1,721,081 research outputs found
Effects of Boswellia Serrata Supplementation on Ex Vivo Immune Responses in Horses
No full textFrankincense, the gum resin of Boswellia serrata (BS), has been used for centuries in central Africa and in the Middle East as a remedy for many health problems, especially chronic inflammatory diseases [1]. In recent years, the extracts from the gum resin of BS have been also shown to target both the humoral and adaptive immune responses in mice [2,3]. To date, the effects of an oral administration of BS in horses has not been investigated. Purpose of this preliminary work was the evaluation of immune responses in ex vivo peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of horses supplemented with BS. The preliminary study suggests that BS is able to modulate the ex vivo immune responses in equine species by increasing the immune responses in cells either pulsed or not by mitogens
Neuroprotection by Drugs, Nutraceuticals and Physical Activity
Full text linkAcute and chronic neural injuries, including stroke, brain trauma and neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates [...]
Combined treatment with three natural antioxidants enhances neuroprotection in a SH-SY5Y 3D culture model
Full text linkCurrently, the majority of cell-based studies on neurodegeneration are carried out on two-dimensional cultured cells that do not represent the cells residing in the complex microenvironment of the brain. Recent evidence has suggested that three-dimensional (3D) in vitro microenvironments may better model key features of brain tissues in order to study molecular mechanisms at the base of neurodegeneration. So far, no drugs have been discovered to prevent or halt the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. New therapeutic interventions can come from phytochemicals that have a broad spectrum of biological activities. On this basis, we evaluated the neuroprotective effect of three phytochemicals (sulforaphane, epigallocatechin gallate, and plumbagin) alone or in combination, focusing on their ability to counteract oxidative stress. The combined treatment was found to be more effective than the single treatments. In particular, the combined treatment increased cell viability and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, upregulated antioxidant enzymes and insulin-degrading enzymes, and downregulated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 1 and 2 in respect to peroxide-treated cells. Our data suggest that a combination of different phytochemicals could be more effective than a single compound in counteracting neurodegeneration, probably thanks to a pleiotropic mechanism of action
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
Nadph oxidases: Redox regulators of stem cell fate and function
Full text linkOne of the major sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated within stem cells is the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase family of enzymes (NOXs), which are critical determinants of the redox state beside antioxidant defense mechanisms. This balance is involved in another one that regulates stem cell fate: indeed, self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation are decisive steps for stem cells during embryo development, adult tissue renovation, and cell therapy application. Ex vivo culture-expanded stem cells are being investigated for tissue repair and immune modulation, but events such as aging, senescence, and oxidative stress reduce their ex vivo proliferation, which is crucial for their clinical applications. Here, we review the role of NOX-derived ROS in stem cell biology and functions, focusing on positive and negative effects triggered by the activity of different NOX isoforms. We report recent findings on downstream molecular targets of NOX-ROS signaling that can modulate stem cell homeostasis and lineage commitment and discuss the implications in ex vivo expansion and in vivo engraftment, function, and longevity. This review highlights the role of NOX as a pivotal regulator of several stem cell populations, and we conclude that these aspects have important implications in the clinical utility of stem cells, but further studies on the effects of pharmacological modulation of NOX in human stem cells are imperative
Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Counteracting Oxidative Stress—Related Neurodegeneration
Full text linkNeurodegenerative diseases include a variety of pathologies such as Alzheimer’s
disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and so forth,
which share many common characteristics such as oxidative stress, glycation, abnormal protein
deposition, inflammation, and progressive neuronal loss. The last century has witnessed significant
research to identify mechanisms and risk factors contributing to the complex etiopathogenesis of
neurodegenerative diseases, such as genetic, vascular/metabolic, and lifestyle-related factors, which
often co-occur and interact with each other. Apart from several environmental or genetic factors,
in recent years, much evidence hints that impairment in redox homeostasis is a common mechanism
in different neurological diseases. However, from a pharmacological perspective, oxidative stress is a
difficult target, and antioxidants, the only strategy used so far, have been ineffective or even provoked
side effects. In this review, we report an analysis of the recent literature on the role of oxidative stress
in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases as well as in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, retinal ganglion
cells, and ataxia. Moreover, the contribution of stem cells has been widely explored, looking at their
potential in neuronal differentiation and reporting findings on their application in fighting oxidative
stress in different neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, the exposure to mesenchymal stem cells
or their secretome can be considered as a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance antioxidant
capacity and neurotrophin expression while inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, which
are common aspects of neurodegenerative pathologies. Further studies are needed to identify a
tailored approach for each neurodegenerative disease in order to design more effective stem cell
therapeutic strategies to prevent a broad range of neurodegenerative disorder
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Dietary polyphenols and their effects on cell biochemistry and pathophysiology 2013
Full text linkDietary polyphenols, along with other natural compounds occurring in fruits and vegetables, have been reported to exert beneficial effects in a multitude of disease states, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Many of the biological actions of polyphenols have been attributed to their antioxidant properties; however, during the last years, a new realization of how nutritional antioxidants may function has been envisaged, and recent findings have suggested that they affect several cellular pathways exerting a pleiotropic effect.
This special issue analyzes and expands our knowledge on the new mechanisms of actions of polyphenols and other natural compounds with the aim to better understand what could be defined as “the network” of their different biological effects
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