Lifestyle factors, dietary patterns, and social determinants of social and eating jetlag: A cross-sectional survey

Social jetlag (SJL) and, more recently, eating jetlag have been linked with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases. Here we aim to investigate lifestyle factors (diet, eating behavior, smoking, perceived stress, time spent sedentary/day) and social determinants (education level, employment status, and place of residence) associated with SJL corrected for sleep duration (SJLsc) and eating jetlag. Self-declared data on age, gender, lifestyle, and eating behavior were collected online from March 2021 to February 2022 of 432 adults. Principal component analysis was used to extract three dietary patterns (Prudent, Western, and Risky). Prevalence of SJLsc was 35.2%, with no significant difference between men and women (p = 0.558). Adults with SJLsc had significantly larger eating jetlag (56.0 min vs 41.2 min, p = 0.001). Increasing SJLsc duration was associated with an increased adherence to a Risky dietary pattern (standardized β coefficient = .165, p = 0.012); increasing eating jetlag duration was associated with an increased adherence to a Western dietary pattern (standardized β coefficient = .127, p = 0.039) and a shorter sleep duration (standardized βcoefficient = -0.147, p = 0.011). Among social determinants analyzed, only being a student or employed was associated with eating jetlag (standardized β coefficient = 0.125, p = 0.044), while none displayed any relationship with SJLsc. Our survey provides evidence on a risky behavior among young persons with SJLsc and eating jetlag, characterized by a higher alcohol consumption, and a diet rich in processed meat and high-fat food, eating during nights, and shorter sleep duration with potential long-term negative health outcomes.

Length of Hospital Stay, Hospitalization Costs, and Their Drivers in Adults with Diabetes in the Romanian Public Hospital System

The aim of this analysis was to assess the costs associated with the hospitalizations of persons with diabetes in a Romanian public hospital. We performed a retrospective “top-down” cost analysis of all adult patients discharged from a tertiary care hospital with an ICD-10 primary or secondary code of diabetes mellitus (type 1, type 2, or specific forms) between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2018. All costs were adjusted with the annual inflation rates and converted to EUR. We included 16,868 patients with diabetes and 28,055 episodes of hospitalization. The total adjusted hospitalization cost in the analyzed period was EUR 26,418,126.8 and the adjusted median cost/episode of hospitalization was EUR 596.5. The mean length of a hospital stay/episode was 7.3 days. In the multivariate regression analysis, higher adjusted average costs/episodes of hospitalization and longer lengths of hospital stays were associated with increasing age, the presence of cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, and foot ulcerations. Moreover, a significant association between the average cost/episode of hospitalization and the length of hospital stay was observed (β = 0.704, p < 0.001). This study shows the burden on Romanian public hospitals of inpatient diabetes care and the main drivers of the costs.

Personalized nuclear imaging protocol in cases with nodular goiter and parathyroid adenoma

A 62 years old woman was diagnosed with multinodular toxic goiter and primary hyperparathyroidism/left parathyroid adenoma by hormonal assessment, ultrasound and nuclear thyroid/parathyroid scans. Cervical ultrasound illustrated a multinodular aspect of the thyroid with solid nodules and cystic-component nodules; the larger one represented a multinodular complex with necrosis areas in the left thyroid lobe, ACR TI-RADS score 4 (moderately suspicious). Functional nuclear imaging was performed for accurate differential diagnosis between thyroid vs. parathyroid localization, between cold vs. hot nodules, and eventually, for guiding the choice of a subsequent Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB). Scans described an early intense ^99mTc-sestaMIBI uptake with no ^99mTc-pertechnetate uptake in the left thyroid lobe larger nodule. Due to the suspicion of malignancy for this nodule, we performed an additional scan (1 hour before the classical 2 hours parathyroid delayed scan). The intense uptake persists in both delayed scans suggesting no malignant phenotype and which was confirmed after surgery by benign histology. In conclusion, using a ^99mTc-sestaMIBI personalized protocol, related to the radiotracer cellular uptake mechanisms: 1 hour scan (supplementary image, corresponding to the maximum uptake pattern of ^99mTc-sestaMIBI for cancer cells) and 2 hours scan (for parathyroid washout evaluation) may avoid unnecessary extensive thyroid surgery.

Chronic disruption of circadian rhythm with mistimed sleep and appetite - an exploratory research

This research aimed to explore the relation of social jetlag (SJL) with perceived appetite, and hormones involved in hunger regulation in healthy subjects in free-living conditions (study registration number: ACTRN12618001182280). Eighty normally diurnally active men and women were enrolled in 4 study groups according to the presence of SJL and sleep deprivation (2 groups with SJL with or without sleep deprivations and 2 groups without SJL with or without sleep deprivation) matched 1:1:1:1 for age, gender, and body mass index. Appetite was assessed in fasting state, by measuring acylated ghrelin level and using 100 mm visual analog scales. Persons with SJL had a higher perceived appetite for pork, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, and dairy products and higher acylated ghrelin levels than those without SJL. When considering the presence of sleep deprivation, subjects with SJL, with and without sleep deprivation, reported a higher perceived appetite than group with sleep deprivation alone. They also reported later meal times for lunch and dinner, had more frequently a snack before sleep and reported eating more frequently while watching TV or playing on computer, suggesting poorer eating habits in these subjects. In conclusion, independent of sleep duration, SJL is associated with an increased appetite for caloric dense food, suggesting an increased incentive value of food in these subjects and an anticipated pleasure of ingesting these foods.

A Rare Case of C3 Glomerulonephritis Presenting as Pulmonary Renal Syndrome

Description C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN) is a rare disease that falls under the umbrella of C3 glomerulopathy (C3G). Classic manifestations of C3G include acute renal failure, proteinuria, and hematuria. In some cases, extrarenal manifestations can include ocular drusen. Until recent reports, C3G manifesting with pulmonary symptoms has not been reported. In this report, we describe a patient that initially presented with hemoptysis and acute renal failure, eventually leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary renal syndrome. Renal biopsy showed C3GN. The patient's symptoms improved with pulse dose steroids, plasmapheresis and mycophenolate mofetil. C3G presenting with pulmonary symptoms is rare. Further research is needed to understand the mechanism of complement deposition in the lung parenchyma and to determine a standard therapy to treat these patients. Clinicians should be aware of the potential pulmonary manifestations that can be caused by C3GN.

Social jetlag and sleep deprivation are associated with altered activity in the reward-related brain areas: an exploratory resting-state fMRI study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this research was to assess the effect of social jetlag (SJL) and its interaction with partial sleep deprivation on resting-state brain activity using the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) during free-living conditions.

METHODS

A total of 28 normal weight healthy subjects were enrolled in four study groups (with SJL [with sleep deprivation and without sleep deprivation] and without SJL [with sleep deprivation and without sleep deprivation]), matched 1:1:1:1 for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were collected with SIEMENS 3T scanner while subjects were in a fasting state.

RESULTS

Participants with SJL had significantly higher fALFF values in right lingual gyrus and right putamen and significantly lower fALFF values in left and right inferior parietal lobe in comparison with participants without SJL and without sleep deprivation. Subjects with sleep deprivation had significantly higher fALFF in the thalamus and left superior frontal gyrus. In those with both SJL and sleep deprivation, we observed higher fALFF values in right Brodmann Area (BA)18 and lower values in left and right parietal inferior lobe. Subjects with SJL alone had significantly lower fALFF values in left frontal mid gyrus (BA6) than those with sleep deprivation alone.

CONCLUSIONS

SJL was associated with altered resting-state brain activity in regions that have been shown to be involved in hedonic feeding. The effect of SJL was independent of effects induced by short sleep duration. These alterations might represent the substrate for the increased risk of obesity observed in those with SJL.

P832 ESCAPE Stroke: first results

Objective

"ESCAPE Stroke" (Enhancement, Segmentation and Characterization of Atheroma PlaquE for Stroke Prevention) is a multidisciplinary project that aims to develop a new software tool to obtain maximum information about carotid atherosclerosis, through the (semi)automatic analysis of the morphological characteristics of the carotid plaque. We present the first results for evaluating this software.

Methods

For the morphological analysis of the characteristics of the atheroma plaques, a database of 117 carotid ultrasound images was used. The extracted morphological features refer to the degree of echogenicity, texture and the surface of the atheroma plaque.

Regarding to echogenicity of the atheroma plaques, the implemented software algorithm divides the plaques into four classes as follows:

• Anechogenic A type, the echogenic areas representing less than 25% of the plaque. The 117 plaques subjected to computerized analysis were classified as: 54 Type E plaques, 57 Type E / 2 plaques, 6 Type A / 2 plaques and no Type A plaques

• A / 2 type: predominantly anechogenic, anechogenic areas accounting for more than 50% of the plaque but less than 75%;

• Type E / 2: predominantly echogenic, echogenic areas accounting for more than 50% of the plaque but less than 75%;

• Type E: echogenic, an-echogenic areas representing less than 25% of the plaque; (Figure 1)

On the subject of texture of atheroma plaques, the implemented software algorithm studies the homogeneity. In order to quantify the degree of homogeneity of the atheroma plaques, from the Spatial Gray Level Dependency Matrix, a number of functions have been calculated that have become the homogeneity-classification parameters. The 117 plaques were divided into three different classes (Figure 1) as follows:

• 28 plaques type 1, with uniform consistency regardless of their echogenicity;

• 51 plaques type 2, with an average non-uniform consistency, the distribution of gray levels in the atheroma plaque varies but does not go through the entire interval from hypo-echogenic zones to hyper-echogenic zones;

• 38 plaques type 3, with high non-uniform consistency, with hypo-echogenic and hyper-echogenic zones.

With regard to the surface of the atheroma plaques, it is defined as smooth and regular, slightly irregular or ulcerated (Figure 1). Using different contour parameters, the 117 atheroma plaques subjected to computerized analysis were classified as follows:

• 48 plaques with smooth and regular surface;

• 55 plaques with slightly irregular surface;

• 14 plaques with ulcerative surface; The overall agreement between software analysis and "eyeball" assessment made by 2 independent physicians was 69% for echogenicity, 58% for homogeneity and 74% for plaque surface evaluation.

Conclusion

Our automatic/semiautomatic method for plaque characterization could add important information in atheroma plaque assessment and further research is needed in order to confirm its value.

Abstract P832 Figure1

Social jetlag, sleep-related parameters, and glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes: Results of a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Social jetlag (SJL) is a small recurrent circadian rhythm disruption and the most frequent form of circadian rhythm misalignment. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SJL on glycemic control, as assessed by HbA1c, in real-life settings.

METHODS

In all, 115 consecutive patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were analyzed cross-sectionally. Data on bedtime, sleep onset latency, and wake up time on weekdays and weekends during the previous month were collected from all participants and used to calculate SJL, chronotype, and sleep duration. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A PSQI score > 5 was considered as an indicator of poor sleep quality.

RESULTS

Patients with SJL ≥ 1 hour had significantly higher adjusted values of HbA1c than those with SJL <1 hour (8.7% vs 8.0%; P = 0.029). In unadjusted multivariate regression analysis, SJL ≥ 1 hour and poor sleep quality were significant predictors of HbA1c values, explaining 22.7% and 23.5%, respectively, of the increase in HbA1c. After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes duration, insulin dose (kg/d), insulin regimen and body mass index, only SJL ≥ 1 hour remained associated with HbA1c (β = 0.253; P = 0.026). There was no significant interaction between SJL ≥ 1 hour and poor sleep quality in either the unadjusted or adjusted models (P_interaction  = 0.914).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with T1D, SJL is associated with poor glycemic control, acting independently of sleep quality, sleep duration, and chronotype to exert a deleterious effect on glycemic control.

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY, A NONINVASIVE MARKER OF STEATOHEPATITIS IN PATIENTS WITH OBESITY AND BIOPSY PROVEN NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE

CONTEXT

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes simple steatosis, steatohepatitis (NASH) which can evolve with progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. As liver biopsy cannot be used as a screening method, noninvasive markers are needed.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to test if there is a significant association between vitamin D deficit and the severity of NAFLD.

DESIGN

The patients were divided into two groups (vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency) and statistical analyses were performed on the correlation of clinical and biochemical characteristics with histopathological hepatic changes.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We prospectively studied 64 obese patients referred for bariatric surgery between 2014 and 2016 to our Surgical Unit. Anthropometric, clinical measurements, general and specific biological balance were noted. NAFLD diagnosis and activity score (NAS) were evaluated on liver biopsies.

RESULTS

Increased serum fibrinogen was correlated with NASH (p=0.005) and higher NAS grade. T2DM was positively correlated with liver fibrosis (p=0.002). 84.37% of the patients had vitamin D deficit and 15.62% were vitamin D insufficient. Lobular inflammation correlated with vitamin D deficit (p=0.040). Fibrosis (p=0.050) and steatohepatitis (p=0.032) were independent predictors of low vitamin D concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D status in conjunction with other parameters - such as T2DM - or serum biomarkers - namely fibrinogen level and PCR level - may point out the aggressive forms of NAFLD and the need for liver biopsy for appropriate management.

Study of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients Suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Pulmonary hypertension (PAH) represents a frequent complication in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the impact of accelerated inflammatory status on the pulmonary vascular bed is still insufficiently studied.

OBJECTIVES

The study of the PAH's prevalence in patients suffering from COPD, its severity compared with lung function and the correlation with certain clinical, biological and functional parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The study was performed on a group of 64 patients, average age 53 years, 42 of whom were men (65,62%), suffering from COPD who were admitted to the Emergency County Hospital Craiova, on the II-nd Medical Clinic, within a period of 18 months. When assessing the patients their clinical state was stable, without acute exacerbations items. The control group included 61 patients suffering from other diseases without inflammatory background, who were hospitalized in clinic in the same period. All the patients included in the study were evaluated by: physical examination, thoracic radiological examination, spirometry, inflammatory syndrome, echocardiography Doppler and oximetry.

RESULTS

The results of the study show a prevalence of 54.6 % PAH and a statistically significant impact of age, duration of the disease, Sa O2, inflammatory status, which was quantified in the study by ESR, serum levels of CRP and serum level of TNF alpha over the risk of developing COPD in patients suffering from PAH.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence and the severity of PAH in patients suffering from COPD seems to be correlated with their age, duration of the disease, Sa O2 and serum levels of inflammatory markers.

Appendicular Mucocele: Possibilities and Limits of Laparoscopy. Brief Series and Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION

Appendicular mucocele, a cystic dilatation of the appendix, is a rare disease, but unfortunately about 1/10 of cases evolves into pseudomyxoma peritonei.

METHODS

We performed a prospective study between 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 in order to track the incidence, symptoms, and circumstances of diagnosis, treatment and evolution of these rare tumors.

RESULTS

A total of seven patients underwent curative surgery for a mucocele of the appendix: one woman and six men with an average age of 59.71 years. Clinical signs, present in two cases, were uncharacteristic. Ultrasound performed in all cases, could guide diagnosis in 5 cases. CT performed in 5 cases diagnosed only two cases. All cases were operated on: the open approach was used in four cases and a minimally invasive in three cases. We performed two right colectomies, an open appendectomy associated to anterior resection of the rectum, two laparoscopic appendectomies and two appendectomies and cecum resection with stapler, one by open approach and one by a minimally invasive approach. Intraoperative spillage of mucinous tumor did not occur in any case. The mean hospital stay was 5.7 days. Postoperative complications were present in 1 case (14.2%): wound infection. The average follow-up period was 40.28 months. (Range 6 to 48 months). No tumor recurrence or readmission, such as pseudomyxoma peritonei, has occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Appendicular mucocele is a rare entity; it can be found incidentally and it can mimic acute appendicitis, appendicular plastron or cecum tumor. Once diagnosed, surgical treatment is required for fear of perforation, tumor evolution and the emergence of the rule of complications. Laparoscopic approach in selected cases can be used, accompanied by safety measures to avoid iatrogenic perforation and peritoneal and parietal seeding.

Rare Tumors, Rare Association: Ovarian Strumal Carcinoid - Retroperitoneal Cystic Lymphangioma

INTRODUCTION

Strumal carcinoid is a rare neoplasm of the ovary containing thyroid (struma) and carcinoid component revealed by immunohistochemistry. Case present: A 55-years-old woman with hysterectomy and right oophorectomy for uterine leiomyoma and right ovarian cyst, performed 12 years ago, was referred to the First Surgical Clinic, St. Spiridon University Hospital Iasi with pain in hypogastrium present for 2 months. Laboratory tests are normal and serum testing for tumor markers is unchanged. Ultrasound and CT finds for topography of the left ovary a well-defined 63 57 71 mm cystic mass, with a non-uniform wall thickness. Exploration laparoscopy, after adhesiolysis, identifies a cystic tumor developed in mesosigmoid which was excised and auterine tube with cystic dilatation and left ovary with intactcapsule, for which we performed left adnexectomy and extracted pieces of tumors in endobag. Evolution is simple, the patient being discharged after 3 days postoperatively. Histopathological exam and immunohistochemistry reveal edovarian strumal carcinoid and cystic lymphangioma. After one year follow up the patient is disease free.

CONCLUSION

This association between an ovarian strumal carcinoid with mesosigmoidian cystic lymphangioma is unusual and rare, not cited in the literature. A laparoscopic approach for the two conditions is safe with good immediate and distant postoperative course.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors - a clinical-morphological study on 15 cases

AIM

The authors present their experience in addressing the gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

15 GISTs operated in the last five years (2008-2013) were analyzed.

RESULTS

The preoperative diagnosis was difficult: established by clinical examination and CT in two cases; imagistic accidental discovery in four cases and revealed by evolving complications in nine cases (gastrointestinal bleeding in four cases and bowel obstruction in five cases). CT may be useful in the preliminary estimation of the tumor extent. Tumor location was: stomach four, duodenum one, small bowel seven, and colon three. Pathological examination set the main criteria for assessing the risk of recurrence and indication for adjuvant therapy: the tumor size, the histological type (spindle cell nine, epithelioid four, and mixed two) and the mitosis rate, while the immunohistochemistry examination established the correct diagnosis (positivity for CD117 and CD34) and criteria of aggressiveness (positivity for Ki67). All cases were operated, the surgical procedure being chosen according to the tumor location and stage. Adjuvant therapy with Imatinib 400 mg/day was performed in the 12 cases with high risk of recurrence. The therapeutic outcome was: a postoperative morbidity rate of 13.3%, four patients cured, one local recurrence under Imatinib therapy, a mortality rate of 6.6% and 10 patients in different phases of adjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

GIST has been imposed over the last decade as the main type of non-epithelial tumor of the digestive tract. The preoperative imagistic investigations can be very useful for setting the surgical strategy. The improvement of the mitotic index and/or Ki67 labeling index (LI) determination could render more accurate the scales for prognostic assessment. The two steps algorithm - surgery + adjuvant therapy - still remains the only option to make this dangerous condition a curable one.

Epidemiology and histology of malignant thyroid nodules in North East Region of Romania (Moldavia) before and after alimentary salt universal iodination

Research on the relationship between iodine exposure and thyroid cancer risk is limited and the findings are inconclusive.

OBJECTIVES

Given this molecular data on iodine we decided to evaluate the changes of incidence and histology of thyroid cancer in the North-Eastern region of Romania (Moldavia) after the government decision from 2004 that introduced the universal iodination of alimentary salt. After this decision values of urinary iodine increased from 50 microg/L (2001-2002) to 117 microg/L (2006 -2008).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We compared the incidence and the histology of thyroid cancer in residents living in an area known as a mild endemic goiter region (Moldavia-Romania) between 2001-2004 with the incidence and the histology of thyroid cancer between 2005-2008 in the same region after the introduction of universal iodization of alimentary salt.

RESULTS

The number of papillary cancers increased from 125 cases (2001-2004) to 276 cases (2005-2008). The number of follicular cancer decreased from 52 cases (2001-2004) to 27 cases (2005-2008). The ratio between papillary and follicular cancers increased from 4.80 / 1 (2001-2004) at 10.61 / 1 (2005-2008). The number of medullar thyroid carcinoma increased from six cases (2001-2004) to 24 cases (2005-2008). Thyroid anaplastic carcinomas number increased from 7 cases (2001-2004) to 12 cases (2005-2008). The total number of thyroid cancer has increased dramatically after the introduction of universal iodination of alimentary salt with 178% compared to 2001-2004 (from 190 cases in 2001-2004 to 339 cases in 2005-2008), despite the fact that the number thyroidectomies decreased from 1734 (2001-2004) to 1449 (2005-2008).

CONCLUSION

After the introduction the universal iodination of alimentary salt starting from 2004 the total number of thyroid cancers increased comparative with the period before universal iodination of alimentary salt.

[Radical neck dissection in advanced thyroid cancer]

We try to ascertain whether total thyroidectomy with radical neck dissection offers a survival and recurrency advantage for thyroid cancer. Between January 2000 and September 2009 in the 3rd Surgical Unit of the "Sf. Spiridon" Hospital of Iaşi 189 operations were performed for malign thyroid disorders, 164 (86,77%) of which were performed for the papillary or foliculary cancer. The diagnosis was confirmed by hystopathological examination. The patients had a medium age of 51,48 (extremes 19 - 81 years). Women had a greater proportion, as expected (sex ratio F:M = 2,85:1). 59 total thyroidectomy with radical or modified radical neck dissection were performed. There were immediate (6 bleedings which needed reoperation for haemostasis, 7 unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury) and late complications (8 cases of recurrency in the first 2 years). Total thyroidectomy with radical neck dissection became the ellective method for advanced thyroid cancer (the best results were for papillary cancer, female and age over 55).

Compatibility of Segmenting Fluids in Continuous-Flow Microfluidic PCR

Continuous flow offers notable advantages over batch processing for analytical applications like gene expression profiling of biological material, which demands very high processing. The technology of choice for future genetic analyzers will most likely use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR); therefore, high-throughput, high-speed PCR devices have raised enormous interest. Continuous-flow, biphasic PCR can meet these requirements but segmenting∕carrier fluids chemically compatible with the PCR are needed. The present paper compares several fluids in terms of compatibility with PCR and fluidic dynamics in a continuous, two-phase flow microfluidic device, and PCR efficiency was assessed quantitatively. The results represent the first step toward rational fluid design for biphasic continuous PCR.

SNP discovery, expression and association analysis for the SDHD gene in pigs

The SDHD gene was examined for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) as well as for expression changes in the Longissimus dorsi muscle of commercial pigs with different potential for growth. Three SNPs, including one previously described in the coding region and two new ones in the 3'-UTR, were found. The normalized expression of SDHD was correlated with growth, meat quality and sensory traits (p < 0.05). For the commercial pigs used in this study, as well as a Berkshire x Yorkshire resource population, the SNPs have been associated (p < 0.05) with: growth, carcass composition, meat quality and sensory traits. Despite the fact that the described SNPs were not significantly associated with the normalized expression values, the SDHD SNPs and expression were associated with growth and meat quality traits in pigs.

SNP discovery, expression and association analysis for the SDHD gene in pigs

The SDHD gene was examined for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) as well as for expression changes in the Longissimus dorsi muscle of commercial pigs with different potential for growth. Three SNPs, including one previously described in the coding region and two new ones in the 3'-UTR, were found. The normalized expression of SDHD was correlated with growth, meat quality and sensory traits (p<0.05). For the commercial pigs used in this study, as well as a Berkshire x Yorkshire resource population, the SNPs have been associated (p<0.05) with: growth, carcass composition, meat quality and sensory traits. Despite the fact that the described SNPs were not significantly associated with the normalized expression values, the SDHD SNPs and expression were associated with growth and meat quality traits in pigs.

C-reactive protein decreases interleukin-10 secretion in activated human monocyte-derived macrophages via inhibition of cyclic AMP production

OBJECTIVE

C-Reactive protein (CRP), a cardiovascular risk marker, could also participate in atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic plaques express CRP and interleukin (IL)-10, a major antiinflammatory cytokine. IL-10 deficiency results in increased lesion formation, whereas IL-10 delivery attenuates lesions. We tested the effect of CRP on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-10 secretion in human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDMs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Incubation of HMDMs with CRP significantly decreased LPS-induced IL-10 mRNA and intracellular and secreted IL-10 protein and destabilized IL-10 mRNA. Also, CRP alone increased secretion of IL-8, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor from HMDMs and did not inhibit LPS-induced secretion of these cytokines. Fc gamma receptor I antibodies significantly reversed CRP-mediated IL-10 inhibition. CRP significantly decreased intracellular cAMP, phospho-cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB), and adenyl cyclase activity. cAMP agonists reversed CRP-mediated IL-10 inhibition. Overexpression of wild-type and constitutively active CREB in THP-1 cells revealed attenuation of the inhibitory effect of CRP on LPS-induced IL-10 levels. CRP also inhibited hemoglobin:haptoglobin-induced IL-10 and heme oxygenase-1. Furthermore, administration of human CRP to rats significantly decreased IL-10 levels.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides novel evidence that CRP, by decreasing IL-10 alters the antiinflammatory/proinflammatory balance, accentuating inflammation, which is pivotal in atherothrombosis.

Evidence for new alleles in the protein kinase adenosine monophosphate-activated gamma(3)-subunit gene associated with low glycogen content in pig skeletal muscle and improved meat quality

Several quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting muscle glycogen content and related traits were mapped to pig chromosome 15 using a three-generation intercross between Berkshire x Yorkshire pigs. On the basis of the QTL location the PRKAG3 (protein kinase, AMP-activated, gamma(3)-subunit) gene was considered to be a good candidate for the observed effects. Differences in the PRKAG3 gene sequences of the founder animals of the intercross were analyzed. The RN(-) mutation previously reported was not present in the cross but three missense substitutions and a polymorphic short interspersed element (SINE) were identified. To confirm the hypothesis that at least one of these mutations was associated with differences in meat quality, >1800 animals from several unrelated commercial lines were genotyped for the candidate substitutions and an association study was performed. The results demonstrate the presence of new economically important alleles of the PRKAG3 gene affecting the glycogen content in the muscle and the resulting meat quality. Haplotype analysis was shown to resolve the effects of PRKAG3 more clearly than analysis of individual polymorphisms. Because of their prevalence in the more common commercial breeds, the potential implications for the pig industry and consumers are considerably greater than the original discovery of the RN(-) mutation. Furthermore, these results illustrate that additional alleles of genes involved in major mutations may play a significant role in quantitative trait variation.