Lipoprotein apheresis reduces biomarkers of plaque destabilization and cardiovascular risk.

Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is believed to exert anti-atherosclerotic effects beyond LDL-cholesterol reduction. We investigated 22 patients undergoing regular LA on a weekly basis (group A) before (AP) and after LA procedure (EP), 15 healthy individuals (group B), and 22 hyperlipoproteinemic patients with concomitant cardiovascular end organ damage treated without LA therapy (group C). Biomarkers of endothelial inflammation (hsCRP), plaque destabilization, and rupture (sVCAM, MMP-9, PAPP-A, ADMA) were quantified. Intergroup comparison revealed a statistically significant lower MMP-9 level in group A (AP and EP) compared with group C (P < 0.01), whereas PAPP-A levels were lower in group B compared with group A and C (P = 0.04). EP ADMA-levels and EP sVCAM levels in group A were statistically lower compared with group B and C. AP and EP values comparison revealed a significant reduction for hsCRP (mean 41.0 ± 16.7%, P < 0.01), sVCAM (mean 69.6 ± 14.0%, P < 0.01), PAPP-A (mean 88.7 ± 20.4%, P < 0.01), ADMA (mean 69.7 ± 18.4% P < 0.01). In conclusion, we observed a transient decrease in the plasma concentrations of several biomarkers expressed during plaque destabilization and elevated cardiovascular risk after a single LA treatment.

Case Series of Disseminated Xanthogranulomatosis in Red-crowned Parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) with Detection of Psittacine Adenovirus 2 (PsAdV-2).

Xanthogranulomatosis is a common dermatological disease in birds. This form of inflammation, possibly associated with lipometabolic disorders, can also be seen in visceral organs, which as yet has only rarely been described in avian medicine. In general, diseases related to impaired lipid metabolism are frequently reported in avian medicine, with hepatic steatosis and atherosclerosis being the most common. In human medicine, infectious agents-especially some strains of adenovirus-were implicated in contributing to lipometabolic disorders; this has also been described for chicken. Here, a case series of six Red-crowned Parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) is presented, all cases being characterized by psittacine adenovirus 2 (PsAdV-2) infection with or without disseminated xanthogranulomatosis. The affected individuals were examined alive by clinical examination. Total body radiographs were taken of two birds, haematology and blood biochemistry results were achieved in one bird. The birds either died immediately after clinical presentation or within two days, two individuals were euthanized due to worsening of their clinical condition. All birds underwent a post-mortem examination. While four birds were finally diagnosed with disseminated xanthogranulomatosis, all six individuals had large eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in the epithelial cells of the collecting ducts of the kidney and tested positive for PsAdV-2. Further examinations are needed to clarify to what extent PsAdV-2 might elicit lipometabolic disease in birds, or psittacines in general, and, in particular, the Red-crowned Parakeet.

Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Restored High-Fat-Fed Induced Hyperinsulinemia in Rats at Early Stage of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Numerous studies have proposed the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of typical type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to find a new strategy with MSC therapy at an early stage of T2DM to efficiently prevent the progressive deterioration of organic dysfunction. Using the high-fat-fed hyperinsulinemia rat model, we found that before the onset of typical T2DM, bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) significantly attenuated rising insulin with decline in glucose as well as restored lipometabolic disorder and liver dysfunction. BM-MSCs also favored the histological structure recovery and proliferative capacity of pancreatic islet cells. More importantly, BM-MSC administration successfully reversed the abnormal expression of insulin resistance-related proteins including GLUT4, phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1, and protein kinase Akt and proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNFα in liver. These findings suggested that MSCs transplantation during hyperinsulinemia could prevent most potential risks of T2DM for patients.