Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death worldwide which is why early risk prediction is crucial. Discrete Polygenic risk score (PRS) measurement using saliva or dried blood spot samples collected at home poses a convenient means for early CVD risk assessment. The present study assessed the effects of 28 disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 16 serological cardiac markers and also aggregated the risk alleles into a PRS to evaluate its applicability in CVD-risk prediction. The study assessed genetic and serological markers in 184 individuals. The association between serological markers and individual genetic variants was evaluated using a two-tailed t test while the associations of serum markers with the PRS was analyzed using the Pearson correlation. The comparative analysis of genotypes revealed statistically significant associations between serum markers and CVD-associated SNPs with Apo B: Apo A-1, LDL Direct, Apo B, sdLDL, hsCRP, Lp(a), NT-proBNP, and PLAC levels being significantly associated with the risk alleles of the SNPs, rs12526453, rs5186, rs10911021, rs1801131, rs670, rs10757274, and rs10757278. Increased PLAC levels were associated with rs10757274 and rs10757278 (P < .05). The SNPs, rs1801133, rs1549758, rs1799983, rs5082, and rs5186 were significantly associated with an increase in the cardioprotective markers, HDL and ApoA1 (P < .05). Furthermore, the PRS was associated with increasing levels of several serum cardiac markers (r ² > 0.6). Significant correlations were observed between high PRS and NT-proBNP and ox-LDL levels with the r ² values being 0.82 (95% CI = 0.13–0.99; P = .03) and 0.94 (95% CI = 0.63–0.99; P = .005), respectively. The present study reports that SNPs have differential effects on serum markers with rs12526453, rs5186, rs10911021, rs1801131, rs670, rs10757274, and rs10757278 showing significant associations with elevated marker levels, which are indicators of deteriorating cardiac health. Genetic assessment via a convenient at-home collection to calculate the PRS can serve as an effective predictive tool for early CVD-risk assessment. This may help identify the risk groups that may require increased serological monitoring.

4th Joint Congress "Microscopy at the Frontiers of Science 2015". Porto, Portugal, 9th to 11th September 2015, FEUP.Artemisia gorgonum (Asteraceae) is a common traditional Cape Verde medicinal plant which has been used intensively to treat several inflammatory diseases. However, the most recent studies reported the anti-malaria activity [1], antiviral, anti-tumoral, anti-pyretic, anti-hemorrhagic, anti-coagulant, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-malarial, anti-ulcerogenic and antispasmodic and hepatoprotective activities have been reported for the Artemisia genus [1–5]. Therefore, our aim is to investigate the protective effect of hydroethanolic extract of A. gorgonum (AEAG) against liver injury on rat model. […].CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials University of Aveiro (Portugal), POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007679 (Foundation for Science and Technology - FCT Ref. UID /CTM /50011/2013), financed by national funds through FCT/MEC and co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal), European Union, QREN, FEDER and COMPETE for funding the QOPNA research unit (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2011).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance between the production of oxidant species and the body’s ability to quench them using antioxidants, favoring the rise in oxidant levels. This leads to the damage of cellular macromolecules such as lipids, DNA, RNA, and proteins. The body’s ability to manage oxidative stress and maintain it at an optimum level is crucial for overall health. Oxidative damage, if left unmitigated, contributes to the aging process characterized by the progressive deterioration of physiological functions and cellular structures. Understanding the mechanisms of oxidative stress along with its reliable quantification can enable consistency and comparability in clinical practice across diseases. While direct quantification of oxidant species in the body would be ideal for assessing oxidative stress, it is not feasible owing to their high reactivity, short half-life, and quantification challenges using conventional techniques. Quantifying oxidative damage products and antioxidants pose as appropriate markers, indicating the degree of oxidative stress in the body. This review comprehensively discusses the mechanism of generation of key oxidant species, their sources, the beneficial roles played by them at low levels and the detrimental effects exerted by their elevated levels. The review also provides insights into the effective quantification techniques for damage products of lipids nucleic acids, and proteins along with the endogenous and exogenous antioxidant markers. Effective quantification of oxidative stress may improve our understanding on the phenomenon which may aid in maintaining cellular integrity, preventing age-associated diseases, and thereby promoting optimal well-being and longevity.