Oxidative Stress Does Not Influence Subjective Pain Sensation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Oxidative stress (OS) has been proposed as a significant causative and propagating factor in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Modulation of OS is possible through antioxidants and inhibition of oxidizing enzymes. Thirty-one IBD patients and thirty-two controls were included in the study. The aim was to examine the levels of OS in colonic tissue of IBD requiring surgical intervention and control group, and their association with pain intensity. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity as markers of antioxidant defense were determined. Cyclooxygenases activities (Total COX, COX-1 and COX-2) were measured as prooxidant enzymes. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentrations were measured to evaluate lipid peroxidation. Disease activity was assessed, and each subject filled out VAS and Laitinen’s pain assessment scales. Correlation between the OS, pain intensity, disease activity parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP), number of stools passed daily, disease duration, and dietary habits was investigated. No TAC differences were found between the groups. A significant decrease of SOD activity and GSH and GSSG levels was seen in IBD patients vs. controls, while GPX activity was diminished significantly only in CD patients. CAT and COX-1 activity was increased, and COX-2 significantly decreased in IBD. TBARS were significantly higher in CD patients compared to control group. No correlation was found between pain scores, inflammatory status, disease activity, disease duration, or dietary habits and OS markers. In our study, OS did not influence pain sensation reported by IBD patients

Lipid Profile, Lp(a) Levels, and HDL Quality in Adolescents with Down Syndrome

The improvement in the lifespan of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) has created interest in the context of the development of age-related diseases. Among them is atherosclerosis-based cardiovascular disease (CVD), which seems to be an especially urgent and important issue. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the lipid markers that may clarify cardiovascular risk profiles in individuals with DS. To this end, we analyzed lipid profile parameters, including lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels, protein composition, and the antioxidative properties of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), in 47 adolescents with DS and 47 individuals without DS. Compared with the control group (C), subjects with DS had significantly increased concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (105 ± 31 vs. 90 ± 24 mg/dL, p = 0.014), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (120 ± 32 vs. 103 ± 26 mg/dL, p = 0.006), and triglycerides (72 [55–97] vs. 60 [50–77] mg/dL, p = 0.048). We found that patients with DS were characterized by significantly higher Lp(a) levels (31.9 [21.5–54.3] vs. 5.2 (2.4–16.1) mg/dL, p p p p p = 0.063), enzyme activities toward paraoxon (DS 219 [129–286] vs. C 168 [114–272] IU/L, p = 0.949), or phenyl acetate (DS 101 ± 20 vs. C 93 ± 21 kIU/L, p = 0.068). There were no differences in myeloperoxidase activity between the study groups (DS 327 [300–534] vs. C 426 [358–533] ng/mL, p = 0.272). Our results are the first to demonstrate an unfavorable lipid profile combined with higher Lp(a) levels and quality changes in HDL particles in individuals with DS. This sheds new light on cardiovascular risk and traditional healthcare planning for adolescents with DS

Analysis of Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status of Children with Down Syndrome in the Context of Lipid and Oxidative Stress Parameters

Introduction: The risk of obesity in children with Down syndrome is high. Undoubtedly, proper nutrition plays an important role in the prevention of excess body weight and is associated with a reduction of metabolic complications. The aim of the study was to assess the problem of disturbances in the nutritional status and eating habits of children with DS. Methods: A total of 39 patients were included in the study. The nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric tests and Dual X-ray Absorptiometry. Eating habits were assessed using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire and the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Blood samples were taken to determine the oxidative stress and lipid parameters. Results: Obesity was recognized in 15% of subjects and 23% were overweight. Children that were overweight were characterized by higher levels of triglycerides, atherogenic index of plasma, and apoA2 and apoE levels. Fat mass, fat mass/height2 index, and visceral fat mass correlated with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and advanced oxidative protein product level. The analysis of the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire showed that children struggling with being overweight were more interested in food compared to those with normal body weight. A positive correlation was identified between waist circumference and food interest categories. Insufficient consumption of dairy products, vegetables, whole grain products, as well as fruits, seeds, nuts, and fatty fish was noted. Patients were less likely to consume products that are a good source of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Conclusions: In children with Down syndrome and obesity, disturbances in lipid and oxidative stress parameters are observed. Abnormal eating habits in all children with Down syndrome regardless of their nutritional status were noted. Proper nutritional education, nutritional control, and management of metabolic problems are essential in this group of patients

Plasma Levels of Preβ1-HDL Are Significantly Elevated in Non-Dialyzed Patients with Advanced Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) decreases markedly, but there is no strong inverse relationship between HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and cardiovascular diseases. This indicates that not only the HDL-C level, but also the other quantitative changes in the HDL particles can influence the protective functionality of these particles, and can play a key role in the increase of cardiovascular risk in CKD patients. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the parameters that may give additional information about the HDL particles in the course of progressing CKD. For this purpose, we analyzed the concentrations of HDL containing apolipoprotein A-I without apolipoprotein A-II (LpA-I), preβ1-HDL, and myeloperoxidase (MPO), and the activity of paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) in 68 patients at various stages of CKD. The concentration of HDL cholesterol, MPO, PON-1, and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity were similar in all of the analyzed stages of CKD. We did not notice significant changes in the LpA-I concentrations in the following stages of CKD (3a CKD stage: 57 ± 19; 3b CKD stage: 54 ± 15; 4 CKD stage: 52 ± 14; p = 0.49). We found, however, that the preβ1-HDL concentration and preβ1-HDL/LpA-I ratio increased along with the progress of CKD, and were inversely correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), even after adjusting for age, gender, triacylglycerols (TAG), HDL cholesterol, and statin therapy (β = −0.41, p < 0.001; β = −0.33, p = 0.001, respectively). Our results support the earlier hypothesis that kidney disease leads to the modification of HDL particles, and show that the preβ1-HDL concentration is significantly elevated in non-dialyzed patients with advanced stages of CKD