Correction of ultrastructural paclitaxel-induced spinal cord motoneurons lesions

Background. Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is a major side effect of paclitaxel in patients with cancer with no fully known mechanisms. The aim of the study was to investigate the fine sub-microscopic structure of the spinal cord anterior horn neurons in PIPN combined with 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine succinate administration. Methods. The experiment was performed on 80 white rats, which were administered intraperitoneally with Paclitaxel (Actavis, Romania), pre-dissolved in an isotonic saline at a dose of 2 mg / kg body weight four times a day to achieve a dose of 8 mg / kg. Then 48 of these animals were injected intraperitoneally 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine succinate at a dose of 10 mg / kg (32 rats received intraperitoneally water for injection). Observation periods were 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 days. Results. We found that 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine corrects the morpho-functional state of the motor neurons of the spinal cord and revealed a positive metabolic effect on them. Conclusion. This was manifested by the improvement of the electron microscopic picture of the neuronal structures responsible for their protein-synthetic (granular endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes and polysomes), respiratory (mitochondria), and protective (lysosomes) functions.

Unknown Known: Lactobacillus plantarum. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Adequate interaction between the macroorganism and the microbiota is the basis for proper metabolism and overall human health. Probiotics allow for targeted correction of individual metabolic processes, reducing the risk of developing diseases or increasing the effectiveness of drug therapy. Lactobacillus plantarum demonstrates high efficiency in correcting microbiota disorders, improving metabolism, regulating inflammation and immunity. A continuous search is carried out for new strains of microorganisms that have an immunocorregulating and metabolic effect.

Metabolic effect of drought stress on the leaves of young oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plants using UHPLC–MS and multivariate analysis

The expansion of the oil palm in marginal areas can face challenges, such as water deficit, leading to an impact on palm oil production. A better understanding of the biological consequences of abiotic stresses on this crop can result from joint metabolic profiling and multivariate analysis. Metabolic profiling of leaves was performed from control and stressed plants (7 and 14 days of stress). Samples were extracted and analyzed on a UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-HRMS system. Acquired data were processed using XCMS Online and MetaboAnalyst for multivariate and pathway activity analysis. Metabolism was affected by drought stress through clear segregation between control and stressed groups. More importantly, metabolism changed through time, gradually from 7 to 14 days. The pathways most affected by drought stress were: starch and sucrose metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. The analysis of the metabolic profile were efficient to correlate and differentiate groups of oil palm plants submitted to different levels of drought stress. Putative compounds and their affected pathways can be used in future multiomics analysis.

Using genetics to uncouple higher adiposity from its adverse metabolic effects and understand its role in metabolic and non-metabolic disease.

To understand the consequences of higher adiposity uncoupled from its adverse metabolic effects, we selected 37 diseases associated with obesity and genetic variants associated with different aspects of excess weight including metabolically “favourable adiposity” (FA) and “unfavourable adiposity” (UFA). Mendelian randomisation (MR) identified two sets of diseases. First, 12 conditions where the metabolic effect of higher adiposity is the likely primary cause of the disease. Here MR with the FA and UFA genetics showed opposing effects on risk of disease, including colorectal and ovarian cancer, and gout. Second, 7 conditions where the non-metabolic effects of excess weight (e.g. mechanical effect) is likely a cause. Here MR with the FA genetics, despite leading to lower metabolic risk, and MR with the UFA genetics, were both associated with higher disease risk, including osteoarthritis and venous thromboembolism. Individuals with high BMI are at higher risk of some diseases despite being relatively metabolically healthy.

Using genetics to uncouple higher adiposity from its adverse metabolic effects and understand its role in metabolic and non-metabolic disease.

To understand the consequences of higher adiposity uncoupled from its adverse metabolic effects, we selected 37 diseases associated with obesity and genetic variants associated with different aspects of excess weight including metabolically “favourable adiposity” (FA) and “unfavourable adiposity” (UFA). Mendelian randomisation (MR) identified two sets of diseases. First, 12 conditions where the metabolic effect of higher adiposity is the likely primary cause of the disease. Here MR with the FA and UFA genetics showed opposing effects on the risk of disease, including colorectal and ovarian cancer, and gout. Second, 7 conditions where the non-metabolic effects of excess weight (e.g. mechanical effect) is likely a cause. Here MR with the FA genetics, despite leading to lower metabolic risk, and MR with the UFA genetics, were both associated with higher disease risk, including osteoarthritis and venous thromboembolism. Individuals with high BMI are at higher risk of some diseases despite being relatively metabolically healthy.

INFLUENCE OF FOLIAR TREATMENTS OF TOMATO PLANTS WITH MICROELEMENTS ON ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE INFESTATION

Selenium (Se), silicon (Si) and nickel (Ni) are essential microelements in plants. Their deficiency can have a significant impact on the growth and development of plants, and on nematode infestation. The study of the possibility of regulating the interaction of plants with root-knot nematode by means of exogenous foliar treatments with solutions of nanosized Se, Si and Ni has been conducted. Susceptible tomato plants were treated in the seed phase and the growing plants were sprayed with aqueous solutions of nanosized microelements (Se – 0.6; Ni – 0.1; Si – 2 mg/l). The influence of treatments on the infestation of tomatoes by the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, as well as on the development of plants and the quantitative and qualitative composition of photosynthetic pigments, as the most sensitive indicator of the pathological state of plants, was studied. A decrease in the infestation of tomatoes with a nematode in the Se<Si<Ni series is shown. The treated plants were dominated by larvae. An increase in the entire pool of photosynthetic pigments or individual pigments was observed when treated with nanosized microelements. The greatest effect on the infestation of the root system, the development of nematodes and the content of photosynthetic pigments was obtained when plants were treated with nanosized nickel. It is obvious that these elements have an individual metabolic effect on plant tissues, but it is obvious that they have a beneficial effect on tomato plants, which allows us to consider them as inductors that increase resistance to root-knot nematode.

Beneficial Metabolic Effect of a Nutraceuticals Combination (Monacolin K, Yeasted Red Rice, Polyphenolic Extract of Annurca Apple and Berberine) on Acquired Hypercholesterolemia: A Prospective Analysis

Hypercholesterolemia represents a serious public health problem as it significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Its treatment with statin is limited by costs, side effects, and drugs interactions. Nutraceuticals appear to have an important metabolic effect on cholesterol reduction as well as on body weight and glycemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a nutraceutical combination (Melasterol) in eighty-seven patients with acquired hypercholesterolemia. Clinically relevant parameters were collected at baseline and after three and six months of Melasterol treatment, one tablet per day. The primary endpoint was the change in cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Six months of treatment resulted in a 19.2% decrease in total cholesterol, accompanied by a 19.8% decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and a 23% reduction in triglycerides (p < 0.001) but not in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (p > 0.05). These results were paralleled by a significative blood glucose (108.3 ± 21.3 vs. 98.4 ± 18.6 mg/dL p < 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) reduction (27.8 ± 4.4 vs. 27.0 ± 4.2 mg/dL, p < 0.001). A subgroup of 12 patients performed flow-mediated dilation, with values increasing by 1.8% (p < 0.05). No significant side effects were reported. Besides its cholesterol-lowering effect, Melasterol was associated with a significant improvement in other relevant metabolic parameters such as BMI and glycemia.