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Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to find an early indicator of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Design and methods: We measured several anthropometric, biochemical, haematological, and oxidative damage parameters in 128 middle-aged Caucasian men divided into two groups: patients with MetS (n=69) and healthy controls (n=59), and used Weka REPTree and SimpleCART algorithms to identify the most reliable predictor of MetS. Results: Oxidative damage parameters did not differ between the groups, suggesting that oxidative damage is less prominent at the early stage of MetS. The algorithms singled out fatty liver index (FLI) as the best variable for discriminating between healthy and MetS subjects. This finding was confirmed by the receiver–operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, which set FLI 68.53 as the threshold value for MetS diagnosis. Conclusions: FLI is the most reliable tool for diagnosing MetS. The absence of oxidative damage does not rule out oxidative stress but may indicate that MetS is at an early stage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A multimycotoxin analysis approach in grains results in frequent simultaneous findings of nephrotoxic mycotoxins ochratoxin A (OTA) and citrinin (CTN). The mechanism of CTN and OTA toxicities in biological systems is not fully understood but it is known that oxidative stress is involved. In this study, oxidative damage of DNA, lipids, and the concentration of glutathione (GSH), as well as possible antioxidative effects of resveratrol (RSV) were studied in vivo . Male adult Wistar rats were treated orally with OTA (0.125 and 0.250 mg kg −1  b.w.), RSV (20 mg kg −1  b.w.) for 21 days, CTN (20 mg kg −1 b.w.) for two days or with their combinations. The hOGG1 modified comet assay revealed kidneys and liver oxidative DNA damage in OTA + CTN treated animals, which was not reversed by RSV. CTN did not reduce glutathione (GSH) or increase malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in any tissue, while OTA reduced kidneys GSH and increased kidneys and liver MDA. RSV increased GSH concentrations in all tissues and decreased MDA concentration in the liver only. Oxidative stress is involved in the toxicity of OTA and CTN but it seems that it differs significantly in organs. Most of the effects on GSH and MDA in combined toxicity may be attributed to the toxic effects of OTA. RSV was effective in restoring the depleted GSH in all tissues but had no effect on the MDA concentration and DNA damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To determine whether the brain disturbances develop in late-onset intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) before blood flow redistribution towards the fetal brain (detected by Doppler measurements in the middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery). Further, to evaluate predictive values of Doppler arterial indices and umbilical cord blood gases and pH for early functional and/or morphological brain disturbances in late-onset IUGR.Study Design: This cohort study included 60 singleton term pregnancies with placental insufficiency caused late-onset IUGR (IUGR occurring after 34 gestational weeks). Umbilical artery resistance index (URI), middle cerebral artery resistance index (CRI), and cerebroumbilical (C/U) ratio (CRI/URI) were monitored once weekly. Umbilical blood cord samples (arterial and venous) were collected for the analysis of pO2, pCO2 and pH. Morphological neurological outcome was evaluated by cranial ultrasound (cUS), whereas functional neurological outcome by Amiel-Tison Neurological Assessment at Term (ATNAT).Results: 50 fetuses had C/U ratio>1, and 10 had C/U ratio≤1; among these 10 fetuses, 9 had abnormal neonatal cUS findings and all 10 had non-optimal ATNAT. However, the total number of abnormal neurological findings was much higher. 32 neonates had abnormal cUS (53.37%), and 42 (70.00%) had non-optimal ATNAT. Furthermore, Doppler indices had higher predictive validity for early brain disturbances than umbilical cord blood gases and pH. C/U ratio had the highest predictive validity with threshold for adverse neurological outcome at value 1.13 (ROC analysis), i.e., 1.18 (party machine learning algorithm).Conclusion: Adverse neurological outcome at average values of C/U ratios>1 confirmed that early functional and/or structural brain disturbances in late-onset IUGR develop even before activation of fetal cardiovascular compensatory mechanisms, i.e., before Doppler signs of blood flow redistribution between the fetal brain and the placenta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We checked involvement of DNA damage in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). [•] Control and patients at the early stage of MetS were included. [•] Three comet tests (alkaline, hOGG1 and neutral) and urinary 8-oxo-dG were determined. [•] DNA damage assessed with different tests was not higher in MetS group. [•] Our results imply that DNA damage in not an early marker of MetS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]