The use of gentamicin (GM) is limited due to its nephrotoxicity mediated by oxidative stress. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of a flavonoid-rich extract of
L. elderflower (SN) to inhibit ...lipoperoxidation in GM-induced nephrotoxicity. The HPLC analysis of the SN extract recorded high contents of rutin (463.2 ± 0.0 mg mL
), epicatechin (9.0 ± 1.1 µg mL
), and ferulic (1.5 ± 0.3 µg mL
) and caffeic acid (3.6 ± 0.1 µg mL
). Thirty-two Wistar male rats were randomized into four groups: a control group (C) (no treatment), GM group (100 mg kg
bw day
GM), GM+SN group (100 mg kg
bw day
GM and 1 mL SN extract day
), and SN group (1 mL SN extract day
). Lipid peroxidation, evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzymes activity-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)-were recorded in renal tissue after ten days of experimental treatment. The MDA level was significantly higher in the GM group compared to the control group (
< 0.0001), and was significantly reduced by SN in the GM+SN group compared to the GM group (
= 0.021). SN extract failed to improve SOD, CAT, and GPX activity in the GM+SN group compared to the GM group (
> 0.05), and its action was most probably due to the ability of flavonoids (rutin, epicatechin) and ferulic and caffeic acids to inhibit synthesis and neutralize reactive species, to reduce the redox-active iron pool, and to inhibit lipid peroxidation. In this study, we propose an innovative method for counteracting GM nephrotoxicity with a high efficiency and low cost, but with the disadvantage of the multifactorial environmental variability of the content of SN extracts.
Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are important trace elements for cognitive development and normal neurological functioning. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurological disorder, which has ...previously been associated with the levels of some trace elements in the blood. However, clinical data regarding the potential implication of Zn and Cu in patients with ASD are still insufficient. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the whole blood levels of Zn and Cu in a cohort of 28 children with ASD and 28 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Whole blood Zn and Cu levels were assessed using inductively-coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry. Both in the control and in the ASD group, the values of whole blood Cu and Zn were characterized by a Gaussian distribution. The results indicate that the ASD children were characterized by ~10 % (
p
= 0.005) and ~12 % (
p
= 0.015) lower levels of whole blood Zn and Zn/Cu ratio, respectively, in comparison to controls. No significant difference in whole blood Cu was observed. However, Cu/Zn ratio was ~15 % (
p
= 0.008) higher in ASD children than that in the control ones. The results of the present study may be indicative of Zn deficiency in ASD children. Taking into account Zn-mediated up-regulation of metallothionein (MT) gene expression, these findings suggest a possible alteration in the functioning of the neuroprotective MT system. However, further investigations are required to test this hypothesis.
Insulin resistance (IR) and cardiometabolic disorders are the main consequences of today's alimentary behavior. This study evaluates the effects of a chronic-discontinuous treatment with alpha-lipoic ...acid (AL), an antioxidant substance that improves glycemic control associated with diabetes mellitus, on metabolic disorders and plasma oxidative stress induced by fructose intake, in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats (48 animals) were randomized into two series (
= 24): rats fed with standard chow or with standard chow supplemented with 60% fructose. In each of the two series, for 2 weeks/month over 12 weeks, a group of rats (
= 12) was intraperitoneally injected with NaCl 0.9%, and a second group (
= 12) received AL 50mg/kg/day. Body weight, glycemia, and systolic blood pressure were monitored throughout the study. After 12 weeks, IR, plasma lipoproteins, uric acid, transaminase activities, and oxidative stress markers were assessed. The high fructose-enriched diet induced cardiometabolic disorders (hypertension, hyperglycemia, IR and dyslipidemia), an increase in uric acid concentration, transaminase activities and C-reactive protein level. This diet also enhanced plasma products of lipid and protein oxidation, homocysteine level, and decreased GSH/GSSG ratio. In this field, there is evidence to indicate that oxidative stress plays an important role in the etiology of diabetic complications. AL discontinuous treatment prevents the metabolic disorders induced by fructose intake, reduced plasma lipid and protein oxidation-products, and restored the GHS/GSSG ratio. Our study proves a promising potential of the chronic-discontinuous treatment of AL and highlights the pleiotropic effects of this antioxidant substance in metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
Introduction: Hyperhomocysteinemia plays an etiologic role in homocystinuria, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Potential mechanisms involved in the degenerative diseases of aging ...include: oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. Aim: In the present study we evaluated the effect of acute administration of homocysteine (Hcy), at a level similar to that found in homocystinuria, on biochemical markers of inflammation (such as IL-6) and of oxidative stress (such as gluthathione peroxidase - GPx). Material and Method: The study was performed on 40 young and older Wistar rats. IL-6 serum level was quantified by a high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) method and the activity of whole blood GPx was measured using a commercially available Randox kit. Results: Our results showed that Hcy administration increased the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in young rats (p<0.3) and decreased IL-6 level in older rats (p<0.008), when compared to the control group. GPx activity was found to increase with age (587.07 U/gHb versus 847.5 U/gHb, p<0.001). Two hours after Hcy administration, GPx activity was found to decrease, but not in a statistically significant manner. The difference between GPx activities in Hcy treated groups remains statistically significant (p<0.01) in the younger group, compared to older group (556.62 U/gHb versus 748.38 U/gHb). Conclusion: Our results indicate the existence of a correlation between hyperhomocysteinemia, proinflammatory state and oxidative stress, illustrated by the direct dependence of whole blood GPx activities on the increasing age. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used therapeutic agents that exhibit frequent and sometimes severe adverse effects, including gastrointestinal ulcerations and ...cardiovascular disorders. In an effort to obtain safer NSAIDs, we assessed the direct cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition activity and we investigated the potential COX binding mode of some previously reported 2-(trimethoxyphenyl)-thiazoles. The in vitro COX inhibition assays were performed against ovine COX-1 and human recombinant COX-2. Molecular docking studies were performed to explain the possible interactions between the inhibitors and both COX isoforms binding pockets. Four of the tested compounds proved to be good inhibitors of both COX isoforms, but only compound
showed a good COX-2 selectivity index, similar to meloxicam. The plausible binding mode of compound
revealed hydrogen bond interactions with binding site key residues including Arg120, Tyr355, Ser530, Met522 and Trp387, whereas hydrophobic contacts were detected with Leu352, Val349, Leu359, Phe518, Gly526, and Ala527. Computationally predicted pharmacokinetic profile revealed
as lead candidate. The present data prove that the investigated compounds inhibit COX and thus confirm the previously reported in vivo anti-inflammatory screening results suggesting that
is a suitable candidate for further development as a NSAID.
Bruxism is a parafunctional activity represented by the gnashing and clenching of one’s teeth. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of screening and monitoring with a Bruxoff device ...during nocturnal bruxism in 51 children and adolescents (36 with bruxism and 15 without bruxism) by assessing the variations in the intensity and duration of parafunctional activity in each patient. Bruxoff measurements were recorded for at least 60 min for three consecutive nights for each subject. All the parameters recorded using Bruxoff in the control and the study groups showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). The differences found by comparing the values recorded in the male and female study groups are significant for heart rate, the number of masseter muscle contractions during one night, and mixed contractions. The Bruxoff device proved to be important in diagnosing patients with bruxism in our practice.
During impressions, bacteria, viruses, and fungi remain on the impression material, representing a significant risk for the medical team (dentists, dental assistants, and laboratory technicians). ...Impression disinfectants have been introduced into dentistry to reduce the risk of cross-infection. This study was performed by examining the surface disinfection of five commonly used impression materials in prosthodontics: alginate-Tropicalgin (Zhermack®), condensation silicone-Zetaplus (Zhermack®), Oranwash L (Zhermack®); and addition silicone-Elite HD + Putty Soft (Zhermack®), Elite + Light Body (Zhermack®) after the disinfection with three disinfectants: Zeta 3 Soft (Zhermack®), Zeta 7 Spray (Zhermack®) and Zeta 7 Solution (Zhermack®). Before disinfection, the impression materials were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Candida albicans ATCC 10213. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of the two examined specific disinfectants in reducing cross-infection risk. The surface disinfectant-spray is not adequate for impression disinfection. A high number of bacterial colonies were found on the surface of all impressions disinfected with this spray. The immersion-disinfection method effectively eliminates the risk of cross-infections (Kruskal–Wallis test showed a p < 0.001).
Obesity is a systemic disease and represents one of the leading causes of death worldwide by constitutingthe main risk factor for a series of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes ...mellitus (T2DM),cardiovascular diseases and dyslipidemia. Lifestyle interventions have been attempting to prevent T2DM andobesity but are difficult to maintain by most patients. However, the recent focus on the intestinal microbiotaand its important role in the host’s metabolism provides a new key for improving metabolic health. Modulatingthe composition of the gut microbiota was proposed as a method to manage these metabolic diseases andmost frequently this is undertaken by using probiotics, prebiotics or synbiotics. Furthermore, the action ofmetformin, the most commonly prescribed drug for treating T2DM, is mediated in part by the gut microbiota,although this interplay may also be responsible for the frequent gastrointestinal adverse effects of metformin.Thus, adding a gut microbiota modulator (GMM), such as probiotics or prebiotics, to metformin therapy couldamplify its anti-diabetic effects, while decreasing its adverse reactions. This review summarizes the varioustherapies that are used to shift the composition of the microbiome and their efficacy in alleviating metabolicparameters, it assesses the interaction between metformin and the gut microbiota, and it evaluates the existingclinical and preclinical studies that analyze the potential synergy of a combined metformin-GMM therapy.
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