The effect of opium addiction on serum adiponectin and leptin levels in male subjects

Serum adiponectin and leptin levels have been shown to be related to obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Opium addiction has a positive association with endocrine system disorders. The relationship between adipokines and opium addiction is unclear. In the present study, we aimed to determine serum adiponectin and leptin levels in opium addicted subjects. Methods: 176 men, 88 opium addicts and 88 non-addicts were randomly selected from subjects who participated in Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk factors Study (KERCADRS); a population-based study. Serum adiponectin and leptin levels were measured using ELISA and compared between two groups. We adjusted the effect of some confounding factors such as the patients’ demographic, clinical and medical history in multivariate analysis model. Results: The serum level of adiponectin in opium addicts was significantly lower than control group (6.5±3.6 vs. 9.8±8.1 μg/ml, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in serum leptin level between two groups (11.8±10.3 ng/ml in control group vs. 11.5±10.8 ng/ml in opium addicts, p = 0.80). In the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age, cigarette smoking, body mass index, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, triglyceride and high and low density lipoproteins, the negative association between opium addiction and decreased adiponectin level was still present (β = -0.144, P value = 0.005). Conclusions: The results showed that opium addiction reduces serum adiponectin level. Since adiponectin has been shown to have anti-diabetic and anti-atherogenic effects, its reduction may account for increase in the risk of metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and CVD amongst opium addicted patients

Elevated Plasma Homocysteine Concentration in Opium-Addicted Individuals

Background: Although the triggering role of both opium use and elevated plasma homocysteine level for progressing atherosclerosis and, therefore, appearing coronary heart disease has been clearly determined, no study are available with respect to the relation between these to risk profiles. In the present study and for the first time, we hypothesized that the opium addiction can be potentially correlated with elevated homocysteine concentration. Methods: 217 persons (103 opium-addicted and 114 non-addicted) were randomly selected from the Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Study (KERCADRS), Iran, as a population-based, epidemiological prospective study. In all participants, an enzyme immunoassay kit was used to measure homocysteine in serum samples. Findings: The serum level of homocysteine was significantly higher in the opium-addicted ones compared to non-addicted individuals (11.49 ± 7.45 vs. 8.02 ± 3.87 μmol/l) (P 15 μmol/l (P < 0.001). On the other hand, individuals addicted to opiates exhibited significantly elevated odds of having homocysteine level higher than 15 [odds ratio (OR) = 8.244, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.117-21.806]. Multivariable linear regression model showed that the opium addiction could strongly predict elevated homocysteine level in the study individuals [beta = 3.524, standard error (SE) = 0.852] (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Opium consumption can be strongly accompanied with the elevation of plasma homocysteine concentration, and thus opium addiction can exhibit elevated odds of having hyperhomocysteinemia

B12 and Folate Concentrations in Opium Addicts Compared to Healthy Subjects: A Case Control Study from Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Study

Background: Opium addiction is a global problem which has implicated many societies. Opium addiction and drug abuse is related to harmful consequences which affect life style, biochemical factors, and vitamins values, and also is considered as a risk for heart diseases. Folate and B12 levels are related to homocysteine and studies about their levels in opium addicts are controversial; therefore, we designed this study to evaluate B12 and folate values in opium addicts. Methods: From the Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Study (KERCADRS) which is a population-based study, we randomly selected 340 men and entered them into two groups: case (n = 170) and control group (n = 170). Then vitamin B12 and folate levels were measured. Findings: Opium addiction did not change B12 and folate levels significantly in opium addicts compared to non-addict control subjects. However, only some variables including blood pressure (BP) and diabetes positively and cigarette smoking, triglyceride (TG), alcohol, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) history negatively affected folate, and none of clinical and demographic variables influenced the B12 levels (P > 0.050). TG had significant effects on B12 and folate levels although opium addiction did not show any impact. Conclusion: High TG levels were accompanied by low levels of B12 and folate. Reduced B12 and folate values are accompanied by serum homocysteine elevation. As TG elevates in opium addicts, it can be considered as an important factor which affects vitamins levels and reduces their absorption. Opium addiction elevates homocysteine level, since we can conclude that homocysteine elevation in opium addicts is independent of B12 and folate level

miR-33 inhibition attenuates the effect of liver X receptor agonist T0901317 on expression of liver X receptor alpha in mice liver

BACKGROUND: microRNAs play pivotal roles in metabolism and other aspects of cell biology. microRNA-33 and liver X receptor (LXR) affect lipid metabolism and cholesterol trafficking. In this study, we evaluated effects of co-administration of miR-33 inhibitor and LXR activator on LXR-&alpha; and adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression in mice liver. METHODS: Twenty-four mice were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 6). Group 1 mice received standard chow diet without any treatment, group 2 received 30 mg/kg/48 hour LXR agonist (T0901317), group 3 received 1 mg/kg/48 hour in vivo locked nucleic acids (LNA) anti-miR-33 and group 4 received both T0901317 and in vivo LNA anti-miR-33. All treatments were administrated through intraperitoneal injection (IP). After 7 days and at the end of the study, mice were sacrificed, liver tissues were excised and blood samples were collected. LXR-&alpha; and ABCA1 genes and protein expression were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: LXR activation caused LXR-&alpha; and ABCA1 mRNA (P &lt; 0.050) and protein elevation as compared to control (P &lt; 0.001). miR-33 inhibition attenuates T0901317 effect on LXR-&alpha; expression in group IV. Co-administration of T0901317 and anti-miR-33 remarkably elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, compared to control group (P = 0.001). Separate administration of T0901317 and anti-miR-33 also elevated HDL-C levels (P &lt; 0.010). CONCLUSION: Co-administration of T0901317 and anti-miR-33 can be considered as a good therapeutic alternative for atherosclerosis because miR-33 inhibition reduced lipogenic effects of LXR-&alpha; activator and also helps LXR-&alpha; agonist to increase reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and also HDL-C as antiatherogenic effects. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div

Evaluation of the effect of interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase (IRAK) inhibitor on PPAR.γ and GLUT.4 genes expression in muscle tissueof insulin resistant mice

Background and Aim: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder with an increasing prevalence in the world. Obesity plays a pivotal role in increasing the risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Obesity dependent mild-inflammation leads to an imbalance in the secretion of adipokines and thereby reduces insulin sensitivity. The TLR family plays an important role in these inflammatory pathways, and therefore inhibition of IRAK, as a key mediator of the pathway, plays a role in inhibiting inflammation and insulin resistance. In this study we investigated the effect of this inhibitor on the expression levels of PPAR-γ and GLUT.4, which are involved in insulin sensitivity. Materials and Methods: In this study, male C57BL/6J mice were used for induction of insulin resistance. Mice were divided into 6 groups including standard diet, high fat diet, high fat diet + solvent, high fat diet + pioglitazone, high fat diet + IRAK inhibitor and high fat diet + combination of pioglitazone-IRAK inhibitor. At the end of the study, the mice were killed and expression levels of GLUT4 and TPPAR-γ in muscle tissue of the mice were measured by Real Time PCR. Results: This study showed that pioglitazone, IRAK inhibitor, and the combination of IRAK inhibitor- Pioglitazone increased PPAR-γ expression in muscle tissue, but IRAK inhibitor unlike pioglitazone had no effect on GLUT.4 expression. Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that insulin sensitizing effects of IRAK inhibitor may be induced by increasing PPAR-γ expression level

Effects of digoxin on cardiac iron content in rat model of iron overload

BACKGROUND: Plasma iron excess can lead to iron accumulation in heart, kidney and liver. Heart failure is a clinical widespread syndrome. In thalassemia, iron overload cardiomyopathy is caused by iron accumulation in the heart that leads to cardiac damage and heart failure. Digoxin increases the intracellular sodium concentration by inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase that affects Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX), which raises intracellular calcium and thus attenuates heart failure. The mechanism of iron uptake into cardiomyocytes is not exactly understood. METHODS: We assessed the effect of different concentrations of digoxin on cardiac iron content in rat model of iron overload. Digoxin had been administrated intraperitoneally (IP) for one week before main study began to assure increased digoxin levels. Group 1 received four IP injections of iron-dextran (12.5mg/100g body weight) every 5 days evenly distributed over 20 days. Groups 2-4 received 0.5, 1 and 5 mg/kg/day IP digoxin, respectively. Last three groups 5-7 received iron-dextran as group 1 and digoxin concentrations 0.5, 1 and 5 mg/kg/day respectively. RESULTS: Cardiac iron contents were significantly higher in iron overload groups that received different concentrations (0.5, 1 and 5 mg/kg/day) of digoxin than their counterparts in control groups and this pattern was also observed in pathology assessment. CONCLUSION: It seems that digoxin plays an important role in iron transport into heart in iron overload state but exact mechanism of this phenomenon is not clear. L-type Ca2+ channels are good candidates that probably could be involved in iron accumulation in cardiomyocytes. Thus it would be better to reconsider digoxin administration in thalassemia and iron overload conditions&nbsp;</p

Assessment of Safety and Therapeutic Efficacy of Rosa damascena L. and Quercus infectoria on Cardiovascular Performance of Normal and Hyperlipidemic Rabbits: Physiologically Based Approach

According to the use of Quercus infectoria (QI) and Rosa damascena L. (RD) for therapeutic purposes and lack of adequate information about their cardiovascular effects, we investigated the cardiovascular indices of rabbits which chronically pretreated with these agents. Animal groups were control group (CTL), RD and QI groups with normal chow plus 1.5 g RD and QI extracts, respectively, in each kg of the diet for 45 days; Hyperlipidemic (H) group received high-fat diet for 45 days; H+RD and H+QI groups received high fat diet plus QI and RD extracts, respectively. Blood pressure was greater in H+RD group than CTL, RD, and H groups. Left ventricular developed pressure and left ventricular systolic pressure increased significantly in H+RD group versus CTL and RD groups ( and , resp.) and in H+QI groups ( versus QI groups). Left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) showed significant reduction in H+QI group versus H group. QI attenuated the values of total cholesterol, LDL, TG, and atherogenic indices of plasma when coadministrated with a high-fat diet. The results suggest the antilipidemic and antiatherogenic effects of QI. In addition, the use of RD along with a high-fat diet may increase the risk of hypertension in rabbits

Prevalence and 5-year incidence rate of dyslipidemia and its association with other coronary artery disease risk factors in Iran: Results of the Kerman coronary artery disease risk factors study (Phase 2).

BackgroundDyslipidemia (DL) is an important risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD). We evaluated DL prevalence and its 5-year incidence rate in southeastern Iran, to assess the severity and growth rate of this CAD risk factor in the region.Materials and methodsThis study was a part of the Kerman CAD Risk Factors Study Phase 2 (2014-2018) among 9996 individuals aged 15-80 years, from whom 2820 individuals had also participated in Phase 1 (2009-2011). In mg/dl, cholesterol ≥240 and/or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥160 and/or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol &lt;40 for men and &lt;50 for women and/or triglyceride &gt;200 were defined as DL.ResultsThe lipid profile of 9911 persons was analyzed. Overall 19.6% had borderline cholesterol and 6.4% suffered from hypercholesterolemia. 56.6% of the population (62.5% of females vs. 48.5% of males) suffer from DL, from whom 73.4% were undiagnosed. Female gender, advanced age, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, and depression predicted DL in the study population. The prevalence of DL was significantly lower in Phase 2 (56.6%) compared to Phase 1 (81.4%). The prevalence of undiagnosed DL (UDL) and diagnosed DL (DDL) was 40.7% and 16.2%, respectively. The 5-year incidence rate of DL was 2.58 persons/100 person-years (3.24 in females vs. 2.20 in males).ConclusionAlthough there were promising signs of a reduction in DL and increase in DDL in the last 5 years, a high percentage of the population have DL yet, from whom mostly are undiagnosed. DL was significantly associated with other CAD risk factors. Therefore, the health-care management system should improve its strategies to reduce the health burden of DL