Associations between levels of oxidative nucleoside damage and cardiovascular risk in patients newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder and their unaffected relatives

Association of lipids and inflammatory markers with left ventricular wall thickness in patients with bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) face a high risk of heart failure and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Despite strong evidence that high LV relative wall thickness (RWT) is a risk marker for heart failure, few studies have evaluated LV RWT and aggravating factors in individuals with BD.

METHODS

We recruited 104 participants (52 patients with BD and 52 age- and sex-matched mentally healthy controls) to undergo echocardiographic imaging and biochemistry, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and blood cell count measurements. LV RWT was estimated using the following equation: (2 × LV posterior wall end-diastolic thickness)/LV end-diastolic diameter. Clinical data were obtained through interviews and chart reviews.

RESULTS

The BD group exhibited a significantly greater LV RWT (Cohen's d = 0.53, p = 0.003) and a less favorable mitral valve E/A ratio (Cohen's d = 0.54, p = 0.023) and LV global longitudinal strain (Cohen's d = 0.57, p = 0.047) than did the control group. Multiple linear regression revealed that in the BD group, serum triglyceride levels (β = 0.466, p = 0.001), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (β = 0.324, p = 0.022), and hs-CRP levels (β = 0.289, p = 0.043) were all significantly and positively associated with LV RWT.

LIMITATIONS

This study applied a cross-sectional design, meaning that the direction of causation could not be inferred.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with BD are at a risk of heart failure, as indicated by their relatively high LV RWT. Lipid levels and systemic inflammation may explain this unfavorable association.

The role of DNA and RNA guanosine oxidation in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) persist as a prominent cause of mortality worldwide, with oxidative stress constituting a pivotal contributory element. The oxidative modification of guanosine, specifically 8-oxoguanine, has emerged as a crucial biomarker for oxidative stress, providing novel insights into the molecular underpinnings of CVD. 8-Oxoguanine can be directly generated at the DNA (8-oxo-dG) and RNA (8-oxo-G) levels, as well as at the free nucleotide level (8-oxo-dGTP or 8-oxo-GTP), which are produced and can be integrated through DNA replication or RNA transcription. When exposed to oxidative stress, guanine is more readily produced in RNA than in DNA. A burgeoning body of research surrounds 8-oxoguanine, exhibits its accumulation playing a pivotal role in the development of CVD. Therapeutic approaches targeting oxidative 8-Oxoguanine damage to DNA and RNA, encompassing the modulation of repair enzymes and the development of small molecule inhibitors, are anticipated to enhance CVD management. In conclusion, we explore the noteworthy elevation of 8-oxoguanine levels in patients with various cardiac conditions and deliberate upon the formation and regulation of 8-oxo-dG and 8-oxo-G under oxidative stress, as well as their function in CVD.

Effects of Regular Exercise on the Biochemical, Oxidative, and Inflammatory Profiles and Quality of Life in Older Spaniards with Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The regular practice of physical activity is a crucial factor for healthy aging and for controlling and preventing chronic diseases. To assess the effects of regular physical activity on the biochemical and inflammatory profiles, as well as the quality of life of older adults diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Participants (aged 55-70 years; living in the Balearic Islands, Spain) were divided into two groups (n = 50 each) according to the degree of physical activity measured by metabolic equivalents of task (METs). Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, biochemical and hematological parameters, and inflammatory biomarkers were measured. Beck Depression Inventory and adherence to the Mediterranean diet questionnaires, as well as the Dietary Inflammatory Index, chair test, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity, were also determined. The characterization of the patients was similar in both groups, showing a homogeneous sample. The group with the highest METs experienced a decrease in depression and an increase in the intensity of physical activity. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and HRQoL physical dimensions increased in participants with the highest METs, also showing a decrease in glycemia and glycosylated hemoglobin values. Inflammatory biomarkers, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and osteoprotegerin, decreased in patients practicing more physical activity. High levels of physical activity are related to a healthier lifestyle, characterized by high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, decreased depressive behavior, oxidative stress, and inflammatory status in older people with metabolic syndrome.

Oxidation of DNA and RNA in young patients with newly diagnosed bipolar disorder and relatives

Excessive oxidative stress-generated nucleoside damage seems to play a key role in bipolar disorder (BD) and may present a trait phenomenon associated with familial risk and is one of the putative mechanisms explaining accelerated atherosclerosis and premature cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in younger patients with BD. However, oxidative stress-generated nucleoside damage has not been studied in young BD patients and their unaffected relatives (UR). Therefore, we compared oxidative stress-generated damage to DNA and RNA in young patients newly diagnosed with BD, UR, and healthy control individuals (HC). Systemic oxidative stress-generated DNA and RNA damage levels were compared by analyzing urinary levels of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine in participants aged 15-25 years, including 133 patients newly diagnosed with BD, 57 UR, and 83 HC. Compared with HC, damage to DNA was 21.8% higher in BD patients (B = 1.218, 95% CI = 1.111-1.335, p = <0.001) and 22.5% higher in UR (B = 1.225, 95% CI = 1.090-1.377, p = <0.002), while damage to RNA was 14.8% higher in BD patients (B = 1.148, 95% CI = 1.082-1.219, p = <0.001) and 14.0% higher in UR (B = 1.140, 95% CI = 1.055-1.230, p = < 0.001) in models adjusted for sex and age after correction for multiple comparison. Levels did not differ between patients with BD and UR. Our findings support higher oxidative stress-generated nucleoside damage being a trait phenomenon in BD associated with familial risk and highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to prevent illness progression and development of premature CVD.

Persistent increase over time in oxidatively stress generated RNA and DNA damage in patients with newly diagnosed bipolar disorder and their unaffected first-degree relatives - An up to 5-year prospective study

OBJECTIVES

Increased oxidative stress generated nucleoside damage seems to play a crucial role in bipolar disorder (BD) pathophysiology. It may contribute to accelerated ageing and reduced life expectancy in patients with BD.

METHODS

In the five-year prospective "Bipolar Illness Onset study", we investigated repeated measurements of oxidative stress generated RNA and DNA damage in 357 patients with newly diagnosed/first-episode BD (880 visits), 132 of their unaffected first-degree relatives (236 visits) and 198 healthy age- and sex-matched control persons with no personal or first-degree family history of affective disorder (432 visits). Amongst patients with BD, we further investigated associations of oxidative stress generated RNA- and DNA damage with affective phases and measures of illness load.

RESULTS

Patients newly diagnosed with BD and their unaffected relatives had higher levels of oxidative stress generated RNA damage than healthy control individuals and these differences persisted over time, whereas DNA damage was less consistently elevated. Neither illness load nor affective phase impacted the levels in patients with BD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support elevated oxidative stress generated RNA damage being a trait phenomenon in BD as indicated by persistent increase in RNA damage over time in patients newly diagnosed with BD and in their unaffected first-degree relatives compared with healthy control individuals. We did not detect state alterations in levels of oxidative stress.