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Caffeic acid improves antioxidant defense and attenuates oxidative stress in heart of spontaneously hypersensitive rat
No full textToxoplasma gondii — control measures for reducing risks in the pork production chain
Get PDFParasites are highly significant pathogens that are transmitted through food. Their specificlife cycles, transmission routes, and usually a lengthy period between infection and the firstsymptoms of the disease make them a substantial risk to public health. Additionally, thereare challenges in detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Toxoplasmosis is considered the mostwidespread parasitic infection on a global scale. It is caused by the protozoan Toxoplasmagondii, one of the most successful parasites of animals and humans due to its ability to parasitizewithin the nuclei of a wide range of hosts. Because of its importance in both veterinaryand human medicine, T. gondii is one of the most extensively studied parasites. Existing datashow seroprevalences differ across continents, countries, and even within states and amongspecific communities. Consuming undercooked meat presents one of the greatest risk factorsfor human infection with the T. gondii parasite, with pork being recognized as a dominantsource of infection
Erythrocyte fatty acid aberrations in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Correlation with disease duration
Get PDFBackground: Recent literature data highlights metabolic changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To explore possible early metabolic changes, we aimed to analyse the fatty acids (FA) composition of erythrocytes in newly diagnosed als patients and to see whether fatty acid levels correlate with the ALSFRS-R score or disease duration. Methods: The severity of motor function involvement was assessed by the ALSFRS-R scale at the initial evaluation. The fatty acid profile of erythrocyte membranes was analysed by gas-liquid chromatography. The study comprised 26 clinically diagnosed als patients, with mean ALSFRS-R 38±8. The control group included 26 healthy volunteers. Results: Significantly higher levels of palmitic acid and total saturated FAs were detected in als patients. In als patients, total monounsaturated FA, palmitoleic, vaccenic, and oleic acid were also significantly increased. The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and n-6 PUFA were significantly lower in als patients. Additionally, a-linolenic acid, the precursor of the n-3 PUFA family, was not detected in als patients. We found no significant correlation between the ALSFRS-R score and the abundance of individual FAs analysed. A moderate negative correlation was found between disease duration and DHA level, and a positive correlation was detected with MUFA. Conclusion: Experimental evidence presented may contribute to shaping a beneficial nutritional intervention
Occupational and non-occupational risk factors correlating with the severity of clinical manifestations of carpal tunnel syndrome and related work disability among workers who work with a computer
Get PDFThe contribution of certain occupational and personal factors to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is still uncertain. We investigated which specific occupational and non-occupational factors correlate with the level of clinical manifestations and work disability related to CTS. The study included 190 workers who work with a computer and have diagnosed CTS (100 men, 90 women, aged 20–65 years). Subjective experience of CTS-related impairments was assessed with the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) and the Functional Status Scale (FSS) of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ). The objective, neural impairments were tested with electrodiagnostics (EDX), whereas CTS-related work disability data were collected from medical records. We found a high inter-correlation between BCTQ, EDX, and work disability data. These also showed high correlations with certain occupational factors (duration of computer-working in months and hours spent daily in computer-working, certain ergonomic, microclimatic, and other occupational conditions) and non-occupational factors (demographic and lifestyle factors: nutritional status, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity). Despite its limitations, our study has identified occupational and non-occupational risk factors that can aggravate CTS and work disability, but which can also be improved with workplace and lifestyle preventive and corrective measures. More research is needed, though, to establish the possible causal relationships and the independent influence of each of those risk factors
FooDrugs: a comprehensive food–drug interactions database with text documents and transcriptional data
Get PDFFood–drug interactions (FDIs) occur when a food item alters the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of a drug. FDIs can be clinically relevant, as they can hamper or enhance the therapeutic effects of a drug and impact both their efficacy and their safety. However, knowledge of FDIs in clinical practice is limited. This is partially due to the lack of resources focused on FDIs. Here, we describe FooDrugs, a database that centralizes FDI knowledge retrieved from two different approaches: a natural processing language pipeline that extracts potential FDIs from scientific documents and clinical trials and a molecular similarity approach based on the comparison of gene expression alterations caused by foods and drugs. FooDrugs database stores a total of 3 430 062 potential FDIs, with 1 108 429 retrieved from scientific documents and 2 321 633 inferred from molecular data. This resource aims to provide researchers and clinicians with a centralized repository for potential FDI information that is free and easy to use
The potential roles of gossypol as anticancer agent: advances and future directions
Get PDFGossypol, a polyphenolic aldehyde derived from cottonseed plants, has seen a transformation in its pharmaceutical application from a male contraceptive to a candidate for cancer therapy. This shift is supported by its recognized antitumor properties, which have prompted its investigation in the treatment of various cancers and related inflammatory conditions. This review synthesizes the current understanding of gossypol as an anticancer agent, focusing on its pharmacological mechanisms, strategies to enhance its clinical efficacy, and the status of ongoing clinical evaluations.
The methodological approach to this review involved a systematic search across several scientific databases including the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), PubMed/MedLine, Google Scholar, Scopus, and TRIP. Studies were meticulously chosen to cover various aspects of gossypol, from its chemical structure and natural sources to its pharmacokinetics and confirmed anticancer efficacy. Specific MeSH terms and keywords related to gossypol’s antineoplastic applications guided the search strategy.
Results from selected pharmacological studies indicate that gossypol inhibits the Bcl-2 family of anti-apoptotic proteins, promoting apoptosis in tumor cells. Clinical trials, particularly phase I and II, reveal gossypol’s promise as an anticancer agent, demonstrating efficacy and manageable toxicity profiles. The review identifies the development of gossypol derivatives and novel carriers as avenues to enhance therapeutic outcomes and mitigate adverse effects.
Conclusively, gossypol represents a promising anticancer agent with considerable therapeutic potential. However, further research is needed to refine gossypol-based therapies, explore combination treatments, and verify their effectiveness across cancer types. The ongoing clinical trials continue to support its potential, suggesting a future where gossypol could play a significant role in cancer treatment protocols
Human amniotic membrane homogenate inhibits migration and disrupts the architecture of 2D and 3D muscle-invasive bladder cancer in vitro models through the downregulation of focal adhesion kinase expression and phosphorylation
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Causes and Conditions for Reduced Cultivation and Consumption of Underutilized Crops: Is There a Solution?
Get PDFUnderutilized crops are described as plant species that were once popular but have since been neglected by mainstream agriculture for several reasons. A widespread monoculture agricultural revolution and a tendency toward more high-yielding varieties were the main reasons for the underutilization of certain crops. Remarkably, underutilized crops have endured even without formal support, which indicates that besides their exceptional nutritional value and beneficial effects on human health they contain desirable traits that could be useful for building resilience and adaptation to climate-changing environments. As such, the re-establishment of these plants to the global food system is desired. To find solutions for overcoming the obstacles for the reintroduction of these crops and to bring the neglected species back to cultivation and utilization, a comprehensive understanding of the potential reasons for the reduced cultivation of these crops is necessary. In this article, potential reasons, causes, and conditions for the decreased cultivation and consumption of certain crops are discussed with a presentation of case studies of the following species: buckwheat, lentils, green leafy vegetables, sow thistle, grass pea, cucumber melon, and eggplant. Finally, potential solutions for overcoming the identified obstacles associated with both the cultivation and consumption of certain underutilized crops and neglected species are provided. Documented benefits of the production of various crops in agricultural production systems and the beneficial effects of increased consumption of these crops for human health should stimulate and encourage people from various disciplines, i.e., farmers, researchers, agronomists, nutritionists, and policymakers to join the efforts to bring neglected species back to cultivation and consumption