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Objectives: Research investigating the association between reproductive health and diet has predominantly focused on the antenatal and prenatal periods, as well as childbirth in women, and semen quality in men. There is a limited amount of research addressing female fertility assessed as ovarian reserve in relation to diet. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary patterns and the parameters of ovarian reserve, such as antral follicle count (AFC), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (E2) -- predictors of reproductive health in women of childbearing age. Material and Methods: Women aged 24--39 years (N = 511) were enrolled from fertility clinic in central Poland. The count of antral follicles was determined using ultrasonography (USG), FSH and E2 levels were measured using a chemiluminescence method and for determination of AMH level, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was employed. Diet was assessed according to food frequency questionnaire and dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis. Women were classified into 3 groups according to scores of each dietary pattern: Western, mixed, prudent. Results: Higher adherence to the prudent dietary pattern in obese women was associated with significantly higher AFC (p = 0.03) and AMH (p = 0.05) as compared to participants with the Western dietary pattern. The results were adjusted for age, BMI, smoking and duration of fertility. Increased consumption of mixed dietary pattern was not statistically significant associated with any of examined ovarian reserve parameters. Conclusions: The prudent dietary pattern is positively associated with ovarian reserve in a cohort of women seeking fertility care. Continued research in this area will provide nutritional guidance for clinicians and their patients and provide novel insight on potential modifiable lifestyle factors which can be associated with ovarian reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of optically pure aziridine phosphines and their corresponding phosphine oxides were synthesized through established chemical methodologies. The compounds were systematically investigated for their biological properties. Notably, all synthesized compounds demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity only against the reference strain of Staphylococcus aureus. However, compounds 5 and 7 exhibited noteworthy cell viability inhibition of human cervical epithelioid carcinoma HeLa cells and endometrial adenocarcinoma Ishikawa cells. Further studies of these compounds revealed additional biological effects, including disruption of the cell membrane in high concentrations, cell cycle arrest in the S phase, and the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Comparative analysis of the two classes of chiral organophosphorus derivatives of aziridines indicated that chiral phosphine oxides displayed significantly higher biological activity. Consequently, these findings suggest that chiral phosphine oxides may be potential candidates for the development of anticancer drugs. In light of the significant interest in preparations whose structure is based on a three-membered aziridine ring in terms of potential anticancer therapy, this research fits into the current research trend and should constitute a valuable addition to the current state of knowledge and the existing library of aziridine derivatives with anticancer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous in vitro experiments have confirmed that a dysfunctional endothelium is characterized by, inter alia, a higher affinity for binding of platelets and leukocytes. However, there is still no direct evidence for greater interaction between platelets and intact endothelium in in vivo animal models of diabetes. Therefore, the present study examines the pro-adhesive properties of endothelium change in vivo as an effect of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes and the role of two key platelet receptors: GPIb-IX-V and GPIIb/IIIa. Mice of C57BL strain with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were used in the study. Flow cytometry was used to assess basal activation and reactivity of platelets. Adhesion of platelets to the vascular wall was visualized with the use of intravital microscopy in mesentery. The contribution of GPIIb/IIIa and GPIb-IX-V was evaluated by the injection of Fab fragments of respective antibodies. The integrity of the endothelium and vWf expression were evaluated histochemically. Basal activation and reactivity of platelets in streptozotocin-diabetic mice were elevated. Blood platelets adhered more often to the vascular wall of diabetic mice than nondiabetic animals: 11.9 (6.4; 32.8) plt/min/mm2 (median [IQR]) vs 2.7 (1.3; 6.4) plt/min/mm2. The injection of anti-GPIbα antibodies decreased the number of adhering platelets from 89.5 (34.0; 113.1) plt/min/mm2 (median [IQR]) in mice treated with isotype antibodies to 3.1 (1.7; 5.6) plt/min/mm2 in mice treated with blocking antibodies. The effect of GPIIb/IIIa blockage was not significant. Immunohistochemistry revealed a higher expression of vWF in the endothelium of STZ mice, but no substantial changes in endothelial morphology were detected. To conclude, the study shows that the platelets interact more frequently with the mesenteric vascular bed in mice with 1-month STZ-induced diabetes than in healthy mice. These interactions are mediated via platelet GPIb-IX-V and are driven by increased expression of vWF in endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hop cones (Humulus lupulusL.), very rich source of phenolic compounds, possessing anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, are considered as beneficial diet ingredients improving human health. In this study, the antiplatelet action of xanthohumol (XN), the principal flavonoid in hop cones, was investigated. XN significantly attenuated ADP-induced blood platelet aggregation (97.2 ± 35.7 AU for 6 μg/ml of XNvs. 120.4 ± 30.1 AU for 0.17% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO),p < 0.001) and significantly reduced the expression of fibrinogen receptor (activated form of GPIIbIIIa) on platelets’ surface (47.6 ± 15.8 for 1.5 μg/ml XN, 44.6 ± 17.3% for 3 μg/ml XNvs. 54.5 ± 19.2% for control or 43.3 ± 18.4% for 6 μg/ml XNvs.49.7 ± 19.4% for 0.17% DMSO,p < 0.05 or less). These findings suggest that the phenolic compounds originating from hops (XN) have a novel role as antiplatelet agents and can likely be used as dietary supplements in prophylactic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In diabetes-related states of chronic hyperglycaemia elevated concentrations of glucose may alter the functioning of platelet enzymes involved in arachidonic acid metabolism, including prostaglandin H2synthase (cyclooxygenase) (PGHS, COX). Therefore, the principal aim of this study was to assess the effects of experimental chronic hyperglycaemia on platelet PGHS-1 (COX-1) expression and activity. Blood platelet activation and reactivity were assessed in Sprague–Dawley rats with the 5-month streptozotocin (STZ) diabetes. The PGHS-1 abundance in platelets was evaluated with flow cytometry and Western blotting, while its activity monitored using a high resolution respirometry and the peroxidase fluorescent assay. The production of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and thromboxane B2(TXB2) in platelets were assayed immunoenzymatically. Circulating platelets from diabetic were characterised by increased size, elevated ‘priming’ and altered reactivity, compared to non-diabetic animals. Both Western blot analysis and flow cytometry revealed significantly elevated expressions of platelet PGHS-1 in STZ-diabetic rats (p < 0.05). We also observed significantly elevated platelet PGHS-1-related arachidonic acid metabolism in diabeticvs.non-diabetic animals, with the use of polarographic (p < 0.05) and total activity assay (p < 0.001). Such increases were accompanied by the elevated production of PGE2(p < 0.001) and TXB2(p < 0.05) in diabetic animals. The increased PGHS-1-dependent oxygen consumption and the total activity of PGHS-1 in diabetic animals remained very significant (p < 0.001) also upon adjusting for blood platelet PGHS-1 abundance. Therefore, our results further contribute to the explanation of the increased metabolism of arachidonic acid observed in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) have been connected with tumor progression and metastatic dissemination. PMPs infiltrate solid tumors and transfer platelet-derived cargo to cancer cells. The functional roles of PMPs in cancer progression are still poorly understood. PMPs, incorporated by colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, were shown to upregulate the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). To investigate the impact of PMPs on the invasive potential of CRC, we established the protocol of dequenched gelatin (DG), fluorescein conjugate assay. The procedure confirms the activity of two gelatinases, namely, MMP2 and MMP9, that digest denatured collagen (gelatin). This "step-by-step" protocol, with notes and comments implemented to human CRC lines with different phenotypes and migratory potentials, should be sufficient to obtain representative and elegant results., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)