Cardiac mortality is associated with low levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the heart of cadavers with a history of coronary heart disease

The benefits of omega-3 (ie, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) and omega-6 (ie, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid [AA]) fatty acids on reducing cardiac mortality are still debated. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in heart tissues are associated with low cardiac mortality in Thai cadavers. One hundred fresh cadavers were examined in this study. The cause of death, history of coronary heart disease (CHD), and fish consumption habits were obtained from death certificates, cadaver medical record profiles, and a questionnaire to a person who lived with the subject before death. In each cadaver, biopsies of cardiac tissues were taken from the interventricular septum for measurement of fatty acid. Of the 100 cadavers (average age, 69 ± 13 years), 60 were men. The frequency of fish consumption was directly associated with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in heart tissues (P < .01). History of CHD and cause of death (cardiac vs noncardiac) were not significantly associated with levels of omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids. However, in cadavers with a history of CHD, high levels of omega-3 and omega-6, particularly DHA and AA, were associated with low cardiac mortality (P < .05). Fish consumption is associated with levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in heart tissues. Although omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are not associated with cardiac mortality in the overall studied population, their low levels (especially DHA and AA) in heart tissues are associated with high cardiac mortality in cadavers with a history of CHD.     

Iron-chelating and free-radical scavenging activities of microwave-processed green tea in iron overload

Secondary iron overload is found in beta-thalassemia (thal) patients because of increased dietary iron absorption and multiple blood transfusions. Excessive iron catalyzes free-radical generation, leading to oxidative damage and vital organ dysfunction. Non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) detected in thalassemic plasma is highly toxic and chelatable. Though used to treat iron overload, desferrioxamine (DFO) and deferiprone (L1) also have adverse effects. Green tea (GT) shows many pharmacological effects, particularly antioxidative and iron-chelating capacities. This study was performed to investigate the ability of GT extracts to reduce plasma NTBI concentration and oxidative stress in vitro. The Fe(3+) was found to bind to GT crude extract and form a complex. Green tea crude extract time- and dose-dependently decreased plasma NTBI concentration and counteracted the increase of oxidative stress in both Fe(2+)-EDTA-treated human plasma and erythrocytes. Green tea is a bifunctional natural product that could be relevant for management of iron overload and oxidative stress.     

T-type calcium channel as a portal of iron uptake into cardiomyocytes of beta-thalassemic mice

Objectives: Iron‐overload condition can be found in β‐thalassemic patients with regular blood transfusion, leading to iron deposition in various organs including the heart. Elevated cardiac iron causes iron‐overload cardiomyopathy, a condition that provokes mortality because of heart failure in patients with thalassemia. Previous studies demonstrated that myocardial iron uptake may occur via L‐type calcium channels (LTCCs). However, direct evidence regarding the claimed pathway in thalassemic cardiomyocytes has never been investigated. Methods: Hearts from genetic‐altered β‐thalassemic mice and adult wild‐type mice were used for cultured ventricular cardiomyocytes. Blockers for LTCC, T‐type calcium channel (TTCC), transferrin receptor1 (TfR1), and divalent metal transporter1 (DMT1) were used, and quantification of cellular iron uptake under various iron loading conditions was performed by Calcein‐AM fluorescence assay. Microarray analysis was performed to investigate gene expressions in the hearts of these mice. Results: This study demonstrated that iron uptake under iron‐overload conditions in the cultured ventricular myocytes of thalassemic mice was greater than that of wild‐type cells (P < 0.01). TTCC blocker, efonidipine, and an iron chelator, deferoxamine, could prevent iron uptake into cultured cardiomyocytes, whereas blockers of TfR1, DMT1, and LTCC could not. Microarray analysis from thalassemic hearts demonstrated highly up‐regulated genes of TTCC, zinc transporter, and transferrin receptor2. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that iron uptake mechanisms in cultured thalassemic cardiomyocytes are mainly mediated by TTCC, suggesting that TTCC is the important pathway for iron uptake in this cultured thalassemic cardiomyocyte model.     

Antioxidant effects after coffee enema or oral coffee consumption in healthy Thai male volunteers

We designed an open-label, randomized two-phase crossover study to investigate the antioxidant effects after single and multiple doses of a coffee enema versus coffee consumed orally. Eleven healthy subjects were randomly assigned to either receive a coffee enema (3 times weekly for 6 visits) or consume ready-to-drink coffee (2 times daily for 11 days). After a washout period, subjects were switched to receive the alternate coffee procedure. Blood samples were collected at specific time points for the determination of serum levels of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). The findings showed that either single or multiple administrations of the coffee enema or orally consumed coffee doses seemed not to produce any beneficial effects to enhance serum GSH levels or to decrease serum MDA levels over the study period of 12 days. In contrast, mean serum TEAC levels at day 12 after the coffee enema and at days 6 and 12 after oral coffee consumption were significantly reduced from their corresponding baseline values. Thus, no beneficial effects with respect to an enhancement of serum GSH and TEAC levels or a decrease in serum MDA concentrations were demonstrated after coffee enema or orally consumed ready-to-drink coffee.     

Prevalence of low bone mass among adolescents with nontransfusion‐dependent hemoglobin E/β‐thalassemia and its relationship with anemia severity

1 Background

Low bone mass is common among adolescents with transfusion‐dependent β‐thalassemia despite adequate transfusion and iron chelation. However, there are few reports regarding bone mineral density (BMD) among adolescents with nontransfusion‐dependent thalassemia (NTDT). Indeed, only BMD data in patients with nontransfusion‐dependent (NTD) β‐thalassemia intermedia have been reported. No previous study has investigated BMD among adolescents with NTD hemoglobin (Hb) E/β‐thalassemia.

2 Objective

To determine the prevalence of low bone mass among adolescents with NTD Hb E/β‐thalassemia and factors relating to low bone mass.

3 Methods

We investigated BMD of lumbar spine (L2–L4; BMDLS) and total body (BMDTB), as measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, in 22 adolescents (aged 13.2–20 years) with NTD Hb E/β‐thalassemia.

4 Results

Low bone mass was found to be 18.2% and 22.7% at the lumbar spine (BMDLS Z‐score adjusted for bone age and height age) and 13.6% and 9.1% at the total body (BMDTB Z‐score adjusted for bone age and height age). Patients with mean Hb level <8 g/dl were more likely to have low bone mass (BMDLS and BMDTB Z‐scores adjusted for bone age) compared to those with Hb level ≥ 8 g/dl. Mean Hb level correlated with BMDLS and BMDTB Z‐scores adjusted for bone age.

5 Conclusion

We demonstrated that a low Hb level was associated with low bone mass among adolescents with NTD Hb E/β‐thalassemia. A significant proportion of low bone mass among these patients highlights the importance of appropriate management, including red cell transfusion, vitamin D and calcium supplementation for improved long‐term bone health.     

Effect of Recombinant Human Erythroferrone Protein on Hepcidin Gene (Hamp1) Expression in HepG2 and HuH7 Cells

Iron is essential for all living organisms. It is strictly controlled by iron transporters, transferrin receptors, ferroportin and hepcidin. Erythroferrone (ERFE) is an iron-regulatory hormone which is highly expressed in erythroblasts by erythropoietin (EPO) stimulation and osteoblasts independently of EPO by sequestering bone morphogenetic proteins and inhibiting hepatic hepcidin expression. Although the hepcidin suppressive function of ERFE is known, its receptors still require investigation. Here, we aim to identify ERFE receptors on the HepG2 and Huh7 cells responsible for ERFE. Recombinant ERFE (rERFE) was first produced in HEK293 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1 + ERFE, then purified and detected by Western blot. The liver cells were treated with an rERFE-rich medium of transfected HEK293 cells and a purified rERFE-supplemented medium at various time points, and hepcidin gene (Hamp1) expression was determined using qRT-PCR. The results show that 37-kD rERFE was expressed in HEK293 cells. Hamp1 was suppressed at 3 h and 6 h in Huh7 cells after rERFE treatments (p < 0.05), then restored to the original levels. Hamp1 was activated after treatment with purified rERFE for 24 h and 48 h. Together, these results reveal that ERFE suppressed Hamp1 expression in liver cells, possibly acting on membrane ERFE receptor, which in Huh7 cells was more sensitive to the ERFE concentrate.     

Guava Fruit and Acacia pennata Vegetable Intake Association with Frailty of Older Adults in Northern Thailand

As Thailand moves toward an aging society, frailty has become a concern amongst northern Thai elderly. The causes of frailty are multifactorial and include genetic, environmental, and socio-economic factors; diet is of particular interest. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2017 to investigate what kind of diets normally consumed by 350 Thai elders were associated with frailty using a questionnaire and frailty determination by Fried’s phenotype followed by phytochemical analyses of the diets. The multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between certain foods and lower frailty. Guava fruit and Acacia pennata vegetable consumption had lower odds of frailty, which were 0.52 times (95% CI 0.28–0.96, p = 0.037) and 0.42 times (95% CI 0.21–0.83, p = 0.012) when adjusted for the potential confounders. The phytochemical analyses of guava fruit showed a significantly higher amount of total flavonoids (p < 0.001), total phenolic compounds (p = 0.002), and antioxidant capacity, including DPPH (p < 0.001), ABTS (p < 0.001), and FRAP (p = 0.002) when compared to those of banana. Acacia pennata vegetable contained a significantly higher amount of total phenolic compounds (p = 0.012) when compared to those of lettuce. These findings may assist in health promotion programs of frailty prevention by encouraging an increase in consumption of either guava fruit or Acacia pennata vegetable among Thai elderly.