No abstract

Objective To validate independent associations between branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and other metabolites with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods We conducted mass-spectrometry-based profiling of 63 metabolites in fasting plasma from 1983 sequential patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Significant CAD was defined as CAD index ≥ 32 (at least one vessel with ≥95% stenosis; N = 995) and no CAD as CAD index ≤ 23 and no previous cardiac events (N = 610). Individuals (N = 378) with CAD severity between these extremes were excluded. Principal components analysis (PCA) reduced large numbers of correlated metabolites into uncorrelated factors. Association between metabolite factors and significant CAD vs. no CAD was tested using logistic regression; and between metabolite factors and severity of CAD was tested using linear regression. Results Of twelve PCA-derived metabolite factors, two were associated with CAD in multivariable models: factor 10, composed of BCAA (adjusted odds ratio, OR, 1.20; 95% CI 1.05–1.35, p = 0.005) and factor 7, composed of short-chain acylcarnitines, which include byproducts of BCAA metabolism (adjusted OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.14–1.48, p = 0.001). After adjustment for glycated albumin (marker of insulin resistance [IR]) both factors 7 (p = 0.0001) and 10 (p = 0.004) remained associated with CAD. Severity of CAD as a continuous variable (including patients with non-obstructive disease) was associated with metabolite factors 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9; only factors 7 and 10 were associated in multivariable models. Conclusions We validated the independent association of metabolites involved in BCAA metabolism with CAD extremes. These metabolites may be reporting on novel mechanisms of CAD pathogenesis that are independent of IR and diabetes.

No abstract

This study develops water dispersible trivalent terbium cation incorporated zinc sulfide nanoparticles for potential anti-cancer therapy and cellular imaging.

HCV infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease and liver cancer in the United States. To address the pathogenesis caused by HCV infection, recent studies have focused on the direct cytopathic effects of individual HCV proteins, with the objective of identifying their specific roles in the overall pathogenesis. However, this approach precludes examination of the possible interactions between different HCV proteins and organelles. To obtain a better understanding of the various cytopathic effects of and cellular responses to HCV proteins, we used human hepatoma cells constitutively replicating HCV RNA encoding either the full-length polyprotein or the non-structural proteins, or cells constitutively expressing the structural protein core, to model the state of persistent HCV infection and examined the combination of various HCV proteins in cellular pathogenesis. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the mitochondria, mitochondrial injury and degeneration, and increased lipid accumulation were common among all HCV protein-expressing cells regardless of whether they expressed the structural or non-structural proteins. Expression of the non-structural proteins also led to increased oxidative stress in the cytosol, membrane blebbing in the endoplasmic reticulum, and accumulation of autophagocytic vacuoles. Alterations of cellular redox state, on the other hand, significantly changed the level of autophagy, suggesting a direct link between oxidative stress and HCV-mediated activation of autophagy. With the wide-spread cytopathic effects, cells with the full-length HCV polyprotein showed a modest antioxidant response and exhibited a significant increase in population doubling time and a concomitant decrease in cyclin D1. In contrast, cells expressing the non-structural proteins were able to launch a vigorous antioxidant response with up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes. The population doubling time and cyclin D1 level were also comparable to that of control cells. Finally, the cytopathic effects of core protein appeared to focus on the mitochondria without remarkable disturbances in the cytosol.

APC can protect indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration due to its antioxidative and mucin protecting properties.

No abstract

Summary The healing activity of the ethanol extracts of Piper betel, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia bellerica, and Terminalia chebula against the indomethacin-induced stomach ulceration has been studied and compared with that of misoprostol. Compared to autohealing, all the drugs accelerated the healing process, albeit to different extents. The relative healing activities of the extracts was P. betel>E. officinalis>T. bellerica~T. chebula, that correlated well with their in vivo antioxidant and mucin augmenting activities. The excellent healing activity of the extracts of P. betel and E. officinalis indicated a major role of mucin protection and regeneration in the healing of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs mediated stomach ulceration.