Investigation of the Relationship Between Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels with Genetic Polymorphisms, Gut Microbiota, and Nutrition.

Background: To prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), it is important to determine the factors that are associated with its development. High serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are a modifiable prevention and treatment target known to contribute to the development of CVD, but the factors affecting blood cholesterol levels, including LDL-C, remain controversial. Objective: In this study, the factors (genetic, nutritional, and gut microbiota) thought to be effective on serum LDL-C levels were discussed from a holistic perspective, and the effects of the relationship between these factors on LDL-C levels were examined. Methods: The study was carried out with 609 adults (48% male) who applied to a private health institution between 2016 and 2022. Results: It was observed that serum LDL-C levels were positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.000) and different ApoE alleles had significant effects on LDL-C levels. It was observed that the highest LDL-C levels were in the ɛ4+ group, followed by ɛ3+ and ɛ2+ groups, respectively (P = 0.000). Results showed that dietary cholesterol and fiber consumption did not significantly affect serum LDL-C levels (P = 0.705 and P = 0.722, respectively). It was also observed that enterotypes and the butyrate synthesis potential of intestinal microbiota did not cause significant changes in serum LDL-C levels (P = 0.369 and P = 975, respectively). Conclusion: Serum LDL-C levels are affected by modifiable factors such as BMI and nonmodifiable factors such as APOE genotype. By identifying these factors and conducting further studies on them, new ways to improve serum LDL-C levels, which is an important factor in the development of CVD, can be identified. In addition, no significant effect of gene-nutrient or microbiota-nutrient interactions on serum LDL-C levels was detected. Further research is needed, especially on the relationship between intestinal microbiota and serum LDL levels.

Decellularized liver ECM-based 3D scaffolds: Compositional, physical, chemical, rheological, thermal, mechanical, and in vitro biological evaluations.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is involved in many critical cellular interactions through its biological macromolecules. In this study, a macroporous 3D scaffold originating from decellularized bovine liver ECM (dL-ECM), with defined compositional, physical, chemical, rheological, thermal, mechanical, and in vitro biological properties was developed. First, protocols were determined that effectively remove cells and DNA while ECM retains biological macromolecules collagen, elastin, sGAGs in tissue. Rheological analysis revealed the elastic properties of pepsin-digested dL-ECM. Then, dL-ECM hydrogel was neutralized, molded, formed into macroporous (~100-200 µm) scaffolds in aqueous medium at 37 °C, and lyophilized. The scaffolds had water retention ability, and were mechanically stable for at least 14 days in the culture medium. The findings also showed that increasing the dL-ECM concentration from 10 mg/mL to 20 mg/mL resulted in a significant increase in the mechanical strength of the scaffolds. The hemolysis test revealed high in vitro hemocompatibility of the dL-ECM scaffolds. Studies investigating the viability and proliferation status of human adipose stem cells seeded over a 2-week culture period have demonstrated the suitability of dL-ECM scaffolds as a cell substrate. Prospective studies may reveal the extent to which 3D dL-ECM sponges have the potential to create a biomimetic environment for cells.

3D Bioprinting of Tissue Models with Customized Bioinks.

The ordered assembly of multicellular structures mimicking native tissues has lately come into prominence for various applications of biomedicine. In this respect, three-dimensional bioprinting (3DP) of cells and other biologics through additive manufacturing techniques has brought the possibility to develop functional in vitro tissue models and perhaps creating de novo transplantable tissues or organs in time. Bioinks, which can be defined as the printable analogues of the extracellular matrix, represent the foremost component of 3DP. In this chapter, we attempt to elaborate the major classes of bioinks which are prevalently being evaluated for the 3DP of a wide range of tissue models.

The comparison of resting metabolic rate between biopsy-proven non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver patients.

Background and Aim: Resting metabolic (RMR) rate was shown to be associated with chronic inflammatory conditions. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether RMR differs significantly in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without evidence of inflammation. Material and Methods: Forty-two biopsy-proven NASH were compared with 37 NAFLD patients, who had normal serum transaminases and no evidence of fibrosis based on transient elastography examination. In the interviews, patients' levels of physical activity and dietary habits were recorded, and bioimpedance analysis was performed. The RMRs were calculated using an indirect calorimeter. Results: RMR did not significantly differ between patients with NASH and NAFLD without steatohepatitis in both genders (p=0.695 in males, p=0.256 in females). However, only in female patients RMR rate per body weight was significantly higher in patients with NASH (22.3 [17.2-26.6] cal/kg to 20.2 [12.2-26.1] cal/kg, p=0.020). Conclusion: In conclusion, RMR was not significantly associated with steatohepatitis in patients with NAFLD. Considering the minimizing the effects of body weight, RMR rate per body weight may be used over RMR in the evaluation of the inflammatory status of the NAFLD.

Determination of Nutrition and Physical Activity Status of Early Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Anatolian Side of Istanbul.

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional and physical activity statuses of adolescents and to examine the relationship between their nutritional and physical activity levels and anthropometric measurements. The sample of this study was composed of 2.000 students from 20 secondary schools in Istanbul, Turkey. The physical activity levels were also examined using the survey, food consumption levels were determined by applying the 24-h Dietary Recall. The height and weight were measured and evaluated by World Health Organization (WHO) growth references. Among the male students (n = 888), 50.9% were normal weighted, 25.8% were overweight, 19.2% were obese, and 2.2% were severely obese. The percentage of those who were normal weight was higher (65.5%) among the female adolescents (n = 852), and 21.8% of the females were overweight, 10.2% were obese, and 0.9% were severely obese. The differences in terms of intake values of all food items were found to be statistically significant (p < .05). There was no statistically significant difference in the food consumption of male and female adolescents in terms of the level of intake of macronutrients. Children and adolescents need to be provided an adequate, balanced nutrition and physical activity to help them grow and develop healthily.

A review on the relationship between gluten and schizophrenia: Is gluten the cause?

INTRODUCTION: Schizophrenia is a chronic disease that possesses various clinical manifestations. It presents rather heterogeneous characteristics with respect to onset type, symptoms, and the course of the disease. Although the lifetime prevalence is as low as 1%, it can cause serious disability. Thus, it is very important to develop efficient treatment methods. In some studies, it is hypothesized that removing gluten from the diet leads to a significant improvement in disease symptoms. Epidemiological studies revealed that the prevalence of celiac disease among schizophrenic patients is almost two times higher than that of the general population. OBJECTIVE: In this review, we evaluate the effects of gluten and celiac disease on the onset of schizophrenia. Efficacy of gluten-free diet applications, antibody response against gluten, and the interaction of the brain-gut axis and the presence of common genetic points are also investigated. METHODS: Without any publication date restriction, Pubmed database searches were made for 'schizophrenia, gluten, gliadin, celiac disease, exorphin, brain-gut axis, psychiatric disorders.' The keywords and the articles about the schizophrenia-celiac disease relationship are included in our review. RESULTS: Several studies presented evidence to suggest that symptoms associated with schizophrenia were minimized when gluten was excluded from patients' diets. Immunological searches revealed that most schizophrenic patients with increased anti-gliadin antibodies did not possess celiac disease; yet, the presence of increased antibodies against gliadin can be the share point of the immunological abnormalities found in both of the diseases. DISCUSSION: There were no consistent results in the clinical, immunological, microbiological, and epidemiological studies that investigated the relationship between schizophrenia and celiac disease. This presents a need for a larger scale study to confirm the presence of this suggested correlation between schizophrenia and celiac disease. The underlying mechanisms between the two diseases should be explored.

Effects of weight loss diet therapy on anthropometric measurements and biochemical variables in schizophrenic patients.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of obesity in schizophrenic patients is two to three times higher than in the general population and unhealthy dietary patterns, a sedentary lifestyle and antipsychotic medication use may contribute to the higher levels of obesity among schizophrenic patients. AIMS: We evaluated the effects of diet therapy on weight loss, anthropometric and biochemical variables in overweight or obese (body mass index, BMI ≥ 27 kg/m(2)) female schizophrenic patients who use antipsychotic medications and in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Primary demographic variables were collected via questionnaire; blood samples and anthropometric measurements were obtained. Personalized diet recipes were prepared and nutritional education was shared. We logged the physical activity of the patients and maintained food consumption records at 3-day intervals. Participants were weighed every week; anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected at the end of the first and second months. RESULTS: At the end of the study, reductions in body weight and other anthropometric measurements were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Reductions in body weight and BMI values for patient group were - 4.05 ± 1.73 kg and - 1.62 ± 0.73 kg/m(2) and for the control group were - 6.79 ± 1.80 kg and - 2.55 ± 0.64 kg/m(2), respectively. When compared with the patient group, reductions in the anthropometric variables of the control group were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Fasting glucose, blood lipids, albumin and leptin levels were decreased; insulin and homeostatic model assessment-measured insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were increased insignificantly. Increases in the blood ghrelin levels for both groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Improvements to the diets of schizophrenic patient led to improvements in anthropometric measurements and biochemical variables and reduced the health risks caused by antipsychotic medications. Furthermore, we hypothesize that antipsychotic medications do not have any direct effect on leptin and ghrelin metabolism, and that changes in hormone metabolism may be attributable to changes in body weight.