No description available.

No description available.

Liu, Zhi Kai. / Thesis submitted in: December 2006. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-117). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (English version) --- p.i / Abstract (Chinese version) --- p.v / Acknowledgement --- p.vii / Statement of contribution --- p.x / Table of Contents --- p.xi / List of Tables --- p.xv / List of Figures --- p.xviii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xix / Publications arising from this thesis --- p.xxi / Chapter Chapter One --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- "Lipids, lipoproteins and lipid metabolism" --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Cholesterol --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Triglycerides --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Lipoproteins and their metabolic pathways --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Familial combined hyerlipidemia and combined hyperlipidemia --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Single nucleotide polymorphisms --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- SNP genotyping methods --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Association of SNPs with genetic diseases --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Genetic analysis of FCH and CH --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- FCH genome scans --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- SNP based candidate gene analysis --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5 --- Candidate genes and SNPs associated with FCH and CH --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Apolipoprotein A1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5.1.1 --- Apolipoprotein A1 gene --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.1.2 --- Apolipoprotein C3 gene --- p.16 / Chapter ].5.1.3 --- Apolipoprotein A4 gene --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.1.4 --- Apolipoprotein A5 gene --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Upstream transcription factor 1 gene --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Lipoprotein lipase gene --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ gene --- p.26 / Chapter 1.5.5 --- a-adducin gene --- p.27 / Chapter 1.5.6 --- SNPs selected from the haplotype map --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6 --- Objectives --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter Two --- Materials and methods / Chapter 2.1 --- Overview --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2 --- Routine assessments --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Genetic hyperlipidemia survey --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Physical examinations --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Biochemical measurements --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Fasting plasma cholesterol --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Fasting plasma triglyceride --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.3.3 --- Fasting plasma glucose --- p.34 / Chapter 2.3 --- Subjects --- p.34 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- FCH cases --- p.34 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- CH cases --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Normal controls --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4 --- DNA extraction from blood specimens --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Phenol chloroform method --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- High pure PCR template preparation kit (Roche) --- p.37 / Chapter 2.5 --- Genotyping by the MassARRAY system --- p.38 / Chapter 2.6 --- Statistical analyses --- p.40 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Overview --- p.40 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Student's t-test --- p.41 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Pearson's Chi-square test --- p.41 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium --- p.41 / Chapter 2.6.5 --- Binary logistic regression test --- p.42 / Chapter 2.6.6 --- Analysis of covariance --- p.43 / Chapter 2.6.7 --- Haplotype analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.6.8 --- Bonferroni's correction --- p.44 / Chapter Chapter Three --- Results / Chapter 3.1 --- Overview --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2 --- Characteristics of the study population --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- FCH cases versus controls --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- CH cases versus controls --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3 --- Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- FCH cases and controls --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- CH cases and controls --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4 --- APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- FCH cases versus controls --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- Genotypic distribution and allelic frequency --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- Odds ratio --- p.59 / Chapter 3.4.1.3 --- Parameter analysis --- p.61 / Chapter 3.4.1.4 --- Haplotype analysis --- p.68 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- CH cases versus controls --- p.69 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Genotypic distribution and allelic frequency --- p.69 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Odds ratio --- p.70 / Chapter 3.4.2.3 --- Parameter analysis --- p.74 / Chapter 3.4.2.4 --- Haplotype analysis --- p.83 / Chapter 3.5 --- USF1 gene --- p.84 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- FCH cases versus controls --- p.84 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- CH cases versus controls --- p.85 / Chapter 3.6 --- LPL gene --- p.87 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- FCH cases versus controls --- p.87 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- CH cases versus controls --- p.88 / Chapter 3.7 --- PPARγgene --- p.89 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- FCH cases versus controls --- p.89 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- CH cases versus controls --- p.90 / Chapter 3.8 --- ADD] gene --- p.91 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- FCH cases versus controls --- p.91 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- CH cases versus controls --- p.91 / Chapter Chapter Four --- Discussion / Chapter 4.1 --- Comparisons of the findings with these of other studies --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1.1.1 --- APOA1 --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1.1.2 --- APOC3 --- p.94 / Chapter 4.1.1.3 --- APOA4 --- p.96 / Chapter 4.1.1.4 --- APOA4-A5 --- p.96 / Chapter 4.1.1.5 --- APOA5 --- p.97 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- USF1 --- p.101 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- LPL --- p.102 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- PPARγ --- p.102 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- ADD1 --- p.03 / Chapter 4.2 --- Conclusions --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3 --- Implications for future research --- p.104 / References --- p.105

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Gene expression of the cardiac isoform of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCb) is induced in a glucose-dependent manner. ACCb produces malonyl-CoA, a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial fatty acid uptake. Previous studies show that increased flux through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) under hyperglycaemic conditions may contribute to the development of insulin resistance. In light of this, we hypothesised that increased HBP flux induces cardiac ACCb gene expression thereby contributing to the onset of insulin resistance. We tested our hypothesis by transiently transfecting cardiac-derived rat H9c2 myoblasts with a 1,317 bp human ACCb promoter-luciferase construct (pPIIb-1317) and an expression construct encoding the rate-limiting step of the HBP i.e. glutamine: fructose 6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT). Overexpression of GFAT increased ACCb gene promoter activity by 75 ± 23% versus controls (n=6, p<0.001). When cotransfection experiments were repeated in the presence of varying concentrations of L-glutamine (0 mM, 4 mM, 8 mM), a substrate for the HBP, ACCb promoter activity was dose-dependently increased. To further corroborate these findings, we employed two inhibitors of GFAT, i.e. 40 μM azaserine and 40 μM 6-diazo-5-oxo-Lnorleucine were administered to transfected cells for a period of 24 hours. Here both azaserine and 6-diazo-5-oxonorleucine attenuated ACCb gene promoter activity. In agreement, co-transfections with two dominant negative GFAT constructs also diminished ACCb gene promoter activity. We next inhibited two enzymes of the HBP acting downstream of GFAT, i.e. O-GlcNAc transferase and O-GlcNAcase using alloxan (0.1 mM, 1 mM and 2 mM) and streptozotocin (5 mM and 10 mM), respectively, for a period of 24 hours. Addition of alloxan attenuated ACCb gene promoter activity by 35.6 ± 1.9% (n=16, p<0.001) and streptozotocin increased activity by 32 ± 12% (n=12, p<0.001). We also investigated USF1 and USF2 as transcriptional regulatory candidates for HBP-induced ACCβ promoter regulation. Our data implicates USF2 as an important transcriptional regulator of HBP-induced ACCβ promoter regulation. In summary, this study demonstrates that increased flux through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway induces ACCb gene promoter activity. We further propose that such an induction would reduce cardiac fatty acid oxidation, thereby leading to intracellular lipid accumulation due to a mismatch between sarcolemmal FA uptake and mitochondrial FA oxidation in the insulin resistant setting (i.e. hyperlipidaemia). / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen uitdrukking van die kardiale isoform asetiel-KoA karboksilase (ACCb) word in ‘n glukose afhanklike wyse geïnduseer. ACCb produseer maloniel-KoA, ‘n kragtige inhibeerder van mitochondriale vetsuuropname. Vorige studies toon aan dat verhoogde fluks deur die heksosamien biosintestiese weg (HBW) onder hiperglukemiese toestande bydra tot die ontwikkeling van insulienweerstand. In die lig hiervan, word daar gehipotetiseer dat verhoogde HBP fluks kardiale ACCb geenuitdrukking induseer en so bydra tot die ontstaan van insulienweerstand. Ons hipotese is getoets deur die kardiale afkomstige rot H9c2 mioblaste met ‘n 1.317 bp mens ACCb-lusiferase promotor konstruk (pPII-1317) te transfekteer en ‘n uitdrukking te konstrueer wat die tempo bepalende stap van HBP i.e. glutamien: fruktose-6-fosfaat amidotransferase (GFAT) kodeer. Ooruitdrukking van GFAT verhoog ACCb geenpromotor aktiviteit deur 75 ± 23% teenoor kontrole (n=6, p<0.001). Die herhaling van ko-transfeksie eksperimente is herhaal in die teenwoordigheid van variëerbare L-glutamienkonsentrasies (0 mM, 4 mM, 8 mM), ’n substraat vir die HBP, ACCb promotor aktiwiteit is dosisafhanglik verhoog. Om die bevindinge verder te staaf, is twee inhibeerders van GFAT, i.e. 40 μM azaserien en 40 μM 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleusien aan transfeksie selle toegedien vir ’n tydperk van 24 uur. Beide azaserien en 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleusien verlaag ACCb geenpromotor aktiwiteit. In ooreenstemming met die bogenoemde het ko-transfeksies met twee dominante negatiewe GFAT konstrukte ook ACCb geenpromoter aktiwiteit verminder. Die volgende stap is om twee ensieme van die HBP wat stroomaf van GFAT aktief is, vir ‘n periode van 24 uur te inhibeer i.e. O-GlcNAc transferase en O-GlcNAcase deur alloxan (0.1 mM, 1 mM en 2 mM) and streptozotosien (5 mM en 10 mM) onderskeidelik vir ‘n 24 uur periode te gebruik. Toevoeging van alloxan het die ACCb geenpromotor aktiwiteit by 35.6 ± 1.9% (n=16, p<0.001) verlaag en streptozotosien aktiwiteit verhoog by 32 ± 12% (n=12, p<0.001). Ons het ook die USF1 en USF2 as transkripsie regulerings kandidate vir HBP-geïnduseerde ACCβ promotor regulering ondersoek. Ons data impliseer dat USF2 as ‘n belangrike transkripsie reguleerder van HBP-geïndiseerde ACCβ promotor regulering is. Samevattend het hierdie studie demonstreer dat verhoogde fluks deur die hexosamien biosintetiese weg ACCb geenpromotor aktiwiteit induseer. Ons stel verder voor dat hierdie induksie die kardiale vetsuuroksidasie verlaag wat daartoe lei dat intrasellulêre lipied akkumulasie as gevolg van onparing tussen sarkolemma vetsuuropname en mitochondriale vetsuuroksidasie in ’n insulien weerstandige situasie (i.e. hiperlipidaemia).

Os efeitos do consumo de sal durante a gestação e a lactação sobre a prole na vida adulta foram avaliados. Ratas Wistar foram alimentadas, durante o período perinatal, com dieta hipossódica (HO), normossódica (NR), hipersódica 1 (HR1) ou hipersódica 2 (HR2). A pressão arterial direta foi maior em prole masculina e feminina cujas mães foram submetidas à dieta HR2 e HR1. A sensibilidade à insulina foi menor e o colesterol e triacilgliceróis plasmáticos foram maiores somente em prole masculina de mães submetidas à dieta HO. Pressão arterial, sensibilidade à insulina e alteração do perfil lipídico na vida adulta são influenciados pelo consumo de sal durante a gestação e a lactação / The objective was to evaluate the influences of salt consumption during pregnancy and lactation in adult offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed a low (LSD), normal (NSD), high 1 (HSD1), or high 2 (HSD2) salt diet, during the perinatal period. Intra-arterial mean blood pressure was higher in both male and female offspring from HSD1 and HSD2 mothers. Insulin sensitivity was lower only in male offspring from LSD mothers. Higher cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were observed only in male offspring from LSD dams. In conclusion, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and plasma lipid profile in adulthood are influenced by maternal salt intake during pregnancy and lactation

OBJETIVO: A via metabólica da lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL) em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) em uso de difosfato de cloroquina (DFC) foi avaliada através do comportamento cinético de uma nanoemulsão radioativa rica em colesterol (LDE) que se assemelha à estrutura lipídica da LDL. MÉTODOS: LDE foi marcada com 14C-colesterol éster (14C-CE), sendo a seguir injetada endovenosamente em pacientes do sexo feminino com LES inativo: 10 tomando DFC (grupo DFC), 10 sem tratamento (grupo SEM TRATAMENTO); e 10 mulheres normais (grupo CONTROLE). Os grupos foram pareados pela idade e seguiram rigorosos critérios de seleção de condições que pudessem interferir no perfil lipídico. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas em intervalos pré-estabelecidos após a infusão para mensuração da radioatividade. Níveis séricos de jejum de lipoproteínas foram determinados no início dos estudos cinéticos. RESULTADOS: Idade e índice de massa corpórea (IMC) foram similares nos grupos estudados. A taxa fracional de remoção (TFR) de 14C-CE foi significativamente maior no grupo DFC comparada ao grupo SEM TRATAMENTO (0,076 ± 0,037 vs. 0,046 ± 0,021 h-1; p < 0,05) e CONTROLE (0,0516 ± 0,0125 h-1; p < 0,05). Em concordância, níveis significativamente menores de colesterol total e LDL foram observados no grupo DFC (156 ± 16 e 88 ± 16 mg/dl) comparando-se com SEM TRATAMENTO (174 ± 15 e 108 ± 17 mg/dl; p < 0,05) e CONTROLE (200 ± 24 e 118 ± 23 mg/dl; p < 0,05). Além disso, o incremento em 50% na TFR de 14C-CE no grupo DFC foi acompanhado por uma redução em 20% no LDL-C comparando-se a SEM TRATAMENTO. CONCLUSÃO: Esta é a primeira demonstração in vivo que a remoção de LDE do plasma encontra-se aumentada em pacientes com LES em uso de DFC. Estes dados suportam o benefício desta droga no tratamento do LES e identificam o receptor de LDL como um mecanismo promissor de DFC na redução de lípides em pacientes tomando corticosteróides. / OBJECTIVE: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) pathway in systhemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients taking chloroquine diphosphate (CDP) was evaluated through the kinetic behavior of a radioactive cholesterol-rich nanoemulsion (LDE) that resembles the LDL lipidic structure. METHODS: LDE was labeled with 14C-cholesteryl ester (14C-CE), then IV injected in inactive female SLE patients: 10 taking CDP (CDP), 10 without therapy (NO THERAPY); and 10 normal subjects (CONTROL). Groups were age-matched and followed rigorous selection criteria of conditions that interfere in the lipid profile. Blood samples were collected in pre-established intervals after infusion for radioactivity measurement. Fasting lipoproteins were determined in the beginning of kinetic studies. RESULTS: Age and body mass index (BMI) were similar in the studied groups. Fractional clearance rate (FCR) of 14C-CE was significantly greater in CDP compared to NO THERAPY (0.076 ± 0.037 vs. 0.046 ± 0.021 h-1; p < 0.05) and CONTROL (0.0516 ± 0.0125 h-1; p < 0.05). Accordingly, a significant lower total and LDL cholesterol were observed in CDP (156 ± 16 and 88 ± 16 mg/dl) compared to NO THERAPY (174 ± 15 and 108 ± 17 mg/dl; p<0.05) and CONTROL (200 ± 24 and 118 ± 23 mg/dl; p < 0.05). Moreover, the 50% increase in 14C-CE FCR in CDP was paralleled by 20% decrease in LDL-c compared to NO THERAPY. CONCLUSION: This is the first in vivo demonstration that removal of LDE from plasma was increased in SLE patients taking CDP. These data support its beneficial use in SLE and identify the LDL receptor as a promising CDP mechanism for lowering lipids in patients taking corticosteroids.

Conclusion. We observed a small but independent effect of soy intake and lipid lowering effect, even after taking into account the other important predicting factors - initial cholesterol, body composition, physical activity, dietary intake and age. The beneficial effect between soy protein intake and lipid profile were observed even with this relatively low level of soy protein consumption suggests that the effect of soy protein supplement use on lipid profile may be much greater than those observed here. The results of our study add to the existing evidence that soy protein may be beneficial in human lipid profile. Our data will be useful for planning effective education programs as well as providing background information for further interventional studies to prevent coronary heart disease. / Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the major cause of death in most developed countries and is rapidly increasing in developing countries. Recent studies showed that natural menopause confers a threefold increase in CHD risk. While many risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity and physical inactivity contribute to the risk for CHD, lipid abnormalities are the major factor. Hyperlipidemia plays a central role in the atherosclerotic process. Recent studies showed that consuming soy, a food containing large amounts of soy protein, improves the plasma lipoprotein profile by decreasing total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides as well as increasing HDL level. Although soy is a main component of traditional Asian food, many of the studies on soy consumption have been conducted in Caucasian populations (table 1.2), among whom soy intake is rather low or almost nil, it was difficult to explore the association of soy protein intake and lipid profile in those populations. Soy products such as tofu and soymilk are traditional Chinese foods. With the changing dietary pattern, it gives rise to a range of intake from traditional to modern and increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease Hong Kong poses a unique opportunity for the investigation of the relation between soy protein intake and lipid profile. / For baseline age stratified subgroup analysis, our study results showed no association between soy protein intake and lipid pro file in women whose baseline age younger than 55.3 years old, but we did observe a positive association in women belonging to older subgroup. In the 12-month follow up analysis, for women whose baseline age was older than 55.3 years (mean age=58.4+/-2.1), after controlling for the potential confounders, soy protein intake was significantly associated with HDL cholesterol concentration (Linear Regression p=0.033, ANCOVA=0.011, P value for trend p=0.014), total cholesterol/HDL ratio (Linear Regression p=0.045) and LDL/HDL ratio (Linear Regression p=0.037). Similar observation was observed in the yearly change rate of HDL in 24-month follow up (Linear Regression p=0.047, P value for trend p=0.043). / For women whose initial cholesterol level was higher or equal to 200mg/dL, in our 2-year longitudinal analysis, after controlling for the potential confounders, soy protein intake was significantly associated with HDL (Linear Regression p=0.041) and cholesterol/HDL ratio (ANCOVA=0.022). We also observed a statistically significant trend for higher HDL cholesterol (p=0.038), with an increase of 11.4g in soy protein intake between the 1st and 3rd tertiles, our data showed a 3.8% increase in HDL. / In the 12-month longitudinal analyses, after controlling for the potential confounders, soy protein intake was significantly associated with HDL concentration (Linear Regression p=0.036). We also observed a statistically significant trend for higher HDL cholesterol (p=0.036), with an increase of 10.9g in soy protein intake between the 1st and 3rd tertiles, our data showed a 7.9% increase in HDL. / Methods. 307 women aged between 48 to 62 years were recruited from community subjects residing in housing estates in Shatin. Women within the first 12 years of menopause, with no history of malabsorption syndromes, chronic liver kidney diseases, parathyroid diseases, gastric operation or cancer and without currently taking lipid lowering therapy were included in the study. We estimated the dietary intake of soy foods and other key nutrients by using quantitative food frequency method. We recorded serum values of fasting cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides as well as other covariance measurement. Soy protein consumption was categorized as tertiles of intake and related to lipid profile. / Objectives. In order to study the relation between soy protein intake and lipid profile in the early postmenopausal Chinese women in Hong Kong, we conducted the study from February 2000 to February 2002, as a part of the population-based soy consumption and bone mineral density study. The hypothesis to be tested is that high intake of dietary soy protein has a beneficial effect on lipid profile in the early postmenopausal Chinese women in Hong Kong. / Results. In our cross-sectional analysis, our findings showed that habitual dietary soy protein intake had a weak but statistically significant correlation with triglyceride concentration (Linear Regression p=0.045, ANCOVA p=0.045 P value for trend p=0.023), and the soy protein beneficial effects were more pronounced in women whose % of total body fat were higher than 33.4%. After controlling for the potential confounders, soy protein intake was significantly associated with triglyceride concentration (Linear Regression p=0.048, P value for trend =0.021), the average decrease in triglycerides were 24.6% and 29.1 % in the 2nd and 3rd tertile compared with the 1st tertile respectively. / Lam Siu Hung. / "February 2006." / Adviser: Ho Suzanne Sutying. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-11, Section: B, page: 6300. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 181-191). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

OBJETIVO: A via metabólica da lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL) em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) em uso de difosfato de cloroquina (DFC) foi avaliada através do comportamento cinético de uma nanoemulsão radioativa rica em colesterol (LDE) que se assemelha à estrutura lipídica da LDL. MÉTODOS: LDE foi marcada com 14C-colesterol éster (14C-CE), sendo a seguir injetada endovenosamente em pacientes do sexo feminino com LES inativo: 10 tomando DFC (grupo DFC), 10 sem tratamento (grupo SEM TRATAMENTO); e 10 mulheres normais (grupo CONTROLE). Os grupos foram pareados pela idade e seguiram rigorosos critérios de seleção de condições que pudessem interferir no perfil lipídico. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas em intervalos pré-estabelecidos após a infusão para mensuração da radioatividade. Níveis séricos de jejum de lipoproteínas foram determinados no início dos estudos cinéticos. RESULTADOS: Idade e índice de massa corpórea (IMC) foram similares nos grupos estudados. A taxa fracional de remoção (TFR) de 14C-CE foi significativamente maior no grupo DFC comparada ao grupo SEM TRATAMENTO (0,076 ± 0,037 vs. 0,046 ± 0,021 h-1; p < 0,05) e CONTROLE (0,0516 ± 0,0125 h-1; p < 0,05). Em concordância, níveis significativamente menores de colesterol total e LDL foram observados no grupo DFC (156 ± 16 e 88 ± 16 mg/dl) comparando-se com SEM TRATAMENTO (174 ± 15 e 108 ± 17 mg/dl; p < 0,05) e CONTROLE (200 ± 24 e 118 ± 23 mg/dl; p < 0,05). Além disso, o incremento em 50% na TFR de 14C-CE no grupo DFC foi acompanhado por uma redução em 20% no LDL-C comparando-se a SEM TRATAMENTO. CONCLUSÃO: Esta é a primeira demonstração in vivo que a remoção de LDE do plasma encontra-se aumentada em pacientes com LES em uso de DFC. Estes dados suportam o benefício desta droga no tratamento do LES e identificam o receptor de LDL como um mecanismo promissor de DFC na redução de lípides em pacientes tomando corticosteróides. / OBJECTIVE: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) pathway in systhemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients taking chloroquine diphosphate (CDP) was evaluated through the kinetic behavior of a radioactive cholesterol-rich nanoemulsion (LDE) that resembles the LDL lipidic structure. METHODS: LDE was labeled with 14C-cholesteryl ester (14C-CE), then IV injected in inactive female SLE patients: 10 taking CDP (CDP), 10 without therapy (NO THERAPY); and 10 normal subjects (CONTROL). Groups were age-matched and followed rigorous selection criteria of conditions that interfere in the lipid profile. Blood samples were collected in pre-established intervals after infusion for radioactivity measurement. Fasting lipoproteins were determined in the beginning of kinetic studies. RESULTS: Age and body mass index (BMI) were similar in the studied groups. Fractional clearance rate (FCR) of 14C-CE was significantly greater in CDP compared to NO THERAPY (0.076 ± 0.037 vs. 0.046 ± 0.021 h-1; p < 0.05) and CONTROL (0.0516 ± 0.0125 h-1; p < 0.05). Accordingly, a significant lower total and LDL cholesterol were observed in CDP (156 ± 16 and 88 ± 16 mg/dl) compared to NO THERAPY (174 ± 15 and 108 ± 17 mg/dl; p<0.05) and CONTROL (200 ± 24 and 118 ± 23 mg/dl; p < 0.05). Moreover, the 50% increase in 14C-CE FCR in CDP was paralleled by 20% decrease in LDL-c compared to NO THERAPY. CONCLUSION: This is the first in vivo demonstration that removal of LDE from plasma was increased in SLE patients taking CDP. These data support its beneficial use in SLE and identify the LDL receptor as a promising CDP mechanism for lowering lipids in patients taking corticosteroids.

Obesity is the fifth leading cause of global deaths. The efficacy and safety of obesity treatment is still controversial. The objective of the thesis is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bariatric surgery, through a systematic review of the current evidence and meta- analysis of important outcomes. Nineteen (19) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 1346 participants were included. Bariatric surgery resulted in greater weight loss when compared to non-surgical treatment. Weight loss was also associated with resolution and/or improvement of obesity related comorbidites such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and sleep apnea. Weight loss and safety varied across the surgical procedures. Biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch had the greatest weight loss, followed by sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, purely restrictive procedures such as vertical banded gastroplasty and adjustable gastric banding resulted in the least weight loss. Long term, high quality, and adequately powered trials are still needed to support the available evidence

Os efeitos do consumo de sal durante a gestação e a lactação sobre a prole na vida adulta foram avaliados. Ratas Wistar foram alimentadas, durante o período perinatal, com dieta hipossódica (HO), normossódica (NR), hipersódica 1 (HR1) ou hipersódica 2 (HR2). A pressão arterial direta foi maior em prole masculina e feminina cujas mães foram submetidas à dieta HR2 e HR1. A sensibilidade à insulina foi menor e o colesterol e triacilgliceróis plasmáticos foram maiores somente em prole masculina de mães submetidas à dieta HO. Pressão arterial, sensibilidade à insulina e alteração do perfil lipídico na vida adulta são influenciados pelo consumo de sal durante a gestação e a lactação / The objective was to evaluate the influences of salt consumption during pregnancy and lactation in adult offspring. Female Wistar rats were fed a low (LSD), normal (NSD), high 1 (HSD1), or high 2 (HSD2) salt diet, during the perinatal period. Intra-arterial mean blood pressure was higher in both male and female offspring from HSD1 and HSD2 mothers. Insulin sensitivity was lower only in male offspring from LSD mothers. Higher cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were observed only in male offspring from LSD dams. In conclusion, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and plasma lipid profile in adulthood are influenced by maternal salt intake during pregnancy and lactation