Short-Term Standard Diet Consumption Prior to the Oral Fat Tolerance Test Modulates the Postprandial Triglyceride Response.

We hypothesized that the consumption of a 3-day standard diet (SD) prior to the oral fat tolerance test (OFTT), used to evaluate postprandial lipemia, may counteract the undesirable effects of individual dietary habits on the test results. The OFTT was applied to 22 healthy adults (11 females and 11 males), after their habitual diets (HDs) and following the consumption of a 3-day SD (45-60% energy from carbohydrate, 20-35% from fat, and 10-20% from protein). Plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations were measured during fasting and at the fourth hour of the OFTT. A 3-day SD significantly reduced fasting and fourth-hour TG concentrations and delta TG values by 10%, 12.8%, and 22.7%, respectively. Decreases were observed in fasting and fourth-hour TG and delta TG values following the 3-day SD compared to the HD in subjects with fasting TG concentrations between 89 and 180 mg/dL (p = 0.062, p = 0.018, and 0.047, respectively). As a result, the consumption of a 3-day standardized diet prior to the OFTT may be useful to eliminate the false positive or negative effects of individual dietary habits on test results and to correctly identify individuals who should be administered the OFTT.

Elevated Circulating Endocan Levels Are Associated with Increased Levels of Endothelial and Inflammation Factors in Postprandial Lipemia.

BACKGROUND: Postprandial lipemia (PPL) causes endothelial dysfunction by causing endothelial damage to lipoproteins that remain rich in triglycerides. Endocan is a proteoglycan with increased tissue expression, endothelial activation, and neovascularization. The aim of the study was to examine circulating endocan levels in PPL subjects by considering the degree of PPL response according to a high-fat test meal. The other aim was to determine the association between endocan levels and endothelial and inflammatory factors. METHOD: Fifty-four hyperlipidemic subjects and 28 normolipidemic subjects consumed the high-fat meal. Endocan, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and VEGFA as endothelial factors and IL-6 and LFA-1α as inflammatory factors were evaluated. RESULTS: Fasting serum endocan, VEGFA, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 IL-6, and LFA-1α levels were increased in the PPL group compared to the control group. The PPL group was divided into tertiles based on mean AUC levels. Endocan levels in tertile 3 were at the highest and were increased significantly compared to tertiles 1 and 2. AUC and endocan levels were positively correlated with other endothelial and inflammation factors. ROC analysis showed endocan levels to be one of the highest values. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating endocan is seen at significantly higher levels and independently associated with endothelial and inflammatory factors in postprandial lipemia and dyslipidemia.

Effects of hazelnut supplemented diet on doxorubicin-induced damage of reproductive system in male rats.

The present study was objected to investigate the effect of hazelnut supplemented diet on the levels of oxidative stress and fertility parameters against doxorubicin-induced testicular and epididymal tissue damage of male rats. Rats were randomly divided into four groups (each n = 8), namely control group (CG), doxorubicin group (DG), doxorubicin + hazelnut group (DHG), and doxorubicin + vitamin E group (DEG). This is the first study designed using DHG. Doxorubicin was intraperitoneally injected into all diet groups except CG at a dose of 3 mg/kg body weight on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28. In addition, DHG was supplemented with a hazelnut diet at a dose of 3 g/kg body weight/day and vitamin E was added to the drinking water of DEG at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight/day. DHG reversed the side effects of doxorubicin and positively improved the epididymis sperm quality, testicular and epididymal tissue injury, testosterone level, epididymis oxidative stress index, and lipid peroxidation in male rats. These findings suggest that hazelnut has positive effects against doxorubicin dependent damage on male rats and it may be a promising supplement for amelioration of testicular toxicity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Hazelnut has numerous positive health effects due to its macronutrients, micronutrients, lipid-soluble compounds and bioactive phenolics. Studies have shown that regular consumption of hazelnut may have a positive effect on lipid parameters, oxidative stress, inflammation markers, and endothelial dysfunction in both healthy people and patients with chronic diseases. Although doxorubicin (Adriamycin, DOX) is an antibiotic that has been widely used in cancer treatment for nearly 30 years, it causes organ toxicity including testicular tissue. Hazelnut may have positive effects on the damage caused by DOX in the reproductive system. However, studies on the effect of hazelnut on male reproductive health are scarce. Therefore, this study provided a basis for the clinical evaluation of the effects of hazelnut on the reproductive system.

Dimethyl Sulfoxide Extract of Dianthus carmelitarum Induces S Phase Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Colon Cancer Cells.

Although several studies have investigated the cytotoxic effects of different Dianthus species, there has been only limited research into the cytotoxic effect of Dianthus carmelitarum. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the phenolic characterization and the cytotoxic effect of D. carmelitarum on human colon cancer (WiDr) cells and the possible mechanisms involved. Total polyphenolic contents (TPC) and phenolic characterization of the extract were evaluated using the Folin-Cioceltau method and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), respectively. The cytotoxic activity of the extract was determined using the methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The mechanism involved in the extract's cytotoxic effect was then evaluated in terms of apoptosis and the cell cycle using flow cytometry, while mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was investigated using the fluorometric method. The TPC value of the extract was 784.8 ± 40.3 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g sample, and sinapic acid and benzoic acid were detected as major phenolics in the extract. D. carmelitarum extract exhibited a selective cytotoxic effect (3.6-fold) on WiDr cells compared to normal colon cells. The extract induced cell cycle arrest at the S phase and apoptosis via reduced MMP in WiDr cells. Phytomedical and nutraceutical applications of D. carmelitarum may represent promising approaches in the treatment of cancer.

Autoantibodies Against Carbonic Anhydrase I and II in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer, one of the principal causes of death, is a global social health problem. Autoantibodies developed against the organism's self-antigens are detected in the sera of subjects with cancer. In recent years carbonic anhydrase (CA) I and II autoantibodies have been shown in some autoimmune diseases and carcinomas, but the mechanisms underlying this immune response have not yet been explained. The aim of this study was to evaluate CA I and II autoantibodies in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to provide a novel perspective regarding the autoimmune basis of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anti-CA I and II antibody levels were investigated using ELISA in serum samples from 30 patients with AML and 30 healthy peers. RESULTS: Anti-CA I and II antibody titers in the AML group were significantly higher compared with the control group (p=0.0001 and 0.018, respectively). A strong positive correlation was also determined between titers of anti-CA I and II antibodies (r=0.613, p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that these autoantibodies may be involved in the pathogenesis of AML. More extensive studies are now needed to reveal the entire mechanism.

Carbonic anhydrase I and II autoantibodies in Behçet's disease.

BACKGROUND: Behçet's disease is a vasculitis, seen more frequently around the Mediterranean and the Far East, and evinces with oral and genital ulcerations, skin lesions and uveitis. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a metalloenzyme which is widely distributed in the living world, and it is essential for the regulation of acid-base balance. Anti-CA antibodies have been reported in many disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, type 1 diabetes and Graves' disease. The goal of this study was to investigate CA I and II autoantibodies in Behçet's disease (BD). METHODS: 35 patients with BD and 29 healthy controls were included in the study and CA I and II autoantibody levels were investigated by ELISA. RESULTS: The CA I and II autoantibody levels of BD group were significantly higher than the healthy group (p=0.013, p inf 0.0001, respectively). A cut-off value of 0.250 ABSU for anti-CA I was associated with 34 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity and a cut-off value of 0.171 ABSU for anti-CA II was associated with 54 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity for predicting BD. CONCLUSION: The CA I and II autoantibody levels in patients with BD were found higher compared to control group and the results suggest that CA I and II autoantibodies may be involved in the pathogenesis of BD.

Investigation of the expression of irisin and some cachectic factors in mice with experimentally induced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether irisin is secreted by gastric tumor cells experimentally induced in mice, and also if it has any effect on cancer cachexia. DESIGN AND METHODS: 12 out of 60 BALB/c mice were used as a control group, while N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU) was administered orally to the remaining 48. After 150 days, the surviving mice were sacrificed by decapitation, blood and stomach, skeletal muscle, brown and white adipose tissue specimens were collected. Following histopathological evaluation of the stomach tissues, it was decided to create four groups, one control group and three consisting of mice administered MNU, no cancer, pre-cancer and cancer. Gene expression analyses of fibronectin type III domain containing protein 5 (FNDC5) and some cachexia-related proteins were performed in tissue samples, while levels of irisin, and various inflammatory and tumor markers together with cachectic factors were determined in serum samples. RESULTS: The levels of inflammatory, tumor markers and cachectic factors in serum samples were significantly higher in the cancer group compared with the control group. No expression of FNDC5 or zinc-α-2 glycoprotein, a cachectic factor, was observed in gastric tissues from the control and MNU groups, whereas significantly increased FNDC5 expression was determined in the both white and brown adipose tissues from the cancer group. CONCLUSION: Increased FNDC5 expression in white and brown adipose tissues may have a cachectic effect in mice with induced cancer. However, it is not possible to explain the mechanism of the relationship between irisin and gastric cancer development on the basis of the results of this study.

Evaluation of serum sTWEAK and sCD163 levels in patients with acute and chronic coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested soluble tumor necrotizing factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) and sCD163 may be a potential cardiovascular biomarker. We aimed to evaluate sTWEAK and sCD163 levels and predictive values in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: Two hundred fourteen angiography-made patients were enrolled in the study and divided into 3 groups: 30 controls with normal angiograms, 99 patients with ACS, 85 patients with chronic CAD. sTWEAK, sCD163 and CRP levels were measured. Receivers operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to determine the predictive values of sTWEAK and sCD163 levels and the sCD163/sTWEAK ratio. Gensini scores were used to assess severity of CAD. RESULTS: sTWEAK levels in chronic CAD and ACS patients were lower compared to the control group (P<0.0001). sCD163 levels (P<0.0001) and the sCD163/sTWEAK ratio (P<0.0001) were higher in the ACS patients compared to the control and chronic CAD patients. ROC analysis revealed low sTWEAK level and high sCD163/sTWEAK ratio predicted chronic CAD, and low sTWEAK, high sCD163, CRP levels and sCD163/sTWEAK ratio predicted ACS. According to ROC analyses, significance of sTWEAK levels for chronic CAD was more marked compared to ACS (P<0.0001 vs P=0.001) and significance of sCD163/sTWEAK ratio was greater than sTWEAK for ACS (P<0.0001 vs P=0.001). These parameters didn't correlate with severity of disease, obtained gensini scoring, in chronic CAD. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded thatsTWEAK level may be a diagnostic marker of especially chronic CAD, sCD163 level of ACS, and the sCD163/sTWEAK ratio of both chronic CAD and ACS.