If government wants to minimize total fatalities from this crisis it must do better modeling

PMID: 

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Jun 25 ;19(1):149. Epub 2019 Jun 25. PMID: 31238921

Abstract Title: 

In vitro anti-nephrotoxic potential of Ammi visnaga, Petroselinum crispum, Hordeum vulgare, and Cymbopogon schoenanthus seed or leaf extracts by suppressing the necrotic mediators, oxidative stress and inflammation.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: The kidney is an essential organ required by the body to perform several important functions. Nephrotoxicity is one of the most prevailing kidney complications that result from exposure to an extrinsic or intrinsic toxicant, which increase the need for the acquisition of proper remedies. Recently, natural remedies are gaining great attention owed to the fact that they have fewer side effects than most conventional drugs.METHODS: The current study recorded a new therapeutic role of the well-known medicinal plants for kidney stones [Ammi visnaga (AVE), Petroselinum crispum (PCE), Hordeum vulgare (HVE), and Cymbopogon schoenanthus (CSE)]. Hence, the aqueous extracts of these plants examined against CCl-induced toxicity in mammalian kidney (Vero) cells.RESULTS: These extracts showed the presence of varying amounts of phenolic and triterpenoid compounds, as well as vitamin C. Owing to the antioxidant potential of these constituents, the extracts suppressed the CCl-induced oxidative stress significantly (p

read more

PMID: 

Br J Cancer. 2020 Mar 16. Epub 2020 Mar 16. PMID: 32203209

Abstract Title: 

Decreased vitamin C uptake mediated by SLC2A3 promotes leukaemia progression and impedes TET2 restoration.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Vitamin C suppresses leukaemogenesis by modulating Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase (TET) activity. However, its beneficial effect in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to identify a potential predictive biomarker for vitamin C treatment in AML.METHODS: Gene expression patterns and their relevance to the survival of AML patients were analysed with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) database cases. In vitro experiments were performed on AML cell lines, a SLC2A3-knockdown cell line and patient-derived primary AML cells.RESULTS: SLC2A3 expression was significantly decreased in leukaemic blast cells. Below-median SLC2A3 expression was associated with poor overall survival. Low SLC2A3 expression was associated with less effective demethylation, and a diminished vitamin C effect in the AML and lymphoma cell lines. SLC2A3 knockdown in the KG-1 cell line decreased the response of vitamin C. In patient-derived primary AML cells, vitamin C only restored TET2 activity when SLC2A3 was expressed.CONCLUSION: SLC2A3 could be used as a potential biomarker to predict the effect of vitamin C treatment in AML.

read more

PMID: 

Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2012 May ;8(4):295-7. PMID: 22607173

Abstract Title: 

Parsley and immunomodulation.

Abstract: 

[n/a]

read more

PMID: 

J Clin Pathol. 2020 Mar 25. Epub 2020 Mar 25. PMID: 32213553

Abstract Title: 

Identification of-dependent biofilm production byclinical isolates and antibiofilm effects of ascorbic acid against biofilm production.

Abstract: 

AIMS: () is a life-threatening pathogen with high morbidity and mortality rates which causes nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Biofilm, considered to be a common virulence factor for pathogens, plays a significant role in recurrent and untreatable infections. Biofilm formation ofis mediated by synthesis of either poly-N-acetylglucosamine in an ica-dependent manner or surface proteins in an ica-independent manner. In some cases treatment is impossible and recurrent. In this study,-dependent biofilm-producingisolates were detected and the anti-biofilm effect of ascorbic acid against biofilm formation of isolates was investigated.METHODS: A total of 21 methicillin-sensitive(MSSA) clinical isolates stored in our bacterial stock were used to detect-dependent biofilm-producing MSSA isolates. The anti-biofilm study was undertaken with three-dependent biofilm-producing isolates (MSSA2-4) and ATCC 29213 (MSSA1). Biofilms and the anti-biofilm effect of ascorbic acid were detected using the microtitre plate (MtP) method. 16S-rRNA,A andD genes and expression levels ofA andD of isolates were detected by RT-PCR.RESULTS: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ascorbic acid prevented biofilm formation of MSSA1 and MSSA3. Also, 1/2 MIC of ascorbic acid prevented biofilm formation of MSSA3. It was observed that biofilm formation decreased with increased concentration. There was no significant increase ingene expression of MSSA1 and MSSA2. Expression ofA andD of MSSA3 decreased 13% and 38%, respectively. Expression ofA in MSSA4 decreased 12%.CONCLUSION: The results of our study show that ascorbic acid can be used as an anti-biofilm agent to prevent biofilm formation ofand thus biofilm-related infections.

read more

PMID: 

Life Sci. 2020 Mar 14 ;250:117554. Epub 2020 Mar 14. PMID: 32184123

Abstract Title: 

Ascorbic acid inhibits vascular remodeling induced by mental stress in overweight/obese men.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Mental stress (MS) is related to endothelial dysfunction in overweight/obese men. It is believed that the pro-oxidant profile, associated with an imbalance in the vascular remodeling process, may contribute to deleterious effects of MS on endothelial function. However, it is unknown whether administration of ascorbic acid (AA), a potent antioxidant, can prevent oxidative and remodeling dysfunction during MS in these subjects.METHODS: Fourteen overweight/obese grade I men (27 ± 7 years; 29.7 ± 2.6 kg·m) underwent the Stroop Color Word Test for 5 min to induce MS after AA (3 g) or placebo (PL, 0.9% NaCl) intravenous infusions. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline and the last minute of MS to measure nitrite concentration (chemiluminescence), protein carbonylation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and catalase activity (colorimetric assays), superoxide dismutase (SOD; immunoenzymatic assay), activities of active/inactive (pro) forms of metalloproteinases-9 and -2 (MMP; zymography) and its respective tissue inhibitors concentration (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2; immunoenzymatic assays).RESULTS: At baseline, MMP-9 activity (p 

read more

PMID: 

J Neurochem. 2020 Mar 26. Epub 2020 Mar 26. PMID: 32219848

Abstract Title: 

Vitamin C regulates Schwann cell myelination by promoting DNA demethylation of pro-myelinating genes.

Abstract: 

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is critical for Schwann cells to myelinate peripheral nerve axons during development and remyelination after injury. However, its exact mechanism remains elusive. Vitamin C is a dietary nutrient that was recently discovered to promote active DNA demethylation. Schwann cell myelination is characterized by global DNA demethylation in vivo and may therefore be regulated by vitamin C. We found that vitamin C induces a massive transcriptomic shift (n = 3,848 genes) in primary cultured Schwann cells while simultaneously producing a global increase in genomic 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), a DNA demethylation intermediate which regulates transcription. Vitamin C upregulates 10 pro-myelinating genes which exhibit elevated 5hmC content in both the promoter and gene body regions of these loci following treatment. Using a mouse model of human vitamin C metabolism, we found that maternal dietary vitamin C deficiency causes peripheral nerve hypomyelination throughout early development in resulting offspring. Additionally, dietary vitamin C intake regulates the expression of myelin-related proteins such as periaxin (PRX) and myelin basic protein (MBP) during development and remyelination after injury in mice. Taken together, these results suggest that vitamin C cooperatively promotes myelination through 1) increased DNA demethylation and transcription of pro-myelinating genes, and 2) its known role in stabilizing collagen helices to form the basal lamina that is necessary for myelination.

read more

PMID: 

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2020 Mar 30:1-14. Epub 2020 Mar 30. PMID: 32223303

Abstract Title: 

Discrepancies in global vitamin C recommendations: a review of RDA criteria and underlying health perspectives.

Abstract: 

The concept of a 'recommended dietary allowance' (RDA) and similar terms describing the daily intake of essential nutrients recommended for healthy individuals is widely used by various health authorities around the world. For vitamin C, however, there remain significant discrepancies in the criteria used to establish dietary recommendations and consequently, global recommendations for daily vitamin C intake vary by more than five fold. While it appears that the scientific data underlying the recommendations are more or less the same, the interpretation differs considerably. Moreover, although a number of the assumptions used in e.g. the body pool estimates of the 1960s and 1970s have later been proven wrong and give rise to significant underestimations, these data are still used as the main support of several recommendations. Aspects that modify vitamin C requirements, such as gender, age, pregnancy, lactation, and smoking, have been taken into consideration by many but not all regulatory authorities, and are thus subject of debate. In contrast, body weight, a significant predictor of vitamin C status and requirement, has not been taken into consideration with respect to vitamin C recommendations, even in the face of the looming global obesity pandemic. The present review examines the discrepancies in vitamin C dietary recommendations of international authorities and critically discusses representative examples of criteria and the underlying health perspectives used to derive current recommended intakes of vitamin C. New biological signatures of vitamin C nutriture are also explored with regard to their potential use for future updates of dietary recommendations.

read more

PMID: 

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2020 Jan 13. Epub 2020 Jan 13. PMID: 31933077

Abstract Title: 

Protective effects of thymoquinone and diallyl sulphide against malathion-induced toxicity in rats.

Abstract: 

Malathion is a potent organophosphate insecticide that inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. Our experimental objective was to investigate the beneficial effects of diallyl sulphide (DAS) and thymoquinone (TQ) against malathion-induced oxidative stress in rat cerebral, hepatic, and renal tissues. For 30 days, rats received corn oil alone (negative control) or malathion by intragastric gavage (200 mg/kg daily), either alone (positive control) or combined with oral DAS (200 mg/kg daily) or TQ (10 mg/kg daily) (treatment groups). Later, blood samples were collected via direct cardiac puncture andtissue samples were obtained for biochemical analysis. Malathion administration was associated with significant increases (p 

read more

PMID: 

Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl. 2020 Jan-Feb;31(1):21-31. PMID: 32129194

Abstract Title: 

Evaluation of safety and efficacy profile ofoil as an add-on therapy, in addition to alpha-keto analogue of essential amino acids in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Abstract: 

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) encompasses a spectrum of different pathophysio- logic processes associated with abnormal kidney function. When it reaches end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the only option is dialysis and renal transplantation. This is unaffordable by most patients. Hence, newer treatment modalities are being looked for, which can slow down the progression of CKD and delay the development of ESRD. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Nigella sativa oil as an add-on therapy in addition to alpha-keto analogue of essential amino acids in patients with CKD Stages 3 and 4. The study was conducted at a tertiary care center in North India on patients with CKD Stages 3 and 4. It was a prospective, comparative, and open-labeled study. One hundred and fifty patients were enrolled and were randomly divided into two interventional groups. Fourteen patients were lost to follow-up. Group I (control) which had 66 patients received conservative management of CKD consisting of alpha-keto analogue (600 mg tablet three times a day), whereas Group II (test) which had 70 patients received conservative management along with alpha-keto analogue and N. sativa oil (2.5 mL, per orally, once daily) for 12 weeks. Hemogram, renal function, and serum electrolyte tests were done, and adverse events were recorded at baseline and at4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. After 12 weeks of treatment, there was a marked improvement in clinical features and biochemical parameters in both the control and test groups. There were a significant reduction in blood urea, serum creatinine, and 24-h total urine protein and a significant improvement in 24-h total urine volume and glomerular filtration rate. N. sativa oil supplementation along with alpha-keto analogue is more more efficacious and safe in delaying the progression of disease patients with CKD Stages 3 and 4.

read more