Components of metabolic syndrome in relation to plasma levels of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) in a cohort of people aged 65 years and older

Purpose Elevated plasma concentration of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) has recently emerged as a potential risk factor as a component of developing metabolic syndrome (MS). Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the relationship between components of MS and concentrations of plasma RBP4 in a population of subjects 65 years and older. Methods The study sample consisted of 3038 (1591 male) participants of the PolSenior study, aged 65 years and older. Serum lipid profile, concentrations of RBP4, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, IL-6, and activity of aminotransferases were measured. Nutritional status (BMI/waist circumference) and treatment with statins and fibrates were evaluated. Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), de Ritis ratio, and fatty liver index (FLI), as well as HOMA-IR were calculated. Results Our study revealed a strong relationship between components of MS and RBP4 in both sexes: plasma RBP4 levels were increased in men by at least 3×, and in women by at least 4×. Hypertriglyceridemia was most strongly associated with elevated plasma RBP4 levels. Multivariate, sex-adjusted regression analysis demonstrated that chronic kidney disease [OR 1.86 (95% CI 1.78-1.94)], hypertriglyceridemia [OR 1.52 (1.24-1.87)], hypertension [OR 1.15 (1.12-1.19)], low serum HDL cholesterol [OR 0.94 (0.92-0.97)], and age > 80 years [OR 0.86 (0.81-0.90)] were each independently associated with RBP4 concentration (all p < 0.001). Conclusions In Caucasians 65 years and older, RBP4 serum levels are associated with a number of components of MS, independent of sex and kidney function. Hypertriglyceridemia as a component of MS is most signifcantly related to RBP4 concentration

Dietary intakes of iron and zinc assessed in a selected group of the elderly: are they adequate?

Background. Many studies demonstrate that the elderly consume a nutritionally inadequate diet that includes deficiencies in macro- and microelements; iron and zinc being significant examples of the former. Objectives. To assess the adequacy of dietary iron and zinc intakes in the elderly. Material and methods. The study was conducted on n=102 elderly persons, participating in the PolSenior Project, aged over 65, of which 44 were women and 58 men. Consumption data were collected by using 3 day dietary record from which a usual intakes of energy, macroelements (iron and zinc) were calculated. The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) cut point and z-scores methods were used to determine probabilities of whether iron and zinc uptake was adequate per subject. Results. By using the EAR cut-point method it was stated that iron intake was inadequate for 5% of respondents, whereas 44% showed deficits in zinc (34% women and 52% men). The z-scores demonstrated that 3% of subjects had high probabilities of deficiencies in iron and 52% in zinc. Indeed, very high zinc deficiencies were observed in 20% of cases. Conclusions. The insufficient energy intake observed among respondents contributes to a high risk of zinc deficiency necessary to ensure health in the elderly. In most cases, the low risk of iron deficiency shows that there is no need to increase this nutrient uptake in the examined group of elderly. The study highlights the need for educating the elderly, especially focused on improving zinc intake without changing iron intake. It can be done through appropriate dietary choices so as to include products such as dairy products, wheat bran, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, beans, lentils and nuts.Wprowadzenie. Wyniki wielu badań wskazują, że dieta osób starszych jest często nieadekwatna do ich zapotrzebowania. Istotne znaczenie ma odpowiednie spożycie makro- i mikroelementów w tym, m.in. żelaza i cynku. Cel. Celem niniejszych badań była ocena spożycia żelaza i cynku przez osoby starsze. Materiał i metody. Badania przeprowadzono wśród 102 osób w wieku ponad 65 lat (44 kobiety, 58 mężczyzn), uczestników projektu PolSenior. Dane o spożyciu zostały zebrane metodą 3-dniowego bieżącego notowania, na podstawie których obliczono wartość energetyczną racji pokarmowych oraz zwyczajowe spożycie makroskładników, żelaza i cynku. Ocenę adekwatności spożycia żelaza i cynku przeprowadzono metodą punktu odcięcia (Estimated Average Requirement - EAR cut-point) oraz określając prawdopodobieństwo nieprawidłowego spożycia żelaza i cynku na poziomie indywidualnym z wykorzystaniem współczynnika z-score. Wynik. Ocena adekwatności spożycia badanych pierwiastków metodą EAR cut-point wykazała w przypadku żelaza, iż dla 5% badanych zwyczajowa dieta nie pozwoliła na realizację normy na żelazo na poziomie średniego zapotrzebowania w grupie (EAR), natomiast w przypadku cynku aż u 44% badanych (34% wśród kobiet i 52% wśród mężczyzn). Oceniając prawdopodobieństwo niedostatecznego spożycia wykazano, że duże prawdopodobieństwo niedoborów żelaza wystąpiło jedynie u 3% osób, natomiast w przypadku cynku u około 52% osób, przy czy bardzo wysokie ryzyko dotyczyło 20% badanej populacji. Wnioski. Zbyt niska wartość energetyczna diet badanych osób powyżej 65 roku życia stwarza ryzyko wystąpienia niedoborów cynku w diecie osób starszych. Ze względu na niewielkie ryzyko wystąpienia niedoboru żelaza w diecie osób starszych nie ma potrzeby poprawy spożycia tego składnika wśród badanych osób. W celu zwiększenia pobrania cynku przez te osoby bez zmiany pobrania żelaza zaleca się większe spożycie produktów, takich jak mleko i przetwory mleczne, otręby pszenne, nasiona dyni i słonecznika, fasola, soczewica czy orzechy

Lipid-Based DNA Therapeutics - Hallmarks of Non-Viral Gene Delivery

Gene therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of monogenic disorders. Non-viral gene delivery systems including lipid-based DNA therapeutics offer the opportunity to deliver an encoding gene sequence specifically to the target tissue and thus enable the expression of therapeutic proteins in diseased cells. Currently, available gene delivery approaches based on DNA are inefficient and require improvements to achieve clinical utility. In this review, we discuss state-of-the-art lipid-based DNA delivery systems that have been investigated in a pre-clinical setting. We emphasize factors influencing the delivery and subsequent gene expression in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. In addition, we cover aspects of nanoparticle engineering and optimization for DNA therapeutics. Finally, we highlight achievements of lipid-based DNA therapies in clinical trials