Polyphenolic Extracts from Olea europea L. Protect Against Cytokine-Induced beta-Cell Damage Through Maintenance of Redox Homeostasis

Various pancreatic beta-cell stressors, including cytokines, are known to induce oxidative stress, resulting in apoptotic/necrotic cell death and inhibition of insulin secretion. Traditionally, olive leaves or fruits are used for treating diabetes, but the cellular mechanism(s) of their effects are not known. We examined the effects of Olea europea L. (olive) leaf and fruit extracts and their component oleuropein on cytokine-induced beta-cell toxicity. INS-1, an insulin-producing beta-cell line, was preincubated with or without increasing concentrations of olive leaf or fruit extract or oleuropein for 24 hr followed by exposure to a cytokine cocktail containing 0.15 ng/mL interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), 1 ng/mL interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and 1 ng/mL tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) for 6 hr. The cytotoxicity was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) testing. Apoptosis was quantified by detecting acridine orange/ethidium bromide-stained condensed nuclei under a fluorescent microscope. The cells exposed to cytokines had a higher apoptotic rate, a decreased viability (MTT), and an increased caspase 3/7 activity. Both extracts and oleuropein partially increased the proportion of living cells and improved the viability of cells after cytokines. The protective effects of extracts on live cell viability were mediated through the suppression of caspase 3/7 activity. Oleuropein did not decrease the amount of both apoptotic and necrotic cells, whereas extracts significantly protected cells against cytokine-induced death. Cytokines led to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and inhibited glutathione level, superoxide dismutase activity, and insulin secretion in INS-1. Insulin secretion was almost completely protected by leaf extract, but was partially affected by fruit extract or oleuropein. Neither cytokines nor olive derivatives had a significant effect on cellular cytochrome c release and catalase activity. Moreover, the cells incubated with each extract or oleuropein showed a significant reduction in cytokine-induced ROS production and ameliorated abnormal antioxidant defense. The molecular mechanism by which olive polyphenols inhibit cytokine-mediated beta-cell toxicity appears to be involving the maintenance of redox homeostasis

Body Image and Sexual Self-confidence in Patients with Chronic Urticaria

Body image and sexual life are often adversely affected in patients with chronic urticaria. The number of studies on this topic is limited. We aimed to determine the body image and sexual self-confidence status in patients with chronic urticaria and the relationship between them. In total, 64 patients with chronic urticaria who visited a dermatology clinic were included in the study. Data were collected by using an introductory information form, Sexual Self-confidence Scale, and Multidimensional Body-Self Relationship Scale. Shapiro–Wilk test was employed to assess normal distribution for descriptive statistics; the data were not found to be normally distributed. Therefore, nonparametric statistical tests were employed. Mann–Whitney U-test was used for binary independent variables; Spearman correlation test was used for correlation analysis. Relational hypotheses were tested by simple linear regression analysis; P &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the patients, 57.8% reported that their sexual life was affected by chronic urticaria. Individuals whose sexual lives were affected had lower body image and sexual self-confidence scores. There was a moderate positive correlation between body image and sexual self-confidence. The predictive effect of body image on sexual self-confidence was 24.5%. According to these results, changes in the bodies of patients diagnosed with chronic urticaria and the changes in body image negatively affect sexual self-confidence, self-disclosure, sexual awareness, and sexual courage. Therefore, qualitative and quantitative studies should be performed on patients with chronic urticaria by considering body image and sexual self confidence status, and treatment processes should be followed through a multidisciplinaryapproach.</p