Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate induces the expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis in HepG2 cells

Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) is a major bioactive metabolite in the widely used industrial plasticizer diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) that has been found to be toxic to the liver. The aim of this study is to determine whether MEHP exposure can change the expression of fatty acid metabolism-related genes in HepG2 cells, which might be related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The results revealed that exposure to MEHP promoted lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. The levels of intracellular triglycerides in the hepatocytes increased after exposure to 0.8–100 μM MEHP for 24 h and 48 h. The genetic expressions of SREBP-1c, ChREBP, ACC1, FASN, and SCD significantly increased at 6 h after exposure to MEHP. At 24 h, the expression of the SREBP-1c and ChREBP genes remained increased, while the expression of the FASN and SCD genes decreased. At 48 h, the expression of SREBP-1c, ChREBP, ACC1, FASN, and SCD decreased. Furthermore, the levels of proteins including ACC1, FASN, SCD, and ChREBP (except SREBP-1c) increased at 24 h. These findings suggest that MEHP exposure can promote fatty acid synthesis in hepatocytes by regulating the expression of relevant genes and proteins, contributing to NAFLD.     

Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphisms in chronic idiopathic urticaria

BackgroundThis study was performed to evaluate association of gene polymorphisms among proinflammatory cytokines and susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU).MethodsNinety patients with prolonged urticaria more than 6 weeks were included as case group. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-6 (G/C −174, G/A nt565) and TNF-α (G/A −308, G/A −238) were evaluated, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and the results were compared to the control group.ResultsG allele was significantly higher in the patients at locus of −238 of promoter of TNF-α gene (p < 0.001). Frequency of following genotypes were significantly lower in patients with CIU, compared to controls: AG at −308 and GA at −238 of TNF-α gene (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively), CG at −174 and GG at +565 of IL-6 gene (p < 0.05). Additionally, following genotypes were more common among patients with CIU: GG at −308 and −238 of TNF-α gene (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively), GG at −174 and GA at +565 of IL-6 gene (p < 0.05).ConclusionsPro-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms can affect susceptibility to CIU. TNF-α promoter polymorphisms as well as IL-6 gene polymorphisms are associated with CIU.     

七氟烷预处理联合后处理对肺缺血再灌注损伤大鼠血浆ET-1及肺组织TNF-α的影响

目的：探讨七氟烷预处理联合后处理对肺缺血再灌注（I/R）损伤大鼠血浆内皮素-1（ET-1）及肺组织TNF-α表达的影响。方法 SD大鼠54只,随机分为假手术组（ S组）、肺I/R组、七氟烷预处理与后处理联合组（ SPr＋o组）,每组各18只。 I/R组、Spr＋o组采用改良的Epinger方法制备肺I/R模型。 S组仅游离大鼠左肺门,但不阻断。 Spr＋o组阻断左肺门前给予2．1％七氟烷吸入30 min,洗脱10 min;阻断左肺门45 min后,在恢复灌注的同时给予2．1％七氟烷吸入30 min,之后再继续灌注90 min。 S组及I/R组不给予七氟烷干预。于再灌注30、60和120 min时各组随机取6只大鼠,处死取其肺组织测湿干重（ W/D）比,ELISA法测定血浆ET-1及肺组织TNF-α水平,HE染色观察肺组织病理改变。结果与S组相比,Spr＋o组与I/R组再灌注各时点肺组织W/D、TNF-α及血浆ET-1水平均升高（P＜0．05）。与I/R组相比,Spr＋o组再灌注各时点肺组织W/D、TNF-α及血浆ET-1水平均下降（P＜0．05）。 Spr＋o组再灌注各时点肺组织病理损伤与I/R组相比均有所减轻。结论七氟烷预处理联合后处理可减轻肺I/R损伤,其机制可能与抑制血浆ET-1水平及肺组织TNF-α表达有关。     

无创正压通气对急性加重期 COPD 患者痰液及血液炎性因子水平的影响

目的：观察无创正压通气（ NPPV）对慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期（ AECOPD ）患者痰液及血液中炎性因子水平的影响,探讨NPPV治疗和机制。方法将30例AECOPD患者随机分为NPPV组和对照组各15例,两组均予常规AECOPD治疗药物,在此基础上NPPV组辅助NPPV治疗。分别于治疗前和治疗72 h后评价两组医学研究会呼吸困难量表（ MRC）评分、动脉血气指标,收集痰及空腹静脉血标本测定IL-6、IL-8、肿瘤坏死因子（ TNF）-α含量。结果两组治疗后呼吸困难均缓解、动脉血气指标均改善,尤以NPPV组为著（P均＜0．05）;两组治疗后痰液及血液中IL-6、IL-8、TNF-α水平均较治疗前下降,尤以NPPV组为著（ P均＜0．05）。结论 NPPV治疗后AE-COPD患者痰液及血液中炎性因子水平下调,此可能为NPPV治疗AECOPD的机制之一。     

Mediterranean diet,overweight and body composition in children from eight European countries: Cross-sectional and prospective results from the IDEFICS study

Background & aimsA Mediterranean-like dietary pattern has been shown to be inversely associated with many diseases, but its role in early obesity prevention is not clear. We aimed to determine if this pattern is common among European children and whether it is associated with overweight and obesity.Methods and resultsThe IDEFICS study recruited 16,220 children aged 2–9 years from study centers in eight European countries. Weight, height, waist circumference, and skinfolds were measured at baseline and in 9114 children of the original cohort after two years. Diet was evaluated by a parental questionnaire reporting children's usual consumption of 43 food items. Adherence to a Mediterranean-like diet was calculated by a food frequency-based Mediterranean Diet Score (fMDS).The highest fMDS levels were observed in Sweden, the lowest in Cyprus. High scores were inversely associated with overweight including obesity (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.77; 0.94) and percent fat mass (β = −0.22, 95% CI: −0.43; −0.01) independently of age, sex, socioeconomic status, study center and physical activity. High fMDS at baseline protected against increases in BMI (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78; 0.98), waist circumference (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77; 0.98) and waist-to-height ratio (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.78; 0.99) with a similar trend observed for percent fat mass (p = 0.06).ConclusionsAlthough a Mediterranean dietary pattern is inversely associated with childhood obesity, it is not common in children living in the Mediterranean region and should therefore be advocated as part of EU obesity prevention strategies.     

Inflammatory status modulates plasma lipid and inflammatory marker responses to kiwifruit consumption in hypercholesterolaemic men

Background and aimsKiwifruit has the potential to improve markers of metabolic dysfunction, but the response may be influenced by inflammatory state. We aimed to investigate whether inflammatory state would modulate the effect of consuming two green kiwifruit daily on plasma lipids and markers of inflammation.Methods and resultsEighty-five hypercholesterolaemic men completed a 4-week healthy diet run-in, before randomisation to a controlled cross-over study of two 4-week interventions of two green kiwifruit/day plus healthy diet (intervention) or healthy diet alone (control). Anthropometric measures and fasting blood samples (plasma lipids, serum apolipoproteins A1 and B, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-10) were taken at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. Subjects were divided into low and medium inflammatory groups, using pre-intervention hs-CRP concentrations (hs-CRP <1 and 1–3 mg/L, respectively).In the medium inflammatory group the kiwifruit intervention resulted in significant improvements in plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (mean difference 0.08 [95% CI: 0.03, 0.12] mmol/L [P < 0.001]), total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio (−0.29 [−0.45, −0.14] mmol/L [P = 0.001]), plasma hs-CRP (−22.1 [−33.6, −4.97]% [P = 0.01]) and IL-6 (−43.7 [−63.0, −14.1]% [P = 0.01]) compared to control treatment. No effects were seen in the low inflammatory group. There were significant between inflammation group differences for TC/HDL-C (P = 0.02), triglyceride (TG)/HDL-C (P = 0.05), and plasma IL-6 (P = 0.04).ConclusionsInflammatory state modulated responses to the kiwifruit intervention by improving inflammatory markers and lipid profiles in subjects with modestly elevated CRP, suggesting this group may particularly benefit from the regular consumption of green kiwifruit.Registered 16th March 2010, Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (no. ACTRN12610000213044), www.ANZCTR.org.au.     

Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients of cardiovascular diseases and its association with hs-CRP and TNF-α

Background

There is increasing recognition of association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Metabolic syndrome is common in both NAFLD and cardiovascular diseases. Our study is designed to investigate the association of NAFLD with cardiovascular disease.

Methods

It''s a cross-sectional study which included 104 patients of coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease. Those patients having secondary causes of steatosis were excluded. Complete cardiovascular evaluation which included assessment of metabolic syndrome, routine biochemistries, viral markers, Ultrasonography (USG) abdomen, hs-CRP and TNF-α levels were obtained for all patients.

Results

Of all patients with cardiovascular disease, 19.2% (20/104) had essential hypertension with hypertensive heart disease the remaining 80.8% (84/104) patients had ischemic heart disease (IHD). On USG 69.2% (72/104) had NAFLD, these 50% (36/72) had grade 1 NAFLD and the rest grade 2 NAFLD. The hs-CRP levels and TNF-α were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD (p-value <0.001) and within patients with NAFLD the levels were higher in patients with grade 2 NAFLD. Also, binary logistic regression showed that high body-mass index (BMI), raised serum triglyceride levels, increased waist circumference and hypertension were significantly associated with the presence of NAFLD.

Conclusion

Our data indicates that NALD is highly prevalent in patients of cardiovascular disease (69.2%) and is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome and its individual components. The levels of hs-CRP and TNF-α were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD and showed an increasing trend with the severity of fatty liver.