The alimentary impact of the hemp seed

Hemp seed and hemp seed oil can supply us with many important substances. Their essential fatty acid compositions are favourable, but they may contain non-psychotropic cannabinoids. Emerging data show that these components can influence the health status of the population beneficially. Some data also showed trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol in seed oils, the main psychotropic cannabinoid that is contraindicated.Our aim was to examine cannabinoids and fatty acid composition as well as metal and non-metal element compositions in products, like hemp seed oil and chopped hemp seed capsule.The cannabinoids were separated by thin layer chromatography. Fatty acid composition was determined with gas chromatography, and elements (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Si, Sn, Sr, V, and Zn) were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric method. Selenium was determined with polarographic analyser.Cannabinoids were not detectable by thin layer chromatography, so hemp seed oil, as well as the capsule, have no psychotropic adverse effect. Our data showed that hemp seed contains essential fatty acids close to the recommended ratio. The B and Se concentrations of the oils and the P concentration of the capsule are also relevant

Early complement activation follows eversion carotid endarterectomy and correlates with the time of clamping of the carotid artery

Background: Complement activation plays an important role in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The objective of the present study was to detect the presence and mechanism of complement activation in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods: Complement activation products C1rsC1-inhibitor, C4d, C3a and SC5b-9 and concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in samples serially taken from 16 patients with eversion CEA and 10 with carotid artery stenting (CAS) in the first 24 h post-surgery/intervention. MBL2 genotypes were also determined. Results: In patients with CEA an intense increase in C3a levels were observed immediately after surgery (p < 0.001), accompanied by a slight elevation in SC5b-9 levels (p < 0.05). C3a levels remained elevated until 4 h post-surgery, compared with the baseline values and with CAS patients. Peak C3a levels correlated with the time of carotid clamping (r = 0.5921, p = 0.02). No significant changes were detected in C1rsC1-inhibitor or C4d levels following CEA, and we found no association between the generation of C3a and MBL2 genotypes or CRP levels. Complement activation was not present in patients with CAS. Conclusions: Early complement activation follows CEA and correlates with the time of I/R injury. The lack of C4d generation suggests the role of the alternative and not the lectin pathway in the process. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Differences in the genetic background of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and type 1 diabetes mellitus

Objectives: According to the recent classification of diabetes mellitus the Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) belongs to the group of type 1 autoimmune diabetes, as a slowly progressive form. Our aim was to determine (i) the prevalence of HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 genotypes, and (ii) to determine the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α promoter polymorphism at position -308 (the G→A substitution, designated the TNF2 allele) in patients with type 1 diabetes and with LADA compared with the healthy population. Methods: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II genotypes and the TNF α promoter polymorphism were determined by PCR method. We examined 69 type 1 diabetic and 42 LADA patients. As control samples of 336 cadaver kidney donors and 138 volunteers were used. Results: Both type 1 diabetes mellitus and LADA were positively associated with the DRB1*04-DQB1*0302 (DR4/DQ8) haplotype (P=0.00001, and P=0.0005, respectively), and negatively associated with the DRB1*11-DQB1*0301 (DR11/DQ7) haplotype (P=0.00006, and P=0.007, respectively) compared with control population. There were differences between the two disease entities in the frequency of the DRB1*03-DQB1*02 (DR3/DQ2) haplotype (P=0.00008 vs. P=0.177) compared with control group. The presence of the TNF2 allele was significantly lower in LADA than type I diabetes (P=0.022) or control group (P=0.017). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that there are marked differences in the genetic background of type 1 diabetes and LADA. The low presence of TNF2 allele (known to be associated with high amount of TNF α production) in LADA could be one of the factors responsible for the relatively slow progression. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Telmisartan Is a Promising Agent for Managing Neuropathic Pain and Delaying Opioid Analgesic Tolerance in Rats

Despite the large arsenal of analgesic medications, neuropathic pain (NP) management is not solved yet. Angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) has been identified as a potential target in NP therapy. Here, we investigate the antiallodynic effect of AT1 blockers telmisartan and losartan, and particularly their combination with morphine on rat mononeuropathic pain following acute or chronic oral administration. The impact of telmisartan on morphine analgesic tolerance was also assessed using the rat tail-flick assay. Morphine potency and efficacy in spinal cord samples of treated neuropathic animals were assessed by [35S]GTPγS-binding assay. Finally, the glutamate content of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was measured by capillary electrophoresis. Oral telmisartan or losartan in higher doses showed an acute antiallodynic effect. In the chronic treatment study, the combination of subanalgesic doses of telmisartan and morphine ameliorated allodynia and resulted in a leftward shift in the dose–response curve of morphine in the [35S]GTPγS binding assay and increased CSF glutamate content. Telmisartan delayed morphine analgesic-tolerance development. Our study has identified a promising combination therapy composed of telmisartan and morphine for NP and opioid tolerance. Since telmisartan is an inhibitor of AT1 and activator of PPAR-γ, future studies are needed to analyze the effect of each component