Peter Sabaka

Bio: Peter Sabaka is an academic researcher from Comenius University in Bratislava. The author has contributed to research in topics: Lipoprotein & Population. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 31 publications receiving 242 citations.

Role of interleukin 6 as a predictive factor for a severe course of Covid-19: retrospective data analysis of patients from a long-term care facility during Covid-19 outbreak.

Abstract: Covid-19 is a disease with high morbidity and mortality among elderly residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF). During an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the LTCF an effective screening tool is essential to identify the patients at risk for severe disease. We explored the role of interleukin 6 (IL-6) as a predictor for severe disease during the outbreak of Covid-19 in one LTCF in Slovakia. We conducted a retrospective data analysis of cases of COVID-19, diagnosed during the outbreak in one LTCF in Slovakia between April 11, 2020, and May 5, 2020. Within 24 h after the diagnosis of Covid-19, clinical and laboratory screening was performed in the LTCF to identify patients in need of hospitalization. Patients with oxygen saturation below 90% were immediately referred to the hospital. Patients staying in the LFTC were monitored daily and those that developed hypoxemia were transferred to the hospital. We analyzed the association between the IL-6 at the initial assessment and development of hypoxemia during follow up and determined the cut-off of the IL-6 able to predict the development of hypoxemia requiring oxygen therapy. Fifty-three patients (11 men, 42 women) with diagnosed Covid-19 were included in the analysis. 19 (53%) patients developed hypoxemia during the disease. Patients with hypoxemia had significantly higher concentrations of IL-6, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, fibrinogen, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase at initial screening. ROC analyses identified IL-6 as the most robust predictor of hypoxemia. The concentration of IL-6 > 24 pg/mL predicted the development of hypoxemia with the sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 88.9%. The positive and negative predictive values were 76.9, and 100% respectively. The concentration of IL-6 > 24 pg/mL at initial assessment predicted the development of hypoxemia requiring hospitalization with excellent sensitivity and good specificity. IL-6 appears as a potential predictor for the development of the severe Covid-19 and might serve for early identification of patients in need of hospitalization. Further studies are needed to evaluate the robustness of the use of IL-6 as an effective screening tool for the severe course of Covid-19.

Orthostatic hypotension in diabetic patients—10-year follow-up study

Abstract: Introduction Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in diabetics is a common but often underestimated and underdiagnosed complication of diabetes mellitus. One of the most clinical apparent forms of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is orthostatic hypotension. Objectives To retrospectively assess the association of the orthostatic hypotension (OH) with macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus and to determine its effect on mortality. Design and methods We retrospectively analyzed 187 patients with diabetes mellitus (60 patients with diabetes type 1 and 127 patients with diabetes type 2). Patients were divided into groups according to presence or absence of OH and type of diabetes. Association of OH with macrovascular and microvascular complications was evaluated and the effect of OH on 10-year all-cause mortality was also assessed. Results OH was present in 31.7% of patients with diabetes type 1 (DM1) and in 32.3% of patients with diabetes type 2 (DM2). OH was positively associated with the prevalence of myocardial infarction in DM1 (OR=10.67) and with prevalence of stroke in DM2 (OR=3.33). There was also a strong association of OH and the prevalence of peripheral artery disease in both DM1 (OR=14.18) and DM2 (OR=3.26). Patients with both types of diabetes and OH had significantly higher prevalence of nephropathy (DM1 OR=8.68, DM2 OR=3.24), retinopathy (DM1 OR=8.09, DM2 OR=4.08) and peripheral neuropathy (DM1 OR=17.14, DM2 OR=7.51) Overall 10year mortality rate was higher in diabetic patients with OH. Conclusions Presence of OH in diabetics is associated with higher prevalence of macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus and also with higher 10-year mortality.

Atherogenic index of plasma is positively associated with the risk of all-cause death in elderly women : A 10-year follow-up.

Abstract: The blood concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) do not predict survival in patients older than 60 years. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a logarithm of the triacylglycerol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio and a surrogate for the concentration of small dense LDL. It might be a better reflection of the risk of all-cause death in elderly patients. We conducted a prospective observational study of patients with arterial hypertension older than 60 years. The concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triacylglycerol were measured at the time of the recruitment and the patients were observed for 10 years. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the effects of lipoproteins and AIP on survival. A total of 500 patients were recruited and 473 of them (226 men, 247 women) either died or successfully completed the 10-year follow-up and were included in the analysis. The AIP was positively associated, while HDL concentration was negatively associated with the risk of all-cause death adjusted for age, smoking habits, statin use, history of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) in elderly women but not in men. The LDL, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and non-HDL concentrations were not associated with the risk of death in both sexes. The AIP is positively associated with the risk of all-cause death in elderly women with arterial hypertension independent of age, smoking habits, statin therapy and comorbidities.

Proanthocyanidins and hydrolysable tannins: occurrence, dietary intake and pharmacological effects

Abstract: Tannins are a heterogeneous group of high MW, water-soluble, polyphenolic compounds, naturally present in cereals, leguminous seeds and, predominantly, in many fruits and vegetables, where they provide protection against a wide range of biotic and abiotic stressors. Tannins exert several pharmacological effects, including antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity as well as antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-nutritional and cardio-protective properties. They also seem to exert beneficial effects on metabolic disorders and prevent the onset of several oxidative stress-related diseases. Although the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic data for these phytochemicals are still sparse, gut absorption of these compounds seems to be inversely correlated with the degree of polymerization. Further studies are mandatory to better clarify how these molecules and their metabolites are able to cross the intestinal barrier in order to exert their biological properties. This review summarizes the current literature on tannins, focusing on the main, recently proposed mechanisms of action that underlie their pharmacological and disease-prevention properties, as well as their bioavailability, safety and toxicology. Linked Articles This article is part of a themed section on Principles of Pharmacological Research of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.11/issuetoc

Low-density lipoprotein mimics blood plasma-derived exosomes and microvesicles during isolation and detection

Abstract: Circulating extracellular vesicles have emerged as potential new biomarkers in a wide variety of diseases. Despite the increasing interest, their isolation and purification from body fluids remains challenging. Here we studied human pre-prandial and 4 hours postprandial platelet-free blood plasma samples as well as human platelet concentrates. Using flow cytometry, we found that the majority of circulating particles within the size range of extracellular vesicles lacked common vesicular markers. We identified most of these particles as lipoproteins (predominantly low-density lipoprotein, LDL) which mimicked the characteristics of extracellular vesicles and also co-purified with them. Based on biophysical properties of LDL this finding was highly unexpected. Current state-of-the-art extracellular vesicle isolation and purification methods did not result in lipoprotein-free vesicle preparations from blood plasma or from platelet concentrates. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy showed an association of LDL with isolated vesicles upon in vitro mixing. This is the first study to show co-purification and in vitro association of LDL with extracellular vesicles and its interference with vesicle analysis. Our data point to the importance of careful study design and data interpretation in studies using blood-derived extracellular vesicles with special focus on potentially co-purified LDL.

Effects of aerobic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins

Abstract: Dyslipidemia is the risk of cardiovascular disease, and their relationship is clear. Lowering serum cholesterol can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. At present, the main treatment is taking medicine, however, drug treatment has its limitations. Exercise not only has a positive effect on individuals with dyslipidemia, but can also help improve lipids profile. This review is intending to provide information on the effects of exercise training on both tranditional lipids, for example, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and new lipids and lipoproteins such as non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and postprandial lipoprotein. The mechanisms of aerobic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins are also briefly described.