Serum level of αII-spectrin breakdown products (SBDPs) as a potential marker of brain ischemia-reperfusion injury after carotid endarterectomy

Introduction: Stroke remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) reduces the incidence of ischemic stroke or death in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis more effectively than pharmacological therapy alone. SBDPs (spectrin breakdown products): SBDP 120, SBDP145, and SBDP150 are the product of proteolysis of αII-spectrin (280 kDa) — an important structural component of the neuronal cytoskeleton, particularly present in axons. Increased serum level of SBDPs was previously observed in traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), or brain ischemia. Material and methods: The aim of our study was to investigate changes in serum levels of SBDP120 and SBDP145 in patients undergoing uncomplicated CEA. The study included 22 patients with severe carotid artery stenosis, qualified for CEA. Blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein at three different intervals (24 h before CEA, 12 and 48 h after surgery). SBDP’s serum levels were measured by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The study showed that serum SBDP120 levels were significantly decreased 48 h after CEA when compared to the level before the surgery. SBDP145 levels were significantly decreased 12h after the procedure and then remained at a similar level 48h after CEA. Conclusions: In patients with high-grade carotid artery stenosis SBDP120 and SBDP145 serum level decreases after an uncomplicated CEA, therefore alterations from this curve may be a marker of neurological complications after the procedure. Higher SBDP levels before the procedure may represent brain damage caused by chronic ischemia

Visinin-like Protein (VLP-1) as a potential marker of brain damage after carotid endarterectomy — preliminary study

Introduction: Stroke is the second leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) reduces the incidence of ischemic stroke or death in patients with sympatomatic carotid artery stenosis more effectively than pharmacological therapy alone. Visinin-like protein 1 (VLP-1) is a potential marker of brain injury. An increased serum level of VLP-1 was observed in neurodegenerative diseases, ischemic stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Material and methods: The objective of the study was to report the changes in serum level concentrations of VLP-1 in patients undergoing CEA. The study group consisted of 22 patients with severe carotid artery stenosis, qualified to CEA. Serum levels of VLP-1 were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test at 24 h before CEA, 12 and 48 h after the surgery. Results: Serum VLP-1 levels were significantly reduced 48 h after CEA compared to the levels before and 12 h after surgery. Conclusions: VLP-1 serum level decreases after an uncomplicated CEA in patients with high-grade carotid artery stenosis. Alterations in this curve may be a marker of neurological events after the procedure. Higher VLP-1 baseline levels before CEA may reflect brain damage caused by chronic ischemia

Nutritional value and content of mineral elements in the meat of broiler chickens fed Boswellia serrata supplemented diets

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of different levels of Boswellia serrata supplementation in broiler chicken diet on the basic chemical composition and the Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Zn content in breast and drumstick muscles. The analyses involved 200 Ross 308 chickens divided into 4 groups. The broiler chickens were fed diets containing 0 (C), 3 (BSR3), 4 (BSR4), and 5% (BSR5) of Boswellia serrata resin. In the chicken breast and drumstick muscles, the contents of dry mass, total protein, crude fat, and crude ash were determined and their energy value (net Atwater equivalents) was calculated. Additionally, the Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Zn, and Cu levels were determined. In the present study, there were no differences in the proportion of the breast and drumstick muscles in the carcass or in their dry mass, total protein, and crude ash content. The supplementation of broiler chicken diets with 3% (BSR3) and 4% (BSR4) of Boswellia serrata resin decreased quadratically (P < 0.05) the content of crude fat and the calorific value of the breast and drumstick muscles. An increased level of Ca (control vs. BSR diets, and linear, P < 0.05) in the breast muscles and P (control vs. BSR diets, and quadratic, P < 0.05) in the drumstick muscles was noted in the BSR3 and BSR4 chicken groups. The Mg content in the muscles of the examined broiler chickens remained at a similar level, irrespective of the amount of the supplement added. The BSR supplementation reduced Cu (in the breast and drumstick muscles) (P < 0.05) and Fe retention (in the drumstick muscles) (C vs. BSR, linear, P < 0.05). Further investigations are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms associated with the effect of Boswellia serrata on the level of microelement retention in muscles. In summary, Boswellia serrata can be considered a good feed additive with a positive impact on the dietary value of poultry meat

Mikronizacja metodą modyfikacji składu chemicznego nasion fasoli, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem węglowodanów

Głównym czynnikiem ograniczającym użyteczność żywieniową nasion fasoli są substancje antyżywieniowe. W celu ich usunięcia lub unieczynnienia stosuje się termiczne metody obróbki nasion, do których m.in. należy mikronizacja. Podczas tego rodzaju przetwarzania nasion może dochodzić również do wielkokierunkowych modyfikacji składu chemicznego, który determinuje wartość odżywczą nasion. Dlatego za cel pracy przyjęto określenie zmian składu chemicznego nasion fasoli białej zachodzących pod wpływem naświetlania promieniami podczerwonymi w temperaturze 90, 130 i 180°C przez 30, 60, 90, 130 i 180 s. W nasionach fasoli oznaczono zawartość: suchej masy, popiołu surowego, tłuszczu surowego, białka ogólnego, włókna surowego, związków bezazotowych wyciągowych (BAW), frakcji włókna oraz skrobi. Oznaczenie podstawowego składu chemicznego i skrobi w materiale badawczym wykona- no według standardowych procedur podanych w AACC (2000) i AOAC (2000). Naświetlanie promieniami podczerwonymi nasion fasoli spowodowało zwiększenie zawartości suchej masy i BAW (P<0,05). Odwrotne zjawisko obserwowano natomiast w zawartości białka ogólnego i włókna surowego. Najmniej tych składników odżywczych oznaczono w wariantach FC-3 (180°C/90 s: białko – 22,09% suchej masy) i FC-5 (180°C/180 s: włókno 4,35% suchej masy). Naświetlanie wpłynęło również na zmniejszenie (P<0,05) zawartości włókna kwaśno- i neutralno- detergentowego, celulozy oraz skrobi. Temperatury procesu 90°C i 130 °C wpłynęły na największe obniżenie zawartości celulozy (ponad połowę oznaczonej ilości). Optymalną, z żywieniowego punktu widzenia, modyfikację składu chemicznego uzyskano w fasoli mikronizowanej w temperaturze 130 °C

Nutrient and Mineral Profile of Chosen Fresh and Smoked Fish

In the present study, were determined the basic nutrients (dry matter, crude ash, crude protein, ether extract, and energy) and mineral elements content in chosen species of raw and smoked freshwater and sea fish. The content of dry matter, and basic nutrients and Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2, P+2, Zn+2, and Cu+2 in the fish samples was determined. The dietary intake of several macro- and microconstituents per one serving (150 g fresh or smoked fish) was calculated. The fresh fish contained on average 220.2 to 283.7 g&middot;kg&minus;1 of dry matter, 12.4 to 10.7 g&middot;kg&minus;1 of crude ash, 176.2 to 173.5 g&middot;kg&minus;1 of crude protein, 32.6 to 78.6 g&middot;kg&minus;1 of ether extract, and 104.6 to 119.1 kcal (freshwater and sea fish, respectively). Thermal treatment reduces the water and fat content in fish meat. Reduction of the K, Ca, Mg, P, Zn, and Cu levels was observed most frequently. The one serving of fish covers approximately 23% and 12% of the recommended dietary amount of K, 7.5&ndash;5.0% of Ca, ~12% of Mg, 6.8 to 12.5% of Zn, and about covered 6.7% of Cu. The smoking process increased the concentration of some basic nutrients and reduced the fat and mineral content. Whitefish, trout, halibut, mackerel, and herring had the highest levels of the analyzed minerals

Effect of inclusion of micronized camelina, sunflower, and flax seeds in the broiler chicken diet on performance productivity, nutrient utilization, and intestinal microbial populations

ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of micronized full-fat camelina, flax, or sunflower seeds in the diet for broiler chickens on the performance productivity, nutrient utilization, and composition of intestinal microbial populations and to assess the possibility of modification of the resistance of isolated bacteria to chemotherapeutic agents with different mechanisms of action. The use of micronized oilseeds improved the broiler chicken body weight (P = 0.035) and the FCR value (P = 0.045) in the final rearing stage by enhancement of the utilization of total protein and organic matter. Lactobacillus-Enterococcus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Escherichia coli, and Salmonella spp. were isolated from small intestinal contents, and Enterobacteriaceae taxa were detected in the cecum and cloaca of the broiler chickens. The addition of micronized camelina seeds (CAM.IR) contributed to an increase in the Bifidobacterium counts in the small intestine, compared with the control treatment (P < 0.050). Escherichia coli bacteria were not isolated only in the CAM.IR treatment. Nitrofurantoin and chloramphenicol were the most effective agents against the isolates from the cecum and cloaca in all oilseed treatments, whereas streptomycin exhibited the lowest efficacy. In the CAM.IR and micronized sunflower seed (SUN.IR) treatments, there were higher counts of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains than in the control and micronized flax seed (FLA.IR) treatments (P < 0.05). There was a difference between strains isolated from the cecum and cloaca only in the FLA.IR treatment, i.e., increased tetracycline sensitivity was exhibited by strains isolated from the cloaca (13% vs. 50%), also in comparison with the control treatments (P = 0.054). In comparison with the CAM.IR and control treatments, reduced numbers of multi-resistant strains were found in the cloaca isolates from the for FLA.IR and SUN.IR variants. Micronized camelina, flax, and sunflower seeds can be used as part of an effective nutritional strategy focused on optimization of the efficiency of rearing broiler chickens, as they positively modify intestinal microbial populations and increase bacterial sensitivity to the analyzed chemotherapeutic agents

Nutritional and Anti-Nutritional Factors in Vicia sativa L. Seeds and the Variability of Phenotypic and Morphological Characteristics of Some Vetch Accessions Cultivated in European Countries

Agricultural research has traditionally focused on staple crops, while relatively little attention has been given to minor crops. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the nutrient contents and some anti-nutritional factors in the seeds of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and the variation of phenotypic and morphological traits in field studies of 44 European accessions, originating from Russia, Ukraine, Poland (east and east-central Europe), the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary (south-central Europe), and Germany (west-central Europe) and grown in the same soil-climate conditions. A three-year field study was conducted from 2010 to 2012. Accessions originating from west-central Europe flowered three days earlier than those from south-central Europe. They also had the lowest seed number per pod (5.9) but the highest thousand seed weight (58 g) (p &lt; 0.05). Vetch lines coming from south-central Europe contained the highest level of crude protein in comparison with vetch seeds originating from west-central Europe (353 vs. 324 g kg&minus;1, respectively) (p &lt; 0.05), but the latter had the highest essential amino acid index value (75 vs. 71 in west-central Europe and south-central Europe, respectively) (p &lt; 0.05). The highest protein level was noted in the seeds of Slovak origin (average 358 g kg&minus;1), whereas the lowest protein level (324 g kg&minus;1) was determined in the Russian and German lines. Vetch grain fat was rich in linoleic (53%) and linolenic (14%) acids. The best n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio (4) and the highest &alpha;-linolenic acid level were exhibited by the Slovak and Polish accessions (p &lt; 0.05). The seeds of vetch accessions from east, east-central, and south-central Europe contained higher levels of (p &lt; 0.05) iron than those originating from west-central Europe. The concentration of tannins, trypsin inhibitors, and hydrogen cyanide reached on average 8, 3, and 81 mg kg&minus;1, respectively. The highest hydrogen cyanide (HCN) levels was determined in the accessions of German and Russian origin (126 and 119 mg kg&minus;1, respectively), and the lowest values were noted in the Slovak and Polish lines (50 and 67 mg HCN kg&minus;1, respectively). Furthermore, the Polish accessions contained the lowest levels of tannins and trypsin inhibitors. Common vetch seeds may be valuable protein feed/food stuff, but their nutritional usefulness is limited by the presence of anti-nutritional factors, especially HCN, which is difficult to remove. Further selection in this direction may be postulated

The content of lead and cadmium in fruit-flavoured yoghurts and cream cheeses

Flavoured yoghurts and cream cheeses are usually promoted by the manufacturers as snacks for children and young people. An undeniable advantage of such products is the fact that they can be treated as convenience food because they have long expiry dates, they are ready to eat and available in packaging of various sizes. However, both milk and dairies can be a source of toxic metals, in particular Pb and Cd, for children. The research aimed to measure the level of Pb and Cd in fruit-flavoured yoghurts and cream cheeses. The analyses involved 83 products: 42 yoghurts and 41 cream cheeses. The products were split into 11 groups, depending on the used flavouring. The content of Cd and Pb was determined using the GF AAS method. In addition, the safety of fruit-flavoured yoghurts and cream cheeses was estimated for consumers aged 5 and 10. The analysed yoghurts contained on average 0.028 mg Pb and 0.008 mg Cd kg-1, whereas the cream cheeses – on average 0.02 mg Pb and 0.017 mg kg-1 Cd. The values were lower than acceptable. The highest (P < 0.05) content of Pb was recorded in mixed flavour yoghurts, whereas as regards cream cheeses – in stone fruit flavoured products. The highest (P < 0.05) content of Cd was recorded in vanilla-flavoured yoghurts and in mixed flavour and strawberry-flavoured cream cheeses. For a child, having one cup of fruit-flavoured yoghurt is equivalent to a daily intake of max. 7% BMDL01 Pb and max. 18.3% TWI Cd, whereas one cup of cream cheese – max. 28.5% BMDL01 Pb and max. 33.5% TWI Cd. The presented results indicated that one cup of fruit-flavoured yoghurt and cream cheese was safe for consumers in terms of Cd and Pb content. However, it should be noted that products most eagerly chosen by children (strawberry, peach) had the highest content of Pb and/or Cd per 1 cup, which means that their frequent consumption can be associated with a risk of increased intake of such toxic metals

Antioxidative, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Obesogenic, and Antidiabetic Properties of Tea Polyphenols&mdash;The Positive Impact of Regular Tea Consumption as an Element of Prophylaxis and Pharmacotherapy Support in Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is second only to cervical carcinoma among the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumours of the female reproductive system. The available literature provides evidence for the involvement of 32 genes in the hereditary incidence of EC. The physiological markers of EC and coexisting diet-dependent maladies include antioxidative system disorders but also progressing inflammation; hence, the main forms of prophylaxis and pharmacotherapy ought to include a diet rich in substances aiding the organism&rsquo;s response to this type of disorder, with a particular focus on ones suitable for lifelong consumption. Tea polyphenols satisfy those requirements due to their proven antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesogenic, and antidiabetic properties. Practitioners ought to consider promoting tea consumption among individuals genetically predisposed for EC, particularly given its low cost, accessibility, confirmed health benefits, and above all, suitability for long-term consumption regardless of the patient&rsquo;s age. The aim of this paper is to analyse the potential usability of tea as an element of prophylaxis and pharmacotherapy support in EC patients. The analysis is based on information available from worldwide literature published in the last 15 years

Supplementation of Broiler Chicken Feed Mixtures with Micronised Oilseeds and the Effects on Nutrient Contents and Mineral Profiles of Meat and Some Organs, Carcass Composition Parameters, and Health Status

In this study, we included 15% doses of infrared-irradiated camelina, flax, and sunflower seeds in the diets of broiler chickens (grower and finisher) and focused on assessing the effects on the production traits, selected slaughter analysis parameters, nutrients, and minerals in breast and drumstick meat and some organs, i.e., liver, proventriculus, and heart. In total, 200 one-day-old broiler chickens were assigned randomly to four treatments with five replicate cages of 10 broiler chickens per cage (five females and five males). The experiment lasted 6 weeks. In the group of broiler chickens in which diets were supplemented with micronised camelina and flax seeds, there was an increase in (p &lt; 0.05) breast, thigh, and drumstick weight and a decrease (p &lt; 0.05) in the abdominal fat of the carcasses. The oilseed treatments reduced the ether extract content and the calorific value in the breast and drumstick muscles and organs. The flax seeds contributed to an increase in the contents of Ca (breast muscle and liver), Cu (breast muscle and proventriculus), and Fe (drumstick muscle and heart). Likewise, some blood parameters were influenced by supplementation with infrared-irradiated camelina and flax seeds, for example, there was a decrease in the haemoglobin level and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (p &lt; 0.05). The oilseed treatments also modified the contents of Fe and Ca in the blood plasma of broiler chickens (p &lt; 0.05). It may be concluded that infrared-irradiated camelina, flax, and sunflower seeds can be regarded as good diet components exerting positive effects on the dietary value of poultry meat and organs used in dietetics