Paraoxonase 1 activity and survival in sepsis patients

Background: Sepsis is a state of augmented oxidative stress and diminished antioxidant capacity. High den- sity lipoprotein (HDL) particles were shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), which is an enzyme that is also protective against HDL oxidation. Previous stud- ies suggested a possible role of decreased PON1 activ- ity or HDL levels in sepsis patients. Aims: The present study was designed to test a hypoth- esis that higher PON1 activity and HDL-cholesterol levels could predict a better survival in sepsis patients. Study Design: Observational study. Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from sepsis patients for HDL-cholesterol levels, PON1 ac- tivity and cytokine assays (TNF-α and IL-6) and Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores were calculated in order to weight patients’ disease severity on the day of sepsis diagnosis. Patients were followed-up until the 28th day for any cause intra- hospital mortality. Data were statistically analyzed for effects of study parameters on patients’ survival. Results: In total, 85 patients with sepsis were included in the study. The mean age was 65.2±17.9 years and 48 were male; at the end of the 28-day follow-up pe- riod, 46 survived. TNF-α (86.9±10.5 vs 118.6±16.4) and IL-6 levels (906.7±82.7 vs 1323.1±54.3) were sig- nificantly higher in non-survivors, while PON1 activity (140.7±42.3 vs 66.7±46.6) and HDL-cholesterol lev- els (43.6±8.1 vs 34.5±8.9) were significantly higher in survivors (p<0.001 for all). TNF-α (r=-0.763) and IL-6 levels (r=-0.947) showed strong negative correlations, PON1 activity (r=0.644) and HDL-cholesterol levels (r=0.477) showed positive correlations with patient sur- vival (p<0.001 for all). Survival estimates significantly favored TNF-α (Log Rank 59.5, p<0.001) and IL-6 levels (Log Rank 53.2, p<0.001) according to PON1 activity (Log Rank 5.4, p<0.03) and HDL-cholesterol levels (Log Rank 8.3, p<0.005). Regression analyses for relative contributions of parameters to survival showed that higher IL-6 levels (t:-16.489, p<0.001) were the most significant negative factor for survival, and TNF-α levels (t:-4.417, p<0.001), whereas PON1 activity had a positive effect (t:3.210, p<0.003). Conclusion: The present study showed that although low PON1 activity and HDL-cholesterol levels were related to mortality, higher levels were not found to be as predictive as cytokine levels for survival

Wpływ testosteronowej terapii zastępczej na stężenia witaminy D i FGF-23 w hipogonadyzmie wrodzonym

Introduction: Patients with hypogonadism are at increased risk of cardiac and metabolic diseases and osteoporosis. Vitamin D and Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) play role in the regulation of bone mineral metabolism and endothelial functions. Low vitamin D levels are reported in hypogonadism, while there is no data about the effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). We investigated the effect of TRT on vitamin D and FGF-23 levels along with endothelial functions and insulin resistance in hypogonadal patients. Material and methods: Patients with congenital hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (CHH) (n=32, age 20.6 ±1.58 years) were enrolled. TRT was implemented in transdermal form. The demographic parameters, FGF-23, 25(OH)D3, Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were measured both before and after TRT. Results: After a follow-up period of 3.63±1.33 months, ADMA and FGF-23 levels were significantly increased (p=0.03 and p=0.005 respectively), while the 25(OH)D3 and HOMA-IR index were not significantly changed. The body mass index and waist circumference levels of the patients were also increased (p<0.001 and p=0.02) along with a significant decrease in the HDL cholesterol levels (p=0.006). Conclusions: The results show that a short term TRT increases plasma FGF-23 and ADMA levels, in young, treatment naive patients with CHH. Whether this is an early implication of TRT related adverse effects in this very young and treatment naïve population of CHH is not clear. Future prospective studies are required to find out the long-term effects of TRT on cardio-metabolic morbidity and mortality in this specific population.  Wstęp: U chorych z hipogonadyzmem występuje zwiększone ryzyko chorób sercowych I metabolicznych oraz osteoporozy. Witamina D i czynnik wzrostu fibroblastów-23 (FGF-23) uczestniczą w regulacji metabolizmu kostnego i czynności śródbłonka. Istnieją doniesienia na temat niskiego stężenia witaminy D w hipogonadyzmie, natomiast brakuje danych dotyczących wpływu testosteronowej terapii zastępczej (TRT) na to stężenie. Autorzy zbadali wpływ TRT na stężenia witaminy D i FGF-23 oraz na czynność śródbłonka i poziom insulinooporności u chorych z hipogonadyzmem. Materiał i metody: Do badania włączono chorych z wrodzonym hipogonadyzmem hipogonadotropowym (CHH) (n = 32, wiek 20,6 ± 1,58 roku). Chorzy otrzymywali TRT w postaci przezskórnej. Przez rozpoczęciem leczenia i po jego zakończeniu u chorych zebrano dane demograficzne, zmierzono stężenia FGF-23, 25(OH)D3 i asymetryczej dimetyloargininy (ADMA) oraz określono wskaźnik insulinooporności HOMA-IR. Wyniki: Po okresie obserwacji trwającym 3,63 ± 1,33 miesiąca stwierdzono istotne zwiększenie stężeń ADMA i FGF-23 (odpowiednio p = 0,03 i p = 0,005), natomiast stężenie 25(OH)D3 i wskaźnik HOMA-IR nie zmieniły się istotnie. Ponadto zaobserwowano u chorych zwiększenie wskaźnika masy ciała i obwodu pasa (p < 0,001 I p = 0,02) oraz istotne zmniejszenie stężenia cholesterol frakcji HDL (p = 0,006). Wnioski: Wyniki badania pokazują, że krótkotrwałe stosowanie TRT u młodych chorych z CHH, uprzednio nieleczonych, powoduje zwiększenie osoczowego stężenia FGF-23 i ADMA, lecz nie wpływa na stężenie witaminy D. Nie jest jasne, czy jest to wczesny efekt działań niepożądanych TRT w tej grupie bardzo młodych pacjentów z CHH. Konieczne są dalsze prospektywne badania w celu ustalenia długookresowego wpływu TRT na chorobowość i śmiertelność w związku z chorobami sercowymi i metabolicznymi w tej szczególnej populacji

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Evaluation of the eating habits of breast cancer patients

WOS: 000580048400023PubMed: 33235575Objective: To determine the relationship between the dietary characteristics of breast cancer patients. Methods: Patients with breast cancer whose treatments have finished and are in remission formed the study group and healthy people formed the control group. Demographic, anthropometric characteristics, food consumption frequency form and exercise status were recorded with all groups. Data analysis was done by SPSS 22. Results: in the study group, mean carbohydrate percentage was lower, while fat, fat percentage, monosaccharide, glucose, fructose, omega3( n3), saturated fatty acids(SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), vitamin A, C, E, B6, biotin and copper values were significantly higher (p<0.05). Recurrence was observed in seven patients (7.1%) during the follow-up period, hormone receptor levels (ER) and vitamin B2 intake (accuracy 93.9%) were inversely related to the recurrence of the disease (p=0.02). Conclusions: While the percentage of carbohydrate taken was lower in study group; total fat, n3, SFA, MUFA, monosaccharide, glucose, fructose, water-soluble fiber, B6, biotin and copper values were higher. Further studies are needed for vitamin B2 deficiency in patients with recurrence

Vaspin and its correlation with insulin sensitivity indices in obese children

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the vaspin and adiponectin concentrations on markers of insulin sensitivity and obesity in pubertal obese children and adolescents