Search

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly malignant and lacks effective biotherapeutic targets. The development of efficient anticancer drugs with low toxicity and few side effects is a hotspot in TNBC treatment research. Although erianin is known to have potent antitumor activity, its regulatory mechanism and target in TNBC have not been fully elucidated, hampering further drug development. This study showed that erianin can significantly inhibit TNBC cell proliferation and migration, promote cell apoptosis, and inhibit the growth of transplanted tumors in mice. Mechanistically, through network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assays, we preliminarily identified SRC as the cellular target of erianin. Erianin potently inhibited the expression of SRC, which mediated the anticancer effect of erianin in TNBC. Moreover, erianin can downregulate the expression of genes related to cholesterol synthesis and uptake by targeting SRC, interfering with cholesterol levels in TNBC, thereby inhibiting the progression of TNBC in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest that erianin may inhibit the progression of TNBC by suppressing SRC-mediated cholesterol metabolism, and erianin has the great potential to be an effective treatment for TNBC patients.

Abstract Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Kazakhstan. Understanding its prevalence is vital for effective public health planning and interventions. This study aimed to assess the scale of hypercholesterolemia in the Republic of Kazakhstan and to identify differences among distinct population groups. A cross-sectional study involving 6720 participants (a nationally representative survey.) aged 18–69 was conducted from October 2021 to May 2022 across all 17 regions of Kazakhstan. The magnitude of hypercholesterolemia was 43.5%. Cholesterol levels were determined through blood biochemical analysis. Age, sex, geographic location, and ethnicity served as covariates. The majority of participants (65.49%) were from urban areas with an almost equal gender distribution (50.07% male and 49.93% female). The predominant age groups were 18–29 years (25.71%) and 30–39 years (25.12%), and 65.09% identified as Kazakh. The prevalence increased with age, with the 60–69 age group showing the highest rate at 71.14%. Women had slightly higher rates than men. Geographical differences were evident, with regions like Astana city and Almaty region showing significant disparities. Kazakhs had a lower rate compared to other ethnicities. Age, region, and BMI were significant predictors for hypercholesterolemia in both binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The study revealed a significant prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in Kazakhstan, with increasing age as a major determinant. Women, especially those over 50, and certain regions showed higher cholesterol levels. The disparities observed across regions and ethnicities suggest the need for targeted public health interventions to address this pressing health concern.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly malignant and lacks effective biotherapeutic targets. The development of efficient anticancer drugs with low toxicity and few side effects is a hotspot in TNBC treatment research. Although erianin is known to have potent antitumor activity, its regulatory mechanism and target in TNBC have not been fully elucidated, hampering further drug development. This study showed that erianin can significantly inhibit TNBC cell proliferation and migration, promote cell apoptosis, and inhibit the growth of transplanted tumors in mice. Mechanistically, through network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assays, we preliminarily identified SRC as the cellular target of erianin. Erianin potently inhibited the expression of SRC, which mediated the anticancer effect of erianin in TNBC. Moreover, erianin can downregulate the expression of genes related to cholesterol synthesis and uptake by targeting SRC, interfering with cholesterol levels in TNBC, thereby inhibiting the progression of TNBC in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest that erianin may inhibit the progression of TNBC by suppressing SRC-mediated cholesterol metabolism, and erianin has the great potential to be an effective treatment for TNBC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study explores the association between subclinical hypothyroidism and gallstone disease, with a particular focus on gender disparities, comorbid conditions, and cholesterol levels. Methods: A prospective analysis was conducted on 120 patients diagnosed with gallstone disease at the Department of General Surgery, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. The study assessed the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism, its correlation with patient demographics, comorbid conditions such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and total cholesterol levels. Results: Subclinical hypothyroidism was identified in 17.5% of the gallstone patients, with a higher prevalence in females (21%) compared to males (10%), resulting in a statistically significant gender disparity (p < 0.05). Comorbid conditions were present, with hypertension in 14% and diabetes mellitus in 15.8% of the patients. Elevated total cholesterol levels (>160 mg/dL) were observed in 64.2% of the subjects, predominantly among those over 40 years of age. Conclusion: The findings highlight a significant association between subclinical hypothyroidism and gallstone disease, especially in females. The study underscores the necessity of including thyroid function tests in the routine clinical evaluation of gallstone patients, to identify and manage those at increased risk due to thyroid dysfunction. The results advocate for a nuanced understanding of the metabolic and endocrine factors influencing gallstone pathogenesis, aiming for improved patient outcomes through targeted screening and intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Kazakhstan. Understanding its prevalence is vital for effective public health planning and interventions. This study aimed to assess the scale of hypercholesterolemia in the Republic of Kazakhstan and to identify differences among distinct population groups. A cross-sectional study involving 6720 participants (a nationally representative survey.) aged 18–69 was conducted from October 2021 to May 2022 across all 17 regions of Kazakhstan. The magnitude of hypercholesterolemia was 43.5%. Cholesterol levels were determined through blood biochemical analysis. Age, sex, geographic location, and ethnicity served as covariates. The majority of participants (65.49%) were from urban areas with an almost equal gender distribution (50.07% male and 49.93% female). The predominant age groups were 18–29 years (25.71%) and 30–39 years (25.12%), and 65.09% identified as Kazakh. The prevalence increased with age, with the 60–69 age group showing the highest rate at 71.14%. Women had slightly higher rates than men. Geographical differences were evident, with regions like Astana city and Almaty region showing significant disparities. Kazakhs had a lower rate compared to other ethnicities. Age, region, and BMI were significant predictors for hypercholesterolemia in both binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The study revealed a significant prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in Kazakhstan, with increasing age as a major determinant. Women, especially those over 50, and certain regions showed higher cholesterol levels. The disparities observed across regions and ethnicities suggest the need for targeted public health interventions to address this pressing health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac arrhythmias represent a significant public health concern globally, with serum cholesterol levels being a potential modifiable risk factor. However, the direct correlation between cholesterol levels and the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmia across different demographics remains inadequately understood. This cross-sectional observational study aims to evaluate the association between serum cholesterol levels and the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias, considering various demographic and health status factors. Methods: The study involved a diverse cohort of participants categorized by age, gender, and health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Serum cholesterol levels were classified as desirable (<200 mg/dL), borderline high (200-239 mg/dL), and high (=240 mg/dL). The prevalence of arrhythmia across these categories and other demographic factors was analyzed. Results: Among the participants, 30% had desirable, 40% had borderline high, and 30% had high cholesterol levels. The overall arrhythmia prevalence was 24%. A significant increase in arrhythmia prevalence was observed with higher cholesterol levels: 6% in desirable, 28% in borderline high, and 43% in high cholesterol levels. Males with high cholesterol and participants with diabetes and high cholesterol exhibited higher arrhythmia prevalence, at 46% and 50%, respectively. Conclusion: The study highlights a significant association between elevated serum cholesterol levels and increased prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias. This association is especially pronounced in individuals with additional risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of barley bran and flour-enriched yogurt against hypercholesterolemia in rats. Purposely, barley-enriched yogurts were prepared, and their quality characteristics including physicochemical, viscosity, textural and sensory analysis of functional yogurts were performed. The enrichment of 6% barley flour and barley bran in yogurt improved the viscosity, textural, physicochemical and sensory attributes. The barley bran and flour-enriched yogurt improved the growth of probiotics in T3 and T6. A hypercholesterolemic rats study was conducted and observed that lipid profile improved and glucose significantly decreased in response to functional yogurts. The improvement in functions of ALT (71.83 ± 1.61, 67.03 ± 1.67 and 62.33 ± 2.08 U/L), AST (245.17 ± 1.04, 231.33 ± 3.06 and 223.60 ± 2.79 U/L) and ALP (271.33 ± 1.53, 208.83 ± 1.26 and 189.37 ± 0.78 U/L) was observed G1, G4, and G5 groups, accordingly. It was concluded that barley bran exhibited greater potential than barley flour in the improvement of yogurt quality and hypercholesterolemia management.

Background. Overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions and safe treatments are needed to heal these diseases. Objective. The objective of this study is to examine the activity of a medical device based on polyglucosamine polymers (PG) on body weight (BW) reduction, insulin resistance, and the serum levels of fat-soluble vitamins and glucosamine. Methods. A double-blind placebo-controlled interventional study comparing PG and a placebo (PL) was conducted. One hundred and fifty overweight or obese cases were treated, divided into two groups for a period of 90 days at the dosage of 3 g/day. Results. One hundred and nineteen cases (58 with PG and 61 with PL, respectively) concluded the treatment. PG was more effective than the PL on the reduction of BW and insulin resistance. No modification of fat-soluble vitamins (Vit A, E, D3, K1) and glucosamine levels was shown. Total cholesterol levels were significantly more reduced in the PG group compared to the PL group as it was for subjects with a BW decrease of >5%. Conclusions. PG acts as a safe medical device, is not absorbed, and binds lipids in the upper gastrointestinal tract, reducing their availability, with a significant activity on the reduction of BW, insulin resistance, and cholesterol levels without the modification of fat-soluble vitamins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to analyze the use of encapsulated probiotic Lactobacillus salivarius in complete feed on Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), meat fat content, meat cholesterol content and income over feed cost (IOFC) of local Rabbit. Thirty-two local male rabbits aged 8 to 12 weeks were taken as the sample of the study. Distribute into five group with four treatments consist of two rabbits in each group. Moreover, the randomized block design (RBD) was geared under the analysis of variance (ANOVA) toward analyzing the experiment. The treatments were TO = control, T1= administration of 0.3 % encapsulated probiotic, T1= administration of 0.5 % encapsulated probiotic. T1= administration of 0.7 % encapsulated probiotic. The result revealed that the administration of probiotic significantly (P

Cognitive impairments are common in patients with schizophrenia. Changes in total cholesterol (TC) may be involved in the development of schizophrenia and associated with cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate differences in serum TC level and cognitive function between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls and explore the relationship between serum TC level and cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. A total of 105 schizophrenia patients and 105 healthy controls were recruited. Results showed that patients with schizophrenia had significantly lower scores on the overall RBANS scale and subscales (i.e., immediate memory, language, attention, and delayed memory) than those of healthy controls. Pearson's correlation analyses showed that in patients with schizophrenia, serum TC levels were positively associated with RBANS subscale scores of immediate memory and language. Furthermore, multivariate regression analyses showed that serum TC level was positively associated with the immediate memory index in patients with schizophrenia. However, no significant association was found between serum TC level and RBANS score in the healthy control group. Our results suggest that elevated serum TC level may be related to improved cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia, especially that of immediate memory. • Patients had lower cognitive function scores compared with healthy controls. • Cholesterol level was positively associated with cognitive function in patients. • Cholesterol level was not associated with cognitive function in healthy controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of barley bran and flour-enriched yogurt against hypercholesterolemia in rats. Purposely, barley-enriched yogurts were prepared, and their quality characteristics including physicochemical, viscosity, textural and sensory analysis of functional yogurts were performed. The enrichment of 6% barley flour and barley bran in yogurt improved the viscosity, textural, physicochemical and sensory attributes. The barley bran and flour-enriched yogurt improved the growth of probiotics in T3 and T6. A hypercholesterolemic rats study was conducted and observed that lipid profile improved and glucose significantly decreased in response to functional yogurts. The improvement in functions of ALT (71.83 ± 1.61, 67.03 ± 1.67 and 62.33 ± 2.08 U/L), AST (245.17 ± 1.04, 231.33 ± 3.06 and 223.60 ± 2.79 U/L) and ALP (271.33 ± 1.53, 208.83 ± 1.26 and 189.37 ± 0.78 U/L) was observed G1, G4, and G5 groups, accordingly. It was concluded that barley bran exhibited greater potential than barley flour in the improvement of yogurt quality and hypercholesterolemia management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blood lipid profiles consist of total cholesterol (TC) and its fractions, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL), and triglycerides (TG). For several decades, studies have examined the effects of various factors on lipid status and its association with the risk of developing arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The beneficial effects of increased physical activity on cardiovascular health have been demonstrated by appropriate modulation of lipid profiles. For individuals with low physical activity, the literature recommends engaging in various forms of training that can improve physical fitness and resting lipid status. The aim of the study was to examine whether a specific original training program improves lipid profiles to the levels recommended for the male population. Methods: The study involved two equal (n = 15) groups of men (experimental and control groups, aged 35–40 years). The experimental group performed 60-min training sessions for 8 weeks (3 times a week) including a set of strength and endurance exercises. Before and after the training program, blood was drawn from both groups for serum determination of TC, HDL, LDL non-HDL, and TG, and a battery of four field physical performance tests was administered. Results: Statistically significant decreases (TC by 19.3%, TG by 23.7%, LDL by 15%), a non-significant decrease (10% for non-HDL), and no change for HDL were found in the experimental group. Control group showed a statistically significant decrease, by 7.4% for TC. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed training in improving health indices. Conclusions: The 8-week training program met the health-related fitness paradigm recommended for physical activity in men aged 35–40 years. After the completion of the program, all the participants expressed their satisfaction from participating in a health-promoting experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with metabolic syndrome and increased cardiovascular risk. Resmetirom, a novel liver-directed selective thyroid hormone receptor-β (THR-β) agonist, has shown promise in addressing both hepatic and systemic lipid metabolism. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of resmetirom in improving cholesterol levels in NASH patients. A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov, identifying three randomized controlled trials for inclusion. The meta-analysis revealed that resmetirom significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels compared to placebo (MD: -23.62; 95% CI: -37.32 to -9.93; p < 0.001). Similarly, triglyceride (TG) levels showed a significant reduction in the resmetirom group (MD: -33.86; 95% CI: -47.79 to -19.92; p < 0.001). Importantly, there was no significant difference in the risk of serious adverse events between resmetirom and placebo groups (RR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.73 to 1.63; p = 0.67). These findings suggest that resmetirom effectively improves lipid profiles in NASH patients without compromising safety. However, the analysis was limited by the small number of studies, all from the same research group, and high heterogeneity in results. Future research should include more diverse studies, longer follow-up periods, and cost-effectiveness evaluations. Despite these limitations, resmetirom shows promise as a potential treatment for managing dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk in NASH patients, potentially influencing future treatment guidelines for both liver and cardiovascular health in this population., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Bejitual et al.)

AimCommon Yoga Protocol (CYP) is a standardized yoga protocol authored by experts from all over the world under the aegis of the Ministry of AYUSH, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy (AYUSH). The potential of CYP can be determined as a cost-effective lifestyle modification to prevent the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD).MethodsIn this prospective trial, we compared the effect of CYP at baseline and after 1 month. A total of 374 yoga-naïve participants performed CYP under the supervision of experienced trainers. Physiological [body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, percent oxygen saturation], biochemical (fasting blood glucose and lipid profile), and neurocognitive parameters were measured before and after the intervention.ResultsAt day 30 of yoga practice, serum levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were found significantly improved as compared to the baseline levels observed at the time of enrollment. Similarly, the lipid profile was also obtained from experienced trainers and found to be significantly different from those of yoga-naïve volunteers. When the intervention was compared between the healthy yoga-naïve participants with yoga-naïve participants suffering from medical issues, it was found that cholesterol profile improved significantly in the healthy-naive group as compared to the diseased group (hypertension, diabetes, underwent surgery, and CVD).ConclusionThese results highlight the need for further research to better understand the effects of yoga on the primary prevention of CVD.

High blood cholesterol levels are a health problem that continues to occur to anyone who does not follow a healthy lifestyle. The impact of high cholesterol levels in the blood is a big risk for heart disease. In addition to treatment using pharmacological treatment, namely with complementary management is cupping. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of cupping therapy on reducing high cholesterol levels at Hamdalah Ruqyah Clinic and Syar Cupping, Iyyah Makassar. This type of research is a quantitative research, with a pre-experimental research design in the form of One Group pre-test-post-test design. The determination of the sample in this study used a non-probability sampling technique with purposive sampling type with a sample size of 10 respondents. The statistical test used in this study was the Wilcoxon non-parametric test. The results showed that there was an effect of cupping therapy on reducing cholesterol levels with p value = 0.005. The conclusion of this study is cupping therapy is effective in lowering cholesterol levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gaceta Médica de Caracas is the property of Academia Nacional de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Empirical studies have documented the impact of membrane cholesterol on serotonergic function which might influence the suicidality in various psychiatric disorders. Most studies in last two decades demonstrated low cholesterol as potential predictor of suicidality in depression but trends of metabolic disorders and current status of hypercholesterolemia and biochemical abnormalities in suicidal spectrum population is scarce. Aim: The present study was aimed to comprehensively evaluate the blood levels of cholesterol and other biochemical abnormalities (serum electrolytes, proteins, blood pH etc.,) irrespective of any psychiatric disorders in suicide attempters. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 202 patients who visited our emergency hospital services with the suicidal attempt from 1st January 2019 till 31st December 2019 for a period of 12 Months. Blood evaluation and analysis were done on the same day of hospitalisation for complete blood counts, serum electrolytes, proteins and cholesterol levels. Clinical and standardised psychological evaluations for psychiatric diagnosis were performed. The results were analysed and compared using descriptive and inferential statistics based on SPSS software 21.01. Results: Out of 202 total suicide attempters, 120 (59.4%) were males and 82 (40.6%) were females with most patients 111 (54.9%) falling in the age range of 20-29; while 175 (86.6%) of patients had their first ever suicide or deliberate harm. A total of 169 (83.7%) of patients had normal complete blood counts but 106 (52.5%) showed acidic pH (

Introduction: Empirical studies have documented the impact of membrane cholesterol on serotonergic function which might influence the suicidality in various psychiatric disorders. Most studies in last two decades demonstrated low cholesterol as potential predictor of suicidality in depression but trends of metabolic disorders and current status of hypercholesterolemia and biochemical abnormalities in suicidal spectrum population is scarce. Aim: The present study was aimed to comprehensively evaluate the blood levels of cholesterol and other biochemical abnormalities (serum electrolytes, proteins, blood pH etc.,) irrespective of any psychiatric disorders in suicide attempters. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 202 patients who visited our emergency hospital services with the suicidal attempt from 1st January 2019 till 31st December 2019 for a period of 12 Months. Blood evaluation and analysis were done on the same day of hospitalisation for complete blood counts, serum electrolytes, proteins and cholesterol levels. Clinical and standardised psychological evaluations for psychiatric diagnosis were performed. The results were analysed and compared using descriptive and inferential statistics based on SPSS software 21.01. Results: Out of 202 total suicide attempters, 120 (59.4%) were males and 82 (40.6%) were females with most patients 111 (54.9%) falling in the age range of 20-29; while 175 (86.6%) of patients had their first ever suicide or deliberate harm. A total of 169 (83.7%) of patients had normal complete blood counts but 106 (52.5%) showed acidic pH (<7.3) while only 5 (2.5%) of the patients had alkalosis. Serum potassium was abnormal in 43 (21.3%) patients. Further serum chloride was deranged in 13 (6.4%) while serum albumin was deranged in 17 (8.4%). About 27 (13.4%) found to have increased serum cholesterol and none of them had low cholesterol. Conclusion: Excessive and dampened reactivity of biomolecular parameters including hypercholesterolemia may modulate the neurobiological stress system associated with increased suicidality. This may be one of the predictors irrespective of the underlying psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer, a global health problem with a high mortality rate, has several risk factors, including obesity and increased lipid profile. Postmenopausal obesity is associated with estrogen production from adipose tissue, while abnormal cell growth is triggered by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin. Obesity could be assessed by measuring body mass index (BMI). An increase in lipid profile signifies an increased risk for breast cancer. Histopathological findings in the form of grading and differentiation can indicate how serious the condition is. Breast cancer with good differentiation is always associated with a positive prognosis. OBJECTIVE: This observational analytic study aims to determine the relationship between BMI and cholesterol levels based on the menopausal status and the histopathological grading findings of breast cancer patients. METHODS: The observational cross-sectional study analyzed histopathological grading, total cholesterol level, and body mass index. Data were analyzed with Spearman rank correlation statistical test, and the results are significant when the p-value is <0.05. RESULTS: Analyzing the relationship between cholesterol levels and histopathological gradings indicated a moderate correlation. The results of another correlation test based on menopausal status showed a weak correlation value, while menopause was said to be significant, indicating a moderate correlation. However, results from the analysis of BMI data in the menopausal subject group were associated with histopathological assessment. CONCLUSIONS: There is a relationship between cholesterol levels and histopathological degrees in the two menopausal status groups. However, no relationship was found between BMI and the histopathological grades of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is one of the highest causes of death in the elderly. This study purpose the correlation of nutritional status (BMI) and cholesterol levels with the incidence of hypertension in the elderly. The research method used a cross-sectional study with a purposive sampling technique. The number of samples was 103. Data collection was carried out by measuring blood pressure, measuring height, weight, and total cholesterol levels. Data analysis using Pearson correlation test with a significance level (α = 0.05). The results of the body mass index with the overweight category (35.8%). Desirable cholesterol levels was the largest proportion (44.7%). Most criteria is Hypertension stage I (39,8%), while elderly hypertension with normal cholesterol was 44,7 %. The results of the Pearson correlation test showed between BMI and the incidence of hypertension in the elderly with systolic blood pressure (p = 0.465; r = 0.073) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.581 ; r = 0.055) (p> α = 0, 05). The correlation showed between cholesterol levels and the incidence of hypertension with systolic blood pressure (p = 0.963; r = 0.005) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.753; r = -0.031 ) (p> α = 0.05). The conclusion was no strong correlation between the incidence of hypertension in the elderly with BMI and cholesterol levels. The limitation does not pay attention to confounding factors that influence variables. The originality used Pearson correlation analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study is aimed to investigate the association between clinical, metabolic, inflammatory and environmental (photoperiod defined as daily sunlight exposure) parameters and suicide re-attempts after the index suicide attempt. Possible predictors of suicide re-attempts were also explored.Methods: Overall, 432 subjects with suicide attempts, of which 79 relapsed within the following six months were included in this prospective study. We adopted the Joiner's definition of suicide lethality, as "the acquired ability to enact lethal self-injury". The Cox regression was used to test the association between the mentioned variables and Kaplan-Meier plots showed the trend of suicide re-attempts.Results: Among participants, 30.8% committed a high-lethality suicide attempt. Cox regression confirmed the association between lifetime suicide attempts and number of suicide attempts in the study time-frame and suicide-reattempts. The longer photoperiod (Spring/Summer) was associated with suicide re-attempts, particularly patients with admission in June/July for the index event. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipo-protein cholesterol and c-reactive protein serum levels were significantly associated with suicide re-attempts but Cox regression confirmed only the association between lower TC serum levels and suicide re-attempt.Limitations: Patients' seasonal environment, psychological factors, presence of acute life-events fostering the suicidal crisis and detailed medical history have been not investigated. Findings were derived from a single psychiatric unit.Conclusions: Lifetime suicide attempts, higher number of previous suicide attempts, lower total cholesterol levels, and suicide attempt during longer photoperiod were significant predictors of suicide re-attempts. Further studies are needed in order to better characterize single- vs. multiple suicide attempter's profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lipid profile disturbances are frequently observed in major depressive disorder (MDD) and constitute to high mortality rates. However, less is known about whether this risk is present in patients with first-episode MDD. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to examine if lipid parameters differed between healthy controls and first-episode MDD patients.Methods: Cochrane Library, PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Chinese Journal Net, and WanFang databases were searched from inception to October 23, 2018. The primary outcomes were triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels.Results: A total of 11 case-control studies compared 690 subjects with first-episode MDD and 614 healthy controls were included and analyzed. Compared to healthy controls, patients with first-episode MDD were significantly associated with higher triglyceride (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.48, P = 0.004) and lower HDL cholesterol levels (SMD = -0.54, 95% CI: -0.86, -0.22, P = 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed that first-episode MDD patients with higher triglyceride and lower HDL levels were found only in Chinese and plasma group when compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05). Meta-regression analysis showed that the significant heterogeneity for triglyceride and HDL cholesterol was partly explained by the quality of study. No significant difference was found in LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels between the two groups.Limitations: Heterogeneity was relatively high among the included studies.Conclusions: Elevated triglyceride and decreased HDL cholesterol levels may be associated with first-episode MDD. Findings support early lipid monitoring and interventions targeting healthy lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypocholesterolemia has been reported to be associated with cancer risk and progression. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the prognostic value of cholesterol levels in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Methods: A total of 153 patients newly diagnosed with MM were retrospectively enrolled. The relationship between cholesterol levels and clinical characteristics was evaluated. The prognostic value of cholesterol levels was explored. Results: The levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and triglycerides (TC) were significantly lower in MM patients (p < 0.001). What is more, multivariate analyses showed that low TC and LDL-c levels were independent predictors of a better OS (overall survival; HR = 6.893 and 0.204; CI = 1.135 - 41.868 and 0.045 - 0.930, p = 0.036 and 0.040) and PFS (progression-free survival; HR = 7.416 and 0.216; CI = 1.365 - 40.290 and 0.047 - 0.999, p = 0.020 and 0.049). Conclusions: Serum cholesterol levels in MM patients were low, and TC and LDL-c levels could be used as prognostic markers for MM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to determine the effect of Carica papaya L. stem bark extracts on cholesterol concentration in rats induced with glibenclamide. A completely randomized design was used for the experiment which consisted of 6 treatment groups, each group consisted of four rats, as follows:1) KN (negative control, non-diabetic rats); KP, diabetic rats given glibenclamide 10 mg/kg body weight; EP 1, diabetic rats given 0 mg/kg body weight/day extract; EP2, diabetic rats given 100 mg/kg body weight/day extract; and EP3, diabetic rats given 200 mg/kg body weight/day extract, EP4, diabetic rats given 300 mg/kg body weight/day extract for 28 day. The results showed that C. papaya L. stem bark extract decreased (P

Introduction: Stroke is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in low-income and middle-income countries like India. Primary Intracerebral Haemorrhage (PICH) refers to Intracerebral Haemorrhage (ICH) in the absence of a single clear underlying lesion. Cholesterol levels are inconsistently associated with risk of ICH. Aim: To assess their relationship between lipid parameters and PICH. Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty patients with PICH were retrospectively recruited and compared with apparently healthy subjects. Low cholesterol was defined by Total Cholesterol (TC)

Background Atherosclerosis starts in childhood and its progression is influenced by lifelong low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) exposure, the so-called cholesterol burden. Early identification of children and adolescents with severely elevated LDL-c is thus of major clinical significance. This is especially true for children with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a frequent but undertreated genetic disorder. To identify children with possible FH, insight in the distribution of lipid levels in children is a prerequisite. Objective To provide health care professionals with contemporary age- and gender-based pediatric reference values for lipid and lipoprotein levels to help the identification of children with dyslipidemia, especially FH. Methods Lifelines is a large prospective population-based Dutch cohort study. Children from 8 till 18 years of age were included and fasting lipid levels were measured. Smoothed reference curves and percentiles (5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th) were generated using the Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape package in the statistical software R. Results A total of 8071 children (3823 boys and 4248 girls) were included. In the total cohort we noted marked dynamic changes in lipid and lipoprotein levels over age, which were in part gender specific. Our data highlight a high and unexpected prevalence of severely elevated LDL-c (>190 mg/dL) in both boys and girls. Conclusion Our cross-sectional data provide contemporary reference ranges for plasma lipids that can assist physicians in identifying children at increased risk of premature atherosclerosis, especially FH. Highlights • Identification of dyslipidemia in children requires solid reference values. • Current pediatric lipid reference values are based on old data or small studies. • This study provides contemporary lipid reference values for children (n = 8071). • This study shows prominent gender- and age-related differences in lipid levels. • A high prevalence of severely elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (>190 mg/dL) was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Stroke is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in low-income and middle-income countries like India. Primary Intracerebral Haemorrhage (PICH) refers to Intracerebral Haemorrhage (ICH) in the absence of a single clear underlying lesion. Cholesterol levels are inconsistently associated with risk of ICH. Aim: To assess their relationship between lipid parameters and PICH. Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty patients with PICH were retrospectively recruited and compared with apparently healthy subjects. Low cholesterol was defined by Total Cholesterol (TC) <200 mg/dL; Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) <100 mg/dL; High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) <40 mg/dL; and Triglyceride (TG) level <150 mg/dL. Results: Out of 160 patients recruited majority of the patients were males (n=122). Mean age was 53.47±9.33 years. Most frequent risk factor of PICH was hypertension (72.5%). Most common site of bleed was in basal ganglion (n=63). The proportion of PICH patients with low TC was significantly higher than control (81.9% vs. 70%). TG levels and LDL-C were significantly low in PICH compared with controls (p-value<0.0001). Mean TC in PICH was 159 mg/dL vs. 180 mg/dL (p-value<0.0001); Mean TG level was 114 mg/dL vs. 168 mg/dL (p-value<0.0001); Mean LDL-C was 93 mg/dL vs. 119 mg/dL (p-value<0.0001). In a subgroup analysis, among older age (=50 years) mean TC, TG levels and LDL-C were significantly low in PICH group compared to controls (p-value<0.0001). In multivariate analysis presence of low value of TG, LDL-C and TC remained a significant risk factor of PICH. Odds ratio for TG was 5.55 with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) of 3.295 to 9.36; odds ratio for LDL-C was 3.81 with 95% CI of 2.392 to 6.084. Conclusion: Our present study confirms low cholesterol as risk factor for PICH especially in older individual and both sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate whether fatty acid (FA) profile, oxidative stability of lipids and other meat quality traits differed between high (HW: 1.8 to 2.2 kg) and low (LW: 0.8 to 1.2 kg) birth weight piglets. Forty new-born male pigs (n=20 HW, n=20 LW) were reared in separate pens until the finishing period, when they were slaughtered at 150 days of age, and pH and temperature were measured in the carcass. Afterwards, the Longissimus dorsi muscle was excised from the carcass, and samples were collected for subsequent meat quality analyses (thaw loss, cooking loss, shear force, chemical analysis and sensory analysis for tenderness). Birth weight had minor impacts on meat quality traits, which were limited to higher shear force in the LW group (P0.05). FA profile and the amount of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were similar, but HW pigs had higher atherogenic index than their LW counterparts (P

Purpose: To investigate the reducing effect of Morinda citrifolia capsules (MCC) on total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in hypercholesterolemia patients. Methods: This study was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, with 60 subjects placed in two groups, viz, experimental (MCC group) and placebo (P group). The first group received two capsules of MCC (each capsule contains 500 mg extract) while the second group received two capsules of placebo (comprised of 500 mg fillers) 3 times daily, for 14 days for both groups. Overnight fasting cubiti venous blood (3 mL) was taken from each subject each time measurements were carried out. TC and LDL-C were measured by spectrophotometric assay using an automated analyzer. Results: The results show that there was significant decrease in TC and LDL-C on day 14, compared to control (P group). Reduction in TC and LDL-C was 13.8 and 15.5%, respectively. Decrease in TC and LDL-C levels was influenced by factors, such as age, BMI, exercise, diet, and smoking habits. In MCC group, the capsules significantly decreased TC levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that 1 g MCC, given orally thrice daily, significantly reduces TC and LDL-C levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In inflammatory disease, the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) decrease, and the composition of HLD-C changes. Data from the 'non-inflammatory' general population indicate the presence of the same phenomenon, albeit to a smaller extent. Levels of uricaemia contribute to the overall inflammatory state of patients. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between inflammatory state, levels of uricaemia, and levels of HLD-C in a hypertensive Spanish population aged 65 or older. This was a retrospective analysis of the FAPRES database. We compared lipid levels [HDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, and triglycerides] in terciles of patients according to their leukocyte counts and uricaemia. When we observed statistically significant differences at a 95% confidence level, we constructed a multivariable linear regression model to adjust for possible confounders. We analysed 860 patients (52.7% women) with a mean age of 72.9 years (±5.8). Participants in the highest tercile for leukocytes or uricaemia presented with significantly lower levels of HDL-C and higher levels of triglycerides, but there was no difference in total cholesterol or LDL-C. The multivariable analysis confirmed an independent and inverse association between HDL-C and both leukocytes ( β = −0.001, p = 0.025) and uricaemia ( β = −1.054, p = 0037) as well as an independent, direct association between triglycerides and both leukocytes ( β = 0.004, p = 0.049), and uricaemia ( β = 8.411, p = 0.003). In hypertensive adults aged 65 or older, inflammatory state, and uricaemia independently operate to decrease HDL-C-these findings confirm those described in studies in people with inflammatory disease. This phenomenon could help to define a proatherogenic profile in people without inflammatory disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, an ecotoxicological approach to the evaluation of Gemfibrozil (GEM) as an emerging organic pollutant was done. In order to assess its toxicity, tests were conducted using the cladoceraDaphnia magna. Experiments were carried out at 22°C and 28°C. EC50, feeding behavior, and chronic toxicity tests (21 days) were evaluated inD. magnaexposed to GEM as well as cholesterol levels at 21-day chronic exposure.D. magnaGEM EC50values (24 h) in our experimental conditions were 148.75 and 116.24 mg L−1at 22°C and 28°C, respectively. Test concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 and 7.5 mg L−1were selected for subacute and chronic experiments. Subacute short-term test (feeding study) was assessed after exposure to the toxicant. Filtration and ingestion rates ofD. magnaexposed animals did not show any significant difference (P> 0.05) with respect to control daphniids neither at 22°C nor at 28°C. Therefore, GEM test concentrations used in the present study did not reduce feeding behavior inD. magna. Temperature increased from 22°C to 28°C, which resulted in a decrease of the daphniids reproductive parameters such as brood size and number of young per female. Other parameters as longevity were not affected. The GEM concentrations used in the chronic test withD. magnadid not affect daphniids longevity but some reproductive parameters as number of young per female or brood size were affected. Finally, a significant decreased in cholesterol levels was found in those animals exposed to the highest toxicant concentrations. More studies must be done to determine the possible implications of GEM in aquatic fauna and to derive its possible effects on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between cholesterol levels and cerebral edema (CED) or hemorrhagic transformation (HT) as an expressions of blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction after ischemic stroke is not well established. The aim of this study is to determine the association of total cholesterol (TC) levels with the incidence of HT and CED after reperfusion therapies., Methods: We analyzed SITS Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy Registry data from January 2011 to December 2017. We identified patients with data on TC levels at baseline. TC values were categorized in three groups (reference group ⩾200 mg/dl). The two primary outcomes were any parenchymal hemorrhage (PH) and moderate to severe CED on follow up imaging. Secondary outcomes included death and functional independence (mRS 0-2) at 3 months. Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for baseline factors including statin pretreatment was used to assess the association between TC levels and outcomes., Results: Of 35,314 patients with available information on TC levels at baseline, 3372 (9.5%) presented with TC levels ⩽130 mg/dl, 8203 (23.2%) with TC 130-200 mg/dl and 23,739 (67.3%) with TC ⩾ 200 mg/dl. In the adjusted analyses, TC level as continuous variable was inversely associated with moderate to severe CED (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.99-1.00, p  = 0.025) and as categorical variable lower TC levels were associated with a higher risk of moderate to severe CED (aOR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10-1.40, p  = 0.003). TC levels were not associated with any PH, functional independence, and mortality at 3 months., Conclusions: Our findings indicate an independent association between low levels of TC and higher odds of moderate/severe CED. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Niaz Ahmed is chair of SITS International. Other authors have no disclosures regarding conflict of interest., (© European Stroke Organisation 2022.)

Cholesterol levels in the median nerve were studied at various post-mortem intervals (PMIs). Single median nerve samples were collected from the wrists of 36 subjects during forensic autopsies of subjects with known circumstances and times of death. Although the absolute values varied, increments in cholesterol concentration were recorded. Subsequently, 16 subjects who did not suffer of any neurological and/or metabolic diseases with known times and circumstances of death were enrolled. For each enrolled subject, two samples were collected from the wrist at an interval of approximately two hours (t1 and t2). The obtained results revealed a gradual increase in cholesterol level with increasing time since death. The cholesterol concentration data obtained for each subject at t1 and t2 were correlated with the time since death, a linear interpolation was applied, and the PMI was back-calculated. Similar trends were obtained for the samples collected at similar PMIs; thus, three groups were considered: PMI<48h, 4878h. Good correlation coefficients were obtained, especially for the first group (R(2)=0.9362) for which the PMI could be calculated with an error that ranged from -4 to 5.9h. Although it requires further confirmation via analyses of larger numbers of samples, the method proposed here can currently be applied to PMI determinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ascertain the association between cholesterol and triglyceride levels on ICU admission and mortality in patients with sepsis., Data Sources: Systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies on PubMed and Embase., Study Selection: All observational studies reporting ICU admission cholesterol and triglyceride levels in critically ill patients with sepsis were included. Authors were contacted for further data., Data Extraction: Eighteen observational studies were identified, including 1,283 patients with a crude overall mortality of 33.3%. Data were assessed using Revman (Version 5.1, Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, United Kingdom) and presented as mean difference (MD) with 95% CIs, p values, and I 2 values., Data Synthesis: Admission levels of total cholesterol (17 studies, 1,204 patients; MD = 0.52 mmol/L [0.27-0.77 mmol/L]; p < 0.001; I 2 = 91%), high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (14 studies, 991 patients; MD = 0.08 mmol/L [0.01-0.15 mmol/L]; p = 0.02; I 2 = 61%), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (15 studies, 1,017 patients; MD = 0.18 mmol/L [0.04-0.32 mmol/L]; p = 0.01; I 2 = 71%) were significantly lower in eventual nonsurvivors compared with survivors. No association was seen between admission triglyceride levels and mortality (15 studies, 1,070 patients; MD = 0.00 mmol/L [-0.16 to 0.15 mmol/L]; p = -0.95; I 2 = 79%)., Conclusions: Mortality was associated with lower levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol, but not triglyceride levels, in patients admitted to ICU with sepsis. The impact of cholesterol replacement on patient outcomes in sepsis, particularly in at-risk groups, merits investigation., Competing Interests: The authors have disclosed that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.)

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by abnormally elevated levels of blood glucose. The hyperglycemic condition is caused by abnormalities in either insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Two-thirds of diabetes-related deaths are caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)., Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of ASCVD and related factors in type 2 DM patients in Medan, North Sumatra., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study. A total of 252 DM patients visiting primary health centers in Medan were recruited after fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The level of risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) was determined by using ASCVD Risk Calculator. Data required to use this calculator are age, sex, race, total cholesterol, HDL-C, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, history of diabetes, history of hypertension treatment, smoking history, and use of statins for anti-hyperlipidemia. The data were then analyzed with Chi-square Test (p < 0.0%) and processed with SPSS., Results: There were 59 (23.41%), 140 (55.56%), and 53 (21.03%) participants who had high, moderate, and low risks of ASCVD, respectively. Bivariate analysis showed significant association between risk of ASCVD with age, SBP, total cholesterol level, HDL-C levels, and duration of diabetes (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, gender and familial history not related to ASCVD risks among DM patients (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: The risks for atherosclerotic complications of cardiovascular disease in type 2 DM patients in Medan were predominantly high. The variables related to ASCVD risks included age, gender, HbA1C, systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol levels, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background The interconnectivity of the peroxidation reaction system of myeloperoxidase (PRSM) or the reaction system of paraoxonase 1 (RSP1) with atherosclerosis remains elusive in patients with normal cholesterol levels. Methods A total of 55 atherosclerotic patients with normal cholesterol concentrations and 45 control subjects were analyzed. Pearson's correlation was used to investigate the correlation between the levels of oxidative stress-related indices (HNE-LDL, MDA-LDL and protein carbonyls) and cholesterol indices (TC, HDL-C and LDL-C) and individual factor in RSP1 and PRSM (paraoxonase 1 activity, ionized calcium, myeloperoxidase peroxidation activity, or H 2 O 2 ). Response surface regression (RSR) was used to analyze the interconnection of PRSM and RSP1 with the levels of oxidative stress-related indices and cholesterol indices. Results The relation between PRSM and the increase of HNE-LDL and MDA-LDL was attributable to myeloperoxidase peroxidation activity, H 2 O 2 concentrations and the interaction between myeloperoxidase peroxidation activity and H 2 O 2 in the patients. PRSM preferred contribution to cholesterol levels in the cases. The interconnection of PRSM with TC was dependent on the association of PRSM with HDL-C and LDL-C. Conclusions The shift of interconnection with HDL-C levels from RSP1 to PRSM represents a marker for atherosclerotic patients with normal cholesterol levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence-based medicine associates globalization with the phenomenon of nutritional transition, and this, as the promoter of the origin and epidemiological expansion of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in all groups of ages; particularly, coronary atherosclerotic disease (CAD), which begins from the childhood and in which origin cholesterol is involved. The objective of this work was to determine the reference ranges of total cholesterol in serum in incoming freshmen of different age groups, as well as the association with their gender. Method: Cross-sectional study to determine the reference intervals levels of [Chol] T in 192 students of both sexes without familial or personal pathological history who consented to participate in the study. They were distributed by age groups: 17-19, 20-24 and ≥ 25 years, and their habits of consumption of fast foods and alcohol were recorded. The serum from 5 mL of blood collected by venipuncture was isolated to determine the levels of [Chol] T by an enzymatic method. We used the software SPSS version 21, for a 0.05 of significance, for the statistical processing of the results and establishment of reference intervals of the [Chol] T for age group and its association with sex. Results: The distribution of the values of[C]T, was significant (p < 0.05) for age and sex. Three reference intervals were determined according to age: 138-146 mg/dL for 17-19 years; 141-158 mg/dL for 20-24 years and 151-177 mg/dL for ≥ 25 years. Discussion: According to the criteria of ATPIII, the RI set for those groups younger than 25 years are acceptable, while in students older than ≥ 25 years, the upper limit exceeds 170 mg /dL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscale characterization tools hold the potential to overcome long-standing medicinal and pharmaceutical challenges. For example, electrospray differential mobility analysis (ES-DMA) is an emerging tool that rapidly provides label-free multimodal size distributions for proteins and particles from ~ 1 nm to < 500 nm with subnanometer precision. Here we critically review the contributions of this tool to medicine, pharmaceutical practice, and pharmaceutical production. Our review critically evaluates, first, the use of ES-DMA for diagnostic strategies that detect and quantify lipoproteins, bacterial infections, viruses and amyloid fibrillation and then focuses on ES-DMA's contribution to treatment strategies that employ tailored virus-like particles as vaccines and decorated nanoparticle vectors for gene delivery. Our review also highlights ES-DMA's contribution to viral clearance and antibody aggregation and potential as a process analytical technology (PAT). From the Clinical Editor Electrospray differential mobility analysis is an emerging nanotechnology-based tool with potential clinical utility in the detection and quantification of lipoproteins, glycoproteins, viruses, amyloids, bacterial infections. Its contribution to treatment strategies and pharmaceutical production is also discussed in this comprehensive review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the reducing effect of Morinda citrifolia capsules (MCC) on total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in hypercholesterolemia patients. Methods: This study was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, with 60 subjects placed in two groups, viz, experimental (MCC group) and placebo (P group). The first group received two capsules of MCC (each capsule contains 500 mg extract) while the second group received two capsules of placebo (comprised of 500 mg fillers) 3 times daily, for 14 days for both groups. Overnight fasting cubiti venous blood (3 mL) was taken from each subject each time measurements were carried out. TC and LDL-C were measured by spectrophotometric assay using an automated analyzer. Results: The results show that there was significant decrease in TC and LDL-C on day 14, compared to control (P group). Reduction in TC and LDL-C was 13.8 and 15.5 %, respectively. Decrease in TC and LDL-C levels was influenced by factors, such as age, BMI, exercise, diet, and smoking habits. In MCC group, the capsules significantly decreased TC levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that 1 g MCC, given orally thrice daily, significantly reduces TC and LDL-C levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate whether fatty acid (FA) profile, oxidative stability of lipids and other meat quality traits differed between high (HW: 1.8 to 2.2 kg) and low (LW: 0.8 to 1.2 kg) birth weight piglets. Forty new-born male pigs (n=20 HW, n=20 LW) were reared in separate pens until the finishing period, when they were slaughtered at 150 days of age, and pH and temperature were measured in the carcass. Afterwards, the Longissimus dorsi muscle was excised from the carcass, and samples were collected for subsequent meat quality analyses (thaw loss, cooking loss, shear force, chemical analysis and sensory analysis for tenderness). Birth weight had minor impacts on meat quality traits, which were limited to higher shear force in the LW group (P<0.01). Chemical components (moisture, protein, fat, ash), cholesterol levels and lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) were not affected by birth weight (P>0.05). FA profile and the amount of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were similar, but HW pigs had higher atherogenic index than their LW counterparts (P<0.01). Notwithstanding the higher shear force presented by the lower birth weight pigs, in the sensory test, the panelists did not detect any differences in the tenderness of pork from HW and LW animals. Therefore, our results suggest that low birth weight has minimal impact on meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]