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This study aimed to assess the relationship between malnutrition and anemia in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The cross-sectional retrospective study included 80 patients with UC. Body mass index and total body fat mass were derived retrospectively from bioimpedance measurements. Anemia was diagnosed retrospectively according to WHO criteria. A binary logistic regression was performed to study the relationship between nutritional status parameters and anemia, and adjusted for demographic and disease-associated characteristics. The prevalence of anemia in the study population was 40.0%. Among all included patients, 86.3% had acute disease corresponding to S1–S3 disease behavior. In the adjusted binary logistic model, total serum protein level below 64 g/L and low body fat percentage were associated with high odds for the of development of anemia, with odds ratios of 5.1 (95% CI 1.5; 17.8; p = 0.01) and 8.5 (95% CI 1.1; 63.6; p = 0.037), respectively. The adjusted model included sex, age, disease activity, extent of gut involvement, quantity of relapses from disease onset, and treatment with immunosuppressive drugs as confounders. Hypoproteinemia and low body fat percentage were associated with anemia in patients with UC. These results suggested that undernutrition may be involved as one of the causative factors of anemia in UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Previous studies implicated cardiotonic steroids, including Na/K-ATPase inhibitor marinobufagenin (MBG), in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). We demonstrated that MBG induces fibrosis via mechanism involving inhibition of Fli1, a nuclear transcription factor and a negative regulator of collagen-1 synthesis. We hypothesized that PE blockade of increased MBG with antibody would lessen the fibrosis of umbilical arteries and lower the blood pressure in rats with PE. METHODS We tested 36 pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats in which 12 were made hypertensive by 1.8% Na supplementation (days 6–19 of gestation), 12 pregnant rats served controls. At day 19, PE rats received one intraperitoneal injection of polyclonal anti-MBG-4 antibody (0.5 ug/ml) for 4 hours. RESULTS PE was associated with higher blood pressure (117 ± 2 vs. 107 ± 2 mm Hg; P < 0.01), plasma MBG levels (1.54 ± 0.34 vs. 0.49 ± 0.11 nmol/L; P < 0.01), protein excretion (26 vs. 12 mg/24 hours), sFlt-1 (3-fold), decrease in Fli1 (7-fold) and increase in collagen-1 in aorta (4-fold) vs. control rats (all P < 0.01). In 12 rats treated with polyclonal anti-MBG-4 antibody blood pressure dropped (93 ± 3 mm Hg) and Fli1 was decreased much less (2-fold; P < 0.01 vs. nontreated rats). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that in experimental PE elevated MBG level is implicated in umbilical fibrosis via suppression of Fli1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of mesenchymal stem cell ( MSC) transplantation after myocardial infarction ( MI) has been found to have infarct-limiting effects in numerous experimental and clinical studies. However, recent meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials on MSC-based MI therapy have highlighted the need for improving its efficacy. There are two principal approaches for increasing therapeutic effect of MSCs: (i) preventing massive MSC death in ischaemic tissue and (ii) increasing production of cardioreparative growth factors and cytokines with transplanted MSCs. In this review, we aim to integrate our current understanding of genetic approaches that are used for modification of MSCs to enable their improved survival, engraftment, integration, proliferation and differentiation in the ischaemic heart. Genetic modification of MSCs resulting in increased secretion of paracrine factors has also been discussed. In addition, data on MSC preconditioning with physical, chemical and pharmacological factors prior to transplantation are summarized. MSC seeding on three-dimensional polymeric scaffolds facilitates formation of both intercellular connections and contacts between cells and the extracellular matrix, thereby enhancing cell viability and function. Use of genetic and non-genetic approaches to modify MSC function holds great promise for regenerative therapy of myocardial ischaemic injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon-containing nanoparticles (NPs) are considered promising drug carriers for targeted drug delivery. In this study, we investigated the physical and chemical properties of silicon-containing NPs, including silica and organomodified silica NPs (SiO2NPs and OrSiO2NPs, respectively), with different surface modifications, with the aim of increasing drug-loading efficiency. In addition, we described the original synthesis methods of different sizes of OrSiO2NPs, as well as new hybrid OrSiO2NPs with a silica core (SiO2 + OrSiO2NPs). Animal experiments revealed that the silicon-containing NPs investigated were non-toxic, as evidenced by a lack of hemodynamic response after intravenous administration. Bioelimination studies showed rapid renal excretion of OrSiO2NPs. In drug release kinetics studies, adenosine was immobilized on SiO2NPs using three different approaches: physical adsorption, ionic, and covalent bonding. We observed that the rate of adenosine desorption critically depended on the type of immobilization; therefore, adenosine release kinetics can be adjusted by SiO2NP surface modification technique. Adsorption of adenosine on SiO2 + OrSiO2NPs resulted in a significant attenuation of adenosine-induced hypotension and bradycardia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Over the last decade, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have drawn much attention for their potential biomedical applications. However, serious in vitro and in vivo safety concerns continue to exist. In this study, the effects of uncoated, Fe m O n -SiO 2 composite flake-like, and SiO 2 -Fe m O n core-shell IONPs on cell viability, function, and morphology were tested 48 h postincubation in human umbilical vein endothelial cell culture. Cell viability and apoptosis/necrosis rate were determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and annexin V-phycoerythrin kit, respectively. Cell morphology was evaluated using bright-field microscopy and forward and lateral light scattering profiles obtained with flow cytometry analysis. All tested IONP types were used at three different doses, that is, 0.7, 7.0, and 70.0 μg. Dose-dependent changes in cell morphology, viability, and apoptosis rate were shown. At higher doses, all types of IONPs caused formation of binucleated cells suggesting impaired cytokinesis. Fe m O n -SiO 2 composite flake-like and SiO 2 -Fe m O n core-shell IONPs were characterized by similar profile of cytotoxicity, whereas bare IONPs were shown to be less toxic. The presence of either silica core or silica nanoflakes in composite IONPs can promote cytotoxic effects., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.