Dietary antioxidants and flavonoids intake, and their association with inflammation and oxidative stress parameters in asthmatic women: a case-control study.

Asthma is more prevalent and severe in women, especially after puberty. Studies suggest a potential link between dietary antioxidants, inflammation, and oxidative stress. This study aimed to compare the dietary intake of antioxidants in asthmatic and healthy women, evaluating their potential associations with inflammation and oxidative stress. This study analyzed 30 asthmatic and 30 healthy women's lung function, anthropometry, biochemical parameters, and dietary antioxidant intake using a 161-itemized semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, the study explored connections between serum inflammatory markers and oxidative stress indicators in relation to dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients and flavonoids. Asthmatic women exhibited higher serum IL-6 levels and lower total antioxidant status compared to healthy controls. Nevertheless, no significant differences were observed in dietary antioxidant micronutrient intake. Healthy controls demonstrated a notably higher intake of anthocyanidins compared to asthmatic women. Furthermore, the study identified a negative correlation between flavonol intake and serum total oxidant status, as well as between flavan-3-ols intake and serum oxidative stress index. Dietary differences in flavonoid and flavonoid-rich foods intake among asthmatic women may affect their serum IL-6 levels and oxidative stress. Promoting a diverse diet rich in flavonoids could benefit women with asthma by mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress.

C allele in transforming growth factor-ß1 rs1800471 gene polymorphisms might indicate a protective feature in encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis development.

INTRODUCTION: Peritoneal fibrosis may progress in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients to a fatal clinical condition called encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of peritoneal fibrosis. We aimed to investigate the association among polymorphisms in the gene encoding TGF-ß1, which were -509C/T (rs1800469), +869T/C (rs1982073), and +915G/C (rs1800471) in EPS patients. METHODS: A total of 16 PD patients who were clinically and radiologically diagnosed with EPS were enrolled and 22 age- and gender-matched PD patients were selected as the non-EPS group. RESULTS: G allele frequency at the rs1800471 gene polymorphism was significantly higher in the EPS group than non-EPS group (p = 0.005). Interestingly, the non-EPS group patients had CC or CG polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: C allele in TGF-ß1 rs1800471 gene polymorphisms might indicate a protective feature in EPS development. Knowing the presence of polymorphism may be effective in selecting renal replacement therapy in patients.

In vitro gastrointestinal resistance of Lactobacillus acidophilus in some dairy products.

In this study, different dairy products such as ice cream, yoghurt, white pickled cheese, and fermented acidophilus milk were manufactured by using either Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 20,079 or Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. The counts of L. acidophilus in the samples on days 1, 15, and 30 of the storage were determined. Additionally, the samples contained L. acidophilus were passed through a dynamic gastrointestinal model designed in laboratory conditions to compare the protective effect of different dairy products on viability of L. acidophilus against stress factors of the gastrointestinal model. The counts of L. acidophilus NCFM and L. acidophilus DSM 20,079 in the samples decreased by between 0.04 and 0.37 log units and by between 0.11 and 0.27 log units, respectively, within 30 days of storage. During the passage through the gastrointestinal model, the highest percentage reduction in the counts of L. acidophilus was determined in yoghurt followed by fermented acidophilus milk, white pickled cheese, and ice cream, respectively. The reduction in the counts of L. acidophilus in the samples during the passage through the model increased with extension of storage time. The results of this study showed that the reduction in the counts L. acidophilus in the samples during the passage through the model was influenced significantly by the matrix of the dairy product and storage period.

Serial measurement of soluble endoglin for risk assessment at the diagnosis of fetal growth restriction.

AIM: In this study, we aimed to investigate the soluble endoglin (sEng) levels in pregnant women with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and to examine the possible relation of the sEng levels with the time remaining to delivery and maternal and fetal complications. METHODS: A total of 42 pregnant women diagnosed with FGR were retrospectively reviewed. Using the maternal blood samples it is at the collected 24-37 gestational weeks, the sEng levels were measured. Fetal biometry measurements, umbilical artery, uterine artery, middle cerebral artery Doppler indices were documented. RESULTS: Of all patients, 17 (40%) were diagnosed with early-onset FGR, while 25 (60%) were diagnosed with late-onset FGR. Abnormal Doppler findings were present in 25 (60%) patients. Of 42 newborns, 18 (42%) were hospitalised in the neonatal unit. The mean sEng level calculated by taking the average of the first and second blood samples was 63.24 ± 49.83 ng/mL. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean sEng levels between those who gave birth within four, three, and two weeks after the diagnosis of FGR and those who did not. There was a positive significant correlation between the mean sEng levels and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.319, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: We did not find a statistically significant relationship between the sEng level and the time remaining to the time of delivery in pregnant women with FGR. We found no statistically significant difference in sEng level between the groups in pregnant women with fetuses with FGR with or without maternal and fetal complications.

Functional effects of visfatin in isolated rat mesenteric small resistance arteries.

A new adipocytokine, visfatin is expressed in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and exerts effects on vascular system in addition to its relationship with various pathological conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the functional effects of visfatin and the possible underlying mechanism(s) of the effects of visfatin in isolated rat mesenteric small resistance arteries. The study was conducted in small resistance arterial rings isolated from rat mesenteric vascular beds. While visfatin incubation did not produce significant alterations in contractile responses of mesenteric arterial rings to noradrenaline, relaxation responses to acetylcholine but not to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were significantly reduced in endothelium-intact rings. The inhibitory effect of visfatin on responses to acetylcholine was not observed in endothelium-denuded preparations. Incubation of tissues with nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) inhibitor FK866 or superoxide dismutase (SOD) reversed the inhibitory effects of visfatin on relaxation responses to acetylcholine. Co-incubation of visfatin with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) did not produce a significant alteration in vascular responses to acetylcholine compared to L-NAME incubation alone. Mesenteric PVAT visfatin levels were significantly higher than and correlated positively with plasma visfatin levels. The results of our study indicated that visfatin-induced reductions in endothelium-dependent relaxations of rat isolated small resistance arteries are mediated by oxygen free radicals and a reduction in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. It was suggested that increment in systemic and/or local visfatin levels due to various pathologies including obesity and excessive weight gain may play a substantial role in initiation and/or propagation of vascular dysfunctions.

Investigation of aki with early biomarkers after cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective: To provide a new interpretation of the effect of intraoperative hemodynamic data on postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) development and to determine the accuracy of some biomarkers which are thought to be the early markers of renal injury. Methods: One hundred adult patients who were connected to the heart-lung pump during open-heart surgery were included in this study. Hemodynamic data, oxygen delivery, and transfusions were recorded intraoperatively, and the preoperative and 3. postoperative hour cystatin C, interleukin-18 (IL-18), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) parameters were measured for early detection of kidney damage. In the analysis, 95% significance level was used to determine the difference. Results: According to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criterion, AKI developed in 24 patients, 18 of whom were stage 1, two were stage 2, and four were stage 3. AKI (+) patients had more transfusions in the intraoperative period and AKI development was a risk factor for postoperative complications. NGAL and IL-18 levels were found to be approximately two-fold in the postoperative period in AKI (+) patients, whereas cystatin C was not sensitive in AKI detection. Conclusion: AKI development increases the risk of postoperative complications. NGAL and IL-18 were successful in detecting AKI in the early postoperative period.