ABSTRACT
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and mitochondrial dysfunction have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive deficits and neuronal loss. Besides vitamin C being as one of the important antioxidants, recently, it has also been reported as a modulator of BBB integrity and mitochondria morphology. Plasma levels of vitamin C are decreased in AD patients, which can affect disease progression. However, investigation using animal models on the role of vitamin C in the AD pathogenesis has been hampered because rodents produce with no dependence on external supply. Therefore, to identify the pathogenic importance of vitamin C in an AD mouse model, we cross-bred 5 familial Alzheimer's disease mutation (5XFAD) mice (AD mouse model) with ι-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase (Gulo) knockout (KO) mice, which are unable to synthesize their own vitamin C, and produced Gulo KO mice with 5XFAD mice background (KO-Tg). These mice were maintained on either low (0.66 g/l) or high (3.3 g/l) supplementation of vitamin C. We found that the higher supplementation of vitamin C had reduced amyloid plaque burden in the cortex and hippocampus in KO-Tg mice, resulting in amelioration of BBB disruption and mitochondrial alteration. These results suggest that intake of a larger amount of vitamin C could be protective against AD-like pathologies.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/prevention & control , Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage , Cerebral Cortex/drug effects , Dietary Supplements , Hippocampus/drug effects , Plaque, Amyloid , Alzheimer Disease/enzymology , Alzheimer Disease/genetics , Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Animals , Ascorbic Acid/metabolism , Blood-Brain Barrier/drug effects , Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism , Blood-Brain Barrier/pathology , Capillaries/drug effects , Capillaries/metabolism , Capillaries/pathology , Cerebral Cortex/blood supply , Cerebral Cortex/enzymology , Cerebral Cortex/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Gliosis , Hippocampus/enzymology , Hippocampus/pathology , L-Gulonolactone Oxidase/deficiency , L-Gulonolactone Oxidase/genetics , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Knockout , Mice, Mutant Strains , Mitochondria/drug effects , Mitochondria/metabolism , Mitochondria/pathology , Tight Junctions/drug effects , Tight Junctions/metabolism , Tight Junctions/pathologyABSTRACT
In this study, we examined the effects of green tea on inflammation and arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetes patients. As results, inflammatory markers, such as hsCRP and IL-6, were unchanged after green tea consumption, and neither were blood glucose, lipid profiles, insulin resistance, or serum adiponectin levels. Furthermore, tea consumption did not improve baPWV. These results suggest that the above-described mechanisms are unlikely to explain the cardiovascular risk reduction by tea consumption observed in epidemiological studies.
Subject(s)
Beverages , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy , Inflammation/physiopathology , Insulin Resistance , Phytotherapy , Tea , Cross-Over Studies , Female , Flavonoids/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , PulseABSTRACT
We undertook this work to compare the treatment efficacies and the changes of quality of life after pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercise and the functional electrical stimulation (FES)-biofeedback treatment, both of which are being widely used as conservative treatment methods for female urinary incontinence. We randomly selected 60 female incontinence patients who visited our department and divided them evenly into two groups. They were treated for a period of 6 weeks. The subjective changes in the severity of incontinence and discomfort in daily and social life were measured using a translated version of the questionnaire by Jackson. Objective changes of pelvic muscle contraction force were measured using a perineometer. Pre- and post-treatment maximal pelvic floor muscle contractile (PMC) pressure and changes in the severity of urinary incontinence and discomfort of the two groups showed statistically significant differences (p<0.001). In particular the FES-biofeedback group showed significantly increased maximal PMC pressure and a decreased severity of urinary incontinence and discomfort compared to the intensive PFM exercise group (p<0.001). In conclusion, FES-biofeedback proved more effective than simple PFM exercise.