Impact of COVID-19-related lockdown on metabolic syndrome variables in healthcare workers with pre-existing metabolic syndrome: A prospective study

Background: An extraordinary impact on health-care personnel has been caused by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a health-care crisis. Aims and Objectives: Our aim was to assess the effects of a changing lifestyle on anthropometric measurements, blood glucose levels, atherogenic lipid profiles, and blood pressure over the course of a year in Indian healthcare workers (HCWs). Materials and Methods: A prospective study was carried out on 40 HCWs including 23 male and 17 females between the age of 22 and 59 years. The study was conducted in the Department of Physiology and the Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College, Kathua, UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Informed written consent was obtained from the subjects and ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Height, weight, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured using standard methods. Body mass index was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. Results: The present study found statistically significant increase in systolic blood pressure and statistically significant decrease in mean HDL-cholesterol before and after COVID-19 pandemic in HCWs. Conclusion: The onset of metabolic syndrome and its potential effects could be stopped by early use of preventative interventions in the changed parameters.

The Prevalence and Pattern of Dyslipidemia among Type 2 Diabetic Patients at Rural Based Hospital in Gujarat, India.

Only proper control of diabetes has shown statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) on the prevalence and severity of dyslipidemia, consolidating the fact that the proper treatment and strict control of diabetes is the most important step in the prevention and treatment of complications of diabetes.

Appraisal of Antihyperlipidemic Activities of Lentinus lepideus in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

The wild edible mushroom, Lentinus lepideus has recently been cultivated for commercial use in Korea. While the mushroom has been widely used for nutritional and medicinal purposes, the possible anti-hyperlipidemic action is unclear. The effects of dietary L. lepideus on plasma and feces biochemical and on the liver histological status were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rats. Six-wk-old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Biochemical and histological examinations were performed. A diet containing 5% L. lepideus fruiting bodies reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, total lipid, phospholipids, and the ratio of low-density to high-density lipoprotein. Body weight was reduced. The diet did not adversely affect plasma biochemical and enzyme profiles. L. lepideus reduced significantly plasma beta- and pre-beta-lipoprotein, while alpha-lipoprotein content was increased. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining revealed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. The present study suggests that a diet supplemented with L. lepideus can provide health benefits by acting on the atherogenic lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Antihyperlipidemic Effect of Dietary Lentinus edodes on Plasma, Feces and Hepatic Tissues in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

We investigated diet supplementation with shiitake mushroom fruiting bodies on biochemical and histological changes in hypercholesterolemic rats. Six-wk old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. A diet containing 5% Lentinus edodes fruiting bodies given to hypercholesterolemic rats reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total lipid, phospholipids, and the LDL/high-density lipoprotein ratio by 34.33, 53.21, 75.00, 34.66, 25.73, and 71.43%, respectively. Feeding mushroom also significantly reduced body weight in hypercholesterolemic rats. However, it had no detrimental effects on plasma albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, glucose, total protein, calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic phosphate, magnesium, or enzyme profiles. Feeding mushroom increased total lipid and cholesterol excretion in feces. The plasma lipoprotein fraction, separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, indicated that L. edodes significantly reduced plasma beta and pre-beta-lipoprotein but increased alpha-lipoprotein. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red-O staining showed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. These results suggest that shiitake mushrooms could be recommended as a natural cholesterol lowering substance in the diet.

Hypolipidemic Activities of Dietary Pleurotus ostreatus in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

This work was conducted to investigate dietary supplementation of oyster mushroom fruiting bodies on biochemical and histological changes in hyper and normocholesterolemic rats. Six-week old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Feeding a diet containing a 5% powder of Pleurotus ostreatus fruiting bodies to hypercholesterolemic rats reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total lipid, phospholipids, and LDL/high-density lipoprotein ratio by 30.18, 52.75, 59.62, 34.15, 23.89, and 50%, respectively. Feeding oyster mushrooms also significantly reduced body weight in hypercholesterolemic rats. However, it had no adverse effects on plasma albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, creatinin, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, glucose, total protein, calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic phosphate, magnesium, or enzyme profiles. Feeding mushroom increased total lipid and cholesterol excretion in feces. The plasma lipoprotein fraction, separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, indicated that P. ostreatus significantly reduced plasma beta and pre-beta-lipoprotein but increased alpha-lipoprotein. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining revealed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. These results suggest that a 5% P. ostreatus diet supplement provided health benefits by acting on the atherogenic lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Prevalencia de dislipidemia en los fumadores que acuden a un programa de ayuda para dejar de fumar / Prevalence of dislipidemia in smokers from a Smoking-Cessation Clinic

Introducción: El consumo de tabaco es uno de los principales factores de riesgo para enfermedades cardiovasculares. A pesar de que se conoce la relación entre el consumo de tabaco crónico y la dislipidemia, en la Clínica para Dejar de Fumar (CDF), "Dra. Carmen Gutiérrez de Velasco" del Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER), Ismael Cosío Villegas, todavía no se ha descrito el perfil de lípidos y la prevalencia de las dislipidemias. Objetivo: Describir el perfil de lípidos y la prevalencia de dislipidemias en fumadores que acuden a la CDF. Métodos: Se revisaron 700 expedientes consecutivos de los fumadores que acudieron a la clínica CDF durante el periodo de tres años que comprendió de enero de 2003 a diciembre de 2005. Se investigó la prevalencia del perfil de lípidos aterógeno (PLA), definido como colesterol total y triglicéridos elevados y HDL-colesterol bajo, y la prevalencia de cada componente de PLA. Se estudió la diferencia del perfil de lípidos por género y por número de cigarrillos (cig) consumidos al día. Resultados: La prevalencia de PLA, hipercolesterolemia, hipertríglicerídemia y HDL-colesterol bajo fue de 21, 50, 56y 55%, respectivamente. El promedio de colesterol total, de tríglicéridos y HDL-colesterol fue de 204 ± 44 mg/dL, 208 ± 155 mg/dL y 46 ± 14 mg/dL, respectivamente. Los niveles de tríglicéridos se encontraron más altos y HDL más bajos en los que fumaban más de 20 cig/día en comparación con los que fumaban menos de 20 cig/día (225 ± 162 mg/dL vs 185 ± 134 mg/dL, p = 0.02; 44.2 ± 12 mg/dL vs 48 ± 14 mg/dL, p < 0.001, respectivamente). Las mujeres tuvieron niveles más altos de HDL en comparación con los hombres (51 ± 14 mg/dL vs 40.3 ± 11 mg/dL, p < 0.001). Conclusiones: La prevalencia alta de PLA en la población fumadora de nuestra CDF la hace muy vulnerable de presentar ateroesclerosis prematura. Este estudio resalta la importancia de la búsqueda de alteraciones lipfdicas en fumadores.

Background: Tobacco smoking is one of the major modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. The relationship between smoking and lipid disorders has been studied; however, its prevalence among smokers from our Smoking Cessation Clinic (SCC) "Dra. Carmen Gutiérrez de Velasco " at the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas is unknown. Objective: To describe the lipid profile of smokers at our SCC and its prevalence in this population. Methods: 700 medical records from patients admitted to the clinic during a three- year period from 2003 to 2005 were studied. We analyzed the prevalence of their atherogenic lipid profile defined as high serum total cholesterol and triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol. In addition, we studied the prevalence of each component of the lipid profile, according to a gender and a number of cigarettes (cig) smoked per day. Results: The prevalence of atherogenic lipid profile, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-cholesterol was 21%, 50% 56% and 55%, respectively. Their total serum cholesterol and triglycerides levels were high and HDL-cholesterol was low (CT 204 ± 44 mg/dL, TG 208 ± 155 mg/dL, HDL 46 ± 14 mg/dL). Those who smoked more than 20 cig/day had higher triglycerides and lower HDL-cholesterol than those smoking less than 20 cig/day (225 ± 162 mg/dL vs 185 ± 134 mg/dL, p = 0.02 and 44.2 ± 12 mg/dL vs 48 ± 14 mg/dL, p<0.001, respectively). Women had higher HDL-cholesterol than men (51 ± 14 mg/dL vs 40.3 ± 11 mg/dL, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The high prevalence of an atherogenic lipid profile in smokers makes them prone to develop premature atherosclerosis. This study underscores the importance of lipid disorders research in smokers.