High Concentrations Of Vitamin Research Articles

Research on Development and Characterization of Composite Membranes Based on Hybrid Bacterial Cellulose Combined with Glycerol and Vegetable Residues for the Preservation of Fresh Fruit and Food

This study aims to develop a biocompatible and bioactive food-packaging composite film material. The material is based on bacterial cellulose (BC) microfibers from coconut jelly biomass combined with olive oil as a carrier of antibacterial properties. A composite membrane was fabricated with 20%, 30%, and 40 wt % glycerol and separately impregnated with 1%, 2%, and 3 wt % olive oil in the presence of BC. The results of SEM image structure and morphology show that the membrane was successfully fabricated with uniform distribution of BC, without losing its natural structure. The film was initially applied to preserve apples, and the research results showed that the mass index did not change significantly (ranging from 1.13 to 5.1 g); the hardness through the bearing test results showed a decrease. The preservation time of the composite membranes, which are based on bacterial cellulose combined with glycerol and vegetable residues, extends up to 20 days. The membrane with the highest concentration of vitamin C is soaked in BC/glycerol 30%/olive oil 2% membrane and the lowest is soaked in BC membrane.

Evaluation of plasma biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 concentrations of Holstein dairy cows fed adequate or high concentrations of dietary vitamin D3, vitamin E, calcium, and selenium under heat stress

The aim of this study was to determine plasma biotin (B8), folate (B9), and vitamin B12 (B12) concentrations of multiparous dairy cows under heat stress (HS) fed with adequate or high concentrations of vitamin D3 (VITD) and E (VITE), Ca, and Se. Twelve multiparous Holstein cows were used in a split-plot design. The main plot was: (1) Adequate VITE and Se; (2) High VITE and Se. Within each main plot, cows were assigned to treatments: (1) HS with adequate concentrations of VITD and Ca; (2) HS with high concentrations of VITD and Ca; (3) pair-feeding (PF) with HS in thermoneutrality with adequate concentrations of VITD and Ca in a duplicated 3 × 3 Latin square. There were no treatment effects on plasma B8 and B12. Plasma B9 was lower by 21% for HS with adequate VITD and Ca than PF cows. Results suggested that HS might modify folate status in dairy cows, regardless of treatments.

Evaluation of Haemopoietic Parameters of Selected Ethnomedicinal Remedies

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 2 billion people, or 30% of the world's population, are affected by anaemia. In low- and middle-income countries, the prevalence of anaemia is highest among women of reproductive age and young children, with estimates suggesting that up to 60% of pregnant women and nearly 50% of preschool children suffer from anaemia.Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the haemopoietic parameters of four traditionally used blood building plants; Justicia carnea, Jathropha tanjorensis, Sorghum bicolor and Tetracera alnifolia; whose anti-anaemic parameters have not been compared.Method: The crude extracts were obtained by macerating 100g of each plant sample in methanol and dichloromethane, followed by concentrating the extracts using a rotary evaporator and drying in a desiccator. Phytochemical screening, elemental analysis, vitamin B3, B6, B12 analysis and GC-MS were carried out on the plant samples; J. tanjorensis, J. carnea, S. bicolor and T. alnifolia.Results: Phytochemical screening showed the presence of Triterpenoids, Flavonoids, Tannins, saponins, Phlobatamins, Anthraquinones, Cardiac glycosides, Steroids, Carbohydrates, and proteins. GC-MS analysis revealed some compounds.Conclusion: A comparison of the concentrations of the mineral and vitamins analysed revealed that J. tanjorensis had high concentrations of copper, iron and zinc, but was not statistically significant compared to the other plants investigated. The results obtained from the analysis of the vitamins, showed that Sorghum bicolor had high concentrations of vitamins: B3, B6 and B12 to the plants. Also. vitamin B3 was significantly higher at p<0.05 in Sorghum bicolor. The findings from this study showed that the investigated plants are suitable candidates for the development of blood building medications and their use in traditional settings as blood tonics is warranted. Furthermore, Sorghum bicolor is the most promising of the four medicinal plants as a candidate for further therapeutic studies.

The Role of Vitamin K in the Development of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are a growing global health problem with enormous consequences for individuals and society. The most common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, can be caused by both genetic factors (mutations) and epigenetic changes caused by the environment, in particular, oxidative stress. One of the factors contributing to the development of oxidative stress that has an important effect on the nervous system is vitamin K, which is involved in redox processes. However, its role in cells is ambiguous: accumulation of high concentrations of vitamin K increases the content of reactive oxygen species increases, while small amounts of vitamin K have a protective effect and activate the antioxidant defense systems. The main function of vitamin K is its involvement in the gamma carboxylation of the so-called Gla proteins. Some Gla proteins are expressed in the nervous system and participate in its development. Vitamin K deficiency can lead to a decrease or loss of function of Gla proteins in the nervous system. It is assumed that the level of vitamin K in the body is associated with specific changes involved in the development of dementia and cognitive abilities. Vitamin K also influences the sphingolipid profile in the brain, which also affects cognitive function. The role of vitamin K in the regulation of biochemical processes at the cellular and whole-organism levels has been studied insufficiently. Further research can lead to the discovery of new targets for vitamin K and development of personalized diets and therapies.

Toxicological effects of acute and repeated doses (180 days) of fruits from Malpighia emarginata (acerola) in rodents

Malpighia emarginata has a high amount of vitamin C with pharmacological or food preservation potential. However, despite its wide use and application possibilities its toxicity in repeated doses and for a long time (6 months) has not yet been studied. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity and repeated doses from fruits of this plant. The extract was produced with the pulp (EMe) of the lyophilized fruit and submitted to chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis (HPLC and ESI-IT-MSn). In the acute test, the EMe was administered orally and parenterally to rodents (mice and rats) for 14 days, at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. Subsequently, the repeated dose toxicity test was administered orally for 180 days at doses of 50, 300 or 1000 mg/kg. The HPLC assay revealed a high concentration of vitamin C (16.3%), and spectroscopic analyses pointed to the presence of five other polyphenolic compounds. In the acute test, the plant extract showed no apparent toxicity or lethality in rodents. The LD50 was estimated to be greater than 2000 mg/kg and falls into category 5 (low toxicity). In the repeated dose assay, there was no evidence of toxicity, and no differences were observed in water intake, food, weight development, or behavior of the animals in relation to the vehicle group (water). However, hematological and biochemical evaluations pointed out some nonconformities in the levels of cholesterol, leukocytes, and neutrophils of the male rats, but overall, these results did not reveal significant toxicity. Therefore, the Level of Unobserved Adverse Effects (NOAEL) was 1000 mg/kg. Together, the results suggest that the extract obtained from the fruits of M. emarginata does not present representative toxicity in rodents.

Identification of some Phenolic Compounds of Purslane Extracts (Portulaca Oleraceae L.) and Evaluation its Content from vit.E and vit.C and its Antioxidant Activity in Iraq

The phenolic compounds present in the four extracts of both stems and leaves of the Portulaca Oleraceae L. were diagnosed using HPLC, and the following observations were made: In the alcoholic extract of the leaves, the highest concentration was found in Gallic acid at 77.89 ppm, followed by other phenolic compounds represented by Quercetin, chlorogenic acid, Ferulic acid, Kemopferol, and p-Coumaric at concentrations of 55.8, 50.22, 40.25, 24.15, and 19.25 ppm, respectively. In the aqueous extract of the leaves, the highest concentration was found in Gallic acid at 62.59 ppm, followed by other phenolic compounds Quercetin, chlorogenic acid, Ferulic acid, p-Coumaric, and Kemopferol at concentrations of 41.25, 40.23, 29.58, 16.25, and 16.22 ppm, respectively. In the alcoholic extract of the stems, it was found to contain four phenolic compounds with Gallic acid having the highest concentration at 40.56 ppm, followed by chlorogenic acid, Quercetin, and Kemopferol at concentrations of 33.65, 30.25, and 14.25 ppm, respectively. In the aqueous extract of the stems, it was found to contain four phenolic compounds with Gallic acid having the highest concentration at 33.69 ppm, followed by Quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and Kemopferol at concentrations of 21.45, 20.58, and 11.48 ppm, respectively. The vitamin C and vitamin E contents were evaluated in the extracts. The highest concentration of vitamin E was found in the aqueous extract of the leaves, followed by the alcoholic extract of the leaves, the aqueous extract of the stems, and the alcoholic extract of the stems, with concentrations of 54.1, 33.5, 31.5, and 25.9 ppm, respectively. As for vitamin C concentration, it was found to be highest in the aqueous extract of the leaves, followed by the aqueous extract of the stems, the alcoholic extract of the leaves, and finally the alcoholic extract of the stems, with concentrations of 85.6, 66.5, 52.8, and 35.6 ppm, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves and stems of Portulaca Oleraceae L. was measured by assessing the removal percentage using the FeCl2 and H2O2 methods. The alcoholic extract of the leaves showed the highest removal percentage of 94.73% at a concentration of 150 mg/ml using the FeCl2 method, and the highest DNA protection percentage of 92.73% at a concentration of 150 mg/ml using the H2O2 method.

Vitamin D modulation of brain-gut-virome disorder caused by polystyrene nanoplastics exposure in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

BackgroundMany studies have investigated how nanoplastics (NPs) exposure mediates nerve and intestinal toxicity through a dysregulated brain-gut axis interaction, but there are few studies aimed at alleviating those effects. To determine whether and how vitamin D can impact that toxicity, fish were supplemented with a vitamin D-low diet and vitamin D-high diet.ResultsTransmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) accumulated in zebrafish brain and intestine, resulting in brain blood–brain barrier basement membrane damage and the vacuolization of intestinal goblet cells and mitochondria. A high concentration of vitamin D reduced the accumulation of PS-NPs in zebrafish brain tissues by 20% and intestinal tissues by 58.8% and 52.2%, respectively, and alleviated the pathological damage induced by PS-NPs. Adequate vitamin D significantly increased the content of serotonin (5-HT) and reduced the anxiety-like behavior of zebrafish caused by PS-NPs exposure. Virus metagenome showed that PS-NPs exposure affected the composition and abundance of zebrafish intestinal viruses. Differentially expressed viruses in the vitamin D-low and vitamin D-high group affected the secretion of brain neurotransmitters in zebrafish. Virus AF191073 was negatively correlated with neurotransmitter 5-HT, whereas KT319643 was positively correlated with malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the expression of cytochrome 1a1 (cyp1a1) and cytochrome 1b1 (cyp1b1) in the intestine. This suggests that AF191073 and KT319643 may be key viruses that mediate the vitamin D reduction in neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity induced by PS-NPs.ConclusionVitamin D can alleviate neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity induced by PS-NPs exposure by directionally altering the gut virome. These findings highlight the potential of vitamin D to alleviate the brain-gut-virome disorder caused by PS-NPs exposure and suggest potential therapeutic strategies to reduce the risk of NPs toxicity in aquaculture, that is, adding adequate vitamin D to diet.A5myG_s1qHAhSjY9k6V2Q1Video

Functional and Antioxidant Evaluation of Two Ecotypes of Control and Grafted Tree Tomato (Solanum betaceum) at Different Altitudes.

Tree tomato (Solanum betaceum) is susceptible to nematode attack; for this reason, grafting is used as an alternative to reduce this impact. In this study, the bioactive compounds of the fruit (shell, pulp, and seed jelly) of two tree tomato ecotypes ('giant orange' and 'giant purple') were evaluated in both control and grafted plants grown at different altitudes (2010-2250, 2260-2500, 2510-2750 and 2760-3000 masl). Commercial quality, vitamin C, organic acids, phenolics, carotenoids and antioxidant activity were determined by microextraction and quantified by liquid chromatography (RRLC) or spectrophotometry (microplate reader). The results showed high concentrations of vitamin C, organic acids and antioxidant activity in the seed jelly, organic acids in the pulp and phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and antioxidant activity in the shell. The main phenolics were ferulic acid, caffeic acid and luteolin, while the main carotenoids were lutein, B-cryptoxanthin and B-carotene. Multivariate analysis showed that tree tomato quality was mainly influenced by altitude and fruit part and that grafting positively affected soluble solids for both ecotypes and all altitudes.

Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on NET Formation Induced by LPS In Vitro; the Roles of Vitamins E and C, Glutathione, and N-acetyl Cysteine.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) require reactive oxygen species (ROS) to eliminate pathogens by inducing oxidative stress. However, this process can also cause tissue damage to the host. Neutrophils contain high concentrations of vitamin C (1.5 mM) compared to the bloodstream (0.1 mM), and this antioxidant can interact with vitamin E and glutathione (GSH) inside the cell to maintain the redox balance. Previous studies have investigated the effect of vitamins E or C and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on NET formation, but the interactions of these molecules in neutrophils remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of antioxidants alone and two combinations on NET formation and oxidative stress. Neutrophils were pre-loaded with GSH + NAC or vitamin E + vitamin C + GSH + NAC (termed ALL), and LPS-induced NET formation was assessed using fluorometry and immunofluorescence. Antioxidant effects were evaluated by measuring the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), GSH/GSSG ratio, ROS production, nitrite + nitrate levels, and lipid peroxidation. Our results showed that even low doses of antioxidants are capable of decreasing NETs. Furthermore, the combinations augmented TAC and GSH/GSSG ratio and decreased ROS, nitrites + nitrates, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in supplemented neutrophils in vitro.

Controlling (bio)chemical conversions of health-related plant-based compounds by processing: The case of Brussels sprouts and leek

Brussels sprouts and leek are suppliers of multiple health-related compounds, yet understudied on how processing impacts their concentration. In this study, the plant tissue structure was altered by processing to direct endogenous enzyme-substrate interactions. For this, both conventional and novel processing techniques were employed. Heating intact vegetables prior to high shear mixing resulted in relatively good preservation of health-related compounds, attributed to a prompt inactivation of endogenous enzymes. Oppositely, high shear mixing prior to heating facilitated over 82% conversion for both vitamin C, S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxides (ACSOs) and glucosinolates. Pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment prior to heating, resulted in ±25% ACSOs conversion, yet no glucosinolates conversion. PEF treatment effectiveness is attributed to substrate-enzyme localization in the matrix and cell size. Vitamin K1 remained relatively stable during all treatments. It was postulated that higher concentrations of vitamin C protect carotenoids against oxidation pointing to interaction effects among health-related compounds. Industrial relevance textThis research paper gives more insight into how (the sequence of) commonly used pretreatments (e.g. heating, mixing) and more innovative pretreatments (e.g. pulsed electric field) can have an impact on the health potential of vegetables. The considered vegetables (Brussels sprouts and leek) are highly industrial relevant and insights may be extrapolated to other vegetables of these large plant families. By understanding which (bio)chemical reactions can occur during certain pretreatments (e.g. degradation or potential formation of health-related compounds), industry can perform pretreatments more thoughtfully and consequently steer the health potential of vegetable products. Pulsed electric fields are currently not commonly used in vegetable processing. However, this processing technique can enable certain enzymatic conversions, of which some could result in formation of health beneficial compounds, without losing the vegetable structure. Therefore, applying pulsed electric fields in the vegetable processing industry could have large potential. The aim of this research is to open the door to more research on pulsed electric fields applied on vegetables, so the vegetable industry becomes acquainted with using this technique.

Tomato performance and changes in soil chemistry in response to salinity and Na/Ca ratio of irrigation water

Although unconventional water can be applied as an alternative for agricultural production, inappropriate irrigation water quality may adversely affect the soil crop system. Thus, field experiments under mulched drip irrigation were performed over three years (2017–2019) to investigate the impacts of three salinity (1, 2 and 3 g·L−1) with five Na:Ca molar ratios (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) of irrigation water on tomato plant growth, fruit development, soil salt accumulation and soil sodium adsorption ratio. The results showed that, with irrigation water salinity of 1 g·L−1, the critical value of irrigation water Na:Ca molar ratio for the high yield and dry matter accumulation was 3 and 5, respectively, while the threshold for high concentration of vitamin C and lycopene was 7. With the irrigation water salinity of 2 g·L−1 and 3 g·L−1, the Na:Ca molar ratio threshold for a high concentration of soluble solids, vitamin C and lycopene was 5. Moreover, considering the increase of plant nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation, the decrease of sodium adsorption ratio at 40–100 cm soil layer inside the film, and the diminution of soil salt accumulation at 0–100 cm layer, irrigation water with higher salinity and lower Na:Ca molar ratio was more proper than that with lower salinity and higher Na:Ca molar ratio. Based on the multi-objective optimization with entropy-weight TOPSIS method, irrigation water with a salinity level at 2 g·L−1 and the Na:Ca molar ratio at 5 was suggested for tomato planting in the Yinbei Yellow River Irrigation District, China.

The vitamin D receptor in osteoblastic cells but not secreted parathyroid hormone is crucial for soft tissue calcification induced by the proresorptive activity of 1,25(OH)2D3

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed most abundantly in osteoblasts and osteocytes (osteoblastic cells) in bone tissues and regulates bone resorption and calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) homeostasis in association with parathyroid hormone (PTH). We previously reported that near-physiological doses of vitamin D compounds suppressed bone resorption through VDR in osteoblastic cells. We also found that supra-physiological doses of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] induced bone resorption and hypercalcemia via VDR in osteoblastic cells. Here, we report that the latter, a proresorptive dose of 1,25(OH)2D3, causes soft tissue calcification through VDR in osteoblastic cells. High concentrations of vitamin D affect multiple organs and cause soft tissue calcification, with increases in bone resorption and serum Ca levels. Such a variety of symptoms is known as hypervitaminosis D, which is caused by not only high doses of vitamin D but also impaired vitamin D metabolism and diseases that produce 1,25(OH)2D3 ectopically. To clarify the biological process hierarchy in hypervitaminosis D, a proresorptive dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 was administered to wild-type mice in which bone resorption had been suppressed by neutralizing anti-receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) antibody. 1,25(OH)2D3 upregulated the serum Ca x P product, concomitantly induced calcification of the aorta, lungs, and kidneys, and downregulated serum PTH levels in control IgG-pretreated wild-type mice. Pretreatment of wild-type mice with anti-RANKL antibody did not affect the down-regulation of PTH levels by 1,25(OH)2D3, but inhibited the increase of the serum Ca x P product and soft tissue calcification induced by 1,25(OH)2D3. Consistent with the effects of anti-RANKL antibody, VDR ablation in osteoblastic cells also did not affect the down-regulation of PTH levels by 1,25(OH)2D3, but suppressed the 1,25(OH)2D3-induced increase of the serum Ca x P product and calcification of soft tissues. Taken together with our previous results, these findings suggest that bone resorption induced by VDR signaling in osteoblastic cells is critical for the pathogenesis of hypervitaminosis D, but PTH is not involved in hypervitaminosis D.

Evaluation of Vitamin D-enriched Bone Graft in Surgically-induced Critical-sized Bone Defects: An Experimental Study.

Restoration of bone defects in the craniac vault may require the use of autografts, allografts, xenografts, or synthetic grafts. There are promising data that vitamin D may play a positive role in graft incorporation. The purpose of the present study is the evaluation of the impact of vitamin D addition to human-derived bone grafts in the healing of critical-sized bone defects in porcine skulls. Four identical critical-sized defects were created in the calvaria of 8 adult Landrace Large White pigs. The first defect was left blank as control, the second defect was filled with human-derived bone graft, the third defect was filled with human-derived bone graft enriched with a low concentration of vitamin D (2mg/mL), and the fourth defect was filled with human-derived bone graft enriched with a high concentration of vitamin D (10mg/mL). The animals were sacrificed after 12 weeks. Harvested tissue specimens were qualitatively evaluated by histology. New bone formation (bone volume/tissue volume) was quantitatively measured by histomorphometry. Signs of bone formation were evident in all bone sockets. Mean values of the bone volume/tissue volume of the 4 defects were 10.91%, 11.05%, 10.40% and 10.87% respectively, at 12 weeks. In 5 animals, high concentration of vitamin D caused a significant improvement in bone formation in relation to controls. In 3 animals, a high concentration of vitamin D was associated with decreased bone formation compared with controls. No statistical difference was observed in the graft healing among the 4 graft sites ( P > 0.05). The results of this study have shown that the addition of vitamin D to human-derived bone grafts does not have a significant effect on bone formation and graft incorporation in critical-sized bone defects of the porcine calvaria. Further high-quality studies are needed to fully elucidate the role of vitamin D in bone formation and bone graft union.

Quality Characteristics of Camel Burger Formulated with Different Levels of Microalgae

Background: Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) is a microalga. It has high levels of protein, essential amino acids, fatty acids, high concentrations of vitamins, and minerals. This study aims to evaluate the effect of adding S. platensis on the quality characteristics of camel burger.
 Methods: Spirulina was added at different levels (0.5, 1, and 1.5%) to the formulation of camel burger and its effect was studied on fatty acids profile, amino acids content, lipid oxidation, physical, and microbiological quality during frozen storage at -20 ºC for 90 days. Data were analyzed using statistical analysis system (SAS, 2000).
 Results: Significant changes (p<0.05) were found in fatty acids profile and amino acids content of formulated camel burger. The highest fat retention and moisture retention was found in camel burger formulated with Spirulina. PH value increased as the level of Spirulina increased. Fresh camel burger formulated with Spirulina significantly (p<0.05) reduced color parameters (L*, a*, and b*) more than that of the control burger. No significant differences (p>0.05) were found in cooking loss, shear force, and microbiological profile of fresh camel burger treatments.
 Conclusion: Addition of different levels of Spirulina in the formulation of camel burger improved fatty acids and amino acids profile, increased water retention and fat retention, and delayed lipid oxidation during frozen storage, without any negative effects on shear force values, cooking loss, and microbiological quality.

Response of Growth Characteristics and Yield of Broccoli Hybrids to Foliar Spraying with Copper Nanoparticles

The field experiment was conducted during the agricultural season 2021-2022 at the research station of the Department of Horticulture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, University of Diyala to study the effect of foliar feeding with nano and chelated copper for five broccoli hybrids. The study included two factors; The first factor is five broccoli hybrids: Jassmine (V1), 2004 (V2), Zen (V3), Matsuri (V4) and Danar (V5). The second factor has four application treatments of spraying copper: these are, zero concentration, which is spraying with distilled water only (F0), the second is chelated copper 40 mg L-1 (F2), the third is nano-copper 10 mg L-1 (F3) and the fourth is nano-copper 20 mg L-1. The experiment was performed at a split plot system and according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The data were collected and analysed statistically using the statistical program (SAS) and the averages were compared with Duncan’s polynomial test at the 0.05 probability level. The number of leaves, the percentage of dry matter in the leaves, the plant yield per square meter, the early appearance of the curd, the percentage of total soluble solids in the curd, and the concentration of vitamin C in the broccoli were examined. The results of the experiment showed the superiority of the Danar hybrid in the number of leaves, while the Zen hybrid was superior in the diameter of the stem and the 2004 hybrid was distinguished in the percentage of dry matter in the leaves, the early appearance of the curd, the highest yield per square meter, the best total soluble solids ratio, and the highest concentration of vitamin C in the curd. The results also showed that foliar spraying with nano-copper had a positive effect on most vegetative growth characteristics and yield, as the spraying with a concentration of 20 mg L-1 of nano-copper outperformed the percentage of dry matter in the leaves as for the number of leaves and stem diameter, the highest values were recorded in the plant yield per square meter, in the percentage of total soluble solids, and the concentration of vitamin C in the crop.

Mushroom consumption and risk of gastric cancer: a pooled analysis within the stomach cancer pooling project and a combined meta-analysis with other observational studies.

Edible mushrooms have high concentrations of vitamins and minerals. They are considered 'functional foods' for their disease-prevention properties. Mushroom consumption may reduce the risk of gastric cancer, the fifth most common cancer worldwide. We investigated the association between mushroom consumption and gastric cancer risk in a pooled analysis within the Stomach Cancer Pooling (StoP) Project and in a meta-analysis that also included previously published studies. A total of 3900 gastric cancer cases and 7792 controls from 11 studies were included in the StoP analysis. Mushroom consumption was measured using food frequency questionnaires. Higher mushroom consumption was associated with a lower risk of gastric cancer [relative risk (RR) for the highest vs. lowest consumption categories, 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.71-0.95]. The corresponding RRs were 0.59 (95% CI, 0.26-1.33) in a meta-analysis of four previously published studies and 0.77 for all studies combined (95% CI, 0.63-0.95; n = 15 studies). In geographic subgroup analysis, the pooled risk in Western Pacific countries was (RR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40-0.87; n = 6). The stronger effect in Asian countries may reflect high level of antioxidants in mushroom species consumed in Asia.

Variation of Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) in a Three-Year Study

The quality of fruit as a source of bioactive ingredients is related to the genetic characteristics of plants, but it can also be modified by growing conditions. Therefore, long-term research can be extremely valuable in evaluating various crop plants, especially novel ones. The aim of the research was to test four popular European kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) cultivars ('Geneva', 'Bingo', 'Weiki', 'Anna') in terms of selected morphological features, yield, and chemical composition as well as their variability over 3 years. It can be concluded that the studied genotypes were very diverse in terms of the biochemical compounds' concentration in individual seasons. The cultivars 'Anna' and 'Weiki' were the most similar ones with respect to each other in terms of morphology and chemical composition. The cultivars 'Bingo' and 'Geneva' were definitely different. 'Bingo' was characterized by the largest and most uniform fruits in each season and had the highest concentration of vitamin C but the lowest carotenoid concentration. In turn, 'Geneva' produced the smallest fruit in each season with the highest concentration of polyphenols and a high concentration of carotenoids and displayed the highest antioxidant capacity regardless of the determination method. The research was performed with the application of computer-supported statistical analysis.

Correlation between the Serum Concentration of Vitamin A and Disease Severity in Patients Carrying p.G90D in RHO, the Most Frequent Gene Associated with Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa: Implications for Therapy with Vitamin A.

The pathogenic variant p.G90D in RHO is believed to be responsible for a spectrum of phenotypes, including congenital stationary blindness (for the purpose of this study termed night blindness without degeneration; NBWD), Sector RP, Pericentral RP, and Classic RP. We present a correlation between the serum concentration of vitamin A and disease severity in patients with this variant. This prospective study involved 30 patients from 7 families (17 male; median age 46 years, range 8−73). Full ophthalmological examination including visual acuity, Goldmann perimetry, slit-lamp exam, optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and electrophysiology was performed to determine the presenting phenotype. The serum concentration of vitamin A was determined from a fasting blood sample taken on the day of the exam, where it was found that 23.3% (7/30) of patients had NBWD, 13.3% (4/30) had Sector RP, 3.3% (1/30) had Pericentral RP, and 60% (18/30) had Classic RP. Multiple logistic regression revealed a significantly higher probability of having a milder phenotype (NBWD or Sector RP) in association with younger age (p < 0.05) and a higher concentration of vitamin A (p < 0.05). We hypothesize that vitamin A in its 11-cis-retinal form plays a role in stabilizing the constitutively active p.G90D rhodopsin and its supplementation could be a potential treatment strategy for p.G90D RHO patients.

Role of bioactive substances in sheep's milk and its products in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases

Aging is a major risk factor for cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Sheep’s milk may play a role in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases because of its high content of functional peptides, such as lactoferrin. Lactoferrin can be used in AD both as an active therapeutic compound and as a drug nanocarrier. Compared to cow’s and goat’s milks, sheep’s milk contains the highest content of isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The c-9, t-11-CLA isomers reduce the pathological changes occurring in AD mainly by reducing the amount of amyloid-β aggregates in brain tissues. Sheep’s milk also contains higher concentrations of vitamin D and B-group vitamins, which have neuroprotective effects. This review summarizes the current knowledge on sheep’s milk and its products, with a special focus on its role in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

The Oxidative Drug Combination for Suppressing KRAS G12D Inducible Tumour Growth.

Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) protein is an essential contributor to the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). KRAS G12D and G12V mutant tumours are significant challenges in cancer therapy due to high resistance to the treatment. To determine how effective is the ATO/D-VC combination in suppression of PDAC the mouse transgenic model. This study investigated the antitumour effect of a novel combination of arsenic trioxide (ATO) and D-ascorbic acid isomer (D-VC). Such a combination can be used to treat KRAS mutant cancer by inducing catastrophic oxidative stress. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of ATO and D-VC on xenograft models-AK192 cells transplanted into mice. Previously, it has been shown that a high concentration of Vitamin C (VC) selectively can kill the cells expressing KRAS. The results of this study demonstrated that the combination of VC with a low dose of the oxidizing drug ATO led to the enhancement of the therapeutic effect. These findings suggest that the combined treatment using ATO and D-VC is a promising approach to overcome the limitation of drug selectivity and efficacy.