Polymorphisms Affect the Clinical and Biochemical Phenotypes of Metabolic Syndrome.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) play important roles in human health, from controlling inflammation to lipid and glucose homeostasis. In our previous study, which employed a cluster analysis of a plasma fatty acid (FA) pattern, we identified two clusters of metabolic syndrome (MetS) independent of clinical and biochemical parameters within the whole study group (controls together with metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients). FA desaturase (FADS) genes are the key regulators of LC-PUFA metabolism.

Altered Indices of Fatty Acid Elongases ELOVL6, ELOVL5, and ELOVL2 Activities in Patients with Impaired Fasting Glycemia.

Dysregulation of fatty acids (FA) seems to participate in the pathogenesis of disorders such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), cardiovascular diseases, or some cancers. Activities of enzymes FA desaturases and elongases [elongation of very long-chain fatty acid (ELOVL)] significantly influence FA profile in different body compartments. Although the impact of activities of desaturases on cardiometabolic diseases was broadly studied, relatively little attention was devoted to the role of elongases.

Associations of Serum Uric Acid with Endogenous Cholesterol Synthesis Indices in Men with High Cardiometabolic Risk.

Patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have increased endogenous synthesis of cholesterol, together with lower level of intestinal cholesterol absorption. However, less is known about how individual metabolic disturbances linked to MetS correlate with dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis. We consecutively examined 178 probands (91 women/87 men) characterized by the presence of one or two components of MetS (group with an increased cardiometabolic risk [CMR]) and 42 healthy controls (24 men/18 women) of similar age, as well.

Fatty Acid Composition of Plasma Phosphatidylcholine Determines Body Fat Parameters in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome-Related Traits.

Background: This study examines the associations of fatty acids (FAs) in plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) with the anthropometrical and biochemical characteristic of patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related traits.

Methods: We analyzed the FA profiles of PC in 300 persons with MetS-related traits (152 M/148F, mean age 46.9 ± 9.

Plasma Phosphatidylcholines Fatty Acids in Men with Squamous Cell Esophageal Cancer: Chemoradiotherapy Improves Abnormal Profile.

BACKGROUND Abnormal metabolism of fatty acids (FA) is considered to play a role in human cancers, including esophageal cancer (EC). Nevertheless, there have been only a few studies dealing with the influence of the chemotherapy or radiotherapy on the plasma FA profiles. In this work we compared FA in plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) of the patients with squamous EC and healthy subjects and investigated changes in the FA spectrum during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Pleiotropic effects of niacin: Current possibilities for its clinical use.

Niacin was the first hypolipidemic drug to significantly reduce both major cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Niacin favorably influences all lipoprotein classes, including lipoprotein[a],and belongs to the most potent hypolipidemic drugs for increasing HDL-C. Moreover, niacin causes favorable changes to the qualitative composition of lipoprotein HDL.

Osteopontin as a discriminating marker for pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

Introduction: We analyzed concentrations of osteopontin (OPN) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in order to determine firstly whether it is useful to distinguish between PDAC patients and those with chronic non-hereditary pancreatitis (CP) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and secondly whether OPN concentrations depend on the PDAC stage.

Methods: Groups consisting of 64 patients with PDAC, 71 with CP, 67 with T2DM and 48 healthy controls (CON) were enrolled in the study. Controls were compared with regard to levels of OPN, oxidative stress markers, conventional tumor markers and other biochemical parameters.

Chronic pancreatitis and the composition of plasma phosphatidylcholine fatty acids.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an irreversible inflammatory disorder characterized by the destruction of both exocrine and endocrine tissue. There is growing evidence that dysregulation of fatty acid (FA) metabolism is connected with many diseases; however, there are few data concerning FA composition in CP. Therefore, we analyzed FA profiles in plasma phosphatidylcholines in 96 patients with CP and in 108 control subjects (CON).

[Desaturases of fatty acids (FADS) and their physiological and clinical implication].

States associated with insulin resistance, as overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), some cancers and neuropsychiatric diseases are characterized with a decrease of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) levels. Amounts of LC-PUFA depend on the exogenous intake of their precursors [linoleic (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA)] and by rate of their metabolism, which is influenced by activities of enzymes, such as Δ6-desaturase (D6D, FADS2), D5D, FADS1, elongases (Elovl2, -5, 6).Altered activities of D5D/D6D were described in plenty of diseases, e.

Niacin in the Treatment of Hyperlipidemias in Light of New Clinical Trials: Has Niacin Lost its Place?

Niacin is considered to be a powerful drug for the treatment of lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities connected with "residual cardiovascular risk", which persist in high-risk patients even when the target goals of LDL-C are achieved with statin therapy. Recent large randomized clinical studies - AIM-HIGH (Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome With Low HDL/High Triglycerides) and HPS2-THRIVE (Heart Protection Study 2-Treatment of HDL to Reduce the Incidence of Vascular Events) - delivered some disappointing results, leading to the conclusion that no further benefit (decreased parameters of cardiovascular risk) is achieved by adding niacin to existing statin therapy in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Moreover, in these studies, several adverse effects of the treatment were observed; therefore, niacin treatment for hypolipidemias is not recommended.

Serum adiponectin relates to shortened overall survival in men with squamous cell esophageal cancer treated with preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy: a pilot study.

Background: The convergence of nutritional, genetic, and inflammatory factors plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of squamous cell esophageal cancer (SCEC). The parameters of inflammation, indices of nutritional status, and adipocyte-derived hormones such as leptin, adiponectin, and resistin have been shown to be prognostic factors in some gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancers.

Material/methods: Forty-two patients with SCEC were subjected to a multimodal regimen of concurrent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery.

The prevalence of nonalcoholic liver steatosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Czech Republic.

Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with components of the metabolic syndrome (MS) but the prevalence of NAFLD in the Czech Republic is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the latter in patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2) and to compare the noninvasive fibrosis scores with ultrasound findings in those patients.

Methods: 180 consecutive patients with DM2 (mean age 64.

Xanthomas: clinical and pathophysiological relations.

Background: Xanthomas are well circumscribed lesions in the connective tissue of the skin, tendons or fasciae that predominantly consist of foam cells; these specific cells are formed from macrophages as a result of an excessive uptake of low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles and their oxidative modification.

Results: Until recently, xanthelasma was considered to be only a cosmetic lesion; however, according to the results of recent prospective studies it is connected with an increased cardiovascular risk and reduced average lifespan. Pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development of xanthomas resemble early stages of atherogenesis.

Altered activities of antioxidant enzymes in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Objective: In the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), an increase of oxidative stress could play an important role which is closely linked with insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and chronic inflammation. The aim of our study was to assess several parameters of the antioxidant status in MetS.

Methods: 40 subjects with MetS and 40 age- and sex-matched volunteers without MetS were examined for activities of superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), glutathione reductase (GR), paraoxonase1 (PON1), concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH), and conjugated dienes in low-density lipoprotein (CD-LDL).

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in psychiatric diseases: mechanisms and clinical data.

The lipids constitute majority of dry weight of mature human brain. From lipids, 35% is comprised of PUFA with long chain (LC-PUFA), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) of n-3 family and arachidonic acid (AA) of n-6 family. Humans are dependent on dietary intake of both AA and DHA.

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of atherogenic dyslipidemia.

Background: Atherogenic dyslipidemia contributes substantially to the residual cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of therapeutic doses of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the three major lipid abnormalities of atherogenic dyslipidemia, i.e.

Plasma fatty acid profile in depressive disorder resembles insulin resistance state.

Background: Depressive disorder is related to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Insulin resistance (IR), connected with altered fatty acid (FA) composition, namely with decreased proportion of polyunsaturated FA could participate in these associations. The aim of the study was to investigate the composition of FA in plasma cholesterol esters (CE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) as well as indices of insulin resistance and oxidative stress in the patients with depressive disorder.

Plasma fatty acid composition in patients with pancreatic cancer: correlations to clinical parameters.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) ranks as the fourth cause of cancer-related deaths in the Czech Republic. Evidence exists that deregulation of fatty acid (FA) metabolism is connected with some malignancies; therefore, we decided to analyze FA profile in plasma lipid classes in patients with PC with relation to tumor staging, nutritional status, and survival. The study included 84 patients (47 males, 37 females) with PC and 68 controls (36 males, 32 females).

[Statin-ezetimibe combination in hyperlipidemia treatment].

Background: Statin monotherapy for dyslipidemia only rarely achieves recommended target values of plasma lipids. Statin plus ezetimibe is a feasible treatment option. The aim of the present study was to test efficacy and safety of statin plus ezetimibe combination in the treatment of severe dyslipidemia in patients coming to an ordinary lipid and diabetology department.

[Current status of pancreatic cancer diagnosis].

Pancreatic cancer still remains one of the tumors with the worst prognosis. The five-year survival rate ranges between 0.4 to 2 per cent.

[Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the clinical medicine].

Vast knowledge has accumulated recently on the role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in clinical medicine. Strong evidence was disclosed on their important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Free radicals have unpaired electron and this is the reason for extreme reactivity causing propagation reactions that lead to the multiple damage to cells.

[Our experience with pancreatic cancer and its relation to diabetes mellitus].

Background: Despite the introduction of new imaging methods, the prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma (PC) remains hopeless. Therefore, there has been exerted much effort to elucidate the risk factor enabling the diagnosis of PC in the "preclinical state". At the time of PC diagnosis, more than 30% of patients suffer from diabetes mellitus, much more often than in the rest of the population.

[Shy-Drager syndrome].

Shy-Drager syndrome is a rare neurological disease with a poor prognosis causing a generalised autonomy dysfunction. The disorder is also known as multiple system atrophy, the orthostatic hypotension syndrome or Shy-McGee-Drager syndrome. Patients have mainly dysautonomic symptoms.

Leptin, adiponectin, leptin to adiponectin ratio and insulin resistance in depressive women.

Background: Depressive disorder (DD) is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). It was suggested, that metabolic syndrome (MetS), cluster of metabolic and hormonal changes, such as insulin resistence (IR), abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension and elevated fasting glycaemia, could stand behind the connection. Recent findings have shown, that adipocytokines leptin and adiponectin might play a role in both depression and MetS.