Nutritional status and physical inactivity in moderated asthmatics: A pilot study

Preservation of nutritional status and of fat-free mass (FFM) and/or preventing of fat mass (FM) accumulation have a positive impact on well-being and prognosis in asthma patients. Physical inactivity is identified by World Health Organization as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Physical activity (PA) may contribute to limit FM accumulation, but little information is available on the interactions between habitual PA and body composition and their association with disease severity in asthma severity. Associations between habitual PA, FM, FFM, and pulmonary function were investigated in 42 subjects (24 patients with mild-moderate asthma and 18 matched control subjects). Sensewear Armband was used to measure PA and metabolic equivalent of tasks (METs) continuously over 4 days, while body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Respiratory functions were also assessed in all study participants. FM and FFM were comparable in mild-moderate asthmatics and controls, but PA was lower in asthmatics and it was negatively correlated with FM and positively with the FFM marker body cell mass in all study subjects (P < 0.05). Among asthmatics, treated moderate asthmatics (ICS, n = 12) had higher FM and lower PA, METs, steps number/die, and forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) than in untreated intermittent asthmatics (UA, n = 12). This pilot study assesses that in mild-moderate asthma patients, lower PA is associated with higher FM and higher disease severity. The current results support enhancement of habitual PA as a potential tool to limit FM accumulation and potentially contribute to preserve pulmonary function in moderate asthma, considering the physical inactivity a strong risk factor for asthma worsening

Emerging Allergens in Goji Berry Superfruit: The Identification of New IgE Binding Proteins towards Allergic Patients’ Sera

The goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) (GB) is gaining increasing attention with high consumption worldwide due to its exceptional nutritional value and medicinal benefits displayed in humans. Beyond their beneficial properties, GBs contain renowned allergenic proteins, and therefore deserve inclusion among the allergenic foods capable of inducing allergic reactions in sensitive consumers. GB allergy has been frequently linked to the panallergen lipid transfer protein (LTP), especially across the population of the Mediterranean area. Methods: In this study, we investigated the protein profile of GBs focusing on the most reactive proteins against immunoglobulins E (IgE) of allergic patients&rsquo; sera, as ascertained by immunoblot experiments. The protein spots displaying a clear reaction were excised, in-gel digested, and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) followed by data searching against a restricted database for a reliable protein identification. Results: According to our data, three main spots were identified in GB extract as IgE binding proteins after immunoblot analysis. Some major proteins were identified and the three proteins that provided the highest reactivity were putatively attributed to vicilin and legumin proteins followed by a protein matching with 11S globulin belonging to the cupin superfamily. Finally, the whole GB protein extract was also submitted to bottom-up proteomics followed by a software-based database (DB) screening and a more exhaustive list of GB proteins was compiled

The Protective Anticancer Effect of Natural Lycopene Supercritical CO2 Watermelon Extracts in Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer Cells

Carotenoids may have different effects on cancer and its progression. The safety of carotenoid supplements was evaluated in vitro on human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) adenocarcinoma A549 cells by the administration of three different oleoresins containing lycopene and other lipophilic phytochemicals, such as tocochromanols. The oleoresins, obtained by the supercritical CO2 green extraction technology from watermelon (Lyc W), g&#7845;c(Lyc G) and tomato (Lyc T) and chlatrated in &alpha;-cyclodextrins, were tested in comparison to synthetic lycopene (Lyc S), by cell cycle, Annexin V-FITC/PI, clonogenic test, Mytosox, intracellular ROS, Western Blot for NF-kB and RT-PCR and ELISA for IL-8. The extracts administered at the same lycopene concentration (10 &micro;M) showed conflicting behaviors: Lyc W, with the highest lycopene/tocochromanols ratio, significantly increased cell apoptosis, mitochondrial stress, intracellular ROS, NF-kB and IL-8 expression and significantly decreased cell proliferation, whereas Lyc G and Lyc T significantly increased only cell proliferation. Lyc S treatment was ineffective. The highest amount of lycopene in Lyc W was able to counteract and revert the cell survival effect of tocochromanols supporting the importance of evaluating the lycopene bio-availability and the real effect of antioxidant tocochromanols&rsquo; supplementation which may not only have no anticancer benefits but may even increase cancer aggressivity

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population.

*<p>Mann Whitney versus controls.</p

In vivo effects of BUD in ICOS and Foxp3 expression in peripheral blood T-lymphocytes.

<p>PBMC were isolated from mild persistent asthmatics (n = 8) before and after inhaled BUD treatment (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0048816#s2" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a> for details). ICOS (<b>A–B</b>) and Foxp3 (<b>C–D</b>) were assessed by flow-cytometry in CD4+CD25− and in CD4+CD25+ cells. Individual results, median and 25–75 percentiles are shown. *p<0.05. Arrows indicate the representative dot plots.</p

BUD affects <i>in vitro</i> the expression of ICOS on peripheral blood T-lymphocytes.

<p>PBMC from controls (n = 15) and from mild intermittent asthmatics (n = 19) were cultured with/without BUD and were assessed for ICOS expression by flow-cytometry in total lymphocytes (<b>A</b>), in CD4+CD25− cells (<b>B</b>) and in CD4+CD25+ (<b>C</b>) cells from controls (n = 15) and from asthmatics (n = 19). Individual results, median and 25–75 percentiles are shown.*p<0.05 baseline vs BUD.**p<0.05 asthmatics vs controls. Arrows indicate the representative dot plots.</p

Gating strategy and isotype controls for flow cytometric identification of lymphocyte subpopulations.

<p>PBMC from controls (n = 15) and from mild intermittent asthmatics (n = 19) were cultured with/without BUD and assessed for further analyses. The total lymphocytes were gated by forward and side scatter (red coloured R1) and the CD4+CD25− and the CD4CD25+ cells were gated as R 3 and R2, respectively as shown in <b>A</b>. Histograms for isotype controls for CD4, CD25, ICOS, IL-10 and Foxp3 staining and negative control for annexin V binding (unstained cells) in total lymphocyte population are shown in <b>B</b>.</p

BUD modulates <i>in vitro</i> the annexin V binding of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes.

<p>PBMC from controls (n = 15) and from mild intermittent asthmatics (n = 19) were cultured with/without BUD and were assessed for annexin V binding in total lymphocytes (<b>A</b>), in CD4+CD25− (<b>B</b>) and in CD4+CD25+ cells (<b>C</b>). Individual results, median and 25–75 percentiles are shown. *p<0.05 baseline vs BUD. Arrows indicate the representative dot plots.</p

Effects of BUD in peripheral T cell proliferation.

<p>For cell proliferation experiments, PBMC were isolated from mild intermittent asthmatics (n = 4), cultured with and without BUD for 24 hours and then stimulated for 72 hours with the most relevant allergen for each patient. Cell proliferation was assessed using CFSE and analysed by means of flow-cytometry. The analysis were performed on lymphocytes gated by forward and side scatter. Data are expressed as % of cells with low CFSE expression (<b>A</b>). * p<0.05 (paired t test). Histograms from one representative experiment is shown (<b>B</b>).</p

BUD affects <i>in vitro</i> the expression of Foxp3 in CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25- peripheral blood T-lymphocytes.

<p>PBMC were isolated from controls (n = 15) and from mild intermittent asthmatics (n = 19), were cultured with/without BUD and were assessed for Foxp3 by flow-cytometry in CD4+CD25− (<b>A</b>) and in CD4+CD25+ cells (<b>B</b>). Individual results, median and 25–75 percentiles are shown.*p<0.05 baseline vs BUD.**p<0.05 asthmatics vs controls. Arrows indicate the representative dot plots.</p