Comparison of some chemical parameters of a naturally debittered olive (Olea europaea L.) type with regular olive varieties

Some olives grown in Karaburun peninsula in the west part of Turkey and mostly coming from Erkence variety lose their bitterness while still on the tree and are called Hurma among locals. This olive type does not require further processing to remove the bitter compounds. In this study, sugar, organic acid and fatty acid profiles of Hurma, Erkence (not naturally debittered) and Gemlik (commonly consumed as table olive) olives were determined throughout 8 weeks of maturation period for two consecutive harvest seasons, and the results were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA). PCA of sugar and organic acid data revealed a differentiation in terms of harvest year but not on variety. Hurma olive is separated from others due to its fatty acid profile, and it has higher linoleic acid content compared to others. This might be an indication of increased desaturase enzyme activity for Hurma olives during natural debittering phase.TUBITAK (TOVAG-110O780

Gene polymorphisms of superoxide dismutases and catalase in diabetes mellitus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reactive oxygen species generated by hyperglycaemia modify structure and function of lipids, proteins and other molecules taking part in chronic vascular changes in diabetes mellitus (DM). Low activity of scavenger enzymes has been observed in patients with DM. Protective role of scavenger enzymes may be deteriorated by oxidative stress. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between gene polymorphisms of selected antioxidant enzymes and vascular complications of DM.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant differences in allele and genotype distribution among T1DM, T2DM and control persons were found in SOD1 and SOD2 genes but not in CAT gene (p < 0,01). Serum SOD activity was significantly decreased in T1DM and T2DM subjects compared to the control subjects (p < 0,05). SOD1 and SOD2 polymorphisms may affect SOD activity. Serum SOD activity was higher in CC than in TT genotype of SOD2 gene (p < 0,05) and higher in AA than in CC genotype of SOD1 gene (p < 0,05). Better diabetes control was found in patients with CC than with TT genotype of SOD2 gene. Significantly different allele and genotype frequencies of SOD2 gene polymorphism were found among diabetic patients with macroangiopathy and those without it. No difference was associated with microangiopathy in all studied genes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of our study demonstrate that oxidative stress in DM can be accelerated not only due to increased production of ROS caused by hyperglycaemia but also by reduced ability of antioxidant defense system caused at least partly by SNPs of some scavenger enzymes.</p

Monascus-Fermented Dioscorea Enhances Oxidative Stress Resistance via DAF-16/FOXO in Caenorhabditis elegans

BACKGROUND: Monascus-fermented products are mentioned in an ancient Chinese pharmacopoeia of medicinal food and herbs. Monascus-fermented products offer valuable therapeutic benefits and have been extensively used in East Asia for several centuries. Several biological activities of Monascus-fermented products were recently described, and the extract of Monascus-fermented products showed strong antioxidant activity of scavenging DPPH radicals. To evaluate whether Monascus-fermented dioscorea products have potential as nutritional supplements, Monascus-fermented dioscorea's modulation of oxidative-stress resistance and associated regulatory mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans were investigated. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We examined oxidative stress resistance of the ethanol extract of red mold dioscorea (RMDE) in C. elegans, and found that RMDE-treated wild-type C. elegans showed an increased survival during juglone-induced oxidative stress compared to untreated controls, whereas the antioxidant phenotype was absent from a daf-16 mutant. In addition, the RMDE reduced the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species in C. elegans. Finally, the RMDE affected the subcellular distribution of the FOXO transcription factor, DAF-16, in C. elegans and induced the expression of the sod-3 antioxidative gene. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the RMDE acts as an antioxidative stress agent and thus may have potential as a nutritional supplement. Further studies in C. elegans suggest that the antioxidant effect of RMDE is mediated via regulation of the DAF-16/FOXO-dependent pathway

Crosstalk between reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory markers in developing various chronic diseases: a review

The inflammation process in the human body plays a central role in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) exert potentially a decisive role in human body, particularly in physiological and pathological process. The chronic inflammation state could generate several types of diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and arthritis, especially if it is concomitant with high levels of pro-inflammatory markers and ROS. The respiratory burst of inflammatory cells during inflammation increases the production and accumulation of ROS. However, ROS regulate various types of kinases and transcription factors such nuclear factor-kappa B which is related to the activation of pro-inflammatory genes. The exact crosstalk between pro-inflammatory markers and ROS in terms of pathogenesis and development of serious diseases is still ambitious. Many studies have been attempting to determine the mechanistic mutual relationship between ROS and pro-inflammatory markers. Therefore hereby, we review the hypothetical relationship between ROS and pro-inflammatory markers in which they have been proposed to initiate cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and arthritis

Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy and its electrophysiological types in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus at Kenyatta National Hospital

Background: Peripheral neuropathy, one of the neuropsychiatric syndromes of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), occurs in 2% to 36% of patients. It has been associated with high disease activity indices and poor quality of life scores. Studies have demonstrated benefits of early identification and treatment on the severity and  progression of neuropathy. There is paucity of data on neurological manifestations of SLE in Africa.Objective: To determine the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy using  clinical evaluation and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and to describe its electrophysiological types using NCS; to determine and correlate quality of life with presence of peripheral neuropathy among SLE patients attending Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Rheumatology Clinic.Design: This was a cross-sectional study of SLE patients attending  Rheumatology outpatient clinic at KNH.Methods: Fourty eight patients with a diagnosis of SLE as per the 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria who were 18 years and above were included in the study. Socio-demographic data and clinical information were obtained from the patients medical records. Structured history and clinical examination was performed on all patients. Lupus quality of life questionnaire was administered and nerve conduction studies performed on all patients.Results: The overall prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was 60.4% (29 out of 48). Of these 27.1% were symptomatic for peripheral neuropathy and had abnormal nerve conduction studies while 25% were symptomatic for peripheral neuropathy and had normal nerve conduction studies. The other 8.3% had abnormal nerve conduction studies despite being asymptomatic. The most common nerve conduction pathology was  demyelination 9 (52.94%, n=17). However excluding 5 patients found to have Carpal tunnel syndrome, then demyelination was 4 (23.52%, n=17), while axonopathy was found in 5(29.41% n=17) of the patients. The most prevalent nerve conduction syndromes was motor neuropathy (52.94%, n=17). There was a significant correlation between the presence of peripheral neuropathy with lower quality of life scores involving the domains of physical health (p=&lt;0.001), pain (p=0.012), planning  (p=0.003), and fatigue (p=0.005).Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of peripheral neuropathy among SLE patients, with variable clinical and electrophysiologic  presentation. Quality of life scores are lower in affected patients.Key words: Peripheral neuropathy, SLE, Kenya, Neuropsychiatric, Afric