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Daily, more and more people consume snack bars that may have an impact on blood glucose levels. The aim of the present study was to compare the acute effects of a common snack and a plant-based snack bar (PB) that was developed at the University of Thessaly as a functional diabetic snack on blood glucose and insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adults with T2DM (n = 10) treated with oral medications were studied in a randomized, crossover clinical trial. On each trial day, postprandial glucose and insulin levels were measured at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min, and a morning snack containing 25 g of carbohydrate was consumed. The procedure was carried out on 2 days, with one of the test meals being consumed on each day. Consumption of a PB snack bar resulted in a smaller and steeper increase in postprandial glucose and insulin levels compared with the usual snack, and there were significant differences 60 and 90 min after consumption of the two tested snacks. The PB snack bar is rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals and can therefore be suggested as a nutritious and convenient snack for patients with T2DM. In addition, the extract of the snack bar was tested for its bioactivity in human cell cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that Hypnea musciformis seaweed extracts (HMEs) possess antioxidant properties, but the molecular mechanisms accounting for this activity are not known. Thus, the present study investigated the molecular mechanisms through which HME exerted its antioxidant activity in human mesenchymal stem cells (WJ‐MSCs). After the isolation of HME, its chemical composition was analyzed with gas chromatography mass spectrometry, indicating that it contained amino acids, organic acids, organic amides, sugar alcohols, saturated fatty acids, hydrogenated diterpene alcohols, and other organic compounds. Afterward, HME was shown in vitro to scavenge DPPH·, ABTS·+, ·OH, and O2·− radicals, possess reducing activity, and protect from ROO·‐induced DNA strand breakage. Finally, the results showed that HME treatment of WJ‐MSCs prevented H2O2‐induced oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, reactive oxygen species levels, and DNA damage and by increasing glutathione levels. Moreover, our findings showed for the first time that HME's antioxidant activity in WJ‐MSCs was mediated through the activation of NRF2, which upregulated the expression of the antioxidant proteins GCLC, GSR, HMOX1, SOD1, TXN, and GPX1. These results provide new insights into H. musciformis' antioxidant properties, which could help substantially its use as a food supplement or for developing biofunctional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular senescence is a hallmark of aging characterized by irreversible growth arrest and functional decline. Progressive telomeric DNA shortening in dividing somatic cells, programmed during development, leads to critically short telomeres that trigger replicative senescence and thereby contribute to aging. Therefore, protecting telomeres from DNA damage is essential in order to avoid entry into senescence and organismal aging. In several organisms, including mammals, telomeres are protected by a protein complex named shelterin that prevents DNA damage at the chromosome ends through the specific function of its subunits. Here, we reveal that the nuclear protein levels of shelterin components TRF1 and TRF2 decline in fibroblasts reaching senescence. Notably, we identify α-terpineol as an activator that effectively enhances TRF1 and TRF2 levels in a telomerase-independent manner, counteracting the senescence-associated decline in these crucial proteins. Moreover, α-terpineol ameliorates the cells' response to oxidative DNA damage, particularly at the telomeric regions, thus preserving telomere length and delaying senescence. More importantly, our findings reveal the significance of the PI3K/AKT pathway in the regulation of shelterin components responsible for preserving telomere integrity. In conclusion, this study deepens our understanding of the molecular pathways involved in senescence-associated telomere dysfunction and highlights the potential of shelterin components to serve as targets of therapeutic interventions, aimed at promoting healthy aging and combating age-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the use of Posidonia oceanica for making products beneficial for human health. Firstly, we demonstrated that the antioxidant defense (i.e., SOD and APX activity) of P. oceanica's living leaves (LP) has low efficacy, as they partly neutralize the produced H2O2. However, high H2O2 levels led LP to produce, as a response to oxidative stress, high phenolic content, including chicoric acid, p-coumaric acid, caftaric acid, trans-cinnamic and rutin hydrate, as shown by UHPLC-DAD analysis. In addition, LP extracts inhibited intestinal cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, P. oceanica's beach casts consisting of either Wet 'Necromass' (WNP) or Dry 'Necromass' (DNP) were used for preparing extracts. Both DNP and WNP exhibited antioxidant and antiproliferative activities, although lower as compared to those of LP extracts. Although both P. oceanica's meadows and beach casts are considered priority habitats in the Mediterranean Sea due to their high ecological value, legislation framework for beach casts forbidding their removal is still missing. Our results suggested that both LP and DNP could be utilized for the production of high-added value products promoting human health, provided that a sustainability management strategy would be applied for P. oceanica's meadows and beach casts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science in Greece is going backwards. This month, researchers lost access to the journal Bioinformatics, a top-ranked title in mathematical and computational biology. Many more publications are likely to disappear [...]