Vaccinium spp. Berries in the Prevention and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Update of Preclinical and Clinical Research.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disorder marked by the buildup of triacylglycerols (TGs) in the liver. It includes a range of conditions, from simple steatosis to more severe forms like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can advance to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD's prevalence is rising globally, estimated between 10% and 50%. The disease is linked to comorbidities such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular diseases and currently lacks effective treatment options. Therefore, researchers are focusing on evaluating the impact of adjunctive herbal therapies in individuals with NAFLD. One herbal therapy showing positive results in animal models and clinical studies is fruits from the Vaccinium spp. genus. This review presents an overview of the association between consuming fruits, juices, and extracts from Vaccinium spp. and NAFLD. The search used the following keywords: ((Vaccinium OR blueberry OR bilberry OR cranberry) AND ("non-alcoholic fatty liver disease" OR "non-alcoholic steatohepatitis")). Exclusion criteria included reviews, research notes, book chapters, case studies, and grants. The review included 20 studies: 2 clinical trials and 18 studies on animals and cell lines. The findings indicate that juices and extracts from Vaccinium fruits and leaves have significant potential in addressing NAFLD by improving lipid and glucose metabolism and boosting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. In conclusion, blueberries appear to have the potential to alleviate NAFLD, but more clinical trials are needed to confirm these benefits.

Nutrition in Gilbert's Syndrome-A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials According to the PRISMA Statement.

Gilbert syndrome is the most common hyperbilirubinemia, associated with a mutation in the UGT1A1 bilirubin gene, which produces an enzyme that conjugates bilirubin with glucuronic acid. Episodes of jaundice occurring in GS negatively affect patients' quality of life. This systematic review aimed to analyze clinical studies regarding nutrition in people with GS. The study followed the PRISMA guidelines and utilized the Ebsco, Embase, Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to search clinical trials focused on diet/nutrition in GS (1963-2023 years). The methodological quality of selected studies was assessed using the Jadad scale. As a result, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. The research mainly focused on the impact of caloric restriction, consumption of various diet variants, and vegetables and fruits on hyperbilirubinemia and metabolic health. A nutritional intervention consisting of not applying excessive calorie restrictions and consuming fats and biologically active compounds in vegetables and fruits (Cruciferae, Apiaceous, Rutaceae) may prevent the occurrence of jaundice episodes. It is justified to conduct further research on detecting such compounds in food, which, by influencing the expression of the UGT liver enzyme gene, could contribute to regulating bilirubin concentration in the blood of people with GS.

Optimization of Medium Constituents for the Production of Citric Acid from Waste Glycerol Using the Central Composite Rotatable Design of Experiments.

Citric acid is currently produced by submerged fermentation of sucrose with the aid of Aspergillus niger mold. Its strains are characterized by a high yield of citric acid biosynthesis and no toxic by-products. Currently, new substrates are sought for production of citric acid by submerged fermentation. Waste materials such as glycerol or pomace could be used as carbon sources in the biosynthesis of citric acid. Due to the complexity of the metabolic state in fungus, there is an obvious need to optimize the important medium constituents to enhance the accumulation of desired product. Potential optimization approach is a statistical method, such as the central composite rotatable design (CCRD). The aim of this study was to increase the yield of citric acid biosynthesis by Aspergillus niger PD-66 in media with waste glycerol as the carbon source. A mathematical method was used to optimize the culture medium composition for the biosynthesis of citric acid. In order to maximize the efficiency of the biosynthesis of citric acid the central composite, rotatable design was used. Waste glycerol and ammonium nitrate were identified as significant variables which highly influenced the final concentration of citric acid (Y1), volumetric rate of citric acid biosynthesis (Y2), and yield of citric acid biosynthesis (Y3). These variables were subsequently optimized using a central composite rotatable design. Optimal values of input variables were determined using the method of the utility function. The highest utility value of 0.88 was obtained by the following optimal set of conditions: waste glycerol-114.14 g∙L-1and NH4NO3-2.85 g∙L-1.

Citric Acid: Properties, Microbial Production, and Applications in Industries.

Citric acid finds broad applications in various industrial sectors, such as the pharmaceutical, food, chemical, and cosmetic industries. The bioproduction of citric acid uses various microorganisms, but the most commonly employed ones are filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus niger and yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. This article presents a literature review on the properties of citric acid, the microorganisms and substrates used, different fermentation techniques, its industrial utilization, and the global citric acid market. This review emphasizes that there is still much to explore, both in terms of production process techniques and emerging new applications of citric acid.

[Severe hypercalcemia as a complication of intensive treatment for osteoporosis due to steroid therpay in 17-year-old girl with the nephrotic syndrome]. / Grozna hiperkalcemia jako powiklanie intensywnego leczenia osteoporozy posterydowej u 17-letniej dziewczynki z zespolem nerczycowym.

In the article, 17-year-old girl with iatrogenic severe hipercalcemia was presented. The girl was treated since the age of 12 years for steroid-sensitive minimal change disease. Due to steroid therapy osteoporosis developed and intensive treatment with active form of vitamin D and high doses of calcium was started. She was admitted to our clinic in severe general state with abdominal pain, vomiting, dehydration, muscle weakness, hypertension and mental confusion. Severe hipercalcemia with nephrocalcinosis was diagnosed. The history revealed that the girl had increased the doses of drugs intentionally. The authors emphasized the need for careful monitoring of prophylaxis and treatment for osteoporosis due to steroid therapy.

[Coexistence of nephrocalcinosis and renal failure in children--own experiences]. / Wspólistnienie nefrokalcynozy i niewydolnosci nerek u dzieci--doswiadczenia wlasne.

UNLABELLED: Nephrocalcinosis (NC) is defined by increased calcium content of the kidney. To be identified radiologically it must be substantially gross accumulation of calcium within renal tissue. The incidence of NC in children is very low. The main causes of NC are hypercalcemic states with hypercalciuria and various tubular disorders. Although renal calcification may induce interstitial and tubular damage, NC is relatively rare associated with renal failure. We present three children with such an association. In those patients, primary distal tubular acidosis, hyperoxaluria type I and familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis were diagnosed. The former two patients developed terminal renal failure in the school age whereas in the latter one, only moderate renal insufficiency was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The coexistence of nephrocalcinosis and renal failure is caused by extremely rare metabolic disorders. Therefore, this condition requires careful examinations.

[Malformations of urinary system in our series of children--treatment approaches]. / Wady ukladu moczowego w materiale wlasnym--postepowanie terapeutyczne.

The purpose of the study was to analyze treatment approaches in children with malformations of urinary system. The retrospective study comprised 557 children (196 boys and 361 girls) aged 1-18 years with malformations of urinary system hospitalized in 2000-2007 in the Department of Pediatric Nephrology, University Children's Hospital, Lublin. Primary and secondary vesicoureteral reflux (269 children), ureteral obstruction (102 children), urethral obstruction (91 children) and renal duplication (83 children) were the most common malformations observed. In 26 children, multiple urinary system malformations were diagnosed. 332 children required surgery including 113 with vesicoureteral reflux. However, in the majority of children with vesicoureteral reflux, on an average 18-month pharmacologic treatment resulted in complete recovery.