Questionnaire for risk factors of alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVES: Non-communicable diseases are estimated to account for 90 % of total deaths and 19 % of premature deaths in Slovakia. Major preventable risk factors of premature mortality are overweight, obesity and alcohol consumption. BACKGROUND: Screening of risk factors related to alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (AFLD and NAFLD, respectively) in Slovak outpatients with liver disease. METHODS: A total group of 923 patients, aged 19-91 years were included in the study. Self-administered anonymous questionnaires (Q) were filled in by them. Twelve questions were included relating to age, gender, education, BMI, intake of vegetable, fruit, fish, alcohol, and coffee, as well as to smoking and physical exercise. RESULTS: Overweight/obesity was detected in 59 % of patients, insufficient fiber intake in 87 % of patients, insufficient fish intake in 85 % of patients, and insufficient physical exercise in 68 % of patients. BMI over 25 together with the risk of alcohol consumption was present in 68 % of patients. Smoking was present in 19 % of patients and insufficient coffee intake (from its hepatoprotective point of view) was in 35 % of patients. A total proportion of 75 % of patients were at risk for NAFLD. The risk of alcohol consumption was present in 64 % of patients. CONCLUSIONS: An anonymous questionnaire is a useful screening tool for searching for the risks of NAFLD and AFLD in general practice. Recommendation of a screening schedule for general practitioners is implemented (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 36).

Platelet mitochondrial respiration and coenzyme Q10 could be used as new diagnostic strategy for mitochondrial dysfunction in rheumatoid diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimunne disorder affecting both small and large synovial joints, leading to their destruction. Platelet biomarkers are involved in inflammation in RA patients. Increased circulating platelet counts in RA patients may contribute to platelet hyperactivity and thrombosis. In this pilot study we evaluated platelet mitochondrial bioenergy function, CoQ10 levels and oxidative stress in RA patients. METHODS: Twenty-one RA patients and 19 healthy volunteers participated in the study. High resolution respirometry (HRR) was used for analysis of platelet mitochondrial bioenergetics. CoQ10 was determined by HPLC method; TBARS were detected spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Slight dysfunction in platelet mitochondrial respiration and reduced platelet CoQ10 levels were observed in RA patients compared with normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: The observed decrease in platelet CoQ10 levels may lead to platelet mitochondrial dysfunction in RA diseases. Determination of platelet mitochondrial function and platelet CoQ10 levels could be used as new diagnostic strategies for mitochondrial bioenergetics in rheumatoid diseases.

Platelet Mitochondrial Respiration, Endogenous Coenzyme Q10 and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a progressive loss of renal function and a decrease of glomerular filtration rate. Reduced mitochondrial function, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and increased oxidative stress in patients with CKD contribute to the disease progression. We tested whether CoQ10 levels, oxidative stress and platelet mitochondrial bioenergetic function differ between groups of CKD patients. METHODS: Twenty-seven CKD patients were enrolled in this trial, 17 patients had arterial hypertension (AH) and 10 patients had arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus (AH and DM). The control group consisted of 12 volunteers. A high-resolution respirometry (HRR) method was used for the analysis of mitochondrial bioenergetics in platelets, and an HPLC method with UV detection was used for CoQ10 determination in platelets, blood, and plasma. Oxidative stress was determined as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). RESULTS: Platelets mitochondrial respiration showed slight, not significant differences between the groups of CKD patients and control subjects. The oxygen consumption by intact platelets positively correlated with the concentration of CoQ10 in the platelets of CKD patients. CONCLUSION: A decreased concentration of CoQ10 and oxidative stress could contribute to the progression of renal dysfunction in CKD patients. The parameters of platelet respiration assessed by high-resolution respirometry can be used only as a weak biological marker for mitochondrial diagnosis and therapy monitoring in CKD patients.