Efficacy of L-Arabinose in Lowering Glycemic and Insulinemic Responses: The Modifying Effect of Starch and Fat

L-arabinose is a bio-active compound derived from the side-streams of plant food processing. L-arabinose lowers glycemic and insulinemic responses when added to simple water-based sugary liquids. However, the effect in more complex foods, including fat and starch, is inconsistent. This study assessed the effect of fat or starch in a sugary drink on the efficacy of L-arabinose. Twenty-three healthy volunteers (12 female/11 male; aged 24 ± 3 years; BMI 23 ± 3 kg/m2) participated in a randomised cross-over trial with six drinks: control: 50 g sucrose in water; fat: control + 22 g oil; starch: control + 50 g starch; and all three with and without the addition of 5 g L-arabinose. The addition of L-arabinose to the control drink lowered glucose and insulin peaks by 15% and 52%; for the fat drink by 8% and 45%; and for the starch drink by 7% and 29%. For all three drinks, adding L-arabinose increased glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) responses and lowered Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) responses. Despite adding large quantities of starch and fat to sugary drinks, L-arabinose significantly lowered postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses in healthy subjects. These findings suggest that L-arabinose can be functional in more complex foods; however, the factors affecting its efficacy in solid food matrices need to be studied in more detail.

4 clinical cases of patients in whom the combination of chondroitin and glucosamine should be considered

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that affects mainly the elderly. The primary form of therapy is analgesic pharmacotherapy in accordance with the analgesic ladder. Another, still controversial, method is the administration of symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis, the main advantage of which is that they are practically devoid of toxicity. A recent review of papers on the use of this group of drugs has shown that the most potent modifying effect has the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, which synergistically change the metabolism of the articular cartilage. In this article, we present four clinical cases in which the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin was effective.

Comparison of the modifying effect of rice ashand buckwheat husk in epoxy antifriction coatings

This paper discusses the issue of utilization of rice and buckwheat husks, a comparison of their modifying effect in epoxy antifriction coatings, for this, the elemental composition of these fillers was determined using X-ray fluorescence analysis, their structure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, and the acid-base characteristics of the filler surface were determined by the pH method., the surface area of the pores of the ash of rice and buckwheat husks, their oil absorption were calculated, a sol-gel analysis was carried out to assess the density of the spatial network of filled epoxy coatings, and their wear resistance and hardness were determined. In the course of the research, the optimal temperature for obtaining ash from rice and buckwheat husks was established, which contributes to an increase in wear resistance, hardness and a decrease in the static friction coefficient of filled epoxy coatings. It is shown that the optimal temperature for obtaining rice husk ash is 500 C, and buckwheat husk ash 800 C. At the same time, rice husk ash is a more effective filler for epoxy polymers than buckwheat husk ash, since it increases the hardness of materials and provides a greater decrease in their friction coefficient.

MODIFICATION OF EPOXIDIAN RESIN ED-20 WITH ALUMINUM PHOSPHATE

The modifying effect of aluminum phosphate (PA) on epoxy polymers has been studied. It was found that the introduction into the composition of 1.10 - 3.85 mass. including aluminum phosphate makes it possible to obtain highly modular (2.3 - 3.1 GPa) self-extinguishing polymer composites.

Influence of Drinking Water Quality on the Current of Acute Radiation Disease in Mice

Purpose: Assessing the role of various factors in the formation of radioresistance is an important branch of radiobiology. The quality of drinking water, as it turned out, can significantly affect radioresistance. Against the background of studying the antiradiation properties of various types of water, differing in mineral and isotopic composition, the problem of the influence of tap water on the course of radiation injury remained underestimated. This circumstance determined the purpose of the work: to evaluate the modifying effect of tap water on the course of acute radiation sickness after X-ray irradiation of mice at an average lethal dose. Material and methods: Female ICR (CD-1) mice were irradiated with an average lethal dose once – 6.5 Gy of X-ray irradiation. After irradiation, half of the mice received tap water as drinking water, and the other half received artificially mineralized drinking water. Results: Keeping animals on tap water significantly reduced the survival rate of mice both with a single dose (log-rank test p=0.02, χ2=5.38) compared with animals receiving artificially mineralized distilled water. In addition, in the group of mice that received tap water, an increase in the rate of death of mice and a lower preservation of the group mass of animals during the development of acute radiation injury was noted. Conclusion: Tap water, used as drinking water, increases the damaging effect of radiation when X-rays are irradiated in mice.

Meloxicam efficacy and safety in treatment of pain syndromes of different localization according to domestic studies

More than 500 million people worldwide suffer from osteoarthritis (OA). Neck and low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons for visiting a general practitioner to receive primary medical care in different countries. The prevalence of chronic LBP varies from 4% to 20%, and increases linearly from the third decade to 60 years, and stabilizes in the seventh decade of life. According to the latest published clinical guidelines of the Russian Association for the Study of Pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in minimally effective doses and a short course to relieve acute musculoskeletal pain. The ratio of the NSAIDs activity associated with cyclooxygenase (COX) – COX-1 / COX-2 – inhibition allows us to evaluate their potential toxicity. The smaller this value, the more selective the drug is against COX-2, and the less toxic it is. Meloxicam belongs to the predominantly selective COX-2 inhibitors. In the Russian market, meloxicam of domestic production - Amelotex® is widely prescribed. Several studies have shown the high efficacy and safety of meloxicam in the treatment of pain syndromes with different localizations (LBP, neck pain of vertebrogenic nature, OA, etc.), it can be recommended for elderly patients, patients with comorbid diseases such as arterial hypertension (AH), diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal tract pathology. Meloxicam has a good efficacy and safety profile, a pronounced symptom-modifying effect.

Gamma Oscillations in Alzheimer’s Disease and Their Potential Therapeutic Role

Despite decades of research, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) remains a lethal neurodegenerative disorder for which there are no effective treatments. This review examines the latest evidence of a novel and newly introduced perspective, which focuses on the restoration of gamma oscillations and investigates their potential role in the treatment of AD. Gamma brain activity (∼25–100 Hz) has been well-known for its role in cognitive function, including memory, and it is fundamental for healthy brain activity and intra-brain communication. Aberrant gamma oscillations have been observed in both mice AD models and human AD patients. A recent line of work demonstrated that gamma entrainment, through auditory and visual sensory stimulation, can effectively attenuate AD pathology and improve cognitive function in mice models of the disease. The first evidence from AD patients indicate that gamma entrainment therapy can reduce loss of functional connectivity and brain atrophy, improve cognitive function, and ameliorate several pathological markers of the disease. Even though research is still in its infancy, evidence suggests that gamma-based therapy may have a disease-modifying effect and has signified a new and promising era in AD research.

Perturbation of Cellular Redox Homeostasis Dictates Divergent Effects of Polybutyl Cyanoacrylate (PBCA) Nanoparticles on Autophagy

Nanoparticles (NPs) are used in our everyday life, including as drug delivery vehicles. However, the effects of NPs at the cellular level and their impacts on autophagy are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the NP drug delivery vehicle poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) (PBCA) perturbs redox homeostasis in human epithelial cells, and that the degree of redox perturbation dictates divergent effects of PBCA on autophagy. Specifically, PBCA promoted functional autophagy at low concentrations, whereas it inhibited autophagy at high concentrations. Both effects were completely abolished by the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). High concentrations of PBCA inhibited MAP1LC3B/GABARAP lipidation and LC3 flux, and blocked bulk autophagic cargo flux induced by mTOR inhibition. These effects were mimicked by the redox regulator H2O2. In contrast, low concentrations of PBCA enhanced bulk autophagic cargo flux in a Vps34-, ULK1/2- and ATG13-dependent manner, yet interestingly, without an accompanying increase in LC3 lipidation or flux. PBCA activated MAP kinase signaling cascades in a redox-dependent manner, and interference with individual signaling components revealed that the autophagy-stimulating effect of PBCA required the action of the JNK and p38–MK2 pathways, whose activities converged on the pro-autophagic protein Beclin-1. Collectively, our results reveal that PBCA exerts a dual effect on autophagy depending on the severity of the NP insult and the resulting perturbation of redox homeostasis. Such a dual autophagy-modifying effect may be of general relevance for redox-perturbing NPs and have important implications in nanomedicine.

Toward a Disease-Modifying Therapy of Alpha-Synucleinopathies: New Molecules and New Approaches Came into the Limelight

The accumulation of the various products of alpha-synuclein aggregation has been associated with the etiology and pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative conditions, including both familial and sporadic forms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). It is now well established that the aggregation and spread of alpha-synuclein aggregation pathology activate numerous pathogenic mechanisms that contribute to neurodegeneration and, ultimately, to disease progression. Therefore, the development of a safe and effective disease-modifying therapy that limits or prevents the accumulation of the toxic intermediate products of alpha-synuclein aggregation and the spread of alpha-synuclein aggregation pathology could provide significant positive clinical outcomes in PD/DLB cohorts. It has been suggested that this goal can be achieved by reducing the intracellular and/or extracellular levels of monomeric and already aggregated alpha-synuclein. The principal aim of this review is to critically evaluate the potential of therapeutic strategies that target the post-transcriptional steps of alpha-synuclein production and immunotherapy-based approaches to alpha-synuclein degradation in PD/DLB patients. Strategies aimed at the downregulation of alpha-synuclein production are at an early preclinical stage of drug development and, although they have shown promise in animal models of alpha-synuclein aggregation, many limitations need to be resolved before in-human clinical trials can be seriously considered. In contrast, many strategies aimed at the degradation of alpha-synuclein using immunotherapeutic approaches are at a more advanced stage of development, with some in-human Phase II clinical trials currently in progress. Translational barriers for both strategies include the limitations of alpha-synuclein aggregation models, poor understanding of the therapeutic window for the alpha-synuclein knockdown, and variability in alpha-synuclein pathology across patient cohorts. Overcoming such barriers should be the main focus of further studies. However, it is already clear that these strategies do have the potential to achieve a disease-modifying effect in PD and DLB.

Research of the mineral additives influence on aggregative stability of foam concrete mixture

An effective method for increasing the aggregate stability of non-autoclave heat-insulating foam concrete is proposed. This material is prepared using a two-stage technology on a turbulent-type installation. An increase in the stability of the foam in the mortar mixture by 9.5-23% has been established. An increase in the viscosity of the foam concrete mixture by 13.5% was revealed. Wollastonite and diopside are actively involved in the formation of a stable structure of foam concrete and are structurally modifying centers. The introduction of mineral additives contributes to the formation of a homogeneous stable structure of non-autoclave foam concrete. Thus, an increase in the stability of the cellular system in the technology of non-autoclave cement-ash foam concrete is possible due to the control of the processes of structure formation when using dispersed mineral additives of wollastonite and diopside. Due to the structural-modifying effect of additives as crystallization centers for neoplasms, a more complete hydration of the cement and a strong contact of the additives with the cement stone should be ensured