Characterization of SNPs in meat quality-related genes in Argentine Coastal Creole pigs and their potential as a porcine genetic resource.

The Coastal Creole pigs in Argentina are predominantly found in the wild and can trace their lineage directly back to the Iberian breeds introduced by Spanish colonizers. They currently stand as the sole Creole breed in the country recognized by the FAO. However, there exists a dearth of studies assessing their genetic potential within the swine industry. Therefore, this study aimed to genetically characterize the meat quality of Coastal Creole pigs based on seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Ryr1, PRKAG3, MC4R, H-FABP, and CAST genes. A total of N = 158 samples were collected from specimens distributed along the coastal region. Our findings revealed all loci to exhibit polymorphism, underscoring the population's remarkable genetic diversity. Furthermore, a higher frequency of alleles favorable for the PRKAG3191I>V/200R>Q, MC4R1426A>G, CAST76872G>A, and Ryr11843C>T genes was observed, while alleles unfavorable predominated for H-FABP1811G>C and CAST638Ser>Arg. The results obtained in this research are highly encouraging, reflecting the genetic potential of these pigs to be utilized in swine production programs.

Influence of Maternal Dietary Protein during Late Gestation on Performance of Black Bengal Does and Their Kids.

The present study aimed to elucidate the effect of different levels of dietary protein during late pregnancy on the performance of Black Bengal does and their kids. Twelve does were divided into three groups, with four in each, and three diets, i.e., high protein (18% CP), medium protein (14% CP), and low protein (10% CP) were supplied for 50 days, commencing from 100 days post-coitum to parturition. During the first 100 days of pregnancy, uniform rations with similar ingredients were provided to fulfill the nutrient requirements depending on the live weight of does. All three diets were isocaloric (10.0 MJ/kg DM). Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA, and the significance of the difference among means was determined by Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The main effects of diet and sex, as well as their interaction, were analyzed by two-way ANOVA by using the GLM procedure. The relative expression values of qPCR were calculated by using the 2-ΔΔCt analysis method. Live weight gain was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in high-protein-fed dams than other groups during the experimental period. The milk yield of does was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in high-protein-fed goats than in the low-protein group. The lactation length of does was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the high- and medium-protein-fed does than in the low-protein-fed does. The duration of post-partum anestrus of does was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the low-protein-fed dams than in the high-protein group. The birth weight of kids tended to be higher in the high-protein group but did not differ significantly among the treatment groups. In male kids, weaning weight, final weight, live weight gain, and average daily gain were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in female kids. Weaning weight was higher (p < 0.05) in kids of the high-protein-fed does than the low-protein group. Final weight and live weight gain were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in kids of the high-protein-fed does than in the low-protein-fed group. On the other hand, average daily gain was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in kids of the high- and medium-protein-fed does than the low-protein group. The average body length and wither height of kids at the 32nd week was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in kids of high-protein-fed does than those of the low-protein-fed group. The average heart girth of kids at the 32nd week was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in kids of high-protein-fed does than the medium- and low-protein groups. The survival rate of kids was higher in the medium- and high-protein-fed does than in low-protein group. Hot carcass weight and ether extract content of meat were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the high-protein group than in the other groups. The dressing percentage was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the kids of high-protein-fed does than low-protein-fed goats. The expression of the H-FABP gene was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in kids of high-protein-fed does than those of the medium- and low-protein groups. In conclusion, maternal dietary protein levels positively influences the production performance of Black Bengal does and their kids.

Association of H-FABP with cardiovascular events: A systematic review.

The research aimed to evaluate the association between heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) and cardiovascular events. We systematically reviewed research that has been conducted to assess this relationship, aiming to determine how useful H-FABP could be as a biomarker for cardiovascular diseases, especially in the initial phases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Our goal was to validate its diagnostic accuracy and clinical relevance. We systematically searched through PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases to find pertinent publications related to cardiovascular diseases and H-FABP, using various permutations, abbreviations, and language variations of MeSH keywords. The final analysis included 12 studies in total. The final study comprised twelve studies, and it was concluded that H-FABP demonstrated high sensitivity (64.3-91.5) and specificity (73-100) for diagnosing Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), especially within the first hours of symptom onset. H-FABP demonstrates potential in enhancing the overall diagnostic accuracy during the initial hours following the manifestation of symptoms. However, the existing data do not provide sufficient evidence to recommend the regular utilization of H-FABP as a preliminary risk assessment approach in individuals who present with suspected cardiac events. Additional investigations, with well-defined prospective cohorts, are needed to validate the results observed.

Importance of H-FABP in Early Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Over the years, troponins have aced the para-clinical tests for confirming the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. However, the rise in their levels is entirely time-dependent, which can cause a delay in the initiation of treatment protocols. Heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) can serve comparatively as a better biological marker for overcoming this flaw of troponins, as it is quickly released into the bloodstream once the myocardial injury occurs due to decreased blood supply. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of this marker as well as establish the specificity and sensitivity of testing the H-FABP, if it adds to early diagnosis and can be relied upon in the future. Material and Methods: We evaluated 83 patients and their H-FABP levels, along with the standard cardiac markers like hsTni and CK-MB, in patients presenting with symptoms indicating an ongoing coronary event, who had presented to our hospital between August 2020 and June 2021. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 comprised patients who had first medical contact within 4 hours of the onset of chest pain, and group 2 patients who had first medical contact after 4 hours of the appearance of symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using MedCalc v20.023, considering statistical significance values of p <0.05. Results for targeted variables are presented using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, range, median, and associated interquartile range) for continuous data, and counts with associated percentages for categorical data. Results: H-FABP was found to have better sensitivity and specificity of 89.67 and 95.65 in group 1 patients and 86.73 and 49.84, respectively, in group 2 patients. The other two cardiac biomarkers evaluated had lower values in response to H-FABP in the first 4 hours of presentation. Results for group 2 showed that specificitivity for hsTni is higher than that of H-FABP, that is, 69.98. Conclusion: Heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) should be included in the protocol for biochemical evaluation of all patients presenting to the emergency services with a suspicion of possible myocardial infarction. Early detection of this protein can help in effective and timely management of myocardial infarction, thus further decreasing mortality rates and the financial burden on healthcare systems worldwide.

Molecular biomarkers of blunt cardiac injury: recent advances and future perspectives.

INTRODUCTION: Blunt cardiac injury (BCI), associated with high morbidity and mortality, involves multiple injuries. With no widely accepted gold standard diagnostic test and molecular biomarkers still in debate and far from application in clinical practice, exploring specific molecular biomarkers of BCI is of great significance. The clarification of molecular biomarkers can improve the diagnosis of BCI, leading to more precise care for victims in various situations. AREAS COVERED: Using the search term 'Biomarker AND Blunt cardiac injury,' we carefully reviewed related papers from June 2004 to June 2024 in PubMed and CNKI. After reviewing, we included 20 papers, summarizing the biomarkers reported in previous studies, and then reviewed molecular biomarkers such as troponins, Nterminal proBtype natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP), hearttype fatty acid binding protein (hFABP), and lactate for BCI diagnosis. Finally, valuable views on future research directions for diagnostic biomarkers of BCI were presented. EXPERT OPINION: Several advanced technologies have been introduced into clinical medicine, which have ultimately changed the research on cardiac diseases in recent years. Some biomarkers have been identified and utilized for BCI diagnosis. Herein, we summarize the latest relevant information as a reference for clinical practice and future studies.

In-silico binding affinity of a phage display library screened novel peptide against various FABPs.

In accordance to the American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death around the globe, causing more than 19.1 million deaths in 2020. Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is required for the metabolism of fatty acids (FA) inside cardiomyocytes is reported as a biomarker for myocardial damage. As early as one hour after an Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), H-FABP can be used to detect myocardial ischemia. Thus, H-FABP based detection can reduce the burden on the emergency department. A peptide-based detection system can provide point-of-care diagnostics for CVDs. There is a lot of research being done on peptide-based detection, and it has a lot of potential to help with unmet medical diagnostic needs. A twelve (12) amino acid peptide has been discovered using Phage Display Library Screening. The affinity of peptide with H-FABP and other FABPs has been done using molecular docking and ADMET profile has been done. Molecular docking of small peptides against the target protein can play a crucial role in recognizing peptide binding sites and poses. The docking study was done using the HDOCK server and the visualization of the docked complex was done using Pymol and UCSF chimera. The molecular simulation study of three protein-peptide complexes were done which also validated the binding affinity of peptide with the proteins. The RMSD, RMSF and radius of gyration are also analyzed. The results indicate that H-FABP shows higher level of binding interaction with the peptide having bond length ranging from 2.3 to 3.4 Å. The screened peptide is suitable for H-FABP binding and can be used for prognosis purposes in the heart ischemic conditions.

H-FABP as a Biomarker in Transient Ischemic Attack.

The study investigates the utility of heart fatty-acid binding protein (H-FABP) in distinguishing TIA from mimics. Data from 175 patients from the StrokeChip multicenter study was retrospectively analyzed. H-FABP level was measured using a rapid point-of-care test. Findings revealed that H-FABP levels were higher in individuals with TIA compared to mimics [3.10 ng/mL (IQR 2.13-4.78) vs. 1.70 ng/mL (IQR 1.23-2.38)] (p < 0.001). The diagnostic performance of H-FABP, assessed using the area under the curve operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0. 83 (95% CI = 0.76-0.90) for the final model, indicating good discriminative ability. The PanelomiX determined that a combined cutoff of > 1.85 ng/ml for H-FABP, age > 42.5 years, and baseline NIHSS > 3.5 had a 100% of sensitivity and 23.30% of specificity. The study suggests that H-FABP has potential as a TIA diagnostic biomarker. The rapid application of POCT's for H-FABP measurement supports its potential use in emergency departments and primary care settings.

Highly sensitive photoelectrochemical biosensing detection of early cardiac injury enabled by novel self-assembled Bi2O3/MgIn2S4 photoelectrode coupled with ZnSnO3 quencher.

The development of photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensors plays a critical role in enabling timely intervention and personalized treatment for cardiac injury. Herein, a novel approach is presented for the fabrication of highly sensitive PEC biosensor employing Bi2O3/MgIn2S4 heterojunction for the ultrasensitive detection of heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP). The Bi2O3/MgIn2S4 heterojunction, synthesized through in-situ growth of MgIn2S4 on Bi2O3 nanoplates, offers superior attributes including a larger specific surface area and more homogeneous distribution, leading to enhanced sensing sensitivity. The well-matched valence and conduction bands of Bi2O3 and MgIn2S4 effectively suppress the recombination of photogenerated carriers and facilitate electron transfer, resulting in a significantly improved photocurrent signal response. And the presence of the secondary antibody marker (ZnSnO3) introduces steric hindrance that hinders electron transfer between ascorbic acid and the photoelectrode, leading to a reduction in photocurrent signal. Additionally, the competition between the ZnSnO3 marker and the Bi2O3/MgIn2S4 heterojunction material for the excitation light source further diminishes the photocurrent signal response. After rigorous repeatability and selectivity tests, the PEC biosensor exhibited excellent performance, and the linear detection range of the biosensor was determined to be 0.05 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL with a remarkable detection limit of 0.029 pg/mL (S/N = 3).

Importance of evaluation of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in COVID-19 Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have documented the cardiovascular consequences of acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), although one of the early cardiac markers that can be used for diagnosis, the heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), has not been covered. Through the evaluation of H-FABP levels, we aim to contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac problems in COVID-19 infection patients. METHODOLOGY: Seventy-five patients who were admitted to the emergency department of Mehmet Akif Ersoy Hospital with a complaint of chest pain in the last 6 hours and whose corona PCR tests were positive, were included in our study as the case group and 60 healthy volunteers as the control group. The routine cardiac markers such as creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) cardiac troponin T (cTnT), and H-FABP levels were analyzed by routine laboratory methods. RESULTS: The mean age and gender distributions of the groups did not differ statistically (p > 0.05). CK-MB, cTnT, and H-FABP measurements were statistically different between the groups (p = 0.001; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between AMI and COVID-19 with routine cardiac markers is already supported by recent studies. We also evaluated H-FABP levels in our study, as it affects the prognosis of the disease independent of the chronic disease history. At the same time, we showed that H-FABP levels increase earlier than routine cardiac markers, so it will be useful for COVID-19 patients with cardiac complaints.

Evaluation of novel biomarkers for early diagnosis of bisphenol A-induced coronary artery disease.

Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA), a ubiquitous synthetic monomer primarily used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins and as a non-polymer additive to other plastics, can leach into the food and water supply and has been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to analyze BPA levels in patients with varying numbers of coronary artery stenosis and evaluate the prognostic value of new biomarkers cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), compared to troponin I and creatine kinase (CK) MB, for detecting myocardial injury. Method: Eighty nine patients undergoing angiography at Urmia Hospital from March 2019 to 2020 were included. Serum levels of BPA, CD36, H-FABP, troponin I, and CK-M were measured. Results: When comparing CD36 and H-FABP with troponin I and CK-MB across coronary occlusion classes, receiver operating characteristic curves indicated CD36 and H-FABP had higher accuracy than troponin I and CK-MB for detecting stenosis stages. In patients with occlusion, significant alterations were detected in age, sex, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and smoking. BPA serum concentration significantly increased compared to normal subjects. Conclusions: Our study revealed that serum biomarkers were valuable for prognosticating myocardial injury. Among these, CD36 and H-FABP were more accurate. BPA concentration correlated with myocardial necrosis, underlying disease, and occlusion stage, suggesting BPA's harmful effects.

Value of Cardiac Troponin, Myoglobin Combined with Heart-type Fatty Acid-binding Protein Detection in Diagnosis of Early Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: To evaluate the value of cardiac troponin(cTn), myoglobin(Myo) combined with heart-type fatty acid-binding protein(H-FABP) detection in the diagnosis of early acute myocardial infarction(AMI). Methods: This study was a clinical comparative study. Eighty patients with AMI hospitalized in Tangshan Workers' Hospital were selected as study group, and another 80 individuals receiving normal physical examination were selected as control group from September 20, 2021 to September 20, 2022. The concentrations of cTn, Myo and H-FABPP, diagnostic indicators, the sensitivity and specificity of combined diagnosis, as well as the diagnostic efficacy for AMI were compared between the two groups. Results: The levels of cTn, Myo and H-FABPP in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P= 0.00). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cTn, Myo and H-FABP were all relevant indicators for AMI. H-FABP alone has better diagnostic efficacy for AMI. The area under the curve of their combined detection, the specificity, and the sensitivity were higher than those of cTn, Myo and H-FABP alone, indicating that their combined application has the best diagnostic efficiency. cTn, Myo and H-FABP levels were positively correlated with Glu, TC, LDL-C and hs-CRP levels(P< 0.01), while negatively correlated with HDL level(P< 0.01). Conclusions: The combined detection of cardiac markers such as cTn, Myo and H-FABP presents higher sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of AMI compared with any single detection, and can provide better data support for the definite diagnosis of AMI, with high clinical application value.

Circulating H-FABP as a biomarker of frailty in patients with chronic heart failure.

Increased vulnerability to physiologic stressors, termed frailty, is a common occurrence in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the definite biomarkers to assess frailty in CHF patients are not known. Here, we assessed the frailty phenotype and its potential association with heart failure (HF) markers in CHF patients. We categorized controls (n = 59) and CHF patients (n = 80), the participants, into robust, pre-frail, and frail based on the cardiovascular health study (CHS) frailty index. The plasma levels of HF markers, including tumorigenicity 2 (s-ST2), galectin-3, and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), were measured and correlated with frailty phenotype and cardiac function. The levels of plasma s-ST2, galectin-3, and H-FABP were profoundly elevated in CHF patients. Conversely, the frailty index scores were significantly lower in ischemic and non-ischemic CHF patients versus controls. Of the assessed HF markers, only H-FABP was positively correlated (r2 = 0.07, P = 0.02) with the frailty score in CHF patients. Collectively, these observations suggest that circulating H-FABP may serve as a biomarker of frailty in CHF patients.

A self-powered photoelectrochemical biosensing platform for H-FABP monitoring mediated by CsPbBr3@COF-V.

Advanced bioelectronic detection based on the integration of modern optical electronics and biological systems has a broad prospect. The strategy of cathode signal amplification in self-powered photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensors with excellent performance is rarely reported in the field of immune analysis. Herein, the work demonstrates a self-powered PEC biosensor formed with BiOI photocathode and WO3/SnS2/ZnS photoanode, and CsPbBr3@COF-V was used as the photocathode signal quenching source for the quantitative monitoring of heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP). The high efficiency and stable self-powered biosensor formed not only provides continuous and powerful photocurrent response for bioanalysis through reasonable stepped band structure, but also effectively eliminates the interference of reducing substances. The quenching source CsPbBr3@COF-V greatly affects the photocurrent response due to steric hindrance, weak conductivity, competition with the substrate for dissolved oxygen and excitation light source. And the intervention of this key factor achieves multiple signal amplification effect and opens up an innovative vision for self-powered PEC immunosensor. Taking H-FABP as a representative analyte, the proposed signal amplification self-powered photoelectrochemical presents a broad linear range from 0.0005 to 150 ng/mL with the detection limit of 0.19 pg/mL.

A Methylene Blue-Enhanced Nanostructured Electrochemical Immunosensor for H-FABP Myocardial Injury Biomarker.

A sensitive electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of the heart-type fatty acid binding protein (HFABP), an earlier biomarker for acute myocardial infarction than Troponins, is described. The sensing platform was enhanced with methylene blue (MB) redox coupled to carbon nanotubes (CNT) assembled on a polymer film of polythionine (PTh). For this strategy, monomers of thionine rich in amine groups were electrosynthesized by cyclic voltammetry on the immunosensor's gold surface, forming an electroactive film with excellent electron transfer capacity. Stepwise sensor surface preparation was electrochemically characterized at each step and scanning electronic microscopy was carried out showing all the preparation steps. The assembled sensor platform combines MB and PTh in a synergism, allowing sensitive detection of the H-FABP in a linear response from 3.0 to 25.0 ng∙mL-1 with a limit of detection of 1.47 ng∙mL-1 HFABP that is similar to the clinical level range for diagnostics. H-FABP is a newer powerful biomarker for distinguishing between unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction.

Resolvin E1 heals injured cardiomyocytes: Therapeutic implications and H-FABP as a readout for cardiovascular disease & systemic inflammation.

The purpose of this study is to investigate heart-fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) leakage from cardiomyocytes as a quantitative measure of cell membrane damage and to test healing by Resolvin E1 (RVE1) as a potential therapeutic for patients with inflammatory diseases (cardiovascular disease and comorbidities) with high morbidity and mortality. Our quantitative ELISA assays demonstrated H-FABP as a sensitive and reliable biomarker for measuring cardiomyocyte damage induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and healing by RvE1, a specialized pro-resolving mediator (SPM) derived from the Omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a dietary nutrient that balances inflammation to restore homeostasis. RvE1 reduced leakage of H-FABP by up to 86%, which supports our hypothesis that inflammation as a mechanism of injury can be targeted for therapy. H-FABP as a blood biomarker was tested in 40 patients admitted to Boston Medical Center for respiratory distress, (20 patients with and 20 patients without COVID infection). High levels of H-FABP correlated with clinically diagnosed CVD, diabetes, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in both patient groups. The level of H-FABP indicates not only CVD damage but is a valuable measure for patients with increased inflammation disease comorbidities.

Corrigendum: Melatonin ameliorates serobiochemical alterations and restores the cardio-nephro diabetic vascular and cellular alterations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1089733.].

Trajectories of interleukin 10 and heart fatty acid-binding protein levels in traumatic brain injury patients with or without extracranial injuries.

Background: Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) have gained interest as diagnostic biomarkers of traumatic brain injury (TBI), but factors affecting their blood levels in patients with moderate-to-severe TBI are largely unknown. Objective: To investigate the trajectories of IL-10 and H-FABP between TBI patients with and without extracranial injuries (ECI); to investigate if there is a correlation between the levels of IL-10 and H-FABP with the levels of inflammation/infection markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocytes; and to investigate if there is a correlation between the admission level of H-FABP with admission levels of cardiac injury markers, troponin (TnT), creatine kinase (CK), and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme mass (CK-MBm). Materials and methods: The admission levels of IL-10, H-FABP, CRP, and leukocytes were measured within 24 h post-TBI and on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 after TBI. The admission levels of TnT, CK, and CK-MBm were measured within 24 h post-TBI. Results: There was a significant difference in the concentration of H-FABP between TBI patients with and without ECI on day 0 (48.2 ± 20.5 and 12.4 ± 14.7 ng/ml, p = 0.02, respectively). There was no significant difference in the levels of IL-10 between these groups at any timepoints. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between IL-10 and CRP on days 2 (R = 0.43, p < 0.01) and 7 (R = 0.46, p = 0.03) after injury, and a negative correlation between H-FABP and CRP on day 0 (R = -0.45, p = 0.01). The levels of IL-10 or H-FABP did not correlate with leukocyte counts at any timepoint. The admission levels of H-FABP correlated with CK (R = 0.70, p < 0.001) and CK-MBm (R = 0.61, p < 0.001), but not with TnT. Conclusion: Inflammatory reactions during the early days after a TBI do not significantly confound the use of IL-10 and H-FABP as TBI biomarkers. Extracranial injuries and cardiac sources may influence the levels of H-FABP in patients with moderate-to-severe TBI.

Melatonin ameliorates serobiochemical alterations and restores the cardio-nephro diabetic vascular and cellular alterations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Melatonin possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antidiabetic properties. Diabetes mellitus (DM) induces several physiopathological changes in body organs, which could be observed lately after systemic failure. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the serobiochemical changes and the histopathological picture in the diabetic heart and the kidney early before chronic complications and highlight the association between hyperglycemia, glomerular alterations, and cardiovascular changes. In addition, the role of melatonin in the treatment of cardio-nephro diabetic vascular and cellular adverse changes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was also studied. A total of 40 mature Wistar albino rats were distributed into five groups; (1) control untreated rats, (2) diabetic mellitus untreated (DM) rats, in which DM was induced by the injection of streptozotocin (STZ), (3) control melatonin-treated (MLT), (4) melatonin-treated diabetic (DM + MLT) rats, in which melatonin was injected (10 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 4 weeks, and (5) insulin-treated diabetic (DM + INS) rats. The serum biochemical analysis of diabetic STZ rats showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the concentrations of blood glucose, total oxidative capacity (TOC), CK-MB, endothelin-1, myoglobin, H-FABP, ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine as compared to control rats. In contrast, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum concentration of insulin, total antioxidative capacity (TAC), total nitric oxide (TNO), and total protein level in DM rats vs. the control rats. Significant improvement in the serobiochemical parameters was noticed in both (DM + MLT) and (DM + INS) groups as compared with (DM) rats. The histological examination of the DM group revealed a disorder of myofibers, cardiomyocyte nuclei, and an increase in connective tissue deposits in between cardiac tissues. Severe congestion and dilation of blood capillaries between cardiac muscle fibers were also observed. The nephropathic changes in DM rats revealed various deteriorations in glomeruli and renal tubular cells of the same group. In addition, vascular alterations in the arcuate artery at the corticomedullary junction and interstitial congestion take place. Melatonin administration repaired all these histopathological alterations to near-control levels. The study concluded that melatonin could be an effective therapeutic molecule for restoring serobiochemical and tissue histopathological alterations during diabetes mellitus.

The effect of tilmicosin and diclofenac sodium combination on cardiac biomarkers in sheep.

The aim of this study was to investigate the cardiotoxic effect of the combination of tilmicosin and diclofenac sodium in sheep. Thirty-two sheep were used and were randomly divided into four equal groups as tilmicosin (T), diclofenac sodium (D), tilmicosin+diclofenac sodium (TD) and control (C) group. Group T received a single dose of tilmicosin, Group D was administered diclofenac sodium once a day for 3 days, and group TD was administered diclofenac and tilmicosin at the same doses as group T and D. Group C received NaCl in a similar way. The blood samples were taken before dosing and at 4th, 8th, 24th and 72nd hour post-dosing for measurement of cardiac markers such as H-FABP, cTn-I, CK-MB. H-FABP level of group TD was found to be significantly (p⟨0.05) higher than of group C at the 8th, 24th and 72nd hour and group D and T at the 72nd hour. cTn-I and CK-MB levels of group TD were found significantly (p⟨0.05) higher compared with other groups. In conclusion, the combined use of tilmicosin and diclofenac in sheep causes an increase in cardiac biomarkers and it can be stated that this combination of drugs may cause cardiac damage.

Plasma Galectin-3 and H-FABP correlate with poor physical performance in patients with congestive heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is often associated with compromised physical capacity in patients. However, it is unclear if established HF markers correlate with the physical performance of patients with congestive HF (CHF). We assessed the left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) and ejection fraction (LVEF) and, physical performance parameters, including short physical performance battery (SPPB), gait speed (GS), and handgrip strength (HGS) in 80 patients with CHF along with 59 healthy controls. Furthermore, levels of plasma HF markers galectin-3 and heart-specific fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) were measured in relation to the severity of HF and physical performance. Irrespective of etiology, significantly greater LVESD and lower LVEF were observed in HF patients versus controls. As expected, the levels of HF markers galectin-3 and H-FABP were upregulated in the CHF patients which were accompanied by significantly elevated levels of plasma zonulin and inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP). The SPPB scores, GS, and HGS were significantly lower in the ischemic and non-ischemic HF patients than controls. The level of galectin-3 was inversely correlated with SPPB scores (r2 = 0.089, P = 0.01) and HGS (r2 = 0.078, P = 0.01). Similarly, H-FABP levels were also inversely correlated with SPPB scores (r2 = 0.06, P = 0.03) and HGS (r2 = 0.109, P = 0.004) in the patients with CHF. Taken together, CHF adversely affects physical performance, and galectin-3 and H-FABP may serve as biomarkers of physical disability in patients with CHF. The robust correlations of galectin-3 and H-FABP with the physical performance parameters and CRP in CHF patients suggest that the poor physical performance may partly be caused due to systemic inflammation.