Background and Aim: Individuals exposed to heavy metals are known to experience physiological and biochemical changes, which raise questions regarding possible health effects. In our earlier research, significant concentrations of vanadium (V), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) were found in food and medical packaging materials. This study aimed to evaluate the cognitive, physiological, and biomarker effects of select heavy metal exposure in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Over a 13-week period, five groups of rats (six rats per group, with both males and females) were assessed to study the effects of oral exposure to V, Hg, Cd, and As. The study focused on evaluating physiological, cognitive, and biochemical markers, with the results compared to those of a control group. Results: Comparing all groups of rats treated with heavy metals, the study revealed significant deficits in learning and spatial orientation (water maze test); rats treated with V, Cd, and Hg showed signs of depression. Rats treated with As also showed signs of hyperactivity, which may indicate a connection to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (rat tail suspension test). The groups exposed to different heavy metals varied in their physiological (water and food intake, urine and feces output) and biochemical responses (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, prostate-specific antigen, T3, T4, thyroid-stimulating hormone, carcinoembryonic antigen, and blood glucose analysis), with Hg exhibiting the strongest impacts. Rats given Hg showed signs of hypothyroidism, such as increased food intake and weight gain. Conclusion: This study clarifies the complex relationships between exposure to heavy metals and various biological systems, shedding light on their potential health impacts. The findings provide insight into the effects of heavy metals on neural and thyroid tissues, as well as their propensity to cause cellular dedifferentiation. However, the study has certain limitations, such as the relatively short duration of exposure and the use of only a few selected biomarkers. Future research should focus on long-term exposure studies, incorporate a broader range of biomarkers, and explore the underlying mechanisms at a molecular level to better understand the full spectrum of health risks associated with heavy metal exposure. Keywords: arsenic, mercury, vanadium, Wistar rats.

Systemic inflammation leading to neuroinflammation is a matter of concern in recent years because of its implication with neurological disorders. Selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonists have shown promising anti-inflammatory effects in various neurodegenerative diseases. With pioglitazone being one such PPAR-γ agonist, our study was aimed at investigating the role of pioglitazone on oxidative stress and cognitive changes against LPS-induced neuroinflammation in rats. In-house-bred male Wistar rats, about six weeks old, were utilized for the present study. They were categorized as A (preventive) and B (curative) groups, each with five subgroups: control (1A and 1B), neuro-inflammatory (2A and 2B), and three different dosages of pioglitazone treatment (3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, and 5A, 5B). After the experimental period, cognitive changes were examined by behavioral tests. Brain homogenate was used for biochemical parameters. Deteriorated memory, superoxide dismutase activity and increase in lipid peroxidation in the brain tissue induced by LPS exposure were substantially alleviated (p < 0.001) by pioglitazone treatment. These results suggest that pioglitazone may be neuroprotective against LPS-induced neuroinflammation.

Purpose of Review: High density lipoprotein (HDL) has historically been considered cardioprotective, with HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels widely used as a biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk. However, accumulating evidence suggests that HDL-C concentration alone does not adequately capture the complex biological functions of HDL particles. This review revisits the evolving understanding of HDL biology and examines the emerging importance of HDL functionality, particle size and particle number in cardiometabolic risk assessment. It further highlights recent methodological advances that enable more detailed characterization of HDL heterogeneity. Recent Findings: Contemporary research demonstrates that HDL represents a structurally and functionally heterogenous group of particles with diverse biological activities. Cardioprotective effects attributed to HDL are increasingly linked to functional properties rather than to HDL-C levels alone. Growing evidence suggest that HDL particle concentration and subclass distribution may correlate more strongly with cardiovascular outcomes than conventional HDL-C measurements. Technological advances, such as nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectroscopy and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis based systems like the Lipoprint platform, now allow more precise quantification and classification of HDL subfractions. Summary: Current evidence challenges the traditional reliance on HDL-C as a surrogate marker of cardiovascular protection. Instead, HDL should be viewed as a dynamic and heterogenous lipoprotein system in which particle characteristics and functional capacity are critical determinants of cardiometabolic risk. Incorporating measurement of HDL particle distribution and functionality into research and clinical evaluation may improve cardiovascular risk stratification and deepen understanding of HDL biology. Continued advances in analytical technologies and functional assays are likely to reshape HDL assessment and support more precise, mechanism based approaches to cardiovascular disease prevention and management.