Increased Cardiometabolic Risk in Men with Hypoprolactinemia: A Pilot Study.

Low prolactin levels in men predispose them to mood disturbances, sexual dysfunction, and diabetes. The purpose of the current study was to assess cardiometabolic risk in males with hypoprolactinemia. This prospective study included three age-matched groups of young and middle-aged men: individuals with cabergoline-induced hypoprolactinemia ( = 15), cabergoline-treated subjects with prolactin levels within the reference range ( = 20), and untreated men with normal prolactin levels ( = 31).

Liraglutide Therapy in Obese Patients Alters Macrophage Phenotype and Decreases Their Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Release and Oxidative Stress Markers-A Pilot Study.

: Obesity is one of the major healthcare challenges. It affects one in eight people around the world and leads to several comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and arterial hypertension. GLP-1 analogs have become major players in the therapy of obesity, leading to significant weight loss in patients.

Subclinical Hyperthyroidism Enhances Gonadotropin-Lowering Effects of Metformin in Postmenopausal Women.

Metformin treatment decreases elevated concentrations of anterior pituitary hormones. The aim of this prospective, cohort study was to investigate whether hyperthyroidism modulates the impact of metformin on gonadotroph secretory function. The study population included 48 postmenopausal women with untreated type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, 24 of whom had coexisting grade 1 subclinical hyperthyroidism.

The impact of glucagon and exenatide on oxidative stress levels and antioxidative enzyme expression in in vitro induced steatosis in HepG2 cell culture.

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a healthcare issue of growing concern. Its development is multifactorial, and it is more commonly seen in obese patients. In those circumstances, intracellular lipid overload ensues, resulting in oxidative stress that might be responsible for progression toward steatohepatitis.

The Association between Vitamin D Status and the Impact of Metformin on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis Activity in Women with Subclinical Hypothyroidism.

Metformin inhibits enhanced secretion of anterior pituitary hormones. Its impact on prolactin and gonadotropin concentrations is absent in individuals with hypovitaminosis D. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate whether vitamin D status determines the effect of metformin on hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis activity in levothyroxine-naïve women.

Autoimmune Thyroiditis Mitigates the Effect of Metformin on Plasma Prolactin Concentration in Men with Drug-Induced Hyperprolactinemia.

Metformin inhibits the secretory function of overactive anterior pituitary cells, including lactotropes. In women of childbearing age, this effect was absent if they had coexisting autoimmune (Hashimoto) thyroiditis. The current study was aimed at investigating whether autoimmune thyroiditis modulates the impact of metformin on the plasma prolactin concentration in men.

Molecular Mechanisms behind Obesity and Their Potential Exploitation in Current and Future Therapy.

Obesity is a chronic disease caused primarily by the imbalance between the amount of calories supplied to the body and energy expenditure. Not only does it deteriorate the quality of life, but most importantly it increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, leading to reduced life expectancy. In this review, we would like to present the molecular pathomechanisms underlying obesity, which constitute the target points for the action of anti-obesity medications.

Lipoprotein (a) and lipid-lowering treatment from the perspective of a cardiac surgeon. An impact on the prognosis in patients with aortic valve replacement and after heart transplantation.

Lipoprotein(a) is a recognized risk factor for ASCVD. There is still no targeted therapy for Lp(a), however, drugs such as pelacarsen, olpasiran, zerlasiran, lepodisiran and muvalaplin are in clinical trials and have been shown to be effective in significantly reducing Lp(a) levels. Moreover, elevated Lp(a) levels significantly affect the prognosis of patients after aortic valve replacement (AVR) and heart transplantation (HTx).

Effect of GLP-1RA Treatment on Adhesion Molecules and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in Diabetic Patients with Atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a prominent cause of global mortality, primarily driven by atherosclerosis. Diabetes mellitus, as a modifiable risk factor, significantly contributes to atherogenesis. Monocyte recruitment to the intima is a critical step in atherosclerotic plaque formation, involving chemokines and adhesion molecules such as selectins, ICAM-1, and MCP-1.

Influence of Dulaglutide on Serum Biomarkers of Atherosclerotic Plaque Instability: An Interventional Analysis of Cytokine Profiles in Diabetic Subjects-A Pilot Study.

: The rise in global diabetes cases, reaching a staggering 529 million in 2021 from 108 million in 1980, underscores the urgency of addressing its complications, notably macrovascular ones like coronary artery, cerebrovascular, and peripheral artery diseases, which contribute to over 50% of diabetes mortality. Atherosclerosis, linked to hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction, is pivotal in cardiovascular disease development. Cytokines, including pentraxin 3 (PTX3), copeptin, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), influence atherosclerosis progression and plaque vulnerability.

Effect of tofacitinib on the phenotype and activity of Caco‑2 cells in a model of inflammatory bowel disease.

Reports have indicated that autoimmune bowel disorders affect an increasing number of people on every continent; therefore, it is important to better understand inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to explore new treatment options for patients suffering from it. Research has indicated the important role of enterocytes in IBD. Understanding the role of the intestinal epithelium in the pathogenesis of IBD may contribute to a better understanding of the inflammatory processes and aid in the identification of potential therapeutic treatments.

The impact of wound-healing assay, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation and siRNA-mediated FURIN gene silencing on endogenous retroviral ERVW-1 expression level in U87-MG astrocytoma cells.

Purpose: Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are ubiquitous genomic sequences. Normally dormant HERVs, undergo reactivation by environmental factors. This deregulation of HERVs' transcriptional equilibrium correlates with medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

Impact of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists on Biochemical Markers of the Initiation of Atherosclerotic Process.

Atherosclerosis stands out as one of the leading causes of global mortality. The inflammatory response against vascular wall components plays a pivotal role in the atherogenic process. The initiation of this process is notably driven by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and a range of pro-inflammatory cytokines, with interleukin-1β (Il-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) emerging as particularly significant in the early stages of atherosclerotic plaque formation.

The Application of Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNA) in the Inhibition of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin 9 () Gene Expression in a Cell-Free Transcription/Translation System.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) is a protein that plays a key role in the metabolism of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The gain-of-function mutations of the gene lead to a reduced number of surface LDL receptors by binding to them, eventually leading to endosomal degradation. This, in turn, is the culprit of hypercholesterolemia, resulting in accelerated atherogenesis.

The Current and Promising Oral Delivery Methods for Protein- and Peptide-Based Drugs.

Drugs based on peptides and proteins (PPs) have been widely used in medicine, beginning with insulin therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus over a century ago. Although the oral route of drug administration is the preferred one by the vast majority of patients and improves compliance, medications of this kind due to their specific chemical structure are typically delivered parenterally, which ensures optimal bioavailability. In order to overcome issues connected with oral absorption of PPs such as their instability depending on digestive enzymes and pH changes in the gastrointestinal (GI) system on the one hand, but also their limited permeability across physiological barriers (mucus and epithelium) on the other hand, scientists have been strenuously searching for novel delivery methods enabling peptide and protein drugs (PPDs) to be administered enterally.

Impact of metformin on hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis activity in women with autoimmune and non-autoimmune subclinical hypothyroidism: a pilot study.

Background: Metformin reduces plasma TSH levels if these levels are elevated. No study has investigated whether the hormonal effects of metformin are impacted by thyroid autoimmunity. The current study aimed to compare the effect of metformin on hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis activity between subjects with mild hypothyroidism of different origins.

Potential Therapeutic Strategies in the Treatment of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease.

Metabolic-associated Fatty Liver Disease is one of the outstanding challenges in gastroenterology. The increasing incidence of the disease is undoubtedly connected with the ongoing obesity pandemic. The lack of specific symptoms in the early phases and the grave complications of the disease require an active approach to prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Does Therapy with Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists Have an Effect on Biochemical Markers of Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)? Pleiotropic Metabolic Effect of Novel Antidiabetic Drugs in Patients with Diabetes-Interventional Study.

Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is associated with the excessive collection of lipids in hepatocytes. Over 75% of diabetes patients typically have MASLD, and, at the same time, the presence of MASLD increases the risk of diabetes by more than two times. Type 2 diabetes and MASLD are independent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

Impaired Prolactin-Lowering Effects of Metformin in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

The effect of metformin on prolactin concentration seems to be sex-dependent. The aim of this study was to determine whether the androgen status modulates the impact of metformin on plasma prolactin levels in women. This study included two matched groups of prediabetic women with hyperprolactinemia: 25 with PCOS and 25 control subjects with androgen levels within the reference range and with normal ovarian morphology.

Lethargic patient with hepatocirrhosis - more than meets the eye.

Not required for Clinical Vignette.

The Effect of PCSK9 Inhibition on the Stabilization of Atherosclerotic Plaque Determined by Biochemical and Diagnostic Imaging Methods.

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial, progressive, chronic inflammatory disease. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are the most accurate predictors of atherosclerotic plaque instability (MRI). Cytokines such as osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, and metalloproteinase 9 could be used as the most recent markers to identify and track the efficacy of anti-atherosclerotic therapy.

The Impact of Atorvastatin on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Sisters of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent endocrinopathy in young women with significantly increased cardiometabolic risk. Siblings of women with this disorder are at increased risk of insulin resistance and androgen excess. The current study was aimed at investigating cardiometabolic effects of atorvastatin in sisters of women with PCOS.

Impaired Gonadotropin-Lowering Effects of Metformin in Postmenopausal Women with Autoimmune Thyroiditis: A Pilot Study.

Metformin has been found to reduce elevated gonadotropin levels. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common thyroid disorder in iodine-sufficient areas, and it often develops in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate whether autoimmune thyroiditis determines the impact of metformin on gonadotrope secretory function.

Sexual Function and Depressive Symptoms in Young Women with Euthyroid Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Receiving Vitamin D, Selenomethionine and Myo-Inositol: A Pilot Study.

Thyroid autoimmunity is associated with an increased risk of sexual dysfunction. The aim of this study was to compare sexual functioning and depressive symptoms in women with Hashimoto's thyroiditis receiving different treatments. The study included euthyroid women with autoimmune thyroiditis, untreated or receiving vitamin D, selenomethionine, or myo-inositol.