Miranda v. Arizona: The Emerging Pattern

In Miranda v. Arizona, the United States Supreme Court set forth a series of specific guidelines to determine the admissibility at trial of statements elicited during police interrogation of a criminal suspect. Since 1971, the Burger Court has whittled away at the mandates of Miranda. It is possible that one major factor underlies this erosion process: the very frustrating reality that, in many situations, an obviously guilty party is allowed to go free because the constable has blundered

Natural and Nature-Derived Products Targeting Human Coronaviruses

The ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 human coronavirus (HCoV), has brought the international scientific community before a state of emergency that needs to be addressed with intensive research for the discovery of pharmacological agents with antiviral activity. Potential antiviral natural products (NPs) have been discovered from plants of the global biodiversity, including extracts, compounds and categories of compounds with activity against several viruses of the respiratory tract such as HCoVs. However, the scarcity of natural products (NPs) and small-molecules (SMs) used as antiviral agents, especially for HCoVs, is notable. This is a review of 203 publications, which were selected using PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, evaluates the available literature since the discovery of the first human coronavirus in the 1960s; it summarizes important aspects of structure, function, and therapeutic targeting of HCoVs as well as NPs (19 total plant extracts and 204 isolated or semi-synthesized pure compounds) with anti-HCoV activity targeting viral and non-viral proteins, while focusing on the advances on the discovery of NPs with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, and providing a critical perspective

Red wine polyphenols modulate bone loss in the ovariectomized rat model of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Σκοπός αυτής της μελέτης ήταν να εξεταστεί η επίδραση του εκχυλίσματος πολυφαινολών του κόκκινου κρασιού (RWPs) στην οστική πυκνότητα (BMD) σε μοντέλο ωοθηκεκτομημένων επίμυων. Τριάντα πέντε Wistar επίμυες, ηλικίας 10 μηνών, χωρίστηκαν στις εξής ομάδες: ομάδα ελέγχου (CTRL), ωοθηκεκτομής (OVX) και την ομάδα ωοθηκεκτομής που έλαβε το εκχύλισμα RWPs (OVX+RWPs) σε συγκέντρωση 50 mg/kg σωματικού βάρους ανά ημέρα, ξεκινώντας αμέσως μετά από την ωοθηκεκτομή για 6 μήνες. Προσδιορίστηκε η οστική πυκνότητα πριν από οποιαδήποτε παρέμβαση, στους 3 και 6 μήνες. Οι επίμυες ευθανατώθηκαν και τα μηριαία οστά εξετάστηκαν με την δοκιμασία κάμψης τριών σημείων. Η σύγκριση των τιμών οστικής πυκνότητας ολόκληρης της κνήμης μεταξύ των ομάδων, ανέδειξε στατιστικά σημαντική μείωση στις ομάδες OVX και OVX+RWPs τόσο από την αρχική μέτρηση στους 3 και 6 μήνες, όσο και από τους 3 στους 6 μήνες, ενώ στην ομάδα CTRL δεν υπήρξε σημαντική αλλαγή. Η ποσοστιαία μεταβολή της οστικής πυκνότητας στην εγγύς μετάφυση της κνήμης από την αρχική μέτρηση στους 3 και 6 μήνες και από τους 3 στους 6 μήνες, αποκάλυψε στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές μεταξύ των ομάδων OVX και OVX + RWPs (P = 0.000). Η ωοθηκεκτομή προκάλεσε σημαντική μείωση των εμβιομηχανικών παραμέτρων όπως αναμενόταν, η δοκιμασία κάμψης τριών σημείων έδειξε ότι η μέγιστη φόρτιση πριν από τη θραύση, η απορρόφηση ενέργειας και η τάση θραύσης αυξήθηκε στατιστικά σημαντικά στην ομάδα OVX που υποβλήθηκε σε θεραπεία με RWPs σε σύγκριση με τους OVX επιμύες (P = 0.048, P = 0.002 και P = 0.003 αντίστοιχα). Η διατροφική πρόσληψη RWPs για 6 μήνες απέτρεψε την ταχεία οστική απώλεια και βελτίωσε την αντοχή των οστών σε ωοθηκεκτομημένους επίμυες.The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Red Wine Polyphenols (RWPs) extract on bone mineral density (BMD) in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. Thirty-five 10-month-old Wistar rats were separated into controls (CTRL), OVX and OVX plus RWPs in their drinking water (dose, 50 mg/kg body weight per day), starting immediately after OVX for 6 months. Βody and uterine weight, BMD of the tibia at baseline, 3 and 6 months post-OVX, and 3-pointing bending of the femur, were examined. Statistical comparison of the total tibia BMD within groups during the study period showed a significant reduction in the OVX and OVX+RWPs groups both from baseline to 3 and 6 months and from 3 to 6 months, whereas in the CTRL group, there was no significant change. For the proximal tibial metaphysis, comparison of BMD percentage changes from baseline to 3 months and 6 months and from 3 to 6 months revealed highly statistical differences between OVX and OVX+RWPs groups (P = 0.000). OVX induced a significant reduction of biomechanical parameters as expected; the 3-point bending test showed that the maximum force before fracture, energy absorption and fracture stress significantly increased in the OVX group treated with RWPs compared with the nontreated OVX rats (P = 0.048, P = 0.002 and P = 0.003, respectively). Dietary intake of RWPs for 6 months significantly prevented trabecular bone loss and improved bone strength in estrogen-deficient ovariectomized rats

The antimicrobial effect of Rosmarinus officinalis extracts on oral initial adhesion ex vivo

OBJECTIVE In the last few decades, there has been a growing worldwide interest in the use of plant extracts for the prevention of oral diseases. The main focus of this interest lies in the identification and isolation of substances that limit the formation of microbial biofilm which plays a major role in the development of caries, periodontitis, and peri-implantitis. In this clinical ex vivo study, we investigated the antimicrobial effects of Rosmarinus officinalis extract against oral microorganisms within in situ initial oral biofilms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Initial in situ biofilm samples (2 h) from six healthy volunteers were treated ex vivo with R. officinalis extract at concentrations of 20 mg/ml and 30 mg/ml. The number of viable bacterial cells was determined by counting the colony-forming units. All surviving bacteria were isolated in pure cultures and identified using MALDI-TOF and biochemical testing procedures. Additionally, live/dead staining in combination with epifluorescence microscopy was used for visualizing the antimicrobial effects in the initial biofilms. RESULTS The number of colony-forming units in the R. officinalis-treated biofilms was significantly lower than in the untreated controls (p < 0.001). The reduction range of log10 was 1.64-2.78 and 2.41-3.23 for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, respectively. Regarding the bacterial composition, large intra- and interindividual variability were observed. Except for Campylobacter spp., the average amount of all bacterial taxa was lower after treatment with R. officinalis than in the untreated biofilms. A total of 49 different species were detected in the untreated biofilms, while only 11 bacterial species were detected in the R. officinalis-treated biofilms. Live/dead staining confirmed that the R. officinalis-treated biofilms had significantly lower numbers of surviving bacteria than the untreated biofilms. CONCLUSIONS The treatment with R. officinalis extract has a significant potential to eliminate microbial oral initial biofilms. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The results of this study encourage the use of R. officinalis extracts in biofilm control and thus in the treatment of caries and periodontitis as a herbal adjuvant to synthetic substances

Effect of processing on phenolic composition of olive oil products and olive mill by-products and possibilities for enhancement of sustainable processes

The bio-functional properties of olive oil products and by-products rely greatly on the proportions and types of the endogenous phenolics that may favorably/unfavorably change during various processing conditions. The olive oil industrial activities typically produce (i) olive oils, the main/marketable products, and (ii) olive mill by-products. The mechanical processing of olive oil extraction is making progress in some areas. However, the challenges inherent in the existing system, taking into consideration, the susceptibilities of phenolics and their biosynthetic variations during processing, hamper efforts to ascertain an ideal approach. The proposed innovative means, such as inclusion of emerging technologies in extraction system, show potential for sustainable development of olive oil processing. Another crucial factor, together with the technological advancements of olive oil extraction, is the valorization of olive mill by-products that are presently underused while having great potential for extended/high-value applications. A sustainable re-utilization of these valuable by-products helps contribute to (i) food and nutrition security and (ii) economic and environmental sustainability. This review discusses typical processing factors responsible for the fate of endogenous phenolics in olive oil products/by-products and provides an overview of the possibilities for the sustainable processing to (i) produce phenolic-rich olive oil and (ii) optimally valorize the by-products.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antimicrobial Photoinactivation Using Visible Light Plus Water-Filtered Infrared-A (VIS + wIRA) and Hypericum Perforatum Modifies In Situ Oral Biofilms

Due to increasing antibiotic resistance, the application of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is gaining increasing popularity in dentistry. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effects of aPDT using visible light (VIS) and water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) in combination with a Hypericum perforatum extract on in situ oral biofilms. The chemical composition of H. perforatum extract was analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). To obtain initial and mature oral biofilms in situ, intraoral devices with fixed bovine enamel slabs (BES) were carried by six healthy volunteers for two hours and three days, respectively. The ex situ exposure of biofilms to VIS + wIRA (200 mWcm$^{-2}$) and H. perforatum (32 mg ml$^{-1}$, non-rinsed or rinsed prior to aPDT after 2-min preincubation) lasted for five minutes. Biofilm treatment with 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution (CHX) served as a positive control, while untreated biofilms served as a negative control. The colony-forming units (CFU) of the aPDT-treated biofilms were quantified, and the surviving microorganisms were identified using MALDI-TOF biochemical tests as well as 16 S rDNA-sequencing. We could show that the H. perforatum extract had significant photoactivation potential at a concentration of 32 mg ml$^{-1}$. When aPDT was carried out in the presence of H. perforatum, all biofilms (100%) were completely eradicated (p = 0.0001). When H. perforatum was rinsed off prior to aPDT, more than 92% of the initial viable bacterial count and 13% of the mature oral biofilm were killed. Overall, the microbial composition in initial and mature biofilms was substantially altered after aPDT, inducing a shift in the synthesis of the microbial community. In conclusion, H. perforatum-mediated aPDT using VIS + wIRA interferes with oral biofilms, resulting in their elimination or the substantial alteration of microbial diversity and richness. The present results support the evaluation of H. perforatum-mediated aPDT for the adjunctive treatment of biofilm-associated oral diseases

Herbal substance, acteoside, alleviates intestinal mucositis in mice

This study investigated the role of acteoside in the amelioration of mucositis. C57BL/6 mice were gavaged daily with acteoside 600 μg for 5 d prior to induction of mucositis and throughout the experimental period. Mucositis was induced by methotrexate (MTX; 12.5 mg/kg; s.c.). Mice were culled on d 5 and d 11 after MTX. The duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were collected for myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, metallothionein (MT) levels, and histology. Acteoside reduced histological severity scores by 75, 78, and 88% in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, respectively, compared to MTX-controls on d 5. Acteoside reduced crypt depth by 49, 51, and 33% and increased villus height by 19, 38, and 10% in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, respectively, compared to MTX-controls on d 5. Acteoside decreased MT by 50% compared to MTX-control mice on d 5. Acteoside decreased MPO by 60% and 30% in the duodenum and jejunum, respectively, compared to MTX-controls on d 5. Acteoside alleviated MTX-induced small intestinal mucositis possibly by preventing inflammation.Daniel Reinke, Stamatiki Kritas, Panagiotis Polychronopoulos, Alexios L. Skaltsounis, Nektarios Aligiannis, and Cuong D. Tra

Differential effect of Pistacia vera extracts on experimental atherosclerosis in the rabbit animal model: an experimental study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lipid-enriched diets and oxidative stress are risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis. The effects of the methanolic (ME) and cyclohexane (CHE) extracts of the <it>Pistacia vera </it>nut, often included in the Mediterranean diet, were studied in the rabbit model of atherosclerosis.</p> <p>Methods and results</p> <p>Twenty-four New Zealand White rabbits received atherogenic diet (Control Group), supplemented with ME (Group ME) or CHE (Group CHE) for 3 months. Previously, a GC-MS and a UHPLC LC-DAD-ESI(-)-HRMS/MS method were developed to investigate the extracts' chemical profiles. Blood samples at baseline and monthly determined lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and liver function. The aorta, myocardium and liver were examined histologically at 3 months.</p> <p>Groups ME and CHE had significantly higher HDL- and non-significantly lower LDL-cholesterol median % changes from baseline than the Control Group. Triacylglycerol was significantly higher in Group CHE vs. Control. MDA values were significantly lower in Group ME vs. Control and CHE. ALT and AST were significantly higher in Group CHE vs. Control. γ-GT was lower in Group ME vs. Control. Aortic intimal thickness was significantly less in Groups ME and CHE vs. Control; Group ME atherosclerotic lesions were significantly less extensive vs. Groups Control and CHE. Only Group CHE had significant liver fatty infiltration.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>During short-term administration concomitantly with atherogenic diet, both <it>P. vera </it>extracts were beneficial on HDL-, LDL-cholesterol and aortic intimal thickness. The ME additionally presented an antioxidant effect and significant decrease of aortic surface lesions. These results indicate that <it>P. vera </it>dietary inclusion, in particular its ME, is potentially beneficial in atherosclerosis management.</p