Effects of short-term add-on ezetimibe to statin treatment on expression of adipokines and inflammatory markers in diabetic and dyslipidemic patients

Slow Freezing of Preserved Boar Sperm: Comparison of Conventional and Automated Techniques on Post-Thaw Functional Quality by a New Combination of Sperm Function Tests

The slow freezing of boar sperm is the only way to preserve genetic material for extended periods; this can be achieved with exposure to liquid nitrogen vapors (conventional) or by using automated freezing equipment. The aim was to compare the effect of both techniques on post-thaw functionality. Boar sperm devoid of seminal plasma and resuspended in lactose-egg yolk-glycerol medium were cryopreserved. Conventional: straws were exposed to LN2 vapors; automated: using a drop curve of -39.82 °C·min-1 for 113 s from -5 to -80 °C during the critical period; and subsequent immersion in NL2. Cell viability, cholesterol flow, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lipid peroxidation, peroxynitrite, superoxide anion levels, phosphatidylserine translocation, and caspase activation were evaluated by flow cytometry. In addition, total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) were determined by the SCA system immediately (T0), 60 (T60), and 120 min (T120) post-thawing. Automated freezing significantly reduces cholesterol flow and free radical and lipid peroxidation levels, making it possible to preserve motility for 120 min of incubation. At the same time, viability, acrosome integrity, MMP, and caspase activation did not differ from the conventional technique. In conclusion, controlling the temperature drop curve using automated freezing equipment reduces oxidative/nitrosative stress, preserving membrane fluidity and sperm motility.

Cholesterol-Lowering Therapy in Patients at Low-to-Moderate Cardiovascular Risk

Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is unanimously recognized as a major modifiable risk factor related to the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Consistent evidence confirms that reducing LDL-C is associated with reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), with benefits proportionally related to initial individual CV risk and absolute reduction of LDL-C levels. The recent European guidelines on cardiovascular prevention have proposed a revised approach in cardiovascular risk evaluation, taking into account a renewed consideration of the interaction between risk factors and possible confounding factors (e.g., age). Although for patients considered to be at high and very high cardiovascular risk the need for stringent risk factors treatment is clearly stated, for those who are at low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk the issue is more debated. For those latter subjects, current guidelines indicate that risk factor treatment is generally not necessary, unless the impact of CV risk modifiers, lifetime CV risk and treatment benefit may be substantial. In addition, despite the estimated low-to-moderate short-term CV risk, the early appearance of even mild LDL-C level elevations may contribute to impair long-term CV prognosis. Therefore, encouraging the achievement of desired LDL-C goals through tailored conservative lifestyle changes and, if necessary, pharmacologic strategies should not be excluded categorically in all low-to-moderate risk individuals. In this review, we summarize the most recent evidence that may influence the choice to treat or not to treat LDL-C elevations in subjects at low-to-moderate risk and the suggested therapeutic tools aimed at achieving the recommended LDL-C goals.

Inhibition of HMGB1 involved in the protective of salidroside on liver injury in diabetes mice

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear protein that is released on injury triggers inflammation. This study aims to elucidate the effects of salidroside on diabetes-induced liver inflammation. The levels of glucose, inflammatory cytokines and hepatic functional parameters in serum and liver of type 2 diabetic db/db mice were examined. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and western blot tests were performed to determine the mechanisms underlying the action. Palmitic acid (PA) or HMGB1-stimulated was adopted as an in vitro cell model. Salidroside treatment improved glucose tolerance, lipid profiles while decreased the production of inflammatory cytokines. It also reduced the levels of serum biochemical markers. In addition, salidroside inhibited HMGB1 signaling pathway in db/db mice. In the salidroside treatment significantly inhibited PA or HMGB1 induced inflammatory signaling pathway, too. HMGB1 inhibitors and HMGB1 knockdown both hindered PA-induced HMGB1 signaling pathway, showing the same effect as salidroside. Salidroside treatment significantly alleviates insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and hepatic inflammation in db/db mice, and also showed beneficial to PA-stimulated. Salidroside proves to control hyperglycemia and hepatic inflammation via inhibiting HMGB1/RAGE/NF-κB and HMGB1/TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathways.

Adiponectin: The Potential Regulator and Therapeutic Target of Obesity and Alzheimer's Disease

Animal and human mechanistic studies have consistently shown an association between obesity and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD, a degenerative brain disease, is the most common cause of dementia and is characterized by the presence of extracellular amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles disposition. Some studies have recently demonstrated that Aβ and tau cannot fully explain the pathophysiological development of AD and that metabolic disease factors, such as insulin, adiponectin, and antioxidants, are important for the sporadic onset of nongenetic AD. Obesity prevention and treatment can be an efficacious and safe approach to AD prevention. Adiponectin is a benign adipokine that sensitizes the insulin receptor signaling pathway and suppresses inflammation. It has been shown to be inversely correlated with adipose tissue dysfunction and may enhance the risk of AD because a range of neuroprotection adiponectin mechanisms is related to AD pathology alleviation. In this study, we summarize the recent progress that addresses the beneficial effects and potential mechanisms of adiponectin in AD. Furthermore, we review recent studies on the diverse medications of adiponectin that could possibly be related to AD treatment, with a focus on their association with adiponectin. A better understanding of the neuroprotection roles of adiponectin will help clarify the precise underlying mechanism of AD development and progression.

[Pleiotropic effects of ezetimibe]

The article discusses in detail the question of the additional positive effects of ezetimibe in addition to direct hypolipidemic action. The data of experimental and clinical studies in which the effect of ezetimibe on carbohydrate metabolism, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and liver is studied. The article also discusses the results of clinical studies that examined the effect of ezetimibe on atherosclerotic plaque.