Assessment of differences on inflammatory and metabolic indicators between pre- and post-menopause women among hypertensive and/or diabetic patients

To assess the differences on inflammatory and metabolic indicators between pre-menopause and post-menopause women among hypertensive and/or diabetic type-2 women. A total of 236 obese women included in the study have chosen from Primary Health Care Centers in Gaza City, Palestine, through a cross-sectional study. Selection depended on health status hypertensive and/or diabetic type-2 (HT, T2DM, HT+T2DM). In HT group, post-menopause women had significant higher values than pre-menopause women on TC (200±47 vs. 172.5±55 mg dL–1, p<0.01) and TG (166±89 vs. 120.5±82 mg dL–1, p<0.01). In T2DM group, post-menopause women had significant higher values than pre-menopause women on SBP (132±24 vs. 120±20 mm Hg, p<0.01), TC (213±40 vs. 185±46 mg dL–1, p<0.05) and TG (196±118 vs. 136±64 mg dL–1, p<0.05). Finally, in HT+T2DM group, post-menopause women had significant higher value than pre-menopause women on SBP (144±21 vs. 133±14 mmHg, p<0.05), TC (214±54 vs. 181±55 mg dL–1, p<0.05), TG (231±83 vs. 158±85 mg dL–1, p<0.05), IL-6 (2.32±1.34 vs. 1.71±1.45 pg mL–1, p<0.05) and BMI (36.48±7.1 vs. 32.18±5.6 kg m‾ 2, p<0.05). Post-menopause women diseased of HT and T2DM accompanied with higher rates of BMI are at risk for developing inflammatory and metabolic morbidities

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a review of initiators and protective factors

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a collective term comprising of a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. These diseases are the largest cause of morbidity and premature death worldwide. Coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease (stroke) are the most frequently occurring diseases. The two major initiators involved in the development of atherosclerotic CVD are vascular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid oxidation. In atherosclerosis development, ROS is associated with rapid loss of anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic activities of the endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO·) resulting in endothelial dysfunction. In part involving activation of the transcription factor NF-κB, ROS have been involved in signaling cascades leading to vascular pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic gene expression. ROS is also a potent activator of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which indicate plaque destabilization and rupture. The second initiator involved in atherosclerotic CVD is the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Oxidation of LDL in vessel wall leads to an inflammatory cascade that activates atherogenic pathway leading to foam cell formation. The accumulation of foam cells leads to fatty streak formation, which is the earliest visible atherosclerotic lesion. In contrast, the cardiac sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a) and hepatic apolipoprotein E (apoE) expression can improve cardiovascular function. SERCA2a regulates the cardiac contractile function by lowering cytoplasmic calcium levels during relaxation, and affecting NO· action in vascular cells, while apoE is a critical ligand in the plasma clearance of triglyceride- and cholesterol-rich lipoproteins

Human plasma N-glycosylation as analyzed by MALDI-FTICR-MS associates with markers of inflammation and metabolic health

Glycosylation is an abundant co- and post-translational protein modification of importance to protein processing and activity. While not template-defined, glycosylation does reflect the biological state of an organism and is a high-potential biomarker for disease and patient stratification. However, to interpret a complex but informative sample like the total plasma N-glycome (TPNG), it is important to establish its baseline association with plasma protein levels and systemic processes. Thus far, large scale studies (n > 200) of the TPNG have been performed with methods of chromatographic and electrophoretic separation, which, while being informative, are limited in resolving the structural complexity of plasma N-glycans. Mass spectrometry (MS) has the opportunity to contribute additional information on, among others, antennarity, sialylation, and the identity of high-mannose type species. Here, we have used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR)- MS to study the TPNGs of 2,144 healthy middle-aged individuals from the Leiden Longevity Study, to allow association analysis with markers of metabolic health and inflammation. To achieve this, N-glycans were enzymatically released from their protein backbones, labeled at the reducing end with 2-aminobenzoic acid, and following purification analyzed by negative ion mode intermediate pressure MALDI-FTICR-MS. In doing so, we achieved the relative quantification of 61 glycan compositions, ranging from Hex4HexNAc2 to Hex7HexNAc6dHex1Neu5Ac4, as well as that of 39 glycosylation traits derived thereof. Next to confirming known associations of glycosylation with age and sex by MALDI-FTICR-MS, we report novel associations with C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), body mass index (BMI), leptin, adiponectin, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), insulin, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and smoking. Overall, the bisection, galactosylation and sialylation of diantennary species, the sialylation of tetraantennary species, and the size of high-mannose species proved to be important plasma characteristics associated with inflammation and metabolic health

Understanding the risk and protective factors associated with obesity amongst Libyan adults - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: There are a range of multifaceted behavioural and societal factors that combine to contribute to the causes of obesity. However, it is not yet known how particularly countries' cultural norms are contributing to the global obesity epidemic. Despite obesity reaching epidemic proportions in Libya, since the discovery of oil in 1959, there is a lack of information about obesity in Libyan adults. This study sought to explore the views of key informants about the risk and protective factors associated with obesity among Libyan men and women. METHODS: A series of qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with Libyan healthcare professionals and community leaders. RESULTS: Eleven main themes (risk and protective factors) were identified, specifically: socio-demographic and biological factors, socioeconomic status, unhealthy eating behaviours, knowledge about obesity, social-cultural influences, Libya's healthcare facilities, physical activity and the effect of the neighbourhood environment, sedentary behaviour, Libyan food-subsidy policy, and suggestions for preventing and controlling obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Key recommendations are that an electronic health information system needs to be implemented and awareness about obesity and its causes and consequences needs to be raised among the public in order to dispel the many myths and misconceptions held by Libyans about obesity. The current political instability within Libya is contributing to a less-active lifestyle for the population due to security concerns and the impact of curfews. Our findings have implications for Libyan health policy and highlight the urgent need for action towards mitigating against the obesity epidemic in Libya

Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: exercise as medicine?

Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined as a cluster of at least three out of five clinical risk factors: abdominal (visceral) obesity, hypertension, elevated serum triglycerides, low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and insulin resistance. It is estimated to affect over 20% of the global adult population. Abdominal (visceral) obesity is thought to be the predominant risk factor for metabolic syndrome and as predictions estimate that 50% of adults will be classified as obese by 2030 it is likely that metabolic syndrome will be a significant problem for health services and a drain on health economies.Evidence shows that regular and consistent exercise reduces abdominal obesity and results in favourable changes in body composition. It has therefore been suggested that exercise is a medicine in its own right and should be prescribed as such. Purpose of this review: This review provides a summary of the current evidence on the pathophysiology of dysfunctional adipose tissue (adiposopathy). It describes the relationship of adiposopathy to metabolic syndrome and how exercise may mediate these processes, and evaluates current evidence on the clinical efficacy of exercise in the management of abdominal obesity. The review also discusses the type and dose of exercise needed for optimal improvements in health status in relation to the available evidence and considers the difficulty in achieving adherence to exercise programmes. Conclusion: There is moderate evidence supporting the use of programmes of exercise to reverse metabolic syndrome although at present the optimal dose and type of exercise is unknown. The main challenge for health care professionals is how to motivate individuals to participate and adherence to programmes of exercise used prophylactically and as a treatment for metabolic syndrome

DNA damage in obesity: Initiator, promoter and predictor of cancer

Epidemiological evidence linking obesity with increased risk of cancer is steadily growing, although the causative aspects underpinning this association are only partially understood. Obesity leads to a physiological imbalance in the regulation of adipose tissue and its normal functioning, resulting in hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and inflammation. These states promote the generation of oxidative stress, which is exacerbated in obesity by a decline in anti-oxidant defence systems. Oxidative stress can have a marked impact on DNA, producing mutagenic lesions that could prove carcinogenic. Here we review the current evidence for genomic instability, sustained DNA damage and accelerated genome ageing in obesity. We explore the notion of genotoxicity, ensuing from systemic oxidative stress, as a key oncogenic factor in obesity. Finally, we advocate for early, pre-malignant assessment of genome integrity and stability to inform surveillance strategies and interventions

Antioxidant and oxidative stress: a mutual interplay in age-related diseases

Aging is the progressive loss of organ and tissue function over time. Growing older is positively linked to cognitive and biological degeneration such as physical frailty, psychological impairment, and cognitive decline. Oxidative stress is considered as an imbalance between pro- and antioxidant species, which results in molecular and cellular damage. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of age-related diseases. Emerging research evidence has suggested that antioxidant can control the autoxidation by interrupting the propagation of free radicals or by inhibiting the formation of free radicals and subsequently reduce oxidative stress, improve immune function, and increase healthy longevity. Indeed, oxidation damage is highly dependent on the inherited or acquired defects in enzymes involved in the redox-mediated signaling pathways. Therefore, the role of molecules with antioxidant activity that promote healthy aging and counteract oxidative stress is worth to discuss further. Of particular interest in this article, we highlighted the molecular mechanisms of antioxidants involved in the prevention of age-related diseases. Taken together, a better understanding of the role of antioxidants involved in redox modulation of inflammation would provide a useful approach for potential interventions, and subsequently promoting healthy longevity

Evaluation of hypertension and diabetes risk factors and the effects of Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C on inflammatory markers in hypertensive and diabetic obese adults in Palestine

Obesity or an increase in body adiposity has been envisaged by WHO as the fifth leading risk of global deaths. It was well associated with metabolic disorders as hypertension (HT) and type-2 diabetes (T2DM). Adipose tissue plays an active role in endocrine function by secreting adipokines that involve inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. A cross-sectional study involved 484 adult subjects in seven primary healthcare centers in Gaza City, Palestine, was carried out to determine whether the alteration of inflammatory indicators was associated with obesity and/or disease conditions. After that, 108 obese patients of HT and/or T2DM were selected from the cross-sectional part and assigned into three equal groups (each group 36 patients); Control, Vitamin C (1 gram/daily), and Omega-3 FAs (0.5 gram/daily) via a randomized controlled trial (RCT); in order to identify the effects of intervention factors on inflammatory and metabolic markers. The results of cross-sectional part indicated that obesity was the main risk factor associated with alteration of Adiponectin, C reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Uncontrolled HT and T2DM were also risk factors associated with Adiponectin and CRP alteration. In the RCT part, balance was achieved between the groups and the confounders were neutralized at the randomization time. 95 (88%) patients were completed to final analysis. Within Vitamin C group, the significant reductions (P˂0.05) were detected for CRP [from 14.86±9.20 to 7.74±4.53 mg/L], IL-6 [from 2.20±0.75 to 1.40±0.53 pg/mL], fasting blood glucose (FBG) [from 188.13±81.24 to 126.16±34.06 mg/dL], and triglyceride (TG) [from 223.81±87.88 to 155.10±48.12 mg/dL]. Within Omega-3 FAs group, the significant changes (P˂0.05) were detected for CRP [from 14.78±10.73 to 8.49±6.69 mg/L], FBG [from 178.13±58.5 to 157.32±59.7 mg/dL], and TG [from 209.23±108.3 to 167.0±79.9 mg/dL]. Within control group, the significant changes (P˂0.05) were detected for FBG [from 187.15±64.8 to 161.91±37.9mg/dL] and TG [from 202.91±107.0 to 183.45±95.82 mg/dL]. In conclusion, at the endpoint, repeated comparisons between the groups detected the efficacy of Vitamin C on CRP, IL-6, and FBG, meaning that Vitamin C supplementation has treating effects while Omega-3 FAs supplementation has protective effect