The Impact of the Mediterranean Diet on Telomere Biology: Implications for Disease Management-A Narrative Review.

Introduction: Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes at the ends of chromosomes that are under the control of genetic and environmental triggers. Accelerated telomere shortening is causally implicated in the increasing incidence of diseases. The Mediterranean diet has recently been identified as one that confers protection against diseases.

Pharmacotherapeutic Considerations on Telomere Biology: The Positive Effect of Pharmacologically Active Substances on Telomere Length.

Telomeres are part of chromatin structures containing repeated DNA sequences, which function as protective caps at the ends of chromosomes and prevent DNA degradation and recombination, thus ensuring the integrity of the genome. While telomere length (TL) can be genetically inherited, TL shortening has been associated with ageing and multiple xenobiotics and bioactive substances. TL has been characterised as a reliable biomarker for the predisposition to developing chronic pathologies and their progression.

FibroScan versus Biochemical Scores: A Study of Liver Fibrosis in HIV with HBV Co-Infection.

The study aimed to determine liver fibrosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals using transient elastography (FibroScan), Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) in the HIV Department from Infectious Diseases Hospital "Victor Babeș" Craiova, Romania. Of the analyzed HIV-positive subjects ( = 161), 93 (57.76%) had HIV mono-infection, and 68 (42.

Changes in Rat Mammary Tissue Architecture Following Pregnancy/Lactation Exposure to Glyphosate Alone or with 2,4-D and Dicamba.

The current study aimed to assess the possible endocrine disruptor effects on rat mammary tissue and reproductive organs during pregnancy and lactation when exposed to low doses of glyphosate and its combination with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and dicamba. The study involved the exposure of pregnant Wistar rats to various regulatory-relevant doses of glyphosate, ranging from gestational day 6 until fine of the lactation period. Glyphosate doses corresponded to the European Union's glyphosate-acceptable daily intake (ADI; 0.

AuNPs with Cynara scolymus leaf extracts rescue arsenic-induced neurobehavioral deficits and hippocampal tissue toxicity in Balb/c mice through D1R and D2R activation.

The present study was designed to evaluate whether AuNPs (gold nanoparticles) synthesized with the Cynara scolymus (CS) leaf exert protective and/or alleviative effects on arsenic (As)-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity in mice. Neurotoxicity in mice was developed by orally treating 10 mg/kg/day sodium arsenite (NaAsO) for 21 days. 10 µg/g AuNPs, 1.

Activity of zinc oxide and zinc borate nanoparticles against resistant bacteria in an experimental lung cancer model.

Background: Recent research indicates a prevalence of typical lung infections, such as pneumonia, in lung cancer patients. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii stand out as antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Given this, there is a growing interest in alternative therapeutic avenues.

Evaluation of various blood biomarkers associated with the outcomes of patients with COVID‑19 treated in intensive care units.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the resulting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represented a global public health crisis and the most significant pandemic in modern times. Transmission characteristics, and the lack of effective antiviral treatment protocol and protective vaccines, pushed healthcare systems, particularly intensive care units (ICUs), to their limits and led to extreme quarantine measures to control the pandemic. It was evident from an early stage that patient stratification approaches needed to be developed to better predict disease progression.

A novel nutraceutical formulation increases telomere length and activates telomerase activity in middle‑aged rats.

Telomeres are major contributors to cell fate and aging through their involvement in cell cycle arrest and senescence. The accelerated attrition of telomeres is associated with aging‑related diseases, and agents able to maintain telomere length (TL) through telomerase activation may serve as potential treatment strategies. The aim of the present study was to assess the potency of a novel telomerase activator on TL and telomerase activity .

Effect of perinatal exposure to glyphosate and its mixture with 2,4-D and dicamba on rat dam kidney and thyroid function and offspring's health.

The increasing use of the herbicide mixture of glyphosate, dicamba and 2-4-D to deal with glyphosate-resistant weeds raises concerns regarding human health and environmental risks. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of developmental exposure to glyphosate and a herbicide mixture containing glyphosate, dicamba and 2-4-D on rat dams' kidney and thyroid function and offspring's health. Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed from day-6 of gestation till weaning to regulatory relevant doses of glyphosate corresponding to the European Union (EU) acceptable daily intake (ADI; 0.

DNA Damage Estimation after Chronic and Combined Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors: An In Vivo Real-Life Risk Simulation Approach.

Exposure to chemical substances has always been a matter of concern for the scientific community. During the last few years, researchers have been focusing on studying the effects resulting from combined exposure to different substances. In this study, we aimed to determine the DNA damage caused after chronic and combined exposure to substances characterized as endocrine disruptors using comet and micronuclei assays, specifically glyphosate (pure and commercial form), bisphenol A, parabens (methyl-, propyl- and butylparaben), triclosan and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.

Oxidative stress, free radicals and antioxidants: potential crosstalk in the pathophysiology of human diseases.

Free radicals are reactive oxygen species that constantly circulate through the body and occur as a side effect of many reactions that take place in the human body. Under normal conditions, they are removed from the body by antioxidant processes. If these natural mechanisms are disrupted, radicals accumulate in excess and contribute to the development of many diseases.

Evaluation of perinatal exposure of glyphosate and its mixture with 2,4-D and dicamba οn liver redox status in Wistar rats.

Wide-scale emergence of glyphosate-resistant weeds has led to an increase in the simultaneous application of herbicide mixtures exacerbated by the introduction of crops tolerant to glyphosate plus dicamba or glyphosate plus 2,4-D. This raises serious concerns regarding the environmental and health risks resulting from increased exposure to a mixture of herbicide active ingredients. We evaluated hepatotoxic effects following perinatal exposure to glyphosate alone or in combination with 2,4-D and dicamba from gestational day-6 until adulthood in Wistar rats.

An updated overview of anticancer effects of alternariol and its derivatives: underlying molecular mechanisms.

Alternariol is a toxic metabolite of Alternaria fungi and studies have shown multiple potential pharmacological effects. To outline the anticancer effects and mechanisms of alternariol and its derivatives based on database reports, an updated search of PubMed/MedLine, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus databases was performed with relevant keywords for published articles. The studies found to suggest that this mycotoxin and/or its derivatives have potential anticancer effects in many pharmacological preclinical test systems.

A mixture of 13 pesticides, contaminants, and food additives below individual NOAELs produces histopathological and organ weight changes in rats.

The current approach for the risk assessment of chemicals does not account for the complex human real-life exposure scenarios. Exposure to chemical mixtures in everyday life has raised scientific, regulatory, and societal concerns in recent years. Several studies aiming to identify the safety limits of chemical mixtures determined hazardous levels lower than those of separate chemicals.

FeO Nanoparticles in Combination with 5-FU Exert Antitumor Effects Superior to Those of the Active Drug in a Colon Cancer Cell Model.

(1) Background: Colon cancer is one of the most common cancer types, and treatment options, unfortunately, do not continually improve the survival rate of patients. With the unprecedented development of nanotechnologies, nanomedicine has become a significant direction in cancer research. Indeed, chemotherapeutics with nanoparticles (NPs) in cancer treatment is an outstanding new treatment principle.

An Updated Review on Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors as Antiplatelet Agents: Basic and Clinical Perspectives.

The glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor is found integrin present in platelet aggregations. GP IIb/IIIa antagonists interfere with platelet cross-linking and platelet-derived thrombus formation through the competition with fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor. Currently, three parenteral GP IIb/IIIa competitors (tirofiban, eptifibatide, and abciximab) are approved for clinical use in patients affected by percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in the location of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Properties of Natural Bioactive Monoterpenes Nerol, Estragole, and 3,7-Dimethyl-1-Octanol.

The therapeutic potential of medicinal plants is noted because of the presence of varieties of biochemicals. The monoterpenes, like nerol, estragole, and 3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol, have been reported for antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic, and antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the toxic, cytotoxic, and oxidant/antioxidant effects of these compounds by several in vitro (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, and ferric reducing potential), ex vivo (hemolysis), and in vivo ( and ) assays.

Nanoaggregates of Biphilic Carboxyl-Containing Copolymers as Carriers for Ionically Bound Doxorubicin.

Application of nanocarriers for drug delivery brings numerous advantages, allowing both minimization of side effects common in systemic drug delivery and improvement in targeting, which has made it the focal point of nanoscience for a number of years. While most of the studies are focused on encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs, delivery of hydrophilic compounds is typically performed via covalent attachment, which often requires chemical modification of the drug and limits the release kinetics. In this paper, we report synthesis of biphilic copolymers of various compositions capable of self-assembly in water with the formation of nanoparticles and suitable for ionic binding of the common anticancer drug doxorubicin.

Pharmacological effects and therapeutic potential of natural compounds in neuropsychiatric disorders: An update.

Neuropsychiatric diseases are a group of disorders that cause significant morbidity and disability. The symptoms of psychiatric disorders include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder. Various medicinal plants are frequently used as therapeutics in traditional medicine in different parts of the world.