This study aimed to assess serum irisin level in myocardial infarction (MI) with or without heart failure (HF) and the possible relation between irisin and cardiac markers, TNF-α and lipid profile. 86 subjects were included (33 patients had MI, 33 patients had MI with HF and 20 controls). Body Mass Index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), heart rate, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured. Blood samples were withdrawn on admission for measuring irisin, cardiac markers, TNF-α, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration (HDL-C). Patients with MI and HF had reduced serum irisin, LVEF and HDL-C and higher levels of BMI, WHR, SBP, DBP, troponin-I, CK-MB, TNF-α, TC, TGs and LDL-C compared to control. Negative correlations were observed between irisin and BMI, WHR, SBP, DBP, troponin-I, CK-MB, TNF-α, TC, TGs and LDL-C. However, positive association was noticed between irisin and LVEF and HDL-C. Irisin might be a useful biomarker in diagnosis of MI with or without HF. It could have antiinflammatory and hypolipidemic effects. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of irisin as a promising prophylactic or therapeutic agent in cardiovascular diseases.

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BackgroundFew data are available about the role of herbal extract loaded nanoparticles as an alternative safe medicine for the management of a gastric ulcer.AimThis work is targeted at exploring the physiological effects of pomegranate loaded nanoparticles (PLN) against an indomethacin IND-induced gastric ulcer and comparing the results with traditional pomegranate peel extract (PPE).MethodsTwenty-four rats were equally distributed into four groups: control, IND-treated, PLN-treated, and PPE-treated groups. Gross examination of gastric mucosa, and the calculation of ulcer and inhibition indices were done. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-10, gastric homogenate prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) were estimated. Mucosal endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS mRNA) expression was identified by qPCR. Histological and immuno-histochemical staining of Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and eNOS of stomach mucosa were performed.ResultsIn comparison with the control group, IND-treated rats showed visible multiple ulcers with ulcer index, serum MDA, IL-2 and IL-6 were elevated while IL-10, PGE2, NO, and eNOS mRNA expression were significantly reduced. Damaged surface epithelium with disrupted glandular architecture and heavy leucocyte infiltration of lamina propria was noticed. Immunohistochemical staining of stomach mucosa revealed marked increased TNF-α and reduced eNOS. Oral administration of PLN and PPE succeeded in improving the gross mucosal picture, and all biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical alterations.ConclusionBoth PLN and PPE potently alleviated IND-induced gastric ulceration via increasing TAC, PGE2, NO, eNOS mRNA, and protein expression. However, the healing effect of PLN was obviously greater than PPE-treated rats.