Serum 25(OH)D status and lipid profile in children with newly diagnosed asthma

Background. The problem of the influence of hyperlipidemia on asthma was addressed several years ago. Systematic review and meta-analysis performed in the pediatric population on the association between vitamin D status and lipid profile components revealed discordant results and indicated that higher serum 25(OH)D is related to a more favorable lipid profile. Objective. We aimed to elucidate whether there was an association between vitamin D status and lipid profile components and apolipoprotein B in a sample of children with newly diagnosed atopic asthma. Methods. The study included 150 children aged 2–12 years. Atopic asthma was diagnosed in 110 children; 40 children constituted a reference group. Fasting blood was collected to measure 25(OH)D total, lipid profile and apolipoprotein B concentrations. Results. Children with asthma had significantly lower 25(OH)D (p < 0.0001) but similar lipid and apolipoprotein B concentrations. The proportions of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and increased apoB concentrations were similar in both groups. HDL-C concentrations in asthmatic 25(OH)D-deficient children were higher compared with the children with sufficient levels (p = 0.05). ApoB concentration was lower in 25(OH)D-deficient compared with vitamin D sufficient asthmatics (p = 0.0008). Correlations between 25(OH)D concentration and lipids and apoB in asthmatics revealed gender differences. An inverse relationships between vitamin D and total cholesterol and HDL-C (R= –0.39, p < 0.05; R= –0.475, p < 0.001) were found in girls. In boys vitamin D correlated with LDL-C and apoB (R = 0.376, R = 0.498; p < 0.001). Conclusion. In children with asthma lower 25(OH)D had more favorable gender-dependent effect on the lipid profile. The association of serum 25(OH)D and lipid levels in children with asthma remains for further studies.

25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency in children with newly diagnosed asthma

Background. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] deficiency seems to be related to the development of asthma. Any evaluation of the relationship between asthma and 25(OH)D deficiency must consider the association between increased airway responsiveness, eosinophil counts and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), and 25(OH)D as a potential player in airway remodelling. Objective. We assessed the association of 25(OH)D with markers of atopy and eosinophilic inflammation in children with newly diagnosed asthma. Methods. The study included 165 children aged 2–12 years. The diagnosis of asthma was performed by an experienced paediatric pulmonologist. Allergic asthma was diagnosed in 106 children, and non-allergic asthma in ten; in 49 children, asthma was excluded. Fasting blood was collected for cell counts, and serum was obtained to measure lipids, C-reactive protein (hsCRP), 25(OH)D and IgE. Results. Children with asthma had significantly lower 25(OH)D (p < 0.001). Both groups had similar lipid values. Elevated total IgE concentration and eosinophil counts were found in asthmatics; neutrophils were similar in asthmatic and reference groups. There was a strong tendency to higher eosinophil counts in 25(OH)D-deficient children (< 20 ng/mL) with atopic asthma (p < 0.08). Conclusion. In children with asthma, 25(OH)D insufficiency/deficiency is associated with higher eosinophil counts and IgE. 25(OH)D monitoring is important in the prevention and management of children with asthm

Surfactants – the application in pharmaceutical biocatalysis

Biocatalysis is one of the most commonly applied processes using enzymes. The modulation of biocatalytic reactions often requires the addition of molecules with various tendencies to behave in aqueous and/or non-aqueous media. Surfactants, as compounds containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups in their structure, seem to be extremely useful in biotechnological, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Surfactants can be divided based on their e.g. electrical charge (cationic, anionic, amphoteric, non-ionic) and/or chemical structure (cyclic, acyclic). These compounds were applied especially in reactions catalyzed by lipases, the enzymes characterized by high activity and stability. Thus, lipases, due to their unique properties (interfacial activation), are widely used in reactions with pharmaceutical significance. This review aimed to show the effect of surfactants on lipase activity, especially in various pharmaceutical reactions such as obtaining drugs or their building blocks. The participation of surfactants in the reactions catalyzed by 12 various lipases – lipase from Candida rugosa (CRL), lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB), lipase from Burkholderia cepacia (BCL), Thermomyces lanuginosus (TLL), Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFL), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAL), Pseudomonas stutzeri (PSL), Aspergillus oryzae (AOL), Aspergillus niger (ANL), Yarrowia lipolytica (YLL), Rhizomucor miehei (RML) and Fusarium oxysporum (FOL), has been described. The literature data showed the effect of applied surfactants on lipase activity. The positive effect of non-ionic Tween (20, 80) on the activity of most used lipases (CRL, CALB, BCL, PAL, PSL, AOL, ANL) has been presented. The application of non-ionic Triton X-100 in the reaction mixture has also beneficial impact on lipase activity (CALB, BCL, TLL, PFL, PSL, AOL, RML, FOL). On the other hand, ionic surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (anionic, SDS) showed various effects – the increase of RML activity, and decrease in CALB, TLL, PFL, and PSL activity have been observed. In turn, the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (cationic, CTAB/CTABr) positively influenced BCL, AOL, and ANL and negatively on CRL, TLL, PFL, PSL, and RML lipase activity. The effect of surfactant on lipase activity was dependent on the detergent structure and concentration and reaction conditions e.g. pH, and temperature. Therefore, surfactants are considered important components in developing catalytic systems

The occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors and functioning in chronic illness in the Polish population of EUROASPIRE V

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of cardiovascular risk on the functioning of patients without a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Methods: Two hundred patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or diabetes were enrolled in the study. The median age was 52.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 43.0–60.0). The following risk factors were assessed: blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, physical activity, smoking, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting plasma glucose concentration. Total cardiovascular risk was determined as the number of uncontrolled risk factors, and with the Systemic Coronary Risk Evaluation Score (SCORE). The Functioning in the Chronic Illness Scale (FCIS) was applied to assess the physical and mental functioning of patients. Results: The median number of measures of cardiovascular risk factors was 4.0 (IQR 3.0–5.0). The median of SCORE for the whole study population was 2.0 (IQR 1.0–3.0). Patients with lower total cardiovascular risk as defined by SCORE and number of uncontrolled risk factors had better functioning as reflected by higher FCIS (R = –0.315, p < 0.0001; R = –0.336, p < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified abnormal blood pressure, abnormal waist circumference, tobacco smoking, and lack of regular physical activity to be negative predictors of functioning. Lack of regular physical activity was the only predictor of low FCIS total score (odds ratio 9.26, 95% confidence interval 1.19–71.77, p = 0.03). Conclusions: The functioning of patients worsens as the total cardiovascular risk increases. Each of the risk factors affects the functioning of subjects without coronary artery disease with different strength, with physical activity being the strongest determinant of patient functioning