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Background: Rabbits are sensitive to dietary cholesterol and rapidly develop hypercholesterolemia, leading to prominent subfertility. Sterol regulatory element‐binding protein isoform 2 drives the intracellular cholesterol pathway in many tissues, including the testicles. Its abnormal regulation could be the mainly responsible for the failure of suppressing cholesterol synthesis in a cholesterol‐enriched environment, ultimately leading to testicular and seminal alterations. However, extra‐virgin olive oil consumption has beneficial properties that promote lowering of cholesterol levels, including the recovery of seminal parameters altered under a high‐fat diet. Objectives: Our goal was to investigate the effects of high‐fat diet supplementation with extra‐virgin olive oil at the molecular level on rabbit testes, by analyzing sterol regulatory element‐binding protein isoform 2 protein and its corresponding downstream effectors. Materials and methods: During 12 months, male rabbits were fed a control diet, high‐fat diet, or 6‐month high‐fat diet followed by 6‐month high‐fat diet plus extra‐virgin olive oil. Serum lipids, testosterone levels, bodyweight, and seminal parameters were tested. The mRNA and protein levels of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein isoform 2, 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐glutaryl‐coenzyme A reductase, and low‐density lipoprotein receptor were determined by semi‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting techniques. The expression pattern of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein isoform 2 protein in the rabbit testicles was studied by indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, testicular cholesterol was detected and quantified by filipin staining and gas chromatography. Results: The data showed that the addition of extra‐virgin olive oil to high‐fat diet reduced testicular cholesterol levels and recovered the expression of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein isoform 2, 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐glutaryl‐coenzyme A reductase, and low‐density lipoprotein receptor initially altered by the high‐fat diet. Discussion and conclusions: The combination of high‐fat diet with extra‐virgin olive oil encourages testicular recovery by modifying the expression of the enzymes related to intracellular cholesterol management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages lead to exacerbated inflammation and oxidative stress. Patients with CKD in stage 5 need renal hemodialysis (HD) to remove toxins and waste products. However, this renal replacement therapy is inefficient in controlling inflammation. Regular curcumin consumption has been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in subjects with chronic pathologies, suggesting that the daily intake of curcumin may alleviate these conditions in HD patients. This review analyzes the available scientific evidence regarding the effect of curcumin intake on oxidative stress and inflammation in HD patients, focusing on the mechanisms and consequences of HD and curcumin consumption. The inclusion of curcumin as a dietary therapeutic supplement in HD patients has shown to control the inflammation status. However, the optimal dose and oral vehicle for curcumin administration are yet to be determined. It is important to consider studies on curcumin bioaccessibility to design effective oral administration vehicles. This information will contribute to the achievement of future nutritional interventions that validate the efficacy of curcumin supplementation as part of diet therapy in HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fat increment (0.05% cholesterol, chol) in standard diet promoted a significant increase in serum and sperm membrane chol, which ultimately altered membrane-coupled sperm specific functions: osmotic resistance, acrosomal reaction, and sperm capacitation in White New Zealand rabbits. These changes were also associated with a reduction in motility percentage and appearance of abnormal sperm morphology. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary olive oil (OO, 7% v/w) administration to several male hypercholesterolemic rabbits (hypercholesterolemic rabbits, HCR) with altered fertility parameters. These HCR males were achieved by feeding normal rabbits with a high-fat diet (0.05% chol). HCR were associated with a modest non-significant increase in body weight (standard diet, 4.08±0.17 Kg, versus high-fat diet, 4.37±0.24 Kg). Hypercholesterolemic rabbits presented a marked decrease in semen volume, sperm cell count, and percentage of sperm motility, associated with a significant increase in sperm cell abnormalities. Moreover, sperm capacitation measured by the characteristic phosphorylated protein pattern in and induced acrosomal reaction were also altered suggesting sperm dysfunction. However, the administration of OO (for 16 weeks) to rabbits that were fed with 50% of the high-fat diet normalized serum chol. Curiously, OO supply succeeded to attenuate the seminal and sperm alterations observed in HCR group. Administration of OO alone did not cause any significant changes in above mentioned parameters. These data suggest that OO administration to HCR male rabbits recovers the loss of semen quality and sperm functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer is an aggressive and multifactorial disease. Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) is identified as a significant etiological factor in gastric cancer. Although only a fraction of patients infected with H. pylori progresses to gastric cancer, bacterial infection is critical in the pathology and development of this malignancy. The pathogenic mechanisms of this bacterium involve the disruption of the gastric epithelial barrier and the induction of chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis and metastasis. Adherence molecules, virulence (CagA and VacA) and colonization (urease) factors are important in its pathogenicity. On the other hand, resveratrol is a natural polyphenol with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Resveratrol also inhibits cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis, suggesting a role as a potential therapeutic agent against cancer. This review explores resveratrol as an alternative cancer treatment, particularly against H. pylori -induced gastric cancer, due to its ability to mitigate the pathogenic effects induced by bacterial infection. Resveratrol has shown efficacy in reducing the proliferation of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the synergistic effects of resveratrol with chemotherapy and radiotherapy underline its therapeutic potential. However, further research is needed to fully describe its efficacy and safety in treating gastric cancer., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.