Biomarker responses (serum biochemistry) in pregnant female wistar rats and histopathology of their neonates exposed prenatally to pesticides

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects on health of pregnant female rats exposed to pesticides glyphosate and carbendazim. Glyphosate is used as herbicide and carbendazim as a fungicide; all are commercially available readily for various agricultural and domestic purposes. The hypothesis tested in this investigation is that pesticide exposure during pregnancy causes changes in biomarker responses like serum glucose level, total protein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, SGOT, SGPT, and billirubin level. Significant changes were observed in all above biomarker responses, when compared with the reference. Histopathology of skin and kidney of rat neonates showed marked damage. Degenerative changes and vacuolization with eroded capsule were observed in kidney sample and thinning of epidermis in skin sample was seen in pesticides exposed neonates of rats. The serum biochemistry and histopathological findings are valuable markers for observing the changes caused by pesticide exposure.

Predictors of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T Elevation in Patients with Acute Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia and Ischemic Heart Disease.

We studied the predictors and patterns of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) elevation in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) in the presence and absence of ischemic heart disease. During calendar year 2013, we enrolled 70 of 72 consecutive adult patients with PSVT who presented at our center within 4 hours after the onset of tachycardia. On the basis of increased hs-cTnT at either of 2 initial measurements, we divided patients into groups (hs-cTnT-positive and hs-cTnT-negative), to study the predictors of enzyme elevation. We then divided the hs-cTnT-positive patients into 2 groups-those with and those without ischemic heart disease-and compared hs-cTnT changes. We observed hs-cTnT elevation in 52 of the 70 patients (74.3%). The hs-cTnT-positive patients were significantly older (P=0.008) and had a significantly higher duration of tachycardia (P=0.01). Older age, the presence of chest pain, lower diastolic blood pressure, and longer duration of tachycardia increased the odds of enzyme elevation. Among patients with elevated hs-cTnT levels, the baseline and maximal hs-cTnT levels were significantly higher in ischemic patients (P=0.01 and P=0.003, respectively). The increase in hs-cTnT seemed to be higher and longer in ischemic patients, although this was not statistically significant (P=0.908). Finally, hs-cTnT did not decrease to baseline levels within 48 hours in either group. We found that hs-cTnT levels increased in all our patients with PSVT, more so in those with ischemic heart disease.

Untargeted metabolomic analysis of human serum samples associated with different levels of red meat consumption: A possible indicator of type 2 diabetes?

Red meat consumption has been associated with negative health effects. A study to identify biomarkers of meat consumption was undertaken using serum samples collected from combining high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTof-MS) and chemometrics. Using orthogonal partial last-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), multivariate models were created for both modes of acquisition (ESI-/ESI+) and red meat intake classes (YES/NO). In the serum samples, a total 3280 and 3225 ions of interest were detected in positive and negative modes, respectively. Of these, 62 were found to be significantly different (p<0.05) between the two groups. Glycerophospholipids as well as other family lipids, such as lysophospholipids or sphingomyelin, were found significantly (p<0.05) different between yes and no red meat intake groups. This study has shown metabolomics fingerprints have the capability to identify potential biomarkers of red meat consumption, as well as possible health risk factors (e.g., key metabolic families related to the risk of development type 2 diabetes).

Longitudinal Changes in Vascular Risk Markers and Mortality Rates among a Latino Population with Hypertension.

Vascular markers such as pulse-wave velocity and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) might improve the prediction of incident cardiovascular disease beyond traditional risk factors. These vascular markers have not been well characterized in minority populations and might be more useful than inflammatory biomarkers. We conducted a prospective, longitudinal cohort study among hypertensive patients in an urban safety-net hospital. We evaluated inflammatory biomarkers, arterial pulse-wave velocity, and carotid intima-media thickness at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years. The primary outcome variable was CIMT. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate associations between CIMT and predictive variables accounting for the correlation of multiple measurements within subjects over time. For our secondary outcome, we used administrative and National Death Index data to determine all-cause death, and univariate relationships were evaluated. Among 175 subjects, 117 were Latino (67%) and 117 were female (67%). Pulse-wave velocity and CIMT regressed over time (both P <0.001) and were highly correlated (P <0.001). Only pulse-wave velocity (P=0.002) and total cholesterol (P=0.03) were associated with CIMT in time-varying covariate analysis. At a median follow-up period of 80 months, 17 of 175 subjects had died (10%). Higher baseline CIMT and pulse-wave velocity were associated with increased mortality rates (both P <0.01). No serum inflammatory marker was significantly correlated with longitudinal changes in CIMT or death. In conclusion, both arterial stiffness and preclinical carotid atherosclerosis were associated with increased mortality rates and might be useful risk-stratification markers among this minority population.