Characterization of the Biological Activity of the Ethanolic Extract from the Roots of Cannabis sativa L. Grown in Aeroponics

Cannabis sativa var. Kompolti, a variety routinely used for food production purposes, is characterized by a low concentration of psychoactive molecules, although containing many other biologically attractive metabolites in all parts of the plant, including the roots. In the present work, we evaluate the specific biological activities of the roots’ extract from plants cultivated through aeroponics, an affordable and reliable method facilitating the isolation and processing of roots, with the advantage of being suitable for industrial scale‐up. Furthermore, aeroponics results in an increased net accumulation of the most biologically attractive constituents (β‐sitosterol, friedelin and epi‐friedelanol) found in the roots. The ethanolic extract of the aeroponic roots of C. sativa (APEX) and its separate components are studied to evaluate their anti‐inflammatory (modulation of the expression level of specific markers upon LPS stimulation in U937 cells, such as IL‐6, IL‐8, TNF‐α, IkB‐α, iNOS, IRAK‐1 and miR‐146a) and antioxidant (in either acellular or cellular settings) activities. The APEX anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant capacities are also functionally benchmarked using the wound‐healing assay. On the whole, the data obtained show that APEX and its main components showed significant anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which may render the exploitation of roots as a source of natural antioxidants and anti‐inflammatory agents highly attrac-tive, with the additional technical and economic advantages of aeroponics compared to soil cultivation

Association between metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and IGF-1 in breast cancer survivors of DIANA-5 study

PurposeCirculating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is positively associated with the risk of BC recurrence, and is more frequently dysregulated in older people, especially in those with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity. This study aimed to analyze the association between IGF-1 levels and indices of MetS and insulin resistance in BC survivors.MethodsBaseline data of 563 BC survivors enrolled in the DIet and ANdrogen-5 (DIANA-5; NCT05019989) study were analyzed.ResultsLower circulating IGF-1 levels in subjects with MetS than in those without MetS were found. After stratification of the patients according to the diagnosis of MetS, we highlighted that the insulin was the main predictor of elevated IGF-1 levels only in subjects without MetS. Moreover, we found an interaction between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), glycemia, and IGF-1 levels, showing a positive correlation between HDL-C and IGF-1, especially in subjects with higher values of glycemia and without a diagnosis of MetS.ConclusionsWhile IGF-1 levels appear to be much more impaired in subjects diagnosed with MetS, in non-MetS subjects, IGF-1 levels may respond better to metabolic parameters and lifestyle changes. Further studies are needed to analyze the role of physical activity and/or dietary intervention in modulating IGF-1 concentrations in BC survivors.Implications for cancer survivorsThese results could have important clinical implications for planning customized strategies aimed at modulating IGF-1 levels in BC survivors. In fact, while the IGF-1 system seems to be much more compromised in subjects with a diagnosis of MetS, in noMetS subjects, IGF-1 levels could better respond to lifestyle changes

Effects of acute aerobic, resistance and combined exercises on 24-h glucose variability and skeletal muscle signalling responses in type 1 diabetics

Purpose: To compare the effect of high-intensity aerobic (AER), resistance (RES), and combined (COMB: RES + AER) exercise, on interstitial glucose (IG) variability and skeletal muscle signalling pathways in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: T1D participants (6\ua0M/6F) wore a flash glucose monitoring system in four randomized sessions: one control (CONT), and one AER, RES and COMB (40\ua0min each). Mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), standard deviation (SD) and coefficient variation (CV) of IG were used to compare the 24\ua0h post-exercise IG variability. Blood and muscle samples were collected to compare exercise-induced systemic and muscle signalling responses related to metabolic, growth and inflammatory adaptations. Results: Both RES and COMB decreased the 24\ua0h MAGE compared to CONT; additionally, COMB decreased the 24\ua0h SD and CV. In the 6\u201312\ua0h post-exercise, all exercise modalities reduced the IG CV while SD decreased only after COMB. Both AER and COMB stimulated the PGC-1\u3b1 mRNA expression and promoted the splicing of IGF-1Ea variant, while Akt and p38MAPK phosphorylation increased only after RES and COMB. Additionally, COMB enhanced eEF2 activation and RES increased myogenin and MRF4 mRNA expression. Blood lactate and glycerol levels and muscle IL-6, TNF-\u3b1, and MCP-1 mRNAs increased after all exercise sessions, while serum CK and LDH level did not change. Conclusion: COMB is more effective in reducing IG fluctuations compared to single-mode AER or RES exercise. Moreover, COMB simultaneously activates muscle signalling pathways involved in substrate metabolism and anabolic adaptations, which can help to improve glycaemic control and maintain muscle health in T1D

THE ISOPRENOID BIOSYNTHESIS DURING TUBER BORCHII FRUIT BODY MATURATION

The first insight into T. borchii isoprenoid pathway, also known as mevalonic acids pathway (MVA) during ascoma maturation were here discussed . Three genes coding for the most important enzymes of the isoprenoid biosynthesis were characterised, and the activity of the major regulatory enzyme of the MVA was determined in particular during the ascomata maturation. Furthermore several isoprenoids were identified among the volatile compounds produced by ripe T. borchii ascomat

Effect of hyaluronic acid local injections on Achilles tendinitis: an observational study on tendon viscoelastic properties in recreational runners

Purpose: Achilles tendinitis (AT) causes 5% of professional athletes to end their careers; in Europe AT affects ca. 10 millions recreational runners. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and functional efficacy of a three-local injections regimen of hyaluronic acid (HA) in ameliorating pain score and function in middle aged recreational runners with AT, whose functional and clinical param- eters were recorded integrating multiple techniques. Methods: 8 recreational runners previously diagnosed for monolat- eral AT were enrolled. AT was confirmed before the first local HA injection (T0) by clinical examination, MRI and thermography. At T0 patients were assessed for maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVI) involving Achilles tendon (both injured and healthy), and pain level with a Likert scale; Achilles tendon viscoelastic state, i.e. tone and stiffness, were then measured at relaxed state and at 10% of MVI with MyotonPro (Myoton Ltd, UK). Finally patients received the first HA injection (RegenFlex T&M, a blend of 2–1000 kDa HA, Regenyal, IT). All the measurements were repeated at T1 (15 days after the first injections and immediately prior the second), at T2 (15 days after the second injection and prior the third) and at T3 (15 days after the third injection), i.e. over a total of 45 days in which clinical visits were also performed. Furthermore, before each injec- tion, injured tendon exudates were collected by needle aspiration. Results: At T0, tone and stiffness values were significantly different between injured and contralateral tendons, especially when measured at the relaxed state. Pain score and MVI, coherently with clinical outcomes, were significantly higher and lower in injured tendons, respectively. Interestingly, the above differences gradually disap- peared at T1, 2 and 3. In keeping with these results, tendon exudates volumes also decreased