BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex metabolic disease connected especially with lipid and carbohydrate disturbances. It is postulated that oxidative stress (OS) is linked to metabolic syndrome, constituting a novel component of its pathogenesis.AimWe aimed to examine the plasma level of oxidatively modified proteins––advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and ischemia modified albumin (IMA)––as well as thiol (SH) groups and evaluate their connection with metabolic agents in relation to MetS prevalence.Subjects and methodsThe levels of AOPP, IMA and SH groups were measured spectrophotometrically in 106 patients with MetS risk factors and in 32 control subjects.ResultsThe levels of examined parameters differed significantly between patients with MetS risk factors and the control group. AOPP significantly correlated with glucose (r = 0.30, p = 0.008), HDL-Ch (r = −0.34, p = 0.005), TG (r = 0.48, p < 0.001) and fibrinogen (r = 0.37, p < 0.001). The levels of AOPP and IMA increased progressively with the number of MetS risk factors, being the most significant for AOPP. The highest values of AOPP were associated with the presence of at least three risk factors. Only AOPP were an independent determinant for MetS occurrence in the studied population (OR = 2.72, p = 0.04). Mutual dependence between metabolic, oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters was revealed.ConclusionsOxidative modifications of proteins are increased in MetS and accumulation of MetS risk factors enhances manifestation of OS. AOPP is the most appropriate parameter for determination of OS, with potential diagnostic value in MetS patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer, accountable for 90% cases. Visfatin and vaspin are adipocytokines with various suggested functions and proven significant correlations between BMI and percentage of body fat. The aim was to assess visfatin and vaspin serum levels in HCC patients and controls, compare their levels in patients with different cancer etiology and grade assessed according to the Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system. The additional aim was to analyze relationship between analyzed adipokines and metabolic abnormalities and liver disfunction severity. The study was performed on 69 cirrhotic patients (54 males/15 females) with HCC, aged 59.0 ± 12.1 years, and with BMI 29.0 ± 4.5 kg/m 2 compared to 20 healthy volunteers. Serum visfatin and vaspin concentrations were significantly increased in HCC patients compared to controls (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Serum vaspin was significantly higher in HCC patients with viral compared to those with non-viral etiology (p = 0.02), with more evident increase in chronic hepatitis C patients (CHC). Serum visfatin levels were significantly higher in patients with higher insulin resistance (p = 0.04) and with platelets count > 100 000/mm 3 (p<0.001). Patients with BMI >30 kg/m 2 had markedly up-regulated vaspin levels (p = 0.04). There was no difference in vaspin and visfatin serum levels with respect to liver dysfunction and BCLC classification. In conclusion, our study revealed serum vaspin and visfatin to be significantly increased in HCC patients independently of cancer etiology compared to controls. Additionally, serum vaspin was elevated in viral disease, especially in CHC. Vaspin up-regulation can be a compensatory mechanism against IR in HCC patients. Serum visfatin and vaspin, although up-regulated, seem not to be associated with cancer grade and cirrhosis severity.

BackgroundAdvanced glycation endproducts (AGE) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) play a pivotal role in the development of diabetes associated diseases. The herbal medicines Padma 28 and Padma Circosan have shown effectiveness in symptoms of diabetes associated diseases and have antioxidant effects. It is not known whether inhibition of AGE and AOPP formation is a mechanism of their action.MethodBSA was subjected to glycation or oxidation with or without 70% ethanolic extracts of Padma 28, Padma Circosan or with an active control. AGE and AOPP concentrations were analyzed fluorimetrically or spectrophotometrically respectively and by ELISA.ResultsCompared to the positive control Padma 28, Padma Circosan and the active control significantly reduced AGE levels by 58.6%, 56.7%, and 8.14% (fluorimetry) and by 35.48, 34.19, and 19.68% (ELISA). AOPP were reduced by 57.28/66.78% (30’/60’ incubation), by 67.08/71.99%, and by 81.68/86.54% (spectrophotometry) or by 79.98/86.97%, 79.3/84.3% and 77.07/90.31% (ELISA). All results are significantly different (p < 0.001). No difference was found between the effects of the two preparations.ConclusionBoth formulas significantly inhibited the formation of AGE and AOPP to a similar extent as the active controls. This suggests a possible role for both Padma preparations in the treatment and prevention of diabetes associated diseases.

BackgroundAdvanced glycation endproducts (AGE) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) arise as a result of excessive glycation and oxidation processes of proteins in hyperglycemia and oxidative stress conditions respectively, both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo these processes are especially intensified in patients with diabetes, and the adverse effects of AGE and AOPP are particularly unfavorable for the pathogenesis and aggravate the biochemical disturbances and clinical complications of diabetes. Total AGE and AOPP (T-AGE and T-AOPP) are heterogeneous groups of compounds, and they can be divided into two main fractions: high- and low-molecular-weight, i.e. HMW-AGE and HMW-AOPP as well as LMW-AGE and LMW-AOPP. Therefore it is important to find natural substances that will prevent formation of total AGE and AOPP and their high- and low-molecular-weight fractions and thereby reduce their adverse effects on tissues and organs.MethodSelected natural substances and dietary supplements such as vitamin C, aminoguanidine, quercetin and green tea as well as the multicompound formulations Padma Circosan and Padma 28 were tested in an in vitro model using bovine serum albumin (BSA). Fluorescence of T-, HMW- and LMW-AGE and concentration of T-, HMW- and LMW-AOPP were measured after incubation with these substances.ResultsIn the examined concentrations quercetin showed the greatest degree of inhibition for T-AGE (60.5 %) as well as for HMW-AGE (79.5 %), while in the case of LMW-AGE the greatest degree of glycation inhibition was shown by Padma Circosan (74.9 %). T-AOPP and HMW-AOPP were best inhibited by vitamin C (87.3 and 89.1 % respectively). The results obtained for LMW-AOPP are atypical, but the lowest concentration was observed in a sample with Padma 28.ConclusionThe results show that all tested natural compounds have inhibitory activity towards the formation of total and low- and high-molecular-weight forms of AGE and AOPP in vitro. That suggest a possible role in the prevention of diabetic complications, especially the multiherbal compound Padma preparations, which are especially effective in lowering the most dangerous, i.e. LMW fractions.

IntroductIon The most important consequence of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes is nonenzymatic glycation of various macromolecules, especially proteins, including those participating in the development of late diabetic complications (such as collagen, crystalline, and extracellular matrix components), and others (for example, enzymes). These issues have recently been extensively investigated. 1,2 The modifications in the structure of these macromolecules directly cause disturbances of their function, and, in addition, they are more resistant to proteolytic digestion and removal from the milieu. The mechanisms of glycation, leading to formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are well-known and widely described. 2,3 AGEs are heterogeneous fluorescent derivatives of nonenzymatic reactions between sugars and protein or lipids. They contribute to the development and progression of late diabetic complications (micro-and macroangiopathy). They may also be formed inside the cells from reactive intermediates (e.g., glyoxal, methylglyoxal), which is a much faster process than the formation of glucose-derived AGEs. 4,5 Based on their molecular weight, AGEs can be divided into 2 main fractions: macromolecular AGEs, called high-molecular-weight AGEs (HMW-AGEs), with a molecular orIGInAL ArtIcLE-StudEnt AWArd WInnEr 2013*