Reactive oxygen metabolites are closely associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of coronary artery disease

Development of a Microminipig Model of Atherosclerosis for the Evaluation of a HMGCR Inhibitor

BACKGROUND/AIM

Atherosclerosis is known as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and development of an animal model of atherosclerosis is required to investigate its clinical pathogenesis. We studied the optimal amount of cholesterol in the diet and the optimal experimental period for development of a Microminipig model of atherosclerosis for the evaluation of a hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) inhibitor (atorvastatin).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen male animals (3-4 months old) were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 consisted of control animals receiving a normal chow diet, Group 2 animals received a high fat (12% w/w) and low cholesterol (0.1% w/w) diet (HFLCD), and Group 3 animals received HFLCD+statin for 12 weeks. Animals received statin at 3 mg/kg body weight per day. HFLCD did not down-regulate the hepatic expression of HMGCR mRNA.

RESULTS

HFLCD increased body, omentum, and mesenteric adipose tissue weight, and induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic lesions in the abdominal aorta. HFLCD+statin inhibited hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic lesions, but not obesity.

CONCLUSION

A microminipig atherosclerosis model induced by HFLCD can be used in the evaluation of HMGCR inhibitors for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.

High serum levels of inflammatory markers are associated with early recurrence in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer after platinum therapy

OBJECTIVE

To determine if inflammatory biomarkers can predict the long-term outcome of platinum therapy in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Women diagnosed with high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer (n = 70) at a single institution were enrolled in a prospective serum collection study between 2005 and 2020. Seventeen markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were measured in serum samples on a chemistry analyzer. Association was tested for serum levels with progression-free survival (PFS), time to recurrence (TTR), overall survival (OS), and time to death (TTD) using Cox proportional hazards and Kaplan-Meier curves. Patient survival was censored at 10 years.

RESULTS

Higher serum levels of LDH were associated with worse PFS (HR 2.57, p = 0.028). High serum levels of BAP (HR 0.38, p = 0.025), GSP (HR 0.40, p = 0.040), HDL-c (HR 0.27, p = 0.002), and MG (HR 0.36, p = 0.017) were associated with improved PFS. Higher expression of LDH was associated with worse OS (HR 2.16, p = 0.023). Higher levels of CK.nac (HR 0.39, p = 0.033) and HDL-c (HR 0.35, p = 0.029) were associated with improved OS. Similar outcomes were found with TTR and TTD analyses.

CONCLUSION

General inflammatory biomarkers may serve as a guide for prognosis and treatment benefit. Future studies needed to further define their role in predicting prognosis or how these markers may affect response to therapy.

Acupuncture Treatment Improves Transport Stress in Microminipigs Through the Acupoint in Ears

BACKGROUND/AIM

This study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture treatment through the ear acupoints on transport stress in experimental microminipigs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experiment 1: Six animals were equally divided into two groups (Control and Treatment). In the treatment group, before transportation (6 h; vehicle and plane), short, ultrathin circular transdermal needles were applied to locations corresponding to the acupoints on the apical area of both ears. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the cranial vena cava 2 days before and immediately after transportation. Blood stress markers, biochemistry indicators, and oxidative stress levels were examined. Experiment 2 (follow-up study: diarrhea incidence after transportation): Diarrhea incidence after transportation in the control and treatment groups was investigated.

RESULTS

Experiment 1: Transport stress induced an increase in blood cortisol, serum amyloid A (SAA), glucose, non-esterified fatty acid, and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and decreased the biological antioxidant potential (BAP)/d-ROMs ratio yet did not affect BAP. Acupuncture suppressed the increases in SAA and d-ROMs values and the decrease in BAP/d-ROMs ratio. Experiment 2: The total diarrhea incidence was 25% in the control group, whereas diarrhea was not observed in the treatment group.

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture treatment suppresses hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function and, as a result, reduces transport stress without affecting the suppression of the central catecholaminergic system. Acupuncture treatment for transport stress can improve animal welfare.

D-ROMs and PAT Tests Reveal a High Level of Oxidative Stress in Patients with Severe Well-Controlled Asthma, and D-ROMs Are Positively Correlated with R20 Values That Indicate Approximate Central Airway Resistance

BACKGROUND

The derivatives-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and plasma antioxidant capacity (PAT) tests are oxidative indexes. Severe asthma has been related to oxidative stress. We aimed to investigate d-ROMs and PAT values in severely controlled asthmatics and the correlation of these values with lung function.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from severely controlled asthmatics and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min. The supernatant was collected. The assays were performed within three hours of collection. The fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), impulse oscillometry (IOS), and spirometry were determined. Symptom control was recorded using the asthma control test (ACT).

RESULTS

Approximately 40 patients with severe controlled asthma (75%: women), mean age of 62 ± 12 years, were recruited. Approximately 5% had obstructive spirometry. The IOS revealed airway abnormalities even though the spirometric results were within the normal range, with it being more sensitive than spirometry. The D-ROMs and PAT test values were higher than normal, indicating oxidative stress in severe asthmatics with controlled asthma. D-ROMs were positively correlated with R20 values, indicating central airway resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

The IOS technique revealed an otherwise hidden airway obstruction with spirometry. The D-ROMs and PAT tests revealed a high level of oxidative stress in severe controlled asthmatics. D-ROMs correlate with R20, indicating central airway resistance.

Balance of the prooxidant and antioxidant system is associated with mortality in critically ill patients

It is well known that oxidative stress causes certain diseases and organ damage. However, roles of oxidative stress in the acute phase of critical patients remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the balance of oxidative and antioxidative system and to clarify the association between oxidative stress and mortality in critically ill patients. This cohort study enrolled 247 patients transported to our emergency department by ambulance. Blood was drawn on hospital arrival, and serum derivatives of reactive oxidant metabolites (dROMs, oxidative index) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP, antioxidative index) were measured. Modified ratio (MR) is also calculated as BAP/dROMs/7.51. There were 197 survivors and 50 non-survivors. In the non-survivors, dROMs were significantly lower (274 vs 311, p<0.01), BAP was significantly higher (2,853 vs 2,138, p<0.01), and MR was significantly higher (1.51 vs 0.92, p<0.01) compared to those in the survivors. The AUC of MR was similar to that for the APACHE II score. Contrary to our expectations, higher BAP and lower dROMs were observed on admission in non-survivors. This may suggest that the antioxidative system is more dominant in the acute phase of severe insults and that the balance toward a higher antioxidative system is associated with mortality.

Comprehensive Analysis of Mitochondrial Dynamics Alterations in Heart Diseases

The most common alterations affecting mitochondria, and associated with cardiac pathological conditions, implicate a long list of defects. They include impairments of the mitochondrial electron transport chain activity, which is a crucial element for energy formation, and that determines the depletion of ATP generation and supply to metabolic switches, enhanced ROS generation, inflammation, as well as the dysregulation of the intracellular calcium homeostasis. All these signatures significantly concur in the impairment of cardiac electrical characteristics, loss of myocyte contractility and cardiomyocyte damage found in cardiac diseases. Mitochondrial dynamics, one of the quality control mechanisms at the basis of mitochondrial fitness, also result in being dysregulated, but the use of this knowledge for translational and therapeutic purposes is still in its infancy. In this review we tried to understand why this is, by summarizing methods, current opinions and molecular details underlying mitochondrial dynamics in cardiac diseases.

The Prognostic Value of Derivatives-Reactive Oxygen Metabolites (d-ROMs) for Cardiovascular Disease Events and Mortality: A Review

Oxidative stress participates in the development and exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The ability to promptly quantify an imbalance in an individual reductive-oxidative (RedOx) state could improve cardiovascular risk assessment and management. Derivatives-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) are an emerging biomarker of oxidative stress quantifiable in minutes through standard biochemical analysers or by a bedside point-of-care test. The current review evaluates available data on the prognostic value of d-ROMs for CVD events and mortality in individuals with known and unknown CVD. Outcome studies involving small and large cohorts were analysed and hazard ratio, risk ratio, odds ratio, and mean differences were used as measures of effect. High d-ROM plasma levels were found to be an independent predictor of CVD events and mortality. Risk begins increasing at d-ROM levels higher than 340 UCARR and rises considerably above 400 UCARR. Conversely, low d-ROM plasma levels are a good negative predictor for CVD events in patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure. Moreover, combining d-ROMs with other relevant biomarkers routinely used in clinical practice might support a more precise cardiovascular risk assessment. We conclude that d-ROMs represent an emerging oxidative-stress-related biomarker with the potential for better risk stratification both in primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention.

Potential biomarkers for chronic seasonal heat stress in Kagoshima Berkshire pigs reared in the subtropical region

Introduction

Potential biomarkers for chronic seasonal heat stress in Kagoshima Berkshire pigs reared in the subtropical region were investigated by comparing the biomarker changes in the summer (a period of chronic heat stress) and winter (a thermoneutral period) seasons.

Material and Methods

Pigs were allocated to summer- and winter-finishing cohorts, 12 each. The evaluations included assessment of carcass traits and internal organs’ normality carried out at the time of slaughter, and measurement of biomarkers in whole blood: derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential as markers of oxidative stress, and serum amyloid A and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio as markers of acute and chronic inflammation, respectively.

Results

The summer-finished pigs reared under subtropical field conditions showed lower carcass quality than the winter-finished pigs, indicating a potential adverse effect of summer temperatures on the swine industry. Marginal changes were observed in d-ROMs and the A/G ratio between the summer- and winter-finishing cohorts.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that d-ROMs and the A/G ratio could be used as sensitive markers for heat stress under field conditions.

Impact of Reactive Oxidative Metabolites Among New Categories of Nonischemic Heart Failure

Background We investigated the clinical significance of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (DROMs), a new marker of reactive oxygen species, in patients with nonischemic heart failure (HF) and compared them among new categories of HF. Methods and Results We recruited 201 consecutively hospitalized patients with HF and measured DROM under stable conditions. Then, we divided them according to new categories of HF (HF with reduced ejection fraction [EF], HF with midrangeEF, and HF with preserved EF) without coronary artery disease. In subgroup analysis, we followed EF changes in patients with HF with reduced EF and classified them into HF with recovered EF or nonrecovered EF according to whether EF had improved to >40%. DROMs are significantly and independently associated with HF-related events in patients with NIHF. There were no significant differences in DROM and the probability of HF-related events among HF categories in Kaplan-Meier analysis. However, patients with HF with reduced EF and HF with preserved EF but not HF with midrange EF with HF-related events had higher DROM than those without HF-related events. In subgroup analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that the probabilities of HF-related events in HF with recovered EF were dramatically decreased. DROM were significantly higher in patients with HF with nonrecovered EF than in HF with recovered EF. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, the cutoff level of DROM for predicting improvements in HF with recovered EF was 347 Carratelli units. Furthermore, the C-statistic value for predicting EF improvement for the DROM levels was 0.703. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, DROM was independently and significantly associated with the prediction of HF with recovered EF. Conclusions DROM measurements can provide important prognostic information for risk stratification in any category of NIHF. Registration URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/; Unique identifier: UMIN000035827.

Oxidative Stress in Ischemic Heart Disease

One of the novel interesting topics in the study of cardiovascular disease is the role of the oxidation system, since inflammation and oxidative stress are known to lead to cardiovascular diseases, their progression and complications. During decades of research, many complex interactions between agents of oxidative stress, oxidation, and antioxidant systems have been elucidated, and numerous important pathophysiological links to na number of disorders and diseases have been established. This review article will present the most relevant knowledge linking oxidative stress to vascular dysfunction and disease. The review will focus on the role of oxidative stress in endotheleial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and other pathogenetic processes and mechanisms that contribute to the development of ischemic heart disease.

Age-Related Changes in the Thermoregulatory Properties in Bank Voles From a Selection Experiment

As with many physiological performance traits, the capacity of endotherms to thermoregulate declines with age. Aging compromises both the capacity to conserve or dissipate heat and the thermogenesis, which is fueled by aerobic metabolism. The rate of metabolism, however, not only determines thermogenic capacity but can also affect the process of aging. Therefore, we hypothesized that selection for an increased aerobic exercise metabolism, which has presumably been a crucial factor in the evolution of endothermic physiology in the mammalian and avian lineages, affects not only the thermoregulatory traits but also the age-related changes of these traits. Here, we test this hypothesis on bank voles (Myodes glareolus) from an experimental evolution model system: four lines selected for high swim-induced aerobic metabolism (A lines), which have also increased the basal, average daily, and maximum cold-induced metabolic rates, and four unselected control (C) lines. We measured the resting metabolic rate (RMR), evaporative water loss (EWL), and body temperature in 72 young adult (4 months) and 65 old (22 months) voles at seven ambient temperatures (13-32°C). The RMR was 6% higher in the A than in the C lines, but, regardless of the selection group or temperature, it did not change with age. However, EWL was 12% higher in the old voles. An increased EWL/RMR ratio implies either a compromised efficiency of oxygen extraction in the lungs or increased skin permeability. This effect was more profound in the A lines, which may indicate their increased vulnerability to aging. Body temperature did not differ between the selection and age groups below 32°C, but at 32°C it was markedly higher in the old A-line voles than in those from other groups. As expected, the thermogenic capacity, measured as the maximum cold-induced oxygen consumption, was decreased by about 13% in the old voles from both selection groups, but the performance of old A-line voles was the same as that of the young C-line ones. Thus, the selection for high aerobic exercise metabolism attenuated the adverse effects of aging on cold tolerance, but this advantage has been traded off by a compromised coping with hot conditions by aged voles.

Depression and Cardiovascular Disease: The Viewpoint of Platelets

Depression is a major cause of morbidity and low quality of life among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), and it is now considered as an independent risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events. Increasing evidence indicates not only that depression worsens the prognosis of cardiac events, but also that a cross-vulnerability between the two conditions occurs. Among the several mechanisms proposed to explain this interplay, platelet activation is the more attractive, seeing platelets as potential mirror of the brain function. In this review, we dissected the mechanisms linking depression and CVD highlighting the critical role of platelet behavior during depression as trigger of cardiovascular complication. In particular, we will discuss the relationship between depression and molecules involved in the CVD (e.g., catecholamines, adipokines, lipids, reactive oxygen species, and chemokines), emphasizing their impact on platelet activation and related mechanisms.

Anthocyanins attenuate vascular and inflammatory responses to a high fat high energy meal challenge in overweight older adults: A cross-over, randomized, double-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Postprandial metabolic imbalances are important indicators of later developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study investigated the effects of food anthocyanins on vascular and microvascular function, and CVD associated biomarkers following a high fat high energy (HFHE) meal challenge in overweight older adults.

METHODS

Sixteen subjects (13 female, 3 male, mean age 65.9 SD 6.0 and body mass index 30.6 kg/m² SD 3.9) participated in a crossover, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial (registered under Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, identifier no. ACTRN12620000437965). Participants consumed a HFHE meal with a 250 mL dose of either intervention (anthocyanins-rich Queen Garnet Plum) or control (apricot) juice. Blood samples and blood pressure measures were collected at baseline, 2 h and 4 h following the HFHE meal. Vascular and microvascular function were evaluated at baseline and 2 h after the HFHE meal.

RESULTS

Participants had a higher 2 h postprandial flow-mediated dilatation (+1.14%) and a higher microvascular post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia (+0.10 perfusion units per mmHg) when allocated to the anthocyanin compared to the control arm (P = 0.019 and P = 0.049, respectively). C-reactive protein was lower 4 h postprandially in the anthocyanins (1.80 mg/L, IQR 0.90) vs control arm (2.30 mg/L, IQR 1.95) (P = 0.026), accompanied by a trend for lower concentrations of interleukin-6 (P = 0.075). No significant postprandial differences were observed between treatments for blood pressure, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, serum derivatives of reactive oxidative metabolites, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, or maximum microvascular perfusion following iontophoresis of acetylcholine.

CONCLUSION

Fruit-based anthocyanins attenuated the potential postprandial detrimental effects of a HFHE challenge on parameters of vascular and microvascular function, and inflammatory biomarkers in overweight older adults. Anthocyanins may reduce cardiovascular risk associated with endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory responses to a typical high fat 'Western' meal. Further studies are required to better elucidate the clinical implications of postprandial biomarkers of CVD.

Sodium thiosulfate prevents doxorubicin-induced DNA damage and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes in mice

AIM

Doxorubicin (DOX) induces dose-dependent cardiotoxicity due to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidative stress and subsequent apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. We aimed to assess whether sodium thiosulfate (STS), which has antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties, exerts cardioprotective effects on DOX-induced cardiomyopathy.

MAIN METHODS

Male C57BL/6N mice were divided into four groups, control, DOX, STS, and DOX + STS, and administered DOX (20 or 30 mg/kg) or normal saline intraperitoneally, followed by an injection of STS (2 g/kg) or normal saline 4 h later.

KEY FINDINGS

The DOX group showed a poorer 6-day survival and decreased cardiac function than the DOX + STS group. The DOX group showed a marked increase in the plasma creatine kinase isoenzyme myocardial band (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels 10 h after DOX injection, while the DOX + STS group showed suppression of DOX-induced elevation of CK-MB and LDH levels. The DOX group showed increased 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in the heart, whereas the DOX + STS group showed increased catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and decreased 8-OHdG levels in the heart compared with DOX group, suggesting that STS reduces DOX-induced DNA damage by improving antioxidant enzymes activities in cardiomyocytes. Additionally, the DOX + STS group showed attenuation of cleaved caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation in cardiomyocytes compared with the DOX group, suggesting that STS suppresses DOX-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.

SIGNIFICANCE

STS exerts cardioprotective effects against DOX-induced cardiac dysfunction partly by improving antioxidant defense and suppressing apoptosis, indicating the therapeutic potential of STS against DOX-induced cardiomyopathy.

Relevance of oxidative stress and inflammation in frailty based on human studies and mouse models

Frailty represents a state of vulnerability and increases the risk of negative health outcomes, which is becoming an important public health problem. Over recent years, multiple independent studies have attempted to identify biomarkers that can predict, diagnose, and monitor frailty at the biological level. Among them, several promising candidates have been associated with frailty status including antioxidants and free radicals, and also inflammatory response biomarkers. In this review, we will summarize the more recent advances in this field. Moreover, the identification of scales and measurements to detect and quantify frailty in aged mice, as well as the generation of mouse models, have started to unravel the underlying biological and molecular mechanisms of frailty. We will discuss them here with an emphasis on murine models with overexpression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and loss of function of superoxide dismutase and interleukin 10, which reveal that altered oxidative stress and inflammation pathways are involved in the physiopathology of frailty. In summary, we provide the current available evidence, from both human cohorts and experimental animal models, that highlights oxidative damage and inflammation as relevant biomarkers and drivers of frailty.

Emerging Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Acute and Stable Coronary Artery Disease: Levels and Determinants

Background: Oxidative stress is crucial in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Under the generic terms “oxidative stress” (OS), many biomarkers belonging to different pathways have been proposed. Aim: To compare the levels of recently proposed OS-related parameters in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD), to evaluate their effectiveness as additive risk or illness indicators of stable and acute ischemic events, and their response over time during the course of AMI. Methods: 76 ACS, 77 CAD patients, and 63 controls were enrolled in the study. Different OS-related biomarkers, including reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM), the total antioxidant capacity (OXY), nitrite/nitrate (final nitric oxide products, NO_x), and Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), were evaluated. Moreover, time response during AMI course (admission, and 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 hours after, T0-T6, respectively) and correlation with traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking habit) were also assessed. Results: Over time, ROM progressively increased while OXY and NO_x decreased. Kinetics of LOX-1 during AMI shows that this biomarker boosts early during the acute event (T1 and T2) and then progressively decreases, being significantly lower from T0 to T6. Different OS-related biomarkers were differentially associated with CV risk factors and CAD or ACS presence. Conclusion: Differences in OS-related biomarkers (between groups, according to the response over time during AMI, and to the presence of CV risk factors) confirmed OS involvement in the transition from healthy status to stable CAD and ACS, although evidencing the heterogeneous nature of redox processes. In future, a multi-marker panel including different biomarkers and pathways of oxidative stress could be evaluated as an additive tool to be used in the CV prevention, diagnosis, patient stratification, and treatment.

Association of serum markers of oxidative stress with myocardial infarction and stroke: pooled results from four large European cohort studies

Oxidative stress contributes to endothelial dysfunction and is involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. However, associations of biomarkers of oxidative stress with MI and stroke have not yet been addressed in large cohort studies. A nested case-control design was applied in four population-based cohort studies from Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and Lithuania. Derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) levels, as a proxy for the reactive oxygen species burden, and total thiol levels (TTL), as a proxy for the reductive capacity, were measured in baseline serum samples of 476 incident MI cases and 454 incident stroke cases as well as five controls per case individually matched by study center, age and sex. Statistical analyses were conducted with multi-variable adjusted conditional logistic regression models. d-ROMs levels were associated with both MI (odds ratio (OR), 1.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.40] for 100 Carr units increase) and stroke (OR, 1.17 [95% CI 1.01-1.35] for 100 Carr units increase). TTL were only associated with stroke incidence (OR, 0.79 [95% CI 0.63-0.99] for quartiles 2-4 vs. quartile 1). The observed relationships were stronger with fatal than with non-fatal endpoints; association of TTL with fatal MI was statistically significant (OR, 0.69 [95% CI 0.51-0.93] for 100 μmol/L-increase). This pooled analysis of four large population-based cohorts suggests an important contribution of an imbalanced redox system to the etiology of mainly fatal MI and stroke events.

The effects of exercise load during development on oxidative stress levels and antioxidant potential in adulthood

The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of physical activity during the growth period as well as on oxidative stress and antioxidative potential in adulthood. The experimental animals used were four-week old male Wistar rats, which were randomly divided into three groups. The exercise loads were as follows: control (CON), treadmill exercise (TE), and jumping exercise (JE). The exercise was performed at the same time of day, at a frequency of five days per week, for eight weeks. Derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROSs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) were measured during periods of rest prior to commencement of the experiment and after the experiment. Analysis was conducted using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Schaffer's multiple comparison procedure and the significance level was set at p < 0.05. The percent increase in d-ROM levels in the JE group, which experienced short-duration intense exercise loads, was higher than that in the TE group, which experienced moderately intense exercise loads. However, BAP, which is an index of antioxidant potential, markedly decreased in adulthood in the CON group, as compared to that in the developmental period, whereas the exercise groups showed no notable changes in BAP levels. Oxidative stress levels and antioxidant potential are affected differently in adulthood, depending on the intensity of sustained exercise loads experienced during development. Results suggested that in order to increase antioxidant potential, while taking oxidative stress production into account, moderately intense exercise loads are more desirable than highly intense exercise loads.

Potential objective biomarkers for fatigue among working women

Objective:

The prediction of health impairment due to work overload is subjectively assessed based on recognized symptoms; however, objective evaluation is primarily ideal in the field of occupational health. Recently, some biomarkers of autonomic function and/or oxidative stress were reported to be associated with fatigue. This study aimed to preliminarily investigate whether these biomarkers could be objective indicators for fatigue and stress among working women.

Method:

Participants included 118 full-time female workers (mean age 37.8 years), including 55 shift workers. Self-administered questionnaires, such as visual analog scale (VAS) for general health, a lifestyle questionnaire, SF-8 for health-related quality of life, and K6 for mental health screening, were used. In addition, biomarkers such as acceleration plethysmogram (APG), reactive oxygen metabolites-derived compounds (d-ROMs), and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) were measured.

Results:

A significant association was observed between BAP and VAS (r=0.482, p<0.01) among shift workers. However, other biomarkers such as APG and d-ROMs were not significantly associated with symptoms. d-ROMs were significantly correlated with age and body mass index. There was a significant negative correlation between BAP and smoking. Results of the APG (low-frequency (LF) /high-frequency (HF) ratio) were significantly correlated with BAP, but not with d-ROMs. The LF/HF ratio and BAP for shift workers were significantly higher than those for day-time workers.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that APG and BAP are potential objective biomarkers for fatigue among working women, although further follow-up studies are needed to clarify the scope of usefulness of the biomarkers for fatigue.

Molecular hydrogen ameliorates several characteristics of preeclampsia in the Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP) rat model

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Recently, molecular hydrogen (H₂) has been shown to have therapeutic potential in various oxidative stress-related diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of H₂ on preeclampsia. We used the reduced utero-placental perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model, which has been widely used as a model of preeclampsia. H₂ water (HW) was administered orally ad libitum in RUPP rats from gestational day (GD) 12-19, starting 2 days before RUPP procedure. On GD19, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured, and samples were collected. Maternal administration of HW significantly decreased MAP, and increased fetal and placental weight in RUPP rats. The increased levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and diacron reactive oxygen metabolites as a biomarker of reactive oxygen species in maternal blood were decreased by HW administration. However, vascular endothelial growth factor level in maternal blood was increased by HW administration. Proteinuria, and histological findings in kidney were improved by HW administration. In addition, the effects of H₂ on placental villi were examined by using a trophoblast cell line (BeWo) and villous explants from the placental tissue of women with or without preeclampsia. H₂ significantly attenuated hydrogen peroxide-induced sFlt-1 expression, but could not reduce the expression induced by hypoxia in BeWo cells. H₂ significantly attenuated sFlt-1 expression in villous explants from women with preeclampsia, but not affected them from normotensive pregnancy. The prophylactic administration of H₂ attenuated placental ischemia-induced hypertension, angiogenic imbalance, and oxidative stress. These results support the theory that H₂ has a potential benefit in the prevention of preeclampsia.

Associations between XRCC1 Gene Polymorphisms and Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Genetic variations that influence DNA repair efficiency may contribute to coronary artery disease (CAD) susceptibility. Previous studies have investigated whether there was evidence of an association between polymorphisms at the X-ray repair cross complementing 1 (XRCC1) gene and susceptibility to CAD, but findings have been inconclusive. We identified eligible studies through a comprehensive literature search to determine whether an association exists between XRCC1 gene polymorphisms and CAD susceptibility. Findings were assessed using the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI), which were calculated using a fixed- or random-effects model, based on the heterogeneity of the studies. Ten eligible studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. Our pooled analysis found that XRCC1 polymorphisms were significantly associated with CAD susceptibility under recessive (Arg194Trp: OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.13–1.93; Arg399Gln: OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.12–1.89), homozygous (Arg194Trp: OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.03–1.81; Arg399Gln: OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.19–2.05), and allele (Arg399Gln: OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.06–1.32) genetic models. Following subgroup analysis by ethnicity, in Asian populations, we found evidence of associations between the XRCC1 Arg194Trp polymorphism and CAD under recessive and homozygous genetic models, and between the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and CAD under recessive, homozygous, and allele genetic models. Subgroup analysis stratified by control source revealed associations between the Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln polymorphisms and susceptibility to CAD under recessive and homozygous modes of inheritance, respectively. In addition, subgroup analysis stratified by sample size found that findings of the Arg194Trp polymorphism in large sample sizes were comparable to those found using pooled eligible studies. Based on our meta-analysis, we concluded that the XRCC1 gene polymorphisms, Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln, are associated with CAD susceptibility, specifically in Asian populations. However, additional, comprehensive and well-designed studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Serum Reactive Oxygen Metabolite Levels Predict Severe Exacerbations of Asthma

Background and Purpose

Bronchial asthma (BA) is a chronic airway disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling, which are intimately linked to chronic airway inflammation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide are generated by inflammatory cells that are involved in the pathogenesis of BA. However, the role of ROS in the management of BA patients is not yet clear. We attempted to determine the role of ROS as a biomarker in the clinical setting of BA.

Subjects and Methods

We enrolled patients with BA from 2013 through 2015 and studied the degrees of asthma control, anti-asthma treatment, pulmonary function test results, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), serum reactive oxygen metabolite (ROM) levels, and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8.

Results

We recruited 110 patients with BA. Serum ROM levels correlated with white blood cell (WBC) count (rs = 0.273, p = 0.004), neutrophil count (rs = 0.235, p = 0.014), CRP (rs = 0.403, p < 0.001), and IL-6 (rs = 0.339, p < 0.001). Serum ROM levels and IL-8 and CRP levels negatively correlated with %FEV₁ (rs = -0.240, p = 0.012, rs = -0.362, p < 0.001, rs = -0.197, p = 0.039, respectively). Serum ROM levels were significantly higher in patients who experienced severe exacerbation within 3 months than in patients who did not (339 [302–381] vs. 376 [352–414] CARR U, p < 0.025). Receiver-operating characteristics analysis showed that ROM levels correlated significantly with the occurrence of severe exacerbation (area under the curve: 0.699, 95% CI: 0.597–0.801, p = 0.025).

Conclusions

Serum levels of ROM were significantly associated with the degrees of airway obstruction, WBC counts, neutrophil counts, IL-6, and severe exacerbations. This biomarker may be useful in predicting severe exacerbations of BA.

Usefulness of the d-ROMs test for prediction of cardiovascular events

BACKGROUND

d-ROMs test developed to determine the degree of individual oxidative stress may predict cardiovascular events.

METHODS AND RESULTS

265 patients (204 men, 61 women; age, 65±13years) who had been treated for cardiovascular disease were divided evenly by quartile of baseline d-ROMs levels, and were followed up. During the observation periods of 2.66±1.47years, there were 14 (5%) deaths, 8 (3%) cardiovascular deaths, 13 (5%) major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and 51 (19%) all cardiovascular events including heart failure, cardiovascular surgery, and revascularization. Log-rank tests demonstrated that the patients in the 4th quartile (d-ROMs≧395.00U.CARR) had a higher incidence rate of cardiovascular death than those in the 2nd quartile (d-ROMs 286.00-335.00, p=0.022). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, even after adjustment for age, sex, coronary risk factors, C-reactive protein, and renal function, high d-ROMs was a risk factor for all-cause death [adjusted HR of 4th vs. 1st quartile, 10.791 (95% confidence interval 1.032-112.805), p=0.047], and all cardiovascular events [HR of 4th vs. 1st quartile, 2.651 (95% confidence interval 1.138-6.177), p=0.024].

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that d-ROMs is a useful oxidative stress marker to assess prognosis and risk of further cardiovascular events.

A comparative study of time-specific oxidative stress after acute myocardial infarction in patients with and without diabetes mellitus

Background

Oxidative stress is involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, and hyperglycemia is known to increase oxidative stress, which injures the endothelium and accelerates atherosclerosis. To clarify the relation between oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus (DM), and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), we evaluated and compared time-specific oxidative stress after AMI in patients with and without DM by simple measurement of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) levels as indices of reactive oxygen species production.

Methods

Sixty-eight AMI patients were enrolled (34 non-DM patients and 34 DM patients). Using the FRAS4 free radical analytical system, we measured d-ROMs levels in each patient at two time points: 1 and 2 weeks after AMI onset.

Results

d-ROM levels decreased significantly between week 1 and week 2 (from 475.4 ± 119.4 U.CARR to 367.7 ± 87.9 U.CARR, p < 0.001) in the non-DM patients but did not change in the DM patients (from 463.1 ± 109.3 U.CARR to 461.7 ± 126.8 U.CARR, p = 0.819). Moreover, significant correlation was found in the total patient group between d-ROMs levels at 1 week and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (r = 0.376, p = 0.041) and between d-ROM levels at 2 weeks and 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test glucose levels (r = 0.434, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Exposure to oxidative stress is greater in AMI patients with DM than AMI patients without DM. Our study results suggest that it is the continuous hyperglycemia that increases oxidative stress in these patients, causing endothelial dysfunction and accelerating atherosclerosis. However, long-term follow up study is needed to assess whether the increased oxidative stress affects patient outcomes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12872-016-0259-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Association of Circulating Follistatin-Like 1 Levels with Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Healthy Men

Objectives

Follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) is a circulating glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in cardiovascular diseases and inflammation-related disorders. We have shown that Fstl1 acts as an anti-inflammatory factor that protects against ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease. Here we examined whether plasma level of Fstl1 associates with markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in apparently healthy Japanese men.

Methods and Results

Plasma Fstl1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Circulating Fstl1 concentrations positively correlated with levels of fasting immune-reactive insulin (FIRI), high-sensitive CRP (hsCRP) and derivatives of reactive oxidative metabolites (dROMs), an indicator of oxidative stress. The levels of hsCRP positively associated with Fstl1, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride, FIRI and dROMs levels. dROMs levels positively associated with Fstl1, Hemoglobin A1c and hsCRP levels. Multiple regression analysis with confounding factors revealed that Fstl1 levels, together with BMI and FIRI, correlated with hsCRP and that Fstl1 levels correlated with dROMs.

Conclusion

Our observations indicate that measurement of plasma Fstl1 levels can be valuable for assessment of pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress conditions.

The clinical significance of plasma neopterin in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction

Aims

Although inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF), the precise pathophysiological role of inflammation in HF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) still remains unclear. Hence, we examined the clinical significance of plasma neopterin, an inflammatory biomarker, in HFpEF patients.

Methods and results

In the present study, we recruited consecutive HFpEF patients hospitalized in Kumamoto University Hospital, and further measured plasma neopterin by high‐performance liquid chromatography and serum derivatives of reactive oxidative metabolites (DROM), a new biomarker of reactive oxygen species. Compared with risk factors (number of patients, age, sex, and equal incidence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) ‐matched non‐HF patients (n = 68), plasma neopterin levels, but not serum high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein levels, were significantly increased in patients with HFpEF (n = 68) (P < 0.001 and P = 0.15, respectively), accompanied by an elevation in serum DROM levels (P < 0.001). Plasma neopterin levels in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV HFpEF patients were significantly higher than in NYHA class II patients (P < 0.004). Furthermore, plasma ln‐neopterin levels had significant and positive correlation with ln‐DROM values (r = 0.57) and parameters of cardiac diastolic dysfunction [the ratio of early transmitral flow velocity to tissue Doppler early diastolic mitral annular velocity (r = 0.34), left atrial volume index (r = 0.17), and B‐type natriuretic peptide (r = 0.38)]. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the high‐neopterin group (>51.5 nM: median value of neopterin in HFpEF patients) had a higher probability of cardiovascular events than the low‐neopterin group (log‐rank test, P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Plasma neopterin levels significantly increased in HFpEF and correlated with the severity of HF. Furthermore, high neopterin were significantly correlated with future cardiovascular events, indicating that measurement of plasma neopterin might provide clinical benefits for risk stratification of HFpEF patients. © 2015 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.

HFE p.C282Y gene variant is associated with varicose veins in Russian population

Recently, the association of polymorphism rs1800562 (p.C282Y) in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene with the increased risk of venous ulceration was shown. We hypothesized that HFE gene polymorphism might be involved not only in ulceration process, but also in susceptibility to primary varicose veins. We genotyped HFE p.C282Y (rs1800562) and p.H63D (rs1799945) variants in patients with primary varicose veins (n = 463) and in the control group (n = 754). In our study, p.282Y variant (rs1800562 A allele) was significantly associated with the risk of varicose veins (OR 1.79, 95 % CI = 1.11-2.89, P = 0.02). A borderline significant reverse association of p.63D variant (rs1799945 G allele) with venous leg ulcer development was revealed in Russians (OR 0.25, 95 % CI = 0.06-1.00, P = 0.05), but not in the meta-analysis (P = 0.56). We conclude that the HFE gene polymorphism can affect the risk of developing primary varicose veins.

The Pivotal Role of a Novel Biomarker of Reactive Oxygen Species in Chronic Kidney Disease

Risk stratification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is clinically important because such patients are at high risk of cardiovascular events. Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) are reported to be closely associated with the pathophysiology of CKD, there are few useful ROS biomarkers known for CKD patients. Hence, our objectives in this study were to investigate whether serum derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (DROM), a novel biomarker of ROS, is involved in the pathophysiology of CKD (case-control study), and is a significant predictor of future cardiovascular events in CKD patients (follow-up study).Patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled and underwent coronary angiography. Patients with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration ratio <60  mL/min/1.73 m(2)  and/or proteinuria, n = 324) were compared with those without CKD (non-CKD). Serum DROM was measured at stable conditions. A case-control study of the 324 CKD patients and 263 non-CKD patients was conducted after matching risk factors, and a follow-up study of the 324 CKD patients was performed. CKD patients were divided into low- and high-DROM groups using their median value (348 unit; called the Carratelli unit [U.CARR]), and followed until the occurrence of cardiovascular events.DROM levels were significantly higher in risk factors-matched CKD patients than in risk factors-matched non-CKD patients (347.0 [301.8-391.8] U.CARR vs. 338.5 [299.8-384.3] U.CARR, P = 0.03). During mean 23 ± 14 months follow-up of 324 CKD patients, 83 cardiovascular events were recorded. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a higher probability of cardiovascular events in CKD patients with high DROM than in those with low DROM (P < 0.001, log-rank test). Multivariate Cox hazard analysis including significant predictors in simple Cox hazard analysis demonstrated that high DROM was a significant and independent predictor of cardiovascular events in CKD patients (hazard ratio: 1.76, 95% confidence interval: 1.10-2.82, P = 0.02).In conclusion, serum DROM values were significant and independent predictors of cardiovascular events in CKD patients, indicating that the measurements of DROM might provide clinical benefits for risk stratification of CKD patients.