bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal diet, LCPUFA status and prematurity in Indian mothers: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Ranade Prachi S. , Rao Shobha S. 
Published: August 2018

Background: Recently, certain long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) have been shown to exert functional benefits with regards to gestational length. The present study examined the association of maternal LCPUFA intake, specifically Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Arachidonic acid (ARA), and plasma status at delivery with duration of gestation and risk of premature delivery in Indian mothers.Methods: In a cross-sectional nested case-control study, 191 mother-baby pairs [164 Full term (FT) and 27 Preterm (PT)] were examined for differences in maternal habitual diet pattern and plasma fatty acid composition in relation to the length of gestation.Results: The frequency of intake of n-3 fatty acid rich varieties of fish was higher (p<0.05) in FT mothers compared to PT mothers. Maternal plasma fatty acid concentration of n-3 Alpha Linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), DHA and total n-3 fatty acids at delivery was significantly associated with intake of vegetarian ALA sources such as millets, dark whole pulses, dry fruits like walnuts, and green leafy vegetables. Among age, parity, and neonatal sex matched case-control pairs, PT mothers had significantly (p<0.01) higher levels of n-6 ARA, but lower (p<0.01) levels of n-3 DHA and total n-3 fatty acids compared to FT mothers irrespective of socioeconomic group. In fact, mothers with plasma DHA levels below median (<3.0%) had ten times higher risk (OR-10.47; 95% CI: 3.03-36.48) of delivering prematurely compared to those who had plasma DHA levels above median.Conclusion: Results underscore the importance of consuming varied sources of ALA and DHA for their role as functional lipids in determining gestational length.Key words: LCPUFA, maternal diet, omega 3, DHA, preterm birth, relative risk
Flavocoxid (Limbrel ®) manages osteoarthritis through modification of multiple inflammatory pathways: a review
Authors: Burnett Bruce P. , Levy Robert M. 
Published: August 2018

Limbrel (flavocoxid) is marketed as an FDA-regulated medical food for the clinical dietary management of osteoarthritis (OA) to be used under physician supervision. Flavocoxid is composed of a >90% mixture of baicalin and catechin and represents a non-targeted anti-inflammatory which works differently than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that bind to and only inhibit the cyclooxygenase moieties of COX-1 and COX-2. Flavocoxid binds to and weakly modulates the peroxidase activity of the COX enzymes permitting low level expression of prostaglandins (PGs), prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane (TxA2). In addition, flavocoxid weakly inhibits phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) as well as increases IϰBα and prevents nuclear factor kappa B (NFϰB) activation/induction of inflammatory genes such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin-1β (IL-1 β), IL-6, COX-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and 5-LOX. In clinical studies, flavocoxid shows equivalent efficacy to naproxen with statistically fewer renal (edema) and upper gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, does not affect platelet function and bleeding times, does not change international normalized ratio (INR) in warfarinized patients, is well-tolerated in patients with previous NSAID-induced GI side effects, and decreases or eliminates the use of gastroprotective medications in patients who previously required them to tolerate NSAIDs. With its broad, non-targeted and multiple weak activities which result in fewer side effects compared to NSAIDs, flavocoxid represents a different way managing OA by working on the underlying and multiple causes of cartilage degradation as well as joint inflammation. Keywords: Flavocoxid, Limbrel, osteoarthritis, inflammatory pathways, and medical foods
Chemical composition of water buffalo milk and its low-fat symbiotic yogurt development
Authors: Han Xue , Lee Frank L. , Zhang Lanwei , Guo M. R. 
Published: August 2018

Background: Water buffalos are the second most widely available milk source in countries around the world. While typical average milk compositions are readily available, information on seasonal variation in chemical composition of buffalo milk is limited -especially in the Northeastern region of the United States. Data collected in this study can be useful for the manufacture of a wide variety of specialty dairy products such as symbiotic buffalo milk yogurt. To analyze functionality, symbiotic low fat buffalo milk yogurt prototypes (plain and blueberry) were developed using a commercial starter containing probiotics. Methods: During a one-year cycle, physicochemical and mineral contents of buffalo milk were analyzed. Prototype yogurts were manufactured commercially and samples of the yogurt prototypes were analyzed for physicochemical and microbiological properties and for the survivability of probiotics during ten weeks of storage.Results: Average contents of total solids, fat, lactose, crude protein, ash, specific gravity, and conjugated linoleic acid in the milk ranged from 16.39-18.48%, 6.57-7.97%, 4.49-4.73%, 4.59-5.37%, 0.91-0.92%, 1.0317-1.0380%, and 4.4-7.6 mg/g fat, respectively. The average mineral contents of calcium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and zinc in the milk were 1798.89, 1216.76, 843.72, 337.20 and 7.48 mg/kg, respectively, and remained steady throughout the year. The symbiotic low fat buffalo milk yogurts evaluated in this study contained higher amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and calcium than similar yogurts manufactured with cows’ milk. During refrigerated storage, the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus was viable (>1×106 CFU/g) for the first two weeks, while Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus casei remained viable during the entire ten weeks. Reducing the acidity and enhancing the flavor of the yogurts could improve the overall acceptability.Conclusion: The results indicated that the low fat buffalo milk yogurt are a rich source of nutrients and are nutritionally preferable to cows’ milk yogurts. The shelf life analysis indicated it to be a good vehicle for developing symbiotic yogurt.Keywords: Buffalo milk, conjugated linoleic acid, symbiotic yogurt, probiotic survivability, physicochemical properties, acceptability
Differential Effects of Tea Extracts on Growth and Cytokine Production by Normal and Leukemic Human Leukocytes
Authors: Bayer Diana , Jansen Jonathon , Beltz Lisa A. 
Published: August 2018

Background: Tea is one of the world’s most highly consumed beverages, second only to water. It is affordable and abundant and thus has great potential for improving health of those in both developed and developing areas. Green, oolong, and black teas differ in the extent of fermentation and types of bioactive polyphenols produced. Green tea and its major polyphenol decrease growth of some cancer cells and effect production of immune system cytokines. This study compares the effects of different types of tea extracts on viability and cytokine production by normal and leukemic human T lymphocytes. Generation of the toxic reactive oxygen species H2O2 by extracts was also examined.Methods: The Jurkat T lymphoblastic leukemia cells and mitogen-stimulated normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used in this study. Cell viability was determined by (3-4,5-dimethylthiamizol-2-yl)-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and production of interleukin-2 by Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay. Levels of H2O2 generated by tea extracts were determined using the xylenol-orange method.Results: We found that green, oolong, and black tea extracts differentially effect the growth and viability of T lymphoblastic leukemia cells and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, substantially decreasing both growth and viability of leukemic T lymphocytes and having much lesser effects on their normal counterparts. Tea extracts also had differential effects on the production of the T lymphocyte growth factor interleukin-2, significantly decreasing production by leukemic cells while having only minor effects on normal cells. All three extracts induced H2O2 generation, with green and oolong tea extracts having the greatest effect. Leukemic cells were much more susceptible to growth inhibition and killing by H2O2 than normal lymphocytes. Conclusions: The three tea extracts studied altered leukemic T lymphocyte functions, decreasing cell viability, growth, and production of a major cell growth factor and the H2O2 generated by solutions of extracts may be partially responsible. Normal cells were affected to a far lesser degree by tea extracts and are also more resistant to killing by H2O2 than leukemic cells. This study has implications for using tea extracts for chemotherapeutic and immunomodulatory purposes.Key Words: Tea extracts, interleukin-2, hydrogen peroxide, leukemia, T lymphocytes
Anti-Cancer Effect of Angelica Sinensis on Women’s Reproductive Cancer
Authors: Zhu Hong-Hong , Huang Guo-Hui , Tate Patricia L. , Larcom Lyndon L. 
Published: August 2018

Objective: Danggui, the root of Angelica Sinensis, has traditionally been used for the treatment of women’s reproductive disorders in China for thousands of years. This study was to determine whether Danggui have potential anti-cancer effect on women’s cancer and its potential mechanism. Methods: Danggui was extracted by ethanol. The Cell Titer 96® Aqueous Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay was used to compare the effects of Danggui on human breast (MCF-7 and 7368) and cervical (CaSki and SiHa) cancer cells with its effects on normal fibroblasts (HTB-125). A revised Ames test was used to test for antimutagenicity. The standard strains of Salmonella typhimarium (TA) 100 and 102 were used in the test. Methyl methane sulfonate (MMS) and UV light were used as positive mutagen controls and ethanol and double distilled water (DDW) as controls. The SAS statistical software was used to analyze the data. Results: Danggui was found to be much more toxic to all cancer cell lines tested than to normal fibroblasts. There was a significant negative dose-effect relationship between Danggui and cancer cell viability. Average viability of MCF-7 was 69.5%, 18.4%, 5.7%, 5.7%, and 5.0% of control for Danggui doses 0.07, 0.14, 0.21, 0.32, and 0.64 ug/ul, respectively, with a Ptrend < 0.0001. Half maximal inhibitory dose (ID50) of Danggui for cancer cell lines MCF-7, CaSki, SiHa and CRL-7368 was 0.10, 0.09, 0.10 and 0.07 ug/ul, respectively. For the normal fibroblasts, ID50 was 0.58 ug/ul. At a dose of 0.32 ug/ul, Danggui killed over 90% of the cells in each cancer cell line, but at the same dose, only 12.3 % of the normal HTB-125 cells were killed. Revertants per plate of TA 100 decreased with the introduction of increasing doses of Danggui extracts with a Ptrend < 0.0001 when UV light was used as a mutagen. There was no difference in revertants per plate between ethanol and DDW control groups. Conclusions: Danggui could be used as a safe and effective adjuvant therapy to prevent and treat breast and cervical cancers. Anti-cancer effects may be due to its anti-mutagenicity. Danggui should be investigated as a potential adjuvant anti-cancer therapy for women’s cancer treatment and prevention of recurrence. Key words: Angelica Sinensis, Danggui, cancer, women’s reproductive disorders
Dialysis Free Protocol for Some End Stage Renal Disease Patients (Khosroshahi Protocol)
Authors: Khosroshahi Hamid Tayebi , Kalantar-zadeh Kamyar 
Published: August 2018

Background: The number of patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is growing annually around the world. Provision of renal replacement therapy in the form of dialysis and transplant is relatively expensive. Recent studies have shown no survival benefit of early initiation of dialysis. Given recent outcome data of the timing of dialysis treatment and the expenses and logistics of hemodialysis procedure have stimulated research on alternative strategies. The aim of this study is to introduce another type of renal replacement therapy for selective patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods: In a case series we used a so-called “dialysis free protocol” consisting of a low protein diet, uremic toxin adsorbents, and prebiotics for selective ESRD patients who had dialysis access constraints or did not agree placement of hemodialysis vascular access or peritoneal dialysis catheter. Findings: clinical and biochemical results of this study showed that these patients were not deteriorating during the study period and Blood Urea Nitrogen (Bun) & serum creatinin levels were not elevated in these months. Participating patients were relatively well throughout the study without signs of florid uremia and without a need for emergent or urgent dialysis. Conclusion: We conclude that our proposed dialysis free protocol reduces the need for dialysis treatment at least transiently. Whether this protocol can reduce the need for dialysis treatment requires additional studies. Key words: End Stage Renal Disease, Low Protein Diet, Prebiotics, Activated Charcoal
Biomarkers in Mild Stages of Alzheimer’s disease: Utility in clinical practice and their relation with nutritional and lifestyle factors
Authors: Dillon Carol , Leguizamon Patricio Pérez , Heisecke Silvina , Castro Diego M. , Camelo Jorge Lopez , Lon Leandro , Serrano Cecilia M. , Guelar Veronica , Taragano Fernando E. 
Published: August 2018

Background: The use of biomarkers in basic and clinical research as well as in clinical practice has become so common that their presence as primary endpoints in clinical trials is now accepted. A biomarker refers to a broad subcategory of medical signs. The aims of this article are to consider the of use biomarkers in Mild stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in research and clinical settings, in addition to defining their utility in clinical practice relating this with nutritional and lifestyle factors as possible treatment. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, and AgeLine databases using different keywords.Conclusions: A summary of the utility of biomarkers in AD and nutritional and lifestyle factors used as treatment in mild stages are described.Key words: Biomarkers, Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, Utility, Clinical practice, Nutritional
Charnoly body as a novel biomarker of nutritional stress in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Sharma Sushil , Choga Joseph , Doghor Pearl , N-Kalala Fredy , Chauhan Ankur , Gupta Vineet , Wright Christopher , Foor Alison , Theberge Krystel Elliot , Mathur Shubhra , Renteria James 
Published: August 2018

Background: Charnoly body (CB) was discovered as universal biomarker of cell injury in the developing undernourished rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons and in the intrauterine Domoic acid and Kainic acid-exposed mice hippocampus and hypothalamic neurons. The incidence of CB increased with the severity of nutritional and environmental neurotoxic insult. Purpose: We proposed that stress (nutritional/environmental)-induced cortisol release augments, whereas metallothioneins (MTs), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF inhibit CB formation to prevent progressive neurodegeneration, early morbidity, and mortality in Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Results: CB is a pre-apoptotic biomarker of compromised mitochondrial bioenergetics and is formed in the most vulnerable cell in response to nutritional stress, intrauterine infection, environmental toxins, and/or drugs of abuse due to free radical overproduction and mitochondrial genome down-regulation. It appears as a pleomorphic, electron-dense multi-lamellar, quasi-crystalline stack of degenerated mitochondrial membranes in highly susceptible neurons and may be induced by microbial infection. CB formation was accompanied with stunted neuritogenesis in the aging mitochondrial genome knock out (RhOmgko) human dopaminergic (SK-N-SH, SHS-Y-5Y) neurons due to down-regulation of ubiquinone NADH oxidoreductase (complex-1). Transfection of RhOmgko neurons with ubiquinone NADH oxidoreductase (complex-1) gene and CoQ10, inhibited CB formation and augmented neuritogenesis, as confirmed in α-synuclein-metallothioneins triple knock out and weaver mutant mice. CB formation was attenuated in MTs-over-expressing weaver mutant mice.Findings: Accumulation of CB at the junction of axon hillock impairs axoplasmic transport of enzymes, neurotransmitters, hormones, neurotropic factors (NGF, BDNF), and mitochondria at the synaptic terminals to cause cognitive impairment, early morbidity, and mortality. Nonspecific induction of CB causes alopecia, myelosuppression, and GIT symptoms in multi-drug-resistant malignancies. Antioxidants and MTs inhibit CB formation as free radical scavengers by zinc-mediated transcriptional regulation of genes involved in growth, proliferation, differentiation, and development. Hence drugs may be developed to prevent CB formation and/or enhance charnolophagy as a basic molecular mechanism of intracellular detoxification to avert cognitive impairments in AD.Conclusion: Brain regional monoamine oxidase-specific CBs can be detected by 11C or 18F-labeled MAO-A or MAO-B inhibitors in vivo in addition to 18FdG-PET neuroimaging to quantitatively assess and improve the mitochondrial bioenergetics in AD. Key Words: Charnoly Body, Nutrition, Metallothioneins, Mitochondrial DNA, RhOmgko Neurons, Cortisol, IGF-1, BDNF, Alzheimer’s Disease
Decaffeinated coffee induces expression of tight junction proteins in rats with NAFLD.
Authors: Caporaso Nicola , G. Mazzone , V. Lembo , G. D’Argenio , P. Vitaglione , A. Rossi , M. Guarino , F. Morisco 
Published: August 2018

Background: Recent evidence indicate that gut microbiota plays a key role in the development of NAFLD through the gut-liver axis. An altered gut permeability induced by alterations of tight junction (TJ) proteins allows the passage of bacteria and substances leading to liver inflammation, hepatocyte damage and fibrosis. This study aims to evaluate the influence of decaffeinated coffee on gut permeability in a rat model of fat liver damage induced by a high fat diet (HFD). Methods: Twelve Male Wistar rats were assigned to 3 groups. The first group received HFD for 5 months and drank water; the second group received HFD for 5 months and drank water added with 1.2mL decaffeinated coffee/day starting from the 4th month; the third group received standard diet (SD) and drank water. Protein and mRNA expression levels of Toll-Like Receptor-4 (TLR-4), Occludin and Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) were assessed in rat intestines. Results: A significant reduction of Occludin and ZO-1 was observed in HFD fed rats (0.97±0.05 vs 0.15±0.08 p˂0.01, and 0.97±0.05 vs 0.57±0.14 p˂0.001, respectively); this reduction was reverted in HFD+COFFEE rats (0.15±0.08 vs 0.83±0.27 p˂0.01, and 0.57±0.14 vs 0.85±0.12 p˂0.01, respectively). The TLR-4 expression up-regulated by HFD was partially reduced by coffee administration. Conclusions: HFD impairs the intestinal tight junction barrier integrity. Coffee increases the expression of tight junctions proteins reverting the altered gut permeability, and reduces TLR4 expression. Key Words: NAFLD, coffee, Occludin, Zonulin-1, rat model, TLR4.
Fucoidan Inhibits Vascular Remodeling in Transplant Vasculopathy in Rat
Authors: Soin Joanna , Kurzejamska Ewa , Gaciong Zbigniew , Henrykowska Gabriela , Bojakowski Krzysztof 
Published: August 2018

Background: Fucoidan is a natural sulfated polysaccharide which exists mainly in the cell wall matrix of various species of brown seaweed. Various forms of fucoidan have also been recognized in some marine invertebrates such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers.Fucoidan inhibits the spread of cancerous cells by preventing the adhesion of tumor cells to the extracellular matrix in addition to inducing apoptosis, or programmed self-destruction, in human T-cells infected by T-cells leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1) which causes adult T-cell leukemia. The polysaccharide has also been shown to stimulate the phagocytic action of macrophages and synthesis of several immune cell types, which increases protection against infection. Fucoidan gives the immune system a big boost by enhancing phagocytosis. Additionally, it increases the number of mature white blood cells which are circulating in the body, thereby bolstering the first line of defense against infections and diseases.Moreover, fucoidan has anti-coagulant, anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-allergic, anti-tumor properties and also many others.Methods and Results: In this study, we investigated whether fucoidan is able to alleviate the vascular remodeling process triggered by immunological stimuli in rat allogenic aorta transplantation model, in addition to the evaluated potential mechanisms responsible for the observed effects. Our rat aorta transplantation model was subjected to intraperitoneal or oral treatment with fucoidan or placebo. The results of our study demonstrated that fucoidan inhibits endointimal hyperplasia formation and vascular modulation. In particular, intraperitoneal and oral administration of fucoidan reduced neointima formation in allografts retrieved 8 weeks after transplantation. Moreover, both treatments with fucoidan reduced the number of smooth muscle (SM) a-actin positive cells in intima and adventitia, decreased percentage of macrophages in intima and media, and increased the number of leukocytes in media of the allografts. Fucoidan treatments have also caused reduction in apoptosis in allograft intima and media.Conclusion: Through our study, we demonstrated the inhibitory effect of fucoidan on vascular remodeling in transplant vasculopathy within rats. Our study is the first report of the beneficial effects of fucoidan oral administration on this process, which may have important clinical implications and result in a better understanding of vascular remodeling. Keywords: fucoidan, transplant vasculopathy, vascular remodeling
Propylene Glycol in Free-Ranging Green Sea Turtle Plasma
Authors: Niemuth Jennifer N. , Harms Craig A. , Macdonald Jeffrey M. , Stoskopf Michael K. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Metabolomics is the study of metabolites, the small-molecular-weight end products of metabolism. Propylene glycol is a synthetic diol commonly used as antifreeze, as a humectant, and in the production of polyester compounds. In otherwise healthy animals, propylene glycol has generally been considered a contaminant, iatrogenic, or unexplained. We demonstrate the presence of propylene glycol in plasma of free-ranging apparently healthy green sea turtles Chelonia mydas and individuals impacted by cold stun syndrome, without iatrogenic administration or known sample processing contamination, using one- and two-dimensional proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques. There was not a statistically significant difference in relative propylene glycol concentration between the two cohorts (two-sided random sampling two-sample permutation test, P = 0.842, R = 1,000). The presence of this metabolite raises important questions about sea turtle physiology and potential latent environmental contamination and serves as a starting point for future characterization of lipid metabolism and glycolysis in green sea turtles.