Level of advanced oxidation protein products is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis

Combined effect of pantoprazole and mesenchymal stem cells on experimentally induced gastric ulcer: implication of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis pathways

Gastric ulcer (GU) is one of the most common diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract that affects millions of people worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the possible alleviating effect of a combined treatment of pantoprazole (PANTO) and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) in comparison with each treatment alone on the healing process of the experimentally induced GU in rats, and to uncover the involved pathways. Rats were divided into five groups: (1) Control, (2) GU, (3) PANTO, (4) ADSCs and (5) ADSCs + PANTO. Markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis were assessed. The current data indicated that PANTO-, ADSCs- and ADSCs + PANTO-treated groups showed significant drop (p < 0.05) in serum advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEPs) along with significant elevation (p < 0.05) in serum TAC versus the untreated GU group. Moreover, the treated groups (PANTO, ADSCs and ADSCs + PANTO) displayed significant down-regulation (p < 0.05) in gastric nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and caspase-3 along with significant up-regulation (p < 0.05) in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) genes expression compared to the untreated GU group. Immunohistochemical examination of gastric tissue for transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) showed moderate to mild and weak immune reactions, respectively in the PANTO-, ADSCs- and ADSCs + PANTO-treated rat. Histopathological investigation of gastric tissue revealed moderate to slight histopathological alterations and almost normal histological features of the epithelial cells, gastric mucosal layer, muscularis mucosa and submucosa in PANTO-, ADSCs- and ADSCs + PANTO-treated rats, respectively. Conclusively, the co-treatment with ADSCs and PANTO evidenced sententious physiological protection against GU by suppressing oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammation and reducing apoptosis with consequent acceleration of gastric tissue healing process.

A Preliminary Evaluation of Advanced Oxidation Protein Products (AOPPs) as a Potential Approach to Evaluating Prognosis in Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients and Its Implication in Tumour Angiogenesis: A 7-Year Single-Centre Study

Breast cancer (BrC) is a highly prevalent tumour among women. The high incidence and mortality rate of BrC prompts researchers to search for new markers that will provide information on the possible impact of the therapy on the risk of cancer-related events. This study aimed to investigate whether the level of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) may have a potential impact on disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in BrC patients with early-stage cancer. Additionally, we tried to assess the relationship between AOPPs and angiogenic parameters. In this study, the pre- and post-treatment AOPP levels were examined in the serum of 70 newly diagnosed BrC women. The receiver operating characteristic curve identified pre- and post-treatment AOPPs to be above 9.37 μM and 10.39 μM, respectively, as the best cut-off values to predict the risk of cancer relapse. Additionally, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that pre- and post-treatment AOPPs above 9.37 μM and 10.39 μM were associated with significantly poorer OS. The uni- and multivariate Cox regression analysis highlighted that lower levels of pre- and post-treatment AOPPs were associated with a longer duration without relapse or cancer-related death. A positive correlation between concentrations of pre-treatment AOPPs and vascular endothelial growth factor A, and negative correlations with levels of soluble forms of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type 1 and 2, were found. In conclusion, AOPPs appear to have an important role in predicting cancer-related events and may potentially serve as a simple prognostic marker in clinical practice.

Firefighters With Higher Cardiorespiratory Fitness Demonstrate Lower Markers of Cardiovascular Disease Risk

OBJECTIVE

High cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with reduced markers of oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors; however, this relationship has not been elucidated in firefighters. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in markers of CVD risk between firefighters who have either high or low levels of CRF.

METHODS

Forty-six firefighters participated in a maximal graded exercise test and a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan and provided a fasted blood sample. V˙O 2max values were categorized based on American College of Sports Medicine guidelines to establish high- and low-fitness groups.

RESULTS

High fitness firefighters demonstrated significantly higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower markers of CVD risk: cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, C-reactive protein, and advanced oxidation protein products concentrations.

CONCLUSION

Firefighters are encouraged to maintain high CRF to reduce risk of CVD.

Are Any Changes in Carotid Intima–Media Thickness Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk Among Adult Bantu Central African Hypertensive Patients from Monkole and Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospitals?

Background

Several classic/traditional risk factors are associated with intima–media thickness (IMT), a novel risk of cardio metabolic risk (CMR) in the literature but not in Kinshasa, a megacity prone to CMR. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate potential correlations between inflammation, kidney function, psychological stress, hemodynamics, and changes in IMT.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out between 2018 and 2021 within Monkole and Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospitals, respectively, and randomly selected from 10 health structures from East and West of Kinshasa, Capital of Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). A random sample of adult hypertensive Bantu Central Africans was examined after bivariate correlations and multiple linear regression.

Results

Out of 280 patients with 140 men and 140 women aged 62 ± 11 years, the mean carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) was 1.06 ± 0.5 mm and 73% (n = 204) patients had uncontrolled hypertension. After controlling for confounders, 52.9% variations (R2) of CIMT were independently and significantly (P = 0.037) predicted by CRP, 24-hour proteinuria, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, duration of hypertension, heart rate, hip circumference, and psychological stress with Equation Y = 0.717 + 0.87 × CRP + 0.02 × 24 H – proteinuria + 0.005 × urinary albumin/creatinine ratio + 0.05 × duration of hypertension + 0.001 × heart rate + 0.006 × hip circumference + 0.017 × psychological stress.

Conclusion

There is an urgent need to control inflammation, impaired renal function, cardiac rhythm, peripheral obesity, longer duration of hypertension management, and stress, which are emerging as specific novel determinants of the subclinical atherosclerosis for those Bantu Central African hypertensive patients.