Search Results (1,625)

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death worldwide and a global socio-economic problem. To date, there are numerous studies focused on finding new biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases. High-technological methods such as mass spectrometry (MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy enable us to record thousands of metabolites of organs and tissues. Studying organisms at a molecular level contributes to an in-depth understanding of preclinical conditions of various diseases. Metabolomics reflects the dynamics of metabolism distribution, including environmental influences, allowing us to create a metabolic profile of the patient. The aim of this review was to analyze current data on metabolomic and proteomic biomarkers in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. The search databases were used to select studies on the potential clinical and diagnostic application of proteomic and metabolomic markers in cardiology. The selected sources were subjected to qualitative and thematic analysis. All biomarkers were grouped according to the pathophysiological process (inflammation, blood coagulation and lipid metabolism disorders, myocardial necrosis, etc.). The association of changes in metabolomic and proteomic profiles with the activation of pathogenic processes in the cardiovascular system was demonstrated. The use of these multivariate markers, individually or in combination, will increase the accuracy of early diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment. This article also highlights the limitations of the method and possible ways to solve them. Full article

Background/Objectives: Vitamin D is a nutrient involved not only in bone metabolism but also in metabolic functions, and deficiency is common during adolescence. This study aimed to describe the distribution of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among Korean adolescents and to examine their associations with metabolic syndrome and its individual components. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2022–2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adolescents aged 10–18 years with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D measurements were included (unweighted N = 880). Weighted analyses were performed by categorizing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels into quartiles. Associations between vitamin D quartiles and anthropometric and metabolic parameters were examined using complex-sample general linear models, and odds ratios for metabolic syndrome and its individual components according to vitamin D deficiency were estimated using complex-sample logistic regression models. Results: Weighted prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was 62.4%, higher in females than males. Higher 25(OH)D quartiles were inversely associated with obesity-related indices, including BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio, after full adjustment (p for trend < 0.05). No significant associations were observed for blood pressure, fasting glucose, or lipid parameters. In dichotomous analyses (<20 vs. ≥20 ng/mL), vitamin D deficiency was associated with higher odds of waist circumference ≥ 90th percentile (OR 2.59), waist-to-height ratio > 0.5 (OR 2.63), and BMI ≥ 95th percentile (OR 1.89), while metabolic syndrome was not significant. Conclusions: Vitamin D appears to play an important role in metabolic health in adolescents and was particularly associated with general and central obesity. Full article

The quality of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) is characterized by lipid and protein composition, oxidation and glycation extent, and particle size, while the quantity of HDL-C is just the cholesterol amount in HDL. The inverse association between HDL-C and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension has been well established; however, the U-shaped mortality risk observed from HDL-C underscores that HDL quality and function are equally important. The present cross-sectional study assessed the correlations of serum lipid and glucose profiles, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL characteristics, with blood pressure (BP) distribution in ordinary middle-aged Korean participants (n = 50; mean age 47.0 ± 11.7 years; males: n = 25, 49.2.0 ± 11.7 years; females: n = 25, 44.8 ± 11.5 years), with particular focus on HDL quality and its antioxidant capacity. This study observed that serum elevated triglyceride (TG) and glucose levels were directly proportional to elevated systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), whereas serum total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, and HDL-C were not correlated with BP. However, HDL-C/TC (%) was negatively associated with SBP (p = 0.036), while TG/HDL-C and glucose/HDL-C ratios were positively associated with both SBP and DBP, suggesting that TG and glucose proportions relative to HDL-C are probable predictors of hypertension. Elevations of TG, oxidation, and glycation in LDL were positively associated with elevations of BP, whereas LDL particle size was negatively correlated with BP. Similarly, elevations of TG and glycation in HDL₂ and HDL₃ were positively correlated with elevations of BP, while the particle size of HDL₂ was negatively correlated with BP. The heightened HDL₂-associated paraoxonase (PON) activity and ferric ion reduction ability (FRA) negatively correlated with LDL oxidation and particle size, whereas elevated HDL₃-associated PON and FRA activities were inversely related to LDL glycation. An enhanced glycation in HDL₂ was negatively correlated with HDL₂-associated PON activity and FRA, while an increase in HDL₂ particle size was only dependent on the associated PON activity but not on FRA. In conclusion, observational outcomes demonstrated that improved HDL quality and functionality (characterized by large particle size, reduced glycation, and higher FRA and PON activities) were inversely correlated with LDL oxidation, glycation, particle shrinkage, and the risk of hypertension. Full article

The global demand for fish oil (FO) is increasing while its supply is decreasing, which has limited its use in aquafeeds. Research on alternative terrestrial oils (TOs) for commonly cultured fish species in Bangladesh is limited. This research involved a 70-day feeding experiment to assess the effectiveness of replacing FO with TOs in the diet of Gangetic catfish (Mystus cavasius). Five diets were formulated: a control diet (D1) with fish meal and FO, and four diets replacing FO with soybean oil (D2), black soldier fly larvae oil (D3), palm oil (D4), or a mixed oil combination (D5) of 50% black soldier fly larvae oil, 25% soybean oil, and 25% palm oil. A total of 675 fish (0.5 g each) were distributed in 15 100 L aquariums (45 fish/aquarium) and fed to satiation twice daily. Fish fed with Diet D5 showed significantly higher growth, followed by those fed with D3, D4, and D1, while D2 resulted in significantly lower growth. Fish on the D5 diet consumed the most feed, followed by those on the D3 and D2 diets, with similar feed intake levels for those on the D1 and D4 diets. FCR, FCE, and PER were not significantly affected by dietary oil sources. Whole-body lipid content (p < 0.05) was significantly lower in the D3 group and higher in the D2 group, while other groups showed intermediate values. The fatty acid composition in the fish reflected their diets: significantly higher n-3 LC-PUFA (EPA + DHA) content was observed in the D1 group, followed by the D4 and D3 groups, and fish fed with D2 and D5 showed significantly lower values. Alpha-linolenic acid C18:3n-3) was significantly higher in the D2 group, followed by the D3, D1, and D4 groups, with the D5 group having a significantly lower value. Total MUFA was significantly higher in D4, followed by D1, D5, and D3; the D2-fed group showed a significantly lower value. Lauric acid (C12:0) was significantly higher in D3, followed by D5; other groups showed significantly lower values. Feed physical properties were significantly influenced by oil type, with water stability, pellet durability, and palatability being significantly highest in the D2 and D5 diets, followed by D3 and D4, with D1 being the lowest. Fish on the D1 and D5 diets had a significantly higher condition factor (CF) compared to fish on the D2 diet. Considering the growth and overall performance in the current study, we concluded that under the current dietary composition, TOs can effectively replace FO in the diets of Gangetic catfish, with mixed oils, black soldier fly larvae oil, and palm oil being the most promising alternatives. Full article

Research has demonstrated that incorporating nitrate into animal feed can effectively decrease methane production in ruminants, though its impact on carcass characteristics and meat attributes in Hu sheep requires further investigation. This experiment examined how a dietary inclusion of 3% calcium nitrate (CN) influenced slaughter parameters, meat properties, gut microbial populations, and host gene regulation in Hu sheep. The study involved sixty healthy male Hu sheep aged 120 days with comparable body weights (31.11 ± 3.39 kg), randomly allocated into two groups: a control group receiving standard feed (CON) and a CN-supplemented group. The trial lasted 60 days, including a 15-day adaptation period and a 45-day formal trial period. They were housed individually and fed twice daily (at 8:00 and 18:00). The findings revealed that CN supplementation notably reduced the water loss rate in the longissimus dorsi muscle (LD), elevated meat color brightness, and enhanced the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly n-6 PUFA, along with the n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio. Conversely, it reduced the levels of saturated fatty acids such as myristic acid (C14:0) and oleic acid (C18:1n9t). Additionally, the treatment boosted ruminal Ammoniacal nitrogen content and total short-chain fatty acid production, thereby contributing to energy metabolism in the animals. Microbiological examination demonstrated that CN supplementation led to a decrease in Fibrobacterota and Methanobrevibacter populations within the ruminal environment, while promoting the growth of Proteobacteria in the duodenal region. The gene expression profiling of digestive tract tissues showed an increased activity in nitrogen processing genes (including CA4) and oxidative phosphorylation pathways (such as ATP6), indicating an improved metabolic efficiency and acid–base homeostasis in the host animals. These findings demonstrate that CN-enriched diets enhance the carcass characteristics of Hu sheep by modifying intramuscular lipid profiles through gastrointestinal microbial community restructuring and metabolic pathway adjustments. Such modifications affect energy utilization and acid–base equilibrium, ultimately impacting muscle characteristics and adipose tissue distribution, presenting viable approaches for eco-friendly livestock farming practices. Full article

Understanding how plants respond to water limitation is increasingly important under accelerating climate change. Lycoris aurea, a widely distributed ornamental and medicinal bulbous plant, frequently inhabits environments with fluctuating soil moisture, yet its molecular drought-response mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated L. aurea growing under field-based, in situ soil moisture regimes, comparing low (~20% soil water content) and high (~40% soil water content) conditions. We combined soil property assessments with high-resolution transcriptomic and untargeted metabolomic profiling to characterize the adaptive responses of bulb tissues under contrasting soil water conditions. Although total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels were comparable across treatments, soil moisture, representing the primary contrasting field condition, and soil pH, a correlated environmental factor, were significantly associated with variation in gene expression and metabolite accumulation (p < 0.05, n = 3). Transcriptome analyses identified a total of 1034 differentially expressed genes enriched in pathways related to amino acid metabolism, cuticle formation, cell wall modification, and osmotic adjustment. Metabolomic analysis identified a total of 1867 differentially expressed metabolites belonging to carboxylic acids and prenol lipids, showing alterations involved in amino acids, lipids, phenolic acids, and alkaloids associated with osmoprotection, membrane stabilization, and structural reinforcement under low soil moisture. Pathway-based integration analysis highlighted four core pathways, including “alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism” (p = 0.00371) and “cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis” (p = 0.00873), as central hubs linking transcriptional regulation with metabolic reconfiguration. Gene-metabolite-soil correlation networks further demonstrated that drought adaptation arises from tightly coordinated biochemical and structural adjustments rather than shifts in nutrient acquisition. Together, this species-specific study provides a comprehensive multi-omics framework for understanding drought tolerance in L. aurea, reveals key molecular targets associated with plant resilience, and offers potential targets and insights for the conservation of drought-resilient Lycoris cultivars. Full article

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a type of stroke with high mortality and disability rates. The hemoglobin and iron ions released by ruptured red blood cells after ICH can induce programmed cell death characterized by lipid peroxide accumulation—a defining feature of ferroptosis—which is one of the key mechanisms for the occurrence and progression of secondary brain injury after ICH. Betaine (BET), a natural amino acid derivative, is known to be an antioxidant, but its protective effect and molecular mechanisms in ICH-induced ferroptosis have not been studied yet. In this study, we investigated the effect of BET intervention on ICH-induced ferroptosis and possible mechanisms in vitro and in vivo, and we evaluated the expression of ferroptosis and oxidative stress molecules through in vivo and in vitro experiments. We analyzed the distribution of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and assessed neurobehavioral function, hematoma volume, and iron content in the brain tissue of mice with ICH. BET upregulates nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase 1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signaling, reducing long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) while increasing glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) levels. It also decreases brain iron accumulation, aids hematoma clearance, and protects against ferroptosis and oxidative damage post ICH. Inhibition of Nrf2 with ML385 diminishes BET’s neuroprotective effects, highlighting the pathway’s importance in BET’s mechanism of action. BET boosts antioxidant capacity via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway; inhibits ferroptosis; reduces oxidative stress, brain edema, and iron accumulation post ICH; and aids hematoma clearance, offering neuroprotection. Full article

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is an innovative analytical technique that integrates chemical analysis with spatial localization, enabling label-free, in situ detection and visualization of diverse biomolecules within tissue sections. This review summarizes the recent advances in the application of MSI to neurological disorders, with a focus on Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and traumatic brain injury. Studies have demonstrated that MSI can delineate the spatial heterogeneity of disease-related molecules—such as neurotransmitters, lipids, and metabolites—thereby providing new perspectives for understanding the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Platforms including MALDI-MSI and DESI-MSI have been effectively employed for visualizing drug distribution, characterizing lipid metabolic pathways, and identifying spatial biomarkers. Although challenges remain in quantitative accuracy, spatial resolution, and the detection of low-abundance molecules, advances in high-resolution mass spectrometry, single-cell-level imaging, and multi-omics integration are expected to further enhance the utility of MSI in the investigation of brain diseases. Full article

Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer that continues to present major therapeutic difficulties. Although targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors have improved outcomes, resistance and treatment-related toxicity limit long-term benefit. In recent years, nanotechnology has been explored as a way to improve how drugs are delivered and to achieve greater tumor selectivity. Among available nanocarriers, liposomes have attracted particular interest. Built from lipid bilayers, they can carry both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules, and they are generally well tolerated. Importantly, their surface can be modified with polymers or targeting ligands to direct the carrier more selectively to melanoma cells. Experimental models show that liposomal drug formulations can increase concentrations in tumor tissue while limiting distribution to healthy organs. They have also been used successfully to combine different types of agents, chemotherapies, immunomodulators, and nucleic acids, within a single delivery system. These findings suggest genuine potential to address several of the shortcomings of conventional treatments. Although translation to the clinic is slowed by challenges such as formulation stability and large-scale production, liposomes represent an important step toward safer and more effective melanoma therapy within the broader field of oncologic nanotechnology. Full article

Background/Objectives: Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) processing generates substantial quantities of rind, seeds, and residual pulp that are typically discarded despite being rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, polar lipids, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds. These amphiphilic bioactives are increasingly recognized for their roles in modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and platelet activation; however, the lipid fraction of watermelon by-products remains insufficiently characterized. This study examined organic watermelon juice and its by-products to isolate, characterize, and evaluate extracts enriched in amphiphilic and lipophilic bioactives, with emphasis on their in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic properties. Methods: total lipids were extracted using a modified Bligh–Dyer method and fractionated into total amphiphilic compounds (TAC) and total lipophilic compounds (TLC) via counter-current distribution. Phenolic and carotenoid levels were quantified, and antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Anti-platelet and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated against ADP- and PAF-induced platelet aggregation. Structural characterization of polar lipids was performed using ATR–FTIR, and LC–MS was used to determine fatty acid composition and phospholipid structures. Results and Discussion: Carotenoids were primarily concentrated in the TLC fractions with high ABTS values for antioxidant activity, while phenolics mostly in the juice, the TACs of which showed the strongest total antioxidant capacity based on DPPH. TAC fractions of both samples showed also higher FRAP values of antioxidant activity, likely due to greater phenolic content. TAC extracts also exhibited notable inhibition of PAF- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation, associated with their enriched ω-3 PUFA profiles and favorable ω-6/ω-3 ratios based on their LC-MS profiles. Conclusions: Overall, watermelon products (juice) and by-products represent a valuable and sustainable source of amphiphilic bioactives with significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-platelet potential, supporting their future use in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmetic applications. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of water renewal rate and temperature on the growth performance and physiological responses of juvenile Piaractus brachypomus reared in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). A total of 336 fish (1.35 ± 0.24 g) were distributed in six RAS units under two water renewal rates (42 and 128 L h⁻¹) and three temperatures (26, 29, and 32 °C) for 45 days. Temperature was the main factor affecting growth, with higher final weight and total length at 29 and 32 °C throughout the experimental period. Water renewal rate significantly influenced feeding efficiency and energy allocation. Higher renewal (128 L h⁻¹) increased dissolved oxygen and daily feed intake and resulted in higher hemoglobin levels and hepatic lipid deposition, particularly at 32 °C, indicating greater metabolic activity. Conversely, the lower renewal rate (42 L h⁻¹) was associated with better feed conversion ratios at 29 °C and higher muscle lipid content at 26 °C, suggesting reduced energy expenditure. Hematocrit, total plasma protein, and cholesterol were primarily influenced by temperature, with higher values at 29 and 32 °C, while glucose, triglycerides, and liver enzymes were unaffected. Overall, temperatures of 29–32 °C optimized growth, while water renewal rate modulated feed utilization, physiological responses, and lipid deposition. These findings highlight the importance of jointly optimizing temperature and water renewal rate in RAS to enhance growth performance and metabolic balance in juvenile P. brachypomus. Full article

Membrane proteins remain the most challenging targets for structural characterization, yet their elucidation provides valuable insights into protein function, disease mechanisms, and drug specificity. Structural biology platforms have advanced rapidly in recent years, notably through the development and implementation of nanodiscs—discoidal lipid–protein complexes that encapsulate and solubilize membrane proteins within a controlled, native-like environment. While nanodiscs have become powerful tools for studying membrane proteins, faithfully reconstituting the compositional asymmetry intrinsic to nearly all biological membranes has not yet been achieved. Proper membrane leaflet lipid distribution is critical for accurate protein folding, stability, and insertion. Here, we share a protocol for reconstituting tailored compositional asymmetry within nanodiscs through membrane extraction from giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) treated with a leaflet-specific methyl-β-cyclodextrin (mβCD) lipid exchange. Nanodisc asymmetry is verified through a geometric approach: biotin-DPPE-preloaded mβCD engages in lipid exchange with the outer leaflet of POPC GUVs solubilized by the lipid-free membrane scaffold protein (MSP) Δ49ApoA-I to form nanodisc structures. Once isolated, nanodiscs are introduced to the biotin-binding bacterial protein streptavidin. High-speed atomic force microscopy imaging depicts nanodisc–dimer complexes, indicating that biotin-DPPE was successfully reconstituted into a single leaflet of the nanodiscs. This finding outlines the first step toward engineering tailored nanodisc asymmetry and mimicking the native environment of integral proteins—a potentially powerful tool for accurately reconstituting and structurally analyzing integral membrane proteins whose functions are modulated by lipid asymmetry. Full article

The objective was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of avocado waste (AW) in the diet of rabbits on lipid composition, color, and lipid and protein oxidative stability in the meat of growing rabbits. For this purpose, 80 male rabbits (New Zealand × California) with an average initial weight of 945 ± 47 g were fed for 28 days, being randomly distributed to one of the four experimental treatments (T) (T1: 0%, T2: 4.32%, T3: 8.39%, and T4: 12.25% of waste avocado inclusion, respectively). A decrease (p < 0.05) in the amount of saturated fatty acids was observed in the meat of rabbits fed 8.39% and 12.25% AW, a lower (p < 0.05) concentration of malondialdehyde (mg MDA/kg) in the meat of rabbits fed the AW, and a lower (p < 0.05) concentration of dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) in the treatments with 4.32 and 8.39% AW. The results suggest that the addition of AW in rabbit diets increases the content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and protects the meat from the products of lipid and protein oxidation, decreasing discoloration and delaying oxidation, generating a final product with a longer shelf life. Full article

Shishamo smelt (Spirinchus lanceolatus), which is endemic to Hokkaido, Japan, is frequently substituted in markets with morphologically similar capelin (Mallotus villosus) imported from abroad. Lipids are essential nutrients that play important roles in fish authenticity, validation, and nutritional assessment. Although shishamo has long been consumed in Japan, its region-specific lipid distribution and composition are different from those of capelin and have not been well explored. To overcome these gaps, we used untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry to profile sex- and region-specific lipids in the Japanese S. lanceolatus and Nordic M. villosus. The results revealed that female S. lanceolatus heads exhibited high triacylglycerol (TAG) content, closely resembling roe composition. Docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid were enriched in the female S. lanceolatus viscera. Multivariate analysis identified monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fatty acid (FA) 22:1 and FA 20:1, as robust discriminatory markers between S. lanceolatus and M. villosus. Overall, sex- and regiospecific differences in lipid composition between the two species were correlated and compared. These lipidomic signatures provide a basis for verifying species authenticity and geographic origin, while highlighting the nutritional lipid potential of S. lanceolatus, particularly from the female viscera. Full article

Cancer immunotherapy increasingly relies on nucleic acid-based vaccines, yet achieving efficient and safe delivery remains a critical limitation. Polyplexes—electrostatic complexes of cationic polymers and nucleic acids—have emerged as versatile carriers offering greater chemical tunability and multivalent targeting capacity compared to lipid nanoparticles, with lower immunogenicity than viral vectors. This review summarizes key design principles governing polyplex performance, including polymer chemistry, architecture, and assembly route—emphasizing microfluidic fabrication for improved size control and reproducibility. Mechanistically, effective systems support stepwise delivery: tumor targeting, cellular uptake, endosomal escape (via proton-sponge, membrane fusion, or photochemical disruption), and compartment-specific cargo release. We discuss therapeutic applications spanning plasmid DNA, siRNA, miRNA, mRNA, and CRISPR-based editing, highlighting preclinical data across multiple tumor types and early clinical evidence of on-target knockdown in human cancers. Particular attention is given to physiological barriers and engineering strategies—including size-switching systems, charge-reversal polymers, and tumor-penetrating peptides—that improve intratumoral distribution. However, significant challenges persist, including cationic toxicity, protein corona formation, manufacturing variability, and limited clinical responses to date. Current evidence supports polyplexes as a modular platform complementary to lipid nanoparticles in selected oncology indications, though realizing this potential requires continued optimization alongside rigorous translational development. Full article