1,721,182 research outputs found
Role of methylglyoxal in Alzheimer's disease
No full textAlzheimer's disease is the most common and lethal neurodegenerative disorder. The major hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease are extracellular aggregation of amyloid β peptides and, the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles formed by precipitation/aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The etiology of Alzheimer's disease is multifactorial and a full understanding of its pathogenesis remains elusive. Some years ago, it has been suggested that glycation may contribute to both extensive protein cross-linking and oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease. Glycation is an endogenous process that leads to the production of a class of compounds known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Interestingly, increased levels of AGEs have been observed in brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. Methylglyoxal, a reactive intermediate of cellular metabolism, is the most potent precursor of AGEs and is strictly correlated with an increase of oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease. Many studies are showing that methylglyoxal and methylglyoxal-derived AGEs play a key role in the etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease
The role of diet in preventing and reducing cognitive decline
Full text linkPurpose of review: This review summarises the most recent evidence regarding the effects of diet in preventing and reducing age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent findings: Recent evidence indicates that nutraceuticals and whole diet approaches may protect against the development of age-related cognitive decline and pathological neurodegeneration. The neuroprotective effects are diverse depending on the nutrient employed and may involve a reduction of neuroinflammation, an activation of the endogenous antioxidant defence system and a modulation of the gut microbiota structure and function. Summary: This review summarises the existing evidence in favour of diet as a viable alternative approach to directly impact cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. The single nutrient (polyphenols, B vitamins, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids) versus whole diet approach (Mediterranean diet, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, MIND, Nordic, ketogenic) is presented and discussed. Potential mechanisms of action underlying the beneficial effects of these diets are also described. Implementation of large-scale preventive interventions based on dietary patterns identified as being beneficial to brain health should be a research and public health priority, ideally in conjunction with other health-promoting lifestyle factors
Update on proteomic studies of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues
No full textIntroduction: This review is an update on recent progress in proteomic studies of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, which open the opportunity to investigate diseases and research potential biomarkers, particularly when availability of fresh/frozen tissues is low. Areas covered: We described improvement of existing protocols or the new ones regarding deparaffinization and protein extraction of FFPE samples published from 2014 to today. Moreover, the growing interest to use FFPE tissues for mass spectrometry imaging approach is presented together with the search of post-translational modifications. Expert opinion: In the last few years, the number of papers using FFPE tissues in proteomic analysis is growing. The interest to apply proteomic analysis to FFPE tissues lies in the easy accessibility of a great number of samples from archives. Nevertheless, standardization in the approach among the different researchers is not achieved, making essentially incomparable the results obtained. This limit should be overcome
New Mechanisms of Action of Natural Antioxidants in Health and Disease
Full text linkDear Colleagues,
The current understanding of the complex role of ROS in the organism and pathological sequelae of oxidative stress points to the necessity of comprehensive studies of antioxidant reactivities and interactions with cellular constituents. Many of the protective actions of natural antioxidants in health and diseases have been ascribed to their antioxidant properties, but in the last years, many studies have suggested that their classical hydrogen-donating antioxidant activity is unlikely to be the sole explanation for their effects. First of all, natural antioxidants are broadly metabolized in vivo, resulting in significant modifications. Moreover, the concentrations of natural antioxidants and their metabolites in vivo are lower than that usually utilized in vitro. Consequently, natural antioxidants do not exert their biological action in vivo via simply reacting with ROS. Accumulating evidence suggests that the cellular effects of natural antioxidants may be mediated by their interactions with specific proteins central to intracellular signaling cascades, modulating the expression and activity of key proteins, influencing epigenetic mechanisms or modulating gut microbiota.
We invite you to submit your research findings to this Special Issue, which has the aim to present the current state-of-the-art on new mechanisms of action of natural antioxidants in both health and disease. The research can include both in vitro and in vivo studies related to the following topics: antioxidant metabolism and bioavailability, signal transduction modulation, genomic and proteomic studies of purified molecules or antioxidant rich extracts, epigenetic regulation, cell cycle, cytoprotection, and cytotoxicity. Original research articles, review articles, clinical trials, and meta-analyzing studies are welcome.
Prof. Dr. Silvana Hrelia
Prof. Dr. Cristina Angeloni
Guest Editor
Nutraceutical Bioactive Compounds Promote Healthspan Counteracting Cardiovascular Diseases
No full textCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality in the Western world. Multiple factors are involved in CVD, including genetic factors and modifiable factors such as diet, physical activity, and smoking. CVD incidence and prevalence increase progressively with age, and it is estimated that over 80% of men and women older than 75years have clinically manifest CVD.To reduce the gap between life expectancy (LE) and healthy life expectancy is one of the main challenges of the 21st century. Lifestyle improvement appears to be the only sustainable approach to face the dramatic chronic-degenerative disease burden of an aging population. A healthy lifestyle, represented by avoiding smoking, following a healthy diet, and practicing physical activity, protects from chronic-degenerative disease onset and progression. A healthy dietetic approach specifically formulated for elderly people, with a defined pattern of nutraceutical bioactive compounds, may represent a key strategy to improve the aging process and increase the life span. This short review summarizes the biochemical mechanisms underpinning the cardiovascular protective effects of some nutraceutical compounds such as quercetin and sulforaphane
Role of methylglyoxal in Alzheimer's disease
Full text linkAlzheimer's disease is the most common and lethal neurodegenerative disorder. The major hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease are extracellular aggregation of amyloid β peptides and, the presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles formed by precipitation/aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The etiology of Alzheimer's disease is multifactorial and a full understanding of its pathogenesis remains elusive. Some years ago, it has been suggested that glycation may contribute to both extensive protein cross-linking and oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease. Glycation is an endogenous process that leads to the production of a class of compounds known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Interestingly, increased levels of AGEs have been observed in brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. Methylglyoxal, a reactive intermediate of cellular metabolism, is the most potent precursor of AGEs and is strictly correlated with an increase of oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease. Many studies are showing that methylglyoxal and methylglyoxal-derived AGEs play a key role in the etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease
Quercetin Reduces Inflammatory Responses in LPS-Stimulated Cardiomyoblasts
Full text linkFlavonoids possess several biological and pharmacological activities. Quercetin (Q), a naturally occurring flavonoid, has been shown to downregulate inflammatory responses and provide cardioprotection. However, the mechanisms behind the anti-inflammatory properties of Q in cardiac cells are poorly understood. In inflammation, nitric oxide (NO) acts as a proinflammatory mediator and is synthesized by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in response to pro-inflammatory agents such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a causative agent in myocardial depression during sepsis. In the present study, we evaluated the protective effect of Q on rat cardiac dysfunction during sepsis induced by LPS. Pretreatment of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts with Q inhibited LPS-induced iNOS expression and NO production and counteracted oxidative stress caused by the unregulated NO production that leads to the generation of peroxynitrite and other reactive nitrogen species. In addition, Q pretreatment significantly counteracted apoptosis cell death as measured by immunoblotting of the cleaved caspase 3 and caspase 3 activity. Q also inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of the stress-activated protein kinases (JNK/SAPK) and p38MAP kinase that are involved in the inhibition of cell growth as well as the induction of apoptosis. In conclusion, these results suggest that Q might serve as a valuable protective agent in cardiovascular inflammatory diseases
Natural products and neuroprotection
Full text linkNeurodegenerative diseases are among the most serious health problems affecting millions of people worldwide, and their incidence is dramatically growing together with increased lifespan [...]
Natural Products and Neuroprotection 3.0
Full text linkIn recent years, we have been witnessing a dramatic rise in the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, a phenomenon partly associated with the increase in life expectancy [...
The use of dietary supplements among soccer referees: How much do they know?
Full text linkReferees are essential for the correct execution of each soccer match and national soccer associations support them with physical training guidelines in order to improve agility, aerobic and sprint capacity, to reduce the risk of injury and to meet the minimum required performance levels. Despite the importance given to performance skills no specific nutritional guideline is provided to support the performance required. This study was aimed to investigate soccer field and assistant referees knowledge and consumption of dietary supplements. Seventy-one European referees participated to this survey by filling a short and quick anonymous questionnaire designed to collect information about their refereeing category, educational level, frequency of supplement consumption, type of supplement consumed. Moreover, a sub-group of 20 participants wore a training watch to record energy expenditure, distance, and heart rate during training sessions and matches. Our data show that referees frequently consume supplements especially those refereeing in lower categories, moreover they often follow a friend’s suggestion when deciding to take a supplement instead of trusting a professional prescription. According to our survey, national and international soccer federations should care more about their referee nutritional education
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