974 research outputs found
The functional properties of a truncated form of endothelial cell protein C receptor generated by alternative splicing
BACKGROUND: A soluble form of endothelial cell protein C receptor (sEPCR) is generated by shedding of the cellular form. sEPCR binds to protein C and factor VIIa and inhibits both the activation of protein C and the activity of activated protein C and factor VIIa. High sEPCR levels may increase the risk of thrombosis. We wanted to explore the possibility of detecting soluble endothelial cell protein C receptor forms generated by alternative splicing.
DESIGN AND METHODS: Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to look for new forms of endothelial cell protein C receptor. A yeast expression system was used to generate sufficient amounts of the distinct sEPCR forms. Surface plasmon resonance experiments, chromogenic assays, clotting assays and immunoassays were subsequently performed to characterize a new form of sEPCR that was found.
RESULTS: We demonstrated, by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, the existence of a new, soluble form of endothelial cell protein C receptor generated by alternative splicing, in which the transmembrane region is replaced by a 56-residue tail (tEPCR). Its cDNA was present in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and in most tissues as well as in lung cancer cells. tEPCR was not located in the membrane of transfected cells. We demonstrated that tEPCR binds to protein C and factor VIIa. tEPCR blocked the generation of activated protein C and inhibited the activity of both activated protein C and factor VIIa. tEPCR was detected, by immunoassays, in the supernatant of lung cancer cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
CONCLUSIONS: A truncated form of alternatively spliced endothelial cell protein C receptor was detected in the endothelium and cancer cells. tEPCR behaves as sEPCR generated by shedding of the cellular endothelial cell protein C receptor
Anti-fibrotic Effects Of Pirfenidone And Rapamycin In Primary Ipf Fibroblasts And Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells
Background: Pirfenidone, a pleiotropic anti-fibrotic treatment, has been shown to slow down disease progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a fatal and devastating lung disease. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of fibroblast proliferation could be a potential anti-fibrotic drug to improve the effects of pirfenidone. Methods: Primary lung fibroblasts from IPF patients and human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) were treated in vitro with pirfenidone and rapamycin in the presence or absence of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta). Extracellular matrix protein and gene expression of markers involved in lung fibrosis (tenascin-c, fibronectin, collagen I (COM Al], collagen III [COL3A1] and alpha-smooth muscle actin [alpha-SMA]) were analyzed. A cell migration assay in pirfenidone, rapamycin and TGF-beta-containing media was performed. Results: Gene and protein expression of tenascin-c and fibronectin of fibrotic fibroblasts were reduced by pirfenidone or rapamycin treatment Pirfenidone-rapamycin treatment did not revert the epithelial to mesenchymal transition pathway activated by TGF-beta. However, the drug combination significantly abrogated fibroblast to myofibroblast transition. The inhibitory effect of pirfenidone on fibroblast migration in the scratch-wound assay was potentiated by rapamycin combination. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the combination of pirfenidone and rapamycin widen the inhibition range of fibrogenic markers and prevents fibroblast migration. These results would open a new line of research for an anti-fibrotic combination therapeutic approach
Differential effects of 2C9*3 and 2C9*2 variants of cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 on sensitivity to acenocoumarol
The 2C9*3 and 2C9*2 polymorphisms of cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 are associated with hypersensitivity to warfarin and bleeding. The effect of these polymorphisms on sensitivity to acenocoumarol is unknown. Three groups of patients, with low, medium, or high acenocoumarol-dose requirements, were studied. Age influenced the acenocoumarol sensitivity. Bearing the 2C9*3 allele was associated with the need for a lower acenocoumarol dose (odds ratio [OR], 6.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50-24.18); 80% of carriers of the 2C9*3 allele required a low dose. The 2C9*2 allele was associated with a lower acenocoumarol-dose requirement (OR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.11-6.58) because of a reduced risk of the need for a high acenocoumarol dose (4.8% of the patients in the high-dose group carried the 2C9*2 allele versus 34.1% and 30.2%, respectively, in the medium-dose and low-dose groups). Therefore, carriers of 2C9*3 may need a low initial loading dose of acenocoumarol. Because acenocoumarol sensitivity with the 2C9*2 variant does not seem to be clinically relevant, the drug could be an alternative to warfarin in 2C9*2 carrier
Plasma Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC) in Relation to Dietary NEAC, Nutrient Antioxidants and Inflammation-Related Biomarkers
The results presented in this article constitute part of the C.J. Carrión-García’s Doctoral Thesis
performed in the Nutrition and Food Science Doctorate Program of the University of Granada.(1) Background: Little is known about the interlinkages between dietary and plasma
non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (D-NEAC and P-NEAC, respectively) and the body’s antioxidant
and inflammation response. Our aim was to explore these associations in 210 participants from two
Spanish European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) centers. (2) Methods:
D-NEAC was estimated using published NEAC values in food. P-NEAC and total polyphenols
(TP) were quantified by FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power), TRAP (total radical-trapping
antioxidant parameter), TEAC-ABTS (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity-Azino Bis Thiazoline
Sulfonic), ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) and Folin–Ciocalteu assays. Nutrient antioxidants
(carotenes, α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, retinol, uric acid, Q9 and Q10 coenzymes) and inflammation
markers (IL-6, IL-8, CRP, TNF-α, PAI-I, resistin and adiponectin) were also analyzed. Spearman correlation
and linear regression analyses were performed in association analyses. Analyses were stratified by
covariates and groups were defined using cluster analysis. (3) Results: P-FRAP was correlated with
D-NEAC, and significantly associated with P-NEAC in multivariate adjusted models. P-FRAP levels
were also significantly associated with plasma antioxidants (log2 scale: TP β = 0.26; ascorbic acid
β = 0.03; retinol β = 0.08; α-tocopherol β = 0.05; carotenes β = 0.02; Q10 β = 0.06; uric acid β = 0.25),
though not with inflammation-related biomarkers. Different profiles of individuals with varying levels
of P-NEAC and biomarkers were found. (4) Conclusions: P-NEAC levels were to some extent associated
with D-NEAC and plasma antioxidants, yet not associated with inflammation response.This research was co-funded by the Health Research Found (FIS), Acción Estratégica en Salud (AES),
of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, grant number PI12/00002, and the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF)
A review of a priori defined oxidative balance scores relative to their components and impact on health outcomes
Oxidative Balance Scores (OBSs) are tools that have emerged to evaluate the global balance
of individuals’ oxidation—reduction status. The aim was to compare OBSs available in the literature
regarding their characteristics and associations with chronic diseases in epidemiological studies.
Studies that developed OBSs were searched in PubMed until August 2018. A total of 21 OBSs were
identified. These OBSs presented different scoring schemes and different types of anti- and pro-oxidant
components, including dietary factors (dietary intake and/or nutrient biomarkers), lifestyle factors,
and medications. Most OBSs were based on over 10 components, and some included only dietary
factors. Few considered weighted components in the score. Only three OBSs were validated as
potential surrogates of oxidative balance through inflammation and OS-related biomarkers. Notably,
all the OBSs were associated—to a varying degree—with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases,
chronic kidney disease, colorectal adenomas, and different cancer types (colorectal and breast cancer),
as well as with all-cause and cancer-related mortality. For other outcomes, e.g., prostate cancer,
contradictory results were reported. In summary, there is a great heterogeneity in the definition
of OBSs. Most studies are concordant in supporting that excessive OS reflected by a lower OBS
has deleterious effects on health. Unified criteria for defining the proper OBSs, valuable to gauge
OS-related aspects of the diet and lifestyle that may lead to adverse health outcomes, are needed
The additive effect of adherence to multiple healthy lifestyles on subclinical atherosclerosis: Insights from the AWHS
Background: Public health strategies targeting multiple healthy behaviors, rather than individual factors, have been proposed as more efficient strategies to promote cardiovascular health. However, the additive effect of multiple targets on primary prevention has not been fully characterized. Objective: To examine how adherence to multiple healthy behaviors is associated with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis, a measure of early cardiovascular disease.
Methods: Analysis of a baseline data from 1798 middle-aged men from the Aragon Workers Health Study conducted between 2009 and 2010. Healthy behaviors were defined according to American Heart Association recommendations, aligned with Spanish Nutritional recommendations and included moderate alcohol consumption, smoking abstinence, no abdominal adiposity, decreased sedentarism, and adherence to Alternate Mediterranean Dietary Index. Presence of coronary artery calcium and plaques in femoral and carotid was quantified by a 16-slice computed tomography scanner and 2D ultrasound.
Results: Moderate alcohol consumption, as well as adherence to Mediterranean diet is independently associated with a 6% lower risk of having subclinical atherosclerosis. Smoking abstinence is associated with a 11% lower risk of subclinical atherosclerosis. Those who follow 3 lifestyle behaviors (Mediterranean diet, nonsmoking, and moderate alcohol intake) have 18% lower odds of presenting subclinical atherosclerosis compared with those who do not follow these protective lifestyle habits.
Conclusion: Adoption of multiple healthy lifestyle behaviors early in life could be a key strategy to tackle the onset of atherosclerosis and reduce cardiovascular disease burden
The functional properties of a truncated form of endothelial cell protein C receptor generated by alternative splicing
Clustering of Dietary Patterns and Lifestyles among Spanish Children in the EsNuPI Study
Dietary patterns (DPs) are known to be tied to lifestyle behaviors. Understanding DPs
and their relationships with lifestyle factors can help to prevent children from engaging in unhealthy
dietary practices. We aimed to describe DPs in Spanish children aged 1 to <10 years and to
examine their associations with sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. The consumption of
toddler and young children milk formulas, enriched and fortified milk within the Spanish pediatric
population is increasing, and there is a lack of evidence whether the consumption of this type of milk
is causing an impact on nutrient intakes and if they are helping to reach the nutrient recommendations.
Within the Nutritional Study in the Spanish Pediatric Population (EsNuPI), we considered two study
cohorts and three different age groups in three year-intervals in each of them. The study cohort
included 740 children in a representative sample of the urban non-vegan Spanish population and 772 children in a convenience cohort of adapted milk consumers (AMS) (including follow-on formula,
toddler’s milk, growing up milk, and fortified and enriched milks) who provided information about
sociodemographics, lifestyle, and dietary habits; a food frequency questionnaire was used for the latter.
Principal component analysis was performed to identify DPs from 18 food groups. Food groups
and sociodemographic/lifestyle variables were combined through a hierarchical cluster algorithm.
Three DPs predominated in every age group and study sample: a palatable energy-dense food dietary
pattern, and two Mediterranean-like DPs. However, children from the AMS showed a predominant
dietary pattern markedly related to the Mediterranean diet, with high consumption of cereals, fruits
and vegetables, as well as milk and dairy products. The age of children and certain lifestyle factors,
namely level of physical activity, parental education, and household income, correlated closely with
the dietary clusters. Thus, the findings provide insight into designing lifestyle interventions that
could reverse the appearance of unhealthy DPs in the Spanish child population
Mapping research activity on mental health disorders in Europe: Study protocol for the Mapping_NCD project
© 2016 The Author(s). Background: Mental health disorders (MHDs) constitute a large and growing disease burden in Europe, although they typically receive less attention and research funding than other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study protocol describes a methodology for the mapping of MHD research in Europe as part of Mapping_NCD, a 2-year project funded by the European Commission which seeks to map European research funding and impact for five NCDs in order to identify potential gaps, overlaps, synergies and opportunities, and to develop evidence-based policies for future research. Methods: The project aims to develop a multi-focal view of the MHD research landscape across the 28 European Union Member States, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, through a survey of European funding entities, analysis of research initiatives undertaken in the public, voluntary/not-for-profit and commercial sectors, and expert interviews to contextualize the gathered data. The impact of MHD research will be explored using bibliometric analyses of scientific publications, clinical guidelines and newspaper stories reporting on research initiatives. Finally, these research inputs and outputs will be considered in light of various metrics that have been proposed to inform priorities for the allocation of research funds, including burden of disease, treatment gaps and cost of illness. Discussion: Given the growing burden of MHDs, a clear and broad view of the current state of MHD research is needed to ensure that limited resources are directed to evidence-based priority areas. MHDs pose a particular challenge in mapping the research landscape due to their complex nature, high co-morbidity and varying diagnostic criteria. Undertaking such an effort across 31 countries is further challenged by differences in data collection, healthcare systems, reimbursement rates and clinical practices, as well as cultural and socioeconomic diversity. Using multiple methods to explore the spectrum of MHD research funding activity across Europe, this project aims to develop a broad, high-level perspective to inform priority setting for future research
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