Mineral element content and antioxidant capacity of some Latvian berries

Berries are widely used in prevention and in adjuvant therapy of different diseases nowadays because of their valuable bioactive agents and antioxidant, antitumor, antiinflammatory properties, nevertheless frequently without medical control. The aim of our study was to determine the element content and antioxidant activities in some Latvian berries (blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L., bilberry, Vaccinium myrtillus L. and red berry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.). Element content was measured by ICP-OES. Total antioxidant activity was determined by chemiluminometry and hydrogen-donating ability was measured by spectrophotometry. The examined berries contain elements in relatively low concentrations and the consumption of these kind of berries is also poor, although they could be good source for some essential elements: blueberry for Mo, bilberry for Li, Mn, Mo and red berry for Cr, Li, Mn, Mo. On the other hand, they have good antioxidant properties, especially bilberry. Beneficial antioxidant capacities and moderate metal ion concentrations support that berries can complete the diverse diet, and they may be a good supplement in some metal-accumulating disorders

Investigations on Health Conditions of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident Recovery Workers from Latvia in Late Period after Disaster

Publisher Copyright: © 2016 Jeļena Reste et al., published by De Gruyter Open 2016.The paper summarises the main findings on Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) accident recovery workers from Latvia and their health disturbances, which have been studied by the authors during the last two decades. Approximately 6000 persons from Latvia participated in CNPP clean-up works in 1986-1991. During their work period in Chernobyl they were exposed to external as well as to internal irradiation, but since their return to Latvia they were living in a relatively uncontaminated area. Regular careful medical examinations and clinical studies of CNPP clean-up workers have been conducted during the 25 years after disaster, gathering knowledge on radiation late effects. The aim of the present review is to summarise the most important information about Latvian CNPP clean-up worker health revealed by thorough follow-up and research conducted in the period of 25 years after the accident. This paper reviews data of the Latvian State Register of Persons Exposed to Radiation due to CNPP Accident and gives insight in main health effects found by the researchers from the Centre of Occupational and Radiological Medicine (Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital) and Riga Stradiņš University in a number of epidemiological, clinical, biochemical, immunological, and physiological studies. Latvian research data on health condition of CNPP clean-up workers in the late period after disaster indicate that ionising radiation might cause premature ageing and severe polymorbidity in humans.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Plasma levels of Th17-associated cytokines and selenium status in autoimmune thyroid diseases

© 2021 The Authors. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.INTRODUCTION: The contribution of Th17 cytokines to autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is generally accepted. However, the roles of Th17 cells in the initiation and progression of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD) remain unclear. Selenium deficiency, along with genetic predisposition and environmental factors, may have a role in thyroid autoimmunity. AIM: We aimed to assess (1) the Th17 immune response by measuring plasma levels of Th17- and Treg-associated cytokines and (2) the selenium status in treatment-naïve Latvian patients with newly diagnosed GD or HT. METHODS: Eleven GD patients, 41 HT patients, and 26 healthy subjects were recruited for this study. Plasma levels of IL-17a, IL-22, IL-23, IL-6, and IL-10 were detected by xMAP technology, while selenium was detected fluorometrically. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in IL-17a, IL-22, IL-23, IL-6, or IL-10 levels were found among the HT patients, GD patients, and controls. In the HT patients, IL-17a levels were positively correlated with IL-22, IL-23, IL-6, and IL-10, while IL-22 was correlated with IL-6, IL-23, and IL-10. In the GD patients, IL-17a levels were positively correlated with IL-22, IL-23, and IL-10; IL-22 was positively correlated with IL-23, IL-6, and IL-10; FT3 was positively correlated with IL-17a, IL-23, and IL-10; and FT4 was positively correlated with IL-17a and IL-10 levels. Plasma selenium levels were negatively correlated with antithyroid peroxidase antibody titers in the HT patients. Although no difference in selenium levels was observed between the AITD patients and controls, the selenium status of the Latvian patients with GD or HT was at a suboptimal level.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Effect of ginkgo extract on eye microcirculation in patients with diabetes

Funding Information: This research is a part of international “Eureka“ project „Creation of the methodology for effects of natural antioxidants on the development of the Diabetes mellitus complications“ financially supported by the European Social Fund Agency, Lithuania according to the “Human Resource Development Action Program”, project No. VP1-3.1-SMM-06-V-01-003. Also we would like to thank Laboratory of Biochemistry of Riga Stradins University, Latvia for performing biochemical tests of blood plasma and for the residents of Endocrinological Clinic, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics, Lithuania for the help. Provision of capsules of Ex.Gb from “Aconitum” and placebo capsules from “Sanitas” is appreciated too.The prevalence of Diabetes mellitus has increased around the world in the last decade. Anyone with diabetes is at risk of diabetic eye complications. The aim of the study was to compare effects of standardized Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo biloba L.) dry extract (Ex.Gb) with the placebo on the microcirculation lesions of the eye in randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. 44 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized to Ex.Gb 160 mg per day or placebo, and were followed up for nine months. Dose of Ex.Gb was increased to 240 mg in next nine months. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) of plasma was measured using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay. Ophthalmologic examination was performed by the biomicroscopic method. Vascular, intravascular and perivascular alterations were evaluated, and total conjunctival index was calculated. Though the values of the total conjunctival index and its constituent decreased (P<0.05) during the study in Ex.Gb group, there were no significant differences between these parameters as compared with placebo group. Evaluation of plasma TAS showed gradually increment, although insignificant and very small, in Ex.Gb group. The significance of Ex.Gb on development of the alterations of eye microcirculation, especially in elder patients needs to be explored further.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Oxidative stress, depression, and risk of recurrence of stable coronary heart disease

Funding Information: Research project was supported by RSU PhD grant. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, ČKS.Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between a level of oxidative stress (OS), depression (D) and risk of recurrence of stable coronary heart disease (SCHD). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 174 participants, at the age 45+ years: 86 in-patients of the cardiology department with a recurrent SCHD and 88 in-patients of the cardiology department with primary SCHD. The severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the long 30-item form of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), valid Latvian version of GDS-LAT. The blood samples were taken from each patient to measure oxidative stress parameters malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Results: 83.9% of the sample had high level of MDA. In 72.4% of the sample the GPx level was normal, in 17.8% it was high and in 9.8% low. Slightly more than a half of the patients were experiencing depression (44.3% – mild D and 6.9% – severe D). GPx was found statistically differing between primary and recurrent SCHD (p = 0,003). Patients with both D and high GPx had 10.6 times higher chances of recurrent SHCD compared to those without D and normal GPx (p = patients with present D were experiencing both – high levels of MDA and GPx – more often than responders with no D, but this wasn’t statistically significant [p = 0.51]). Conclusion: In the present study it was found that level of antioxidant (AO) enzyme GPx was significantly higher in depressed patients with recurrent SCHD compared to patients without D and to patients with primary SCHD and patients with both D and high GPx had higher chances of recurrent SCHD compared to those without D and normal GPx. It could be supposed that GPx is a more significant marker of risk of D and recurrence of SCHD. The high level of MDA in most of both (primary and recurrent SCHD) groups patients could evidence that increased OS is a risk factor for CHD in general. Monitoring OS biomarkers seems to be important in the management of SCHD comorbidity with D. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Stress-Related Immune Response and Selenium Status in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease Patients

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), including Graves' disease (GD) or Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), occurs due to genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, among which the role of stressful events remains controversial. This study investigated the relationship between the number and impact of stressful life events in AITD patients with selenium status, and the Th1/Th2/Th17 immune response. The study population included three groups: HT ( n = 47), GD ( n = 13), and a control group ( n = 49). Thyroid function parameters, autoantibody levels, and the plasma levels of cytokines, selenium, selenoprotein P (SeP), and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx) activity were measured. Participants filled out the Life Experiences Survey. No significant differences in the number of stressful life events were found among the patients with HT, GD, and the controls. A higher (median (interquartile range)) negative stress level (8 (4-12)) than a positive stress level (3 (1-9)) was found in the HT group. The HT group showed a correlation between SeP and the positive stress level: r s = -0.296, p = 0.048, and the GD group between GPx and the negative stress level (r s = -0.702, p = 0.011). Significant positive correlations between thyroid peroxidase antibody level and the total number of major life events ( p = 0.023), the number of major life events in the last 7-12 months, and the number of major life events with no impact and a negative stress level were found. We suggest that the measurements of Th2-related cytokines and selenoproteins could be used as biomarkers for the development of AITD in cases where stress is considered a component cause of the pathogenic mechanism of the disease.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Glutathione reductase is associated with the clinical outcome of septic shock in the patients treated using continuous veno-venous haemofiltration

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Background and objectives: At present, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of continuous veno-venous haemofiltration (CVVH) in the early treatment of septic shock. This study focuses on the association between survival and different parameters of oxidative stress (RedOx). Thereby, we evaluated whether RedOx markers are associated with the outcome of septic shock in patients under early-initiated CVVH treatment. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of 65 patients with septic shock who started CVVH within 12 h after hospital admission. Blood samples were taken from each patient prior to the start of CVVH. The following RedOx markers were measured: glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase (GR), total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated using binary logistic regression and stepwise multivariable regression. Results: The 65 patients had a median age of 66 years and 39 were male. Based on the outcome, the patients were divided into two groups—non-survivors (n = 29) and survivors (n = 36)—and the levels of RedOx markers were compared between them. Of all the markers, only higher GR activity was found to be significantly associated with the fatal outcome; 100.3 U/L versus 60.5 U/L, OR = 1.027 (95% CI, 1.010–1.044). Following adjustment for the sequential organ failure assessment score and other parameters, GR activity still presented a significant association with the fatal outcome, OR = 1.020 (95% CI, 1.002–1.038). Conclusions: GR activity is associated with in-hospital fatal outcomes among septic shock patients under early-initiated CVVH treatment. Septic shock patients who have a lower GR activity at hospital admission may have a favourable outcome of the early initiation of CVVH.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Assessment of iodine and selenium nutritional status in women of reproductive age in Latvia

Funding Information: Funding: This work was supported by the Fundamental and applied research project Nr. lzp2018/2-0059. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Background and Objectives: Adequate dietary intake of iodine and selenium is essential during pregnancy. While iodine is vital for maternal thyroid function and fetal development, selenium contributes to the regulation of thyroid function and thyroid autoimmunity. This study aimed to assess the consumption of iodine-and selenium-containing products by women of reproductive age and the iodine and selenium nutritional status of pregnant women in Latvia. Materials and Methods: Population health survey (2010–2018) data were used to characterize dietary habits in women of reproductive age. Additionally, 129 pregnant women in the first trimester were recruited; they completed a questionnaire and were tested for thyroid function, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), and serum selenium and selenoprotein P levels. Results: The use of some dietary sources of iodine (e.g., milk and dairy products) and selenium (e.g., bread) has decreased in recent years. Less than 10% of respondents reported the use of iodized salt. The use of supplements has become more common (reported by almost 50% of respondents in 2018). Dietary habits were similar in pregnant women, but the use of supplements was even higher (almost 70%). Nevertheless, most supplements used in pregnancy had insufficient contents of iodine and selenium. Thyroid function was euthyreotic in all women, but 13.9% of participants had a thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-ab) level above 60 IU/mL. The median UIC (IQR) was 147.2 (90.0–248.1) µg/gCr, and 52.8% of pregnant women had a UIC below 150 µg/gCr. The mean selenium (SD) level was 101.5 (35.6) µg/L; 30.1% of women had a selenium level below 80 µg/L. The median selenoprotein P level was 6.9 (3.1–9.0) mg/L. Conclusions: Iodine nutrition in Latvian population of pregnant women was near the lower limit of adequate and a third of the population had a selenium deficiency. Supplements were frequently used, but most did not contain the recommended amounts of iodine and selenium.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Antioxidant effects of Camellia sinensis L. Extract in patients with type 2 diabetes

Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the Department of Analytical and Toxicological Chemistry of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences for using HPLC. This research is a part of an international “Eureka” E! 3695 project “Creation of the methodology for effects of natural antioxidants on the development of diabetes mellitus complications” (“Antioksdiabet”). This project has been established with financial support from the European Social Fund Agency, Lithuania , in the “Human Resource Development Action Program”, project Number VP1-3.1-SMM-06-V-01-003 . We would also like to thank the Laboratory of Biochemistry, Riga Stradins University, Latvia for performing biochemical tests of blood plasma and the residents of the Endocrinological Clinic, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics, Lithuania for their help. The provision of ECs and placebo capsules from the joint-stock company Sanitas is also appreciated. Publisher Copyright: © 2014, Food and Drug Administration, Taiwan. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has dramatically increased in the past decade. Furthermore, increasing evidence from research shows that oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and in its complications. A search for ways to reduce oxidative damage has become the focus of interest for the majority of scientists. In this study, we determined the radical scavenging activity of single green tea constituents by using an on-line high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and evaluated the antioxidant effects on type 2 diabetic patients by performing a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Epigallocatechin gallate was identified as the most potent antioxidant, contributing approximately 50% of the total antioxidant capacity of green tea extract. We also found a statistically significant decrement of lipid peroxidation markers in patients treated with green tea extract after 9 months or after 18 months of follow-up. Overall, these findings are attractive for diabetic patients, helping them to keep a high level of performance and well-being, which ultimately may delay the time of disability and reduce mortality.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Stress-Related Immune Response and Selenium Status in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease Patients

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), including Graves&rsquo; disease (GD) or Hashimoto&rsquo;s thyroiditis (HT), occurs due to genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, among which the role of stressful events remains controversial. This study investigated the relationship between the number and impact of stressful life events in AITD patients with selenium status, and the Th1/Th2/Th17 immune response. The study population included three groups: HT (n = 47), GD (n = 13), and a control group (n = 49). Thyroid function parameters, autoantibody levels, and the plasma levels of cytokines, selenium, selenoprotein P (SeP), and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx) activity were measured. Participants filled out the Life Experiences Survey. No significant differences in the number of stressful life events were found among the patients with HT, GD, and the controls. A higher (median (interquartile range)) negative stress level (8 (4&ndash;12)) than a positive stress level (3 (1&ndash;9)) was found in the HT group. The HT group showed a correlation between SeP and the positive stress level: rs = &minus;0.296, p = 0.048, and the GD group between GPx and the negative stress level (rs = &minus;0.702, p = 0.011). Significant positive correlations between thyroid peroxidase antibody level and the total number of major life events (p = 0.023), the number of major life events in the last 7&ndash;12 months, and the number of major life events with no impact and a negative stress level were found. We suggest that the measurements of Th2-related cytokines and selenoproteins could be used as biomarkers for the development of AITD in cases where stress is considered a component cause of the pathogenic mechanism of the disease