Lipid Profile as a Predictive Marker for Organ Dysfunction after Thoracoabdominal Surgery: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Plasma total cholesterol is considered a negative acute phase reactant. In various pathological conditions, such as trauma, sepsis, burns, and liver dysfunction, as well as post-surgery, serum cholesterol level decreases. This study aimed to investigate the role of lipid profiles in determining the probability of organ dysfunction after surgery. Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients who underwent thoracoabdominal surgery and were admitted to the intensive care unit of Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz, Iran, between October 2016 and September 2018. During the first two days of admission, blood samples were taken, and serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and albumin were measured. The relation between the changes in these laboratory markers and six organ functions including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, central nervous system, hepatic, and hematologic, length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation duration, and vasopressor use were investigated. The independent t test was used to compare continuous variables. The association between different variables and organ dysfunction and mortality was evaluated by using logistic regression. Results: The serum TC increased the risk of mortality (OR=1.09, 95%CI=1.06-1.11, P<0.001), renal dysfunction (OR=1.09, 95%CI=1.06-1.12; P<0.001), liver dysfunction (OR=1.07, 95%CI=1.03-1.10; P<0.001), respiratory dysfunction (OR=1.08, 95%CI=1.05-1.13; P<0.001). Moreover, LDL, HDL, and TG were found to be inversely related to mortality, organ dysfunction, length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation duration, and vasopressor use. Conclusion: TC could be considered a risk factor for mortality, organ dysfunction, and clinical outcomes. On the other hand, LDL, HDL, and TG played a protective role in the patients' mortality, organ dysfunction, and clinical outcomes.

Leptin levels in patients with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The exact mechanism of Parkinson's disease (PD) is not fully understood yet, but it is suggested that inflammation is one of its contributing factors. Among several inflammatory factors, adipokines, especially leptin may have a great role in this mechanism; since it is not only causing inflammation, but it can also play other roles in the body that may contribute to the symptoms described for PD. Regarding the contradictions in the association of serum leptin levels with Parkinson's disease, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to have a more accurate estimation of this relationship. METHODS: Published literature was obtained by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Ovid, ProQuest and Google Scholar. Random-effect model analysis was used to calculate pooled standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity was tested with the heterogeneity statistic Q and quantified using I2. Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the study quality. RESULTS: Six studies including a total number of 198 PD patients and 182 controls were finally included in the meta-analysis. Serum leptin levels in PD patients were non-significantly lower than those in control group (SMD = -0.40 ng/ml, 95% CI -2.33-1.53). Subgroup analyses revealed that serum leptin levels of PD patients and controls in either females or males didn't show any significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis revealed that leptin level doesn't show any significant difference between PD patients and healthy controls, even when taking the participants' gender into consideration.