Influence of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Level of Physical Activity with Liver Steatosis in People Aged > 50 Years and with a BMI > 25 kg/m: Association with Biochemical Markers.

Background: The main objective of this study is to determine the accuracy of different biochemical markers of hepatic steatosis and to correlate liver steatosis with adherence to the Mediterranean diet and level of physical activity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, including subjects over 50 years of age, with a BMI > 25 kg/m, but excluding any patient with documented hepatic pathology other than hepatic steatosis. Participants were divided into two groups: patients with hepatic steatosis diagnosed by ultrasound (SG) and a control group of individuals without hepatic steatosis (CG).

HSP70 increases extracellular matrix production by human vascular smooth muscle through TGF-β1 up-regulation.

The circulating levels of heat shock proteins (HSP) are increased in cardiovascular diseases; however, the implication of this for the fibrotic process typical of such diseases remains unclear. HSP70 can interact with the vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC), the major producer of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, through the Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4). The transforming growth factor type-β1 (TGF-β1) is a well known vascular pro-fibrotic cytokine that is regulated in part by AP-1-dependent transcriptional mechanisms.

Intracellular redox equilibrium is essential for the constitutive expression of AP-1 dependent genes in resting cells: studies on TGF-β1 regulation.

The mechanisms involved in the continuous expression of constitutive genes are unclear. We hypothesize that steady state intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which their levels are tightly maintained, could be regulating the expression of these constitutive genes in resting cells. We analyzed the regulation of an important constitutive gene, TGF-β1, after decreasing intracellular ROS concentration in human mesangial cells.

H2O2 regulation of vascular function through sGC mRNA stabilization by HuR.

Objective: Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is an important mediator in the vasculature, but its role in the regulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activity and expression is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to test the effect of H(2)O(2) on sGC expression and function and to explore the molecular mechanism involved.

Methods And Results: H(2)O(2) increased sGCβ1 protein steady-state levels in rat aorta and aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and this effect was blocked by catalase.