Low serum cholesterol level as a risk factor for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a case-control study

Objective We aimed to identify the association between low serum total cholesterol levels and the risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).Methods This case-control study was performed using datasets from the Cardiac Arrest Pursuit Trial with Unique Registration and Epidemiologic Surveillance (CAPTURES) project and the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Cases were defined as emergency medical service-treated adult patients who experienced OHCA with a presumed cardiac etiology from the CAPTURES project dataset. Four controls from the KNHANES dataset were matched to each case based on age, sex, and county. Multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of total cholesterol levels on OHCA.Results A total of 607 matched case-control pairs were analyzed. We classified total cholesterol levels into six categories (<148, 148-166.9, 167-189.9, 190-215.9, 216.237.9, and ≥238 mg/dL) according to the distribution of total cholesterol levels in the KNHANES dataset. Subjects with a total cholesterol level of 167-189.9 mg/dL (25th.49th percentile of the KNHANES dataset) were used as the reference group. In both the adjusted models and sensitivity analysis, a total cholesterol level of <148 mg/dL was significantly associated with OHCA (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 6.53 [4.47.9.56]).Conclusion We identified an association between very-low total cholesterol levels and an increased risk of OHCA in a large, community-based population. Future prospective studies are needed to better understand how a low lipid profile is associated with OHCA.

The Concentrations of Cholesterol and Reproduction Hormones in Serum of Rabbits Doe That Consumed Moringa oleifera Leaf Extracts

This study was conducted to examine the effect of various kinds of Moringa leaf extracts on cholesterol, estradiol, FSH, LH levels and litter size in rabbit does. The extracts used were hexane fraction extract (HeEF), ethanol fraction extract (EtEF) and ethanol rough extract (EtCE) from moringa leaf flour. Seven treatments were administered including extracts in pellets at a dose of 0, 0.13% HeEF, 0.26% HeEF, 0.37 EtEF, 0.74% EtEF, 0.54% EtCE and 1.08% EtCE. Each treatment was reduplicated on 4 rabbits. Cholesterol levels, estradiol, LH and FSH blood serum, mating readiness and litter size were measured, which results showed that the treatment significantly (P <5%) lowered the cholesterol level and increased the estradiol level in blood serum. On the other hand, the treatment had no significant effect on FSH, LH and litter size levels except at LH levels 2 hours after mating.

An Update on New Cholesterol Inhibitor: Bempedoic Acid

: An increase in the level of cholesterol day by day is easily seen in most people just because of poor life style, food with high cholesterol, lack of physical work, etc. There are lots of molecules available, which lower down the cholesterol level. In this field a new molecule has been introduced that is bimpedoic acid. Researches indicate that bempedoic acid has the same mechanism of action as statins, which means that it also inhibits the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme. This letter to the editor is my best collection of published scientific data on bempedoic acid till now. It also includes the chemistry, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters of the mentioned new molecule.

ABCA1 causes an asymmetric cholesterol distribution to regulate intracellular cholesterol homeostasis

Cholesterol is a major and essential component of the mammalian cell plasma membrane (PM) and the loss of cholesterol homeostasis leads to various pathologies. Cellular cholesterol uptake and synthesis are regulated by a cholesterol sensor in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, it remains unclear how the PM cholesterol level is sensed. Here we show that the sensing depends on ATP-binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) and Aster-A, which cooperatively maintain the asymmetric transbilayer cholesterol distribution in the PM. ABCA1 translocates (flops) cholesterol from the inner to the outer leaflet of the PM to maintain a low inner cholesterol level. When the inner cholesterol level exceeds a threshold, Aster-A is recruited to the PM-ER contact site to transfer cholesterol to the ER. These results show unknown synergy between ABCA1 and Aster-A in intracellular cholesterol homeostasis.

CORRELATION OF SERUM CHOLESTEROL AND BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN POST MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Background: To find a correlation between serum cholesterol and Bone mineral density in post menopausal women Methods: The study was carried on matched cases and controls. The experimental group consisted of 100 females at postmenopausal age, in which by the DEXA method was diagnosed osteoporosis while the control group consisted of 50 females in a postmenopausal age but without diagnosed osteoporosis who served as controls. Results: Postmenopausal women in the BMI range 18.5 to 25 (normal)were only included in the study. Others were excluded from the study to avoid confounding factors. The mean BMI in women with osteoporosis was 22.13±1.76 and in Group-II was 21.26±2.06. The results were statistically insignificant. Analyzing the average values of serum cholesterol in our study,we found that the mean cholesterol level in group-I was 210.32 ±34.21 mg/dl and 183.21 ±56.32 mg/dl in group-II. The mean cholesterol level was significantly higher in women with osteoporosis. Conclusion: On the decrease in bone mineral density and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women influence many risk factors. Preventive strategies for development of osteoporosis should be initiated in women with elevated serum cholesterol levels. Keywords: Osteoporosis, Menopause, Lipid Profile, BMI.

DPP4 Regulates DHCR24-Mediated Cholesterol Biosynthesis to Promote Methotrexate Resistance in Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplastic Cells

Metabolic reprogramming could promote cellular adaptation in response to chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer cells. Herein, we aimed to characterize the metabolomic profiles regulated by Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 (DPP4) in methotrexate (MTX)-resistant gestational trophoblastic neoplastic (GTN) cells. A total of eighty metabolites were found to be commonly altered in DPP4-depleted JAR/MTX and JEG3/MTX cells. Cholesterol biosynthesis-related metabolites were markedly impacted by DPP4 knockdown in MTX-resistant sublines. Manipulation of DPP4 expression remarkably affected the level of cellular cholesterol in GTN cells. Our analysis also identified 24-Dehydrocholesterol Reductase (DHCR24) as a potential downstream effector of DPP4. Manipulation of DHCR24 expression affected cellular cholesterol level, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and chemosensitivity to MTX in GTN cell models. In addition, over-expression of DHCR24 could markedly restore cellular cholesterol level and rescue cell survival in DPP4-depleted MTX-resistant GTN cells. Highly correlated expression of DPP4 and DHCR24 was observed in clinical GTN specimens. Further, DPP4 inhibitor sitagliptin effectively inhibited cholesterol biosynthesis, reduced DHCR24 expression and enhanced MTX-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our findings suggested that DPP4 might regulate DHCR24-mediated cholesterol biosynthesis to promote methotrexate resistance in GTN cells. Targeting DPP4/DHCR24 signaling might help to sensitize MTX-resistant GTN to MTX treatment.

Effects of Ephedrine-Containing Products on Weight Loss and Lipid Profiles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Ephedrine, the main active ingredient of mahuang, may lead to weight loss; however, it can also induce cardiovascular side effects. As ephedrine use remains controversial, this study aimed to systematically review previous studies on ephedrine-containing products and perform meta-analysis of the existing evidence on weight, blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and lipid change effects of ephedrine-containing products. We searched for placebo-controlled randomized studies in PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE until July 2021 using the following search terms: (ephedr* OR mahuang) AND (“weight loss” OR obes* OR overweight). Mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the effects of ephedrine-containing products on weight, BP, heart rate, and lipid profiles. A total of 10 articles were included. Compared with the placebo group, the ephedrine-containing product group was associated with greater weight loss, with an MD of −1.97 kg (95% CI: −2.38, −1.57). In the ephedrine-containing product group, the mean heart rate was 5.76 beats/min higher than in the placebo group (95% CI: 3.42, 8.10), whereas intergroup differences in systolic and diastolic BP were not statistically significant. The ephedrine-containing product group had a significantly higher mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (MD: 2.74 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.94, 4.55), lower mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (MD: −5.98 mg/dL; 95% CI: −10.97, −0.99), and lower mean triglyceride level (MD: −11.25 mg/dL; 95% CI: −21.83, −0.68) than the placebo group. Compared with placebo, the ephedrine-containing products showed better effects on weight loss and lipid profiles, whereas they caused increased heart rate. The ephedrine-containing products may be beneficial to obese or overweight patients; however, close monitoring is needed, especially heart rate monitoring.