Electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products have seen significant growth in sales and usage in recent years. Initially promoted as potentially less harmful alternatives to traditional tobacco, recent scientific evidence has raised serious concerns about the risks they pose, particularly in relation to atherosclerosis. While atherosclerosis has long been associated with conventional tobacco smoking, emerging research suggests that electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco may also contribute to the development of this condition and related cardiovascular complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this pilot study, we assessed the role of autophagy in Crohn's Disease (CD), particularly in patients with a stenosing phenotype. Through the analysis of biopsied specimens from 36 patients, including 11 controls and 25 CD patients, categorized into inflammatory and stenosing groups, we identified a significant reduction in the autophagosomal marker Lc3b-II in patients with active inflammation and stenosis. This was paralleled by an increase in oxidative stress markers, including sNOX2-dp and H2O2, and a decrease in the antioxidant capacity measured by HBA, suggesting an imbalance in autophagy and oxidative stress mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGut-dysbiosis-induced lipopolysaccharides (LPS) translocation into systemic circulation has been suggested to be implicated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis. This study aimed to assess if oleuropein (OLE), a component of extra virgin olive oil, lowers high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced endotoxemia and, eventually, liver steatosis. An immunohistochemistry analysis of the intestine and liver was performed in (i) control mice (CTR; n = 15), (ii) high-fat-diet fed (HFD) mice (HFD; n = 16), and (iii) HFD mice treated with 6 µg/day of OLE for 30 days (HFD + OLE, n = 13).
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