The Curves Exercise Suppresses Endotoxemia in Korean Women with Obesity.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome is a worldwide pandemic and associated with high cardiovascular risk. Metabolic endotoxemia (ME) is thought to be an underlying molecular mechanism. It triggers toll-like receptor 4-mediated inflammatory adipokines and causes a chronic low grade inflammatory status, which results in cardiovascular risk increase. Exercise is the best nonpharmacological treatment to improve prognosis. In this study, we examined the circulating endotoxin level in Korean obese women and investigated effects of exercise on it. Women over body mass index (BMI) 25 kg/m² participated in a resistance training exercise, Curves. At baseline and after 12 weeks exercise, tests including blood samples were taken. In Korean obese women, the fasting endotoxin was 1.45 ± 0.11 EU/mL. Ingestion of a high calorie meal led to a peak level after 2 hours (postprandial 2 hours [PP2]) and a significant rise over the 4 hours (postprandial 4 hours [PP4]) in it (1.78 ± 0.15 and 1.75 ± 0.14 EU/mL for PP2 and PP4, P < 0.05 vs. fasting). After exercise, BMI and hip circumference were reduced significantly. The total cholesterol (TC) at fasting, PP2 and PP4 were decreased significantly. All levels of circulating endotoxin at fasting, PP2 and PP4 showed reduction. But, the peak change was only significant (baseline vs. 12 weeks for PP2; 1.78 ± 0.15 vs. 1.48 ± 0.06 EU/mL, P < 0.05). We report the circulating endotoxin level in Korean obese women for the first time. Also, we establish that energy intake leads to endotoxemia and exercise suppresses the peak endotoxemia after meal. It suggests an impact for a better prognosis in obese women who follow regular exercise.

Elevation of Serum APE1/Ref-1 in Experimental Murine Myocarditis.

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium that causes cardiogenic shock and death. However, endomyocardial biopsy that is, the gold standard for a diagnosis is limited. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox effector factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) is a multifunctional protein, which is involved in DNA-based excision repair pathway, and in redox signaling, its changes are observed in various cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and coronary artery disease. We analyzed serum APE1/Ref-1 in experimental murine myocarditis. To induce myocarditis, coxsackievirus B3 was injected intraperitoneally to BALB/c mice. The serum APE1/Ref-1, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and troponin I were measured. The histology and virus titers measurements were performed. The troponin I and inflammation were significantly elevated at day 3, peaked to day 7 and decreased at day 10. The NT-proBNP and virus titers were significantly peaked at day 3, and dropped at day 7 and 10. The serum APE1/Ref-1 was gradually raised and its elevation is still maintained until a later time, namely day 10. Also, its level was positively correlated with myocardial inflammation, reflecting severity of myocardial injury. We suggest that serum APE1/Ref-1 can be used to assess for myocardial injury in viral myocarditis without endomyocardial biopsy.

Current Status of the Zebrafish Euthanasia and Humane Endpoint in the Republic of Korea and Guideline Suggestion from Nationwide Expert Elicitation: A Model for Other Countries.

Since its introduction as a model organism in the 1980s, the use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in research has expanded worldwide. Despite its now widespread use in research, guidelines to safeguard the ethical treatment of zebrafish, particularly with regard to euthanasia and humane endpoint practices, remain inadequate. One well-recognized example is the use of excess tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) as a means to euthanize zebrafish, regardless of life stage. In this study, through nationwide expert elicitation, we provide a detailed account of zebrafish research practices within the Republic of Korea and the challenges of implementing appropriate methods for euthanasia as a humane endpoint, with many opting for hypothermic shock. We report a local expert consensus for establishing national guidelines to improve zebrafish welfare and good research practice. Suggestions and recommendations for national guidelines were offered. Taken together, our findings raise awareness broadly among zebrafish research practitioners in the field, offer an accurate account of the welfare and treatment of zebrafish in research within the Republic of Korea, and advocate for the development and implementation of national guidelines. As such, our study is useful as a model to adopt the expert elicitation approach to investigate, quantify, and address welfare concerns in zebrafish research, and to establish best practice guidelines.

Elevation of the Serum Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease 1/Redox Factor-1 in Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox effector factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) is a multifunctional protein involved in the DNA base excision repair pathway, inflammation, angiogenesis, and survival pathways. We investigated serum APE1/Ref-1 in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Serum APE1/Ref-1 was measured with a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from 360 patients who received coronary angiograms. They were divided into two groups; a control (n=57) and a CAD group (n=303), the latter included angina (n=128) and myocardial infarction (MI, n=175). RESULTS: The levels of APE1/Ref-1 were higher in the CAD than the control (0.63±0.07 vs. 0.12±0.07 ng/100 µL, respectively; p<0.01). They were also higher in MI than angina (0.81±0.10 vs. 0.38±0.11 ng/100 µL, respectively; p<0.01) and different according to the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow (0.88±0.09 for TIMI flow 0, 1, 2 vs. 0.45±0.13 ng/100 µL for TIMI flow 3, p<0.01) in acute coronary syndrome. In correlation analysis, the levels of APE1/Ref-1 were positively correlated with Troponin I (r=0.222; p<0.0001) and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, r=0.217; p<0.0001) but not high sensitivity to C-reactive protein. Also, they revealed a negative correlation with ejection fraction (EF, r=-0.221; p=0.002). However, there were no significant differences among the three groups, were divided by their levels of APE1/Ref-1, for major adverse cardiovascular events (death, recurrent MI, stroke, revascularization) (8.2 vs. 14.0 vs. 12.5%, p=ns). CONCLUSION: The levels of serum APE1/Ref-1 are elevated in CAD, and are higher in MI than in angina. They are correlated with Troponin I, NT-proBNP, and EF.