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Many studies have been published in recent years regarding the fact that moderate wine consumption, as a part of a balanced diet can have a beneficial effect on human health. The biologically active components of wine continue to be the subject of intense research today. In this study, the bioactive molecules of Hungarian aszú from the Tokaj wine region were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and investigated in an in vitro model system of endothelial cells induced by bacterial-derived lipopolysaccharide. The HPLC measurements were performed on a reversed phased column with gradient elution. The non-cytotoxic concentration of the active substance was determined based on 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-, apoptosis, and necrosis assays. The antioxidant effect of the extract was determined by evaluating its ability to eliminate ROS. The expressions of the interleukin-(IL)1α, IL1-β, IL-6, and IL-8 pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) at the mRNA level were evaluated using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). We found that the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced increases in the expressions of the investigated cytokines were significantly suppressed by Hungarian aszú extract, excluding IL-6. In our experimental setup, our treatment had a positive effect on the eNOS expression, which was impaired as a result of the inflammatory manipulation. In our experimental model, the Hungarian aszú extract decreased the LPS-induced increases in the expression of the investigated cytokines and eNOS at the mRNA level, which presumably had a positive effect on the endothelial dysfunction caused by inflammation due to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Collectively, this research contributes to a more thorough understanding of the bioactive molecules of aszú from the Tokaj wine region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Rheopheresis is a selective extracorporal double cascade filtration treatment, which can extract high molecular weight proteins being responsible for hyperviscosity. As the whole blood and plasma viscosity decrease microcirculation improves. OBJECTIVE: In this preliminary study we aimed to analyze additional beneficial effects of rheopheresis treatment with changes of pro-inflammantory cytokine levels in diabetic foot syndrome patients. METHODS: Two rheopheresis treatments were performed for 6 patients with diabetic foot ulcer and/or neuropathy on consecutive days. Before and after the treatments whole blood and plasma viscosity, as well as IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha serum levels were determined, and complex angiological and ENG examinations were performed. RESULTS: Rheopheresis decreased the whole blood and plasma viscosity, and the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha were markedly reduced. The life quality of the patients improved, the ulcers healed, the pain decreased. Daily dose of analgesics decreased in the follow-up period (6 months). The ENG showed improving amplitude and/or normalizing conduction speed. CONCLUSION: Application of rheopheresis in patients with diabetic foot syndrome has a beneficial effect, providing favorable rheological condition, normalizing cytokine profile and reducing the sensorineural symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus-related morbidity and mortality is a rapidly growing healthcare problem, globally. Several nutraceuticals exhibit potency to target the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. The antidiabetic effects of compounds of garlic have been extensively studied, however, limited data are available on the biological effects of a certain garlic component, allithiamine. In this study, allithiamine was tested using human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as a hyperglycaemic model. HUVECs were isolated by enzymatic digestion and characterized by flow cytometric analysis using antibodies against specific marker proteins including CD31, CD45, CD54, and CD106. The non-cytotoxic concentration of allithiamine was determined based on MTT, apoptosis, and necrosis assays. Subsequently, cells were divided into three groups: incubating with M199 medium as the control; or with 30 mMol/L glucose; or with 30 mMol/L glucose plus allithiamine. The effect of allithiamine on the levels of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), activation of NF-κB, release of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, and H2O2-induced oxidative stress was investigated. We found that in the hyperglycaemia-induced increase in the level of AGEs, pro-inflammatory changes were significantly suppressed by allithiamine. However, allithiamine could not enhance the activity of transketolase, but it exerts a potent antioxidant effect. Collectively, our data suggest that allithiamine could alleviate the hyperglycaemia-induced endothelial dysfunction due to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect by a mechanism unrelated to the transketolase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In recent years, substitution or reduction of antibiotic application has become a general aim in poultry industry, after concerns about multiresistant bacteria appeared. Accordingly, many natural compounds are used as potential immunostimulants to enhance immune responses. In this research, the effects of carotenoids, oligosaccharides and anthocyanins were investigated on chicken inflammatory cytokines and receptors. Being part of the innate immune system, cytokines are peptides which take part in signaling processes between cells and regulate inflammatory responses. Toll-like receptors are cell surface receptors which bind to antigens specifically. Gene expression levels of some cytokines such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interferon-α, interferon-γ and toll-like receptors such as toll-like receptor 4, toll-like receptor 5 were evaluated in chicken spleen and ileum by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Real Time PCR) analyses. Relative gene expression level of splenic interleukin-1β decreased in carotenoid-, oligosaccharide- and anthocyanin treated chickens, and relative mRNA level of splenic interleukin-6 was lower in birds fed carotenoid supplement, which could represent a beneficial effect of mentioned natural compounds. Effects of compounds were also examined on gut morphology, where natural agents may result in better absorptive functions. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of carotenoid, oligosaccharide and anthocyanin supplementation in broiler diets under Escherichiacoli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Ross 308 chickens were fed 5 diets: basal diet (control diet), diet supplemented with β-glucan in 0.05% (positive control) and diets with 0.5% carotenoid-, oligosaccharide- or anthocyanin contents. On the 26th days of age, chickens were challenged intraperitoneally 2 mg LPS per kg of body weight. 12 h after injection, birds were euthanized, then spleen and ileum samples were collected. LPS induced increased relative mRNA expression of splenic (p = 0.0445) and ileal (p = 0.0435) interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which was lower in the spleen in carotenoid (p = 0.0114), oligosaccharide (p = 0.0497) and anthocyanin (p = 0.0303)-treated chickens compared to LPS-injected control birds. Dietary supplementation of carotenoids also decreased relative gene expression of splenic interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p = 0.0325). In the ileum, β-glucan supplementation showed lower relative mRNA expression of toll-like receptor 5 (TLR-5) (p = 0.0387) compared to anthocyanin treatment. Gene expression of both splenic and ileal interferon-α (IFN-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and toll-like receptor 5 (TLR-5) were not influenced by dietary supplements. In conclusion, carotenoids, oligosaccharides and anthocyanins could partially mitigate the immune stress caused by LPS challenge. All of the compounds impacted longer villus height (p < 0.0001), villus height:crypt depth ratios were higher after β-glucan (p < 0.0001) and anthocyanin (p = 0.0063) supplementations and thickened mucosa was observed in β-glucan (p < 0.0001), oligosaccharide (p < 0.0001) and anthocyanin (p = 0.048) treatments. All of these findings could represent a more effective absorption of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anthocyanin content of Hungarian sour cherry is remarkable based on our preliminary investigations. Nutraceutical and pharmaceutical effects of anthocyanins have been extensively studied. The objective of this work was to investigate the the effect of purified sour cherry extract using human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as the inflammatory model. HUVECs were isolated by enzymatic digestion and characterized by flow cytometry. The optimal concentration range of sour cherry extract was selected based on MTT, apoptosis, and necrosis assays. Cells were divided into three groups, incubating with M199 medium as control, or with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or with LPS plus anthocyanin extract (ACE). The effect of sour cherry extract on oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory factors, and arachidonic pathway was investigated. An amount of 50 μg/mL ACE (ACE50) was able to increase the level of glutathione and decrease the ROS, thereby improving the unbalanced redox status in inflammation. ACE50 lowered pro-inflammatory cytokine levels including Interleukin-6 (IL-6), regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). ACE50 affected the arachidonic acid pathway by reducing the LPS-induced enzyme expression (cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and prostacyclin synthase). The extract under investigation seems to have a pleiotropic effect including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, and vasoactive effects. Our results indicate that purified sour cherry extract could reduce the LPS-induced inflammatory response, thereby improving endothelial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]