Povezanost serumske koncentracije vitamina d i glaukoma kod žena

The aim of the study was to determine whether serum vitamin D level is lower in female patients with glaucoma as compared with control group. The mechanism by which vitamin D reduces intraocular pressure is not fully clarified. Almost all tissues possess vitamin D receptor (VDR). The mice lacking VDR (VDR knockout mice) have greatly contributed to the understanding of the general vitamin D physiologic function. VDR has been found in some ganglion layer cells, external and internal nuclear layers of retina, and in retinal pigment epithelium, while VDR epitopes have also been found in the ciliary body epithelium, pointing to the role of this protein in eye physiology. The 1,25(OH)2D3 modulates expression of the genes involved in the regulation of intraocular pressure in non-human primates. Extracellular matrix can be remodeled by 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment. Actin disruption can lead to cell morphology alteration, trabecular meshwork relaxation and intraocular pressure reduction. This observational cross-sectional study included 90 female glaucoma subjects aged 45-55 and 50 glaucoma free female subjects as control group. Results of a pilot study conducted in 20 glaucoma subjects and 20 control subjects are presented below. All study subjects underwent history taking, complete ophthalmologic examination and serum vitamin D determination. The mean serum vitamin D level was 32.31 nmol/L in glaucoma patients and 64.17 nmol/L in control subjects. Serum vitamin D level was statistically significantly lower in glaucoma patients as compared with control group (p<0.05).Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi je li kod ispitanica oboljelih od glaukoma snižena serumska koncentracija vitamina D u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu. Mehanizam kojim vitamin D snižava očni tlak nije jasno poznat. Gotovo sva tkiva posjeduju receptor za vitamin D (VDR). Velik doprinos razumijevanju globalne fiziološke funkcije vitamina D dobiven je od miša kojemu nedostaje VDR (engl. knockout mice for VDR). VDR je pronađen u nekim stanicama ganglijskog sloja, u vanjskom i unutarnjem nuklearnom sloju mrežnice i u retinalnom pigmentnom epitelu. Epitopi za VDR su pronađeni i u epitelu cilijarnog tijela. To sve govori o važnosti tog proteina u fiziologiji oka. 1,25 (OH)2D3 modulira ekspresiju gena koji su uključeni u regulaciju očnog tlaka u nehumanih primata. Nakon liječenja pomoću 1,25(OH)2D3 može se remodelirati ekstracelularni matriks. Disrupcija aktina može dovesti do promjene stanične morfologije, relaksacije trabekularne mreže i sniženja očnog tlaka. Provedeno je opažajno presječno istraživanje s kontrolnom skupinom. U istraživanje je bilo uključeno 90 ispitanica oboljelih od glaukoma u dobi od 45-55 godina i 50 ispitanica u kontrolnoj skupini. Prikazuju se rezultati probnog ispitivanja u 20 ispitanica oboljelih od glaukoma i isto toliko u kontrolnoj skupini. Ispitanicama je uzeta anamneza i kompletan oftalmološki status te je određen vitamin D u serumu. Koncentracija vitamina D u serumu ispitanica s glaukomom bila je 32,31 nmol/L u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu gdje je bila 64,17 nmol/L. U zaključku, kod ispitanica oboljelih od glaukoma bila je snižena serumska koncentracija vitamina D u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu na statistički značajnoj razini od p<0,05

Protective effects of olive oil phenolics oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol against hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage in human peripheral lymphocytes

This study investigates antioxidant capacity and protective effects of phenolic compounds oleuropein (OLP) and hydroxytyrosol (HT), present in olive oil and olive leaves, against H2O2-induced DNA damage in human peripheral lymphocytes. Antioxidant potency was determined using the measurement of radical-scavenging activity (ABTS∙+ assay), ferric reducing power (FRAP assay) and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC assay). Both substances were found to be potent antioxidant agents due to their free radical-scavenging activities. Antigenotoxic effects of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol against H2O2-induced damage in human lymphocytes were evaluated in vitro by alkaline comet assay. At tested concentrations (1, 5, 10 µmol L–1), oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol did not induce a significant increase of primary DNA damage in comparison with the negative control. Pretreatment of human lymphocytes with each of the substances for 120 min produced a dose-dependent reduction of primary DNA damage in the tested cell type. Hydroxytyrosol showed a better protective effect against H2O2-induced DNA breaks than oleuropein which could be associated with their free radical-scavenging efficacy

Antibacterial Fractions from Erodium cicutarium Exposed—Clinical Strains of Staphylococcus aureus in Focus

Followed by a buildup of its phytochemical profile, Erodium cicutarium is being subjected to antimicrobial investigation guided with its ethnobotanical use. The results of performed in vitro screening on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans strains, show that E. cicutarium has antimicrobial activity, with a particular emphasis on clinical S. aureus strains— both the methicillin sensitive (MSSA) and the methicillin resistant (MRSA) S. aureus. Experimental design consisted of general methods (the serial microdilution broth assay and the agar well diffusion assay), as well as observing bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity through time (the “time‐kill” assay), investigating the effect on cell wall integrity and biofilm formation, and modulation of bacterial hemolysis. Observed antibacterial activity from above‐described methods led to further activity‐ guided fractionation of water and methanol extracts using bioautography coupled with UHPLCLTQ OrbiTrap MS4. It was determined that active fractions are predominantly formed by gallic acid derivatives and flavonol glycosides. Among the most active phytochemicals, galloyl‐shikimic acid was identified as the most abundant compound. These results point to a direct connection between galloyl‐shikimic acid and the observed E. cicutarium antibacterial activity, and open several new research approaches for future investigatio

Association between serum vitamin d level and glaucoma in women

The aim of the study was to determine whether serum vitamin D level is lower in female patients with glaucoma as compared with control group. The mechanism by which vitamin D reduces intraocular pressure is not fully clarified. Almost all tissues possess vitamin D receptor (VDR). The mice lacking VDR (VDR knockout mice) have greatly contributed to the understanding of the general vitamin D physiologic function. VDR has been found in some ganglion layer cells, external and internal nuclear layers of retina, and in retinal pigment epithelium, while VDR epitopes have also been found in the ciliary body epithelium, pointing to the role of this protein in eye physiology. The 1,25(OH)2D3 modulates expression of the genes involved in the regulation of intraocular pressure in non-human primates. Extracellular matrix can be remodeled by 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment. Actin disruption can lead to cell morphology alteration, trabecular meshwork relaxation and intraocular pressure reduction. This observational cross-sectional study included 90 female glaucoma subjects aged 45-55 and 50 glaucoma free female subjects as control group. Results of a pilot study conducted in 20 glaucoma subjects and 20 control subjects are presented below. All study subjects underwent history taking, complete ophthalmologic examination and serum vitamin D determination. The mean serum vitamin D level was 32.31 nmol/L in glaucoma patients and 64.17 nmol/L in control subjects. Serum vitamin D level was statistically significantly lower in glaucoma patients as compared with control group (p<0.05)

Protective effects of olive oil phenolics oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol against hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage in human peripheral lymphocytes

This study investigates antioxidant capacity and protective effects of phenolic compounds oleuropein (OLP) and hydroxytyrosol (HT), present in olive oil and olive leaves, against H2O2-induced DNA damage in human peripheral lymphocytes. Antioxidant potency was determined using the measurement of radical-scavenging activity (ABTS∙+ assay), ferric reducing power (FRAP assay) and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC assay). Both substances were found to be potent antioxidant agents due to their free radical-scavenging activities. Antigenotoxic effects of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol against H2O2-induced damage in human lymphocytes were evaluated in vitro by alkaline comet assay. At tested concentrations (1, 5, 10 µmol L−1), oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol did not induce a significant increase of primary DNA damage in comparison with the negative control. Pretreatment of human lymphocytes with each of the substances for 120 min produced a dose-dependent reduction of primary DNA damage in the tested cell type. Hydroxytyrosol showed a better protective effect against H2O2-induced DNA breaks than oleuropein which could be associated with their free radical-scavenging efficacy

Fitokemijska karakterizacija bioaktivnih polifenolnih spojeva endemične vrste Centaurea ragusina L. (Asteraceae)

Phytochemical characterization of the Croatian endemic species Centaurea ragusina L. (Asteraceae) was carried out. The presence of polyphenols in above ground plant parts was proven by using chemical reactions of developing colored products and precipitates. The thin layer chromatography showed the presence of quercetin, rutin, and chlorogenic acid in the methanolic extract of C. ragusina. Quantitative analysis of total polyphenols (TP), tannins (T), fiavonoids (F), and phenolic acids (PA) was carried out using three different spectrophotometric methods. The contents of analyzed polyphenolic compounds were as follows: 3.04±0.04% (TP), 0.36±0.04% (T), 0.25±0.00% (F), and 0.38±0.01% (PA). This phytochemical characterization is a contribution to the scientific study of Croatian endemic species and completes the existing knowledge about phytotherapeutic potential of C. ragusina, especially in relation to the content of bioactive polyphenolic substances

First Extensive Polyphenolic Profile of Erodium cicutarium with Novel Insights to Elemental Composition and Antioxidant Activity

Erodium cicutarium is known for its total polyphenolic content, but this work reveals the first highly detailed profile of E. cicutarium, obtained with UHPLC-LTQ OrbiTrap MS4 and UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS techniques. A total of 85 phenolic compounds were identified and 17 constituents were quantified. Overall, 25 new compounds were found, which have not yet been reported for the Erodium genera, or the family Geraniaceae. Along with methanolic extracts, the so far poorly investigated water extracts exhibited in vitro antioxidant activity according to all performed assays, including the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay (ABTS) and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity assay (CUPRAC). Elemental composition analysis performed with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and, additionally, hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HydrEA-ETAAS) showed six most abundant elements to be decreasing as follows: Mg>Ca>K>S>P>Na, and gave first data regarding inorganic arsenic content (109.3–248.4 ng g−1). These results suggest E. cicutarium to be a valuable source of various phenolic compounds with substantial potential for further bioactivity testing