Nonlinear control of feedforward systems with bounded signals

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A geometric characterization of feedforward forms

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Norm estimators and global output feedback stabilization of nonlinear systems with ISS inverse dynamics

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Regulation of faecal biomarkers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients treated with oral Mastiha (Pistacia lentiscus) supplement: a double-blind and placebo controlled randomised trial

There is a keen research upon the effects of nutraceuticals on inflammatory bowel disease. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of mastiha supplement, rich in bioactive nutraceuticals, in active inflammatory bowel disease. This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Α total of 60 inflammatory bowel disease patients were enrolled and randomly allocated to mastiha (2.8 g/day) or placebo groups for 3 months adjunct to stable medical treatment. Medical and dietary history, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), Harvey-Bradshaw index, partial Mayo score, biochemical indices, faecal, and blood inflammatory markers were assessed. A clinically important difference between groups in IBDQ was defined as primary outcome. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire score significantly improved in verum compared with baseline (p = 0.004). There was a significant decrease in faecal lysozyme in mastiha patients (p = 0.018) with the mean change being significant (p = 0.021), and significant increases of faecal lactoferrin (p = 0.001) and calprotectin (p = 0.029) in the placebo group. Fibrinogen reduced significantly (p = 0.006) with a significant mean change (p = 0.018), whereas iron increased (p = 0.032) in mastiha arm. Our results show regulation of faecal lysozyme by mastiha supplement adjunctive to pharmacological treatments in active inflammatory bowel disease. An effect secondary to a prebiotic potency is proposed

Adherence to Mediterranean diet in Crohn’s disease

Purpose: To assess the adherence to MD in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Methods: Outpatients with CD were enrolled in this protocol. Medical history, disease activity, dietary intake, habitual Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) score, anthropometric measurements and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) were recorded. Blood samples were collected for quantification of biochemical and inflammatory indices. Results: A total of 86 patients with CD were enrolled: 41 in relapse (5 ≤ Harvey Bradshaw Index ≤ 14) and 45 in remission (Harvey Bradshaw Index ≤ 4). Adherence to MD was greater in patients with inactive disease. The MedDiet score correlated positively with the IBDQ (p = 0.008) and negatively with disease activity (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Adherence to Mediterranean diet is associated with improved quality of life in CD patients. Higher adherence to Mediterranean diet could be of importance in patients with CD to improve quality of life and reduce disease activity

Plasma free amino acid profile in quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients orally administered with Mastiha (Pistacia lentiscus); a randomised clinical trial

Background: Natural products have been studied regarding their effectiveness on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Hypothesis/Purpose: To examine the effects of Mastiha (Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia) on clinical course and amino acid (AA) profile of patients in remission. Study design: This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Methods: Patients (n = 68) were randomly allocated to Mastiha (2.8 g/day) or placebo adjunct to stable medication. Free AAs were identified applying Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in plasma. Medical-dietary history, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, Harvey-Bradshaw Index, Partial Mayo Score, biochemical, faecal and blood inflammatory markers were assessed. Primary endpoint was the clinical relapse rate at 6 months. Secondary endpoints included variations in free AAs, inflammatory biomarkers and quality of life. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: Concerning AAs and biochemical data, alanine (p = 0.006), valine (p = 0.047), proline (p = 0.022), glutamine (p < 0.001) and tyrosine (p = 0.043) along with total cholesterol (p = 0.032) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.045) increased only in placebo group compared with baseline and the change between the study groups was significantly different. Inflammatory markers had not a significantly different change between the two groups, even serum IL-6, faecal calprotectin and faecal lactoferrin increased only in the placebo group. Although Mastiha was not proven superior to placebo in remission rate (17.6% vs. 23.5%, p = 0.549), attenuation in increase of free AAs levels in verum group is reported. Conclusion: Mastiha inhibited an increase in plasma free AAs seen in patients with quiescent IBD. Since change of AAs is considered an early prognostic marker of disease activity, this indicates a potential role of Mastiha in remission maintenance

Antioxidative Efficacy of a Pistacia Lentiscus Supplement and Its Effect on the Plasma Amino Acid Profile in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Oxidative stress is present in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and natural supplements with antioxidant properties have been investigated as a non-pharmacological approach. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of a natural Pistacia lentiscus (PL) supplement on oxidative stress biomarkers and to characterise the plasma-free amino acid (AA) profiles of patients with active IBD (Crohn’s disease (CD) N = 40, ulcerative colitis (UC) N = 20). The activity was determined according to 5 ≤ Harvey Bradshaw Index ≤ 16 or 2 ≤ Partial Mayo Score ≤ 6. This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. IBD patients (N = 60) were randomly allocated to PL (2.8 g/day) or to placebo for 3 months being under no treatment (N = 21) or under stable medical treatment (mesalamine N = 24, azathioprine N = 14, and corticosteroids N = 23) that was either single medication (N = 22) or combined medication (N = 17). Plasma oxidised, low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), total serum oxidisability, and serum uric acid were evaluated at baseline and follow-up. OxLDL/LDL and oxLDL/High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) ratios were calculated. The plasma-free AA profile was determined by applying a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. oxLDL (p = 0.031), oxLDL/HDL (p = 0.020), and oxLDL/LDL (p = 0.005) decreased significantly in the intervention group. The mean change differed significantly in CD between groups for oxLDL/LDL (p = 0.01), and, in the total sample, both oxLDL/LDL (p = 0.015) and oxLDL/HDL (p = 0.044) differed significantly. Several changes were reported in AA levels. PL ameliorated a decrease in plasma-free AAs seen in patients with UC taking placebo. In conclusion, this intervention resulted in favourable changes in oxidative stress biomarkers in active IBD

Prevalence of target organ damage in hypertensive subjects attending primary care: C.V.P.C. study (epidemiological cardio-vascular study in primary care)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Except for the established risk factors, presence of target organ damage has an important role in the treatment of hypertensive subjects. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of target organ damage in primary care subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This multi-centre, cross-sectional survey of 115 primary care physicians recruited 1095 consecutive subjects with hypertension: 611 men (55.8%); and 484 women (44.2%). A detailed history for the presence of cardiovascular disease and a thorough clinical examination was performed to each subject.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the total study population, 44.5% (n = 487) had target organ damage (33.0% had left ventricular hypertrophy, 21.8% increased carotid intima media thickness, 11.0% elevated plasma creatinine levels and 14.6% microalbuminuria). Target organ damage was more prevalent in males than in females (P = 0.05). In addition, males had more often increased carotid intima media thickness than females (P = 0.009). On the contrary, females had more often microalbuminuria (P = 0.06) than males. No differences were observed between the two genders regarding left ventricular hypertrophy (P = 0.35) and elevated plasma creatinine levels (P = 0.21). Logistic regression analysis showed associations between target organ damage and dyslipidemia (P < 0.001), presence of metabolic syndrome (P = 0.005), diabetes (P < 0.001) and coronary artery disease (P < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A significant proportion of hypertensive subjects in primary care had documented associated target organ damage, with left ventricular hypertrophy being the most prevalent target organ damage.</p

Mastiha has efficacy in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases through a microRNA-155 Th17 dependent action

Mastiha is a natural nutritional supplement with known anti-inflammatory properties. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are immune mediated inflammatory diseases that share common pathophysiological features. Mastiha has shown beneficial effects in both diseases. MicroRNAs have emerged as key regulators of inflammation and their modulation by phytochemicals have been extensively studied over the last years. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether a common route exists in the anti-inflammatory activity of Mastiha, specifically through the regulation of miRNA levels. Plasma miR-16, miR-21 and miR-155 were measured by Real-Time PCR before and after two double blinded and placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials with Mastiha. In IBD and particularly in ulcerative colitis patients in relapse, miR-155 increased in the placebo group (p = 0.054) whereas this increase was prevented by Mastiha. The mean changes were different in the two groups even after adjusting for age, sex and BMI (p = 0.024 for IBD and p = 0.042). Although the results were not so prominent in NAFLD, miR-155 displayed a downward trend in the placebo group (p = 0.054) whereas the levels did not changed significantly in the Mastiha group in patients with less advanced fibrosis. Our results propose a regulatory role for Mastiha in circulating levels of miR-155, a critical player in T helper-17 (Th17) differentiation and function