Blackcurrant press cake by-product: Increased chemical bioaccessibility and reduced antioxidant protection after in vitro simulation of gastrointestinal digestion

This study describes the bioaccessibility in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity before and after in vitro digestion from blackcurrant press cake extracts (BPC) and the bioactivity in cell culture, human erythrocytes as well as the in silico analysis. Chemical analysis of BPC presented an increase in TPC (270%) and anthocyanins (136%) after in vitro digestion, resulting in an improvement of antioxidant activity (DPPH 112%; FRAP: 153%). This behavior may be related to the highest activity of cyanidin-3-rutinoside, as confirmed by in silico analysis. The digested BPC did not exert cytotoxicity in cells and showed less antioxidant activity against the oxidative damage induced in endothelial cells and human erythrocytes compared to the non-digested extract. The results raise a question about the reliability we should place on results obtained only from crude samples, especially those that will be used to produce foods or nutraceuticals.

Cellular assays combined with metabolomics highlight the dual face of phenolics: From high permeability to morphological cell damage

The Caco-2 cellular permeability of phenolic aqueous extracts from blackcurrant press cake (BC), Norway spruce bark (NS), scots pine bark (SP), and sea buckthorn leaves (SB) was evaluated by combining high-resolution mass spectrometry and atomic force microscopy. Besides, Caco-2 and HepG2 cells allowed the study of intracellular oxidative stress assessed in both apical and basolateral domains. Overall, BC and NS showed the highest total phenolic contents, 4.38 and 3.76 µg/mL, respectively. Multivariate statistics discriminated NS and BC from SP and SB extracts because of their phenolic profile. Polyphenols were classified as highly permeable, thus suggesting their potentially high bioavailability through the gastrointestinal tract. All the phenolic subclasses showed efflux ratio values < 1, except for BC flavonols, flavan-3-ols, and stilbenes. Regarding cellular damage, NS and BC extracts, when acting on the basolateral cellular side, caused epithelial leakage and morphological shape cell damage on Caco-2 cells associated with ROS production.

From waste to the gut: Can blackcurrant press cake be a new functional ingredient? Insights on in vivo microbiota modulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation

Blackcurrant press cake (BPC) is a source of anthocyanins, and this study evaluated the bioactivity and gut microbiota modulation of blackcurrant diets with or without 1,2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats. In colon cancer-induced rats (CRC), BPC at the highest dosages increased pro-inflammatory parameters and the expression of anti-apoptotic cytokines, accentuating colon cancer initiation by aberrant crypts and morphological changes. Fecal microbiome analysis showed that BPC altered the composition and function of the gut microbiome. This evidence suggests that high doses of BPC act as a pro-oxidant, accentuating the inflammatory environment and CRC progression.

The relationship between loneliness and healthy aging indicators in Brazil (ELSI-Brazil) and England (ELSA): sex differences

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to estimate five harmonized healthy aging indicators covering functional ability and intrinsic capacity among older women and men from Brazil and England and evaluate their association with loneliness.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

We used two nationally representative samples of men and women aged ≥60 years from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) wave 2 (2019-2021; n = 6929) and the English Longitudinal Study of Aging wave 9 (2018-2019; n = 5902). Healthy aging included five separate indicators (getting dressed, taking medication, managing money, cognitive function, and handgrip strength). Loneliness was measured by the 3-item University of California Loneliness Scale. Logistic regression models stratified by sex and country were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, age-adjusted healthy aging indicators were worse in Brazil compared with England for both men and women. Considering functional ability, loneliness was negatively associated with all indicators (ranging from odds ratio [OR] = 0.26, [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-0.52] in English men regarding the ability to take medication to OR = 0.49 [95% CI 0.27-0.89] in Brazilian women regarding the ability to manage money). Considering intrinsic capacity, loneliness was negatively associated with a higher cognitive function (OR = 0.72; 95% CI 0.55-0.95 in English women) and a higher handgrip strength (OR = 0.61; 95% CI 0.45-0.83 in Brazilian women). Lonely women demonstrated lower odds of a higher number of healthy aging indicators than men in both countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Country-specific social environments should be targeted by public policies to decrease loneliness and promote healthy aging later in life.

Oxidative stress and inflammatory process in borderline personality disorder (BPD): a narrative review

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe psychiatric condition that affects up to 2.7% of the population and is highly linked to functional impairment and suicide. Despite its severity, there is a lack of knowledge about its pathophysiology. Studies show genetic influence and childhood violence as factors that may contribute to the development of BPD; however, the involvement of neuroinflammation in BPD remains poorly investigated. This article aimed to explore the pathophysiology of BPD according to the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress substances that exacerbate neuronal damage. Few articles have been published on this theme. They show that patients with BPD have a lower level of BDNF and a higher level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in peripheral blood, associated with increased plasma levels of oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine. Therefore, more research on the topic is needed, mainly with a pre-clinical and clinical focus.

Effect of salivary CYP4EM1 and CYP4EM2 gene silencing on the life span of Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) exposed to sublethal dose of deltamethrin

Control of Chagas disease in endemic countries is primarily accomplished through insecticide spraying for triatomine vectors. In this context, pyrethroids are the first-choice insecticide, and the evolution of insect resistance to these insecticides may represent an important barrier to triatomine control. In insects, cytochrome P450s are enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and endogenous chemicals that are encoded by genes divided into different families. In this work, we evaluated the role of three Rhodnius prolixus CYP4EM subfamily genes during blood meal and after deltamethrin exposure. CYP4 gene members were expressed in different insect organs (integument, salivary glands (SGs), midgut, fat body and malpighian tubules) at distinct transcriptional levels. CYP4EM1 gene was highly expressed in the SG and was clearly modulated after insect blood meal. Injection of CYP4EM1dsRNA promoted significant reduction in mRNA levels of both CYP4EM1 and CYP4EM2 genes and induced deleterious effects in R. prolixus nymphs subsequently exposed to sublethal doses of deltamethrin (3.4 or 3.8 ng/nymph treated). The higher dose reduced the survival over time and increased susceptibility of R. prolixus nymphs to deltamethrin. A better understanding of this mechanism can help in developing of more efficient strategies to reduce Trypanosoma cruzi vector transmission in Americas.

Association between endothelial nitric oxide synthase and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system polymorphisms, blood pressure and training status in normotensive/pre-hypertension and hypertensive older adults: a pilot study

Introduction:Variations in blood pressure (BP) are, in part, genetically determined and some polymorphisms of renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system (RAAS) and synthase of endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) have been related to hypertension (HT). Conversely, physical exercise is considered a non-pharmacological tool for HT control, treatment, and prevention.Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between eNOS and RAAS polymorphisms, their epistatic interaction, and the respective humoral factors in the BP control in normotensive/pre-hypertension and hypertensive older adults and how this relationship can be modulated by training status (TS) level.Methods:A total of 155 older adults (66.94 ± 6.83 years old) performed the following evaluations: AAHPERD battery test to determine the general functional fitness index (GFFI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), blood collection for DNA extraction, analysis of eNOS gene polymorphisms rs2070744; rs61722009 and rs1799983 and RAAS polymorphisms rs699; rs1799752 and rs5186, and quantification of ACE activity (Fluorimetric Assay) and nitrite concentration (Chemiluminescence Method).Results and Conclusion:Good TS level appears to exert greater influence on SBP for G2 and G3 (G1: 125.79 ± 14.03/ G2: 119.91 ± 11.72^/G3: 119.71 ± 10.85) and on NO₂ for G3 (G1: 0.42 ± 0.25/ G2: 0.54 ± 0.45/ G3: 0.71 ± 0.52). No associations were observed between eNOS and RAAS polymorphisms, but the epistasis was identified between eNOS polymorphism, rs2070744, and RAAS polymorphism, rs699, revealing a statistically significant interaction (p = .0235) with training score of 0.63, a training test accuracy of 0.61 and a cross-validation consistency of 10/10. This result suggests an increased risk of hypertension.

Preliminary study about the relationship between estimated training status and RAS polymorphisms on blood pressure and ACE activity in the elderly

Objective:

Polymorphisms of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) are associated with increases in blood pressure (BP). Physical exercise has been considered the main strategy to prevent this increase. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between estimated training status (TS), BP and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in elderly people classified as low or high risk to develop hypertension according to genetic profile.

Methods:

A total of 155 elderly participants performed the following assessments: general functional fitness index (GFFI), systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), blood collection for ACE activity and analyses of the RAS polymorphisms.

Results:

Uncontrolled hypertensive (UHT) participants presented higher values of SBP and DBP compared with normotensive (NT) and controlled hypertensive (CHT) participants. No differences were found in ACE activity and GFFI between groups. In the high risk group, UHT presented higher values of SBP and DBP compared with other groups. CHT presented higher values of SBP compared with NT. Furthermore, UHT presented higher values of ACE activity compared with CHT and lower values of GFFI compared with NT.

Conclusion:

MDA, TIA and TIC genetic combinations were associated with high risk of developing hypertension while the maintenance of good levels of TS was associated with lower BP values and ACE activity.

Effect of Multicomponent Training on Blood Pressure, Nitric Oxide, Redox Status, and Physical Fitness in Older Adult Women: Influence of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS3) Haplotypes

The purpose of this study was to verify the influence of the genotype or haplotype (interaction) of the NOS3 polymorphisms [-786T>C, 894G>T (Glu298Asp), and intron 4b/a] on the response to multicomponent training (various capacities and motor skills) on blood pressure (BP), nitrite concentration, redox status, and physical fitness in older adult women. The sample consisted of 52 participants, who underwent body mass index and BP assessments. Physical fitness was evaluated by six-minute walk, elbow flexion, and sit and stand up tests. Plasma/blood samples were used to evaluate redox status, nitrite concentration, and genotyping. Associations were observed between isolated polymorphisms and the response of decreased systolic and diastolic BP and increased nitrite concentration and antioxidant activity. In the haplotype analysis, the group composed of ancestral alleles (H1) was the only one to present improvement in all variables studied (decrease in systolic and diastolic BP, improvement in nitrite concentration, redox status, and physical fitness), while the group composed of variant alleles (H8) only demonstrated improvement in some variables of redox status and physical fitness. These findings suggest that NOS3 polymorphisms and physical training are important interacting variables to consider in evaluating redox status, nitric oxide availability and production, and BP control.

Genetic diversity of Vriesea cacuminis (Bromeliaceae): an endangered and endemic Brazilian species

Data about the genetic structure can help to understand the evolutionary process of natural populations as well as to drive strategies of conservation. Vriesea cacuminis, an endemic Brazilian Bromeliad, has been found in 2 areas of Minas Gerais State. One is a legal preservation unit (Ibitipoca State Park) and the other an unprotected area (Serra Negra). The 2 areas belong to the Mantiqueira Mountain Range Complex; both are characterized by steep relief with high altitudes and by heterogenic vegetation formed by a mosaic of rocky fields and forest fragments. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria, V. cacuminis is designated as "vulnerable". We examined the genetic variability and population structure of 70 individuals (3 populations) of V. cacuminis, using 16 ISSR markers. Although V. cacuminis is considered a rare species, the estimated genetic diversity was found to be relatively high (Shannon index = 0.33; percentage of polymorphic bands = 87%). The populations were found not to be structured (AMOVA test, ΦST = 0.16), probably due to the cross-breeding. Based on Bayesian analysis, this species includes one cluster containing the populations from Ibitipoca State Park and another cluster including the population from Serra Negra. This information will help determine strategies to maintain the genetic variability of these populations.

[Upper obstructive uropathy]

Upper urinary tract obstruction is very frequent. The authors present a review of the etiology and pathogenesis of upper urinary tract obstruction. The clinical aspects and diagnosis are described in detail and the most appropriate complementary exams are pointed out. Finally, the authors discuss the therapeutic options available and the prognosis.

External and middle ear malformations: autosomal dominant genetic transmission

Congenital malformations of the external and middle ear relatively frequent anomalies (one to five cases in 20,000 live births). They are part of genetic syndromes such as Treacher Collins and Goldenhar's syndromes, but most cases are isolated and sporadic. A few cases of familial incidence of isolated external and middle ear malformations with autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, and sex-linked modes of transmission have been described. We report on two siblings with almost identical anomalies of the external and middle ear and no other congenital defects. Their father had similar malformations, but nobody else in his large sibship presented ear malformations. The defects were also absent in two previous generations. We discuss the possibility, not previously mentioned in the literature, that these congenital malformations could have appeared by spontaneous mutation in the father and transmitted themselves as an autosomal dominant trait to his children.