The essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare growing wild in vilnius district (Lithuania)

The plants of wild Origanum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare were collected in 10 localities of Vilnius district (Lithuania) in 1995-1999. The main constituents of the essential oils from 8 localities were beta-ocimene (14.9-21.6%), germacrene D (10.0-16.2), beta-caryophyllene (10.8- 15.7%) and sabinene (6.6- 4.2%). The essential oils from two localities contained only three above compounds as major components: germacrene D, beta-ocimene and sabinene or beta-caryophyllene, beta-ocimene and germacrene D. Three chemotypes of essential oils were identified. The main chemotype was beta-ocimene germacrene D-beta-caryophyllene. The terpenic hydrocarbons made up 52.8-80.6% of the essential oils. The 42 identified components made up 85.6-98.0% of the essential oil.     

Delayed resolution of acute inflammation during zymosan-induced arthritis in leptin-deficient mice

The severity of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) is decreased in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. However, joint inflammation in AIA depends on the immune response, which is impaired in ob/ob mice. In the present study we investigated the effects of leptin deficiency on zymosan-induced arthritis (ZIA), which is independent of adaptive immunity. Arthritis was induced by injection of zymosan into the knee joint. Joint swelling was similar after 6 and 24 hours in ob/ob and control mice. However, it remained elevated in ob/ob animals on day 3 whereas values normalized in controls. Histology revealed similar articular lesions in all animals on day 3, but on days 14 and 21 arthritis tended to be more severe in ob/ob mice. The acute phase response, reflected by circulating levels of IL-6 and serum amyloid A, was also more pronounced in ob/ob mice, although corticosterone was significantly elevated in these animals. Similar results were obtained in leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice. Thus, in contrast to AIA, ZIA is not impaired in leptin-deficient animals. On the contrary, resolution of acute inflammation appears to be delayed in the absence of leptin or leptin signalling, suggesting that chronic leptin deficiency interferes with adequate control of the inflammatory response in ZIA.     

The role of leptin in innate and adaptive immune responses

Leptin is produced primarily by adipocytes and functions in a feedback loop regulating body weight. Leptin deficiency results in severe obesity and a variety of endocrine abnormalities in animals and humans. Several studies indicated that leptin plays an important role in immune responses. It exerts protective anti-inflammatory effects in models of acute inflammation and during activation of innate immune responses. In contrast, leptin stimulates T lymphocyte responses, thus having rather a proinflammatory role in experimental models of autoimmune diseases. Clinical studies have so far yielded inconsistent results, suggesting a rather complex role for leptin in immune-mediated inflammatory conditions in humans.     

Trends in the Attack Rates,Incidence, and Mortality of Stroke during 1986–2012: Data of Kaunas (Lithuania) Stroke Registry

BackgroundThere is a lack of reliable epidemiological data on longitudinal trends in stroke attack rates, incidence, and mortality in the countries of the Baltic region.AimsThe aim of the present study was to explore the longitudinal trends of stroke in middle-aged urban population of Lithuania during the period of 1986 through 2012.MethodsAll stroke events in the studied population were ascertained and validated according to the standardized criteria outlined by the WHO MONICA Project. The study included all patients in Kaunas (Lithuania) city aged 25 to 64 years who experienced a stroke between 1986 and 2012. Estimates of time-trends of the annual percentage change in stroke attack rates, incidence of stroke, and mortality from this condition were made by applying the Joinpoint regression analysis.ResultsDuring the study period, 9,992 stroke events were registered. The overall proportion of recurrent events was 25.7%. Overall, 18.9% of the events (20.0% in men, and 17.4% in women) were fatal within 28 days. During the period of 1986 to 2012, a flat trend in the incidence of stroke was observed among both male and female middle-aged inhabitants of Kaunas city, while attack rates were increasing due to the increase in recurrent strokes. Both mortality and 28-day case fatality of stroke declined significantly over the study period in both sexes.ConclusionsAn increase both in the incidence and recurrence of stroke among middle-aged men residing in Kaunas city and in the recurrence of stroke among women denotes the inefficiency of measures applied both for primary and secondary prevention of stroke in Lithuania. The revision of current prevention strategies and the introduction of new ones are of paramount importance in order to fight the epidemic of stroke.     

The alpha-terpenyl acetate chemotype of essential oil of Thymus pulegioides L

The composition of the essential oils of Thymus pulegioides L. plants growing wild in Vilnius district (Lithuania) with "ester", lemon and carvacrol (phenol) odours were collected in one location and investigated by GC, GC/MS and IR-spectroscopy. The essential oils with lemon and carvacrol odour belong to corresponding known citral-geraniol and carvacrol chemotypes. The essential oil of plants with "ester" odour containing 50-70% of alpha-terpenyl acetate belong to alpha-terpenyl acetate chemotype, which was not noticed earlier in Thymus pulegioides L. species.     

The Prognostic Value of Family History for the Estimation of Cardiovascular Mortality Risk in Men: Results from a Long-Term Cohort Study in Lithuania

Aim

To evaluate the additional prognostic value of family history for the estimation of cardiovascular (CVD) mortality risk in middle-aged urban Lithuanian men.

Methods

The association between family history of CVD and the risk of CVD mortality was examined in a population-based cohort of 6,098 men enrolled during 1972–1974 and 1976–1980 in Kaunas, Lithuania. After up to 40 years of follow-up, 2,272 deaths from CVD and 1,482 deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) were identified. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for CVD and CHD mortality.

Results

After adjustment for traditional CVD risk factors, the HR for CVD mortality was 1.24 (95% CI 1.09–1.42) and for CHD mortality 1.20 (1.02–1.42) in men with first-degree relatives having a history of myocardial infarction (MI), compared to men without positive family history. A significant effect on the risk of CVD and CHD mortality was also observed for the family history of sudden cardiac death and any CVD. Addition of family history of MI, sudden death, and any CVD to traditional CVD risk factors demonstrated modest improvement in the performance of Cox models for CVD and CHD mortality.

Conclusions

Family history of CVD is associated with a risk of CVD and CHD mortality significantly and independently of other risk factors in a middle-aged male population. Addition of family history to traditional CVD risk factors improves the prediction of CVD mortality and could be used for identification of high-risk individuals.     

Human mesenchymal adipose stromal cells from mature adipocyte fraction

More effective techniques should be employed for isolation of human mesenchymal stromal cells derived from adipose tissue (ADSC), seeking to make adipose tissue biopsies smaller in volume and thus less invasive. In this study, we compared properties of ADSC isolated by several different methods from the same samples of adipose tissue in order to enhance yields of potential ADSC. The mature adipocyte fraction was investigated using the ceiling culture method, including both ceiling and bottom cell fractions, and the control culture method with standard amount of medium. The results were also compared using the stromal vascular fraction from the same samples. The most efficient was the bottom cell population isolated from the mature adipocyte fraction by ceiling culture method. These cells readily differentiated into osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic lineages and, similar to stromal vascular fraction cells, displayed high proliferation potential. Cultures of mature adipocyte fractions with standard amount of medium were considerably less effective. Mature adipocyte fractions yields large quantities of adipose-derived stem cells that have properties comparable with stromal vascular fraction cells suitable for tissue regeneration, especially when only small biopsies can be taken.     

Health Factors and Risk of All-Cause,Cardiovascular, and Coronary Heart Disease Mortality: Findings from the MONICA and HAPIEE Studies in Lithuania

Aims

This study investigated the trends and levels of the prevalence of health factors, and the association of all-cause and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality with healthy levels of combined risk factors among Lithuanian urban population.

Methods

Data from five general population surveys in Kaunas, Lithuania, conducted between 1983 and 2008 were used. Healthy factors measured at baseline include non-smoking, normal weight, normal arterial blood pressure, normal level of total serum cholesterol, normal physical activity and normal level of fasting glucose. Among 9,209 men and women aged 45–64 (7,648 were free from coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke at baseline), 1,219 death cases from any cause, 589 deaths from CVD, and 342 deaths from CHD occurred during follow up. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the association between health factors and mortality from all causes, CVD and CHD.

Results

Between 1983 and 2008, the proportion of subjects with 6 healthy levels of risk factors was higher in 2006–2008 than in 1983–1984 (0.6% vs. 0.2%; p = 0.09), although there was a significant increase in fasting glucose and a decline in intermediate physical activity. Men and women with normal or intermediate levels of risk factors had significantly lower all-cause, CVD and CHD mortality risk than persons with high levels of risk factors. Subjects with 5–6 healthy factors had hazard ratio (HR) of CVD mortality 0.35 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15–0.83) compared to average risk in the whole population. The hazard ratio for CVD mortality risk was significant in men (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.12–0.97) but not in women (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.09–1.67).

Conclusions

An inverse association of most healthy levels of cardiovascular risk factors with risk of all-cause and CVD mortality was observed in this urban population-based cohort. A greater number of cardiovascular health factors were related with significantly lower risk of CVD mortality, particularly among men.