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Unlabelled: Current data suggest the role of autoimmune reactions in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications in CRF patients. Elevated levels of anti-Hsp autoantibodies (anti-Hsp60, anti-Hsp70) have been described in adults with atherosclerotic lesions and cardiovascular events. The aim of the study was to evaluate the levels of anti-Hsp60 and anti-Hsp70 in sera of CRF children. Serum uric acid, lipid profile, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and hsCRP were also estimated., Material and Methods: The study was performed on 18 CRF children treated conservatively, divided into 2 subgroups: 8 patients with serum creatinine levels below 265 micromol/l (gr. I) and 10 patients with serum creatinine levels above 265 micromol/l (gr. II). The control group consisted of 13 healthy age-matched subjects with normal kidney function. Anti-Hsp concentrations were evaluated by ELISA, hsCRP levels--by nephelometry., Results: There were no differences in median values of anti-Hsp60, anti-Hsp70 and total cholesterol (CHOL) between examined groups. Mean hsCRP levels were also comparable. No difference was seen when HDL-C and LDL-C levels in gr. I and control group were compared, whereas TGL concentrations were elevated in gr.I vs. controls (p<0.001). In gr. II HDL-C levels were lower vs. controls (p<0.01), whereas LDL-C and TGL concentrations were higher compared to controls (p<0.001, p<0.0001). LDL-C levels in gr.II were also elevated vs. gr. I (p<0.01). Anti-Hsp70 correlated with serum uric acid (R=-0.82, p=0.04), cholesterol (R=-0.78, p=0.03), CHOL/LDL-C (R=-0.89, p=0.007) and CHOL/TGL (R=-0.75, p=0.03) in gr. I and with ESR after 1h in gr. II (R=0.72, p=0.03). No correlations were found between hsCRP and other parameters., Conclusions: Preliminary results point at relations between anti-Hsp70, markers of chronic inflammation (ESR) and atherosclerotic risk (uric acid, cholesterol) in CRF children.

Obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia/type II diabetes and hypertension together constitute the so-called metabolic syndrome. Frequency of occurrence of these serious metabolic disturbances is associated with life style and is on the rise in prosperous industrialized countries. These diseases represent not only a serious health problem but also social and economic ones, and involve in prophylaxis and treatment various specialists (physicians, dieticians and psychologists). For about two decades research has been conducted on the possibility to apply milk-derived proteins in prevention and treatment of the above mentioned metabolic diseases. Lactoferrin (LF), a protein present in milk and excretory fluids of mammals, is one of the most intensively studied milk proteins for therapeutic application. Initial trials revealing an advantageous effect of LF on lipid metabolism and obesity enrolled only a few volunteers and were performed in Japan in 2003. Subsequent trials were conducted on animals as well as in clinics, and the positive results were supported by in vitro tests. After oral administration of LF, decreases of body weight, waist measurement, visceral fat tissue, plasma and liver fatty acid concentrations, triglycerides and cholesterol were registered. The mechanism of LF action may involve several processes, such as inhibition of adipogenesis, decrease of dietary triglyceride absorption, elevation of HDL cholesterol possessing anti-atherogenic properties, inhibition of accumulation of oxidized LDL cholesterol forms in macrophages and protection against formation of foam cells. LF also increases the susceptibility of cells to insulin action, including in conditions when the response to insulin is lowered (during inflammation). In addition, LF regulates activity of insulin-like growth factor (IGF). The data collected to date indicate that LF is a promising, completely nontoxic, natural remedy which (as for example a food supplement) may be applied in long-term prophylaxis and therapy of metabolic disturbances, such as dyslipidemia, obesity and insulin resistance/type II diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]