Modulatory effect of inulin with soya isoflavones on plasma lipid profile and liver SCD-18 index in rats with induced type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Obesity and type-2 diabetes are often associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Soya isoflavones act as antidiabetic agents and protect against NAFLD. There are data suggesting that inulin may increase the plasma concentration and effect of soya isoflavones. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of soya isoflavones, as opposed to the effect of soya isoflavones with inulin, on plasma lipid profile, liver morphology, and liver fatty acids in rats with induced type-2 diabetes mellitus. Data were collected on thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into control and diabetic groups. Animals in the diabetic (DM) group were on a high-fat diet and were injected with low doses of streptozotocin. Animals in the control groups were fed a regular diet and were injected with a buffer. After the injections, the animals were divided into three groups of nondiabetic rats (nDM)-controls (c-nDM), rats treated with isoflavones (IS-nDM), and rats treated with isoflavones plus inulin (IS+IN-nDM)-and three parallel diabetic (DM) subgroups: controls (c-DM), rats treated with isoflavone (IS-DM), and rats treated with isoflavones plus inulin (IS+IN-DM). Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were examined using hematoxylin-eosin staining and Mallory's trichrome methods respectively. Liver fatty acids were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography. A lipid blood test was performed. The study showed significant changes in liver fatty acids, liver morphology, and plasma lipid profile. The estimated SCD-18 index significantly decreased in both the control and DM groups after isoflavone supplementation. The level of liver steatosis and fibrosis also decreased after isoflavone supplementation in the DM groups. The plasma lipid profile showed increased levels of HDL-C after isoflavone supplementation in the DM groups. These results support the protective use of isoflavones in liver steatosis and as beneficial to plasma lipid profile in individuals with diabetes. A novelty of this work is its comparison of supplementation using soya isoflavones with supplementation using both soya isoflavones and inulin. Surprisingly, additional supplementation with inulin modulates the positive effect of isoflavones.

C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene and the risk of ischemic stroke in Polish subjects.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is reported to be an independent risk factor for the development of ischemic stroke. Several studies on genetic variants of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR, which plays a crucial role in regulation of plasma homocysteine concentration) reported an association between C677T gene polymorphism and stroke in some Asian populations. No study but one detected this association in Caucasians. The purpose of the present case-control study was to find a relationship between MTHFR genotypes and stroke in a Polish population. MTHFR genotypes were determined by PCR in 152 patients with ischemic stroke from northwestern Poland and in 135 consecutive newborns from the same population. The TT genotype and the T allele were significantly more frequent in patients than in the control group (11.8% vs. 4.4%, and 34.5% vs. 21.5%, P<0.01). When males and females were analyzed separately, the differences were statistically significant in both genders. It is concluded that presence of the T allele is a risk factor for ischemic stroke in Polish subjects.

Mobilization of human hematopoietic stem/progenitor-enriched CD34+ cells into peripheral blood during stress related to ischemic stroke.

The bone marrow-derived stem/progenitor cells were demonstrated to play an important role in a regeneration of damaged tissue. Based on these observations we asked whether the stroke-related stress triggers mobilization of stem/progenitor cells from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood, which subsequently could contribute to regeneration of damaged organs. To address this issue, the peripheral blood samples were harvested from patients with ischemic stroke during the first 24 hrs as well as after the 48 (2nd day) and 144 hrs (6th day) since the manifestation of symptoms. In these patients we evaluated the percentage of hematopoietic stem/progenitor-enriched CD34+ cells by employing flow cytometry and the number of hematopoietic progenitor cells for the granulocyto-monocytic (CFU-GM) and erythroid (BFU-E)-lineages circulating in peripheral blood. We concluded that stress related to ischemic stroke triggers the mobilization of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from the bone marrow into peripheral blood. These circulating stem/progenitor cells may play an important role in the process of regeneration of the ischemic tissue.

Different presentations of late-detected phenylketonuria in two brothers with the same R408W/R111X genotype in the PAH gene.

Although the clinical heterogeneity of phenylketonuria (PKU) is well established, some questions about this condition remain. Subjects from the same family who share the same mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene are expected to display similar disease courses, and therefore, when blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels, genotype and dietary treatment are all similar, differences in patient outcomes require additional explanations. The present authors describe two entirely different courses of late-detected PKU in two brothers with the same R408W/R111X genotype in the PAH gene. The older sibling was diagnosed with PKU at the age of 4 years and given treatment. His IQ was 97 at 26 years of age and moderate involvement of periventricular white matter was detected. The younger brother was diagnosed with PKU at the age of 11 months and given treatment. His IQ was < 25 at 22 years of age and severe dysmyelination changes were found by magnetic resonance imaging. The differences in the courses of the disease between these two brothers appear to be related to variations in their blood-brain barriers.

[Present condition and prospects of cerebrospinal fluid diagnostics]. / Stan obecny i perspektywy diagnostyki plynu mózgowo-rdzeniowego.

Despite a significant reduction in the frequency of lumbar taps done for CSF examination this method is still an important diagnostic tool. In recent years important advances have been made in the studies of the cytology and biochemistry of CSF. The introduction of new simple methods of centrifugation has increased the index of cell recovery with better possibilities of differentiation of these cells. In the biochemistry of proteins in which the analysis of immunoglobulins, albumins and other proteins, such as 14-3-3 protein, S-100, tau protein, enzymes, such as neuron-specific enolase or matrix-metalproteinase, alkaline myelin protein, beta-2-microglobulin, various cytokines, has been introduced, it is becoming a routine analysis in many CSF laboratories. The role of determination of many antibodies is increasing. Particular advances have been achieved in genetic studies, and, similarly as in other medical disciplines, explanation is expected of many not yet sufficiently clear pathological mechanisms.

[Coexistence of intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis with amyloidosis in patient with polyneuropathy in the course of multiple myeloma]. / Wspólwystepowanie intratekalnej syntezy immunoglobuliny i amyloidozy u chorego z neuropatia obwodowa w przebiegu szpiczaka plazmatycznokomórkowego.

A coexistence of high level of intrathecal monoclonal immunoglobulin (intrathecal synthesis?) and amyloidosis as a possible cause of peripheral neuropathy in multiple myeloma patient was presented. In the reported case neurological symptoms and intrathecal monoclonal protein existence had been manifested several months before the appearance of plasmocytoma.