Factor VII, blood lipids and fat intake: gene-nutrient interaction and risk of coronary heart disease with the factor VII R353Q polymorphism

Exploring effects of Simvastatin on coagulation mediators to alleviate the advancement of high cholesterol diet triggered neurodegeneration

The objectives of our study were to investigate the possible effect of Simvastatin in ameliorating high cholesterol diet (HCD)-induced neurodegeneration and to also investigate its possible action on coagulation mediators. In silico and in vitro studies were performed to evaluate the impact of Simvastatin on prime coagulation mediators. HCD was used to induce neuropathology in wistar rats and histopathological and immunohistochemical studies were performed to evaluate the efficacy of Simvastatin in preventing the advancement of neurodegeneration in obese rats. Biochemical analyses were used to estimate changes in lipid profile, oxidative stress, inflammatory and coagulation markers. Simvastatin showed good theoretical affinity to coagulation proteins, significantly reversed changes in inflammatory and coagulation biomarkers which were induced by HCD. Enhanced fibrinolytic activity of Simvastatin was revealed through in vitro analysis. Immunohistoanalysis showed raised level of Nrf2. Histopathological studies also supported neuroprotective potential of Simvastatin in HCD fed rats. Simvastatin demonstrated reduced hypercoagulation, enhanced fibrinolysis and reversed neurodegeneration in HCD exposed rats suggesting its potential role in preventing the progression of neurodegeneration in obesity.

Contribution of factor VII polymorphisms to coagulopathy in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND

Coagulopathy is a severe complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can cause secondary injuries and death. Decrease of FVII activity contributes to the coagulopathy and progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI) in patients with isolated TBI. Some polymorphic loci of coagulation factor VII (FVII) are shown to be essential for FVII activity. However, the relationship between FVII gene polymorphisms and coagulopathy in patients with isolated TBI is still unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between FVII gene polymorphisms and plasma FVIIa levels, and assess whether FVII polymorphisms were associated with TBI-related coagulopathy, PHI, and 6 months GOS in patients with isolated TBI.

METHODS

One-hundred-forty-nine patients with isolated TBI (from East of China) admitted to Huashan Hospital's Neurological Trauma Center from March 2012 to March 2016 were enrolled in this study. The Polymorphism-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method was used to analyze the five FVII polymorphism loci (-323P0/P10, R353Q, -401G/T, -402G/A, and -670A/C) of these patients. Patients' blood was collected to test the activated partial thromboplastin time, international normalized ratio, platelet, and FVIIa concentrations. Other clinical characteristics were also recorded.

RESULTS

The minor alleles of three genotypes of -323 P0/P10, R353Q, and -401G/T each independently associated with 23.3%, 28.6%, and 27.6% lower FVIIa levels, respectively. These polymorphisms explained 21% of the total variance of FVIIa levels (adjusted R²:0.206). The genotype of -323P0/P10 was an independent risk factor for coagulopathy (OR = 2.77, p = 0.043) and PHI (OR = 3.47, p = 0.03) after adjustment for confounding factors in the logistic regression model. Polymorphisms of FVII were not independently associated with 6 months Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) of isolated TBI patients.

CONCLUSION

-323P0/P10, R353Q, and -401 G/T genotypes were associated with FVIIa levels. -323P0/P10 genotype was independently associated with traumatic coagulopathy and PHI in isolated TBI patients.

Influence of blood lipids on global coagulation test results

Background

High levels of blood lipids have been associated with high levels of coagulation factors. We investigated whether blood lipids influence the results of global coagulation tests, including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and thrombin generation assay (TGA).

Methods

PT, aPTT, and TGA, along with procoagulant and anticoagulant factors, were measured in 488 normal individuals. Vitamin K status was assessed with prothrombin-induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II).

Results

The procoagulant factors II, VII, IX, X, and XI and anticoagulant factors protein C and protein S showed significant correlations with triglyceride, and the procoagulant factors II, V, VII, IX, X, XI, and XII and anticoagulant factors antithrombin and protein C correlated with total cholesterol. There were no correlations of blood lipid levels with PIVKA-II levels. Subjects with high triglyceride levels (≥200 mg/dL) showed shorter PT values than those with lower triglyceride levels. However, aPTT value was not changed in terms of blood lipid levels. In both 1 and 5 pM tissue factor-induced TGAs, subjects in the high-triglyceride or high-cholesterol groups (≥240 mg/dL) had high levels of lag time, time-to-peak, and endogenous thrombin potential. Total cholesterol was a significant determinant of PT and TGA values.

Conclusion

High blood lipids were related with increased coagulation activity in a normal population. Our findings are expected to help interpret the global coagulation test results in individuals with high lipid levels.

The evolution of nutrition research

"The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but will rather cure and prevent disease with nutrition". Thomas Edison's contemplation may come to fruition if the nutritional revolution continues in its current course. Two realizations have propelled the world into a new age of personalized nutrition: (i) food can provide benefits beyond its intrinsic nutrient content, and (ii) we are not all created equal in our ability to realize to these benefits. Nutrigenomics is concerned with delineating genomic propensities to respond to various nutritional stimuli and the resulting impact on individual health. This review will examine the current technologies utilized by nutrigeneticists, the available literature regarding nutrient-gene interactions, and the translation of this new awareness into public health.

Humans, mice, and mechanisms of intestinal atresias: a window into understanding early intestinal development

INTRODUCTION

Intestinal atresias have long been hypothesized to result from either failure of recanalization of the intestinal lumen or in utero vascular accidents. Recent work in animal models is now calling for a reassessment of these widely held paradigms.

PURPOSE

In this review, we will examine the data that led to the original hypotheses and then evaluate more recent work challenging these hypotheses. Furthermore, we will discuss how defining the mechanism of atresia formation in animal models may provide insight into early intestinal development and the mechanism of lengthwise intestinal growth.

CONCLUSION

Such insight will be critical in developing regenerative therapies for patients with intestinal failure.