Copeptin for the differentiation of type 1 versus type 2 myocardial infarction or myocardial injury.

BACKGROUND: The rapid and reliable differentiation of myocardial infarction (MI) due to atherothrombosis (T1MI) from MI due to supply-demand mismatch (T2MI) or acute myocardial injury is of major clinical relevance due to very different treatments, but still a major unmet clinical need. This study aimed to investigate whether copeptin, a stress hormone produced in the hypothalamus, helps to differentiate between T1MI versus T2MI or injury. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis, 1271 unselected consecutive patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of MI to the emergency department were evaluated. Patients diagnosed with ST-elevation MI were excluded. All patients with elevated cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration possibly indicating MI were classified into T1MI, T2MI, or acute myocardial injury using detailed clinical assessment and coronary imaging. Copeptin plasma concentration was measured in a blinded fashion. A multicenter diagnostic study with central adjudication of the final diagnosis served as external validation cohort (n = 1390). RESULTS: Among 1161 patients, 154 patients had increased cTnI concentration. Of these, 78 patients (51%) were classified as T1MI and 76 (49%) as T2MI or myocardial injury. Patients with T2MI or myocardial injury had significantly higher copeptin plasma concentration between patients versus T1MI (21,4 pmol/l versus 8,1 pmol/l, p = 0,001). A multivariable regression analysis revealed that higher concentrations of copeptin and C-reactive protein, higher heart rate at presentation and lower frequency of smoking remained significantly associated with T2MI and myocardial injury. Findings were largely confirmed in the external validation cohort. CONCLUSION: In patients without ST-segment elevation, copeptin concentration was higher in T2MI and myocardial Injury versus T1MI and may help in their differential diagnosis.

Cod Liver Oil's Encapsulation into Sodium Alginate/Lupin Protein Beads and Its Application in Functional Meatballs' Preparation.

Cod liver oil (CLO) is an essential source of healthy ω-3 fatty acids to be employed in functional meals. However, its autoxidation sensitivity, solubility, and odour present it as challenging to handle. Its encapsulation might mitigate these problems. This research studied using alginate/lupine protein as a wall material for CLO encapsulation as well as to characterise CLO microcapsules for their size, sphericity factor, encapsulation efficiency, morphology (scanning electron microscopy), in vitro release, and thermal stability. In this study, the oxidative stability, quality parameters, and sensory attributes of meatballs enriched with free CLOs and encapsulated CLOs throughout storage at 4 ± 1 °C for 16 days were assessed. The CLO microspheres had a homogeneous round shape, a diameter of 0.82 ± 0.06 mm, a sphericity factor of 0.092 ± 0.01, an encapsulation efficiency of 95.62% ± 1.13%, and an accumulative release rate of 87.10% after 270 min in the stimulated gastrointestinal conditions. Additionally, it was discovered that encapsulated oil was more stable than free CLOs to heat treatments (70-100 °C, 24 h). pH, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, peroxide value, conjugated dienes value, and carbonyl content of meatballs enriched with microencapsulated CLOs were significantly lower when compared to free CLOs and/or control samples. CLO microcapsules improved the sensory characteristics of meatballs throughout storage; however, meatballs directly containing CLOs were rejected. Thus, the viability of alginate/LPI complex microcapsules containing CLOs to enrich meat products subjected to storage with refrigeration could be indicated without any change in the characteristics.

Effect of marathon and ultra-marathon on inflammation and iron homeostasis.

The physiological response to high-level endurance exercise, such as running a marathon, poses several beneficial but also potentially harmful metabolic changes. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of marathon (M) and ultra-marathon (UM) on inflammation and iron homeostasis in paired samples. Fifteen well-trained, non-professional endurance athletes (14 males, 1 female) performed both a 130 km ultra-marathon and a traditional 42.195 km marathon. We determined markers of inflammation and iron homeostasis before, immediately after, and within 5 days after finishing each run, respectively. Biomarkers of inflammation (leucocytes, neutrophil granulocytes, monocytes, and c-reactive protein [CRP]) increased significantly after both marathon and ultra-marathon with higher levels of CRP after ultra-marathon compared with marathon both immediately after the race (18.15 ± 12.41 vs 5.58 ± 9.65 mg/L, P < .001) and at follow-up (15.67 ± 16.97 vs 7.19 ± 7.75 mg/L, P = .045) Concentrations of ferritin also increased significantly after both races and remained high at follow-up. Higher levels of ferritin immediately after the race (111.5 ± 103.2 vs 84.8 ± 86.3, P = .001) and at follow-up (102.7 ± 79.5 vs 74.6 ± 65.6, P = .001) were found in ultra-marathon finishers. The observed increase of serum iron and transferrin saturation (TSAT) after marathon and the decrease of serum iron and TSAT after ultra-marathon resulted in a significant absolute difference between the two races. The present data suggest a higher degree of inflammation after ultra-marathon compared with marathon. Markers of iron homeostasis also showed different response patterns with regard to running distance.

Toll-like receptor 2 and 9 expression on circulating neutrophils is associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in inflammatory processes in critically ill patients by binding to pathogen-associated molecular patterns and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Whether neutrophil or monocyte TLR expression patterns are associated with outcome in critical illness is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To answer this question, we conducted a prospective, observational study including 215 consecutive patients admitted to a medical ICU at a tertiary care center. METHODS: Blood was drawn at admission and expression of TLR-2, TLR-4, and TLR-9 on neutrophils and monocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was 19, and 30-day mortality was 26%. TLR-2 expression on neutrophils was associated with APACHE II, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score. TLR-2 (P < 0.001) and TLR-9 (P < 0.05) expression on neutrophils was significantly higher in nonsurvivors. In contrast, neutrophil TLR-4 expression and monocyte TLR expression were not associated with survival. Neutrophil TLR-2 (odds ratio 3.8; 95% confidence interval 1.4-10.2; P < 0.05) and TLR-9 (odds ratio 4.0; 95% confidence interval 2.0-8.1; P < 0.001) expression in the third tertile predicted mortality independent from APACHE II, serum lactate, serum creatinine, and procalcitonin, respectively. CONCLUSION: We provide evidence for prognostic properties of neutrophil TLR-2 and TLR-9 expression regarding 30-day mortality in unselected critically ill patients, independent from baseline clinical characteristics, and laboratory values. These findings suggest that specific TLR-dependent activation of the innate immune system via neutrophils possibly caused by cell damage and release of otherwise intracellular components may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of critical illness.

Morphological, phytochemical and anti-hyperglycemic evaluation of Brachychiton populneus

Abstract Brachychiton populneus (Schott & Endl.) R.Br., Malvaceae, is one of five Brachychiton species cultivated in Egypt. Little information was found concerning the morphological, phytochemical and biological investigations of B. populneus. Morphological investigations of B. populneus were performed on fresh and dried leaves. Air-dried, ground leafy branches were extracted with 70% methanol/water yielding B. populneus extract. Seventeen flavonoids were isolated and identified using different chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques; eleven of them were reported for the first time from this plant. Potential activity of B. populneus extract against alloxan inducing oxidative stress and diabetes in male rats was preliminary investigated (four groups of ten rats /group). B. populneus extract (500 mg/kg bw i.p.) exhibited significant acute anti-hyperglycemic activity with blood glucose levels of 227.3 and 157.6 mg/dl after 4 and 24 h, respectively, compared to alloxan and standard Diamicron (5 mg/kg bw p.o.) groups, as well as to a normoglycemic control group at p < 0.05. The extract reverted the body weight values of the alloxan-induced diabetic rats to that of control animals after 24 h. In addition, B. populneus extract counteracted the effect of the oxidative stress induced by alloxan causing significantly increase in the glutathione content level (2.35 mmol/l) and relative decrease in the malondialdehyde level (21.31 nmol/l) and nitric oxide content (1.98 µmol/l) in serum after 24 h of treatment compared to alloxan-induced diabetic rats (1.01 mmol/l, 118.9 nmol/l, 4.69 µmol/l, respectively) and to normoglycemic control at p < 0.05. These effects appear to be related to the flavonoid principles. The intergeneric relationship of the genus Brachychiton and other related genera assessed well-supported differentiation between them. Furthermore, a significant dissimilarity was observed at interspecific level.

Two new flavonol glycosides and biological activities of Diplotaxis harra (Forssk.) Boiss.

Two new flavonol glycosides, isorhamnetin 3-O-ß-glucopyranoside-4'-O-ß-xylopyranoside (1) and kaempferol 3-O-ß-glucopyranoside -4'-O-ß-xylopyranoside (2), were isolated from the defatted aqueous methanol extract of the whole plant Diplotaxis harra along with 12 known flavonols (3-14). They were characterised by chemical and spectral methods. The 70% aqueous methanol, chloroform and defatted aqueous methanol plant extracts exhibited significant antioxidant effects (nitroblue tetrazolium reduction method). Their cytotoxic activity was carried out against 11 tumour cell lines (sulphorhodamine B assay). The three extracts expressed the greatest antiproliferative activity against colon 38, P388 and MKN-28 with GI50 (0.45, 0.4, 0.07 µg/mL) and against P388 [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay] with IC50 (0.26, 0.24, 0.25 µg/mL), respectively. The chloroform extract showed the highest activity as eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors of P388 with IC50 0.24 µg/mL. Antiviral screening of the extracts and the pure compounds against foot-and-mouth disease virus types A and O revealed a prominent inhibition of its cytopathic effect.

A sulphated flavone glycoside from Livistona australis and its antioxidant and cytotoxic activity.

A new flavone glycoside tricin 7-O-ß-glucopyranoside-2″-sulphate sodium salt along with 14 known flavonoid compounds were isolated and identified from the aqueous methanol extract of Livistona australis leaves. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive NMR (¹H, ¹³C, HSQC and H-H COSY) and ESIMS data. Antioxidant and cytotoxicity properties of the methanol extract of the leaves as well as the new compound were investigated.