The role of the genetic abnormalities, epigenetic and microRNA in the prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is increased proliferation of B-cells with peripheral blood and bone marrow involvement, which is usually observed in older people. Genetic mutations, epigenetic changes and miRs play a role in CLL pathogenesis. Del 11q, del l17q, del 6q, trisomy 12, p53 and IgVH mutations are the most important genetic changes in CLL. Deletion of miR-15a and miR-16a can increase bcl2 gene expression, miR-29 and miR-181 deletions decrease the expression of TCL1, and miR-146a deletion prevents tumor metastasis. Epigenetic changes such as hypo- and hypermethylation, ubiquitination, hypo- and hyperacetylation of gene promoters involved in CLL pathogenesis can also play a role in CLL. Expression of CD38 and ZAP70, presence or absence of mutation in IgVH and P53 mutation are among the factors involved in CLL prognosis. Use of monoclonal antibodies against surface markers of B-cells like anti-CD20 as well as tyrosine kinase inhibitors are the most important therapeutic approaches for CLL.

Protection by Ziziphora clinopoides of acetic acid-induced toxic bowel inflammation through reduction of cellular lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase activity.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition of the intestine with unknown etiology involving multiple immune, genetic and environmental factors. We were interested in examining the effect of a total extract from Ziziphora clinopoides, an Iranian folk herbal medicine, in the prevention and control of experimental mouse IBD. Z. clinopoides was administered (75, 150, 300 mg/kg) through drinking water to mice, which dispensed a toxic dose of acetic acid intrarectally. Prednisolone was used as the standard drug for comparison. Biochemical, macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the colon were performed. Biochemical evaluation of the inflamed colon was carried out using assays of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) as indicators of free radical activity and cellular lipid peroxidation. Results indicated that the activity of MPO and lipid peroxidation products (TBARS) increased in acetic acid-treated groups, while recovered by pretreatment of animals with Z. clinopoides (75-300 mg/kg) and prednisolone. All doses of Z. clinopoides and prednisolone-treated groups showed significant lower score values of macroscopic and microscopic characters when compared to the acetic acid-treated group. The beneficial effect of Z. clinopoides (300 mg/kg) was comparable to that of prednisolone. It is concluded that Z. clinopoides inhibits acetic acid toxic reactions in the mouse bowel through inhibition of cellular oxidative stress. Proper clinical investigation should be carried out to confirm the same activity in human.

Rate of digestion of foods and postprandial glycaemia in normal and diabetic subjects.

Carbohydrate portions (2 g) of lentils, soya beans, and wholemeal bread were incubated for three hours with human digestive juices and the effect of digestibility on blood glucose examined. Lentils and soya beans released only 39% and 8% respectively of the sugars and oligosaccharides liberated from bread. In healthy volunteers 50 g carbohydrate portions of cooked lentils and soya beans raised blood glucose concentrations by only 42% (p < 0.001) and 14% (p < 0.001) of the bread value. There was a similar response in diabetics. These results suggest that rate of digestion might be a important factor determining the rise in blood glucose concentration after a meal and that supplementing chemical analysis with in-vitro and in-vivo food testing might permit identification of especially useful foods for diabetics.

Relationship between rate of digestion of foods and post-prandial glycaemia.

The amount of carbohydrate released at 1 and 5 h by digestion in vitro of 2 g carbohydrate portions of 14 foods by human digestive juices was compared with the area under the 2-h blood glucose response curve when 50 g carbohydrate portions were fed to groups of five to ten healthy volunteers. A significant relationship was found between the amounts of sugars and oligosaccharides liberated at 1 and 5 h and the food blood glucose area expressed as a percentage of the blood glucose area for 50 g glucose (r = 0.8627 and 0.8618, p less than 0.001). A significant relationship was also found between the glycaemic index and the food fibre content (p less than 0.02) and between the glycaemic index and the glucose trapping capacity of the foods (p less than 0.05). Legumes as a group liberated 56% less sugars and oligosaccharides (p less than 0.01) than the eight cereal foods over 5 h. It is suggested that such studies in vitro may help to identify food of use for diabetic patients, and at the same time throw further light on factors which affect post-prandial glycaemia.