Pasture vs. Coop: Biomarker Insights into Free-Range and Conventional Broilers.

Identifying blood components influenced by rearing systems that serve as biomarkers to distinguish free-range from conventional broilers can improve animal health, welfare, and productivity. The current study aimed to evaluate specific blood parameters related to immune function and tissue stress, as biomarkers to differentiate free-range, slow-growing Sasso broilers from conventionally raised fast-growing Ross 308 broilers. For this purpose, serum IgM Natural Antibodies (NAbs) targeting actin and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as key immunological parameters of natural immunity, along with creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and other significant stress and tissue-related biochemical parameters, were measured in a total of 300 broilers (150 per group) raised under industrial scale rearing systems, by standard methodology.

Differential Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Platelet Inhibition by Antiplatelet Drugs In Vitro.

The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) exert multiple cardioprotective effects, influencing inflammation, platelet activation, endothelial function and lipid metabolism, besides their well-established triglyceride lowering properties. It is not uncommon for omega-3 PUFAs to be prescribed for hypertriglyceridemia, alongside antiplatelet therapy in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. In this regard, we studied the effect of EPA and DHA, in combination with antiplatelet drugs, in platelet aggregation and P-selectin and αβ membrane expression.

Effects of Serum Estradiol on Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Levels and Lipid Profiles in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization.

Background: The mechanisms underlying the impact of estradiol (E2) on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are not completely understood, although a role for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has been proposed. We aimed to investigate the association between levels of E2, PCSK9, and lipid parameters in premenopausal women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods: Healthy women undergoing IVF in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University General Hospital of Ioannina were recruited.

Antibodies against oxidized LDL and atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biological agents: a prospective controlled study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation among atherosclerosis, antibodies against oxidized LDL (anti-oxLDL), and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with biological (b) disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Methods: Fifty-nine patients who were receiving conventional synthetic DMARDs and were eligible for treatment with a biological agent were included in the study. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and IgG antibodies against oxidized LDL (anti-oxLDL) as well as carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) were determined before and after 6 months of treatment.

Levels of Circulating IgM and IgY Natural Antibodies in Broiler Chicks: Association with Genotype and Farming Systems.

Naturally occurring antibodies (NAbs), which are major components of innate immunity, exist in circulation under healthy conditions without prior antigenic stimulation and are able to recognize both self- and non-self-constituents. The present study aimed at identifying potential immunological differences between commercial fast- and slow-growth broilers ( = 555) raised in conventional and free-range systems, respectively, through the use of the specificity, isotypes and levels of circulating NAbs. The possible beneficial effect of oregano-based dietary supplementation was also evaluated.

Oxidized phospholipids and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A (Lp-PLA ) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: An update.

Inflammation and oxidative stress conditions lead to a variety of oxidative modifications of lipoprotein phospholipids implicated in the occurrence and development of atherosclerotic lesions. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA ) is established as an independent risk biomarker of atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and mediates vascular inflammation through the regulation of lipid metabolism in the blood and in atherosclerotic lesions. Lp-PLA is associated with low- and high-density lipoproteins and Lipoprotein (a) in human plasma and specifically hydrolyzes oxidized phospholipids involved in oxidative stress modification.

PCSK9 is minimally associated with HDL but impairs the anti-atherosclerotic HDL effects on endothelial cell activation.

Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) regulates the cell-surface localization of LDL receptors in hepatocytes and is associated with LDL and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] uptake, reducing blood concentrations. However, the connection between PCSK9 and HDL is unclear. Here, we investigated the association of plasma PCSK9 with HDL subpopulations and examined the effects of PCSK9 on the atheroprotective function of HDL.

Plasma VEGF and Leptin Values in Patients With Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia and Metabolic Syndrome.

Intestinal metaplasia of the stomach (IM) is considered a pre-cancerous lesion and is a potential precursor to adenocarcinoma. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been associated with lesions to the gastrointestinal tract such as the risk of developing Barett esophagus. Vascular endothelial growth factor and leptin have been associated with either gastrointestinal tract carcinogenesis or MetS.

Association between PCSK9 Levels and Markers of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Endothelial Dysfunction in a Population of Nondialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) plays an important role in lipid metabolism while available literature regarding its involvement in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and in the expression of genes associated with apoptosis and inflammation is constantly increasing. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience disproportionately increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality due to dyslipidemia, accelerated atherosclerosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and other risk factors. In the present cross-sectional study, we investigated the possible association of serum PCSK9 levels with markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial damage in patients with CKD.

Urine 8-Hydroxyguanine (8-OHG) in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Colorectal Cancer.

Purpose: Cellular RNA is less compact than DNA, more easily accessible to ROS and therefore could be more susceptible to oxidative damage. This study was conceived in order to analyze the RNA oxidative damage in the urine of patients undergoing operation for colorectal cancer (CRC), to compare with healthy controls, and correlate with the stage.

Materials And Methods: The study population was constituted by a group of 147 patients and a group of 128 healthy controls.

Vitamin D status and cardiometabolic risk factors in Greek adolescents with obesity - the effect of vitamin D supplementation: a pilot study.

Introduction: Obesity is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as well as decreased 25(OH) vitamin D serum levels. We aimed to study 25(OH) vitamin D levels in adolescents with obesity compared with normal weight controls in association with CVD risk factors, and the possible effect of vitamin D supplementation.

Material And Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 69 obese and 34 normal-weight adolescents were included.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy for speech protocols: characterization of motion artifacts and guidelines for improving data analysis.

Monitoring speech tasks with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) enables investigation of speech production mechanisms and informs treatment strategies for speech-related disorders such as stuttering. Unfortunately, due to movement of the temporalis muscle, speech production can induce relative movement between probe optodes and skin. These movements generate motion artifacts during speech tasks.

Vernonia polysphaera Baker: Anti-inflammatory activity in vivo and inhibitory effect in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

Species of the Vernonia genius are widely distributed across the world. In traditional communities, they are commonly used in popular medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of Vernonia polysphaera Baker hydroalcoholic extract.

Acoustic and Aerodynamic Comparisons of Voice Qualities Produced After Voice Training.

Characteristics of true vocal fold vibration such as the proportion of closed phase of vibration to open phase, longitudinal tension, and the amount of medial compression are used to define four conditions during Estill Voice Training. However, it is unknown whether trainees achieve these phonatory differences after training. Acoustic and aerodynamic measures were used to determine differences in Slack, Thick, Thin, and Stiff conditions.

Effect of combined vitamin D administration plus dietary intervention on oxidative stress markers in patients with metabolic syndrome: A pilot randomized study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients can have low 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)VitD levels, which may be associated with increased oxidative stress. There is little data on the effect of 25(OH)VitD administration plus dietary intervention on oxidative stress markers in these patients.

Aim: To study the effect of 25(OH)VitD administration plus dietary intervention on oxidative stress markers in MetS patients.

Pharmacology of PCSK9 Inhibitors: Current Status and Future Perspectives.

Protein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a serine protease primarily expressed in the liver, which represents the main source of the plasma enzyme. The best characterized function of PCSK9 relates to the binding to Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor (LDL-R) in hepatocytes, increasing its endosomal and lysosomal degradation. This results in the inhibition of LDL-R recycling to the cell surface and therefore the reduction of the hepatic uptake of LDL, leading to the increase in plasma levels of LDL-cholesterol, a major risk factor of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD).

Autoantibodies to ox-LDL in Sjögren's syndrome: are they atheroprotective?

Objectives: The higher incidence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases cannot be attributed exclusively to traditional risk factors for CVD. Antibodies to oxidised Low Density Lipoprotein (ox-LDL) seem to have a crucial role in atherogenesis.

Methods: Sera from 63 consecutive patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), 121 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 79 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 26 apparently healthy individuals were evaluated for the presence of antibodies to ox-LDL by ELISA.

Effects of increased body weight and short-term weight loss on serum PCSK9 levels - a prospective pilot study.

Introduction: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is associated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) catabolism, but its serum concentration is not uniformly associated with cardiovascular disease in clinical studies. Obesity is linked with increased cardiovascular risk, but the effect of increased body weight and short-term weight loss on serum PCSK9 levels is not well studied.

Material And Methods: The aim of this prospective pilot study was to assess differences in serum PCSK9 levels (determined with a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay) between otherwise healthy drug-naïve obese subjects and healthy individuals with normal body weight.

Pleiotropic effects of apolipoprotein C3 on HDL functionality and adipose tissue metabolic activity.

APOC3 is produced mainly by the liver and intestine and approximately half of plasma APOC3 associates with HDL. Though it was believed that APOC3 associates with HDL by simple binding to preexisting particles, recent data support that biogenesis of APOC3-containing HDL (APOC3-HDL) requires Abca1. Moreover, APOC3-HDL contributes to plasma triglyceride homeostasis by preventing APOC3 association with triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.

Hypertrophic Mesenteric Adipose Tissue May Play a Role in Atherogenesis in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background: Adipokines released by the adipose tissue are known to play a role in atherogenesis. The hypertrophic mesenteric fat in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) also produces adipokines that are considered to play a role in intestinal inflammation. Whether they also contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in IBD is unknown.

The relationship between retinol-binding protein 4 and apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins is attenuated in patients with very high serum triglycerides: A pilot study.

Objective: The investigation of the association between retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and lipoproteins in subjects with hypertriglyceridemia.

Design: Forty-six obese or overweight hypertriglyceridemic patients were studied at baseline and 20 of them underwent a hypocaloric low-fat diet for 3 months.

Results: Plasma RBP4 levels were positively correlated with serum triglycerides (TG) in the subgroup of patients with TG <200 mg/dL (r=0.

Amyloid-beta (1-40) and the risk of death from cardiovascular causes in patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: The amyloid beta peptide is the major protein constituent of neuritic plaques in Alzheimer disease and appears to play a central role in vascular inflammation pathophysiology.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the clinical value of amyloid-beta 1-40 (Abeta40) measurement in predicting cardiovascular (CV) mortality in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and arterial stiffness progression in young healthy subjects.

Methods: Abeta40 was retrospectively measured in blood samples collected from 3 independent prospective cohorts and 2 case-control cohorts (total N = 1,464).

Differential membrane expression of Toll-like receptors and intracellular cytokine induction in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with chronic kidney disease and diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key players in the innate immune system whose activation leads to an inflammatory response. Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus. The aim of our study was to assess the proinflammatory state of nondialysis CKD patients by evaluating the membrane expression of TLR2 and TLR4 and the intracellular IL-1β and IL-6 production in response to the ligand Pam3Cys-Ser-(Lys)4 (Pam3CSK4).

Oxidative stress in multi-port and single-port cholecystectomy.

Background: This study was designed to analyze and compare plasma levels of 8-isoprostane (8-epiPGF2α), a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, and uric acid (UA), a marker of the antioxidant status, in standard laparoscopic (LC) and laparoendoscopic single-site cholecystectomy (LSSC).

Materials And Methods: Forty patients with noncomplicated cholelithiasis were randomized to undergo either LSSC (n = 20) or LC (n = 20). The patients had body mass index <30, American Society of Anesthesiologists score I or II, and no previous upper gastrointestinal surgery.