Predictors of Platelet Mitochondria Respiration in Children – The Arkansas Active Kids Study

Objectives Platelets play a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic disease (AD). In the absence of a nucleus, platelet function and viability are largely dependent on the health of their mitochondria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between common markers of cardiometabolic health in 7 to 10-year-old children and measures of platelet mitochondria function. Methods Sixty children participated in a single study visit. Fasting blood was collected, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF, cycle ergometer test), physical activity (PA, accelerometers), and blood pressure percentiles were determined. Routine respiration (R) was measured by high-resolution respirometry (Oxygraph-2k) before platelets were permeabilized by digitonin. Thereafter, Complex I (CI) supported respiration was assayed in the leak (L), coupled (P) and uncoupled (CIE) states. Complex IV (CIV) activity was assayed as a marker of respiratory capacity. Flux control ratios (FCR) were calculated by dividing respiratory fluxes by CIV. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to model FCRs (dependent variables) with age, sex, race, CRF, PA, Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile, HOMA2-IR, systolic (SBP-P)/diastolic blood pressure percentiles (DBP-P), triglyceride status, and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) status (status = high vs. normal) as dependent variables. Results Age, race, LDL status and the interaction between BMI percentiles with SBP-P were retained in the final regression models for R, L, P and CIE FCRs. Specifically, R and CI supported respiration in the L, P and CIE states decreased with age (P < .05), black race (P < .05), and high LDL-cholesterol status (P < .0001). To assess for the interaction between BMI and SBP-P, children were stratified as normal weight (NW) or overweight (OW = BMI ≥ 85th percentile) with high (≥90th percentile) or normal SBP. FCRs did not differ between NW groups. However, FCRs where ∼2 times higher in children with OW + high SBP compared to children with OW + normal SBP (P < 0.05). Conclusions Age, race, LDL cholesterol status, and systolic blood pressure are determinants of platelet bioenergetics in children. SBP-P modifies the association between weight status and platelet mitochondria respiration. Funding Sources USDA-ARS 59-6250-4-001 and 6026-51,000-012-06S. NIH-NIGMS 5P20GM10909, NIH 8UG1OD024945, NIH-NCATS 1UL1TR003107-0.

Effects of Ginger (Zingiber officinale, Roscoe) Essential Oil on Growth and Laying Performances, Serum Metabolites, and Egg Yolk Antioxidant and Cholesterol Status in Laying Japanese Quail

This study aimed to investigate the effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale, Rosc.) essential oil on growth and laying performances, egg yolk antioxidant and cholesterol status, and serum metabolites in Japanese quail. Eighty 3-week-old Japanese quails weighing between 120 and 130 g were equally and randomly assigned to four groups receiving daily and orally, respectively, 100 µl/kg body weight (bw) distilled water and 50, 100, and 150 µl/kg bw of ginger rhizomes essential oil, respectively. The entire feeding trial for all groups lasted for 9 weeks and the Z. officinale essential oil effects were studied on growth and laying performances, serum metabolites, and egg yolk antioxidant and cholesterol status. Results revealed that feed intake, live and body weights gain, feed conversion ratio, egg production, and weekly mass of eggs were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by oral administration of ginger rhizomes essential oil. Unlike the abdominal fat weight which decreased significantly (p<0.05) in all treated quails, the oral administration of ginger rhizomes essential oil had no significant effects (p> 0.05) on liver, intestine, heart, and gizzard relative weights as compared to the control. Egg weight markedly (P<0.05) increased in Japanese quails treated with ginger rhizomes essential oil whatever the dose with reference to the control. The serum content in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and transaminases (AST and ALT) decreased significantly (P<0.05) with 100 and 150 µl/kg bw of ginger rhizomes essential oil compared to control group. In conclusion, oral administration of 100 to 150 µl/kg bw of ginger rhizomes essential oil to laying Japanese quails positively influences egg weight and decreased serum and egg cholesterols without any adverse effect on feed intake and body weight gain.

Predictors of cholesterol gallstone formation among inhabitants of Port Harcourt in Nigeria

Background: Various clinical and biochemical parameters have been hypothesized to predict cholesterol gallstone formation. Hence, this study was structured to evaluate the degree of some of these suggested predictors among inhabitants of Port Harcourt in Nigeria.Methods: This was a retrospective study of the clinical and biochemical parameters of 42 cholesterol gallstones formers within a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Records of age, gender, weight, height, calculated body mass index and plasma biochemical parameters (total cholesterol, total bilirubin, and total calcium) of cholesterol gallstone formers from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2017 were abstracted from medical and laboratory records and analysed using SPSS version 20.Results: There were more females (70%) than males (30%) with a ratio of 2.3:1. The age ranged from 31-64 with mean 46.78±9.33. Obesity was observed among 40.5% of study population. Female gender (OR = 2.823; 95% CI = 2.446-3.200; p<0.001), obesity BMI status (OR = 1.534; 95% CI = 1.436 - 1.632; p = 0.012) and abnormal plasma cholesterol status (OR = 3.011; 95% CI = 2.916 - 3.106; p<0.001) were significant predictors of cholesterol gallstone formation. Abnormal plasma cholesterol status was the strongest of the predictors with AUC of 0.920 (p<0.001), seconded by female gender (AUC = 0.889; p<0.001) and obesity BMI status (AUC = 0.834; p<0.001).Conclusions: Abnormal plasma cholesterol status is the strongest independent predictor of cholesterol gallstone formation, seconded by female gender and high BMI status, among inhabitants of Port Harcourt in Nigeria.