Curcumin increased the expression of c-FLIP in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) disease is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease, which is associated with HTLV-1 infection. There is no effective and satisfactory treatment of HAM/TSP. It has been shown that curcumin exhibits modulatory effects on apoptosis and cytotoxicity-related molecules in HAM/TSP patients. In the present study, we examined the effect of curcumin on the gene expression of caspase-8, caspase-10, and anti-apoptotic protein c-FLIP, in HAM/TSP patients. Furthermore, we compared the expression of these molecules between HAM/TSP and asymptomatic carriers. Real-time PCR was performed to examine the mRNA expression of caspase-8, caspase-10, and c-FLIP in studied groups. The mRNA expression of caspase-8 and caspase-10 was similar before and after curcumin treatment in HAM/TSP patients (P > 0.05). The mRNA expression of c-FLIPL and c-FLIPs was higher after curcumin treatment compared with before treatment and significant differences were observed between the two groups (P = 0.004 and P = 0.044, respectively). The mRNA expression levels of caspase-8, caspase-10, c-FLIPL, and c-FLIPs were not statistically significant between HAM/TSP patients and asymptomatic carriers (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our results showed that curcumin increased the expression of c-FLIP in HAM/TSP patients which might suggest that, this molecule is involved in the apoptosis of HTLV-1-infected cells. Further studies with large sample size could be useful to clarify the role of this supplement in HAM/TSP patients.     

Role of thrombin in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is an arterial disease associated with inflammation. Thrombin is a procoagulant and proinflammatory serine protease that contributes to the pathology of atherosclerosis by enhancing the expression of cell adhesion molecules, inducing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, activating inflammatory responses in atherosclerotic plaques, stimulating proliferation of aortic smooth muscle cells, and exacerbating vascular lesions at sites of injury. Hence, thrombin appears to be an important target for treatment of atherosclerosis and thrombin pharmacological inhibitors have significant therapeutic potency for suppressing inflammatory responses in cardiovascular diseases. This review summarizes the proinflammatory signaling functions of thrombin as well as the therapeutic potency of thrombin inhibitors in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and hence their potential therapeutic value in this condition.     

Effects of alpha lipoic acid and its derivative “andrographolid-lipoic acid-1” on ulcerative colitis: A systematic review with meta-analysis of animal studies

We aimed to review and meta-analyze the inflammatory and oxidative factors following alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and its derivative “andrographolid-lipoic acid-1” (AL-1) in ulcerative colitis (UC). ALA plays an important role in scavenging intracellular radicals and inflammatory elements. AL-1 is found in herbal medicines with potent anti-inflammatory properties. Data were collected from the Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Evidence-based medicine/clinical trials, and Cochrane library database until 2017, which finally resulted in 22 animal studies (70 rats and 162 mice). The beneficial effects of ALA or AL-1 on the most important parameters of UC were reviewed; also, studies were considered separately in mice and rats. Administration of ALA and AL-1 significantly reduced the tumor necrosis factor-α level compared with the controls, while data were not noteworthy in the meta-analysis (mean differences = −18.57 [95% CI = −42.65 to 5.51], P = 0.13). In spite of insignificant decrease in meta-analysis outcomes (differences = 6.92 [95% CI = −39.33 to 53.16], P = 0.77), a significant reduction in myeloperoxidase activity was shown following ALA or AL-1 treatment compared with the controls. Despite significant differences in each study, we had to exclude some studies to homogenize data for meta-analyzing as they showed insignificant results. Interleukin 6, cyclooxygenase-2, glutathione, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, histopathological score, macroscopic and microscopic scores, disease activity index, body weight change, and colon length were also reviewed. Most studies have emphasized on significant positive effects of ALA and AL-1. Comprehensive clinical trials are obligatory to determine the precious position of ALA or AL-1 in the management of UC.     

Evaluation of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tolypothrix</Emphasis> germplasm for phycobiliprotein content

Twenty Tolypothrix strains, including 15 strains of T. tenuis, three strains of T. ceylonica and one strain each of T. nodosa and T. bouteillei, were evaluated for their phycobiliprotein content and composition. Significant differences among the Tolypothrix strains were found at both inter- and intra-specific levels in the production of phycobiliprotein constituents--phycocyanin (PC), allophycocyanin (APC) and phycoerythrin (PE). Four specific parameters, viz. PC or PE content, total phycobiliprotein and total protein content, and percentage of phycobiliproteins, in a mixture of total proteins were used to select four T. tenuis and one T. ceylonica strain as useful for phycobiliproteins production.     

Bis‐ and Tetrakis(carboxylato)platinum(IV) Complexes with Mixed Axial Ligands – Synthesis,Characterization, and Cytotoxicity

A series of twelve novel diamminetetrakis(carboxylato)platinum(IV) and 18 novel bis(carboxylato)dichlorido(ethane‐1,2‐diamine)platinum(IV) complexes with mixed axial carboxylato ligands was synthesized and characterized by multinuclear ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, ¹⁵N‐, and ¹⁹⁵Pt‐NMR spectroscopy. Their cytotoxic potential was evaluated (by MTT assay) against three human cancer cell lines derived from ovarian teratocarcinoma (CH1/PA‐1), lung (A549), and colon carcinoma (SW480). In the cisplatin‐sensitive CH1/PA‐1 cancer cell line, diamminetetrakis(carboxylato)platinum(IV) complexes showed IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar range, whereas, for the most lipophilic compounds of the bis(carboxylato)dichlorido(ethane‐1,2‐diamine)platinum(IV) series, IC₅₀ values in the nanomolar range were found.     

Urinary Biomarkers of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Are Associated with Cardiometabolic Health Risk

Background

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are both man-made and naturally occurring environmental pollutants that may be related to cardiometabolic health risk.

Objective

To determine whether PAH is associated with obesity in the adult population and to examine whether urinary concentrations of PAH metabolites are associated with differences in how obesity relates to 3 or more risk factors for the metabolic syndrome (3RFMetS), type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

Methods

A total of 4765 adult participants from the 2001–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were examined. The association between 8 urinary hydroxylated PAH metabolites, obesity, and health were examined using weighted logistic regressions adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, PIR, smoking status, and urinary creatinine.

Results

There was a positive dose-dependent association between obesity and 2-phenanthrene quintiles (P trend <0.0001). Contrarily, higher quintiles of 1-naphthalene were associated with lower risk of obesity (P trend = 0.0004). For a given BMI, those in the highest quintile of 2-naphthalene, 2-fluorene, 3-fluorene and 2-phenanthrene had a 66–80% greater likelihood of 3RFMetS (P≤0.05) compared to low levels. Higher quintiles of 1-naphthalene, 2-naphthalene, 2-phenanthrene and 1-pyrene were associated with a 78–124% greater likelihood of T2D (P≤0.05) compared to low levels while high 1-naphthalene, 2-naphthalene, 2-fluorene, 3-fluorene and 2-phenanthrene were associated with a 38–68% greater likelihood of dyslipidemia (P≤0.05) compared to lower levels. Finally, 2-naphthalene and 2-phenanthrene were positively associated with hypertension (P trend = 0.008 and P trend = 0.02 respectively).

Conclusions

PAH is related to obesity and the expression of a number of obesity-related cardiometabolic health risk factors. Future research is needed to bring to light the mechanistic pathways related to these findings.