Body mass index is independently associated with xanthine oxidase activity in overweight/obese population

Purpose: The pathophysiological mechanism of the relationship between xanthine oxidase (XO) activity and obesity has not been completely elucidated. Since inflammation and oxidative stress are regarded as key determinants of enlarged adipose tissue, we aimed to investigate the association between oxidative stress (as measured with XO activity), inflammation [as measured with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)] and obesity [as measured with body mass index (BMI)]. In addition, we wanted to examine whether hsCRP itself plays an independent role in XO activity increase or it is only mediated through obesity. Methods: A total of 118 overweight/obese volunteers (mean age 54.76 ± 15.13 years) were included in the current cross-sectional study. Anthropometric, biochemical parameters, and blood pressure were obtained. Results: Significant differences between age, BMI, waist circumference, concentrations of uric acid and hsCRP, as well as xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) activities were evident among XO tertile groups. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that BMI (beta = 0.241, p = 0.012) and XDH (beta = − 0.489, p < 0.001) are the independent predictors of XO activity (R2-adjusted = 0.333), whereas hsCRP lost its independent role in XO activity prediction. Conclusion: Obesity (as determined with increased BMI) is an independent predictor of high XO activity in overweight/obese population. Level of Evidence: Level V: cross-sectional descriptive study

Oxidative stress and inflammation parameters-novel biomarkers for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Objective: The pathophysiological mechanisms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are not well elucidated. It is assumed that oxidative stress and inflammation are the key underlying culprits for its onset and progression. To gain deeper insight into these processes, we have evaluated several oxidative stress parameters, inflammation markers [i.e., high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), serum amyloid A1 (SAA1)], soluble programmed cell death-ligand 1 (sPD-L1), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in IPF patients. Patients and Methods: Biochemistry analyses were done in 30 consecutive IPF patients and 30 age and gender-matched healthy control group (CG). Results: IPF patients had significantly higher advanced oxidation protein products (p<0.001), pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (p=0.010), total oxidative status (p<0.001), and ischemia modified albumin (p<0.001) compared to CG. Lower total antioxidant status and total sulfhydryl groups (tSGH) and significantly higher sPD-L1, hsCRP (p<0.001 for all), SAA1 proteins (p=0.014) and [25(OH)D] severe deficiency [11.0 (9.6-15.1) nmol/L] in IPF patients compared to CG were observed. Paraoxonase 1 activity and hsCRP level were lower, while tSHG and sPD-L1 were higher in IPF patients with more severe disease (i.e., II+III stage compared to I stage, p<0.05 for all). Conclusions: IPF patients are in a state of profound oxidative stress compared to healthy people. The inflammatory component of the disease was confirmed by higher hsCRP and SAA1, but lower [25(OH)D] in IPF than in healthy people. Also, higher levels of sPD-L1 in patients with IPF compared to healthy individuals suggest that sPD-L1 may have a significant role in immune response in IPF. © 2022 Verduci Editore s.r.l. All rights reserved

Triassic metasediments in the internal Dinarides (Kopaonik area, southern Serbia) : stratigraphy, paleogeographic and tectonic significance

Strongly deformed and metamorphosed sediments in the Studenica Valley and Kopaonik area in southern Serbia expose the easternmost occurrences of Triassic sediments in the Dinarides. In these areas, Upper Paleozoic terrigenous sediments are overlain by Lower Triassic siliciclastics and limestones and by Anisian shallow-water carbonates. A pronounced facies change to hemipelagic and distal turbiditic, cherty metalimestones (Kopaonik Formation) testifies a Late Anisian drowning of the former shallow-water carbonate shelf. Sedimentation of the Kopaonik Formation was contemporaneous with shallow-water carbonate production on nearby carbonate platforms that were the source areas of diluted turbidity currents reaching the depositional area of this formation. The Kopaonik Formation was dated by conodont faunas as Late Anisian to Norian and possibly extends into the Early Jurassic. It is therefore considered an equivalent of the grey Hallstatt facies of the Eastern Alps, the Western Carpathians, and the Albanides—Hellenides. The coeval carbonate platforms were generally situated in more proximal areas of the Adriatic margin, whereas the distal margin was dominated by hemipelagic/pelagic and distal turbiditic sedimentation, facing the evolving Neotethys Ocean to the east. A similar arrangement of Triassic facies belts can be recognized all along the evolving Meliata-Maliac- Vardar branch of Neotethys, which is in line with a ‘one-ocean-hypothesis’ for the Dinarides: all the ophiolites presently located southwest of the Drina-Ivanjica and Kopaonik thrust sheets are derived from an area to the east, and the Drina-Ivanjica and Kopaonik units emerge in tectonic windows from below this ophiolite nappe. On the base of the Triassic facies distribution we see neither argument for an independent Dinaridic Ocean nor evidence for isolated terranes or blocks