The role of the ImmunatuRNA® complex in promoting skin immunity and its regenerative abilities: Implications for antiaging skincare.

INTRODUCTION: Recent advancements in cosmetic science have ushered in a new era of skincare strategies, with a focus on utilizing natural bioactive ingredients to enhance skin health and combat premature aging. The skin, as the largest organ of human body, provides as a vital protective barrier against external hazards such as environmental pollutions, toxins, and radiation. However, intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including various types of radiation, reduced air quality, and increased exposure to pollutants, lead to an imbalance in the skin's immune system, significantly reducing the skin's ability to regenerate and accelerating skin aging. Therefore, there is an emerging need to develop innovative skincare strategies that could support the skin's immune capacity by strengthening antioxidant protection, skin regeneration, and repair. Plant-derived compounds, along with naturally sourced ingredients, show promise in accelerating wound healing, especially when incorporated into cosmetic formulation. ImmunatuRNA® stands as a prime example of a biologically active complex, uniquely comprising yeast-derived RNA, marine exopolysaccharides, and natural hyaluronic acid, that exhibits high antioxidant activity and exerts beneficial modulatory effects on skin microbiota, thereby positively influencing skin immunity. METHODOLOGY: The main aim of this study was to investigate the potential of the ImmunatuRNA® complex in promoting skin regeneration and reducing signs of skin aging, both through the use of in vitro human skin cultures and the evaluation of clinical trials in healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The results of conducted experimental studies have shown that the ImmunatuRNA® complex demonstrated significant positive effects on the immunity and repair capabilities of the skin, characterized by increased fibroblast proliferation, enhanced glycosaminoglycan synthesis, and reduced oxidative stress. Furthermore, use of the complex also significantly accelerated wound healing following mechanically-induced damage in the keratinocytes, demonstrated as reduction in wound margins measurement, new cell production, and an increase in regeneration speed. In addition, conduced clinical study on healthy human volunteers with various skin types confirmed that use of cosmetic products that incorporate the ImmunatuRNA® complex within the formulation can visibly improve skin condition, appearance, and general health, achieved by increased skin hydration and elasticity, reduced wrinkles, and enhanced skin firmness. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the usefulness of the ImmunatuRNA® complex in the innovative antiaging cosmetic products that can be suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. The inclusion of naturally sourced bioactives, as those found in ImmunatuRNA® complex, represents a promising advancement in holistic natural skincare that consumers appreciate. The active ingredients of the complex support the skin's immunity, fostering its repair and protecting against oxidative damage, thus maintaining skin homeostasis and promoting its regenerative capacity. Further research is necessary to explore the long-term effects of ImmunatuRNA® complex on skin health and its potential applications in innovative skincare formulations.

Yeast Beta-Glucan Supplementation with Multivitamins Attenuates Cognitive Impairments in Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

This research aimed to examine the potential alleviative effects of beta-glucan administration on fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, anxiety/depression symptoms and health-related quality of life in ME/CFS. A 36-week unicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 65 ME/CFS patients, who were randomly allocated to one of two arms to receive four capsules each one of 250 mg beta-glucan, 3.75 µg vitamin D3, 1.05 mg vitamin B6, and 7.5 mg zinc (n = 35), or matching placebo including only microcrystalline cellulose as an excipient (n = 30) once daily. The findings showed that the beta-glucan supplementation significantly improved cognitive fatigue (assessed with FIS-40 scores) after the 36-week treatment compared to the baseline (p = 0.0338). Taken together, this study presents the novel finding that yeast-derived beta-glucan may alleviate cognitive fatigue symptoms in ME/CFS. Thus, it offers valuable scientific insights into the potential use of yeast beta-glucan as a nutritional supplement and/or functional food to prevent or reduce cognitive dysfunction in patients with ME/CFS. Further interventions are warranted to validate these findings and also to delve deeper into the possible immunometabolic pathomechanisms of beta-glucans in ME/CFS.

Increased gut permeability and bacterial translocation are associated with fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: implications for disease-related biomarker discovery.

Background: There is growing evidence of the significance of gastrointestinal complaints in the impairment of the intestinal mucosal barrier function and inflammation in fibromyalgia (FM) and in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). However, data on intestinal permeability and gut barrier dysfunction in FM and ME/CFS are still limited with conflicting results. This study aimed to assess circulating biomarkers potentially related to intestinal barrier dysfunction and bacterial translocation and their association with self-reported symptoms in these conditions. Methods: A pilot multicenter, cross-sectional cohort study with consecutive enrolment of 22 patients with FM, 30 with ME/CFS and 26 matched healthy controls. Plasma levels of anti-beta-lactoglobulin antibodies (IgG anti-ß-LGB), zonulin-1 (ZO-1), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), soluble CD14 (sCD14) and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1ß) were assayed using ELISA. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were recorded using validated self-reported outcome measures. The diagnostic accuracy of each biomarker was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: FM patients had significantly higher levels of anti-ß-LGB, ZO-1, LPS, and sCD14 than healthy controls (all P < 0.0001). In ME/CFS patients, levels of anti-ß-LGB, ZO-1, LPS, and sCD14 were significantly higher than controls, but lower than in FM (all P < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in IL-1ß level. In the FM and ME/CFS cohorts, both anti-ß-LGB and ZO-1 correlated significantly with LPS and sCD14 (P < 0.001 for both). In the FM group, both anti-ß-LGB and ZO-1 were correlated significantly with physical and mental health components on the SF-36 scale (P < 0.05); whereas IL-1ß negatively correlated with the COMPASS-31 score (P < 0.05). In the ME/CFS cohort, ZO-1 was positively correlated with the COMPASS-31 score (P < 0.05). The ROC curve analysis indicated a strong ability of anti-ß-LGB, ZO-1, LPS and sCD14 to predictively distinguish between FM and ME/CFS from healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Biomarkers of intestinal barrier function and inflammation were associated with autonomic dysfunction assessed by COMPASS-31 scores in FM and ME/CFS respectively. Anti-ß-LGB antibodies, ZO-1, LPS, and sCD14 may be putative predictors of intestinal barrier dysfunction in these cohorts. Further studies are needed to assess whether these findings are causal and can therefore be applied in clinical practice.

Polyphenol-Rich Beverages and Mental Health Outcomes.

Emerging evidence suggests that diets rich in plant-based foods and beverages may exert plausible effects on human health tackling the risk of chronic diseases. Although the data are promising for numerous outcomes, including cardiovascular diseases, the data on mental health are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between individual polyphenol-rich beverages intake and mental health outcomes, such as perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality, among adult individuals living in the Mediterranean area. The demographic and dietary characteristics of a sample of 1572 adults living in southern Italy were analysed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, controlling for confounding factors, were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the association between individual polyphenol-rich and alcoholic beverages containing polyphenols and mental health outcomes. The multivariate model adjusted for background covariates and the Mediterranean diet showed that individuals with a moderate intake (up to 1 cup/glass per day) of coffee and tea were less likely to have high perceived stress (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.45-0.84) and depressive symptoms (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.39-0.80), respectively. Furthermore, regular coffee and moderate/regular red wine drinkers were less likely to have depressive symptoms (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.54-0.95 and OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.54-0.99, respectively). No significant associations were retrieved for the intake of polyphenol-rich and alcoholic beverages and sleep quality. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that polyphenol-rich beverages may be associated with mental health, in terms of depressive symptoms and perceived stress. Nonetheless, further research exploring how the polyphenol-rich beverages impact brain health and what the optimal patterns of consumption are for different populations are warranted.

Nutrient deficiency profiles and depression: A latent class analysis study of American population.

BACKGROUND: Research into the effects of nutrition on depression is often performed by examining the effects of singular nutrients and dietary styles (e.g.: vegan, Mediterranean). The present study is the first one to establish the effects of patterns of nutritional deficiency within the American population and examines their effects on depression. METHODS: Data was drawn from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Latent class analysis was performed to identify homogeneous groups of nutrient deficiency. A 3-step analysis was performed to establish class-dependant differences in depression severity. BCH analysis revealed unique predictors of depression dependant on most probable class. RESULTS: Analysis revealed 4 classes of nutrient deficiency. Magnesium and dietary fibre were the least endorsed. 'Nutrient deprived' individuals showed the highest depression severity (Mean = 4.137, SD = 0.337). Profiles were predicted by different socioeconomic and anthropogenic predictors with meeting minimum calories showing the strongest odds of not being nutrient deprived (OR between 5.44 and 11.11). Overall, age (ß = -0.115, p ≤ 0.01) and income (ß = -0.147, p ≤ 0.01) were the strongest protecting factors while being female (ß = 0.128, p ≤ 0.01) and arthritis (ß = 0.130, p ≤ 0.01) were the strongest risk factors. LIMITATIONS: The study involved binary variables based on minimum daily intakes and did not account for positive effects of exceeding minimum recommended doses. CONCLUSIONS: The study supports the notion of a negative relationship between good nutrition and depression. Finding unique risk factors for depression symptoms supports the utility of nutrient deficiency profiling.

Fish and human health: an umbrella review of observational studies.

Fish represents one of the most important dietary sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are known to be associated with various health benefits. This study aimed to systematically review existing meta-analyses of observational studies exploring the association between fish intake and various health outcomes. A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to retrieve a total of 63 studies. Evidence was deemed as possible for the association between higher fish intake and decreased risk of the acute coronary syndrome, liver cancer, and depression, and limited for other outcomes (including age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, heart failure, all-cause and coronary heart disease mortality, total and ischaemic stroke) due to heterogeneity between results and potential otherwise inexplicable confounding factors. In conclusion, results from epidemiological studies support the mechanistic effects associated with omega-3 fatty acids from high fish consumption, but evidence needs to be further corroborated with more reliable results.

Dietary Phytoestrogen Intake and Cognitive Status in Southern Italian Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Aging society faces significant health challenges, among which cognitive-related disorders are emerging. Diet quality has been recognized among the major contributors to the rising prevalence of cognitive disorders, with increasing evidence of the putative role of plant-based foods and their bioactive components, including polyphenols. Dietary polyphenols, including phytoestrogens, have been hypothesized to exert beneficial effects toward brain health through various molecular mechanisms. However, the evidence on the association between dietary phytoestrogen intake and cognitive function is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between phytoestrogen intake and cognitive status in a cohort of older adults living in Sicily, Southern Italy. METHODS: Dietary information from 883 individuals aged 50 years or older was collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cognitive status was assessed through the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire. RESULTS: The highest total isoflavone (including daidzein and genistein) intake was inversely associated with cognitive impairment compared to the lowest (odds ratio (OR) = 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.20-0.92). Higher intake of total lignans and, consistently, all individual compounds (with the exception of secoisolariciresinol) were inversely associated with cognitive impairment only in the unadjusted model. CONCLUSIONS: A higher intake of phytoestrogens, especially isoflavones, was associated with a better cognitive status in a cohort of older Italian individuals living in Sicily. Taking into account the very low intake of isoflavones in Italian diets, it is noteworthy to further investigate selected populations with habitual consumption of such compounds to test whether these results may be generalized to the Italian population.

Time in Grief: How do Bereaved Parents Mentalize It?

In this multimethod study, we examine bereaved parents' capacity for mentalizing the temporal dimension of their grief. The theoretical assumptions of our study draw on the clinical and anthropological perspectives on the passage of time in grief. Parents' mentalization of their experience of grief was measured both in the attachment context, using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and using the narrative Child Loss Interview (CLI). We used thematic analysis to code parents' mentalizing utterances in order to categorize time-related changes during the grieving process. Parents generally mentalize their grief-related experiences at a lower level of reflective functioning than their general attachment experiences. However, a higher general ability to mentalize contributes to a higher level of RF and greater coherence in mentalizing their grief. Parents experience time in grief through oscillation between the past with the deceased child and a restricted form of existence in the present reality.

Electroneutral polymersomes for combined cancer chemotherapy.

Combination cancer chemotherapy provides an important treatment tool, both as an adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment, this shift in focus from mono to combination therapies has led to increased interest in drug delivery systems (DDS). DDSs, such as polymersomes, are capable of encapsulating large amounts of multiple drugs with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties simultaneously, as well as offering a mechanism to combat multi drug resistant cancers and poor patient tolerance of the cytotoxic compounds utilised. In this article, we report the formulation and evaluation of a novel electroneutral polymersome capable of high encapsulation efficacies for multiple drugs (Doxorubicin, 5-Fluorouracil and leucovorin). The in-vivo biodistribution of the polymersome were established and they were found to accumulate largely in tumour tissue. Polymersome encapsulating the three chemotherapeutic drugs were assessed both in-vitro (BxPC-3 cell line) and in-vivo (following intratumoral and intravenous administration) and compared with the same concentration of the three drugs in solution. We report better efficacy and higher maximum tolerated dose for our combination drug loaded polymersomes in all experiments. Furthermore, intratumorally injected combination drug loaded polymersomes exhibited a 62% reduction in tumour volume after 13 days when compared with the free combination solutions. A smaller differential of 13% was observed for when treatment was administered intravenously however, importantly less cardiotoxicity was displayed from the polymersomal DDS. In this study, expression of a number of survival-relevant genes in tumours treated with the free chemotherapy combination was compared with expression of those genes in tumours treated with the polymersomes harbouring those drugs and the significance of findings is discussed. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The shift in focus from mono to combination chemotherapies has led to an increased interest in the role of drug delivery systems (DDS). Liposomes, although commercialized for mono therapy, have lower loading capacities and stability than their polymeric counterpart, polymersomes. Polymersomes are growing in prevalence as their advantageous properties are better understood and exploited. Here we present a novel polymersome for the encapsulation of three anticancer compounds. This is the first time this particular polymersome has been used to encapsulate these three compounds with both an in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation carried out. This work will be of interest to those in the field of combination therapy, drug delivery, drug toxicity, multidrug resistance, liposomes, DDS and polymersomes.