Fatigue in Inflammatory Joint Diseases.

Fatigue is a prevalent symptom in various rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. It is characterised as a subjective, enduring feeling of generalised tiredness or exhaustion, impacting the patient's life quality and exacerbating disability. The fatigue nature is multifaceted, encompassing physiological, psychological, and social factors, and although the exact cause of inflammatory joint diseases is not fully understood, several factors are believed to contribute to its development. Despite high prevalence and importance, the symptom is often underestimated in clinical practice. Chronic inflammation, commonly associated with rheumatic diseases, has been proposed as a potential contributor to fatigue development. While current treatments effectively target inflammation and reduce disease activity, fatigue remains a persistent problem. Clinical evaluation of rheumatic diseases primarily relies on objective criteria, whereas fatigue, being a subjective symptom, is solely experienced and reported by the patient. Managing fatigue in inflammatory joint diseases involves a multifaceted approach. Identifying and comprehensively assessing the subjective components of fatigue in individual patients is crucial for effectively managing this symptom in everyday clinical practice.

Bioavailability of acalabrutinib suspension delivered via nasogastric tube in the presence or absence of a proton pump inhibitor in healthy subjects.

AIMS: Acalabrutinib, a selective Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Many critically ill patients are unable to swallow and need oral medications to be delivered via a nasogastric (NG) tube. Furthermore, critically ill patients are typically administered proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) to prevent stress ulcers. Concomitant administration with PPIs reduces acalabrutinib exposure and is not currently recommended. To evaluate acalabrutinib in subjects co-administered with PPIs who require NG delivery, a phase 1, open-label, randomized, crossover, single-dose study was conducted in healthy subjects. METHODS: The study assessed the relative bioavailability of an acalabrutinib suspension-in regular, degassed Coca-Cola-administered via NG tube (Acala-NG) versus the pharmacokinetics (PK) of an acalabrutinib capsule administered orally with water. In addition, the PPI effect was evaluated by comparing the PK following Acala-NG in the presence or absence of rabeprazole. RESULTS: Exposure of acalabrutinib and its active metabolite (ACP-5862) were comparable following administration of Acala-NG versus the oral capsule (Geo mean ratio, % ref [90% confidence interval, CI]: acalabrutinib AUCinf : 103 [93-113]; Cmax : 144 [120-173]). In addition, exposure was similar following administration of Acala-NG with and without a PPI (Geo mean ratio, % ref [90% CI]: acalabrutinib AUCinf : 105 [79-138]; Cmax : 95 [66-137]). No safety or tolerability concerns were observed, and all adverse events were mild and resolved without treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Acala-NG with or without a PPI is safe and well-tolerated without impeding bioavailability.

Screening and Structure-Activity Relationship for Selective and Potent Anti-Melanogenesis Agents Derived from Species of Mulberry (Genus Morus).

Tyrosinase is a multifunctional, copper-containing and rate-limiting oxidase that catalyses crucial steps in the melanogenesis pathway and is responsible for skin-pigmentation abnormalities in mammals. Numerous tyrosinase inhibitors derived from natural and synthetic sources have been identified as an objective for the development of anti-melanogenesis agents. However, due to side effects and lack of expected efficiency, only a small percentage of them are used for medical and cosmetic purposes. This critical review focuses on searching for novel active substances and recently discovered plant-derived anti-tyrosinase inhibitors from the Morus genus (Moraceae family). A detailed analysis of their structure-activity relationships is discussed. The information contained in this article is crucial for the cosmetics and medical industries, in order to show new directions for the effective search for natural anti-melanogenesis products (with satisfactory efficiency and safety) to treat and cure hyperpigmentation.

Spirulina extract improves age-induced vascular dysfunction.

CONTEXT: Vascular dysfunction is considered a hallmark of ageing that has been associated with altered vasomotor responses, in which nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species participate. The consumption of Spirulina extracts, with antioxidant properties, increased recently. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the effect of Spirulina aqueous extract (SAE) on the vascular function of the aorta from aged rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aortic segments from aged male Sprague-Dawley rats (20-22 months old) were exposed to SAE (0.1% w/v, for 3 h) to analyse: (i) the vasodilator response induced by acetylcholine (ACh), by the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP), by the carbon monoxide releasing molecule (CORM) and by the KATP channel opener, cromakalim (CK); (ii) the vasoconstrictor response induced by KCl and noradrenaline (NA); (iii) the production of NO and superoxide anion, and (iv) the expression of the p-eNOS and HO-1 proteins. RESULTS: Incubation with SAE increased the expression of p-eNOS (1.6-fold) and HO-1 (2.0-fold), enhanced NO release (1.4-fold in basal and 1.9-fold in ACh-stimulated conditions) while decreased the production of superoxide (0.7-fold). SAE also increased the sensitivity (measured as pEC50) to ACh (control: -7.06 ± 0.11; SAE: -8.16 ± 0.21), SNP (control: -7.96 ± 0.16; SAE: -9.11 ± 0.14) and CK (control: -7.05 ± 0.39; SAE: -8.29 ± 0.53), and potentiated the response to KCl (1.3-fold) and to NA (1.7-fold). CONCLUSION: The antioxidant properties of SAE improved the vasomotor responses of aorta from aged rats. These results may support the use of Spirulina as a protection against vascular dysfunction.

Resveratrol modulates the blood plasma levels of Cu and Zn, the antioxidant status and the vascular response of thoracic arteries in copper deficient Wistar rats.

Copper (Cu) deficiency plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disorders. Resveratrol (RSV) possesses pleiotropic cardiovascular benefits; however, the mechanism(s) by which RSV exerts protective effects are not completely understood. Male Wistar rats at 6 weeks of age were fed for 8 weeks with a Cu deficient diet (no added Cu, Cu = 0). In addition, Cu deficient rats were supplemented with RSV (500 mg/kg of diet, n = 9). Blood and intestinal samples were taken for further analysis together with internal organs and thoracic arteries. RSV supplementation resulted in elevated blood plasma levels of Cu (x2.1) and Zn (x1.1), in an increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD, x1.5) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, x1.2). Meanwhile, markers of lipid peroxidation expressed as malondialdehyde (MDA, x1.5) and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH, x1.1) were also increased in a significant way. Food intake, body weight, blood glucose, catalase, ceruloplasmin, lipid profile and intestinal samples were not modified. RSV enhanced the vasoconstriction of isolated thoracic arteries to noradrenaline (x1.4), potentiated the vasodilation to acetylcholine (ACh, x1.4) and increased the sensitivity to sodium nitroprusside (SNP). In addition, preincubation with the cyclooxygenase (COX)-inhibitor, indomethacin, potentiated the ACh-induced vasodilation, which was more pronounced in animals not supplemented with RSV. The KATP channel opener, pinacidil, induced a similar response in both studied groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that RSV supplementation influences oxidative stress and the antioxidant status, which may modify the vascular response in Cu deficiency.

Protective Effects of a Strawberry Ellagitannin-Rich Extract against Pro-Oxidative and Pro-Inflammatory Dysfunctions Induced by a High-Fat Diet in a Rat Model.

Due to the demonstrated intestinal microbial transformation of strawberry ellagitannins (ET) into bioactive metabolites, in the current study on rats, we hypothesised that the dietary addition of a strawberry ET-rich extract (S-ET) to a high-fat diet (HFD) would attenuate disturbances in the redox and lipid status as well as in the inflammatory response. We randomly distributed 48 Wistar rats into six groups and used two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess the effects of two main factors-diet type (standard and high-fat) and ET dosage (without, low, and 3× higher)-applied to rats for 4 weeks. In relation to the hypothesis, irrespective of the dosage, the dietary application of ET resulted in the desired attenuating effects in rats fed a HFD as manifested by decreased body weight gain, relative mass of the epididymal pad, hepatic fat, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) concentrations as well as desired modifications in the blood plasma parameters. These beneficial changes were enhanced by the high dietary addition of ET, which was associated with considerably higher concentrations of ET metabolites in the urine and plasma of rats. The results indicated that S-ET could be effectively used for the prevention and treatment of metabolic disturbances associated with obesity, dyslipidaemia, redox status imbalance, and inflammation.

The cytokine alterations/abnormalities and oxidative damage in the pancreas during hypertension development.

The aim of the present study was to compare the content of cytokines, chemokines, and oxidative stress markers in the pancreas of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar Kyoto Rats (WKYs) serving as controls. Enzyme-like immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biochemical methods were used to measure pancreatic levels of interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α, transforming growth factor ß, RANES, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, interferon gamma-induced protein 10, malondialdehyde, and sulfhydryl groups. The results showed that the pancreatic concentrations of all studied cytokines and chemokines did not differ between 5-week-old SHRs and WKYs, except RANTES which was significantly reduced in juvenile SHRs. In 10-week-old animals, except interleukin-1ß, the levels of all these proteins were significantly reduced in SHRs. The pancreatic levels of malondialdehyde were significantly reduced in 5-week-old SHRs and significantly elevated in 10-week-old SHRs while the contents of sulfhydryl groups were similar in both rat strains at any age studied. In conclusion, these data provide evidence that in maturating SHRs, the pancreatic levels of cytokines and chemokines are significantly reduced, while malondialdehyde significantly elevated. This suggests that in the pancreas of mature SHRs, the inflammation process is suppressed but there is ongoing oxidative damage.

A System for Weeds and Crops Identification-Reaching over 10 FPS on Raspberry Pi with the Usage of MobileNets, DenseNet and Custom Modifications.

Automated weeding is an important research area in agrorobotics. Weeds can be removed mechanically or with the precise usage of herbicides. Deep Learning techniques achieved state of the art results in many computer vision tasks, however their deployment on low-cost mobile computers is still challenging. The described system contains several novelties, compared both with its previous version and related work. It is a part of a project of the automatic weeding machine, developed by the Warsaw University of Technology and MCMS Warka Ltd. Obtained models reach satisfying accuracy (detecting 47-67% of weed area, misclasifing as weed 0.1-0.9% of crop area) at over 10 FPS on the Raspberry Pi 3B+ computer. It was tested for four different plant species at different growth stadiums and lighting conditions. The system performing semantic segmentation is based on Convolutional Neural Networks. Its custom architecture combines U-Net, MobileNets, DenseNet and ResNet concepts. Amount of needed manual ground truth labels was significantly decreased by the usage of the knowledge distillation process, learning final model which mimics an ensemble of complex models on a large database of unlabeled data. Further decrease of the inference time was obtained by two custom modifications: in the usage of separable convolutions in DenseNet block and in the number of channels in each layer. In the authors' opinion, the described novelties can be easily transferred to other agrorobotics tasks.

The toxic effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG) - The involvement of nitric oxide, prostanoids and potassium channels in the reactivity of thoracic arteries in MSG-obese rats.

We investigated the potential effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity with regards to nitric oxide and prostanoid production, as well as potassium channel function, in rat thoracic arteries. Newborn male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with typically reported MSG (4.0 mg/g) once daily for 4 consecutive days. At 90 days postnatal, the rats were sacrificed and the thoracic aortas were evaluated for vascular responses and for prostanoid production. Nitric oxide was studied with calcium ionophore (A23187), acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The release of prostanoids was measured under basal and ACh-stimulated conditions, and the vasomotor effect of exogenous thromboxane A2 mimetic, U46619 was assessed. Potassium channel activities were analyzed using an NS1619 opener for BKCa channels and pinacidil for KATP channels. Arteries from MSG-obese rats exhibited a reduced maximal contraction to potassium chloride and hyper-responsiveness to U46619, suggesting that MSG also alters the responsiveness of vascular smooth muscles. The endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh and A23817 was attenuated, suggesting low nitric oxide bioavailability. The hypersensitivity of arteries to an exogenous nitric oxide donor, SNP, occurred. The secondary contraction to A23817 was augmented, suggesting increased activation of the prostanoid receptor. The prostanoid release was increased in both basal- and acetylcholine-stimulated rings. In addition, down-regulation of KATP and BKCa channels influenced hyperpolarizing mechanisms. Our findings suggest that increased prostanoid production and hypersensitivity to thromboxane A2 together with down-regulation of potassium channels and low nitric oxide bioavailability may contribute to the increase in blood pressure found in adult MSG-obese male rats.

Toxicity and cardiac effects of acute exposure to tryptophan metabolites on the kynurenine pathway in early developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos.

Defects in tryptophan metabolism on the l-kynurenine pathway (KP) are implicated in a number of human diseases, including chronic kidney disease, brain edema or injury, tuberculosis and malaria - as well as cancer, neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders. However, it is unclear to what extent detrimental effects of exposure to tryptophan metabolites might impact the early development of organism. Thus, this study examined the effects of KP exposure in zebrafish embryos starting at the blastula period (4hpf) and the segmentation stage (24hpf). 24-hour EC50 and LC50 values were determined in 4hpf embryos as: 26.74 and 331.6µM for anthranilic acid (AA), 62.88 and 616.4µM for quinolinic acid (QUIN), and EC50 - 96.10µM for picolinic acid (PA) and LC50 - 400µM in kynurenic acid (KYNA). In addition, treatment with nanomolar concentrations of KYNA (50nM, 48 and 72hpf embryos) caused a dose-dependent increase in heartbeat. The increase was also seen with l-kyn treatment (50µM, 72hpf), which was the opposite of other applied l-kyn metabolites. A significant drop in heartbeat was observed after a 20-min acute exposure to 626µM PA, 594µM XA and 499µM QUIN, and complete recovery was seen only when PA had been removed. Concentrations of KP metabolites reached in people with different pathological conditions did not exert toxicity to zebrafish embryos and seems to be safe for developing embryos and therefore, the risk of developing impairments in pregnancy of women carrying KP-associated pathologies is initially low.

Effect of perindopril and bisoprolol on IL-2, INF-γ, hs-CRP and T-cell stimulation and correlations with blood pressure in mild and moderate hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of death. Its development is largely determined by lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors, among which arterial hypertension (HT) plays a key role. Available data indicate a significant role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of HT. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess concentrations of mediators of inflammation in patients with mild and moderate HT and its modulation with antihypertensive treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 56 subjects: 17 with first- and 20 with second-grade HT, and 19 healthy subjects constituting a control group. Antihypertensive therapy: in first-grade HT, perindopril 5 mg daily, and in second-grade HT, bisoprolol (5 mg daily) additionally were ordered. Before and after a 4-week treatment, interleukine-2, interferon-γ, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein serum concentrations were assessed. RESULTS: hs-CRP concentration was higher in hypertensive patients, and the difference was statistically significant in patients with second-grade HT compared to the control group (1.42 mg/L vs. 2.55 mg/L; p = 0.003). Antihypertensive treatment was associated with hs-CRP decrease. IL-2 concentration was 14.8% (p = 0.005) higher in first- and 22.2% (p = 0.002) higher in second-grade HT compared to the controls. Treatment significantly reduced concentration of IL-2. IFN-γ concentrations, compared to the control group, were higher by 19.6% (p < 0.001) and 39.9% (p < 0.001) in 1st and 2nd grade HT, respectively. CONCLUSION: Increased values of blood pressure were accompanied by higher concentrations of cytokines and hs-CRP. Reversal of adverse T-cell stimulation was observed after 4-week therapy.
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Allium sativum: facts and myths regarding human health.

Garlic (Allium sativum L. fam. Alliaceae) is one of the most researched and best-selling herbal products on the market. For centuries it was used as a traditional remedy for most health-related disorders. Also, it is widely used as a food ingredient--spice and aphrodisiac. Garlic's properties result from a combination of variety biologically active substances which all together are responsible for its curative effect. The compounds contained in garlic synergistically influence each other so that they can have different effects. The active ingredients of garlic include enzymes (e.g. alliinase), sulfur-containing compounds such as alliin and compounds produced enzymatically from alliin (e.g. allicin). There is a lot of variation among garlic products sold for medicinal purposes. The concentration of Allicin (main active ingredient) and the source of garlic's distinctive odor depend on processing method. Allicin is unstable, and changes into a different chemicals rather quickly. It's documented that products obtained even without allicin such as aged garlic extract (AGE), have a clear and significant biological effect in immune system improvement, treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, liver and other areas. Some products have a coating (enteric coating) to protect them against attack by stomach acids. Clinically, garlic has been evaluated for a number of purposes, including treatment of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cold or the prevention of atherosclerosis and the development of tumors. Many available publications indicates possible antibacterial, anti-hypertensive and anti-thrombotic properties of garlic. Due to the chemical complexity of garlic and the use of different processing methods we obtain formulations with varying degrees of efficacy and safety.

Variations of niacin content in saltwater fish and their relation with dietary RDA in Polish subjects grouped by age.

INTRODUCTION: A rich and natural source of readily assimilated dietary protein together with invaluable vitamins and minerals are fish, particularly the saltwater species. The quality of any given foodstuff is determined by its nutritional value, which in turn depends on the food type and methods used for manufacture, processing and storage. Many fish products contain fewer water soluble vitamins than the source foodstuff as a result of using various technologies during food processing, such as smoking or deep freezing, where vitamins are often either degraded or leached out. In the case of niacin it is relatively easy to make good such losses by eating niacin-rich foods or by taking dietary supplements e.g. the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. OBJECTIVES: To determine niacin content in sea fish that are commonly available on the Polish market and to assess whether this dietary source is sufficient to satisfy the RDA requirements for various age groups of selected subjects living in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Niacin levels were measured firstly in 10 saltwater fish species together with butterfish and Norwegian salmon that formed a separate group. Altogether, 15 types of fish products were analysed in all. They consisted of smoked fish: whitefish, butterfish, sprat, trout, herring (kippers) and mackerel, and frozen fish: butterfish, Norwegian salmon, sole, grenadier and panga. Each product was measured as ten replicates, thus in total 150 analyses were performed. A microbiologically-based method was used for the niacin determination, with enzyme hydrolysis by 40 mg papain and diastase on a 2 g sample (according to the AOAC procedure) to release the free form from the bioavailable form that is bound to NAD and NADP. RESULTS: The most plentiful sources of niacin were found in smoked fish with the highest amounts in butterfish, after warm temperature smoking, and in mackerel; respectively 9.03 and 8.90 mg/100 g. Such 100 g portions of smoked fish are a good dietary source of niacin, in that for men and women above 19 years of age, they constitute respectively 22% - 56% and 25% - 64% of the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance). The highest levels of niacin in frozen fish were found in butterfish and Norwegian salmon; respectively 8.05 and 5.75 mg/100 g which in turn represent respectively 10% - 50% and 11% - 56% of the RDA in men and women aged above 19 years. CONCLUSIONS: Niacin concentrations varied according to fish species. The richest dietary sources were smoked fish consisting of butterfish, after warm temperature smoking, and mackerel. In frozen fish, butterfish and Norwegian salmon had the highest niacin amounts. A 100 g serving of such sea fish can, to quite a large extent, satisfy the adult RDA.

The Effect of an Elevated Dietary Copper Level on the Vascular Contractility and Oxidative Stress in Middle-Aged Rats.

Copper (Cu), being an essential mineral, plays a crucial role in maintaining physiological homeostasis across multiple bodily systems, notably the cardiovascular system. However, an increased Cu level in the body may cause blood vessel dysfunction and oxidative stress, which is unfavorable for the cardiovascular system. Middle-aged (7-8 months old) male Wistar rats (n/group = 12) received a diet supplemented with 6.45 mg Cu/kg (100% of the recommended daily dietary quantity of copper) for 8 weeks (Group A). The experimental group received 12.9 mg Cu/kg of diet (200%-Group B). An ex vivo study revealed that supplementation with 200% Cu decreased the contraction of isolated aortic rings to noradrenaline (0.7-fold) through FP receptor modulation. Vasodilation to sodium nitroprusside (1.10-fold) and acetylcholine (1.13-fold) was potentiated due to the increased net effect of prostacyclin derived from cyclooxygenase-1. Nitric oxide (NO, 2.08-fold), superoxide anion (O2•-, 1.5-fold), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 2.33-fold) measured in the aortic rings increased. Blood serum antioxidant status (TAS, 1.6-fold), Cu (1.2-fold), Zn (1.1-fold), and the Cu/Zn ratio (1.4-fold) increased. An increase in Cu (1.12-fold) and the Cu/Zn ratio (1.09-fold) was also seen in the rats' livers. Meanwhile, cyclooxygenase-1 (0.7-fold), cyclooxygenase-2 (0.4-fold) and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (0.5-fold) decreased. Moreover, a negative correlation between Cu and Zn was found (r = -0.80) in rat serum. Supplementation with 200% Cu did not modify the isolated heart functioning. No significant difference was found in the body weight, fat/lean body ratio, and organ weight for either the heart or liver, spleen, kidney, and brain. Neither Fe nor Se, the Cu/Se ratio, the Se/Zn ratio (in serum and liver), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (iCAM-1) (in serum) were modified. Supplementation with 200% of Cu potentiated pro-oxidant status and modified vascular contractility in middle-aged rats.

Temporary transvenous cardiac pacing in cathlab - myocardial infarction versus other causes - differences, complications, and prognosis. Data from a single-center retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transvenous temporary cardiac pacing (TTCP) is a lifesaving procedure, but the incidence of complications and prognosis depends on the underlying cause. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics, complications, and prognosis in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) requiring TTCP vs. patients with TTCP due to other causes. METHODS: The present analysis involved 244 cases in whom TTCP was performed between 2017 and 2021 in a high-volume cathlab. All the procedures were performed by an interventional cardiologist. MI constituted 46.3% of the patients (n = 113), including 63 ST-segment elevation MI patients (55.75%). Non-MI patients (control group) consisted of patients with any cause of bradycardia requiring TTCP. RESULTS: Myocardial infarction patients requiring TTCP are younger and have a higher prevalence of hypertension and heart failure. The pacing lead is more frequently inserted during asystole/resuscitation, and pacing was needed for a longer time. MI patients required cardiac implantable electronic device implantation less frequently than in other causes (22% vs. 82%, p < 0.01). The incidence of TTCP complications did not differ. The incidence of in-hospital death was 6.5-fold higher in TTCP patients with MI. Logistic regression showed MI to be a strong predictor of in-hospital death (odds ratio: 8.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-57.9). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital mortality in MI patients requiring TTCP is 6.5-fold higher than in other patients with bradycardia. The complication rate of TTCP is similar in MI and non-MI patients. It is not TTCP but the severity of MI itself and the fact that a pacing lead is frequently implanted in asystole or during resuscitation that is responsible for the higher mortality rate.

Characterizations of White Mulberry, Sea-Buckthorn, Garlic, Lily of the Valley, Motherwort, and Hawthorn as Potential Candidates for Managing Cardiovascular Disease-In Vitro and Ex Vivo Animal Studies.

Cardiovascular diseases are a broadly understood concept focusing on vascular and heart dysfunction. Lack of physical exercise, type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, thromboembolism, and kidney and lung diseases all contribute to the development of heart and blood vessel dysfunction. Although effective and important, traditional treatment with diuretics, statins, beta blockers, calcium inhibitors, ACE inhibitors, and anti-platelet drugs remains a second-line treatment after dietary interventions and lifestyle changes. Scientists worldwide are still looking for an herbal product that would be effective and free from side effects, either taken together with or before the standard pharmacological intervention. Such herbal-originated medication therapy may include Morus alba L. (white mulberry), Elaeagnus rhamnoides (L.) A. Nelson (sea-buckthorn), Allium sativum L. (garlic), Convallaria majalis L. (lily of the valley), Leonurus cardiaca L. (motherwort), and Crataegus spp. (hawthorn). Valuable herbal raw materials include leaves, fruits, seeds, and even thorns. This short review focuses on six herbs that can constitute an interesting and potential therapeutic option in the management of cardiovascular disorders.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Manganism: A Narrative Review and Laboratory Recommendations.

In recent years, a series of articles has been published concerning magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in a group of patients exposed to manganism, specifically factory workers, welders, and individuals with liver diseases, as well as those abusing home-produced ephedrone. Some potential symptoms of manganese toxicity include motor disturbances, neurocognitive problems, sleep disorders, and psychosocial changes. Despite various publications on MRI research in individuals with an elevated risk of manganism, there is a noticeable absence of a comprehensive review in this field. The detection of the accumulation of manganese in the brain through MRI can confirm the diagnosis and guide appropriate treatment. Due to the high cost of determining manganese ion levels in biological material, an additional aim of the manuscript was to identify simple medical laboratory parameters that, when performed concurrently with MRI, could assist in the diagnosis of manganism. Among these types of parameters are the levels of bilirubin, magnesium, liver enzymes, creatinine, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.

The Interaction of Dietary Pectin, Inulin, and Psyllium with Copper Nanoparticle Induced Changes to the Cardiovascular System.

We aimed to analyze how supplementation with a standard (recommended, 6.5 mg/kg) or enhanced (two-times higher, 13 mg/kg) dose of copper (Cu), in the form of nanoparticles (NPs) along with dietary intervention via the implementation of diverse types of fiber, affects the cardiovascular system in rats. Nine-week-old male Wistar Han rats (n/group = 10) received, for an additional 6 weeks, a controlled diet with cellulose as dietary fiber and ionic Cu (in the form of carbonate salt). The experimental groups received cellulose, pectin, inulin, and psyllium as dietary fiber, together with CuNPs (6.5 or 13 mg/kg diet). After the experimental feeding, samples of blood, hearts, and thoracic arteries were collected for further analysis. Compared to pectin, and under a standard dose of CuNPs, inulin and psyllium beneficially increased the antioxidant capacity of lipid- and water-soluble compounds in the blood, and decreased heart malondialdehyde. Moreover, pectin decreased heart catalase (CAT) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in the aortic rings compared to inulin and psyllium under standard and enhanced doses of copper. When the dose of CuNPs was enhanced, inulin and psyllium potentiated vasodilation to acetylcholine by up-regulation of COX-2-derived vasodilator prostanoids compared to both cellulose and pectin, and this was modulated with selective inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor for psyllium only. Moreover, inulin decreased heart CAT compared to psyllium. Our results suggest that supplementation with dietary fiber may protect the vascular system against potentially harmful metal NPs by modulating the antioxidant mechanisms.

Impact of packaging system on the microbial quality of chilled rabbit meat over 21 days of storage.

The pace of life is accelerating, so we are seeking ways to optimize the shelf life of products. To achieve this goal, the microbiological quality of rabbit meat was assessed at 7, 14, and 21 days under refrigerated conditions, utilizing two storage methods, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum packaging (VAC). Maintaining high levels of hygiene is critical not only during slaughter but also during subsequent technological processes and meat storage. The research concluded that the MAP method was more effective at extending the shelf-life of fresh rabbit meat than the VAC method. Additionally, increasing the CO2 concentrations in meat significantly decreased the Pseudomonas bacteria population (after 14 and 21 days of storage). Conversely, the gaseous mixture containing 70% O2 significantly decreased the Enterobacteriaceae population in the sample after 21 days of storage. Moreover, the MAP storage method considerably impeded microbial growth, particularly the total yeast and mold count, lactic acid bacteria count, and Pseudomonas spp. count. This study's findings demonstrate that rabbit meat can be stored for 21 days in a modified atmosphere containing appropriate concentrations of gases such as gaseous carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Copper and Zinc Particles as Regulators of Cardiovascular System Function-A Review.

Copper and zinc are micronutrients that play a crucial role in many cellular pathways, act as cofactors in enzymatic systems, and hence, modulate enzyme activity. The regulation of these elements in homeostasis is precisely controlled by various mechanisms. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme requiring both copper and zinc for proper functioning. Additionally, there is an interaction between the concentrations of copper and zinc. Dietary ingestion of large amounts of zinc augments intestinal absorption of this trace element, resulting in copper deficiency secondary to zinc excess. The presence of an overabundance of copper and zinc has a detrimental impact on the cardiovascular system; however, the impact on vascular contractility varies. Copper plays a role in the modulation of vascular remodeling in the cardiac tissue, and the phenomenon of cuproptosis has been linked to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. The presence of copper has an observable effect on the vasorelaxation mediated by nitric oxide. The maintenance of proper levels of zinc within an organism influences SOD and is essential in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Recently, the effects of metal nanoparticles have been investigated due to their unique characteristics. On the other hand, dietary introduction of metal nanoparticles may result in vascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and cellular DNA damage. Copper and zinc intake affect cardiovascular function, but more research is needed.