A Pilot Study on the Impact of Smoking on Adipose Derived Stem Cell Function in Burn Patients.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have an important role in the modulation of burned tissue repair through the release of paracrine factors that stimulate the wound healing response. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that smoking status alters the profile of paracrine factors secreted from ADSCs isolated from damaged adipose tissue. Adipose tissue was collected from adult patients (N=8) with severe burn injuries (>20% total body surface area) at the index operation.

Is freeze-dried superfood kale supplementation healthier than common green peas? Outcomes of a cross-over trial.

Kale ( species) is considered a functional food whose macronutrient and phytochemical contents are considered beneficial and widely considered as a superfood. In the present 6-week cross-over trial with a 2-week washout period, we compared the beneficial effects of freeze-dried kale over peas among Arab women with obesity. A total of 124 Saudi women with obesity were allocated to receive either freeze-dried kale ( = 62) or freeze-dried peas ( = 62) given in the form of 3-gram sachets thrice daily for 2 weeks, followed by a 2-week washout period and a cross-over of 4 weeks.

Minoxidil weakens newly synthesized collagen in fibrotic synoviocytes from osteoarthritis patients.

Purpose: Synovial fibrosis (SFb) formation and turnover attributable to knee osteoarthritis (KOA) can impart painful stiffness and persist following arthroplasty. To supplement joint conditioning aimed at maximizing peri-operative function, we evaluated the antifibrotic effect of Minoxidil (MXD) on formation of pyridinoline (Pyd) cross-links catalyzed by Plod2-encoded lysyl hydroxylase (LH)2b that strengthen newly synthesized type-I collagen (COL1) in fibroblastic synovial cells (FSCs) from KOA patients. MXD was predicted to decrease Pyd without significant alterations to Col1a1 transcription by FSCs stimulated with transforming growth factor (TGF)β1.

The impact of metabolic endotoxaemia on the browning process in human adipocytes.

Background: Dysfunctional adipose tissue (AT) is known to contribute to the pathophysiology of metabolic disease, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This dysfunction may occur, in part, as a consequence of gut-derived endotoxaemia inducing changes in adipocyte mitochondrial function and reducing the proportion of BRITE (brown-in-white) adipocytes. Therefore, the present study investigated whether endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) directly contributes to impaired human adipocyte mitochondrial function and browning in human adipocytes, and the relevant impact of obesity status pre and post bariatric surgery.

Alcohol Impairs Immunometabolism and Promotes Naïve T Cell Differentiation to Pro-Inflammatory Th1 CD4 T Cells.

CD4 T cell differentiation to pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive subsets depends on immunometabolism. Pro-inflammatory CD4 subsets rely on glycolysis, while immunosuppressive Treg cells require functional mitochondria for their differentiation and function. Previous pre-clinical studies have shown that ethanol (EtOH) administration increases pro-inflammatory CD4 T cell subsets; whether this shift in immunophenotype is linked to alterations in CD4 T cell metabolism had not been previously examined.

Vitamin D Levels as an Important Predictor for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Weight Regain Post-Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Weight Loss Surgery (WLS), including sleeve-gastrectomy (SG), results in significant weight loss and improved metabolic health in severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2). Previous studies suggest post-operative health benefits are impacted by nutrient deficiencies, such as Vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency, while it is currently unknown whether nutrient levels may actually predict post-surgery outcomes. As such, this study investigated whether 25(OH)D levels could predict metabolic improvements in patients who underwent SG.

Endotoxemia, vitamin D and premature biological ageing in Arab adults with different metabolic states.

There are limited studies on the association of endotoxin, a potent mediator of gut-derived inflammation and telomere length (TL). We investigated (1) the influence of adiposity on endotoxin and TL amongst Saudi adults according to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) status and (2) the influence vitamin D may have on TL attrition. Anthropometric data and fasting blood samples were taken from 775 Saudi adults visiting different primary care centers in Riyadh [387 T2DM and 388 non-T2DM].

A review of alcohol-pathogen interactions: New insights into combined disease pathomechanisms.

Progression of chronic infections to end-stage diseases and poor treatment results are frequently associated with alcohol abuse. Alcohol metabolism suppresses innate and adaptive immunity leading to increased viral load and its spread. In case of hepatotropic infections, viruses accelerate alcohol-induced hepatitis and liver fibrosis, thereby promoting end-stage outcomes, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Asthma and obesity: endotoxin another insult to add to injury?

Low-grade inflammation is often an underlying cause of several chronic diseases such as asthma, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Defining the mediators of such chronic low-grade inflammation often appears dependent on which disease is being investigated. However, downstream systemic inflammatory cytokine responses in these diseases often overlap, noting there is no doubt more than one factor at play to heighten the inflammatory response.

Gut-Derived Endotoxin and Telomere Length Attrition in Adults with and without Type 2 Diabetes.

Premature aging, as denoted by a reduced telomere length (TL), has been observed in several chronic inflammatory diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, no study to date has addressed the potential inflammatory influence of the gut-derived Gram-negative bacterial fragments lipopolysaccharide, also referred to as endotoxin, and its influence on TL in low-grade inflammatory states such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The current study therefore investigated the influence of endotoxin and inflammatory factors on telomere length (TL) in adults with (T2DM: = 387) and without (non-diabetic (ND) controls: = 417) obesity and T2DM.

Carnosine protects stimulus-secretion coupling through prevention of protein carbonyl adduction events in cells under metabolic stress.

Type 2 diabetes is characterised by failure to control glucose homeostasis, with numerous diabetic complications attributable to the resulting exposure of cells and tissues to chronic elevated concentrations of glucose and fatty acids. This, in part, results from formation of advanced glycation and advanced lipidation end-products that are able to modify protein, lipid, or DNA structure, and disrupt normal cellular function. Herein we used mass spectrometry to identify proteins modified by two such adduction events in serum of individuals with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes, along with similar analyses of human and mouse skeletal muscle cells and mouse pancreatic islets exposed to glucolipotoxic stress.

A Novel FACS-Based Workflow for Simultaneous Assessment of RedOx Status, Cellular Phenotype, and Mitochondrial Genome Stability.

Intracellular reduction-oxidation (RedOx) status mediates a myriad of critical biological processes. Importantly, RedOx status regulates the differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and maturation of CD8+ T Lymphocytes. In most cells, mitochondria are the greatest contributors of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Sleep Quality Is Associated with Vitamin B12 Status in Female Arab Students.

Studies have explored how vitamin B12 status affects sleep among elders and children, but this remains to be investigated among young adults. We used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess the association between serum vitamin B12 and sleep among female college students in Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 355 participants (age (years), 20.

Inflammatory and Adipokine Status from Early to Midpregnancy in Arab Women and Its Associations with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: To examine differences in maternal serum levels of adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) and inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-) and interlukin-6 (IL-6)) from early to midpregnancy among Arab women with or without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), along with their links to GDM risk.

Methods: This is a multicenter prospective study involving 232 Saudi women attending obstetric care. Both circulating adipokine and markers of inflammation were observed at the first (eight to 12 weeks) and second trimesters (24 to 28 weeks).

Prevalence and Indicators of Vitamin B12 Insufficiency among Young Women of Childbearing Age.

Vitamin B12 insufficiency is a global health issue among women of childbearing age, yet few studies have investigated its prevalence and risk factors among healthy Middle Eastern populations. This cross-sectional study included 346 Saudi women aged 19-30 years and enrolled at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A series of questionnaires were administered to record the study participants' sociodemographic status, medical history, dietary intake, and physical activity.

High glucose load and endotoxemia among overweight and obese Arab women with and without diabetes: An observational study.

Dietary intake influences gut microbiota activity. Nevertheless, there is a lack of evidence available that illustrates the acute effects of high glucose meal on metabolic endotoxemia. The present study assessed the acute impact of high glucose meal on endotoxemia and other clinical parameters in Saudi females with varying degrees of glycemia.

Tunicamycin-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Mediates Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Human Adipocytes.

Context: Dysfunctional endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria are known to contribute to the pathology of metabolic disease. This damage may occur, in part, as a consequence of ER-mitochondria cross-talk in conditions of nutrient excess such as obesity. To date, insight into this dynamic relationship has not been characterized in adipose tissue.

Fibroblast growth factor 7 signalling is disrupted in colorectal cancer and is a potential marker of field cancerisation.

Background: Field cancerisation proposes that there are pre-malignant genetic mutations in the macroscopically normal mucosal tissue around colorectal cancer. This study aims to evaluate fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) tissue expression in the mucosal field around colorectal cancer.

Methods: Gene and protein expression of FGF7, its receptor, FGFR2 and its downstream targets; FRS2α, Erk 1/2 and Akt was measured from mucosal samples in 34 control subjects and 17 cancer patients.

Effects of a 6-month multi-strain probiotics supplementation in endotoxemic, inflammatory and cardiometabolic status of T2DM patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: The aim of this trial was to characterize the beneficial effects of probiotics on decreasing endotoxin levels and other cardiometabolic parameters in Arab patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Saudi adults with naïve T2DM (n = 30; 12 males and 18 females) were randomly allocated to receive twice daily placebo or 2.5 × 10 cfu/g of EcologicBarrier (multi-strain probiotics; n = 31; 14 males and 17 females) in a double-blind manner over a 6 month period, respectively.

Vitamin D Deficiency Prevalence and Predictors in Early Pregnancy among Arab Women.

Data regarding the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency during early pregnancy are limited. This study aims to fill this gap. A total of 578 Saudi women in their 1 trimester of pregnancy were recruited between January 2014 and December 2015 from three tertiary care antenatal clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Modulation of the peripheral blood transcriptome by the ingestion of probiotic yoghurt and acidified milk in healthy, young men.

The metabolic health benefits of fermented milks have already been investigated using clinical biomarkers but the development of transcriptomic analytics in blood offers an alternative approach that may help to sensitively characterise such effects. We aimed to assess the effects of probiotic yoghurt intake, compared to non-fermented, acidified milk intake, on clinical biomarkers and gene expression in peripheral blood. To this end, a randomised, crossover study was conducted in fourteen healthy, young men to test the two dairy products.

Telmisartan reverses antiretroviral-induced adipocyte toxicity and insulin resistance in vitro.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients leads to insulin resistance which is central to the pathogenesis of various metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular disease seen in this patient group. We have investigated the dose-response relationship of telmisartan, an antihypertensive, on adipocytes in vitro in order to determine whether it may have metabolic beneficial effects.

Methods: Using in vitro chronic toxicity models (3T3-F442A murine and primary human adipocytes), we evaluated the effects of different concentrations of telmisartan on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenic gene expression using lipid accumulation assays and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively.

Differential expression of Lp-PLA2 in obesity and type 2 diabetes and the influence of lipids.

Aims/hypothesis: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a circulatory macrophage-derived factor that increases with obesity and leads to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite this, its role in adipose tissue and the adipocyte is unknown. Therefore, the aims of this study were to clarify the expression of Lp-PLA2 in relation to different adipose tissue depots and type 2 diabetes, and ascertain whether markers of obesity and type 2 diabetes correlate with circulating Lp-PLA2.