Annals of medicine
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The prevalence of obesity and dyslipidaemia was observed to be increased among the tribal populations, due to globalization. ⋯ The observed differences can possibly attribute to both their respective ancestries resulting in different gene pools and the physical environment. The results of the study highlight the importance of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in adverse phenotype groups.KEY MESSAGEAmong the tribal population, the prevalence of obesity and dyslipidaemia has been increased.Differential distribution and associations of selected markers hint towards differential genetic architecture in these populations.MC4R rs17782313 polymorphism was found to show a significantly decreased risk for WHtR and low HDL among the Liangmai tribe and BMI among the Mizo tribe.Significant increased risk posed by FTO rs9939609 gene polymorphism was moderated by the interaction with MC4R rs17782313.
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Ursolic acid (UA) is a potent plant-based hepatoprotective agent having poor bioavailability, which hampers its therapeutic efficacy. The present study tries to overcome this limitation by combining it with piperine (PIP), a proven bioenhancer and hepatoprotective agent. ⋯ The findings indicated that the combination of PIP and UA is an effective strategy in enhancing the bioavailability and hepatoprotective potential of UA.KEY MESSAGESUrsolic acid in a combination with piperine provides a synergistic hepatoprotective effect in carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats.Piperine improves the pharmacokinetic properties of ursolic acid when given in combination.Piperine improves the relative oral bioavailability of ursolic acid by tenfold when combined together.
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Observational Study
Variability of blood eosinophil count and prognosis of COPD exacerbations.
Eosinophils in peripheral blood are one of the emerging biomarkers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, when analysing the relationship between peripheral eosinophilia and COPD prognosis, highly variable results are obtained. The aim of our study is to describe the serum eosinophilia levels in COPD patients and to analyse their relationship to prognosis following hospital admission. ⋯ The results of our study do not seem to support the usefulness of BEC as a COPD biomarker.KEY MESSAGESThere is evidence that BEC participates in pathophysiological mechanisms of the COPD.BEC may be useful as a biomarker in COPD for aspects such as the optimization of treatments.We did not find any relationship between BEC levels and prognosis following hospital admission for AECOPD.
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Preeclampsia and hypothyroidism are associated with endothelial dysfunction. Iodine deficiency is a risk factor for subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy. However, there is a paucity of data on the relationship between iodine nutrition state in pregnancy, the degree of endothelial dysfunction, and the risk of preeclampsia. ⋯ Upper normal-range TSH levels in women with severe preeclampsia were associated with markers of endothelial dysfunction. The low UIC and trend towards the elevation of thyroglobulin suggest that inadequate iodine intake may have increased TSH levels and indirectly caused endothelial dysfunction.
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Q fever endocarditis is a major cause of culture-negative endocarditis. The role of Coxellia burnetii is underestimated because it is difficult to diagnose. We investigated the significance of C. burnetii as the cause of culture-negative endocarditis and vascular infection by examining blood and tissue specimens using serological testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). ⋯ Approximately one-third of patients with culture-negative endocarditis and vascular infection was diagnosed as Q fever. Q fever endocarditis and vascular infection may be underestimated in routine clinical practice in South Korea.KEY MESSAGEQ fever endocarditis and vascular infection may be underestimated in routine clinical practice, thus, try to find evidence of C. burnetti infection in suspected patients by all available diagnostic tests including PCR.