Diets in which fat is significantly provided by olive oil and are relatively rich in vegetables, have been associated with a low incidence of cardiovascular diseases, mostly due to the presence of ...several phenolic compounds which have anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory properties. 1. In this work, we describe the anti-inflammatory effect of 3,4-DHPEA-EDA in a cell model that we developed to mimic inflammatory injury of endothelium. This was based on the production of the proinflammatory chemokine CCL2, following in vitro stimulation of primary human endothelial cells. Pre-treatment of cells with 3,4-DHPEA-EDA resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of CCL2 secretion. The effect of 3,4-DHPEA-EDA on CCL2 expression was observed at the transcriptional level. Functional data have shown that 3,4-DHPEA-EDA diminished monocyte adhesion to HUVECs. These results point on the use of 3,4- DHPEA-EDA as a novel drug aimed to prevent or reduce inflammation of endothelium.
This study is part of the health surveillance system set up with the construction of a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Turin (Italy). Circulatory and respiratory diseases in emergency room (ER) ...accesses and first hospital admissions were considered. Main concerns of population living in the area near WTE were to know whether single and repeated peaks in emissions would correspond to adverse health effects. We tackle this issue using spatio-temporal analyses, comparing an exposed group (EXP) living near the WTE with a reference group (NOEXP). Age-standardized rates of ER accesses between EXP and NOEXP were temporally compared, testing whether there have been significantly different changes over time. We also examined the relationship between emission peaks and ER accesses in the following days. Finally, with time-series analysis, we investigated variations in ER accesses and pollutants before and after WTE start-up. No significant relationship has been found for the outcome considered.
Objectives: The variability in tissue response to chronic hyper-glycaemia makes it difficult to sustain an unified hypothesis on diabetes associated multiorgan failure. A significant literature ...exists on the functional impairment of circulating and bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) as a feature of diabetes. However, whether this phenomenon results in an unbalance between tissue injury and repair is poorly described. Thus, a morphometric analysis of the microvascular network on human pancreas, heart and bone marrow in response to diabetes was carried out. Methods: The effects of type 2 diabetes on different vascular compartments was investigated in 10 autoptic samples and 10 normoglycemic patients in which adequate histologic preparations of each organ of interest were available. Morphometric analysis of the tissue composition and the number and distribution of blood and lymphatic vascular vessels were determined by immu-nohistochemistry in human pancreatic, myocardial and bone marrow tissues. Results: Capillary and venules density were significantly reduced in pancreatic insulae, whereas no changes were observed in exocrine parenchyma. However, the reduction in functional tissue as a result of diabetes tended to decrease vessels-to-pancreatic cells ratio compared to control parenchyma. Diabetes determined a significant increase in interstitial fibrosis and vascular remodeling also in the myocardium. Similarly, capillary and sinusoids density were significantly reduced in central and paratrabecular areas of diabetic bone marrow when compared to nondiabetic cases (p<0.05). Compared to controls, lymphatic vessels were also significantly reduced in diabetic pancreas (p < 0.05) while arteriolar density was unaffected. Interestingly, CD34pos progenitor cells were significantly reduced (p<0.01) in both bone marrow and pancreas of diabetic patients compared to controls. Conclusions: Rearrangement of the blood and lymphatic network and reduction in CD34pos progenitors concur in multiple tissues with diabetes. Although we did not established whether this was a consequence or a cause of diabetes associated multiorgan damage, our approach may offer new insights on the understanding of the diabetic paradox of a tissue specific angiopathy.
Objective: Caffeine is purine alkaloid naturally present in coffee, tea, cola-like drinks and used as a mild stimulant in various energy beverages and foods. The physiologic effects of caffeine are ...clinically exploited to increase alertness, help concentration, improve mood, and limit depression. Importantly, clinical activity has been documented to treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia syndrome and apnea in premature newborns. Beneficial effects as anti-fibrotic, antitumor, and antineurodegenerative compound have been recently claimed. Caffeine abuse may acutely result in toxic effects including tachycardia, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures and death. Average coffee consumption in healthy adults is estimated 3 mg/kg/day or 200-400 mg/day. Caffeine is commonly used during pregnancy in which amounts of 300 mg/day was estimated. Thus, the debate on whether its consumption is irrelevant or detrimental remains open. The purpose of this study was to test, in vitro, the direct effect of caffeine on human umbilical artery (HUAEC) and vein (HUVEC) endothelial cells. Methods: EC lines were exposed to 500 μM, 1 mM, 2 mM, 5 mM, 10 mM, and 20 mM caffeine. Proliferation and viability were measured by MTT assay after 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment. The ability to organize into tubule-like networks on Matrigel and migration by wound healing assay were evaluated after 24 h. Cytoskeleton organization was investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Western blot analysis was employed to identify potential molecular targets of caffeine activity. Results: Caffeine inhibited EC lines proliferation and viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In particular, at 500 uM and 1 mM no significant effects were observed, while lOmM and 20 mM caffeine concentrations were cytotoxic and were not further investigated. Inhibition of tubular formation by EC lines was more evident following increasing caffeine concentrations (2-5mM). Moreover, a dose-dependent impairment in wound healing was documented. Interestingly, this effect was more pronounced in HUAECs compared to HUVECs. Disarrayed cytoskeletal filaments were also observed in EC lines exposed to 2 and 5 mM caffeine. Preliminary results from western blot analysis showed a downregulation of ROCK1/2 expression and p-FAK phosphorylation in both EC lines. Moreover, according to MTT assay, lower bcl-2 protein level was observed following caffeine exposure. Conclusions: Viability, angiogenic and migration ability, and cytoskeletal integrity of human cord derived ECs are affected by caffeine in vitro, suggesting a potential detrimental effect of its excessive consumption during pregnancy.
