Publications by authors named "W M Pandak"
StarD5 is an ER stress protein that binds cholesterol and transfers it to the plasma membrane. It additionally binds and regulates 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) levels. However the full function of the StarD5-25-HC axis is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStarD5 levels of expression correlate with onset and progression of steatosis and liver fibrosis.
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol
June 2024
Insufficient expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory-related lipid transfer protein 5 (StarD5) on liver cholesterol/lipid homeostasis is not clearly defined. The ablation of StarD5 was analyzed in mice on a normal or Western diet (WD) to determine its importance in hepatic lipid accumulation and fibrosis compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Rescue experiments in mice and hepatocytes were performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCholestenoic acid as endogenous epigenetic regulator decreases hepatocyte lipid accumulation in vitro and in vivo.
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol
February 2024
Cholestenoic acid (CA) has been reported as an important biomarker of many severe diseases, but its physiological and pathological roles remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of CA in hepatic lipid homeostasis. Enzyme kinetic studies revealed that CA specifically activates DNA methyltransferases 1 (DNMT1) at low concentration with EC = 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBaseline Features and Reasons for Nonparticipation in the Colonoscopy Versus Fecal Immunochemical Test in Reducing Mortality From Colorectal Cancer (CONFIRM) Study, a Colorectal Cancer Screening Trial.
JAMA Netw Open
July 2023
Article Synopsis
- The CONFIRM trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of annual fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) versus colonoscopies in reducing colorectal cancer mortality, enrolling over 50,000 veterans between May 2012 and December 2017.
- The study analyzed participant demographics and examined reasons for those who chose not to participate, highlighting a mix of preferences for either colonoscopy or stool tests based on geographic and temporal factors.
- Among the 50,126 participants recruited, there was a diverse representation, and the study also noted that 11,109 eligible individuals opted out of participation for various reasons, with insights gathered via case report forms.
Article Synopsis
- - The increasing occurrence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is pushing for deeper insights into how fatty liver progresses to more severe forms like steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis, particularly focusing on the role of insulin resistance (IR) in this transition.
- - Recent research highlights that faulty insulin signaling in liver cells (hepatocytes) leads to toxic build-up of specific cholesterol metabolites, which contribute to liver inflammation and fibrosis.
- - The study presents a "two-hit" model where the first hit is abnormal insulin signaling due to IR, and the second hit is the accumulation of harmful cholesterol metabolites, ultimately driving the progression from simple fatty liver (NAFL) to more serious liver