PMID: 

Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2019 Aug 2. Epub 2019 Aug 2. PMID: 31373710

Abstract Title: 

Review article: can bugs be drugs? The potential of probiotics and prebiotics as treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver condition. A major current research effort is ongoing to find potential strategies to treat NAFLD-non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), with special attention to the gut microbiota. Multiple animal studies and pilot clinical trials are assessing different gut microbiota modulating strategies such as faecal microbiota transplantation, antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics.AIM: To review the role of microbiota in NAFLD-NASH and determine whether pro- and prebiotics have potential as treatment METHODS: Information was obtained from critically reviewing literature on PubMed on targeting the gut microbiota in NAFLD. Search terms included NAFLD, NASH, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, steatohepatitis; combined with microbiome, microbiota, gut bacteria, probiotics and prebiotics.RESULTS: Animal studies and the first emerging studies in humans show promising results for both the common probiotics Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococci as for short chain fatty acid (SCFA) butyrate-producing bacteria. Also, prebiotics have positive effects on different mechanisms underlying NAFLD-NASH.CONCLUSIONS: The most promising strategies thus far developed to alter the microbiome in NAFLD-NASH are probiotics and prebiotics. However, pre- and probiotic treatment of NAFLD-NASH is relatively new and still under development. Actual understanding of the involved mechanisms is lacking and changes in the intestinal microbiota composition after treatment are rarely measured. Furthermore, large clinical trials with comparative endpoints are unavailable. Personalised treatment based on metagenomics gut microbiota analysis will probably be part of the future diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD-NASH.

read more

PMID: 

Nutr Neurosci. 2019 Aug 4:1-10. Epub 2019 Aug 4. PMID: 31379269

Abstract Title: 

Effect of synbiotic and probiotic supplementation on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level, depression and anxiety symptoms in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of probiotic and synbiotic supplementation on the depression and anxiety symptoms and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level.METHODS: Seventy-five HD patients were randomly assigned to receive the synbiotic (15 g of prebiotics, 5 g of probiotic containingT16,BIA-6,BIA-7, andBIA-8 (2.7 × 10 CFU/g each)) or probiotics (5 g probiotics as in synbiotic group with 15 g of maltodextrin as placebo) or placebo (20 g of maltodextrin) for 12 weeks. Serum BDNF was measured by ELISA kit. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess symptoms of depression (HADS-DEP) andanxiety (HADS-ANX).RESULTS: From baseline to 12 weeks, synbiotic supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in HADS-DEP score in a subgroup of patients with depressive symptom (HADS-DEP ≥ 8) compared to the placebo and probiotic supplementation ( = .001, = .002, respectively) and in all patients compared to the placebo ( = .004). There was no significant difference among the groups in terms of HADS-ANX scores. However, the HADS-ANX scores decreased significantly in the synbiotic group compared to the baseline in all patients ( = .047) and also patients with depressive symptom ( = .03). In addition, in a subgroup of HD patients with depressive symptom, the serum BDNF increased significantly in the synbiotic group when compared to the placebo ( 

read more

PMID: 

Ter Arkh. 2018 Apr 19 ;90(3):89-95. PMID: 30701862

Abstract Title: 

Effect of N-acetylcysteine on mucosal immunity of respiratory tract.

Abstract: 

The outcome of diseases accompanied or caused by mucostasis depends both on the restoration of drainage function of the airways and on the effectiveness of immune mechanisms against pathogens. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is widely used as mucolytic and antioxidant remedy in clinical practice. In this regard, the data of the scientific literature on the direct and indirect effects of NAC on the mucosal immunity of the respiratory tract have been reviewed. NAC possesses pleiotropic immunomodulating properties, most of which contribute to the regression of clinical manifestations of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. Biological and pharmacological effects of NAC include improvement in rheological properties of mucus, reduction of excess mucin production, restoration of mucociliary clearance and production of sIgA, suppression of excess production of IgE and IgG4, destruction of biofilms and inhibition of their formation, suppression of adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to epithelial cells, antioxidant activity, regulation of the production of pro-inflammatory and profibrotic cytokines. There was no convincing evidence that NAC is able to suppress any component of mucosal immunity. For final conclusions on this subject, further research are required.

read more

While billions of dollars are poured into research and development for pharmaceutical drugs, the humble lime has been proven to mitigate and even cure diseases that cause millions to suffer and hundreds of thousands to die each year worldwide.

The lime is best know for its role in key lime pie and margaritas, but did you know it possesses remarkable healing properties as well?

An impressive array of research on lime juice from the National Library of Medicine indicates that it could either cure or greatly accelerate healing time from a variety of life-threatening illnesses including:

read more

PMID: 

Int J Med Sci. 2014 ;11(5):426-35. Epub 2014 Mar 9. PMID: 24688304

Abstract Title: 

Neural cell apoptosis induced by microwave exposure through mitochondria-dependent caspase-3 pathway.

Abstract: 

To determine whether microwave (MW) radiation induces neural cell apoptosis, differentiated PC12 cells and Wistar rats were exposed to 2.856 GHz for 5 min and 15 min, respectively, at an average power density of 30 mW/cm². JC-1 and TUNEL staining detected significant apoptotic events, such as the loss of mitochondria membrane potential and DNA fragmentation, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy and Hoechst staining were used to observe chromatin ultrastructure and apoptotic body formation. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining was used to quantify the level of apoptosis. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-3 and PARP were examined by immunoblotting or immunocytochemistry. Caspase-3 activity was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed chromatin condensation and apoptotic body formation in neural cells 6h after microwave exposure. Moreover, the mitochondria membrane potential decreased, DNA fragmentation increased, leading to an increase in the apoptotic cell percentage. Furthermore, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, expression of cytochrome c,cleaved caspase-3 and PARP all increased. In conclusion, microwave radiation induced neural cell apoptosis via the classical mitochondria-dependent caspase-3 pathway. This study may provide the experimental basis for further investigation of the mechanism of the neurological effects induced by microwave radiation.

read more

PMID: 

PLoS One. 2015 ;10(2):e0117550. Epub 2015 Feb 6. PMID: 25658708

Abstract Title: 

Effects of pulsed 2.856 GHz microwave exposure on BM-MSCs isolated from C57BL/6 mice.

Abstract: 

The increasing use of microwave devices over recent years has meant the bioeffects of microwave exposure have been widely investigated and reported. However the exact biological fate of bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) after microwave radiation remains unknown. In this study, the potential cytotoxicity on MSC proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and in vitro differentiation were assayed following 2.856 GHz microwave exposure at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4 W/kg. Importantly, our findings indicated no significant changes in cell viability, cell division and apoptosis after microwave treatment. Furthermore, we detected no significant effects on the differentiation ability of these cells in vitro, with the exception of reduction in mRNA expression levels of osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN). These findings suggest that microwave treatment at a SAR of 4 W/kg has undefined adverse effects on BM-MSCs. However, the reduced-expression of proteins related to osteogenic differentiation suggests that microwave can the influence at the mRNA expression genetic level.

read more

PMID: 

Physiol Behav. 2015 Mar 1 ;140:236-46. Epub 2014 Dec 24. PMID: 25542888

Abstract Title: 

Alterations of cognitive function and 5-HT system in rats after long term microwave exposure.

Abstract: 

The increased use of microwaves raises concerns about its impact on health including cognitive function in which neurotransmitter system plays an important role. In this study, we focused on the serotonin system and evaluated the long term effects of chronic microwave radiation on cognition and correlated items. Wistar rats were exposed or sham exposed to 2.856GHz microwaves with the average power density of 5, 10, 20 or 30mW/cm(2) respectively for 6min three times a week up to 6weeks. At different time points after the last exposure, spatial learning and memory function, morphology structure of the hippocampus, electroencephalogram (EEG) and neurotransmitter content (amino acid and monoamine) of rats were tested. Above results raised our interest in serotonin system. Tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) and monoamine oxidase (MAO), two important rate-limiting enzymes in serotonin synthesis and metabolic process respectively, were detected. Expressions of serotonin receptors including 5-HT1A, 2A, 2C receptors were measured. We demonstrated that chronic exposure to microwave (2.856GHz, with the average power density of 5, 10, 20 and 30mW/cm(2)) could induce dose-dependent deficit of spatial learning and memory in rats accompanied with inhibition of brain electrical activity, the degeneration of hippocampus neurons, and the disturbance of neurotransmitters, among which the increase of 5-HT occurred as the main long-term change that the decrease of its metabolism partly contributed to. Besides, the variations of 5-HT1AR and 5-HT2CR expressions were also indicated. The results suggested that in the long-term way, chronic microwave exposure could induce cognitive deficit and 5-HT system may be involved in it.

read more

PMID: 

Pathobiology. 2015 ;82(5):181-94. Epub 2015 Aug 25. PMID: 26337368

Abstract Title: 

Microwave-Induced Structural and Functional Injury of Hippocampal and PC12 Cells Is Accompanied by Abnormal Changes in the NMDAR-PSD95-CaMKII Pathway.

Abstract: 

Recent studies have highlighted the important role of the postsynaptic NMDAR-PSD95-CaMKII pathway for synaptic transmission and related neuronal injury. Here, we tested changes in the components of this pathway upon microwave-induced neuronal structure and function impairments. Ultrastructural and functional changes were induced in hippocampal neurons of rats and in PC12 cells exposed to microwave radiation. We detected abnormal protein and mRNA expression, as well as posttranslational modifications in the NMDAR-PSD95-CaMKII pathway and its associated components, such as synapsin I, following microwave radiation exposure of rats and PC12 cells. Thus, microwave radiation may induce neuronal injury via changes in the molecular organization of postsynaptic density and modulation of the biochemical cascade that potentiates synaptic transmission.

read more

PMID: 

Biol Reprod. 2019 Aug 2. Epub 2019 Aug 2. PMID: 31373359

Abstract Title: 

Ascorbic acid and CoQ10 ameliorate the reproductive ability of SOD1-deficient female mice.

Abstract: 

Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) suppresses oxidative stress within cells by decreasing the levels of superoxide anions. A dysfunction of the ovary and/or an aberrant production of sex hormones are suspected causes for infertility in SOD1-knockout (KO) mice. We report on attempts to rescue the infertility in female KO mice by providing two antioxidants, ascorbic acid (AsA) and/or coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), as supplements in the drinking water of the KO mice after weaning and on an investigation of their reproductive ability. On the first parturition, 80% of the untreated KO mice produced smaller litter sizes compared to wild-type mice (average 2.8 vs 7.3 pups/mouse), and supplementing with these antioxidants failed to improve these litter sizes. However, in the second parturition of the KO mice, the parturition rate was increased from 18% to 44-75% as the result of the administration of antioxidants. While plasma levels of progesterone at 7.5 days of pregnancy were essentially the same between the WT and KO mice and were not changed by supplementation of these antioxidants, sizes of corpus luteum cells, which were smaller in the KO mouse ovaries after the first parturition, were significantly ameliorated in the KO mouse with the administration of the antioxidants. Moreover, the impaired vasculogenesis in uterus/placenta was also improved by AsA supplementation. We thus conclude that AsA and/or CoQ10 are involved in maintaining ovarian and uterus/placenta homeostasis against insults that are augmented during pregnancy and that their use might have positive effects in terms of improving female fertility.

read more

PMID: 

J Mol Neurosci. 2014 Jun ;53(2):222-30. Epub 2014 Apr 22. PMID: 24748327

Abstract Title: 

MicroRNAs: Novel Mechanism Involved in the Pathogenesis of Microwave Exposure on Rats' Hippocampus.

Abstract: 

Microwave-induced adverse health outcomes have been gaining much attention in recent years. The hippocampus is sensitive and vulnerable to microwave exposure. Studies from our group and others showed that microwave-induced structural and functional injury of hippocampus, accompanied with alteration of gene and protein expression. It has been demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) were involved in the physiological and pathological processes of brain. In this study, the miRNAs expression profiles of microwave-exposed hippocampus were detected by microarray analysis and verified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). At 7 days after 30 mW/cm(2) microwave exposure, the expression of 12 miRNAs increased, while other 70 miRNAs decreased in rats' hippocampus. However, most of miRNAs restored to normal levels at 14 days after exposure, only two upregulated miRNAs and 14 downregulated miRNAs were detected. Gene transcription, neuroprotection and receptors function related target genes were predicated by miRDB, miRbase and miRanda. Moreover, these differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in brain-related signaling pathways, such as synaptic vesicle cycle, long-term depression, calcium signaling and neurotrophin signaling pathways. In conclusion, we successfully characterized the miRNA profiles in microwave-exposed hippocampus, and that will be helpful to clarify the molecular mechanism and provide potential therapeutic targets.

read more