Elevated levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) have been associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). An active lifestyle is necessary in order to improve lipid HDL-C, including (but not limited to) physical exercise. Research on the association between badminton, an intermittent exercise, and HDL-C is limited. We investigated the impact of aerobic exercise and badminton on HDL-C levels in Taiwanese adults. The sociodemographic data of 7797 participants comprising 3559 men and 4238 women aged between 30 to 70 years were retrieved from the Taiwan Biobank. The participants were grouped into three exercise categories—no exercise, aerobic exercise, and badminton exercise. The HDL-C levels were compared using an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The multivariate linear regression models were used to determine the associations between HDL and exercise. Comparing the other two groups to the no-exercise group, the individuals who were engaged in aerobic and badminton exercise were significantly associated with a higher HDL-C (β =1.3154; p <0.0001 and β = 6.5954; p = 0.0027, respectively). Aerobic exercise and badminton were also associated with higher HDL-C levels among carriers of the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) rs328 genotypes. Aerobic exercise and regular badminton were associated with higher levels of HDL-C, with the badminton group being more significant.

The present study aims to evaluate specific biomarkers involved in congenital heart disease (CHD), and whether there is a significant differences between the levels of these biomarkers in the cyanotic CHD (CCHD) and acyanotic CHD (ACHD). We prospectively measured tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), vasoendothelial growth factor (VEGF), troponin T, creatin kinase MB (CKMB), and Caspase 3 levels in 120 consecutive children with CHD (60 cyanotic and 60 a cyanotic with age 1:4 years), and 30 healthy control children. Significant elevated levels of inflammatory markers; TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP was detected in CHD, with percentage increase in cyanotic than a cyanotic subjects as compared to the normal one. Apoptotic biomarker; caspase 3 showed also significant increases in CCHD than ACHD. In addition, tissue injury mechanisms included troponin T and CKMB, exhibited significant increase in cyanotic than a cyanotic CHD. The present results demonstrate also, significant enhancement in remodeling process (VEGF), in cyanotic than a cyanotic patients. Thus, it could be concluded that, the children with CCHD were shown to have elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, caspase 3, troponin T, and CKMB as these biomarkers may implicated in cardiac functional status.

The aim of the present study was to identify specific markers that mirror liver fibrosis progression as an alternative to biopsy when biopsy is contraindicated, especially in children. After liver biopsies were performed, serum samples from 30 hepatitis C virus (HCV) paediatric patients (8-14 years)

BACKGROUND:Childhood and adolescent obesity is associated with insulin resistance, abnormal glucose metabolism, hypertension, dyslipidemia, inflammation, liver disease, and compromised vascular function. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factor abnormalities and metabolic syndrome in a sample of obese adolescent as prevalence data might be helpful in improving engagement with obesity treatment in future. The high blood lipid levels and obesity are the main risk factors for cardio vascular diseases. Atherosclerotic process begins in childhood.AIM:This study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity in adolescent and their blood lipids levels and blood glucose level.METHODS:This study was conducted with 100 adolescents of both gender age 12-17 years and body mass index (BMI) greater than 95th percentiles and 100 normal adolescents as control group. The blood samples were collected from all adolescents after overnight fasting (10 hours) to analyze blood lipids (Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein) and hematological profile (Hemoglobin, platelets and red blood cell, C reactive protein and fasting blood glucose.RESULTS:There were statistical difference between the two groups for red blood cells (P<0.001), Hemoglobin (P < 0.001) and platelets (P = 0.002), CRP (P = 0.02). Positive correlation was found between the two groups as regards total cholesterol (P = 0.0001), P value was positive for HDL (P = 0.005 and Atherogenic index P value was positive (P = 0.002). Positive correlation was found between the two group as regards fasting blood glucose (P = 0.001).CONCLUSION:Saturated fat was associated with elevated lipid levels in obese children. These results reinforce the importance of healthy dietary habits since child-hood in order to reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.

MicroRNA (miRNA) acts as a critical regulator of growth in various human malignancies. However, the role of miRNA-3614 in the progression of human prostate cancer remains unknown. In this study, our results demonstrated that miRNA-3614-5p exerts a significant inhibitory effect on cell viability and colony formation and induces sub-G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) acts as a master regulator of cell survival. Using the miRNA databases, miRNA-3614-5p was found to regulate Mcl-1 expression by targeting positions of the Mcl-1-3′ UTR. The reduction of Mcl-1 expression by miRNA-3614-5p was further confirmed using an immunoblotting assay. Pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were significantly activated by miRNA-3614-5p to generate cleaved caspase-3 (active caspase-3) and cleaved PARP (active PARP), accompanied by the inhibited Mcl-1 expression. These findings were the first to demonstrate the anti-growth effects of miRNA-3614-5p through downregulating Mcl-1 expression in human prostate cancer cells.