Serious doubts about the accuracy of COVID-19 testing methods and mortality rates are starting to appear, even within mainstream media reporting. A recent Italian study found that nearly everyone who was pronounced dead from COVID-19 was elderly and already struggling with serious chronic disease(s).
PMID:
Eur J Pharmacol. 2020 Apr 15 ;873:173004. Epub 2020 Feb 8. PMID: 32045603
Abstract Title:
Beta-sitosterol attenuates insulin resistance in adipose tissue via IRS-1/Akt mediated insulin signaling in high fat diet and sucrose induced type-2 diabetic rats.
Abstract:
In our previous study, we have shown thatβ-sitosterol (SIT) enhances glycemic control by increasing the activation of insulin receptor (IR) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) proteins in adipose tissue. However, the possible role of SIT on the regulation of post-receptor insulin signal transduction is not known. Hence, the study was aimedto assess the effects of SIT on IRS-1/Akt mediated insulin signaling molecules in high-fat diet and sucrose induced type-2 diabetic rats. An oral effective dose of SIT (20 mg/kg b.wt) was given for 30 days to high fat-fed type-2 diabetic rats to find out whether SIT regulates IRS-1/Akt pathway of insulin signaling. The results showed that SIT attenuated the insulin receptor substrate-1 serine phosphorylation (p-IRS-1) (P = 0.0003). However, it up-regulated the mRNA expression of IR (P = 0.0036) and post-receptor insulin signaling molecules such as IRS-1 (P
PMID:
Food Funct. 2020 Feb 26 ;11(2):1881-1890. PMID: 32068754
Abstract Title:
β-Sitosterol regulated microRNAs in endothelial cells against an oxidized low-density lipoprotein.
Abstract:
β-Sitosterol is a natural compound widely found in many vegetable oils, nuts, and plant medicines; it lowers the cholesterol levels, enhances the production of plasminogen activators, and exhibits anticancer and antiatherogenic effects. However, the direct endothelial protection of β-sitosterol against an oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is not well understood. In the present study, β-sitosterol significantly inhibited cell apoptosis (P
PMID:
J Agric Food Chem. 2020 Mar 13. Epub 2020 Mar 13. PMID: 32167760
Abstract Title:
β-Sitosterol Reverses Multidrug Resistance via BCRP Suppression by Inhibiting the p53-MDM2 Interaction in Colorectal Cancer.
Abstract:
Phytosterols are widely present in vegetable oils, nuts, cereal products, fruits, and berries. Phytosterol-induced treatment sensitivity has recently shed light on alleviating multidrug resistance in cancer therapy. Here, we demonstrated thatβ-sitosterol, the most common dietary phytosterol, recovers oxaliplatin (OXA) sensitivity in drug-resistant colorectal cancer (CRC) cells by inhibiting breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) expression. We further showed evidence that β-sitosterol could activate p53 by disrupting the p53-MDM2 interaction, leading to an increase in p53 translocation to the nucleus and silencing the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, which is necessary for BCRP expression. Finally, we suggested that the combination of OXA and β-sitosterol has a synergistic tumor suppression effect in vivo using a xenograftmouse model. These results revealed that β-sitosterol is able to mediate the p53/NF-κB/BCRP signaling axis to regulate the response of CRC to chemotherapy. The combined application of β-sitosterol and OXA can be a potential way to improve CRC treatment.
PMID:
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020 Feb 29:20764020907946. Epub 2020 Feb 29. PMID: 32114878
Abstract Title:
Association between energy drink consumption, depression and suicide ideation in Korean adolescents.
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Suicide is the leading cause of death among adolescents in South Korea. Negative influences of the abuse of energy drinks on mental health problems have emerged.AIMS: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between energy drink consumption, depression and suicide ideation.METHODS: We analyzed the data of 26,346 boys and 26,966 girls who participated in the 2015 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey. The independent variable was the frequency of energy drink consumption per week. Experience of depression and suicide ideation were considered as the dependent variables. Multiple logistic regression was performed.RESULTS: An association was found between energy drink intake per week and depressive mood. Moreover, the most frequent energy drink intake (three times or more per week) group showed the highest association with depressive mood (odds ratios (ORs); boys: ORs = 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25-1.56; girls: ORs = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.44-1.79) and suicide ideation (boys: ORs = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.27-1.69; girls: ORs = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.20-1.55).CONCLUSION: We observed that consumption of excessive amounts of energy drinks is associated with depression and suicide ideation. Therefore, appropriate regulation or education is needed to prevent adolescents from experiencing adverse outcomes.
PMID:
Molecules. 2020 Mar 11 ;25(6). Epub 2020 Mar 11. PMID: 32168847
Abstract Title:
Assessment of Hepatoprotective Effect of Chokeberry Juice in Rats Treated Chronically with Carbon Tetrachloride.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to compare the protective effects of chokeberry juice and silymarin against chemical-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Liver fibrosis was induced by CCladministered two days a week for six weeks. Two groups of rats were co-treated with chokeberry juice, 10 mL/kg/day. or silymarin as a positive control, 100 mg/kg/day for six weeks. Hepatic lipid peroxidation was suppressed by 50% and the activity of hepatic antioxidant enzymes was increased by 19%-173% in rats co-treated with CCland substances tested as compared to rats administered CClalone. Hepatic hydroxyproline was decreased by 24% only in rats treated with silymarin. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of fibrosis-related molecules, procollagen I,α-SMA, TIMP-1, TGFβ, and TNFα, which were significantly increased in the liver of CCl-treated rats, were not modulated by substances tested. Histological evaluation revealed a slight protective effect of silymarin against fibrosis. However, in CCl+ chokeberry-treated rats, the density of vacuolated hepatocytes was significantly lower than that in silymarin administered animals. Chokeberry juice did not demonstrate an antifibrotic effect in the applied experimental model of fibrosis, and the effect of the known antifibrotic agent, silymarin, was very limited.
PMID:
Nutr Res. 2019 Aug 22. Epub 2019 Aug 22. PMID: 32033839
Abstract Title:
Passion fruit peel intake decreases inflammatory response and reverts lipid peroxidation and adiposity in diet-induced obese rats.
Abstract:
This study investigated Passiflora edulis peel flour (PEPF) intake and its effect against high-fat diet-induced obesity. PEPF is a source of fiber and phenolic compounds, which can decrease oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines, both linked to chronic inflammatory response and fat deposition in obesity. Therefore, we hypothesized that PEPF intake could decrease inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress observed in obesity, leading to decrease of fatness and chronic inflammatory response. The aims of the study were to evaluate the lipid peroxidation, the expression of antioxidants enzymes, and inflammatory parameters in obese rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 8 per group) according to the diets: control (based on AIN-93G), high-fat (HF, 35% fat w/w), and HF with PEPF (HFPF), and the experiment lasted for 10 weeks. PEPF showed high dietary fiber content and bioactive compounds, such as ferulic acid, andβ-carotene. PEPF intake was effective in reducing body weight gain (13.31%) and total body fat (22.58%). The lipid peroxidation in the liver and adipose tissue decreased in the HFPF group compared to HF-fed animals, whereas hepatic glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activity and theirexpressions in the liver were higher in HFPF than HF. In addition, the PEPF intake decreased inflammatory cytokines in serum. These results suggest that PEPF intake decreases oxidative stress, possibly by the increase of antioxidant enzymes expression. Furthermore, PEPF decreases inflammatory response and protects from adiposity. Then, PEPF could act as an adjuvant to control of early parameters in obesity dysfunction.
PMID:
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020 Mar 9. Epub 2020 Mar 9. PMID: 32152873
Abstract Title:
Protective Effects of Anethum graveolens Seed's Oil Nanoemulsion Against Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Stress in Mice.
Abstract:
The cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that induces oxidative stress in both humans and animals. The plant phenolic compounds are capable of alleviating the toxicity of heavy metals. The encapsulation of plant bioactive compounds using nanoemulsion technology could enhance their bioefficacy. In this study, the protective effects of Anethum graveolens seed's oil nanoemulsion (AGN) against cadmium-induced oxidative stress in mice were studied. The results showed that the major bioactive compounds of essential oil were carvone and limonene. The result of particle size analysis revealed the pseudo-spherical droplets with nanometer size (148.8 ± 9.48 nm), homogenous dispersion, and physical colloidal stability. The Cd intoxication in mice (5 mg/kg BW for 30 days) reduced the body weight gain; however, treatment of the mice with different concentration of AGN (0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/L, 30 days) through drinking water improved the body weight loss, liver Cd deposition, lipid peroxidation, cellular antioxidant redox potential, and inflammation in the liver, kidney, and brain of the mice challenged by cadmium-induced oxidative stress. The results of the present study revealed that drinking the essential oil of Anethum graveolens nanoemulsion containing carvone and limonene could be a promising strategy to protect the tissues against cadmium-induced oxidative damage.
PMID:
Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2020 Jan ;32(1):83-87. PMID: 32148237
Abstract Title:
[Paeoniflorin improves the permeability of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells by regulating Src/vascular endothelial-cadherin pathway].
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of paeoniflorin on the permeability of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) in sepsis.METHODS: Primary rat CMECs were isolated and cultured in vitro, and the cells in the logarithmic growth phase were used for experiments. Tetramethylazozolium colorimetry (MTT) was used to screen the safe and effective concentrations of paeoniflorin at 10, 20, and 40μmol/L. The cells were divided into blank control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group and low, medium and high concentration paeoniflorin pretreatment group. The cells in the blank control group were cultured in complete medium; the cells in the LPS group were challenged with LPS (1 mg/L) in complete medium; and the cells in the paeoniflorin pretreatment groups were pretreated with 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L paeoniflorin at 4 hours before LPS stimulation. The cells in each group were further cultured for 24 hours after LPS stimulation. The horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method was used to detectthe permeability of rat CMECs. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL1, CXCL2) levels in the cell supernatant. The real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the mRNA expressions of CXCL1 and CXCL2 in the cells. Western Blot was used to detect phosphorylated Src (p-Src), vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin) and phosphorylated mitogen activated protein kinase (p-MAPK).RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the permeability of rat CMECs in the LPS group was significantly increased. The cell permeability was improved to some extent after paeoniflorin pretreatment at different concentrations, and the improvement was most obvious in the 40μmol/L paeoniflorin group, with statistically significant difference as compared with the LPS group (A value: 1.61±0.07 vs. 2.13±0.06, P
PMID:
Funct Plant Biol. 2019 Jan ;46(2):107-117. PMID: 32172753
Abstract Title:
The effects of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) and paeoniflorin (Pae) on inflammatory-immune responses in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Abstract:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory and systemic autoimmune disease with an unknown aetiology. Accumulative studies suggest that the pathogenesis of RA involves the excessive activation of synoviocytes and immune cells, increasing the secretion of inflammatory mediators and cytokines in synoviocytes, causing dysfunctional E-prostanoid (EP)-G-protein-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and mitogen-associated-protein kinase (MAPK) signalling in synoviocytes. Total glucosides of paeony (TGP) extracted from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora Pall, was approved by the China Food and Drug Administration as an anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulator drug in 1998. Paeoniflorin (Pae), a water-soluble monoterpene glucoside,is the main effective component of TGP. TGP and Pae produce anti-inflammatory and immuno-regulatory effects by suppressing immune cells and synoviocytes activation, decreasing inflammatory substance production and restoring abnormal signalling in synoviocytes. In this review, the regulation of the inflammatory-immune responses and the therapeutic mechanism between RA and TGP and Pae are discussed in detail. The aim of this review was to provide novel insights into the treatment of RA.
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