Clustering and Correlations amongst NEFA, Selected Adipokines and Morphological Traits-New Insights into Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

Obesity is a common feature in horses suffering from metabolic syndrome. While adipokines involvement as biomarkers is better established in human pathology, little data are available on horses. This study aimed to investigate the possible association and relationship between selected metabolic parameters and morphological traits in equine metabolic syndrome. Adiposity was evaluated using body condition score (BCS) and cresty neck score (CNS). Plasma levels of total cholesterol, insulin, NEFA, and adipokines (omentin and chemerin) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Spearman correlation, univariate linear regression analysis and hierarchical clustering were performed. Significant positive correlations were observed between NEFA and bodyweight (r = 0.322; p = 0.006), BCS (r = 0.295; p = 0.013), and CNS (r = 0.267; p = 0.024), total cholesterol and bodyweight (r = 0.262; p = 0.027), and omentin and CNS (r = 0.234; p = 0.049). Cluster analysis supported these results and provided more details on the relationships between studied variables within and between the four resulting groups. These findings highlight NEFA, chemerin, and omentin as valuable biomarkers that could be further analyzed in other horse breeds for a better understanding of equine metabolic pathology.

Flaxseed Ethanol Extracts' Antitumor, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Potential.

The antitumoral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of flaxseed ethanol extract was screened. Phytochemical analysis was performed by measuring the total phenolic content and by HPLC-DAD-ESI MS. In vitro antiproliferative activity was appreciated by MMT test of four adenocarcinomas and two normal cell lines. In vitro, antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, FRAP, H2O2, and NO scavenging tests. The in vivo growth inhibitory activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in female BALB/c mice was determined using the trypan blue test. In EAC mice serum and ascites total oxidative status, total antioxidant reactivity, oxidative stress index, malondialdehyde, total thiols, total nitrites, 3-nitrotyrosine, and NFkB were measured. The phytochemical analysis found an significant content of phenols, with lignans having the highest concentration. The extract had an significant in vitro antioxidant effect and different inhibitory effects on different cell lines. After treatment of EAC mice with flaxseeds extract, body weight, ascites volume and viable tumour cell count, serum and ascites oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers decreased significantly. The ethanol flaxseeds extract has potential antiproliferative activity against some ovary and endometrial malignant cells and EAC. This effect can be attributed to the phenols content, and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

Flaxseed Ethanol Extract Effect in Acute Experimental Inflammation.

Background and Objectives: Previous studies demonstrated antioxidant activities for flaxseed and flaxseed oil. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prophylactic and therapeutic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of flaxseed ethanol extract in acute experimental inflammation. Materials and Methods: The in vivo anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity was evaluated on a turpentine-induced acute inflammation (6 mL/kg BW, i.m.) by measuring serum total oxidative status, total antioxidant reactivity, oxidative stress index, malondialdehyde, total thiols, total nitrites, 3-nitrotyrosine, and NFkB. The experiment was performed on nine groups (n = 5) of male rats: negative control; inflammation; three groups with seven days of flaxseed extract (100%, 50%, 25%) pretreatment followed by inflammation on day eight; three groups of inflammation followed by seven days of treatment with flaxseed extract (100%, 50%, 25%); inflammation followed by seven days of treatment with diclofenac (20 mg/kg BW). Results: Flaxseed extract anti-inflammatory activity was better in the therapeutic plan than in the prophylactic one, and consisted of NO, 3NT, and NF-κB reduction in a dose dependent way. ROS was reduced better in the therapeutic flaxseed extracts administration, and antioxidants were increased by the prophylactic flaxseed extracts administration. Both, ROS and antioxidants were influenced more by the total flaxseed extract, which was also more efficient than diclofenac. Conclusions: flaxseed extract prophylaxis has a useful antioxidant activity by increasing the antioxidants, and flaxseed extract therapy has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities by reducing NF-κB, RNS, and ROS.

Association of Graphene Silver Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) with Photodynamic Therapy for Inactivation of Halitosis Responsible Bacteria in Denture Wearers.

(1) Background: Poor hygiene and denture presence in the oral cavity are factors that favor bacterial accumulation, the cause of halitosis and of various oral and general diseases. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of inactivating bacteria associated with halitosis in acrylic denture wearers using polymethyl methacrylate resin enhanced with graphene silver nanoparticles and the effect of the resin association with extra oral photodynamic therapy. (2) Methods: Graphene silver nanoparticles in 1 and 2 wt% were added to a commercial acrylic resin powder. Three study groups containing samples from the three different materials were established. The first group was not exposed to the light treatment, and the other two were exposed to red light (laser and light emitting diode) after photosensitizer placement on the disk's surface. Samples were incubated with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Enterococcus faecalis. (3) Results: For both bacterial strains, inhibition zones were obtained, showing significant differences for the light-treated samples. (4) Conclusions: Denture resins with antibacterial properties associated with extra oral photodynamic therapy exhibited enhanced antibacterial effects. The procedure could be used as a safer and more efficient alternative technique against halitosis and oral infections in denture wearers.

Antitumoral and Immunomodulatory Effect of Mahonia aquifolium Extracts.

The prodrug potential of Mahonia aquifolium, a plant used for centuries in traditional medicine, recently gained visibility in the literature, and the activity of several active compounds isolated from its extracts was studied on biologic systems in vitro and in vivo. Whereas the antioxidative and antitumor activities of M. aquifolium-derived compounds were studied at some extent, there are very few data about their outcome on the immune system and tumor cells. To elucidate the M. aquifolium potential immunomodulatory and antiproliferative effects, the bark, leaf, flower, green fruit, and ripe fruit extracts from the plant were tested on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and tumor cells. The extracts exert fine-tuned control on the immune response, by modulating the CD25 lymphocyte activation pathway, the interleukin-10 signaling, and the tumor necrosis-alpha secretion in four distinct human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) subpopulations. M. aquifolium extracts exhibit a moderate cytotoxicity and changes in the signaling pathways linked to cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of the tumor cells. These results open perspectives to further investigation of the M. aquifolium extract prodrug potential.

Fractal analysis of ibuprofen effect on experimental dog peri-implantitis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the fractal analysis of gingival changes and systemic nitro-oxidative stress in a short-term low-dose ibuprofen (IBU) treatment at experimental peri-implantitis (PI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six adult male mixed-breed dogs with PI were randomly treated for 2 weeks, 3 with IBU (5 mg/kg b.w.) and 3 with placebo. Clinical and radiological evaluation were performed. Gingival biopsies were assessed by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and fractal analysis. Blood was collected to assay nitric oxide (NOx), total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant response (TAR), and oxidative stress index (OSI). RESULTS: Specific gingival ultrastructural alterations, bone loss, and systemic nitro-oxidative stress were evident in PI-placebo animals. IBU caused significant clinical, microscopic, fractal dimensions (P < 0.01), NOx, TOS, and OSI improvements. IBU caused no important bone and TAR changes. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that fractal analysis was a good method to assess the complex morphological changes and correlations with the nitro-oxidative stress in PI. Short-term low-dose IBU treatment consistently improved gingival status and reduced systemic nitro-oxidative stress.

Is there any interplay between incretins and bile acids? What is the role of bariatric surgery?

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with the impairment of the incretin effect. Evidence has revealed that bile acids are involved in glucose homeostasis. Bariatric surgery, referred also as metabolic surgery, exerts beyond weight loss an important metabolic effect by inducing amelioration or remission of type 2 diabetes. Surgical procedures that involve rearrangements of the gastrointestinal tract and therefore rerouting of the food such as laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric by pass (LRYGB), induce an increase in glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) levels and of bile acids, which will both promote an early improvement of glycemic control. Emerging data have revealed that there might be an interplay between GLP-1 and bile acids regarding glycemic control, raising the question about considering bile acids as the new gut hormones.