Gordon Ferns - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Gordon Ferns

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), 2010

High levels of physical activity have been linked to benefits in cardiovascular and bone health b... more High levels of physical activity have been linked to benefits in cardiovascular and bone health by affecting, in part, changes in proinflammatory profile. Therefore, we have aimed to assess the effects of intensive training on markers of inflammation, endothelial activation and auto-immunity in the absence of the potential confounding effects of incident atherosclerosis. The subjects comprised 25 competitive gymnasts and 19 healthy sedentary adolescent females, aged 8-17 years. Serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) and Hsp27 antibody titres were measured by ELISAs in a sample of adolescent girls who were either physically active (competitive gymnasts) or sedentary. The association between age, body mass index (BMI), dietary intake, serum hsCRP, sICAM-1 and Hsp27 antigen and antibody titres were determined. The mean serum sICAM-1 concentrations were significantly higher in the gymnasts compared to the sedentary females (0.29 ± 0.02 versus 0.23 ± 0.01 mg•L -1 , p < 0.01). In contrast serum hsCRP concentrations were substantially lower in the gymnasts compared to the sedentary adolescent females (0.49 ± 0.03 versus 1.38 ± 0.19 mg•L -1 , p < 0.001). Differences remained significant after adjustment for anthropometric factors. We also found that serum Hsp27 antigen concentrations were determined by dietary saturated fat intake (p < 0.001), and antibody titres to Hsp27 were determined by dietary PUFA (p < 0.001) after adjustment for BMI. Our findings show that young female gymnasts have an altered profile of inflammatory markers and endothelial activation compared to their less physically active peers.

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2010

Physical activity is associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species and may lead to de... more Physical activity is associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species and may lead to decreased levels of plasma antioxidants and increased oxidant stress. Some studies have reported that antioxidant supplements can reduce the consequences of oxidative stress during exercise. In this study the authors aimed to assess the chronic effects of exercise on endogenous serum antioxidant enzyme concentrations. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured in adolescent girls who were either competitive gymnasts or sedentary controls. The relationship between age, body-mass index, dietary intake, trace-element status, and serum GPx and SOD was determined. The participants in the study were part of a 3-yr longitudinal investigation of exercise and peak bone-mass development in 38 competitive gymnasts and 40 healthy sedentary adolescent females 8–17 yr of age. Serum GPx and SOD were measured using colorimetric assays, and trace elements were measur...

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2015

This document is made available in accordance with publisher policies and may differ from the pub... more This document is made available in accordance with publisher policies and may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the URL above for details on accessing the published version.

Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2012

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now the leading cause of death globally and is a growing health c... more Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now the leading cause of death globally and is a growing health concern. Dietary factors are important in the pathogenesis of CVD and may to a large degree determine CVD risk, but have been less extensively investigated. Functional foods are those that are thought to have physiological benefits and/or reduce the risk of chronic disease beyond their basic nutritional functions. The food industry has started to market products labelled as "functional foods." Although many review articles have focused on individual dietary variables as determinants of CVD that can be modified to reduce the risk of CVD, the aim of this current paper was to examine the impact of functional foods in relation to the development and progression of CVD. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated the association between certain dietary patterns and cardiovascular health. Research into the cardio-protective potential of their dietary components might support the developme...

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, Apr 15, 2008

Morphological and immunocytochemical studies have elucidated the complex processes involved in at... more Morphological and immunocytochemical studies have elucidated the complex processes involved in atherogenesis. The notion of plaque instability has emerged from this work and underscored the importance of inflammation in determining clinical complications associated with atherosclerosis, such as acute coronary syndrome. Cells of the immune system have been detected within atherosclerotic lesions and auto-antibodies directed against modified LDL and heat-shock proteins have been identified in the blood of individuals with atherosclerosis. The use of risk 'engines', e.g. the Framingham coronary risk score, has facilitated the identification of individuals at high risk, but the constituent classical risk factors used in these algorithms do not adequately differentiate individuals at moderate risk. As age is a major component of the equations used in these algorithms they are not particularly useful in young adults, and their applicability to non-Caucasian populations has been questioned. Biomarkers of early disease and plaque instability have therefore both been sought. Although some of these markers have been shown individually to be associated with a significant hazard ratio, no substantial improvement in discrimination has been demonstrated when they are incorporated into a risk 'engine'. The latter has generally been assessed by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, although this approach has been criticised. Other modalities, including imaging and functional assessments of vascular function, are now being developed for clinical use.

Iubmb Life, Dec 7, 2020

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a... more Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic inflammatory disease usually caused by atherosclerosis, in which the coronary arteries become narrowed by atheromatous plaque. Plaques in atherosclerosis are formed through the accumulation of lipids and various immune cells. Both adaptive and innate immune systems are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and facilitate plaque formation and disease progression. Almost all immune system cells, including neutrophils, B cells, T cells monocytes, macrophages, foam cells, and dendritic cells (DCs), play a vital role in atherosclerotic plaque. Atherogenesis, the normal function of the endothelium, is initially disrupted and, then, cells of the immune system are recruited to the endothelium following increased expression of cell adhesion molecules. Accumulation of immune cells and lipids leads to the formation of a necrotic nucleus. As the disease progresses, smooth muscle cells form fibrous layers, whose rupture results in exposing the necrotic nucleus and thrombosis. Accordingly, the present review was conducted to determine the role of different cells in innate and adaptive immune systems in inhibition and progression of atherosclerosis.

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, May 26, 2020

Effect of high dose vitamin D supplementation on antibody titres to heat shock protein

Current Pharmaceutical Design, Sep 11, 2018

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality, and ... more Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality, and associated with an important economic burden globally. Over the last decade, the prevalence of CVD has been rising globally, and is now associated with millions of death annually in both developed and developing countries. There is good evidence that the immune system is involved in the pathophysiology of CVD. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their downstream signaling pathways play an important role in the immune system. Recent studies have suggested that the TLRs are involved in atherogenesis, including stroke, myocardial infarction, ischemia-reperfusion injury, cardiac remodeling and development of heart failure (HF). In this review we have summarized the recent studies investigating the role of TLRs in CVD and the potential for using TLRs signaling pathways as a therapeutic target in CVD.

Journal of Cellular Physiology, Dec 10, 2018

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death globally; therefore, there is a need for... more Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death globally; therefore, there is a need for the identification of valid biomarker that accurately predict the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and novel therapeutic approaches for its treatment. Exosomes are very small extracellular vesicles containing protein, lipid, transcription factors, mRNAs, non-coding RNA and nucleic acid contents, that are important players in intercellular communication, and that act via long-range signals or cell-to-cell contact. The discovery of exosomes provides potential strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. In the current review, we have explored the potential impact of exosomes on cardiovascular physiology, and their therapeutic potential in cardiovascular disorders with a emphasize on the existing preclinical studies.

Indian Heart Journal, 2018

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) cannot be sufficiently explained by the presence of tra... more Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) cannot be sufficiently explained by the presence of traditional risk factors. Cathepsin D has been proposed to serve as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis but its alterations in CAD patients have not been studied. Objective: To evaluate serum cathepsin D concentrations in relation to the presence and severity of CAD. Materials and methods: A total of 104 subjects were recruited; 71 patients with suspected CAD and 33 healthy subjects. Thirty-four patients had >50% coronary stenosis of at least one artery (CAD+); the remaining 37 patients had <50% stenosis (CADÀ) based on angiography. CAD+ patients were subdivided into three subgroups with single (SVD; n = 15), double (2VD; n = 9), and triple vessel (3VD; n = 10) disease. Serum soluble cathepsin D concentrations were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum cathepsin D concentrations were significantly higher in the CAD+ compared with healthy control (p = 0.016) but not CADÀ group (p = 0.098). Within the CAD+ group, patients with 3VD had significantly higher serum cathepsin D concentrations compared with the SVD group (p = 0.025), and also compared with the CADÀ (p = 0.011) and SVD (p = 0.001) groups. No significant associations were found between serum cathepsin D concentrations and potential confounders including age, sex, blood pressure, smoking history and dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Serum cathepsin D concentrations may be associated with the presence of CAD.

Ethanol content of a traditional Saudi beverage Sobia

International Journal of Food Properties, 2021

ABSTRACT Sobia is a traditional locally made fermented beverage consumed in Saudi Arabia and made... more ABSTRACT Sobia is a traditional locally made fermented beverage consumed in Saudi Arabia and made by the fermentation of wheat. We aimed to measure ethanol concentration in Sobia beverage stored under different conditions. Forty-eight freshly made Sobia samples were purchased from different vendors. Twenty-four samples were stored at room temperature (RT: 21–25°C), and another 24 samples at a cold temperature (CT: 2–8°C). Ethanol was measured in RT samples on 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 days, and on 0, 4, 7, and 14 days in CT samples. The mean ± SE ethanol at zero-time for all 48 samples was 27.2 ± 7.2 mg/dL. Ethanol concentration increased to 121.8 ± 33.5 mg/dL on day 14 at CT, compared to 514.0 ± 91.9 mg/dL after one week at RT. Sobia can be categorized as Halal beverage, and can be consumed within two weeks when stored at a CT.

Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, 2021

BackgroundSeveral pre‐analytical factors can affect the measurement of intact Parathyroid Hormone... more BackgroundSeveral pre‐analytical factors can affect the measurement of intact Parathyroid Hormone (IPTH). In this study, we have investigated the effects of using different types of tubes, time elapsed before separation, and storage conditions over time on the measured values of IPTH.MethodBlood samples from 30 subjects were collected into plain, SST, and EDTA tubes. All serum and plasma were separated immediately (first set) and after 2 hrs delay (second set). The first set of samples were aliquoted and stored at RT (25°C), at fridge (4°C), and freezer (−20°C). IPTH was measured in all the stored aliquots at 2,4, and 8 days after collection using Architect analyzer.ResultsPaired T test and ANOVA repeated measures showed no significant difference between IPTH levels in all tubes. The second set of serum and plasma were significantly lower (3.8% and 7.4%, p < 0.001, respectively) when compared to samples measured initially. Serum samples stored at RT were significantly lower (by 4...

The effect of whole blood donation on metabolic indices and iron stores. Blood donation temporarily improves glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) status in healthy men

IUBMB Life, 2020

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with high mortality worldwide. The reverse chol... more Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with high mortality worldwide. The reverse cholesterol transport pathway in macrophage plays an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and is strongly controlled by regulatory factors. The microRNAs can promote or prevent the formation of atherosclerotic lesions by post‐transcriptional regulation of vital genes in this pathway. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the expression levels of miR‐27a, miR‐329, ABCA1, and ABCG1 genes and serum levels of hs‐CRP, ox‐LDL, and indices of oxidative stress in the patients with established CAD and controls. A total of 84 subjects (42 patients with CAD and 42 controls) were included in this study. Expression levels of miR‐27a‐3p, miR‐329‐3p, ABCA1, and ABCG1 genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum concentration of hs‐CRP and ox‐LDL were measured by real time‐PCR and ELISA, respectively. Also, oxidative s...

Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, 2019

Vitamin D is required for normal development and bone health. Vitamin D deficiency is known to ca... more Vitamin D is required for normal development and bone health. Vitamin D deficiency is known to cause rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that vitamin D status is implicated in the development of diabetes mellitus 1 and other chronic conditions. 2 Vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be common in many countries. 3,4 These findings have led to an increase in vitamin testing worldwide, which has placed considerable demands on clinical laboratories.

BioFactors, 2018

Hematological parameters have emerged as independent determinants of high serum concentrations of... more Hematological parameters have emerged as independent determinants of high serum concentrations of uric acid (UA) and predictive factors in the evaluation of the total cardiovascular risk in patients with essential hypertensive. Here, we have investigated the possible relationships between hematological factors and serum uric acid levels in hypertensive patients recruited as part of Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders cohort study. Two‐thousand three‐hundred and thirty‐four hypertensive individuals were recruited from this cohort and these were divided into two groups; those with either high or low serum UA concentrations. Demographic, biochemical, and hematological characteristics of population were evaluated in all the subjects. Logistic‐regression analysis was performed to determine the association of hematological parameters with hypertension (HTN). Of the 2334 hypertensive subjects, 290 cases had low UA, and 2044 had high serum UA concentrations. Compared with the...

Journal of Cellular Physiology, 2018

Inflammation is a normal part of the immune response to injury or infection but its dysregulation... more Inflammation is a normal part of the immune response to injury or infection but its dysregulation promotes the development of inflammatory diseases, which cause considerable human suffering. Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory agents are the most commonly prescribed agents for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, but they are accompanied by a broad range of side effects, including gastrointestinal and cardiovascular events. The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is traditionally known for its role in blood pressure regulation. However, there is increasing evidence that RAS signaling is also involved in the inflammatory response associated with several disease states. Angiotensin II increases blood pressure by binding to angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor, and direct renin inhibitors, angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and AT1receptor blockers (ARBs) are clinically used as antihypertensive agents. Recent data suggest that these drugs also have anti‐inflammatory effects. Therefor...

Clinical laboratory, 2018

There is relatively little information about endogenous biochemical changes in a response to plat... more There is relatively little information about endogenous biochemical changes in a response to plateletpheresis in healthy donors. We aimed to investigate the changes in different biochemical parameters including glycemic status, insulin resistance, iron status, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers after plateletpheresis in healthy male donors with normal glycemic status. In this study we enrolled 10 male subjects. The glycemic status in all subjects was assessed using an oral glucose tolerance test pre- and post-plateletpheresis at different time intervals (1, 8, and 22 days). Different biochemical parameters including glucose, HbA1c, insulin, lipids, uric acid, transferrin, ferritin, C-reactive protein, and insulin resistance were measured. Repeated ANOVA was utilized for the purpose of statistical comparison of means between different days. Fasting glucose, transferrin, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C were significantly altered (-3.9%, p < 0.05; -2.7%, p < 0.0...

Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation, 2017

Whole blood donation has immunomodulatory effects, and most of these have been observed at short ... more Whole blood donation has immunomodulatory effects, and most of these have been observed at short intervals following blood donation. This study aimed to investigate the impact of whole blood donation on lymphocyte subsets over a typical inter-donation interval. Healthy male subjects were recruited to study changes in complete blood count (CBC) (n = 42) and lymphocyte subsets (n = 16) before and at four intervals up to 106 days following blood donation. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to compare quantitative variables between different visits. Following blood donation, changes in CBC and erythropoietin were as expected. The neutrophil count increased by 11.3% at 8 days (p < .001). Novel changes were observed in lymphocyte subsets as the CD4/CD8 ratio increased by 9.2% (p < .05) at 8 days and 13.7% (p < .05) at 22 days. CD16-56 cells decreased by 16.2% (p < .05) at 8 days. All the subsets had returned to baseline by 106 days. Regression analysis showed that the changes i...

Dietary macronutrient intake of Saudi males and its relationship to classical coronary risk factors

Saudi Medical Journal, Mar 1, 2005

To investigate whether the dietary intake of energy; macronutrients; and fiber differ between age... more To investigate whether the dietary intake of energy; macronutrients; and fiber differ between age groups, racial groups and socio-economic classes among males from the Western province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Data were collected from 303 male subjects, aged 15-80 years. They were selected randomly from King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, KSA from October 2001 to November 2003 and grouped according to their age into 3 groups. The subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their demographic characteristics, health history, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Energy and carbohydrates intake fell with age (p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.05). Total dietary carbohydrates and fat intake were similar for all groups when expressed as a percentage of energy intake. The percentage energy as protein increased with age (p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.05). Mean cholesterol intake was high for all groups, but fell with age group (p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.0001). Saturated fat and monounsaturated fat intake, expressed as percentage energy intake were both high, whereas polyunsaturated fat intake was low. The youngest group had the highest percentage energy provided by saturated fatty acid (p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001), and the lowest percentage energy as polyunsaturated fatty acid (p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.05) compared to the other groups. The intake of fibre rose with age was significantly higher in the older group (p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.05). Diet consumed by urban dwellers in KSA appears to have resulted in an imbalance of macronutrient intake among all sectors of the population. This problem can only be averted by raising public awareness and the development of appropriate population-specific nutritional guidelines.