Daily Vegetables Intake and Response to COPD Rehabilitation. The Role of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and DNA Damage

Pulmonary symptoms associated with heavy alcohol consumption among people living with HIV: an analysis of the NHANES 1999-2010

AIM

This matched case-control study aimed to provide epidemiologic evidence of increased burden of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function decline among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a history of heavy alcohol consumption.

METHODS

Cases were participants with HIV (PWH; n = 75, 33%), and controls were participants without HIV (PWoH; n = 150, 67%). PWH were matched to PWoH by age and sex in the ratio of 1:2. Eligible participants responded to the respiratory health National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey questionnaire [prolonged coughs (≥3 months), bringing up of phlegm (≥3 months), and a history of wheezing or whistling in the chest (past year)]. The effects of both alcohol and HIV on participants' pulmonary function were determined using linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

History of heavy alcohol consumption was more prevalent among PWH (40%) compared to PWoH (27%). PWH who had a history of heavy alcohol consumption had a higher prevalence of coughing most days (45% vs. 4%, P = .0010), bringing up phlegm most days (31% vs. 0%, P = .0012), and wheezing or whistling in the chest (40% vs. 20%, P = .058) compared to participants who did not heavily consume alcohol. Furthermore, a history of heavy alcohol consumption was associated with decreased forced expiratory volume (ml) in 1 s/forced vital capacity among PWH (β = - 0.098 95% C.I. -0.16, -0.04, P = .03) after adjusting for having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in life.

CONCLUSION

A history of heavy alcohol use increased respiratory symptoms and suppressed pulmonary function among people living with HIV. This study provides epidemiological evidence of the respiratory symptom burden of people living with HIV who have a history of heavy alcohol consumption.

Protective Effects of Micronutrient Supplements, Phytochemicals and Phytochemical-Rich Beverages and Foods Against DNA Damage in Humans: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Prospective Studies

Accumulation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage diminishes cellular health, increases risk of developmental and degenerative diseases, and accelerates aging. Optimizing nutrient intake can minimize accrual of DNA damage. The objectives of this review are to: 1) assemble and systematically analyze high-level evidence for the effect of supplementation with micronutrients and phytochemicals on baseline levels of DNA damage in humans, and 2) use this knowledge to identify which of these essential micronutrients or nonessential phytochemicals promote DNA integrity in vivo in humans. We conducted systematic literature searches of the PubMed database to identify interventional, prospective, cross-sectional, or in vitro studies that explored the association between nutrients and established biomarkers of DNA damage associated with developmental and degenerative disease risk. Biomarkers included lymphocyte chromosome aberrations, lymphocyte and buccal cell micronuclei, DNA methylation, lymphocyte/leukocyte DNA strand breaks, DNA oxidation, telomere length, telomerase activity, and mitochondrial DNA mutations. Only randomized, controlled interventions and uncontrolled longitudinal intervention studies conducted in humans were selected for evaluation and data extraction. These studies were ranked for the quality of their study design. In all, 96 of the 124 articles identified reported studies that achieved a quality assessment score ≥ 5 (from a maximum score of 7) and were included in the final review. Based on these studies, nutrients associated with protective effects included vitamin A and its precursor β-carotene, vitamins C, E, B1, B12, folate, minerals selenium and zinc, and phytochemicals such as curcumin (with piperine), lycopene, and proanthocyanidins. These findings highlight the importance of nutrients involved in (i) DNA metabolism and repair (folate, vitamin B12, and zinc) and (ii) prevention of oxidative stress and inflammation (vitamins A, C, E, lycopene, curcumin, proanthocyanidins, selenium, and zinc). Supplementation with certain micronutrients and their combinations may reduce DNA damage and promote cellular health by improving the maintenance of genome integrity.

Use of the Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis Assay for the Detection of DNA-protective Dietary Factors: Results of Human Intervention Studies

The single cell gel electrophoresis technique is based on the measurement of DNA migration in an electric field and enables to investigate via determination of DNA-damage the impact of foods and their constituents on the genetic stability. DNA-damage leads to adverse effects including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and infertility. In the last 25 years approximately 90 human intervention trials have been published in which DNA-damage, formation of oxidized bases, alterations of the sensitivity towards reactive oxygen species and chemicals and of repair functions were investigated with this technique. In approximately 50% of the studies protective effects were observed. Pronounced protection was found with certain plant foods (spinach, kiwi fruits, onions), coffee, green tea, honey and olive oil. Also diets with increased contents of vegetables caused positive effects. Small amounts of certain phenolics (gallic acid, xanthohumol) prevented oxidative damage of DNA; with antioxidant vitamins and cholecalciferol protective effects were only detected after intake of doses that exceed the recommended daily uptake values. The evaluation of the quality of the studies showed that many have methodological shortcomings (lack of controls, no calibration of repair enzymes, inadequate control of the compliance and statistical analyses) which should be avoided in future investigations.

DNA damage in dementia: Evidence from patients affected by severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and meta-analysis of most recent literature

Oxidative stress that leads to oxidatively damaged DNA, plays a crucial role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well as in the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. The consequent genomic instability is the first neuropathological event found in the preclinical phase of cognitive impairment (CI), and the level of DNA damage is closely related to the degree of dementia. Since CI has been associated with COPD, we investigated the extent of DNA damage in isolated lymphocytes with the Comet assay, in a group of severe COPD patients with cognitive function measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). An increase in DNA damage was observed in COPD patients with dementia (MMSE≤24), although the difference was only borderline (22.4 ± 6.9 vs. 18.5 ± 7.1; p = 0.055). Meta-analysis, including the results of the current study, confirmed that patients with MMSE≤ 24 showed higher level of DNA damage than patients with MMSE> 24. We observed a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the MMSE score in patients with cognitive decline in areas I (Orientation), III (Attention and Calculus) and V (Language). Only the temporal orientation category in area I was also associated with the level of oxidative damage, with higher levels of MDA (p < 0.01) and DNA damage (p < 0.03). Patients with the lowest temporal orientation score had a 12% higher mean DNA damage (Odds Ratio=1.12; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.01-1.25; p < 0.036). Temporal orientation is a component of most screening tests for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment, on the bases that disorientation is a common factor in dementia. Present results show that each component of cognitive decline can have a different etiopathogenesis and clinical relevance. A more thorough assessment of the cognitive functions of patients starting COPD rehabilitation, together with the assessment of DNA and the level of oxidative stress, can provide essential information to adapt and customize the rehabilitation project.

Oxidative Stress and Total Phenolics Concentration in COPD Patients-The Effect of Exercises: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffer from exercise intolerance, the sensation of dyspnea, and fatigue, which are the main reasons for limiting their physical activity. In addition to changes in the respiratory and circulatory systems in patients with COPD, peripheral muscle dysfunction, with numerous metabolic dysfunctions, is observed. One of the symptoms of the described anomalies, among others, is an antioxidative and prooxidative imbalance. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the impact of endurance training, carried out in the extended pulmonary rehabilitation program in COPD patients, on the imbalance between prooxidants and antioxidants in their bodies. Methods: The tests were carried out on a group of patients (n = 32) with COPD; 20 randomly selected people underwent a modified rehabilitation program during their rehabilitation stay, and the obtained results were compared with the results of 12 patients (control group) who were treated without endurance training. At the beginning and at the end of the study, spirometry and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) were performed. Oxidative stress (allantoin (All) and substances which react with thiobarbituric acid) and antioxidant (ferric reducing ability of plasma and total phenolics) parameters’ concentrations were determined in the venous blood. Results: In the study group, greater post-training increases of VO2max (p = 0.0702) and FEV1/FVC (p < 0.05; ES: 0.436) were reported. The applied CPET at each time caused an increase in the All concentration (p < 0.05) in the study and control groups. Conclusions: Endurance training applied as a part of the rehabilitation process did not cause the additional aggravation of oxidative stress and blood total phenolics concentration.