Policosanol Attenuates Statin-Induced Increases in Serum Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 When Combined with Atorvastatin

Objective. Statin treatment alone has been demonstrated to significantly increase plasma proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels. The effect of policosanol combined with statin on PCSK9 is unknown.Methods. Protocol I: 26 patients with atherosclerosis were randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin 20 mg/d or policosanol 20 mg/d + atorvastatin 20 mg/d for 8 weeks. Protocol II: 15 healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to either policosanol 20 mg/d or a control group for 12 weeks. Serum levels of PCSK9 were determined at day 0 and the end of each protocol.Results. Protocol I: atorvastatin 20 mg/d significantly increased serum PCSK9 level by 39.4% (256 ± 84 ng/mL versus 357 ± 101 ng/mL,P=0.002). However, policosanol 20 mg/d + atorvastatin 20 mg/d increased serum PCSK9 level by only 17.4% without statistical significance (264 ± 60 ng/mL versus 310 ± 86 ng/mL,P=0.184). Protocol II: there was a trend toward decreasing serum PCSK9 levels in the policosanol group (289 ± 71 ng/mL versus 235 ± 46 ng/mL,P=0.069).Conclusion. Policosanol combined with statin attenuated the statin-induced increase in serum PCSK9 levels. This finding indicates that policosanol might have a modest effect of lowering serum PCSK9 levels.

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Effect of Red Wine Intake on Serum and Salivary Melatonin Levels: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules23102474 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (10) ◽

pp. 2474 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elena Varoni ◽

Rita Paroni ◽

Jacopo Antognetti ◽

Giovanni Lodi ◽

Andrea Sardella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Healthy Volunteers ◽

Red Wine ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Salivary Melatonin ◽

The One ◽

To Receive

Melatonin (MLT) is a recently discovered phytochemical in wine, but its influence on physiological MLT levels is still unknown. This study aimed at evaluating variations, in serum and saliva, of MLT concentrations after the intake of MLT-enriched red wine. Twelve healthy volunteers were recruited to receive 125 mL of red wine naturally lacking of MLT (placebo, PLC), or the same wine enriched with MLT (MLT+). A physiological steady decline of serum MLT was observed from baseline up to 90 min, for both wines. After PLC intake, the decrease was significantly faster than the one occurring after MLT+ wine, which thus delayed the drop down of serum MLT with a plateau at 30–60 min. Salivary MLT levels slightly peaked at 45 min after MLT+ wine intake, without statistical significance. Therefore, the intake of a glass of MLT-enriched red wine changed serum levels of the indoleamine, supporting the role of wine MLT in counteracting the physiological decline of the hormone into the bloodstream.

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The role of peripheral type 2 innate lymphoid cells in bronchiolitis

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-82096-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yong-Jun Tang ◽

Li-Li Xie ◽

Xiang-Rong Zheng ◽

Chen-Tao Liu ◽

Xia Wang

Keyword(s):

Statistical Significance ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Innate Lymphoid Cells ◽

Lymphoid Cells ◽

Orphan Receptor ◽

Control Group ◽

Interleukin 5 ◽

Healthy Infants ◽

Significant Difference

AbstractOur aim was to detect type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s)-related cytokines of infants with bronchiolitis by using Elisa, Liquidchip technology and RT-PCR and investigated its correlation with bronchiolitis. We recruited 26 infants with bronchiolitis and 20 healthy infants as control from Xiangya Hospital. Compared to the control group, the serum levels of interleukin-5 (IL-5) [41.99 (21.11) vs 25.70 (19.64)], IL-9 [27.04 (37.51) vs 8.30 (0.54)], IL-13 [184.05 (132.81) vs 121.75 (176.13)], IL-33 [83.70 (46.69) vs 11.23 (55.31)] and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) [31.42 (5.41) vs 28.76 (2.56)] were significantly increased in infants with bronchiolitis (P < 0.05), while the level of IgE had no significant difference between the two groups [19.05 (14.15) vs 14.85 (20.2), P > 0.05]. The mRNA expression of IL-17RB (9.83 ± 0.35 vs 9.19 ± 0.58), TSLP (16.98 ± 2.12 vs 15.07 ± 2.25), retinoid acid receptor related orphan receptor α (7.18 ± 0.71 vs 5.46 ± 1.09) and trans-acting T-cell-specific transcription factor 3 (4.86 ± 0.66 vs 4.19 ± 0.90) were significantly increased in infants with bronchiolitis versus the control group (P < 0.05), while there was no statistical significance for suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (5.59 ± 0.68 vs 5.41 ± 0.87, P > 0.05). Our findings suggested that ILC2s possibly play a specific role in immunopathology of bronchiolitis.

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Abstract WP421: Pravastatin Can Reduce the Progression of Carotid Intima-media Complex Thickness: The Japan Statin Treatment Against Recurrent Stroke (J-STARS) Echo Study

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.wp421 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Masatoshi Koga ◽

Kazunori Toyoda ◽

Kazuo Minematsu ◽

Masahiro Yasaka ◽

Yoji Nagai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Recurrent Stroke ◽

Japanese Patients ◽

Statin Treatment ◽

Stroke Recurrence ◽

Control Group ◽

Open Label ◽

Usual Dose ◽

Reductase Inhibitors ◽

To Receive

Background and purpose: The preventive effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) on progression of carotid intima-media complex thickness (IMT) has been shown exclusively in non-stroke Western patients. The Japan Statin Treatment Against Recurrent Stroke (J-STARS) Echo Study aims to determine the effect of pravastatin on carotid IMT in Japanese patients with hyperlipidemia with noncardioembolic ischemic stroke. Methods: This is a substudy of the J-STARS, a multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint, parallel-group trial to examine whether pravastatin reduces stroke recurrence in patients with noncardioembolic stroke. The patients were randomized to receive pravastatin (10 mg daily, usual dose in Japan) (pravastatin group) or not to receive any statins (control group). Carotid ultrasonography was performed by well-trained certified examiners and the recorded data was measured centrally. The primary outcome was IMT change of the distal wall in a continuous 2-cm section on the central side of the common carotid artery bifurcation over 5 years of observation. The IMT change was compared using mixed models for repeated measures. Results: Of 1578 patients who were enrolled in the J-STARS, 864 were registered in this echo substudy. After excluding 71 without baseline ultrasonography, 793 (530 men, 66.4±8.3 years old) were analyzed. Of the 793 patients, 388 were randomly assigned to the pravastatin group and 405 to the control group. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different except baseline NIH Stroke Scale [median 0 (IQR 0-2) vs. 1 (0-2), p=0.019] between the two groups. The baseline IMT (mean±SD) was 0.887±0.155 mm in the pravastatin group and 0.887±0.152 mm in the control group (p=0.990). Each annual change of the IMT (mean±SD) over 5 years of observation was 0.011±0.085 mm, 0.023±0.114 mm, 0.017±0.114 mm, 0.018±0.118 mm and 0.021±0.116 mm in the pravastatin group and 0.008±0.074 mm (p=0.650), 0.020±0.087 mm (p=0.985), 0.017±0.097 mm (p=0.586), 0.030±0.113 mm (p=0.202) and 0.040±0.118 mm (p=0.018) in the control group. Conclusion: Japanese usual dose of pravastatin significantly reduced the progression of carotid mean IMT at 5 years in patients with noncardioembolic stroke.

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Abstract 2373: The Effects of Statin Therapy on MMP Families in Patients with Acute Heart Failure

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.118.suppl_18.s_712 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽

Author(s):

Akihiro Shirakabe ◽

Kunuya Asai ◽

Noritake Hata ◽

Shinya Yokoyama ◽

Koichi Akutsu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Cardiac Remodeling ◽

Patient Characteristics ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Statin Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Matrix Metalloprotease ◽

Atorvastatin Group ◽

Pharmacological Modification ◽

And Control

Introduction: It is known that increased matrix metalloprotease (MMP) accelerated cardiac remodeling in chronic heart failure (HF). Although roles of MMPs in acute HF have not been well clarified, we also found that MMPs increased in acute HF and decreased in the improvement of HF with conventional therapy. Pharmacological modification of MMPs may be beneficial for a treatment of acute HF. Therefore we assessed the hypothesis that a statin decreased MMPs in acute HF. Methods: Serum levels of MMP-2,-3, and -9 were measured on admission (Day 1), Day 3, and Day 14 in 38 acute HF patients. The patients were randomized to either atorvastatin group (n = 20) or control group (n = 18). Atorvastatin (10 –20mg per day) was started within 12 hours after their admission and continued for two weeks. There was no limitation in HF treatment and the treatment was not different between the two groups except atorvastatin. Patient characteristics including an etiology of HF and cardiac function were also not different between the groups. Results: There were no differences in serum levels of MMP-2, -3, and-9 on Day 1 between atorvastain group (1435.3 ± 292.6 ng/ml, 72.2 ± 40.4 ng/ml, 132.9 ± 85.5 ng/ml, respectively) and control group(1284.5 ± 399.6 ng/ml, 142.0 ± 139.7 ng/ml, 88.4 ± 51.2 ng/ml, respectively). MMP-2 significantly decreased in both atorvastatin and control group on Day 3 and Day 14. But, decreases of MMP-2 on Day 3 and Day 14 from Day 1 were significantly greater in atorvastatin group (− 581.3 ± 237.3 ng/ml and − 447.7 ± 228.3 ng/ml, respectively) than in control group (− 321.3 ± 257.8 ng/ml and − 275.0 ± 179.4 ng/ml, respectively). MMP-9 significantly decreased in atorvastatin group on Day 3 and Day 14 (132.9 ± 85.5 ng/ml on Day1, 71.4 ± 48.6 ng/ml on Day 3, 53.0 ± 28.5 ng/ml on Day 14; p < 0.05), but did not change significantly in control group. MMP-3 did not significantly change in both groups. Conclusion: MMP-2 decreased with conventional HF treatment, but MMP-3 and -9 did not. Interestingly, early start of statin treatment significantly decreased both MMP-2 and -9, but not MMP-3 in acute HF. This is the first report demonstrating the effects of statin on MMPs in acute HF.

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Assessment of Serum Concentrations of Adropin, Afamin, and Neudesin in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2019/6128410 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Agnieszka Polkowska ◽

Izabela Elżbieta Pasierowska ◽

Marta Pasławska ◽

Elżbieta Pawluczuk ◽

Artur Bossowski

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Glucose Metabolism ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Control Group ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Novel Biomarkers ◽

Varied Duration

Introduction. The increasing knowledge of adropin, afamin, and neudesin and the regulation of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance allows for the assessment of the differences in their concentrations between the groups with varied duration of diabetes mellitus (DM). Aim of the Study. Assessment of serum levels of adropin, afamin, and neudesin in children with type 1 diabetes, with respect to the disease duration. Materials and Methods. The study consisted of 138 patients aged 5–18 years (M 40.58%). Children with type 1 diabetes (n = 68) were compared to the control group (n = 70). The diabetic group was divided into 4 subgroups: (I) newly diagnosed patients, after an episode of ketoacidosis (n = 14), (II) duration no longer than 5 years (n = 18), (III) 5 to 10 years (n = 27), and (IV) longer than 10 years (n = 9). Serum concentrations of adropin, afamin, and neudesin were assessed and compared between the groups of patients. The criterion for statistical significance was p<0.05. Results. The concentrations of adropin and afamin across all subgroups were lower than that in the control group, while neudesin levels were higher in diabetic patients compared to the control group. The differences were statistically significant. Conclusions. Adropin, afamin, and neudesin may play a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism and have a significant potential as novel biomarkers to predict future metabolic disorders. However, further multicentre studies on a larger cohort of patients are necessary to specify the role of these substances in the course and treatment of type 1 diabetes.

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Atorvastatin normalizes endothelial function in healthy smokers

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs20060033 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 111 (1) ◽

pp. 87-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Stefan Agewall ◽

Åsa Hernberg

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Function ◽

Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Statin Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Flow Mediated Dilation ◽

Atorvastatin Treatment ◽

Cholesterol Levels ◽

Smoking Group ◽

To Receive

Endothelial function is known to predict cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to examine whether endothelial function in smokers with normal cholesterol levels could be normalized by treatment with 80 mg of atorvastatin in comparison with a control group. Healthy smokers (n=20) and non-smokers (n=20) were randomized to receive 80 mg of atorvastatin or placebo in an open randomized cross-over study, followed by measurement of endothelial functional [FMD (flow-mediated dilation)]. At baseline, smokers had a lower FMD compared with the non-smoking group (2.2±0.5 and 4.5±0.8% respectively; P<0.05). In the smoking group, FMD increased significantly (P<0.05) to 4.0±0.8% during treatment with atorvastatin and returned to basal levels during placebo (2.3±0.6%). In the non-smoking group, FMD was unaffected by both atorvastatin and placebo. The net change of total cholesterol or LDL (low-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol was not associated with the net change in FMD when the study group was considered as a whole or the smoking group was considered separately. In conclusion, improved endothelial function was observed in a group of smokers when they were received 80 mg of atorvastatin, whereas atorvastatin had no effect on endothelial function in the non-smoking group. The improved FMD among smokers was independent of the decrease in LDL-cholesterol during atorvastatin treatment. The results show that poor endothelial function in smokers with normal lipid levels can be improved by a statin treatment.

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Prevalence of hyperuricemia in professional athletes and its role in the genesis of various pathological conditions and metabolic disturbances

Modern Rheumatology Journal ◽

10.14412/1996-7012-2018-3-82-88 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 82-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. S. Eliseev ◽

I. Т. Vykhodets ◽

I. V. Kruglova ◽

M. N. Chikina ◽

O. V. Zhelyabina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthy Volunteers ◽

Sports Medicine ◽

Statistical Processing ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Professional Athletes ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Population ◽

Metabolic Disturbances ◽

Pathological Conditions ◽

Clinical Center

In recent decades, the prevalence of hyperuricemia (HU) is increasing worldwide; the role of uric acid (UA) in the genesis of various metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney disease is being discussed. There are very few investigations of the rate of HU and its role in the development of diseases in certain social groups, including in professional athletes.Objective:to estimate the prevalence of HU and its role in the genesis of various pathological conditions and metabolic disturbances in professional athletes.Patients and methods.A retrospective comparative one-stage study was conducted, for which 2148 athletes who met inclusion criteria were selected and examined in the Federal Research and Clinical Center for Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Federal Biomedical Agency, in 2015. A control group consisted of 99 ageand sex-matched healthy volunteers examined at the V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology in 2017. The analysis included a comparison of the rate of HU and other examined parameters in professional athletes and healthy volunteers. The examined parameters were separately compared in athletes with/without HU, followed by statistical processing of results.Results.HU was detected in 306 (14.2%) of the 2148 athletes, more often in men (n=253 (20%) than in women (n=53 (6%); (p<0.001). The rate of HU in the athletes was comparable with that in the healthy population (12.1%). The athletes with HU (n=306) compared with the other athletes (n=1842) had the following statistically higher indicators: the mean serum levels of creatinine, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, creatinine phosphokinase, and myoglobin, glomerular filtration rate, and body mass index (BMI) (p<0.00001 for all cases).Conclusion.HU is detected quite often in professional athletes (14.2%), which is comparable with the indicators seen in healthy volunteers (12.1%). The high prevalence of HU and its association with indicators reflecting kidney function, lipid metabolic disturbances, and BMI necessitate further investigations aimed at searching the causes of HU and methods of its prevention and treatment in professional athletes.

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Study of thyroid hormones free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in subjects with dental fluorosis

European Journal of Dentistry ◽

10.1055/s-0039-1698949 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 06 (02) ◽

pp. 184-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Mahadevi B Hosur ◽

S R Puranik ◽

Shrinivas Vanaki ◽

Surekha R Puranik

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Hormones ◽

Dental Fluorosis ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Iodine Intake ◽

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽

Control Group ◽

Endemic Fluorosis ◽

Free Triiodothyronine ◽

Thyroid Gland Function

ABSTRACTObjective: Apart from its well-known deleterious dental and skeletal effects, fluoride excess can have toxic effects on many other tissues. Fluoride, when in excess, is known to interfere with thyroid gland function. Fluoride-induced thyroid disturbances similar to those observed in iodine deficiency state in spite of adequate iodine intake have been documented. Similar thyroid disturbances in individuals with dental fluorosis have not been well studied in populations with endemic fluorosis. This work was undertaken to study the effects of fluoride-induced thyroid disturbances in individuals with dental fluorosis.Methods: The study group included 65 subjects with dental fluorosis from endemic fluorosis populations. An additional control group was comprised of 10 subjects without dental fluorosis. The drinking water fluoride levels of the study populations were analyzed. Serum free FT3, FT4, and TSH levels of both groups were assessed.Results: All subjects with dental fluorosis had serum levels of thyroid hormones (FT3, FT4, and TSH) within the normal range, with the exception of 1 individual, who had elevated levels of TSH. Statistical significance was found when FT3 and TSH values were compared with different Dean’s index groups by a 1-way ANOVA test: FT3 (F = 3.4572; P=.0377) and TSH (F = 3.2649 and P=.0449).Conclusions: Findings of this study did not show any significant alterations in the levels of the thyroid hormones FT3, FT4, and TSH in subjects with dental fluorosis. Our observations suggest that thyroid hormone levels were not altered in subjects with dental fluorosis. Hence, future studies of this kind, along with more detailed investigations are needed. (Eur J Dent 2012;6:184-190)

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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Its Serum Levels in Schizophrenic Patients

Folia Medica ◽

10.2478/folmed-2014-0003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 20-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Yvetta A. Koeva ◽

Stefan T. Sivkov ◽

Valentin H. Akabaliev ◽

Roumiana Y. Ivanova ◽

Tania I. Deneva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Control Group ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

The Difference ◽

Student’S T ◽

Serum Bdnf

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Neurotrophins have an important role in regulating the development and maintenance of the peripheral and central nervous systems’ function. Thus, the neurotrophin hypothesis of schizophrenia has postulated that the changes in the brain of schizophrenic patients are the result of disturbances of developing processes involving these molecules. AIM: We analyse in the present study the changes in the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in schizophrenic patients as possible epiphenomena of underlying alterations of the neurotrophic factor in central nervous system, reflecting its role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one schizophrenic patients satisfying the DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis of schizophrenia were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 28 age-matched mentally healthy subjects. Serum BDNF levels were determined in patients and normal controls using ELISA (Chemicon International, USA & Canada). The data were analyzed statistically with Student’s t- test in SPSS 9.0. RESULTS: The serum BDNF levels were lower in the schizophrenic patients than in the control subjects, reaching statistically significant difference (t = 2.72, p = 0.009). Female patients had lower serum BDNF levels than the male patients but the difference fell short of statistical significance (t = 0.1, p = 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: The BDNF reduction in serum indicates a potential deficit in neurotrophic factor release in patients with schizophrenia and support the concept that BDNF might be associated with schizophrenia

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Evaluation of Serum CA 125 Levels in Patients with Pelvic Pain Related to Endometriosis

The International Journal of Biological Markers ◽

10.1177/172460080702200306 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 200-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

A. Maiorana ◽

C. Cicerone ◽

M. Niceta ◽

L. Alio

Keyword(s):

Pelvic Pain ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Ca 125 ◽

Control Group ◽

Clinical Value ◽

Operative Laparoscopy ◽

Patient Series ◽

The Mean

The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical value of the serum CA 125 level for diagnosing and determining the severity of endometriosis and pelvic pain associated with endometriosis. Eighty-six women who underwent operative laparoscopy were enrolled. Sixty-nine women with endometriosis and 17 without endometriosis participated in this study. In all of the patients, endometriosis was diagnosed and classified into stages according to the Revised American Fertility Society (R-AFS) classification. The mean serum CA 125 levels were determined in each patient. We also investigated the relationship between serum CA 125 concentration and the intensity of dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia in the study group. The mean serum CA 125 levels of women with endometriosis were higher than those of the control group (p<0.050). However, the mean serum CA 125 levels were higher in stage IV than in other stages of endometriosis according to the R-AFS classification. On the other hand, the percentage of patients with serum CA 125 levels >35 U/mL was elevated in the subgroups with severe dyspareunia and severe dysmenorrhea versus the asymptomatic subgroup but the differences had no statistical significance. In conclusion, CA 125 serum levels were related to endometriosis and R-AFS score in the evaluated patient series. No correlation was found between serum levels of CA 125 and pelvic pain in patients with endometriosis.

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