Search Results (9)

Understanding the biochemical relationship between serum and dermal interstitial fluid (dISF) is critical for advancing minimally invasive diagnostics with wearables and point of care devices focusing on most relevant biomarkers accessible in the ISF. This work compares the composition of dISF and serum using Xsensio’s microneedle-based collector, which yields an average of 3.4 $\mathsf{\mu }$L/h. In the first study, total protein content, human serum albumin (HSA), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) are quantified in twelve volunteers. A second study is dedicated to screening 50 inflammation-related protein biomarkers across twenty volunteers. The results demonstrate that dISF closely resembles serum in its major protein constituents but at reduced concentrations (e.g., 57% for total protein). Strong correlations are observed between dISF and serum for CRP and SAA ($R^2>0.87$), primarily driven by a subject with pathological levels, demonstrating the ability of dISF to reflect systemic inflammation. This study originally reports NT-proBNP detection at comparable levels in both fluids, suggesting that dISF could serve as a reliable proxy for blood NT-proBNP in the non-invasive diagnosis of cardiac failure. Cytokine profiling reveals 36 detectable cytokines, including several unique to dISF. Notably, interleukin concentrations are found to be highly similar between the two fluids. These experimental findings support dISF as a promising diagnostic medium for monitoring both localized and systemic biomarkers in clinical applications. Full article

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common type of liver disease worldwide. In a previous study, we confirmed that Lactobacillus helveticus HY7804 (HY7804) improves MASLD by suppressing the expression of mRNAs encoding genes related to hepatic lipogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis in model mice. Here, we evaluated the ability of HY7804 to restore intestinal barrier function and modulate the gut microbiota, as well as improve MASLD symptoms. Mice fed an MASLD-inducing diet for 7 weeks received HY7804 (10⁹ CFU/kg/day), the Type strain, or positive control (Pioglitazone) during the same period. HY7804 alleviated physiological (p < 0.001) and blood biochemical indicators and reduced MASLD activity scores (p < 0.05) on histological analysis. In addition, HY7804 increased the expression of genes related to fatty acid oxidation (p < 0.001); decreased the expression of apoptosis-related genes (p < 0.001); rescued the expression of tight junction (TJ)-related genes (p < 0.05); and suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling (p < 0.01) in the intestine. Finally, HY7804 modulated the composition of the gut microbiota in MASLD-induced mice. HY7804 increased the abundance of MASLD-suppressive Bacteroidaceae and Bacteroides, which positively correlated with the expression of TJ- and fatty acid oxidation-related genes. By contrast, HY7804 decreased the abundance of bacteria related to the progression of MASLD, including Cloastridaceae, Clostridium, Streptococcaceae, Lactococcus, and Lachnospiraceae, which correlated with intestinal immune responses and MASLD symptoms. In conclusion, L. helveticus HY7804 may be suitable as a functional supplement that alleviates MASLD symptoms and improves intestinal health. Full article

Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been becoming popular for the treatment of musculotendinous injuries among athletes. However, for individual and practical variations, clinical success is hardly predictable. To overcome this difficulty, we have been exploring possible criterion candidates for monitoring its clinical effectiveness. In this study, we focused on sex-based differences in young elite athletes and compared the biochemical compositions of their PRP. Leukocyte-rich PRP (L-PRP) was manually prepared from blood samples collected from male professional soccer players (mPSPs) (n = 25) and female college athletes (fCAs) (n = 36). Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), transforming-growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1), platelet factor-4 (PF4), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of PDGF-BB, TGFβ1, and PF4 in L-PRP were significantly higher in mPSPs than in fCAs. Conversely, IL-1β and IL-1RA were detected at significantly and slightly higher levels, respectively, in fCAs than in mPSPs. Our findings suggest that, even though L-PRP from fCAs may have lower potential to induce cell growth and differentiation than that of mPSPs, due to the latter’s higher capacity to control inflammation, it does not necessarily imply that PRP treatment in fCAs is less effective. Thus, these cytokine levels should be checked before PRP therapy. Full article

Antithrombin III is an important anticoagulant factor with anti-inflammatory properties. However, few studies have explored its anti-inflammatory actions in ATIII overexpressed transgenic animals. In this study, the dairy goats with mammary overexpression of ATIII were used to investigate their general health, milk quality and particularly their response to inflammatory challenge. The results showed that transgenic goats have a normal phenotype regarding their physiological and biochemical parameters, including whole blood cells, serum protein levels, total cholesterol, urea nitrogen, uric acid, and total bilirubin, compared to the WT. In addition, the quality of milk also improved in transgenic animals compared to the WT, as indicated by the increased milk fat and dry matter content and the reduced somatic cell numbers. Under the stimulation of an LPS injection, the transgenic goats had elevated contents of IGA, IGM and superoxide dismutase SOD, and had reduced proinflammatory cytokine release, including IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-β. A 16S rDNA sequencing analysis also showed that the transgenic animals had a similar compositions of gut microbiota to the WT goats under the stimulation of LPS injections. Mammary gland ATIII overexpression in dairy goats is a safe process, and it did not jeopardize the general health of the transgenic animals; moreover, the compositions of their gut microbiota also improved with the milk quality. The LPS stimulation study suggests that the increased ATIII expression may directly or indirectly suppress the inflammatory response to increase the resistance of transgenic animals to pathogen invasion. This will be explored in future studies. Full article

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has soared globally. As our understanding of the disease grows, the role of the gut-liver axis (GLA) in NAFLD pathophysiology becomes more apparent. Hence, we focused mainly on the small intestinal area to explore the role of GLA. We looked at how multi-strain probiotics (MCP^® BCMC^® strains) containing six different Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species affected the small intestinal gut microbiota, inflammatory cytokines, and permeability in NAFLD patients. After six months of supplementation, biochemical blood analysis did not show any discernible alterations in either group. Five predominant phyla known as Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota and Fusobacteria were found in NAFLD patients. The probiotics group demonstrated a significant cluster formation of microbiota composition through beta-diversity analysis (p < 0.05). This group significantly reduced three unclassifiable species: unclassified_Proteobacteria, unclassified_Streptococcus, and unclassified_Stenotrophomonas. In contrast, the placebo group showed a significant increase in Prevotella_melaninogenica and Rothia_mucilaginosa, which were classified as pathogens. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis of small intestinal mucosal inflammatory cytokines revealed a significant decrease in IFN-γ (−7.9 ± 0.44, p < 0.0001) and TNF-α (−0.96 ± 0.25, p < 0.0033) in the probiotics group but an increase in IL-6 (12.79 ± 2.24, p < 0.0001). In terms of small intestinal permeability analysis, the probiotics group, unfortunately, did not show any positive changes through ELISA analysis. Both probiotics and placebo groups exhibited a significant increase in the level of circulating zonulin (probiotics: 107.6 ng/mL ± 124.7, p = 0.005 vs. placebo: 106.9 ng/mL ± 101.3, p = 0.0002) and a significant decrease in circulating zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) (probiotics: −34.51 ng/mL ± 18.38, p < 0.0001 vs. placebo: −33.34 ng/mL ± 16.62, p = 0.0001). The consumption of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium suggested the presence of a well-balanced gut microbiota composition. Probiotic supplementation improves dysbiosis in NAFLD patients. This eventually stabilised the expression of inflammatory cytokines and mucosal immune function. To summarise, more research on probiotic supplementation as a supplement to a healthy diet and lifestyle is required to address NAFLD and its underlying causes. Full article

The ability of bamboo charcoal to reduce the negative effects of high dietary selenium (Se) concentrations was assessed by feeding juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) one of five Se-rich diets (1.5 mg/kg Se; 36% protein, 8.7% lipid) containing graded levels (0–4 g/kg) of bamboo charcoal powder for eight weeks. There were four tanks (350 L) of fish (initial weight 16.0 ± 0.5 g) for each treatment, and the fish were fed to satiation four times each day. At the end of the feeding trial, all of the fish from each tank were weighed to calculate the growth performance. Blood samples were firstly obtained to collect plasma for the biochemical indexes determination. Liver tissues were then collected to determine the antioxidant enzyme activities and gene expression. Dorsal muscles were also collected to determine the nutrient composition. The results show that when the bamboo charcoal content in the Se-rich feed ranged between 0 and 3 g/kg, the weight growth rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) values increased with the higher dietary bamboo charcoal content, and the maximum WGR and SGR values were achieved when the bamboo charcoal content in the Se-rich feed was 2–3 g/kg (p < 0.05). The Se content in muscle tissues decreased significantly with the increased bamboo charcoal content (p < 0.05) in the Se-rich feed, which ranged from 0 to 4 g/kg. When the bamboo charcoal content in the Se-rich feed was 2–3 g/kg, the levels of glucose (GLU) and albumin (ALB) in plasma reached a maximum (p < 0.05), whereas the level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) reached a minimum (p < 0.05). Additionally, the activities of catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) when the bamboo charcoal content was 3 g/kg. In contrast, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level increased sharply when the bamboo charcoal content in the Se-rich feed was 1 g/kg, compared to the control group and the groups supplemented with 2–3 g/kg bamboo charcoal (p < 0.05). Regarding mRNA-level gene expression, the results show that dietary supplementation with 0 to 3 g/kg of bamboo charcoal increased the expression of keap1 and nrf2, whereas nfkb expression was inhibited (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of the antioxidant enzymes cat, gpx, and mn-sod was consistently enhanced in the group fed with the 3 g/kg bamboo charcoal diet (p < 0.05). The expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tnfα and tgfβ was inhibited in the groups supplemented with 2–3 g/kg bamboo charcoal, whereas the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (il10) increased in the bamboo charcoal supplementation groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Generally, supplementation with 2–3 g/kg of bamboo charcoal in Se-rich feed improved the growth performance, physiological status, and antioxidant enzyme activities of blunt snout bream. Moreover, bamboo charcoal supplementation in Se-rich diets stimulated the antioxidant system and inhibited the inflammatory response by activating Nrf2-Keap1 and suppressing NF-κB. Full article

This work is aimed at developing the modification of the surface of medical implants with film materials based on noble metals in order to improve their biological characteristics. Gas-phase transportation methods were proposed to obtain such materials. To determine the effect of the material of the bottom layer of heterometallic structures, Ir, Pt, and PtIr coatings with a thickness of 1.4–1.5 μm were deposited by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on Ti₆Al₄V alloy discs. Two types of antibacterial components, namely, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and discontinuous Ag coatings, were deposited on the surface of these coatings. AuNPs (11–14 nm) were deposited by a pulsed MOCVD method, while Ag films (35–40 nm in thickness) were obtained by physical vapor deposition (PVD). The cytotoxic (24 h and 48 h, toward peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)) and antibacterial (24 h) properties of monophase (Ag, Ir, Pt, and PtIr) and heterophase (Ag/Pt, Ag/Ir, Ag/PtIr, Au/Pt, Au/Ir, and Au/PtIr) film materials deposited on Ti-alloy samples were studied in vitro and compared with those of uncoated Ti-alloy samples. Studies of the cytokine production by PBMCs in response to incubation of the samples for 24 and 48 h and histological studies at 1 and 3 months after subcutaneous implantation in rats were also performed. Despite the comparable thickness of the fibrous capsule after 3 months, a faster completion of the active phase of encapsulation was observed for the coated implants compared to the Ti alloy analogs. For the Ag-containing samples, growth inhibition of S. epidermidis, S. aureus, Str. pyogenes, P. aeruginosa, and Ent. faecium was observed. Full article

Deviation in the gut microbial composition is involved in various pathologies, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) can act as a promising approach to treat IBD by which changes in microbiome can be reversed and homeostasis restored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of FMT on the remission of acute inflammatory response using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced rat colitis model. Faecal microbial communities were analysed using the 16S rRNA approach, and clinical manifestations together with histological/haematological/biochemical/immunological analyses were assessed. Our study demonstrated significant shifts in the dominant species of microbiota under inflammatory conditions induced by DSS and evident restoration effect of FMT treatment on microbial composition. These faecal microbial alterations in FMT-treated rats led to a relative restoration of colon length, and a significant decrease in both epithelium damage and disease severity, which was reflected in lower serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Haematological/biochemical parameters in DSS-treated animals showed signs of anaemia with a significant reduction in red blood cell count together with increasing levels of total bilirubin, creatinine and phosphorus suggesting potential protective effect of FMT. These results support FMT as a valuable therapeutic strategy to control inflammation during acute colitis. Full article

Microdialysis (MD) can provide continuous information about tissue composition. To assess in critically ill patients adipose tissue metabolic patterns, the relationships between metabolic patterns and blood cytokine concentration associations of adipose tissue energy metabolism and clinical outcome we studied 203 mechanically ventilated general intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Upon ICU admission an MD catheter was inserted into the subcutaneous adipose tissue of the upper thigh to measure lactate (L), glucose, pyruvate (P), and glycerol. Serum concentrations of IL-10, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were determined within 48 h from ICU admission. Mitochondrial dysfunction was defined as L/P ratio >30 and pyruvate ≥70 μmol/L, ischemia as L/P ratio >30 and pyruvate <70 μmol/L and no ischemia/no mitochondrial dysfunction (i.e., aerobic metabolism) was as L/P ratio ≤30. Metabolism was aerobic in 74% of patients. In 13% of patients there was biochemical evidence of ischemia and in 13% of patients of mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction was associated with poor outcome. In conclusion, MD showed that about two thirds of critically ill patients have normal aerobic adipose tissue metabolism. Mitochondrial dysfunction was not common but was associated with poor outcome. Identifying subgroups of critically ill patients is crucial as different treatment strategies may improve survival. Full article