Search results for "cyst"

Genistein and endothelial function in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome

2013

BackgroundPrevious data have suggested that genistein could exert beneficial effects on endothelial function and on predictors of cardiovascular risk in healthy postmenopausal women. In a randomized clinical trial, we studied the effects of genistein on endothelial function in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome (MS). MethodsTwenty postmenopausal women with MS, according to modified NCEP-ATP III criteria were randomly assigned to receive placebo or genistein (54mg/day) for 6months, along with a Mediterranean-style diet. Postmenopausal women without MS (n=15), served as controls. The primary goal was the assessment of endothelial function by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of brach…

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase homozygosis and low-density lipoproteins in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C

2011

Summary.  Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase status, homocysteine and lipoproteins levels have been associated with severity of disease and both rapid and sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We aimed to assess the association of homocysteine and MTHFR status with serum cholesterol levels and their potential links to both histological findings and virological response, in patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV). A total of 119 consecutive patients were evaluated by biopsy and metabolic measurements. A total of 103 healthy blood donors were used as controls. Serum homocysteine and MTHFR C677T mutation were also evaluated. All p…

Differential serum acute-phase biomarker profile in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

2016

There is a growing interest in inflammation and immune dysfunction in severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This dysfunction seems to consist in abnormal blood levels of cytokines and acute-phase proteins, with increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, homocysteine and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Higher levels can be found in acute episodes and in patients with a higher cardiovascular risk.Acute-phase protein serum parameters were determined in a sample of 100 outpatients with schizophrenia (n = 50) or bipolar disorder (n = 50) so as to assess differences in pro-inflammatory state. Metabolic state was assessed through BMI, waist c…

Beneficial Effect of Melatonin on Blastocyst In Vitro Production from Heat-Stressed Bovine Oocytes

2013

Melatonin may play an important role in protecting gametes and embryos from the potential harmful effects of oxidative stress. In this study, we first examined two different heat stress (HS) treatments for in vitro oocyte maturation (Experiment 1: 38.5 vs 41.0°C, during the first 20 h; Experiment 2: 38.5 vs 41.5°C, during the entire period) on bovine oocyte maturation and embryo development. Second, we tested different melatonin concentrations added to the maturation and culture medium (Experiment 3: 0, 10(-12) , 10(-9) , 10(-4)  m; Experiment 4: 0, 10(-3)  m), both with and without HS (38.5 or 41.5°C, respectively). In Experiment 1, the HS treatment resulted in a lower maturation rate and …

Vitrification of zona-free rabbit expanded or hatching blastocysts: a possible model for human blastocysts.

2003

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of one two-step (A) and two one-step (B1 and B2) vitrification procedures on denuded expanded or hatching rabbit blastocysts held in standard sealed plastic straws as a possible model for human blastocysts. The effect of blastocyst size was also studied on the basis of three size categories (I: diameter <200 μm; II: diameter 200-299 μm; III: diameter ≥300 μm). METHODS: Rabbit expanded or hatching blastocysts were vitrified at day 4 or 5. Before vitrification, the zona pellucida was removed using acidic phosphate buffered saline. For the two-step procedure, prior to vitrification, blastocysts were pre-equilibrated in a solut…

Genetic variants in the MTHFR are not associated with fatty liver disease.

2020

The common missense sequence variants of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), rs1801131 (c.A1298C) and rs1801133 (c.C677T), favour the development of hyperhomocysteinemia and diminished DNA methylation. Previous studies, carried out in small series and with suboptimal characterization of the hepatic phenotype, tested the association of these genetic variants with fatty liver disease (FLD), with conflicting results. Here, we assessed the association of rs1801131 and rs1801133 with hepatic phenotype in the Liver Biopsy Cross-Sectional Cohort, a large cohort (n=1375 from Italy and 411 from Finland) of European individuals with suspect FLD associated with dysmetabolism. A total of 1786 …

Therapeutical approach to plasma homocysteine and cardiovascular risk reduction

2008

Marcello Ciaccio, Giulia Bivona, Chiara BelliaDepartment of Medical Biotechnologies and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Palermo, ItalyAbstract: Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing aminoacid produced during metabolism of methionine. Since 1969 the relationship between altered homocysteine metabolism and both coronary and peripheral atherotrombosis is known; in recent years experimental evidences have shown that elevated plasma levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular ischemic events. Several mechanisms by which elevated homocysteine impairs vascular function have been proposed, including impairment of endothelial…

Acute methionine load‐induced hyperhomocysteinemia enhances platelet aggregation, thromboxane biosynthesis, and macrophage‐derived tissue factor acti…

1997

A moderate elevation of plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and arterial and veinous thrombosis. However, the mechanisms leading to vascular disorders are poorly understood because studies that have investigated the potential atherothrombogenicity of hyperhomocysteinemia in vivo are scarce. Using a rat model, we were the first to show that dietary folic acid deficiency, a major cause of basal hyperhomocysteinemia, is associated with enhanced macrophage-derived tissue factor and platelet activities. We proposed that an homocysteine-induced oxidative stress may account for this hypercoagulable state. To determine the true thrombogenicity of moderate hyperhomocysteinemia a…

Hyperhomocysteinemia in hemodialysis patients: Is it a risk factor for cardiovascular disease?

2005

Human Endometrial Mucin MUC1 Is Up-Regulated by Progesterone and Down-Regulated In Vitro by the Human Blastocyst1

2001

Expression of MUC1 in endometrial epithelium has been suggested to create a barrier to embryo attachment that must be lifted at the time of implantation. In this study, we investigated the hormonal regulation of human endometrial MUC1 in hormone replacement therapy cycles and in the human blastocyst. We also analyzed the embryonic regulation of MUC1 in human endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) during the apposition and adhesion phases of human implantation using two different in vitro models. Our results indicate that endometrial MUC1 mRNA and immunoreactive protein increase in receptive endometrium compared to nonreceptive endometrium. Human blastocysts express MUC1, as demonstrated by rev…