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•The functional beveragesare excellent delivering means for nutrients and bioactive molecules.•Use of medicinal and aromatic plants in the production of functional beverages has ...become increasingly popular due to specific content ofstructurally diverse bioactive molecules withnumerous confirmed healthbenefitsand specific sensory properties.•The quality of plant extracts and essential oils depends on quality of raw materials and applied extraction techniques.•Rising consumer demand for natural ingredients provides numerous opportunities for the fortification and development of new categories of functional beverages based on medicinal and aromatic plants.
The functional beverages (FBs) are an important segment of functional food products due to health benefits they provide and their appealing sensory characteristics, suitability and affordability. FBs market offers many opportunities for new product development (nutraceuticals, colorants, plant-based medicines and products) with desirable and effective composition ofnutrients and bioactive molecules (BAMs) aimed to deliver health benefits and improve human well-being. Recently, the use of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in the production of FBs has become increasingly popular due to specific content of nutrients (amino and fatty acids) and BAMs (volatile and non-volatile) attributed to the biological effects and health benefits. BAMs are stored in leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, barks and roots, and they mostly include phenolics (phenolic acids, flavonoids, tanins, anthocyanins, lignans and stilbenes), essential oils (EOs), terpenoids, alkaloids, phytosterols and saponins. The aromatic features of MAPs are mainly related to volatile compounds of EOs, but the presence of non-volatile compounds, such as phenolics, also contributes to the specific sensory properties. Phytochemical profiling of plant species containing specific and complex mixtures of BAMs, provides numerous opportunities for the development of new categories of FBs, but also opens new challenges in their isolation using conventional and advanced extraction techniques, as well as determination of potential biological effects. This review summarizes the categories of the most common FBs, BAMs from selected MAPs and their biological effects, extraction techniques suitable for production of plant extracts and EOs, product quality and prediction trends, and several directions towards future research on FBs development strategies.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are a leading cause of viral‐induced malignancies worldwide, with a prominent association with cervical and head and neck cancers. The pivotal role of HPV ...oncoproteins, E5, E6, and E7, in manipulating cellular events, which contribute to viral pathogenesis in various ways, has been extensively documented. This article reviews the influence of HPV oncoproteins on cellular signaling pathways within the host cell, shedding light on the underlying molecular mechanisms. A comprehensive understanding of these molecular alterations is essential for the development of targeted therapies and strategies to combat HPV‐induced premalignancies and prevent their progress to cancer. Furthermore, this review underscores the intricate interplay between HPV oncoproteins and some of the most important cellular signaling pathways: Notch, Wnt/β‐catenin, MAPK, JAK/STAT, and PI3K AKT/mTOR. The treatment efficacies of the currently available inhibitors on these pathways in an HPV‐positive context are also discussed. This review also highlights the importance of continued research to advance our knowledge and enhance therapeutic interventions for HPV‐associated diseases.
Rupture of the internal iliac artery is a rare complication in pregnancy that is associated with maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. We present a case of a 30-year-old primipara admitted to ...our department in 39th week of gestation after sudden onset of intense abdominal pain. On admission, the patient was pale, tachycardiac, but with normal blood pressure and afebrile. Symptoms of acute abdomen were clear and surgery was indicated. Diagnosis was confirmed during cesarean section. Enlarged gravid uterus compressed the ruptured artery and prevented heavier bleeding. Acute bleeding due to arterial rupture causes severe symptoms, predominantly abdominal pain. Changes in blood count become significant some time after the onset of rupture. As the gravid uterus compressed the arterial rupture, preoperative bleeding was by far less abundant than the bleeding after the baby had been delivered and the size of the uterus decreased. Any cause of acute abdomen during pregnancy (abruption of the placenta, spleen rupture, visceral artery thrombosis) requires urgent surgical treatment, as well as intraoperative and postoperative intensive treatment. Rupture of the internal iliac artery is a rare complication in pregnancy, but has to be considered as a differential diagnosis of abdominal pain.
Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) is a cytologic diagnosis etiologically related to human papilloma virus (HPV) infection that leads to the release of inflammation mediators, the ...formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased levels of antioxidants in tissues, which is why antioxidants might be considered effective against SIL progression. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation (600 mg/day) on the regression of low-grade SIL in 100 patients. Low-grade SIL was determined after the cytological screening, colposcopic examination and targeted biopsy and histological confirmation of cytological−colposcopic diagnosis. Inflammation parameters and the presence of HPV were determined by standard laboratory methods. Dietary and lifestyle habits were investigated using a standardized and validated semi-quantitative food questionnaire (FFQ). ALA supplementation significantly reduced the proportion of patients with low-grade cytological abnormalities, in comparison to placebo. Given the obtained level of significance (p < 0.001), the presented results indicate that short-term ALA supplementation shows a clinically significant effect on cervical cytology. Future studies should focus on the use of innovative formulations of ALA that might induce bioavailability and therapeutic efficiency against HPV infection and the investigation of synergistic effects of concurrent dietary/lifestyle modification and ALA supplementation in both low-grade and high-grade SIL.
Abstract Aims To determine whether the brain disturbances develop in late-onset intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) before blood flow redistribution towards the fetal brain (detected by Doppler ...measurements in the middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery). Further, to evaluate predictive values of Doppler arterial indices and umbilical cord blood gases and pH for early functional and/or morphological brain disturbances in late-onset IUGR. Study design This cohort study included 60 singleton term pregnancies with placental insufficiency caused late-onset IUGR (IUGR occurring after 34 gestational weeks). Umbilical artery resistance index (URI), middle cerebral artery resistance index (CRI), and cerebroumbilical (C/U) ratio (CRI/URI) were monitored once weekly. Umbilical blood cord samples (arterial and venous) were collected for the analysis of pO2, pCO2 and pH. Morphological neurological outcome was evaluated by cranial ultrasound (cUS), whereas functional neurological outcome by Amiel-Tison Neurological Assessment at Term (ATNAT). Results 50 fetuses had C/U ratio > 1, and 10 had C/U ratio ≤ 1; among these 10 fetuses, 9 had abnormal neonatal cUS findings and all 10 had non-optimal ATNAT. However, the total number of abnormal neurological findings was much higher. 32 neonates had abnormal cUS (53.37%), and 42 (70.00%) had non-optimal ATNAT. Furthermore, Doppler indices had higher predictive validity for early brain disturbances than umbilical cord blood gases and pH. C/U ratio had the highest predictive validity with threshold for adverse neurological outcome at value 1.13 (ROC analysis), i.e., 1.18 ( party machine learning algorithm). Conclusion Adverse neurological outcome at average values of C/U ratios > 1 confirmed that early functional and/or structural brain disturbances in late-onset IUGR develop even before activation of fetal cardiovascular compensatory mechanisms, i.e., before Doppler signs of blood flow redistribution between the fetal brain and the placenta.
Purpose: Increasing evidence exists that hyperprolactinemia alters metabolic profile. The mechanism of this effect is unknown. We aimed to investigate the differences between the metabolic profile of ...patients with prolactinomas and nonfunctional pituitary adenomas and to evaluate the impact of other pituitary hormones on their metabolic profile. Methods: Our retrospective study included 86 consecutive patients with prolactinomas and nonfunctional adenomas (29 prolactinomas and 57 adenomas). Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum prolactin, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, urinary free cortisol, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone in men, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, alanine-transaminase, aspartate-transaminase, fasting glucose, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were obtained for all patients. Regression analyses were performed on log-transformed data. Results: After adjustment for age, gender, and tumor size, prolactinomas were associated with higher BMI (OR 5.61, 95%CI 1.70-9.51, p = 0.005), LDL cholesterol (OR 3.60, 95%CI 1.35-5.93, p = 0.015), DHEA-S (OR 1.97, 95%CI 1.23-3.72, p = 0.026), and lower GH levels (OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.03-0.84, p = 0.037). In a linear multivariate regression, the association between DHEA-S, GH, and prolactin remained significant even after adjustment for BMI. GH and IGF-I were associated with BMI and LDL cholesterol, but the association diminished after adjustment for serum prolactin. Conclusions: Prevalence of obesity is four times higher in patients with prolactinomas than in patients with nonfunctional adenomas. Higher DHEA-S and lower GH levels in patients with prolactinomas may have an important role in prolactin-induced metabolic effects. Further studies are needed.
Ureteral triplication is a very rare anomaly found in the upper urinary tract. This condition can be connected with a higher incidence of congenital anomalies and predisposition for urinary ...infections. Operative procedure is considered in cases where symptoms reduce the patient's quality of life. The type of surgical treatment depends on symptom manifestation. The risk of renal failure is usually a deciding factor, which can be found in conditions such as vesicoureteral reflux, obstruction, ureteral ectopy and recurrent infections. Simultaneous treatment of upper and lower urinary tract can be performed. We report a case of a 38-year-old female patient diagnosed with cervical carcinoma, where ureteral triplication was detected incidentally during a radical operative procedure. Keywords: Ureteral triplication; Cervical carcinoma; Congenital anomalies
Uterine rupture during pregnancy is a critical obstetric complication associated with maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. The risk is increased in patients with a history of previous uterine ...surgery including cesarean section, myomectomy, salpingectomy, as well as uterine and placental anomalies and polyhydramnios. It can also occur spontaneously. We present a case of uterine rupture in the early third trimester in a woman who had undergone previous laparoscopic removal of the left fallopian tube due to sactosalpinx and laparotomic removal of left uterine horn due to ectopic pregnancy. Key words: Pregnancy; Third trimester; Uterine rupture; Cornual resection; Salpingectomy
Postmenopausal women have higher risk of cardiovascular disease. One of the contributing factors could be reduced activity of anti-atherogenic enzyme paraoxonase 1 (PON1). The aim of this study was ...to examine differences in the lipid status, paraoxonase and arylesterase PON1 activities and PON1 phenotype in women with regular menstrual cycle and in postmenopausal women.
The study included 51 women in reproductive age (25 in follicular and 26 in luteal phase of the menstrual cycle) and 23 women in postmenopause. Lipid parameters in sera were determined using original reagents and according to manufacturer protocol. PON1 activity in serum was assessed by spectrophotometric method with substrates: paraoxon and phenylacetate. PON1 phenotype was determined by double substrate method.
Compared to the women in follicular and luteal phase, postmenopausal women have significantly higher concentration of triglyceride 0.9 (0.7-1.3), 0.7 (0.6-1.0) vs. 1.5 (0.9-1.7) mmol/L; P = 0.002, cholesterol 5.10 (4.78-6.10), 5.05 (4.70-5.40) vs. 6.30 (5.73-7.23) mmol/L; P < 0.001, LDL 3.00 (2.56-3.63), 3.00 (2.70-3.70) vs. 3.90 (3.23-4.50) mmol/L; P < 0.001, and apolipoprotein B 0.88 (0.75-1.00), 0.79 (0.68-1.00) vs. 1.07 (0.90-1.24) mmol/L; P = 0.002. PON1 basal 104 (66-260), 106 (63-250) vs. 93 (71-165) U/L; P = 0.847 and salt-stimulated paraoxonase activity 210 (131-462), 211 (120-442) vs. 180 (139-296) U/L; P = 0.857 as well as arylesterase activity 74 (63-82), 70 (54-91) vs. 70 (60-81) kU/L; P = 0.906 and PON1 phenotype (P = 0.810) were not different in the study groups.
There are no differences in PON1 activity and PON1 phenotype between women with regular menstrual cycle and postmenopausal women.
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