Publications by authors named "Shaish A"

Given the health benefits of carotenoids, it is crucial to evaluate their levels in patients undergoing malabsorptive procedures like one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). This study aimed to assess serum carotenoid levels before and 6 months following OAGB. Prospectively collected data from patients who underwent primary OAGB were analyzed.

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Carotenoids are common and diverse organic compounds with various functional roles in animals. Except for certain aphids, mites, and gall midges, all animals only acquire necessary carotenoids through their diet. The house fly () is a cosmopolitan pest insect that populates diverse habitats.

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A significant progressive decline in beta-carotene (βC) levels in the brain is associated with cognitive impairment and a higher prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we investigated whether the administration of 9-cis beta-carotene (9CBC)-rich powder of the alga Dunaliella bardawil, the best-known source of βC in nature, inhibits the development of AD-like neuropathology and cognitive deficits. We demonstrated that in 3 AD mouse models, Tg2576, 5xFAD, and apoE4, 9CBC treatment improved long- and short-term memory, decreased neuroinflammation, and reduced the prevalence of β-amyloid plaques and tau hyperphosphorylation.

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The present study aimed to investigate the application of the ohmic heating (OH) technique in the production of date syrup from the date fruit of the Sukkary variety at different electric field strengths (EFS) (9, 10, and 11 V/cm). The results were compared to the conventional heating method (CH). The response surface methodology was used to optimize yield.

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The pathophysiology of atherosclerosis initiation and progression involves many inflammatory cytokines, one of them is interleukin (IL)-1α that has been shown to be secreted by activated macrophages. We have previously shown that IL-1α from bone marrow-derived cells is critical for early atherosclerosis development in mice. It is known that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in macrophages is involved in progression to more advanced atherosclerosis, but it is still unknown whether this effect is mediated through cytokine activation or secretion.

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Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare lipid storage disease, caused by deficiency of sterol-27-hydroxylase. Xanthomatous lesions in numerous tissues, and an elevation of cholestanol levels, characterize the disease. Its natural course is progressive neurologic deterioration, leading to premature death.

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The present study examined the effects of maternal perinatal dietary ALA enrichment on the high fat diet (HFD)-induced lipid disarray in the adult offspring of low density lipoprotein receptor knock-out (LDLRKO) mice. Female LDLRKO mice received, during pregnancy and lactation, isocaloric diets with either corn oil, RD, or flax oil, ALA. The weaning offspring was given a regular chow diet for a washout period of eight weeks, which was followed by HFD for eight weeks.

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Vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids are involved in the regulation of adipose tissue metabolism and inflammation. We examined the effect of dietary supplementation using all-trans and 9-cis β-carotene-rich alga as the sole source of vitamin A on obesity-associated comorbidities and adipose tissue dysfunction in a diet-induced obesity mouse model. Three-week-old male mice (C57BL/6) were randomly allocated into two groups and fed a high-fat, vitamin A-deficient diet supplemented with either vitamin A (HFD) or β-carotene (BC) (HFD-BC).

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Maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is required during pregnancy to supply for normal fetal growth and development. This pilot study aimed to assess the unknown fatty acid (FA) composition in a cohort of non-pregnant and pregnant Israeli women at term and their offspring on a normal diet without n-3 FA supplementation. The fatty acid profile, analyzed using gas chromatography, showed significantly higher plasma monounsaturated (MUFA) and lower n-6 FA percent distribution with similar n-3 index, in pregnant compared to non-pregnant women.

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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is critical for normal brain development and function. DHA is in danger of being significantly reduced in the human food supply, and the question of whether its metabolic precursor, the essential n-3 alpha linolenic acid (ALA) during pregnancy, can support fetal brain DHA levels for optimal neurodevelopment, is fundamental. Female mice were fed either ALA-enriched or Control diet during pregnancy and lactation.

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Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major health problem, especially in developing countries. In this study, we investigated the effect of VAD from weaning to adulthood in apoE-/- mice. Three-week-old male mice were allocated into four diet groups: I.

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Background And Aims: Mediterranean diet has been associated with decreased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Both fish and olive oil are key components of this diet. Therefore, we compared their effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and atherogenesis in a mouse model, fed a high fat diet.

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Purpose: Lipoxygenases (LOX) have been implicated in carcinogenesis, however both pro- and anti-carcinogenic effects have been reported in different cancer models. Using transgenic mice, which specifically overexpress human 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15) in endothelial cells (EC), we previously demonstrated significant inhibition of tumor development. In the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) model, the primary tumor developed similarly in both wild type (WT) and ALOX15 overexpressing mice.

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Introduction: The tight regulation of the cytokine network during macrophage activation is of prime importance to enable a fast and potent innate immune response against exogenous pathogens. The inflammation mediating ubiquitin-like protein HLA-F adjacent transcript number 10 (FAT10) was shown to be transcriptionally regulated by and also regulate the nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) signaling pathway. However, very little is known about the regulation of FAT10 gene expression during macrophage activation.

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Objective: While extensive research revealed that interleukin (IL)-1β contributes to insulin resistance (IR) development, the role of IL-1α in obesity and IR was scarcely studied. Using control, whole body IL-1α knockout (KO) or myeloid-cell-specific IL-1α-deficient mice, we tested the hypothesis that IL-1α deficiency would protect against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and its metabolic consequences.

Research Design And Methods: To induce obesity and IR, control and IL-1α KO mice were given either chow or HFD for 16 weeks.

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Background: Low tissue concentrations of carotenoids have been suggested to contribute to insulin resistance in obesity.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to 1) evaluate the relations of adipose tissue and serum carotenoids with body fat, abdominal fat distribution, muscle, adipose tissue and liver insulin resistance, and dietary intake; 2) evaluate the relations and distributions of carotenoids detected in adipose tissue and serum; and 3) compare serum carotenoids and retinol concentrations in subjects with and without obesity.

Methods: Post hoc analysis of serum and adipose tissue carotenoids in individuals [n = 80; 31 men, 49 women; age (mean ± SEM): 51.

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Atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Western societies. These diseases share common risk factors, which are exhibited in old age, including hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and apolipoprotein (Apo) ε4 allele. We previously demonstrated that factor XI (FXI) deficiency in mice reduced the atherosclerotic plaque area in coronary sinuses and the aortic arch.

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Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is a pivotal regulator of ovarian response to hormonal stimulation. Inflammatory conditions have been linked to lower FSHR expression in granulosa cells (GCs) as well as an attenuated response to hormonal stimulation. The current study aimed to reveal if deficiency and/or blockage of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1-alpha (IL1A) increased Fshr expression in rodent GCs.

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Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4), the leading genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), is less lipidated compared to the most common and AD-benign allele, apoE3. We have recently shown that i.p.

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Cholesterol efflux from macrophages is a key process in reverse cholesterol transport and, therefore, might inhibit atherogenesis. 9-cis-β-carotene (9-cis-βc) is a precursor for 9-cis-retinoic-acid (9-cis-RA), which regulates macrophage cholesterol efflux. Our objective was to assess whether 9-cis-βc increases macrophage cholesterol efflux and induces the expression of cholesterol transporters.

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Hypertension, advanced age, postprandial hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance are major risk factors for atherosclerosis. The calcium channel blocker nifedipine is reported to ameliorate insulin resistance possibly by activating PPARγ. This is expected to become accentuated in elderly individuals due to age-related insulin resistance.

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Objective: Atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis are still major causes of mortality in the Western world, even after the widespread use of cholesterol-lowering medications. Recently, an association between local thrombin generation and atherosclerotic burden has been reported. Here, we studied the role of factor XI (FXI) deficiency in the process of atherosclerosis in mice.

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Background: The lymphatic system is responsible for the absorption of fats from the digestive system, conveying 60-70 % of ingested fat to the blood stream. From the anatomical point of view, all the lymphatic drainage from the lower half of the body converges in the abdomen to enter the thoracic duct. This experimental study aim was to study the result of thoracic duct narrowing (TDN), an innovative surgical technique, on weight gain restrain in high-fat diet-fed rats.

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Background & Aims: ER stress promotes liver fat accumulation and induction of inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to the development of steatohepatitis. Unresolved ER stress upregulates the pro-apoptotic CHOP. IL-1α is localized to the nucleus in apoptotic cells, but is released when these cells become necrotic and induce sterile inflammation.

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Klotho is a transmembrane protein, expressed mainly in the kidneys and the choroid plexus. The extracellular domain of klotho is composed of 2 internal repeats, KL1 and KL2, which can be cleaved and act as hormones. Klotho-deficient mice develop a phenotype resembling human aging.

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