European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2024
ReviewOmega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and pulmonary arterial hypertension: Insights and perspectives.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and progressive disorder that affects the pulmonary vasculature. Although recent developments in pharmacotherapy have extended the life expectancy of PAH patients, their 5-year survival remains unacceptably low, underscoring the need for multitarget and more comprehensive approaches to managing the disease. This should incorporate not only medical, but also lifestyle interventions, including dietary changes and the use of nutraceutical support. ⋯ Although evidence for the role of n-3 PUFAs deficiencies in the development and progression of PAH in humans is limited, preclinical studies suggest that these dietary components may influence several aspects of the pathobiology of PAH. Further clinical research should test the efficacy of n-3 PUFAs on top of approved clinical management. These studies will provide evidence on whether n-3 PUFAs can genuinely serve as a valuable tool to enhance the efficacy of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of PAH.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2024
Physical performance and plasma metabolic profile as potential prognostic factors in metastatic lung cancer patients.
Low physical performance is associated with higher mortality rate in multiple pathological conditions. Here, we aimed to determine whether body composition and physical performance could be prognostic factors in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Moreover, we performed an exploratory approach to determine whether plasma samples from NSCLC patients could directly affect metabolic and structural phenotypes in primary muscle cells. ⋯ These novel findings indicate that physical performance is a prognostic factor for overall survival in NSCLC patients and provide novel insights into circulating factors that could impair skeletal muscle metabolism.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2024
Metabolic profiling of tryptophan pathways: Implications for obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
The rise in obesity highlights the need for improved therapeutic strategies, particularly in addressing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We aim to assess the role of tryptophan metabolic pathways in the pathogenesis of obesity and in the different histological stages of MASLD. ⋯ We identified a distinctive metabolic signature in obesity marked by changes in tryptophan catabolic pathways, discernible through altered metabolite profiles. We observed stage-specific alterations in tryptophan catabolism fluxes in MASLD, highlighting the potential utility of targeting these pathways in therapeutic interventions.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2024
Metabolomics analysis of human spermatozoa reveals impaired metabolic pathways in asthenozoospermia.
Infertility is a major health issue, affecting 15% of reproductive-age couples with male factors contributing to 50% of cases. Asthenozoospermia (AS), or low sperm motility, is a common cause of male infertility with complex aetiology, involving genetic and metabolic alterations, inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the molecular mechanisms behind low motility are unclear. In this study, we used a metabolomics approach to identify metabolic biomarkers and pathways involved in sperm motility. ⋯ Our results indicate impaired metabolic pathways associated with redox homeostasis and amino acid, energy and lipid metabolism in AS. Taken together, these findings suggest that the metabolome and lipidome of human spermatozoa are key factors influencing their motility and that oxidative stress exposure during spermatogenesis or sperm maturation may be in the aetiology of decreased motility in AS.