Search Results (7)

Background: This longitudinal study assessed the Uric Acid/HDL-Cholesterol (UA/HDL-C) ratio as a prognostic biomarker for fatty liver disease (FLD) during a five-year follow-up of 1022 participants from the Genetics of Atherosclerotic Disease (GEA) Study. FLD is a multifactorial disease associated with cardiometabolic comorbidities, and genetic variants affecting uric acid transport (ABCG2 rs2231142) and hepatic lipid metabolism (PNPLA3 rs738409). Early diagnosis is essential to prevent disease progression; however, standard diagnostics are expensive and not widely accessible, highlighting the need for noninvasive tools. Objectives: The study aimed to validate the UA/HDL-C as a long-term predictor for FLD and its effectiveness in risk stratification, including adjustment for cardiometabolic factors and genetics. Methods: Non-contrast computed tomography was used to diagnose FLD and rs738409 and rs2231142 were genotyped by real-time PCR. ROC curves, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and logistic regression were used. Results: The findings show that FLD patients exhibited significantly higher UA/HDL-C than controls at both baseline and follow-up (p < 0.0001). Higher UA/HDL-C quartiles were associated with greater FLD prevalence, exceeding 50% in the highest quartile. The index cut-off points were 0.18 in men and 0.09 in women. ROC analysis showed significant discrimination for FLD (AUC: 0.637 overall, 0.650 in men, 0.626 in women). Conclusions: Logistic regression confirmed a strong independent association between UA/HDL-C and FLD over five years, even after adjustment for genetic, biochemical, and anthropometric factors, OR = 3.53, 95% CI: 2.39–4.68, p < 0.0001. Results suggest this ratio could be an alternative to find and follow FLD early on, especially in places with few resources. Full article

Background: Fatty liver disease (FLD), the most common liver disease worldwide, is associated with cardiometabolic diseases and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It remains asymptomatic in its early stages, and late diagnosis heightens the likelihood of progression to severe liver diseases. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the utility of serum uric acid to HDL cholesterol ratio (UA/HDL-C) as a biomarker for FLD and compare its diagnostic utility versus established liver disease index (FLI, LAP, HSI, NAFLD score (FLS), and ALT/AST ratio). Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between 2009 and 2013, included 1470 adults, 50.2% women and 49.8% men between 20 and 75 years old. FLD was diagnosed using non-contrast computed tomography. The population was stratified by sex and FLD. The associations with UA/HDL-C were analyzed using ROC curves and logistic regression analysis to evaluate and compare the predictive capacity of various indices for FLD. Results: Anthropometric, physiologic, biochemical variables, ratios, and indices were significantly higher in subjects with FLD (p < 0.001). In the unadjusted logistic regression model, UA/HDL-C is strongly associated with FLD (co-efficient 2.5, p < 0.001). The FLS, HSI, and ALT/AST ratios were also significant, whereas FLI and LAP showed no clear relationship. In the sex-adjusted model, the UA/HDL-C ratio remained strongly associated with FLD (3.47, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the UA/HDL-C ratio is associated with FLD as an established liver disease index and may be a practical, useful marker for FLD. The results highlight its potential as a scrutiny and early biomarker for effective preventive strategies for FLD. Full article

Background/Objectives: Increased dietary antioxidant capacity is a good means of lowering oxidative stress and cardiovascular risk. Established antioxidant capacity doses should be tested using dietary intervention. Methods: We analysed the influence of a high-antioxidant-capacity diet on oxidative stress (OS) and inflammatory and lipid profile in CVD (cardiovascular disease) subjects with initially low (LowA) and high (HighA) antioxidant capacity markers. It was an experimental study with a 6-week dietary intervention (DI). Forty-eight CVD patients completed the DI. Blood and urine samples were collected, and anthropometric measurements were taken. Dietary data were collected using a multi-day food record method. α-tocopherol, β-carotene, and retinol were chosen as antioxidant capacity markers; F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoP), oxidised low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL), and uric acid (UA) were used as OS markers; and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins (hs-CRP) were used as inflammatory markers. Total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides (TCHOL, LDL, HDL, TRI) as lipid profiles were analysed. Two groups of subjects with LowA and HighA profiles were identified. Results: The total dietary antioxidant capacity intake during DI was increased by 56%. In the total sample, the DI increased β-carotene, retinol, and UA, and decreased IL-6 oxLDL. The LowA group exhibited increased β-carotene, α-tocopherol, retinol, and decreased IL-6. The HighA group exhibited increased β-carotene and decreased IL-6, F2-IsoP, oxLDL, and oxLDL/LDL ratio. In the HighA group, compared to the LowA group, greater decreases in α-tocopherol and F2-IsoP were found. In both groups, inflammatory markers (IL-6) decreased, and β-carotene increased. Conclusions: The DI results depended on the antioxidant capacity profile at baseline; nevertheless, the established DI including selected antioxidative snacks significantly decrease oxidative stress and improve antioxidant capacity. Further research on diet natural antioxidant supplementation needs to be continued. Full article

Background: This study describes the complex association between the neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, and cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as stable ischemic heart disease (IHD), ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and unstable angina (UA). Methods: The serum 25(OH)D concentration and NHR values were analyzed in groups of patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The severity of coronary artery atherosclerosis was determined using the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) scale. Results: Significant differences in 25(OH)D and NHR concentrations were observed between CCS and (ACS)/STEMI patients (p < 0.01). Higher 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with the diagnosis of CCS, and higher NHR values with the diagnosis of ACS/STEMI. The NHR threshold for ACS was set at 0.10 (p < 0.001). Patients without significant coronary artery stenosis showed significantly higher 25(OH)D levels and lower NHR values (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The significant correlation between 25(OH)D, HDL, and the NHR suggests that vitamin D, through its influence on inflammatory processes and lipid metabolism, may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic and acute coronary syndromes. The suggested bidirectional relationship between the NHR and 25(OH)D and the role of the NHR as a predictor of vitamin D levels require further well-designed studies. Full article

Bacground and Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate how different therapies modulating insulin resistance, either causally or consequently, affect metabolic parameters in treatment-naïve subjects with T2DM. Subjects and Methods: A total of 212 subjects were assigned to receive either a tight Japanese diet (n = 65), pioglitazone at doses ranging from 15–30 mg/day (n = 70), or canagliflozin at doses ranging from 50–100 mg/day (n = 77) for a duration of three months. Correlations and changes (Δ) in metabolic parameters relative to insulin resistance were investigated. Results: Across these distinct therapeutic interventions, ΔHOMA-R exhibited significant correlations with ΔFBG and ΔHOMA-B, while demonstrating a negative correlation with baseline HOMA-R. However, other parameters such as ΔHbA1c, ΔBMI, ΔTC, ΔTG, Δnon-HDL-C, or ΔUA displayed varying patterns depending on the treatment regimens. Participants were stratified into two groups based on the median value of ΔHOMA-R: the lower half (X) and upper half (Y). Group X consistently demonstrated more pronounced reductions in FBG compared to Group Y across all treatments, while other parameters including HbA1c, HOMA-B, TC, TG, HDL-C, non-HDL-C, TG/HDL-C ratio, or UA exhibited distinct regulatory responses depending on the treatment administered. Conclusions: These findings suggest that (1) regression to the mean is observed in the changes in insulin resistance across these therapies and (2) the modulation of insulin resistance with these therapies, either causally or consequentially, results in differential effects on glycemic parameters, beta-cell function, specific lipids, body weight, or UA. Full article

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the value of combined detection of HCY and NRG4 in the diagnosis of early diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and to explore the association between the ratio of HCY/NRG4 and DKD. Methods: A total of 140 diabetic patients and 43 healthy people were prospectively enrolled. The plasma HCY level, NRG4 level and HCY/NRG4 of them were measured to compare their differences and analyze the correlation with DKD. The independent influencing factors of patients with DKD were screened, and the nomograph of DKD occurrence was constructed. Results: The levels of HCY and HCY/NRG4 in diabetic patients were significantly increased, while the level of NRG4 was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). The AUCs of HCY/NRG4 predicted for DKD were 0.961. HCY/NRG4 and the course of DM were independent risk factors for DKD. A predictive nomograph of DKD was constructed, and decision curve analysis (DCA) showed good clinical application value. HCY/NRG4 was positively correlated with Scr, UACR, TG, UA, BUN, TCHOL and LDL and negatively correlated with eGFR and HDL (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The level of HCY and NRG4 is closely related to the severity of DM, and combined detection of HCY/NRG4 can identify patients with DKD at an early stage. Full article

Background: The Roma population is one of the major marginalized groups in Europe, having higher incidence of all spectrums of disease and a shorter life expectancy. Yet, the reasons for higher morbidity and its exact prevalence were not properly studied. Objectives: The objective of our study was to compare the frequency of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Roma people to the non-Roma population in Slovakia, and to compare levels of uric acid and its correlation with components of metabolic syndrome. Methods: A group of 452 Roma people aged 18–55 years, was compared to a control group of 403 non-Roma people. The data were obtained by questionnaire, anthropometric measures, and analyzed blood and urine samples Results: The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher among Roma participants (131; 29.6%) compared with non-Roma participants (80; 20.1%), p = 0.001. Roma people significantly more often fulfilled obesity and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) criteria of MetS (257, 58.9% vs. 180, 45.8%, p < 0.0001, and 312, 70.0% vs. 140, 34.9%, p < 0.0001). There was no difference in the triacylglycerols (TG), glycemia or blood pressure (BP) criteria of MetS. The Roma also presented with greater levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Baseline levels of uric acid (UA) among the Roma population were significantly lower compared with the majority population (226.54 ± 79.8 vs. 259.11 ± 84.53) (p < 0.001). The levels of UA significantly correlated with fulfilled criteria of MetS. Univariate regression showed that UA is a significant predictor of MetS in the whole cohort (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.005; 95% CI 1.004–1.007; p < 0.0001) also after the adjustment for age, sex, and ethnicity (adjusted OR 1.008; 95% CI 1.005–1.010; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: We were able to show that prevalence of MetS among the Roma is higher than in the majority population. Moreover, the uric acid levels are significantly lower in the Roma group as well as when it comes to a cohort with MetS. Levels of UA, besides others, depend on ethnicity, age, and sex. Full article