Dose-Dependent Relationship between Protection of Thioacetamide-Induced Acute Liver Injury and Hyperammonemia and Concentration of Lactobacillus salivarius Li01 in Mice

This research investigated the relationship between the concentration of Lactobacillus salivarius Li01 and its impact on mice that had a thioacetamide-induced acute liver injury and hyperammonemia. These findings could provide new insights into the effective, proper, and safe use of probiotics.

Estrogen and Progesterone Therapy and Meningiomas

Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors with female predominance. Their etiology is still poorly documented. The role of sexual hormones has long been evoked, and data have been conflicting across studies. However, a dose-dependent relationship between the incidence and growth of meningiomas and hormonal treatment with the progestin cyproterone acetate (CPA) has recently been established. CPA- associated meningiomas seem to be mainly located in the anterior and middle skull base, are more likely to be multiple; may harbor P1K3CA mutations in up to 1/3 of cases and are favored by a longer duration of treatment. A similar but lower risk of meningiomas has been recently reported with the use of chlormadinone acetate and nomegestrol acetate as progestin treatments. Concerning hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) in menopausal patients, evidence from epidemiological studies seem to favor an increased risk of meningiomas in treated patients although a recent study failed to show an increased growth of meningiomas in HRT treated vs. non treated patients. Until larger studies are available, it seems wise to recommend avoiding HRT in patients with meningiomas. Evidence from published data does not seem to support an increased risk of meningiomas with oral contraceptive (OC) use. Data are too scarce to conclude on fertility treatments. Based on studies demonstrating the expression of hormonal receptors in meningiomas, therapies targeting these receptors have been tried but have failed to show an overall favorable clinical outcome in meningioma treatment.

Macrogenetics reveals multifaceted influences of environmental variation on vertebrate population genetic diversity across the Americas

Relative to species diversity gradients, the broad scale distribution of population-specific genetic diversity (PGD) across taxa remains understudied. We used nuclear DNA data collected from 6285 vertebrate populations across the Americas to assess the role environmental variables play in structuring the spatial/latitudinal distribution of PGD, a key component of adaptive potential in the face of environmental change. Our results provide key evidence for taxa-specific responses and that temperature variability in addition to mean temperature may be a primary driver of PGD. Additionally, we found some positive influence of precipitation, productivity, and elevation on PGD; identified trends were dependent on the metric of PGD. In contrast to the classic negative relationship between species diversity and latitude, we report either a positive or taxa-dependent relationship between PGD and latitude, depending on the metric of PGD. The inconsistent latitudinal gradient in different metrics of PGD may be due to opposing processes diminishing patterns across latitudes that operate on different timescales, as well as the flattening of large-scale genetic gradients when assessing across species versus within species. Our study highlights the nuance required to assess broad patterns in genetic diversity, and the need for developing balanced conservation strategies that ensure population, species, and community persistence.

Preparation of Chitosan Particles as a Delivery System for Tetrahydrocurcumin: β-cyclodextrin Inclusive Compound for Colorectal Carcinoma

Background: Tetrahydrocurcumin is a hydrogenated active metabolite of curcumin that exhibits similar pharmacological effects to curcumin. However, its hydrophobic nature has limited its aqueous solubility and bioavailability. By incorporating the tetrahydro curcumin into β-cyclodextrin, its physiochemical property can be improved. Objective: To develop a chitosan composite loaded with tetrahydro curcumin inclusive complex, characterize the developed composites, and evaluate its effectiveness on cancer cells. Methods: Tetrahydrocurcumin was formulated into an inclusive complex with β-cyclodextrin in the ratio of 1:2 (Tetrahydrocurcumin: β-cyclodextrin). The tetrahydro curcumin inclusive complex loaded chitosan particles (THC IC-loaded CPs) were prepared using ionic gelation and later characterized using FTIR. Cytotoxicity of THC IC-loaded CPs in human colon cancer cells, Caco-2 cells, was examined using RTCA xCELLigence technology. The uptake of these particles by Caco-2 cells was also evaluated via fluorescing microscopy. Results: FTIR results confirmed the formation of the tetrahydrocurcumin inclusive complex and the loading of this complex into chitosan composites. The cytotoxic effect of THC IC-loaded CPs showed a dose-dependent relationship, and the IC50 found was 1.117mM and 0.959mM after 48 and 72 hours, respectively. THC IC-loaded CPs showed an immediate uptake by CaCo-2 cells, and the maximum uptake was observed after 1 hour of incubation. Conclusion: This study showed that THC IC-loaded CPs is a potential drug carrier to deliver tetrahydrocurcumin into cancer cells and able to produce a cytotoxic effect on cancer cells.

Hypoalbuminemia affects one third of acute pancreatitis patients and is independently associated with severity and mortality

The incidence and medical costs of acute pancreatitis (AP) are on the rise, and severe cases still have a 30% mortality rate. We aimed to evaluate hypoalbuminemia as a risk factor and the prognostic value of human serum albumin in AP. Data from 2461 patients were extracted from the international, prospective, multicentre AP registry operated by the Hungarian Pancreatic Study Group. Data from patients with albumin measurement in the first 48 h (n = 1149) and anytime during hospitalization (n = 1272) were analysed. Multivariate binary logistic regression and Receiver Operator Characteristic curve analysis were used. The prevalence of hypoalbuminemia (< 35 g/L) was 19% on admission and 35.7% during hospitalization. Hypoalbuminemia dose-dependently increased the risk of severity, mortality, local complications and organ failure and is associated with longer hospital stay. The predictive value of hypoalbuminemia on admission was poor for severity and mortality. Severe hypoalbuminemia (< 25 g/L) represented an independent risk factor for severity (OR 48.761; CI 25.276–98.908) and mortality (OR 16.83; CI 8.32–35.13). Albumin loss during AP was strongly associated with severity (p < 0.001) and mortality (p = 0.002). Hypoalbuminemia represents an independent risk factor for severity and mortality in AP, and it shows a dose-dependent relationship with local complications, organ failure and length of stay.

Flavonoid-Rich Extract of Paeonia lactiflora Petals Alleviate d-Galactose-Induced Oxidative Stress and Restore Gut Microbiota in ICR Mice

This study was aimed to investigate the antioxidant effect of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. petal flavonoids extract (PPF) on d-galactose (d-gal)-induced ICR mice. In this study, sixty male ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups during an 8 weeks experimental period, including normal control (NC) group, d-gal group, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) group, low, medium, and high dose PPF groups (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg/day). The results showed that intragastric administration with PPF significantly reverses the atrophy of the visceral organs of oxidative damage mice in a dose-dependent relationship. PPF indicated the antioxidant capacity to decrease the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and improve the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). In addition, PPF treatment reversed gut microbiota dysbiosis by increasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the body’s oxidative stress markers were directly related to changes in gut microbiota. These findings reveal firstly that PPF could alleviate d-Gal-induced oxidative stress and modulate gut microbiota balance.

Phenolic Compounds and Triterpenes in Different Olive Tissues and Olive Oil By-Products, and Cytotoxicity on Human Colorectal Cancer Cells: The Case of Frantoio, Moraiolo and Leccino Cultivars (Olea europaea L.)

Phenolic and triterpenoid compounds of the olive tree are recognized as having a key role in health promotion, thanks to their multiple protective actions in humans. To expand the source of these bioactive compounds, the phenolic and triterpenoid profiles of leaf, branch, destoned fruit, destoned pomace, shell, seed, and extra virgin olive oil from the Frantoio, Leccino, and Moraiolo olive cultivars were simultaneously characterized by HPLC-DAD-MS. Overall, 43 molecules were quantitated and expressed on the obtained dry extracts. Oleuropein was mainly concentrated in branches (82.72 g/kg), fruits (55.79 g/kg), leaves (36.71 g/kg), and shells (1.26 g/kg), verbascoside (4.88 g/kg) in pomace, and nüzhenide 11-methyl oleoside (90.91 g/kg) in seeds. Among triterpenoids, which were absent in shells, the highest amount of oleanolic acid was found in olive leaves (11.88 g/kg). HCT-116 colorectal cells were chosen to assess the cytotoxicity of the dry extract, using the phytocomplex from Frantoio, which was the richest in phenols and triterpenoids. The IC50 was also determined for 13 pure molecules (phenols and terpenoids) detected in the extracts. The greatest inhibition on the cell’s proliferation was induced by the branch dry extract (IC50 88.25 μg/mL) and by ursolic acid (IC50 24 μM). A dose-dependent relationship was observed for the tested extracts.

Message threads: Exploring interpersonal communication through smartphones: how we weave our lives in a hypermediated world

<p>This thesis is about human behaviour as it relates to computer mediated communication. Smartphones are an accepted part of everyday life. We use them to wake us up in the morning, we play games on them while we wait for the bus, and take photos with them. Smartphones also enable communication. We can phone while in transit, coordinate meeting up with friends, share our lives on social networking sites, and check in on email and text throughout the day. How does this technology affect how we interact? In public situations we retain contact online, but this multitasking affects how we relate to others socially. Smartphone texting allows us to keep in constant touch with friends and family, though interaction is fragmented and asynchronous. As we are always available, and never alone, these open lines of communication also affect how we see ourselves. In choosing the smartphone I critically question the attention and priority given to these devices in daily life. Mobile phones have changed the soundscape in public places: dialtones, beeps and people speaking in public on their phones is common. Users interact continually with their phones, store substantial data on them, communicate through, and consequently develop a bond to, the physical object. What could these ubiquitous portable computers tell us if, instead of being passive agents in a dependent relationship of user and phone, they actively listened, or could reflect back the nature of their role in our lives?</p>