Effect of atorvastatin therapy on oxidant-antioxidant status and atherosclerotic plaque formation

PubMed ID: 21731885Background: The aim of this study was to determine the oxidant-antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation products, as well as paraoxonase and atherosclerotic plaque formation, in a hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis rabbit model to investigate the effects of atorvastatin in the atherosclerotic process. Methods: Forty male New Zealand rabbits were divided into four groups, ie, a control group receiving standard pellets, a group receiving atorvastatin therapy, a hypercholesterolemic group receiving an atherogenic diet, and a group receiving both an atherogenic diet and atorvastatin. Results: The atherogenic diet increased the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (1.84 vs 3.79 nmol/mg protein) and LDL-conjugated diene (147 vs 318 µmol/mg protein) after induction of oxidation by Cu2+, despite an increase of superoxide dismutase activity. Treatment with atorvastatin limited LDL oxidation significantly (LDL thiobarbituric acid reactive substances 2.19 nmol/mg protein, LDL-conjugated diene 222 µmol/mg protein). Paraoxonase, which prevents LDL oxidation and inactivates LDL-derived oxidized phospholipids, showed a pronounced decrease in the group receiving the atherogenic diet (110 U/L to 28 U/L), and atorvastatin treatment increased paraoxonase activity. Histological examination of arcus aorta tissues from the hypercholesterolemic group showed abundant plaque formation surrounding and obstructing the lumen, whereas treatment with atorvastatin prevented or limited plaque formation, keeping the plaque thin and localized. Conclusion: Atorvastatin has dramatic antiatherosclerotic effects, part of which seems to be due to the antioxidant features of the parent drug and/or its metabolites, favoring inhibition of LDL oxidation. © 2011 Sezer et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd

A critical review on human serum Paraoxonase-1 in the literature: truths and misconceptions

WOS:000625120300001Human serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) appears to play an important role in the development of a large variety of diseases with an inflammatory component including heart disease, diabetes, rheumatic diseases, neurological diseases and cancer. As such PON1 research is rapidly expanding into new biomedical fields. Unfortunately, this rapid expansion has resulted in a number of problems due to poor experimental design and the spreading of misconceptions in the literature. This review seeks to describe the basic properties of PON1 and the problems and misconceptions that have arisen

Lipids as key players in Alzheimer disease - Alterations in metabolism and genetics

WOS: 000253935100002PubMed ID: 18288926Advances in Alzheimer Disease (AD) research suggest that central nervous system (CNS) lipids play a key role in the pathogenesis. This role is attributed to the rich lipid content of CNS structures and the presence of blood brain barrier which disables the exchange of lipids between CNS and plasma. Among these lipids, cholesterol is a unique molecule provided mainly by its de novo synthesis in the CNS. Special apolipoproteins used for its efficient recycling within the CNS and special oxysterols formed that are specific to brain all contribute to the unique properties of the molecule. Above all, the presence of cholesterol in the membrane enables it to function as a regulator of a number of protein related processes such as the amyloid precursor protein cleavage. Cholesterol reducing agents such as statins are recently proposed to have a protective role in AD. This review will focus on the role of cholesterol metabolism and genetics in AD. Current literature investigating the relationship between cholesterol and AD will be evaluated from the pathophysiological perspective. Genetic studies concerning proteins which are involved in the CNS cholesterol metabolism will also be summarized in the hope that genomics may stimulate further studies and thus contribute to a more clear understanding of the molecular mechanisms in the pathophysiology of AD

BIOCONVERSION OF WINE POMACE BY LENTINUS EDODES IN A SOLID-STATE SYSTEM

Wine pomace is a by-product of wine industry. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the biotransformation of wine pomace by L. edodes MCC 55. As substrates were used wine pomaces of Ozbek and Gaziantep wines produced under conventional conditions. L.edobes MCC 55 cultures were used for biotransformation. During study were determined the effects of different media used during solid state fermentation (water and CaCO3, NH4NO3) and different solvents used during extraction (water and ethanol) on phenols and consequently their radical scavenging activities. The ethyl alcohol used during extraction stages was determined as more effective solvent regarding antioxidant activity (TEAC) values. Using of water both during fermentation and extraction steps was determined to be significant for increasing the values of hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids. There were determined close relations among total phenol, tartaric acid esters, flavonols, anthocyanins and gallic acid values with samples produced by solid state fermentation with additional nutrient and using ethyl alcohol during extraction stage. Close interaction between antioxidant activity (TEAC) values and samples obtained by using ethanol during extraction were indicated, also. These results demonstrated that by-products such as wine pomace could be successfully used for production of valuable bioactive compounds.Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit [1 1-Muh/071]This research was supported by the Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit. Project Number 1 1-Muh/071

The effect of temperature and light intensity during cultivation of Chlorella miniata on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory potentials and phenolic compound accumulation

WOS: 000432771500046The purpose of this study was to see if the microalgae species Chlorella miniata possess an antioxidant and antiinflammatorypotential and to see if there is a correlation between the cultivation conditions and these potentials. For this purpose, cultivation of the algae under different growth conditions had been carried out; afterwards the soxhletextraction of the produced biomass had been completed. Lastly the assays of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), ferric reducing antioxidant capacity (FARP), total antioxidant capacity (TAO), xanthine oxidase inhibition, and hyaluronidase inhibition were studied using extracts of microalgae obtained from the different cultivation parameters. Ifs important to mention that this was the first study using these assays on species of Chlorella miniata and the first that utilized the cultivation parameters on microalgae. The results were, 22,91 mg/g algae TEAC, 776,70 mg/g algae gallic acid equivalent of FRAP and 37,07% xanthine oxidase inhibition with a concentration of 10,5 mg algae per ml ethanol, 65,39% of hyaluronidase inhibition with a concentration of 0,9 mg algae per ml ethanol. The effects of the cultivation parameters on these assays and the Lc MS/MS analyses for various phenolic compounds in the extracts were also a part of the study.Ege University Scientific Research FundEge University [16-MUH-010]This study was supported by Ege University Scientific Research Fund (16-MUH-010)

The effectiveness of interactive training and microlearning approaches on motivation and independent learning of medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

In the COVID-19 pandemic period, most students felt lonely, accordingly their motivation for self-learning was low. The study aimed to increase their enthusiasm for work, and to improve their learning of biochemical subjects in the medical education programme during the pandemic period. Small parts of educational materials (microlearning) were presented in different formats such as videos, interactive education exercises, game-based quizzes and final exam was taken. The achievement of learning objectives of the course was evaluated by a survey. Students participating in daily activities gained higher self-confidence in learning and their final exam grade was higher compared to non-participating students (7.35 +/- 1.37 vs 7.06 +/- 1.88, p = 0.038). Most of the students agreed that daily activities (52%) increased their motivation to work. This approach might be proposed as a practice that supports distance learning, or even traditional education, especially in medical education that includes complex issues

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF FABRIC ON THE CLOTHING COMFORT, SLEEP PATTERN AND SALIVA CORTISOL & MELATONIN LEVELS OF INFANTS

WOS: 000359183300006Infants' health must be cared about in order to raise healthy generations. The way that infants can grow healthily is that they wear healthy, safe and comfortable clothes. The purpose of this study is to develop clothes intended for the clothing comfort of infants, to improve the product variety and quality of infant clothes, and also to research how the clothes affect infants. In conclusion of this study, it was confirmed that different fabrics had different reactions on the infants' bodies.Ege UniversityEge University [11-TKUAM-001]This research was funded by Ege University with the project number of 11-TKUAM-001. The authors would like to thank for this funding