Publications by authors named "Elena Neagu"

In recent years, increased attention has been paid to the recovery of bioactive compounds from waste and by-products resulting from the agro-industrial sector and their valorization into new products, which can be used in the health, food, or agricultural industry, as innovative and sustainable approaches to waste management. In this work, two of these by-products resulting from the fruit-processing industry were used for the recovery of bioactive compounds (polyphenols), namely lingonberry pomace () and grape pomace (). Two green extraction techniques were employed to obtain hydroalcoholic extracts (solvent: 50% EtOH, 10% mass): ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE).

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The present study evaluated three green extraction methods, accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and laser irradiation extraction (LE), for the polyphenolic compounds and vitamin C extraction of L. and fruit extracts. The polyphenols and vitamin C of extracts were quantified using HPLC-DAD, and the total phenolic content, flavonoid content, antioxidant activity (DPPH and reducing power), and antidiabetic activity were also studied.

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Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized using sage ( L.) extract. The obtained nanoparticles were supported on SBA-15 mesoporous silica (S), before and after immobilization of 10% TiO (Degussa-P25, STp; commercial rutile, STr; and silica synthesized from Ti butoxide, STb).

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The present study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of and extracts enriched in polyphenolic compounds. The extracts were obtained by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and laser irradiation. Then, microfiltration was used for purification, followed by nanofiltration used to concentrate the two extracts.

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Recently, there has been increased interest in the discovery of new natural herbal remedies for treating diabetes and inflammatory diseases. In this context, this work analyzed the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of , and herbs, which have been studied less from this point of view. Therefore, extracts were prepared and processed using membrane technologies, micro- and ultrafiltration, to concentrate the biologically active principles.

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The objective of our retrospective study was to investigate the changes in pNFH levels in cerebrospinal fluid, which is a reliable marker of neuronal damage, after the loading dose of nusinersen in different types of spinal muscular atrophy. We analyzed the spinal muscular atrophy types, the number of copies of the SMN2 gene, and the progression of the motor status using specific motor function scales in a group of 38 patients with spinal muscular atrophy types 1, 2, and 3. We found a significant inverse correlation between pNFH levels and patient age, progress on functional motor scales, and nusinersen administration.

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Lately, there has been increased interest in the development of phytochemical alternatives for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes, the alternatives that are able to reduce or prevent glucose absorption by inhibiting digestive enzymes. In this context, this study aims to analyze the inhibitory α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities of and polyphenolic compound-rich extracts obtained by membrane technologies (micro- and ultrafiltration). Polyphenols and flavones content, HPLC-MS polyphenolic compounds profiling, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxic potential of these herbs were determined.

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This study presents the preparation of hybrid nanofiltration membranes based on poly(1,4-phenylene ether ether sulfone), polyacrylonitrile, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), and SBA-15 mesoporous silica. Laser treatment of polymeric solutions to enhance the hydrophilicity and performance of membranes was investigated. The membranes' structure was characterized using scanning electron (SEM) and atomic force (AFM) microscopy and contact angle measurements.

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The nanofiltration composite membranes were obtained by incorporation of KIT-6 ordered mesoporous silica, before and after its functionalization with amine groups, into polyphenylene-ether-ether-sulfone (PPEES) matrix. The incorporation of silica nanoparticles into PPEES polymer matrix was evidenced by FTIR and UV-VIS spectroscopy. SEM images of the membranes cross-section and their surface topology, evidenced by AFM, showed a low effect of KIT-6 silica nanoparticles loading and functionalization.

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This study was focused on the phytochemical composition and biological activities of and polyphenolic-rich extracts obtained by nanofiltration. The high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that chlorogenic acid and rosmarinic acid were the main phenolic acids in both extracts. The main flavonoid compound from extracts is luteolin, whereas rutin and isoquercitrin are the main flavonoids in .

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This study evaluated the biological activities of and extracts enriched in polyphenols obtained by nanofiltration. The HPLC-MS analysis showed that contains mainly flavonoids, especially rutin, while in extracts show the high concentration of the phenolic acids, principally the chlorogenic acid and sinapic acid. Herein, there is the first report of ursolic acid, genistin, and isorhamnetin in and polyphenolic-rich extract showed high scavenging activity (IC=0.

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In this study several investigations and tests were performed to determine the antioxidant activity and the acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibitory potential of and aqueous extracts (10% mass) and ethanolic extracts (10% mass and 70% ethanol), respectively. Moreover, for each type of the prepared extracts of and of the content in the biologically active compounds - polyphenols, flavones and proanthocyanidins was determined. The antioxidant activity was assessed using two methods, namely the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and reducing power assay.

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Background: Recent short-term clinical trials in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) have indicated greater disease variability in terms of progression than expected. In addition, as average life-expectancy increases, reliable data is required on clinical progression in the older DMD population.

Objective: To determine the effects of corticosteroids on major clinical outcomes of DMD in a large multinational cohort of genetically confirmed DMD patients.

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Genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE), formerly known as idiopathic generalized epilepsy, is the most common form of epilepsy and is thought to have predominant genetic etiology. GGE are clinically characterized by absence, myoclonic, or generalized tonic-clonic seizures with electroencephalographic pattern of bilateral, synchronous, and symmetrical spike-and-wave discharges. Despite their strong heritability, the genetic basis of generalized epilepsies remains largely elusive.

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The main goal of our study was to evaluate the effect of the individual administration of five lyophilized lactic acid bacteria strains (Lactobacillus fermentum 428ST, Lactobacillus rhamnosus E4.2, Lactobacillus plantarum FCA3, Lactobacillus sp. 34.

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Context: Eryngium planum, Geum urbanum and Cnicus benedictus plants are an endemic botanical from the Romanian used in folk medicine.

Objective: The extracts from three Romanian medicinal plants were investigated for their possible neuroprotective potential.

Materials And Methods: Within this study, in vitro neuroprotective activity of the extracts of E.

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Analyzing the type and frequency of patient-specific mutations that give rise to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an invaluable tool for diagnostics, basic scientific research, trial planning, and improved clinical care. Locus-specific databases allow for the collection, organization, storage, and analysis of genetic variants of disease. Here, we describe the development and analysis of the TREAT-NMD DMD Global database (http://umd.

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A new type of chitosan/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin composite membrane have been developed for the encapsulation and controlled release of gallic acid. The morphology of the composite membrane was investigated by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), whereas swelling gallic acid and release properties were investigated by UV-visible spectroscopy. The release behavior with pH changes was also explored.

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Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disease, caused by the absence of the dystrophin protein. Although many novel therapies are under development for DMD, there is currently no cure and affected individuals are often confined to a wheelchair by their teens and die in their twenties/thirties. DMD is a rare disease (prevalence <5/10,000).

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This study was meant to determine the inhibitory activity of tannins and flavonoid compounds from Geranium robertianum, Helleborus purpurascens and Hyssopus officinale plant polyphenol rich extracts against urease and α-chymotrypsin. The G. robertianum, H.

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Genetic causes of mental retardation (MR) are heterogeneous, but subtelomeric rearrangements are an important one. MLPA technique provides the best results in case detection. We have used MLPA to identify subtelomeric rearrangements in children with idiopatic MR.

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In order to analyse whether a C-terminal polybasic sequence represents a nuclear localization signal (NLS) we obtained several truncated and mutant forms of protein of regerating liver (PRL)-3 and evaluated their subcellular localization as compared to the wild-type form. Our results invalidate the hypothesis that this is an NLS. We also analysed the influence of the C- and N-terminal residues on the phosphatase activity of PRL-3.

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