One-carbon metabolism and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: The crosstalk between nutrients, microbiota, and genetics

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide. Its etiology includes nutritional, genetic, and lifestyle factors. Several mechanisms may link onecarbon metabolism – the associated metabolic pathways of folate, methionine, and choline – to the onset of NAFLD. In this review, we attempted to assess how choline, folate, methionine, and betaine affect NAFLD development, mainly through their role in the secretion of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) from the liver. We also reviewed recent articles that have described the relation between microbiota metabolism and NAFLD progression. Moreover, we describe the effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in genes related to one-carbon metabolism and disease prevalence. We additionally seek SNP identified by genome-wide associations that may increase the risk of this disease. Even though the evidence available is not entirely consistent, it seems that the concentrations of choline, methionine, folate, and betaine may affect the progression of NAFLD. Since there is no effective therapy for NAFLD, further investigations into the link between nutrition, gut microbiota, genetic factors, and NAFLD are still necessary, with a particular emphasis on methyl donors

Glycosylation of mucins present in gastric juice: the effect of helicobacter pylori eradication treatment

It is suggested that gastric mucins, and in particular some specific glycan structures that can act as carbohydrate receptors, are involved in the interactions with Helicobacter pylori adhesins. The main aim of our study was to evaluate glycosylation pattern of glycoproteins of gastric juice before and at the end of eradication therapy. Gastric juices were taken from 13 clinical patients and subjected to analysis. Pooled fractions of the void volume obtained after gel filtration were subjected to ELISA tests. To assess the relative amounts of carbohydrate structures, lectins and monoclonal antibodies were used. Changes in the level of MUC 1 and MUC 5AC mucins and of carbohydrate structures, which are suggested to be receptors for Helicobacter pylori adhesins, were observed by the end of the eradication treatment. Our results support the idea about the involvement of MUC 5AC and MUC 1 with some specific sugar structures in the mechanism of Helicobacter pylori infection

Status of Biodiversity in the Baltic Sea

The brackish Baltic Sea hosts species of various origins and environmental tolerances. These immigrated to the sea 10,000 to 15,000 years ago or have been introduced to the area over the relatively recent history of the system. The Baltic Sea has only one known endemic species. While information on some abiotic parameters extends back as long as five centuries and first quantitative snapshot data on biota (on exploited fish populations) originate generally from the same time, international coordination of research began in the early twentieth century. Continuous, annual Baltic Sea-wide long-term datasets on several organism groups (plankton, benthos, fish) are generally available since the mid-1950s. Based on a variety of available data sources (published papers, reports, grey literature, unpublished data), the Baltic Sea, incl. Kattegat, hosts altogether at least 6,065 species, including at least 1,700 phytoplankton, 442 phytobenthos, at least 1,199 zooplankton, at least 569 meiozoobenthos, 1,476 macrozoobenthos, at least 380 vertebrate parasites, about 200 fish, 3 seal, and 83 bird species. In general, but not in all organism groups, high sub-regional total species richness is associated with elevated salinity. Although in comparison with fully marine areas the Baltic Sea supports fewer species, several facets of the system's diversity remain underexplored to this day, such as micro-organisms, foraminiferans, meiobenthos and parasites. In the future, climate change and its interactions with multiple anthropogenic forcings are likely to have major impacts on the Baltic biodiversity

Is the meiofauna a good indicator for climate change and anthropogenic impacts?

Our planet is changing, and one of the most pressing challenges facing the scientific community revolves around understanding how ecological communities respond to global changes. From coastal to deep-sea ecosystems, ecologists are exploring new areas of research to find model organisms that help predict the future of life on our planet. Among the different categories of organisms, meiofauna offer several advantages for the study of marine benthic ecosystems. This paper reviews the advances in the study of meiofauna with regard to climate change and anthropogenic impacts. Four taxonomic groups are valuable for predicting global changes: foraminifers (especially calcareous forms), nematodes, copepods and ostracods. Environmental variables are fundamental in the interpretation of meiofaunal patterns and multistressor experiments are more informative than single stressor ones, revealing complex ecological and biological interactions. Global change has a general negative effect on meiofauna, with important consequences on benthic food webs. However, some meiofaunal species can be favoured by the extreme conditions induced by global change, as they can exhibit remarkable physiological adaptations. This review highlights the need to incorporate studies on taxonomy, genetics and function of meiofaunal taxa into global change impact research

Meiobenthic communities of the Szczecin Lagoon

Based on data collected at 7 stations 4 times a year in 1985 and 1986, composition and distribution of meiobenthic communities in the Polish part of the Szczecin Lagoon, a eutrophic and polluted water body connected with the Baltic Sea, is presented. The data show a tendency to reduced total meiobenthos densities and diversity from the lower to upper reaches of the lagoon. The meiobenthic communities studied were dominated by nematodes, ostracods ranking second in numerical importance. Harpacticoid copepods were most abundant at the outer stations which are influenced by Baltic inflows. Most of the 10 harpacticoid species recorded in the lagoon were found at the outer stations (lower reaches) as well. Similarity analysis allowed to separate three zones within the lagoon: (1) the outer zone, its stations showing most abundant and diverse meiobenthic communities; (2) the innermost zone (upper reaches) with the least abundant and qualitatively impoverished communities; and (3) the intermediate zone

The influence of luteolin on expression of epithelial MUC1 mucin in human skin fibroblasts

Purpose: The membrane-anchored MUC1 mucin is typically expressed on normal and cancerous epithelial cells. Non-epithelial localization of this mucin is rare. However, the presence of MUC1 in human skin fibroblasts has been recently unexpectedly revealed. The aim of the study was to prove the expression of MUC1 mucin in human skin fibroblasts and the examine of the influence of luteolin on its expression. Materials and methods: ELISA tests and real-time PCR analysis were used to assess the expression of MUC1 mucin in fibroblast cells cocultured with 30 μM concentration of luteolin. Results: The expression of MUC1 was revealed in human skin fibroblasts. Luteolin decreased the relative level of mucin in cell lysates and media. Statistically significant decreased expression of MUC1 gene after luteolin treatment of fibroblasts cells was also revealed. Conclusion: Our results prove non-epithelial localization of MUC1 mucin. Luteolin inhibits the expression of MUC1 mucin in healthy human skin fibroblasts

The influence of luteolin on expression of epithelial MUC1 mucin in human skin fibroblasts

Purpose: The membrane-anchored MUC1 mucin is typically expressed on normal and cancerous epithelial cells. Non-epithelial localization of this mucin is rare. However, the presence of MUC1 in human skin fibroblasts has been recently unexpectedly revealed. The aim of the study was to prove the expression of MUC1 mucin in human skin fibroblasts and the examine of the influence of luteolin on its expression. Materials and methods: ELISA tests and real-time PCR analysis were used to assess the expression of MUC1 mucin in fibroblast cells cocultured with 30 μM concentration of luteolin. Results: The expression of MUC1 was revealed in human skin fibroblasts. Luteolin decreased the relative level of mucin in cell lysates and media. Statistically significant decreased expression of MUC1 gene after luteolin treatment of fibroblasts cells was also revealed. Conclusion: Our results prove non-epithelial localization of MUC1 mucin. Luteolin inhibits the expression of MUC1 mucin in healthy human skin fibroblasts

Nutritional habits of female students of the Medical University of Bialystok depending on the socioeconomic situation

Celem pracy była ocena wybranych zwyczajów żywieniowych studentek UMB w zależności od posiadanej sytuacji ekonomiczno-społecznej (SES). Badaniami objęto 251 studentek (18% posiadało sytuację ekonomiczno-społeczną dobrą, 56,5% przeciętną, a 25,5% złą). Niezależnie od sytuacji ekonomiczno-społecznej studentki najczęściej wybierały 4 - posiłkowy model żywienia. Do posiłków najczęściej pomijanych w jadłospisie należały drugie śniadanie i podwieczorek. Sytuacja ekonomiczno-społeczna nie była czynnikiem istotnie różnicującym częstotliwość spożycia wybranych grup produktów spożywczych. Sposób żywienia badanych studentek cechował się niską częstotliwością spożycia m. in. pieczywa razowego, kasz gruboziarnistych, mleka i jego przetworów, ryb, surowych warzyw i owoców.The aim of the study was the estimation of the selected nutritional habits of female students of the Medical University of Bialystok related to the socio-economic situation of families (SES). The investigation included 251 female students (18% of a higher SES, 56.5% students of an average SES and 25.5% students of a lower SES). The highest percentage of female students consumed four meals a day independently on the socio-economic status. Lunch and afternoon snack were the most frequently omitted meals. The socio-economic situation of families did not differ significantly the consumption frequency of selected groups of food products among the studied students. The diets analysed in this study were characterized by low intake of whole meal bread, coarse-grained barley, milk and dairy products, fish, raw vegetables and fruit