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The aim of this study was to assess the effects of graded levels (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 g/kg) of dry Sea buckthorn (SB) berries on growth performance, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, jejunal histomorphology, bird antioxidant status and caecal short‐chain fatty acid concentration when fed to female Ross 308 broiler chickens. In addition, expression of cytokine biomarker genes in the jejunum was evaluated. The five experimental diets were fed from 7 to 21 days age to 8 pens (two birds in each) following randomisation. Feeding SB did not influence bird growth performance (p >.05). There was a linear decrease in butyric, acetic and valeric acid concentrations in caecal digesta (p <.05) and a decrease (p <.05) in crypt depth. The expression of IFNG and CD40LG responded quadratically (p <.05), peaking at 6–9 g/kg dietary inclusion of SB, respectively. Other studied variables were not affected by dietary SB inclusion (p >.05). Feeding dry SB berries up to 12 g/kg of diet did not improve the zootechnical variables of healthy commercial‐strain broilers in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on a significant positive correlation between consumption of carotenoid‐rich food and prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD) led to the investigation of carotenoids for the treatment and prevention of AD. More than 1100 types of carotenoids are found naturally, out of which only around 50 are absorbed and metabolized in human body. Lycopene is one of the most commonly ingested members of fat‐soluble carotenoid family that gives vegetables and fruits their red, yellow, or orange color. Lycopene has established itself as a promising therapy for AD owing to its neuroprotective activities, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antiamyloidogenic properties. In this review, we highlight the various in vitro and preclinical studies demonstrating the neuroprotective effect of lycopene. Also, some epidemiological and interventional studies investigating the protective effect of lycopene in AD have been discussed. Diving deeper, we also discuss various significant mechanisms, through which lycopene exerts its remissive effects in AD. Finally, to overcome the issue of poor chemical stability and bioavailability of lycopene, some of the novel delivery systems developed for lycopene have also been briefly highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present cross‐sectional clinical study aimed to examine the connection between statin exposure, coronary artery calcification (CAC), and vitamin K‐dependent proteins (VKDPs) in patients with cardiovascular (CV) conditions. Two groups of patients were studied: patients with established CV disease (CVD) and healthy patients at moderate risk for CVD (a control group). The groups were also split into statin users and non‐users. The following VKDPs were measured in plasma: uncarboxylated Matrix Gla‐protein (ucMGP), undercarboxylated (ucOC), and carboxylated osteocalcin (cOC), Gla‐rich protein (GRP). CAC score (CACS) was determined by multislice computed tomography. Among all the participants in the study, CACS was more pronounced in statin users compared to non‐users; the same was found also among the CVD patients and among the controls. While the levels of ucMGP and GRP did not differ between statin users and non‐users, ucOC and ucOC/cOC were significantly elevated in statin users, indicating vitamin K deficiency. There was a positive correlation between the levels of ucOC and CACS in the entire population and in the group of statin users, but not in statin non‐users. No association was found between ucMGP or GRP and CACS. Statins had also an impact on the international normalized ratio and interacted with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Our results are in agreement with the existing evidence about positive association between statins and vascular calcification. They enlighten to a certain extent the possible mechanisms through which statins may enhance calcium accumulation in arterial wall, namely, by inhibition of vitamin K dependent proteins and functions involved in vascular protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balanophora involucrata J. D. Hooker has been known to possess potential anti‐inflammatory and antibacterial activities; however, its antiviral activity has not been evaluated so far. In order to find new neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), the neuraminidase (NA) inhibition activity of different B. involucrata extracts was evaluated. In this study, an in vitro NA inhibition assay was performed to identify which extract of B. involucrata exhibits (maximal) inhibitory activity against NA. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight–tandem mass spectroscopy (MS/MS) and molecular docking techniques were used to identify the specific compounds responsible for the anti‐influenza activity of the extract, and to explore the potential natural NAIs. The ethyl acetate extract of B. involucrata exhibited significant inhibitory activity against NA with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 159.5 μg/mL. Twenty compounds were identified according to the MS/MS spectra; among them two compounds (quercitrin and phloridzin) showed obvious inhibitory activity against NA, with IC50 of 311.76 and 347.32 μmol/L, respectively. This study suggested that B. involucrata can be a potential natural source of NAIs and may be useful in the fight against ferocious influenza viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovery and development of new potentially selective anticancer agents are necessary to prevent a global cancer health crisis. Currently, alternative medicinal agents derived from plants have been extensively investigated to develop anticancer drugs with fewer adverse effects. Among them, steroidal alkaloids are conventional secondary metabolites that comprise an important class of natural products found in plants, marine organisms and invertebrates, and constitute a judicious choice as potential anti‐cancer leads. Traditional medicine and modern science have shown that representatives from this compound group possess potential antimicrobial, analgesic, anticancer and anti‐inflammatory effects. Therefore, systematic and recapitulated information about the bioactivity of these compounds, with special emphasis on the molecular or cellular mechanisms, is of high interest. In this review, we methodically discuss the in vitro and in vivo potential of the anticancer activity of natural steroidal alkaloids and their synthetic and semi‐synthetic derivatives. This review focuses on cumulative and comprehensive molecular mechanisms, which will help researchers understand the molecular pathways involving steroid alkaloids to generate a selective and safe new lead compound with improved therapeutic applications for cancer prevention and therapy. In vitro and in vivo studies provide evidence about the promising therapeutic potential of steroidal alkaloids in various cancer cell lines, but advanced pharmacokinetic and clinical experiments are required to develop more selective and safe drugs for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[cited 2022 Aug 13]. https://www.rferl.org/a/lgbt-rights-eastern-europe-backsliding/31622890.html 11 Anderson M, Forman R, Mossialos E. Navigating the role of the EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) in Europe and beyond. Keywords: armed conflict; Europe; Monkeypox; public health emergency EN armed conflict Europe Monkeypox public health emergency 1 2 2 01/10/23 20230101 NES 230101 The 2022 monkeypox outbreak (MPX) had spread to Eastern Europe by July 2022. [Extracted from the article]

Concanavalin A (ConA)‐induced hepatitis is an experimental model of human autoimmune hepatitis induced in rodents by i.v. injection of Con A. The disease is characterized by increase in serum levels of transaminases and massive immune infiltration of the livers. Type 1, type 2, and type 17 cytokines play a pathogenic role in the development of ConA‐induced hepatitis. To understand further the immunoregulatory mechanisms operating in the development and regulation of ConA‐induced hepatitis, we have evaluated the role of the anti‐inflammatory pathway Nrf2/HO‐1/CO (Nuclear Factor E2‐related Factor 2/Heme Oxygenase‐1/Carbon Monoxide) in this condition and determined whether the in vivo administration of CO via the CO‐releasing molecule (CORM) CORM‐A1, influences serological and histological development of Con‐A‐induced hepatitis. We have firstly evaluated in silico the genes belonging to the Nrf2/HO‐1/CO pathway that are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The data obtained from the in silico study demonstrate that a significant number of genes modulated in the liver of ConA‐challenged mice belong to the Nrf2 pathway; on the other hand, the administration of CORM‐A1 determines an improvement in several sero‐immunological and histological parameters, and it is able to modulate genes identified by the in silico analysis. Collectively, our data indicate that the Nrf2/HO‐1/CO pathway is fundamental for the regulation of the immune responses, and that therapeutic intervention aimed at its modulation by CORM‐A1 may represent a valuable strategy to be considered for the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucocorticoids are anti-inflammatory steroids with important applications in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Endogenous glucocorticoids are mainly produced by the adrenal glands, although there is increasing evidence for extra-adrenal sources. Recent findings show that intestinal crypt cells produce glucocorticoids, which contribute to the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis. Intestinal glucocorticoid synthesis is critically regulated by the transcription factor liver receptor homologue-1 (LRH-1). As expression of steroidogenic enzymes and LRH-1 is restricted to the proliferating cells of the crypts, we aimed to investigate the role of the cell cycle in the regulation of LRH-1 activity and intestinal glucocorticoid synthesis. We here show that either pharmacological or molecular modulation of cell cycle progression significantly inhibited expression of steroidogenic enzymes and synthesis of glucocorticoids in intestinal epithelial cells. Synchronization of intestinal epithelial cells in the cell cycle revealed that expression of steroidogenic enzymes is preferentially induced at the GJS stage. Differentiation of immature intestinal epithelial cells to mature nonproliferating cells also resulted in reduced expression of steroidogenic enzymes. This cell cycle-related effect on intestinal steroidogenesis was found to be mediated through the regulation of LRH-1 transcriptional activity. This mechanism may restrict intestinal glucocorticoid synthesis to the proliferating cells of the crypts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent epidemiological studies demonstrated a beneficial effect of coffee consumption for the prevention of type 2 diabetes, however, the underlying mechanisms remained unknown. We demonstrate that coffee extract, corresponding to an Italian Espresso, inhibits recombinant and endogenous 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) activity. The inhibitory component is heat-stable with considerable polarity. Coffee extract blocked 11β-HSD1-dependent cortisol formation, prevented the subsequent nuclear translocation of the glucocorticoid receptor and abolished glucocorticoid-induced expression of the key gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. We suggest that at least part of the anti-diabetic effects of coffee consumption is due to inhibition of 11β-HSD1-dependent glucocorticoid reactivation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The impact of hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH) on 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) type 1 activity was investigated upon coexpression in HEK-293 cells. Confocal microscopy analysis indicated colocalisation of both enzymes at the lumenal side of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Functional analysis in intact cells revealed fivefold stimulation of 11β-HSD1 oxoreductase activity and sixfold decrease of dehydrogenase activity upon coexpression with H6PDH, without changing kinetic parameters in cell lysates. Thus, H6PDH directly determines the reaction direction of 11β-HSD1 in intact cells as an oxoreductase without changing intrinsic catalytic properties of 11β-HSD1 by regenerating NADPH in the ER-lumen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]