PMID: 

Carbohydr Polym. 2020 Feb 15 ;230:115726. Epub 2019 Dec 9. PMID: 31887919

Abstract Title: 

Apple polysaccharide protects ICR mice against colitis associated colorectal cancer through the regulation of microbial dysbiosis.

Abstract: 

The study tried to investigate whether apple polysaccharide (AP) could prevent colitis associated colorectal cancer (CACC) through the regulation of intestinal microbiota disorders. 10 % AP (w/v) was administrated to ICR mice by gavage for 15 wk. It was found that AP treatment protected against CACC in mice effectively. The level of Lactobacillus in the intestine of AOM/DSS-treated mice was significantly decreased and that of Fusobacterium increased; while AP could reverse this trend and increase the intestinal microbiota diversity. The number of T cells and macrophages in the colon tissue of mice in AOM/DSS group elevated; while AP could reduce the number of these cells significantly. AP suppressed nuclear aggregation ofβ-catenin, inhibited the activation of Wnt pathway in colon tissues. These data suggest that AP prevented ICR mice from CACC at least in part through regulating intestinal flora disorder and Wnt pathway.

read more

PMID: 

Gut. 2020 Jan 3. Epub 2020 Jan 3. PMID: 31900289

Abstract Title: 

Gut dysbiosis induces the development of pre-eclampsia through bacterial translocation.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is one of the malignant metabolic diseases that complicate pregnancy. Gut dysbiosis has been identified for causing metabolic diseases, but the role of gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of PE remains unknown.DESIGN: We performed a case-control study to compare the faecal microbiome of PE and normotensive pregnant women by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing. To address the causative relationship between gut dysbiosis and PE, we used faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in an antibiotic-treated mouse model. Finally, we determined the microbiome translocation and immune responses in human and mouse placental samples by 16S rRNA sequencing, quantitative PCR and in situ hybridisation.RESULTS: Patients with PE showed reduced bacterial diversity with obvious dysbiosis. Opportunistic pathogens, particularlyand, were enriched, whereas beneficial bacteria, includingand, were markedly depleted in the PE group. The abundances of these discriminative bacteria were correlated with blood pressure (BP), proteinuria, aminotransferase and creatinine levels. On successful colonisation, the gut microbiome from patients with PE triggered a dramatic, increased pregestational BP of recipient mice, which further increased after gestation. In addition, the PE-transplanted group showed increased proteinuria, embryonic resorption and lower fetal and placental weights. Their T regulatory/helper-17 balance in the small intestine and spleen was disturbed with more severe intestinal leakage. In the placenta of both patients with PE and PE-FMT mice, the total bacteria,, and inflammatory cytokine levels were significantly increased.CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the gut microbiome of patients with PE is dysbiotic and contributes to disease pathogenesis.

read more

PMID: 

Foods. 2020 Jan 1 ;9(1). Epub 2020 Jan 1. PMID: 31906298

Abstract Title: 

Enhancement of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities ofRoots Fermented with.

Abstract: 

The roots ofare known to exhibit antioxidant and antibacterial activities. To improve the antioxidant and antibacterial activities ofroots, the roots were fermented withat 25°C for 3 weeks. The non-fermented (SME) and fermented (SMBE) roots ofwere extracted with 70% ethanol, respectively, and then fractionated with organic solvents. By fermentation, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant activity of SMBE, were increased by about 1.2 to 1.3 times compared with those of SME. The antibacterial activity of SMBE was also twice as high as that of SME. The antibacterial activity of SMBE againstwas lower in the-hexane and chloroform fractions, but higher in the ethyl acetate and-butanol fractions, compared with those of SME. These results indicate that the bioactive components ofroots exhibiting antibacterial activity were converted to more polar compounds by fermentation of. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and LC-MS analyses of SME and SMBE demonstrate that these changes are due to the acylation of dihydrofuran-2()-one, dealkylation of 4-methylbenzene-1,2-diol and 4-ethylbenzene-1,2-diol, and esterification of hexadecanoic acid and (9Z, 12Z)-octadec-9,12-dienoic acid during fermentation.

read more

PMID: 

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 ;2019:3030967. Epub 2019 Dec 11. PMID: 31885643

Abstract Title: 

Fermented Garlic Ameliorates Hypercholesterolemia and Inhibits Platelet Activation.

Abstract: 

Dietary cholesterol augments the lipid profile and induces the production and activation of platelets, leading to the development of atherosclerosis with detrimental effects on cardiovascular health. Ethnomedicine and Mediterranean diets are natural and cost-effective approaches against several ailments including cardiovascular diseases. In addition, fermented foods have attracted interest due to their increased nutrient profile and enhanced bioavailability and efficacy. Garlic is known to reduce cholesterol and inhibit platelet activation. Therefore, we examined whether fermented garlic could effectively ameliorate the effects of hypercholesterolemia and platelet functions in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet and treated with spirulina and fermented and nonfermented preparations of garlic for one month. Platelet aggregation and granule secretion were assessed to evaluate platelet activation. Analysis of the liver and kidney weights and lipid and enzymatic profiles of the serum and whole blood analysis was performed. The expression levels of SREBP-2, ACAT-2, and HMG-CoA were assessed by RT-PCR, while ACAT-1 and ACAT-2 were assessed by real-time PCR, and histological changes in the liver and adipose tissues were analyzed. Both fermented and nonfermented garlic inhibited platelet aggregation and granule secretion; however, fermented garlic exhibited a greater inhibitory effect. In comparison with nonfermented garlic, fermented garlic significantly reduced liver weight and triglyceride concentrations. Fermented garlic also markedly abrogated the detrimental effects of steatosis on liver and adipose tissues. We conclude that fermented garlic significantly improved the lipid profile and modulated platelet functions, thereby inhibiting atherosclerosis- and platelet-related cardiovascular disorders.

read more

PMID: 

Nutrients. 2020 Jan 2 ;12(1). Epub 2020 Jan 2. PMID: 31906543

Abstract Title: 

The Mediterranean Diet is Associated with an Improved Quality of Life in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

Abstract: 

This study aimed to assess the potential association between dietary patterns (i.e., the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and healthy eating) and patient-reported quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction (TS) in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). A food frequency questionnaire, the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL-19), and the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire-status version (DTSQ-s) were administered via personal interviews to 258 participants with T1D. Multivariable analysis showed that a moderate or high adherence to the MedDiet was associated with greater diabetes-specific QoL (β = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.03; 0.61;= 0.029). None of the dietary quality indexes (i.e., the alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMED) and the alternate Healthy Eating Index (aHEI)) were associated with the overall TS. However, the aHEI was positively associated with the specific items of TS"convenience"and"flexibility"(β = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.00; 0.06;= 0.042 andβ = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.01; 0.06;= 0.011, respectively). On the other hand, the aHEI was negatively associated with the dimension"recommend to others"(β = -0.5, 95% CI = -0.99; -0.02;= 0.042). In conclusion, a moderate and high adherence to the MedDiet was associated with greater QoL. Although neither aMED nor aHEI were associated with the overall TS, some specific items were positively (i.e.,"convenience","flexibility") or negatively ("recommend to others") related to the aHEI. Further research is needed to assess how to improve medical nutrition therapy and its impact on patient-reported outcomes in people with T1D.

read more

PMID: 

Am J Cancer Res. 2019 ;9(11):2469-2481. Epub 2019 Nov 1. PMID: 31815047

Abstract Title: 

Dietary riboflavin deficiency promotes N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced esophageal tumorigenesis in rats by inducing chronic inflammation.

Abstract: 

Epidemiological studies in high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer in China suggest that environmental carcinogen N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA) and riboflavin (RBF) deficiency may be the main risk factors for esophageal cancer. However, it is not clear that the combination induces cancer. Here, experiment (Exp) 1 evaluated the effects of NMBA and RBF deficiency individually or in combination on esophageal tumorigenesis. Male F344 rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups into a 2 (no NMBANMBA)× 2 (normal RBFRBF-deficient) factorial design, including normal RBF (6 mg/kg, R), RBF-deficient (0 mg/kg, R), normal RBF combined with NMBA (RN), and RBF-deficient combined with NMBA (RN) groups. The Exp 2 explored the effects of RBF deficiency at different doses combined with NMBA (0.6 mg/kg, RN; 0.06 mg/kg, RN) on esophageal tumorigenesis. Results showed that RN enhanced the incidence of esophageal intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN, 53.3%,= 0.06), including carcinoma, whereas RN mainly induced the occurrence of esophageal benign hyperplasia (38.9%) and EIN (16.7%). RBF deficiency promotes EIN in a dose-dependent manner, and RN significantly increases the incidence of EIN (57.9%,1.5). Furthermore, RBF deficiency aggravated oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG) and double-strand breaks (γH2AX) (

read more

PMID: 

Oral Dis. 2019 Dec 23. Epub 2019 Dec 23. PMID: 31869853

Abstract Title: 

Efficacy of Melatonin in prevention of radiation induced oral mucositis: A randomized clinical trial.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVES: Evaluating the effectiveness of melatonin in prevention of radiation-induced oral mucositis.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized controlled clinical study was conducted on forty head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiotherapy at the Department of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria University, Egypt. Patients were assigned equally to either Control group who received conventional treatment or test group who received 20 mg of melatonin along with the conventional treatment. All patients were clinically evaluated for oral mucositis severity and pain at three and six weeks after the start of radiotherapy. Additionally, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients' saliva samples were assessed at the start of radiotherapy and six weeks later.RESULTS: 92.5% of all patients have experienced oral mucositis with more severity reported in the control group (30%) compared to the test group (5%). Mean pain scores decreased significantly, in the second assessment, in test group rather than the controls. TAC values showed a significant difference between the test and controls with a significant decrease in TAC in the control group.CONCLUSION: The administration of melatonin with conventional treatment has reduced severe oral mucositis development. It aided in decreasing pain and hindering the reduction of TAC resulting from radiotherapy among the test group compared to controls.

read more

PMID: 

BMC Neurosci. 2019 12 23 ;20(1):63. Epub 2019 Dec 23. PMID: 31870319

Abstract Title: 

Inhibition of autophagy triggers melatonin-induced apoptosis in glioblastoma cells.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Autophagy is considered to be another restorative focus for the treatment of brain tumors. Although several research have demonstrated that melatonin induces autophagy in colon cancer and hepatoma cells, there has not been any direct evidence of whether melatonin is capable of inducing autophagy in human glioma cells.RESULTS: In the present research, we report that melatonin or its agonist, agomelatine, induced autophagy in A172 and U87-MG glioblastoma cells for a concentration-and time-dependent way, which was significantly attenuated by treatment with luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist. Furthermore, by suppressing autophagy at the late-stage with bafilomycin A1 and early stage with 3-MA, we found that the melatonin-induced autophagy was activated early, and the autophagic flux was complete. Melatonin treatment alone did not induce any apoptotic changes in the glioblastoma cells, as measured by flow cytometry. Western blot studies confirmed that melatonin alone prominently upregulated the levels of Beclin 1 and LC3 II, which was accompanied by an increase in the expression of Bcl-2, whereas it had no effect on the expression of Bax in the glioblastoma cells. Remarkably, co-treatment with 3-MA and melatonin significantly enhanced the apoptotic cell population in the glioblastoma cells, along with a prominent decrease in the expression of bcl-2 and increase in the Bax expression levels, which collectively indicated that the disruption of autophagy triggers the melatonin-induced apoptosis in glioblastoma cells.CONCLUSIONS: These results provide information indicating that melatonin may act as a common upstream signal between autophagy and apoptosis, which may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for glioma.

read more

PMID: 

J Crohns Colitis. 2019 Dec 24. Epub 2019 Dec 24. PMID: 31873717

Abstract Title: 

Riboflavin supplementation in patients with Crohn's disease (RISE-UP study).

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis in the gut. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and microbiome-modulatory properties. Here, we analyzed the effect of riboflavin on oxidative stress, markers of inflammation, clinical symptoms and the faecal microbiome in patients with CD.METHODS: In this prospective clinical intervention study, patients received 100 mg riboflavin (DSM, Nutritional Products Ltd.) daily for 3 weeks. Clinical disease activity (Harvey-Bradshaw Index: HBI), serum biomarkers of inflammation and redox status (plasma free thiols), and faecal microbiome taxonomical composition and functionality (fluorescent in-situ hybridization, FISH, and metagenomic shotgun sequencing, MGS), were analyzed before and after riboflavin intervention.RESULTS: In total, 70 patients with CD with varying disease activity were included. Riboflavin supplementation significantly decreased serum levels of inflammatory markers. In patients with low faecal calprotectin (FC) levels IL-2 decreased, while in patients with high FC levels C-reactive protein (CRP) was reduced, and free thiols significantly increased after supplementation. Moreover, HBI was significantly decreased by riboflavin supplementation. Riboflavin supplementation led to decreased Enterobacteriaceae in patients with low FC levels as determined by FISH, however, MGS analysis showed no effects on diversity, taxonomy or metabolic pathways of the faecal microbiome.CONCLUSIONS: Three weeks of riboflavin supplementation resulted in a reduction in systemic oxidative stress, mixed anti-inflammatory effects, and a reduction in clinical symptoms (HBI). FISH analysis showed decreased Enterobacteriaceae in patients with CD with low FC levels, though this was not observed in MGS analysis. Our data demonstrates that riboflavin supplementation has a number of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects in CD.NCT NUMBER: 02538354.

read more

PMID: 

Endocrine. 2019 Dec 30. Epub 2019 Dec 30. PMID: 31889242

Abstract Title: 

Selenium exerts protective effects against oxidative stress and cell damage in human thyrocytes and fibroblasts.

Abstract: 

PURPOSE: Selenium, incorporated into specific seleno-enzymes, is essential to proper thyroid function and protect cells from oxidative damage induced by HOduring thyroid hormone synthesis. Several studies indicated that low selenium levels are associated with thyroid autoimmunity and related disorders, but real effectiveness of selenium supplementation in such diseases is still controversial. We evaluated the effect of selenium on oxidative damage in human thyrocytes and thyroid fibroblasts in vitro.METHODS: To induce oxidative stress, primary cultures were exposed to HO, in the presence or the absence of selenium, as either selenomethionine or selenite. We performed the following assays: cell viability, caspase-3 activity, BCL-2/BAX gene expression, DNA fragmentation, malondialdehyde levels, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity measurements.RESULTS: Thyrocytes and thyroid fibroblasts exposed to HOand preincubated with both selenocompounds displayed a significant dose-dependent increase in cell viability compared to cells incubated with HOalone. Pretreatment with selenomethionine and selenite significantly reduced caspase-3 activity and BAX mRNA levels and increased BCL-2 mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, HOinduced a diffuse pattern of DNA degradation and an increase in malondialdehyde levels, which was prevented by the pretreatment with both selenomethionine and selenite. Both selenocompounds induced an increase in GPx activity, suggesting that these protective effects may be, almost in part, mediated by these selenoproteins.CONCLUSION: In human thyrocytes and fibroblasts in vitro, selenium exerts protective effects against HOin a dose-dependent manner, being selenite effective at lower doses than selenomethionine.

read more