Category Archives: Uncategorized
Spexin level in growth hormone deficiency Iraqi children
L. A. Ghannawi*, K. Gharab, M. A. Hadi,
O. Y. Shakir, A. M. Rahmah
National Diabetes Center, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq;
*e-mail: lujainghannawi@uomustansiriyah.edu.iq
Received: 03 May 2024; Revised: 27 May 2024;
Accepted: 25 July 2024; Available on-line: 04 September 2024
Spexin (SPX) is a newly discovered brain adipokine implicated in various homeostatic functions including metabolism, energy balance, endocrine processes and growth hormone (GH) production in particular. At the same time, the growth-promoting effects of GH are influenced by Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF‑1) and vitamin D3. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of SPX in growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children. The research involved 90 children (40 with growth hormone deficiency and 50 healthy controls aged 5-14). Serum levels of GH, IGF and vitamin D3 were tested using a chemiluminescent immunoassay, that of SPX – by Elabscience ELISA Kit. The results revealed that children with GHD had significantly higher SPX levels compared to the control group. No significant difference in IGF-1 and vitamin D3 levels between patients and control groups was observed. In the GHD group, we found a significant negative correlation between SPX and GH levels; at the same time, there was no correlation between SPX and D3 levels. These findings suggest that the changes in SPX levels may contribute to growth hormone deficiency.
The level of inflammatory markers in patients with myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention
Hadeel S. Abd-Alwahab1, Bayadir Abdul Hussein Mahmeed1,
Nesreen Ahmed Nasser1, Osama A. Mohsein2,3*
1College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq;
2Main Laboratory Unit, Al Habbobi Teaching Hospital,
Thi-Qar Health Directorate, Thi-Qar, Iraq;
3Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques,
Mazaya University College, Thi-Qar, Iraq;
*e-mail: osamaakram889@gmail.com
Received: 04 April 2024; Revised: 20 June 2024;
Accepted: 25 July 2024; Available on-line: 04 September 2024
Cardiovascular diseases are among the most widespread diseases in the world that affect all ages and sometimes can lead to death. Atherosclerosis, coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction are usually associated with artery occlusion and require percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as a non-surgical procedure to restore blood flow to the heart. Inflammatory biomarkers, especially interleukins and cardiac biomarkers, have an important role in diagnosing the state of patients with heart damage. The goal of the study was to estimate the serum levels of interleukins and cardiac biomarkers after PCI to reduce the risk of acute coronary syndrome. The study included 100 persons between the ages of 40 and 69 diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome who had successful PCI and a control group consisting of 50 healthy participants of the same age. The levels of interleukins, сreatine kinase MB and myoglobin were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Troponin and D-dimer levels were measured using immunoassay. It was found that patients before PCI had significantly higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, cardiac troponin I, D-dimer, creatine kinase-MB and myoglobin compared to the control group. One day after PCI, the levels of IL -6, IL-8, cardiac troponin I and D-dimer remained elevated. One week after PCI, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, CK-MB and myoglobin did not show significant differences compared to the control group, while the levels of cardiac troponin I and D-dimer remained higher. Results obtained indicate that in patients after PCI, the levels of interleukins decreased, indicating the reduction of inflammatory processes, but cardiac damage persists to a certain degree, even a week after PCI.
Sex differences in respiration and redox homeostasis of heart mitochondria in rats on high-fructose diet
O. Ivanova1, N. Gorbenko1, O. Borikov2, T. Kiprych1, K. Taran1
1SI “V. Danilevsky Institute for Endocrine Pathology Problems
of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Kharkiv, Ukraine;
2V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine;
*e-mail: ivolga3006@ukr.net
Received: 05 April 2024; Revised: 27 May 2024;
Accepted: 25 July 2024; Available on-line: 04 September 2024
Sex hormones play a leading role in the sexual dimorphism of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress that are associated with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and considered as possible causes of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the work was to determine mitochondrial respiration and redox homeostasis in the heart mitochondria of high-fructose diet-fed (НFD) rats depending on sex. MetS was induced in Wistar rats by 8 weeks intake of fructose (200 g/l) with drinking water. The experiment was performed on 30 rats divided into five groups: control males, control females, HFD-fed males, HFD- fed females with intact ovaries, ovariectomized HFD-fed females. Heart mitochondria were isolated and indicators of redox homeostasis as well as mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate were determined. Heart mitochondria of intact female rats were characterized by a lower intensity of lipid peroxidation, a higher activity of antioxidant defense system and state 3 respiration in comparison with control males. HFD was shown to induce more expressed oxidative stress due to significant inhibition of enzymatic and non-enzymatic components of antioxidant defese and more pronounced dysregulation of mitochondrial respiration in the heart mitochondria of ovariectomized females as compared to males. This data may partially explain the greater cardiovascular risk in women with low estrogen sufficiency and justify the necessity of new sex-specific prevention and treatment of cardiovascular risk approaches.
Effect of long-term ethanol consumption and a high-fat diet on mitochondrial respiration in rat pancreatic acinar cells and hepatocytes
O. O. Bilonoha*, H. M. Mazur, B. O. Manko,
O. R. Kulachkovsky, V. V. Manko
Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine;
*e-mail: olha.bilonoha@lnu.edu.ua
Received: 26 March 2024; Revised: 09 May 2024;
Accepted: 25 July 2024; Available on-line: 04 September b2024
Chronic alcohol consumption may cause pancreatitis and alcohol-related liver diseases. Both adaptation and damage of liver mitochondria in animals on chronic ethanol and high-fat diets were demonstrated. It is currently not clear if ethanol or its metabolites such as fatty acid ethyl esters can cause mitochondrial damage to the pancreas. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic ethanol administration in combination with a high-fat diet on mitochondrial respiration in both pancreatic acinar cells and hepatocytes of rats. Wistar male rats on a high-fat diet (35% calories) were administered ethanol (6 g/kg body weight) by oral gavage for 14 days. Pancreatic acini cells and hepatocytes were isolated with collagenase digestion. The respiration of isolated cells was studied with a Clark electrode. Ethanol administration to rats kept on a high-fat diet was followed by a rapid loss of animal weight during the first 5 days of the experiment and diminished secretory response of pancreatic acini to acetylcholine, however, no changes in acinar cells ultrastructure, basal, oligomycin-insensitive or FCCP-uncoupled respiration were found. Meanwhile ethanol caused a significant (~40%) increase in basal and maximal FCCP-uncoupled respiration rate of isolated hepatocytes. In conclusion, chronic ethanol administration to rats on a high-fat diet does not cause mitochondrial damage in the pancreas, while mitochondria of the liver adapt to ethanol by increasing respiration rate.
Myonectin, irisin, apelin-13 and Elabela hormones levels as biomarkers for type 2 diabetes mellitus : a systematic review
Abdullah A. H. Al-Rubaye1*, Walaa E. Jasim2, Ahmed A. H. Mohsin2
1Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health
and Medical Technology, Southern Technical University, Basra, Iraq;
2Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health
and Medical Technology, Middle Technical University, Baghdad, Iraq;
*e-mail: abdulla.abbas@stu.edu.iq
Received: 16 May 2024; Revised: 23 June 2024;
Accepted: 25 July 2024; Available on-line: 04 September 2024
Insulin resistance is thought to be a key pathophysiologic indicator underlying type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nevertheless, its pathophysiology is complex and remains uncertain. Myokines such as myonectin and irisin produced by muscle tissue were shown to impact the sensitivity to insulin and could play an essential role in the etiology of insulin resistance. Apelin and Elabela are endogenous peptide ligands of the angiotensin II protein J receptor (APJ) that are actively involved in the control of lipid and glucose metabolism, implying a vital role in the management of metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes. In this review, the data on the level of myonectin, irisin, apelin-13 and Elabela in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were analyzed.
The influence of micronutrients and macronutrients excess or deficiency on thyroid function
K. Brzdęk*, S. Wiśniewski, O. Domańska, W. Baran, M. Brzdęk
Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland;
*e-mail: brzdekinga@gmail.com
Received: 04 April 2024; Revised: 03 June 2024;
Accepted: 25 July 2024; Available on-line: 04 September 2024
The thyroid gland’s functionality is complex and is influenced by a variety of compounds, notably iodine, selenium, iron, calcium, thiamine (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 and vitamin D. This study aims to elucidate the significance of micronutrients and macronutrients in the functioning of the thyroid gland and explore how nutrient imbalances may lead to various thyroid disorders, including thyroid cancer.
Progress of The Ukrainian Biochemical Journal thanks to Collaboration with RECOOP HST Association
M. Grigorieva1*, V. Chernyshenko1, S. Vari2
1Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
2International Research and Innovation in Medicine Program,
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA,
and President of the RECOOP HST Association;
*e-mail: mayagrigorieva@gmail.com
Received: 01 May 2024; Revised: 21 May 2024;
Accepted: 31 May 2024; Available on-line: 17 June 2024
The article examines the impact of cooperation between The Ukrainian Biochemical Journal (UBJ) and the international association RECOOP HST on the journal’s development in 2019-2023. During this period, 324 articles were published in the journal. Most of them are written by Ukrainian authors (79.9%). Foreign authors (20.1%) are representatives of 15 countries. An online manuscript handling and reviewing system were implemented on the journal’s website, which increased the number of articles received by the editorial office and allowed for a more careful selection of manuscripts at the initial evaluation stage. As a result, the percentage of rejected manuscripts increased from 36.5 to 67.7%. RECOOP’s support has also played a key role in improving the quality of UBJ’s publications through the renewal of its editorial board and expanding its international reviewer base. In collaboration with RECOOP, eight special issues of UBJ were produced separately, including four themed issues. In total, 56 articles (110 citations) were published in these issues. The number of visitors to UBJ’s website almost tripled during the mentioned period. Currently, UBJ’s Scimago Scientific Journal Rank (SJR) for 2022/2023 is 0.169, the h-index is 20, and the Impact Score is 0.63. A conclusion is made that the cooperation with RECOOP contributed to the publication of better scientific articles, the involvement of highly qualified experts in the peer review process, and stricter adherence by the journal to the fundamental provisions and ethical standards, thereby leading to an elevation in UBJ’s rating and recognition in the global scientific arena.
It is time to pay tribute to women in science: the women who won the Nobel prizes in Chemistry and Physiology or Medicine
T. V. Danylova1,2*, S. V. Komisarenko3
1Institute for Social and Political Psychology, National Academy
of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
2The Graduate School for Social Research, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology
of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland;
*e-mail: danilova_tv@ukr.net;
3Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy
of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
e-mail:svk@biochem.kiev.ua
Received: 12 April 2024; Revised: 14 May 2024;
Accepted: 31 May 2024; Available on-line: 17 June 2024
In the 21st century, it is time to recognize the essential role of women in science. The study carried out by women-scientists makes it possible to combine brightness of mind, deep knowledge with humaneness and wisdom. Their approaches to the problems and the ways to solve them are largely determined by their maps of meaning and existential experience that can enrich and expand the scientific field and, as a result, can offer unexpected but most effective ways to solve the problem. However, women face obstacles in advancing their careers in science, and the situation is even more discouraging when it comes to winning science awards, the most prestigious of which is the Nobel Prize. Between 1901 and 2023, the Nobel Prizes were awarded 621 times to 965 individuals and 27 organizations, but only 64 of them were women-scientists. While we recognize and praise all women – Nobel laureates, this paper pays special attention to women who have received Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physiology or Medicine and briefly outlines their scientific achievements. A more detailed description of their life and scientific journey will be provided in subsequent articles.
Kinetic regularities and a possible mechanism of ATP non-enzymatic hydrolysis induced by calix[4]arene С-107
S. O. Kosterin1*, Т. О. Veklich1, O. І. Kalchenko2,
A. I. Vovk3*, R. V. Rodik2, О. А. Shkrabak1
1Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: kinet@biochem.kiev.ua;
2Institute of Organic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
e-mail: manli@ioch.kiev.ua;
3V. P. Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: vovk@bpci.kiev.ua
Received: 08 February 2024; Revised: 27 March 2024;
Accepted: 31 May 2024; Available on-line: 17 June 2024
The kinetic model of calix[4]arene-induced ATP hydrolysis was elaborated. It is assumed that calix[4]arene С-107 molecules form a complex with nucleoside triphosphate, ensuring the release of inorganic phosphate Рі, and then switch into an inactive state. Inactive calix[4]arene molecules are no longer able to form a complex with ATP and, accordingly, to provide hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphate. In the author’s experimental studies, it was possible to explain the kinetic properties of the reaction, namely: the insignificant output of the reaction end product Pi; the quantitative regularities of the plateau (time-wise) accumulation of the reaction product when the concentration of calix[4]arene C-107 or ATP changes; the reciprocal dependence of the ATP half conversion on its concentration; the correspondence of the initial reaction rate dependence on the calix[4]arene and ATP concentration to the Michaelis-Menten equation. The final decision regarding the molecular mechanism of calix[4]arene-induced ATP hydrolysis requires further experimental and theoretical studies.