of LCN2 variants, as well as their relative ratios, in serum and plasma were positively associated with body mass index, blood pressure, triglyceride and hsCRP (P<0.05). No significant correlations were found between these measures and hLcn2, C87A or R81E in urine. However, LCN2 variants in urine, but not plasma or serum, were correlated with biomarkers of kidney function (P<0.05).ConclusionsBoth the serum and plasma levels of LCN2 variants, as well as their ratios are associated with increased cardiometabolic risk, whereas those in urine are correlated with renal dysfunction. LCN2 variants represent promising biomarkers for CMD and CKD.

Effect of Paper Mill Effluent on Lipid Profile of Freshwater Snake Headed Fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch, 1793)

Industrial effluents reaching the aquatic ecosystem through various routes like run-off, leaching, and direct discharge from factories are major causes of environmental pollution. These were reported to have a negative metabolic impact on different non-target aquatic organisms. Fish is a close inhabitant of the aquatic environment, serves as a useful model for assessing the effect of chemicals mixed in the aquatic environment. Channa punctatus Bloch (Actinopterygii: Channidae), one of the most common edible fish, if exposed to industrial effluents containing harmful substances, maybe a serious threat to human health. In the present study, an attempt was made to understand the effect of sublethal concentrations of paper mill effluent on lipid profiles of Channa punctatus after exposure to 96 hours. A significant increase was observed in total serum lipid, cholesterol, and phospholipid with decreased triglyceride levels. A significant increase was observed in the cholesterol and triglycerides levels, whereas total lipids and phospholipid levels showed a marked decline in the liver. Thus present study concludes that the estimation of the lipids profile of fish will certainly detect early signs of stress physiology concerning their habitat.

Dyslipidemia Is Related to Mortality in Critical Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Retrospective Study

BackgroundIt has been reported that dyslipidemia is related to coronavirus-related diseases. Critical patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who suffered from multiple organ dysfunctions were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) in Wuhan, China. Whether the lipids profile was associated with the prognosis of COVID-19 in critical patients remained unclear.MethodsA retrospective study was performed in critical patients (N=48) with coronavirus disease 2019 in Leishenshan hospital between February and April 2020 in Wuhan. The parameters including lipid profiles, liver function, and renal function were collected on admission day, 2-3days after the admission, and the day before the achievement of clinical outcome.ResultsAlbumin value and creatine kinase (ck) value were statistically decreased at 2-3 days after admission compared with those on admission day (P<0.05). Low density lipoprotein (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein (HDL-c), apolipoprotein A (ApoA), and apolipoprotein A (Apo B) levels were statistically decreased after admission (P<0.05). Logistic regression showed that HDL-c level both on admission day and the day before the achievement of clinical outcome were negatively associated with mortality in critical patients with COVID-19. Total cholesterol (TC) level at 2-3days after admission was related to mortality in critical patients with COVID-19.ConclusionsThere were lipid metabolic disorders in the critical patients with COVID-19. Lower levels of HDL-c and TC were related to the progression of critical COVID-19.

Genomic Molecular Signatures Determined Characterization of Mycolicibacterium gossypii sp. nov., a Fast-Growing Mycobacterial Species Isolated From Cotton Field Soil

A Gram-positive, acid-fast and rapidly growing rod, designated S2-37 T , that could form yellowish colonies was isolated from soil samples collected from cotton cropping field located in the Xinjiang region of China. The draft genome of strain S2-37 T was 5.1 Mb in length, with a DNA G+C content of 68.4 mol%. 16S rRNA-directed phylogenetic analysis referred that strain S2-37 T was closely related to bacterial species belonging to the genus Mycolicibacterium and Mycobacterium . Multilocus sequence analysis of three genes (16S rRNA, hsp65 and rpoB ) revealed that strain S2-37 T shared high sequence similarities with Mycolicibacterium litorale CGMCC 4.5724 T (96.5%) and Mycobacterium neglectum CECT 8778 T (95.7%). Digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and the average nucleotide identity (ANI) presented that strainS2-37 T displayed the highest values of 39.1% (35.7-42.6%) and 81.28% with M. litorale CGMCC 4.5724 T , respectively. And characterazition of conserved molecular signatures further confirmed that strain S2-37 T could be well classified into the genus Mycolicibacterium . The main fatty acids were identified as C 16:0 , C 18:0 , C 20:3 ω3 and C 22:6 ω3 . In addition, polar lipids profile was mainly composed of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol. Results indicated that strain S2-37 T represented genetically and phenotypically distinct from its closest phylogenetic neighbour, M. litorale CGMCC 4.5724 T . Here, we propose a novel species of the genus Mycolicibacterium : Mycolicibacterium gossypii sp. nov. with the type strain S2-37 T (=JCM 34327T =CGMCC 1.18817T ).

Association of sulfur content in erythrocytes with cardiovascular parameters and blood pressure

OBJECTIVE: The study aims at assessing the relationship between blood pressure, heart geometry parameters, and the erythrocyte content of sulfur, potassium, chlorine and phosphorus, in a group of patients with laboratory systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) below 140 or 90 mm Hg, respectively, who were otherwise healthy and untreated. METHODS: The study group consisted of 42 adults recruited in a primary care setting. The individuals were healthy, not undergoing any therapy and free from smoking. For each individual, data were obtained on: average 24-hour SBP and DBP, left ventricle geometry, complete blood count, lipids profile, fibrinogen, hs-CRP and the erythrocyte concentration of sulfur (S), potassium (K), chlorine (Cl) and phosphorus (P). RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis showed statistically significant relationships of diastolic posterior wall thickness (PWTd) and relative wall thickness (RWT) with the concentration ratio of sulfur and potassium (S/K) in erythrocytes: PWTd and RWT increase as the S/K ratio increases. Also, SBP was found to be positively correlated with the S/K ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in sulfur content in RBCs could be an indicator of the downregulation of nitric oxide (NO) erythrocyte bioavailability exerted by endogenously produced hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and, in consequence, a marker of the development of hypertension and/or adverse changes in heart geometry.

Identification of People with Diabetes Treatment through Lipids Profile Using Machine Learning Algorithms

Diabetes incidence has been a problem, because according with the World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Federation, the number of people with this disease is increasing very fast all over the world. Diabetic treatment is important to prevent the development of several complications, also lipid profile monitoring is important. For that reason the aim of this work is the implementation of machine learning algorithms that are able to classify cases, that corresponds to patients diagnosed with diabetes that have diabetes treatment, and controls that refers to subjects who do not have diabetes treatment but some of them have diabetes, bases on lipids profile levels. Logistic regression, K-nearest neighbor, decision trees and random forest were implemented, all of them were evaluated with accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and AUC-ROC curve metrics. Artificial neural network obtain an acurracy of 0.685 and an AUC value of 0.750, logistic regression achieve an accuracy of 0.729 and an AUC value of 0.795, K-nearest neighbor gets an accuracy of 0.669 and an AUC value of 0.709, on the other hand, decision tree reached an accuracy pg 0.691 and a AUC value of 0.683, finally random forest achieve an accuracy of 0.704 and an AUC curve of 0.776. The performance of all models was statistically significant, but the best performance model for this problem corresponds to logistic regression.

Assessment of Selected Clock Proteins (CLOCK and CRY1) and Their Relationship with Biochemical, Anthropometric, and Lifestyle Parameters in Hypertensive Patients

Background: Circadian rhythms misalignment is associated with hypertension. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentration of selected clock proteins—cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) and circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) to determine their relationships with biochemical and anthropometric parameters and lifestyle elements (diet, physical activity, and quality of sleep) in hypertensive patients. Methods: In 31 females with hypertension (HT) and 55 non-hypertensive women (NHT) the CRY1 and CLOCK concentrations, total antioxidant status (TAS), lipid profile, and glycemia were analyzed. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, nutritional, exercise, and sleep analyses were performed. Results: In the HT group, the CRY1 level was 37.38% lower than in the NHT group. No differences were noted in CLOCK concentration between groups. BMI, FBG, and TG were higher in the HT group compared to the NHT group, while TC, LDL, and HDL levels were similar. The study showed no relationship between CRY1 or CLOCK concentrations and glucose or lipids profile, amount of physical activity, or sleep quality, although CRY1 was associated with some anthropometric indicators. In the HT group, increased CLOCK and CRY1 values were associated with a high TAS level. Conclusions: The serum level of CRY1 could be considered in a detailed diagnostic of hypertension risk in populations with abnormal anthropometric indices.

Omega-3FAs Can Inhibit the Inflammation and Insulin Resistance of Adipose Tissue Caused by HHcy Induced Lipids Profile Changing in Mice

The adipose Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome initiates insulin resistance; however, the mechanism of inflammasome activation in adipose tissue remains elusive. In this study, homocysteine (Hcy) was found to participate in insulin resistance via a NLRP3 inflammasome-related process. Hcy-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes were observed in adipose tissue during the generation of insulin resistance in vivo. This animal model suggests that diets high in omega-3 fatty acids alter serum and adipose lipid profiles, and in this way, omega-3 fatty acids may reduce adipose tissue inflammation and attenuate insulin resistance.