56,354 research outputs found

    Genetic regulation of glucoraphanin accumulation in Beneforté® broccoli

    No full text
    Diets rich in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var italica) have been associated with maintenance of cardiovascular health and reduction in risk of cancer. These health benefits have been attributed to glucoraphanin that specifically accumulates in broccoli. The development of broccoli with enhanced concentrations of glucoraphanin may deliver greater health benefits. Three high-glucoraphanin F1 broccoli hybrids were developed in independent programmes through genome introgression from the wild species Brassica villosa. Glucoraphanin and other metabolites were quantified in experimental field trials. Global SNP analyses quantified the differential extent of B. villosa introgression The high-glucoraphanin broccoli hybrids contained 2.5–3 times the glucoraphanin content of standard hybrids due to enhanced sulphate assimilation and modifications in sulphur partitioning between sulphur-containing metabolites. All of the high-glucoraphanin hybrids possessed an introgressed B. villosa segment which contained a B. villosa Myb28 allele. Myb28 expression was increased in all of the high-glucoraphanin hybrids. Two high-glucoraphanin hybrids have been commercialised as Beneforte broccoli. The study illustrates the translation of research on glucosinolate genetics from Arabidopsis to broccoli, the use of wild Brassica species to develop cultivars with potential consumer benefits, and the development of cultivars with contrasting concentrations of glucoraphanin for use in blinded human intervention studie

    Broccoli consumption interacts with GSTM1 to perturb oncogenic signalling pathways in the prostate

    No full text
    Epidemiological studies suggest that people who consume more than one portion of cruciferous vegetables per week are at lower risk of both the incidence of prostate cancer and of developing aggressive prostate cancer but there is little understanding of the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we quantify and interpret changes in global gene expression patterns in the human prostate gland before, during and after a 12 month broccoli-rich diet. Volunteers were randomly assigned to either a broccoli-rich or a pea-rich diet. After six months there were no differences in gene expression between glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1) positive and null individuals on the pea-rich diet but significant differences between GSTM1 genotypes on the broccoli-rich diet, associated with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFß1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) signalling pathways. Comparison of biopsies obtained pre and post intervention revealed more changes in gene expression occurred in individuals on a broccoli-rich diet than in those on a pea-rich diet. While there were changes in androgen signalling, regardless of diet, men on the broccoli diet had additional changes to mRNA processing, and TGFß1, EGF and insulin signalling. We also provide evidence that sulforaphane (the isothiocyanate derived from 4-methylsuphinylbutyl glucosinolate that accumulates in broccoli) chemically interacts with TGFß1, EGF and insulin peptides to form thioureas, and enhances TGFß1/Smad-mediated transcription. These findings suggest that consuming broccoli interacts with GSTM1 genotype to result in complex changes to signalling pathways associated with inflammation and carcinogenesis in the prostate. We propose that these changes may be mediated through the chemical interaction of isothiocyanates with signalling peptides in the plasma. This study provides, for the first time, experimental evidence obtained in humans to support observational studies that diets rich in cruciferous vegetables may reduce the risk of prostate cancer and other chronic disease

    ‘Tenderstem’ Broccoli for Export Markets: an Analysis Study on the AgroFood Company

    No full text
    Decision case, horticulture, agriculture economics, broccoli production, protected vegetable production, Agricultural Finance, Crop Production/Industries, Production Economics,

    A new broccoli × broccoli immortal mapping population and framework genetic map: tools for breeders and complex trait analysis

    No full text
    A unique broccoli x broccoli doubled haploid (DH) population has been created from the F-1 of a cross between two DH broccoli lines derived from cultivars Green Duke and Marathon. We genotyped 154 individuals from this population with simple sequence repeat and amplified fragment length polymorphism markers to create a B. oleracea L. var. italica 'intra-crop' specific framework linkage map. The map is composed of nine linkage groups with a total length of 946.7 cM. Previous published B. oleracea maps have been constructed using diverse crosses between morphotypes of B. oleracea; this map therefore represents a useful breeding resource for the dissection of broccoli specific traits. Phenotype data have been collected from the population over five growing seasons; the framework linkage map has been used to locate quantitative trait loci for agronomically important broccoli traits including head weight (saleable yield), head diameter, stalk diameter, weight loss and relative weight loss during storage, as well as traits for broccoli leaf architecture. This population and associated linkage map will aid breeders to directly map agronomically important traits for the improvement of elite broccoli cultivars

    Mixed-treatment comparison of anabolic (teriparatide and PTH 1-84) therapies in women with severe osteoporosis

    No full text
    Purpose: The recent development of compounds with anabolic action on bone have increased the range of therapeutic options for the treatment of osteoporosis and the prevention of fractures. Two major PTH analogs, the synthetic full-length 1-84 PTH molecule and the recombinant 1-34 N-terminal fragment (teriparatide), are available for the treatment of osteoporosis in many countries. There have bee no comparative trials on the bone anabolic effects of these compounds. Materials and methods: In this study we applied a mixed treatment comparison (MTC) to compare the efficacy of teriparatide versus PTH 1-84 for the prevention of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in women with severe osteoporosis. With this approach the relative treatment effect of one intervention over another can be obtained in the absence of head-to-head comparison. Among the candidate papers selected for analysis, two randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of teriparatide and PTH 1-84 met the selection criteria and underwent MTC analysis. Results: Based on a fixed-effect MTC model analysis of data from two RCTs, teriparatide (20g/day) showed a 70% and 94% probability of being the best treatment for the prevention of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures, respectively. Together with a lack of statistical significance, this study has additional limitations. Some differences in trial procedures and populations exist; another limitation concerns the impossibility of carrying out a randomized-effect model MTC, due to sample exiguity. Furthermore, in order to consider unknown or unmeasured differences of covariates across trials, a random-effects approach would be preferred in order to assess the presence of heterogeneity across comparisons. In contrast, in our analysis a fixed-effect MTC model only was used. Conclusions: Teriparatide is expected to provide a greater efficacy over PTH 1-84 with both vertebral and non-vertebral fracture prevention in postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis. © 2012 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved

    Ranking antireabsorptive agents to prevent vertebral fractures in postmenopausal osteoporosis by mixed treatment comparison meta-analysis

    No full text
    INTRODUCTION: Bisphosphonates are considered as a first-line therapy for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, showing in double-blind, randomized, controlled trials a significant reduction of incidence of new vertebral fractures compared to placebo. Recently also, Denosumab has been shown to reduce the appearance of new vertebral fractures by blocking RANK. There are not head to head comparative studies between the above mentioned drugs. Mixed treatment comparison, an extension of traditional meta-analysis, is able to compare simultaneously several drugs across a range producing a synthetic evidence of efficacy and a range of probability as to the best treatment. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to simultaneously compare alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate, zolendronate and denosumab in the prevention of OP vertebral fractures in a Bayesian meta-analysis for assessing indirect comparisons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search for randomized controlled trials involving alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate, zolendronate and denosumab was conducted using several databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a double blind treatment period of at least 3 years were included. Men and Glucorticoid Induced osteoporosis, RCTs having as primary or secondary endpoints continuous values as body mineral density (BMD) and studies comparing different dosing regimens of the same agent, which are not used in clinical practice, were excluded. Only fully published reports were considered. RESULTS: A total of 9 RCTs were identified providing data on 31,393 participants. Zolendronate had the highest probability (52%) of being the most effective treatment towards placebo, followed by denosumab (46% probability), ibandronate and then alendronate and risedronate against placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Although the mixed treatment comparisons among alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate, zolendronate and denosumab did not show a statistically significant difference, this analysis suggests that zolendronate, compared to placebo, is expected to provide the highest rate of reduction in vertebral fractures affecting osteoporosis affected patients

    The Use Of Broccoli And Broccoli Sprouts In The Prevention Andtreatment Of Various Diseases

    No full text
    All over the world preference is given to natural plant products, as medicines and vegetables for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Epidemiological studies have shown that natural foods strengthen the immune system and act asanti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-mutagenic and anti-cancer agents. One of such agents is the miraculous vegetable broccoli and broccoli sprouts from the Brassicaceae family
    corecore