Effects of methionine on endogenous antioxidants in the heart

The deficiency of methionine, an essential amino acid, is associated with cardiovascular lesions. Because different types of cardiac pathologies are caused by a decrease in antioxidants, we examined the effects of methionine on myocardial antioxidant enzymes in hemodynamically assessed rats that were treated with methionine (10 mg/ml) in drinking water for 12, 24, and 48 h. Glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity was significantly increased to 150.5 ± 12.2 and 191.7 ± 13.7% of the control value at 12 and 24 h, respectively, followed by a decline to 120 ± 24.6% at 48 h. The mRNA levels of GSHPx at these time points were 151.2 ± 12.0, 218.7 ± 35.3, and 173.5 ± 25.2%, respectively. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was 144.3 ± 3.7, 114.3 ± 10.1, and 143.1 ± 11.2% at 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Catalase (Cat) activity was 272.4 ± 5.4, 237.8 ± 16.6, and 224.1 ± 17.3% of the control value. The expression of Cat and SOD mRNA was unchanged at 12, 24, and 48 h. The lipid peroxidation was decreased by 24.4 ± 11.2, 54.9 ± 0.1, and 6.4 ± 2.1% at 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Methionine had no effect on the ventricular or aortic pressures, heart rate, and myocardial glutathione levels at any of the time points. The study shows that methionine has a significant effect on the myocardial antioxidant enzyme activities, and only changes in GSHPx enzyme activity correlated with the mRNA changes. These antioxidant changes may have a role in the beneficial effects of methionine in pathological rather than physiological conditions.

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Are Improvements in Assessment Center Construct-Related Validity Paralleled by Improvements in Criterion-Related Validity?

Journal of Personnel Psychology ◽

10.1027/1866-5888/a000115 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 184-193 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andreja Wirz ◽

Klaus G. Melchers ◽

Stefan Schultheiss ◽

Martin Kleinmann

Keyword(s):

Convergent Validity ◽

Study Data ◽

Assessment Center ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Single Study ◽

Different Types

Previous studies have found that factors that improved assessment center (AC) construct-related validity also had beneficial effects on criterion-related validity. However, some factors might have diverging effects on construct- and criterion-related validity. Accordingly, we followed recent calls to evaluate construct- and criterion-related validity of ACs simultaneously by examining the effects of exercise similarity on both aspects of validity within a single study. Data were collected in an AC (N = 92) that consisted of two different types of exercises. Convergent validity was better for similar exercises than it was for dissimilar exercises. However, regarding criterion-related validity, we did not find differences between similar and dissimilar exercises. Hence, this study revealed that improvements in AC construct-related validity are not necessarily paralleled by improvements in criterion-related validity.

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Measuring Agency Change Across the Domain of Hypnosis

10.31234/osf.io/apceh ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Vince Polito ◽

Amanda Barnier ◽

Erik Woody

Keyword(s):

Rating Scale ◽

Sense Of Agency ◽

Pass Rates ◽

Current Experiment ◽

Multidimensional Construct ◽

Time Points ◽

Hypnotic Induction ◽

Different Types ◽

Over Time ◽

Postexperimental Inquiry

Building on Hilgard’s (1965) classic work, the domain of hypnosis has been conceptualised by Barnier, Dienes, and Mitchell (2008) as comprising three levels: (1) classic hypnotic items, (2) responding between and within items, and (3) state and trait. The current experiment investigates sense of agency across each of these three levels. Forty-six high hypnotisable participants completed an ideomotor (arm levitation), a challenge (arm rigidity) and a cognitive (anosmia) item either following a hypnotic induction (hypnosis condition) or without a hypnotic induction (wake condition). In a postexperimental inquiry, participants rated their feelings of control at three time points for each item: during the suggestion, test and cancellation phases. They also completed the Sense of Agency Rating Scale (Polito, Barnier, & Woody, 2013) for each item. Pass rates, control ratings, and agency scores fluctuated across the different types of items and for the three phases of each item; also, control ratings and agency scores often differed across participants who passed versus failed each item. Interestingly, whereas a hypnotic induction influenced the likelihood of passing items, it had no direct effect on agentive experiences. These results suggest that altered sense of agency is not a unidimensional or static quality “switched on” by hypnotic induction, but a dynamic multidimensional construct that varies across items, over time and according to whether individuals pass or fail suggestions.

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Bee Pollen Diet Alters the Bacterial Flora and Antimicrobial Peptides in the Oral Cavities of Mice

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10061282 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1282

Author(s):

Ariuntsetseg Khurelchuluun ◽

Osamu Uehara ◽

Durga Paudel ◽

Tetsuro Morikawa ◽

Yutaka Kawano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Peptides ◽

Buccal Mucosa ◽

Bacterial Flora ◽

Control Group ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Bee Pollen ◽

Alpha And Beta Diversity ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Metagenomic Study ◽

Systemic Health

Background: Bee pollen (BP) has a broad range of beneficial effects on health. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of BP on the oral environment, including the microbiome and antimicrobial peptides. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups: control and BP. The BP group was fed with a 5% BP diet for 1 month. Swabs from the oral and buccal mucosa and samples of the intestinal stool were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted and the microbiome was analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: BP inhibited the growth of P. gingivalis at a concentration of >2.5%. The metagenomic study showed that the abundance of genus Lactococcus was significantly elevated in the oral and intestinal microbiomes of the BP group when compared to those of the control group. Significant alterations in alpha and beta diversity were observed between the oral microbiomes of the two groups. The mRNA levels of beta-defensin-2 and -3 were significantly upregulated in the buccal mucosa of the BP group. Conclusion: A BP diet may have a beneficial effect on oral and systemic health by modulating the bacterial flora and antimicrobial peptides of the oral cavity. Further investigations are needed to clarify how a BP diet affects overall human health.

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Glatiramer Acetate Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis-Associated Fatigue—Beneficial Effects on Self-Assessment Scales But Not on Molecular Markers

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom11030393 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 393

Author(s):

Oliver Neuhaus ◽

Wolfgang Köhler ◽

Florian Then Bergh ◽

Wolfgang Kristoferitsch ◽

Jürgen Faiss ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Glatiramer Acetate ◽

Neurotrophic Factors ◽

Common Symptom ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Open Label ◽

Immunological Parameters ◽

Beneficial Effects

Although fatigue is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS), its pathomechanisms are incompletely understood. Glatiramer acetate (GA), an immunomodulatory agent approved for treatment of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), possesses unique mechanisms of action and has been shown to exhibit beneficial effects on MS fatigue. The objective of this study was to correlate clinical, neuropsychological, and immunological parameters in RRMS patients with fatigue before and during treatment with GA. In a prospective, open-label, multicenter trial, 30 patients with RRMS and fatigue were treated with GA for 12 months. Inclusion criterion was the presence of fatigue as one of the most frequent and disabling symptoms. Before and during treatment, fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the MS-FSS, and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). In addition, fatigue and quality of life were assessed using the Visual Analog Scales (VAS). Laboratory assessments included screening of 188 parameters using real-time PCR microarrays followed by further analysis of several cytokines, chemokines, and neurotrophic factors. Fatigue self-assessments were completed in 25 patients. After 12 months of treatment with GA, 13 of these patients improved in all three scales (with the most prominent effects on the MFIS), whereas 5 patients had deteriorated. The remaining 7 patients exhibited inconsistent effects within the three scales. Fatigue and overall quality of life had improved, as assessed via VAS. Laboratory assessments revealed heterogeneous mRNA levels of cytokines, chemokines, and neurotrophic factors. In conclusion, we were not able to correlate clinical and molecular effects of GA in patients with RRMS and fatigue.

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Stem cells and exosomes: promising candidates for necrotizing enterocolitis therapy

Stem Cell Research & Therapy ◽

10.1186/s13287-021-02389-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ruijie Zeng ◽

Jinghua Wang ◽

Zewei Zhuo ◽

Yujun Luo ◽

Weihong Sha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Necrotizing Enterocolitis ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Pediatric Diseases ◽

Gastrointestinal Conditions ◽

Different Types ◽

Novel Therapeutic Strategies

AbstractNecrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating disease predominately affecting neonates. Despite therapeutic advances, NEC remains the leading cause of mortality due to gastrointestinal conditions in neonates. Stem cells have been exploited in various diseases, and the application of different types of stem cells in the NEC therapy is explored in the past decade. However, stem cell transplantation possesses several deficiencies, and exosomes are considered potent alternatives. Exosomes, especially those derived from stem cells and breast milk, demonstrate beneficial effects for NEC both in vivo and in vitro and emerge as promising options for clinical practice. In this review, the function and therapeutic effects of stem cells and exosomes for NEC are investigated and summarized, which provide insights for the development and application of novel therapeutic strategies in pediatric diseases. Further elucidation of mechanisms, improvement in preparation, bioengineering, and administration, as well as rigorous clinical trials are warranted.

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AB0048 ENZYMATIC PATTERN OF CIRCULATING PRO- AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.1754 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 1056.2-1057

Author(s):

S. Bedina ◽

E. Mozgovaya ◽

A. Trofimenko ◽

S. Spitsina ◽

M. Mamus

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Antioxidant Enzymes ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps ◽

Unknown Etiology ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽

Reference Ranges ◽

Sod Activity ◽

Low Disease Activity ◽

Extracellular Traps

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune rheumatic disease of unknown etiology characterized by chronic erosive arthritis and systemic organ involvement resulting in early disability and shorter life expectancy. Neutrophils are suggested to play a substantial role in the induction and promotion of autoimmune inflammation in RA. This ability can be based on newly discovered feature of neutrophils to release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) during specific type cell death called NETosis. Hyperproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the factors promoting NETs production. With this background, the study of pro- and antioxidant enzymatic activities in RA patients can be of great interest.Objectives:To assess plasma activities of essential prooxidant and antioxidant enzymes in RA patients.Methods:The research was carried out in agreement with the WMA Declaration of Helsinki principles. 71 RA patients (46 women and 25 men) were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis was verified using ACR/EULAR criteria (2010). RA activity was measured using the Disease Activity Score of 28 joints (DAS28). 30 healthy persons comprise control group. Plasma xanthine oxidase (XO; ЕС 1.17.3.2), xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH; ЕС 1.17.1.4) and superoxide dismutase (SOD; ЕС 1.15.1.1) activities were measured using spectrophotometric technique. XO and XDG activities were expressed as nmol/ml/min, SOD activity – as units of action. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 6.0 software package. Differences were considered significant when p<0.05. Reference ranges were calculated as means ±2SD.Results:Mean age of patients was 43.2±3.6 years, mean RA duration was 11.9±2.6 years. 24 (33.8%) RA patients had low disease activity, and 6 (8.5%) patients had high one. Extra-articular manifestations were found in 30 (42.2%) patients. 30% of them had cardiovascular involvement, 23.3% – pulmonary lesions, and 23.3% had renal involvement. Reference ranges for XO, XDG, and SOD activities were 2.28-5.12 nmol/min/ml, 3,96-7,24 nmol/min/ml, and 3,13-6,58 units, respectively. We examined activities of these enzymes in circulation of RA patients with different patterns of clinical manifestations as well as relationship between RA activity and XO, XDG, and SOD activities. RA patients had increased both mean XO and mean SOD activities (p<0.001 for both enzymes). XO activity reached its highest values at maximum disease activity and overt extra-articular involvements, while SOD activity did it in moderate and high disease activities as well as in patients with joint manifestations. XDG activity was increased in low disease activity (р<0.001) and solely joint lesions (р=0.011), while moderate or high disease activities (р=0.008) and extra-articular involvements (р=0.025) were characterized by decreased activity of this enzyme.Conclusion:We have revealed substantial multidirectional changes of plasma XO and XDG activities in RA. Plasma enzymatic pattern in RA patients is characterized by activation of both oxidant and antioxidant metabolic pathways. Activities of XO and SOD were positively correlated with RA activity, while XDG activity was negative correlated with RA activity. The differences between selective articular RA type and RA form with extraarticular manifestations were also revealed. Changes in oxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities can be connected with anticitrulline autoimmunity in RA via production of citrulline-rich neutrophil extracellular traps, thus enhancing rheumatoid autoimmunity.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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Metabolic Profiling of Xylooligosaccharides by Lactobacilli

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12102387 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 2387

Author(s):

Ilia Iliev ◽

Tonka Vasileva ◽

Veselin Bivolarski ◽

Albena Momchilova ◽

Iskra Ivanova

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membranes ◽

Meat Products ◽

Lactobacillus Brevis ◽

Degree Of Polymerization ◽

Acid Fermentation ◽

Carbohydrate Utilization ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Mixed Acid ◽

Rat Liver Plasma Membranes ◽

Different Types

Three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains identified as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, and Lactobacillus sakei isolated from meat products were tested for their ability to utilize and grow on xylooligosaccharides (XOSs). The extent of carbohydrate utilization by the studied strains was analyzed by HPLC. All three strains showed preferences for the degree of polymerization (DP). The added oligosaccharides induced the LAB to form end-products of typical mixed-acid fermentation. The utilization of XOSs by the microorganisms requires the action of three important enzymes: β-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) exo-oligoxylanase (EC 3.2.1.156) and α-L-arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55). The presence of intracellular β-D-xylosidase in Lb. brevis, Lb. plantarum, and Lb. sakei suggest that XOSs might be the first imported into the cell by oligosaccharide transporters, followed by their degradation to xylose. The studies on the influence of XOS intake on the lipids of rat liver plasma membranes showed that oligosaccharides display various beneficial effects for the host organism, which are probably specific for each type of prebiotic used. The utilization of different types of oligosaccharides may help to explain the ability of Lactobacillus strains to compete with other bacteria in the ecosystem of the human gastrointestinal tract.

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Effect of different types of stressors on peptide messenger ribonucleic acids in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.1280485 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 128 (6) ◽

pp. 485-492 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Sandra Ceccatelli ◽

Catello Orazzo

Keyword(s):

Paraventricular Nucleus ◽

Immobilization Stress ◽

Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone ◽

Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus ◽

Male Rats ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone ◽

Ribonucleic Acids ◽

Releasing Hormone ◽

Different Types

Using in situ hybridization we have studied the effects of different types of stressors, such as ether, immobilization, cold and swimming, on the expression of several peptide messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of adult male rats. Paraventricular nucleus sections were hybridized using synthetic oligonucleotide probes complementary to mRNA for corticotropin-releasing hormone, neurotensin, enkephalin and thyrotropin-releasing hormone. A clear upregulation of neurotensin mRNA was seen after ether and, to a lesser extent, after immobilization stress, whereas after the two other stressors neurotensin mRNA was undetectable, as in control rats. An increase in enkephalin mRNA was observed in a selective region of the dorsal part of the medioparvocellular subdivision of the paraventricular nucleus only after ether and immobilization stress. No significant changes were seen in corticotropin-releasing hormone and thyrotropin-releasing hormone mRNA levels in any of the experimental paradigms. The present results show selective changes for various peptide mRNAs in the paraventricular nucleus after various types of stress. Significant effects could be demonstrated only on neurotensin and enkephalin mRNA after ether and immobilization stress. This suggests that adaptive changes in the rate of synthesis, processing and transport of the peptide may develop over a longer period of time.

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Acrylamide-induced oxidative stress in human erythrocytes

Human & Experimental Toxicology ◽

10.1177/0960327109350664 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 28 (10) ◽

pp. 611-617 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Betul Catalgol ◽

Gül Özhan ◽

Buket Alpertunga

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Reduced Glutathione ◽

Human Erythrocytes ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽

Total Glutathione ◽

Sod Activity ◽

Spectrophotometric Methods ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Different Doses

Acrylamide (AA), a widely used industrial chemical, is shown to be neurotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different doses of AA on lipid peroxidation (LPO), haemolysis, methaemoglobin (MetHb) and antioxidant system in human erythrocytes in vitro. Erythrocyte solutions were incubated with 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mM of AA at 37°C for 1 hour. At the end of the incubation, malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of LPO, was determined by liquid chromatography (LC) while total glutathione, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzymes and the rates of haemolysis and MetHb were determined by spectrophotometric methods. All of the studied concentrations of AA increased MetHb formation and SOD activity, and induced MDA formation and haemolysis due to the destruction of erythrocyte cell membrane. AA caused a decrease in the activities of GSH-Px, CAT and GSH levels. However, these effects of AA were seen only at higher concentrations than AA intake estimated for populations in many countries. We suggest that LPO process may not be involved in the toxic effects of AA in low concentrations, although the present results showed that the studied concentrations of AA exert deteriorating effects on antioxidant enzyme activities, LPO process and haemolysis.

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T3 increases mitochondrial ATP production in oxidative muscle despite increased expression of UCP2 and -3

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.2001.280.5.e761 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 280 (5) ◽

pp. E761-E769 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Kevin R. Short ◽

Jonas Nygren ◽

Rocco Barazzoni ◽

James Levine ◽

K. Sreekumaran Nair

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Citrate Synthase ◽

Atp Synthesis ◽

Nutrient Flux ◽

Oxidative Enzymes ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Plantaris Muscle ◽

Atp Production ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Different Types

Triiodothyronine (T3) increases O2 and nutrient flux through mitochondria (Mito) of many tissues, but it is unclear whether ATP synthesis is increased, particularly in different types of skeletal muscle, because variable changes in uncoupling proteins (UCP) and enzymes have been reported. Thus Mito ATP production was measured in oxidative and glycolytic muscles, as well as in liver and heart, in rats administered T3 for 14 days. Relative to saline-treated controls, T3 rats had 80, 168, and 62% higher ATP production in soleus muscle, liver, and heart, respectively, as well as higher activities of citrate synthase (CS; 63, 90, 25%) and cytochrome c oxidase (COX; 119, 225, 52%) in the same tissues (all P < 0.01). In plantaris muscle of T3 rats, CS was only slightly higher (17%, P < 0.05) than in controls, and ATP production and COX were unaffected. mRNA levels of COX I and III were 33 and 47% higher in soleus of T3 rats ( P < 0.01), but there were no differences in plantaris. In contrast, UCP2 and -3 mRNAs were 2.5- to 14-fold higher, and protein levels were 3- to 10-fold higher in both plantaris and soleus of the T3 group. We conclude that T3 increases oxidative enzymes and Mito ATP production and Mito-encoded transcripts in oxidative but not glycolytic rodent tissues. Despite large increases in UCP expression, ATP production was enhanced in oxidative tissues and maintained in glycolytic muscle of hyperthyroid rats.

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