Search results for "Risk"
showing 10 items of 9963 documents
Human Upcyte Hepatocytes: Characterization of the Hepatic Phenotype and Evaluation for Acute and Long-Term Hepatotoxicity Routine Testing
2016
The capacity of human hepatic cell-based models to predict hepatotoxicity depends on the functional performance of cells. The major limitations of human hepatocytes include the scarce availability and rapid loss of the hepatic phenotype. Hepatoma cells are readily available and easy to handle, but are metabolically poor compared with hepatocytes. Recently developed human upcyte hepatocytes offer the advantage of combining many features of primary hepatocytes with the unlimited availability of hepatoma cells. We analyzed the phenotype of upcyte hepatocytes comparatively with HepG2 cells and adult primary human hepatocytes to characterize their functional features as a differentiated hepatic …
Relationship between olive oil consumption and ankle-brachial pressure index in a population at high cardiovascular risk.
2020
[Background and aims]: The aim of this study was to ascertain the association between the consumption of different categories of edible olive oils (virgin olive oils and olive oil) and olive pomace oil and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) in participants in the PREDIMED-Plus study, a trial of lifestyle modification for weight and cardiovascular event reduction in individuals with overweight/obesity harboring the metabolic syndrome.
Vitamin D and Genetic Susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis.
2019
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS), resulting from the interaction among genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Vitamin D is a secosteroid, and its circulating levels are influenced by environment and genetics. In the last decades, research data on the association between MS and vitamin D status led to hypothesize a possible role for hypovitaminosis D as a risk factor for MS. Some gene variants encoding proteins involved in vitamin D metabolism, transport, and function, which are responsible for vitamin D status alterations, have been related to MS susceptibility. This review explores the current literature on the influence o…
Vitamin A Deficiency and the Lung.
2018
Vitamin A (all-trans-retinol) is a fat-soluble micronutrient which together with its natural derivatives and synthetic analogues constitutes the group of retinoids. They are involved in a wide range of physiological processes such as embryonic development, vision, immunity and cellular differentiation and proliferation. Retinoic acid (RA) is the main active form of vitamin A and multiple genes respond to RA signalling through transcriptional and non-transcriptional mechanisms. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a remarkable public health problem. An adequate vitamin A intake is required in early lung development, alveolar formation, tissue maintenance and regeneration. In fact, chronic VAD has b…
Development of a method for the direct fermentation of semolina by selected sourdough lactic acid bacteria
2016
Three obligately heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains (Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis PON100336, Leuconostoc citreum PON10079 and Weissella cibaria PON10030) were used in this study as a multi-species starter culture for sourdough production. The starter inoculum was prepared and propagated in sterile semolina extract (SSE) broth. Acidification kinetics, microbiological counts detected on specific media for sourdough LAB, polymorphic profile comparison and species-specific PCRs evidenced a stability of the liquid inoculum over time determining its suitability for direct addition to semolina. In order to validate this innovative method for the production of durum wheat (Trit…
Impact of polymer-modified gold nanoparticles on brain endothelial cells: exclusion of endoplasmic reticulum stress as a potential risk factor
2016
A library of polymer-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) differing in size and surface modifications was examined for uptake and induction of cellular stress responses in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER stress) in human brain endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3). ER stress is known to affect the physiology of endothelial cells (ECs) and may lead to inflammation or apoptosis. Thus, even if applied at non-cytotoxic concentrations ER stress caused by nanoparticles should be prevented to reduce the risk of vascular diseases and negative effects on the integrity of barriers (e.g. blood-brain barrier). We exposed hCMEC/D3 to twelve different AuNPs (three sizes: 18, 35, and 65 nm, each with four surface-modif…
The use of morphokinetic as a predictor of implantation.
2017
In recent years the increased efforts intended for improving future outcomes in the laboratory have focused mostly on the search of additional markers of embryo quality to add up present embryo selection criteria. Time-lapse system involves an alternative tool in assisted reproduction techniques, being able to improve the embryo selection from a dynamic and interactive approach while standard embryo assessment implies a subjective and static morphology evaluation and consequently reducing the information gained for embryo selection, time-lapse technology adds several morphokinetic parameters, providing additional input for embryo evaluation. This further information represents a challenge f…
Mediterranean Diet Improves High-Density Lipoprotein Function in High-Cardiovascular-Risk Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
2017
Background: The biological functions of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) contribute to explaining the cardioprotective role of the lipoprotein beyond quantitative HDL cholesterol levels. A few small-scale interventions with a single antioxidant have improved some HDL functions. However, to date, no long-term, large-scale, randomized controlled trial has been conducted to assess the effects of an antioxidant-rich dietary pattern (such as a traditional Mediterranean diet [TMD]) on HDL function in humans. Methods: This study was performed in a random subsample of volunteers from the PREDIMED Study (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea; n=296) after a 1-year intervention. We compared the effects …
Safety assessment of nanoparticles for drug delivery by means of classic in vitro assays and beyond.
2016
Nanoparticles (NPs) are particularly promising tools for drug delivery and targeting, but to date, only a relatively small number of nanoscale drug delivery systems have been officially approved for drug therapy. Therapeutic NPs are designed for human use and consequently have to withstand critical toxicological analysis, which plays a pivotal role in the decision on the future practical realization of the respective drug-delivery concepts. Nanotoxicology is still a maturing discipline that often lacks profound analysis of non-acute, sub-lethal effects. Areas covered: In this review, a representative selection of current in vitro assays for cell culture-based assessment of nanotoxicity is d…
Lycopene and Vascular Health
2018
Lycopene is a lipophilic, unsaturated carotenoid, found in red-colored fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, watermelon, papaya, red grapefruits, and guava. The present work provides an up to date overview of mechanisms linking lycopene in the human diet and vascular changes, considering epidemiological data, clinical studies, and experimental data. Lycopene may improve vascular function and contributes to the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disorders. The main activity profile of lycopene includes antiatherosclerotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antiplatelet, anti-apoptotic, and protective endothelial effects, the ability to improve the metabol…