Circulating sRANKL, Periostin, and Osteopontin as Biomarkers for the Assessment of Activated Osteoclastogenesis in Myeloma Related Bone Disease.

The hallmark of multiple myeloma is myeloma related bone disease. Interactions between myeloma plasma cells (MPCs), stromal cells, and the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment play a critical role in the pathogenesis of MBD. Bone remodeling is severely dysregulated with the prevalence of osteoclast activity.

Dynamics of Bone Disease Biomarkers Dickkopf-1 and Sclerostin in Patients with Multiple Myeloma.

Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) and sclerostin are essential Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitors, playing an important role in multiple myeloma bone disease (MBD). We aimed to examine the serum DKK-1 and sclerostin variations in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients at diagnosis and in the course of therapy, including autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). This study included 41 NDMM-patients and 33 controls.

(Elderberry) Fruits Modulate Inflammation and Complement System Activity in Humans.

(SE) fruits are used for immune stimulation and amelioration of gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions. Currently, there is no scientific evidence of their effects on various aspects of the immune response mechanisms in humans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of SE fruit infusion intake in healthy humans.

New Insights into the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origins with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential.

Plant bioactive compounds are essential for human health due to their multiple biological effects, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiallergenic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antimicrobial activities, which can have beneficial effects on various noncommunicable diseases, such as autoimmune, inflammatory, cardiovascular, cancer, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases [...

Comparative Phytochemical Analysis of L. Fruit Juices on Bulgarian Market.

L. (black chokeberry), belonging to the Rosaceae family, contains high amounts of polyphenolics and therefore exhibits one of the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities among berry fruits. Chokeberries are used in the food industry for juice, nectar, and wine production and as colorants.

Phytochemical Composition, Anti-Inflammatory and ER Stress-Reducing Potential of L. Fruit Extract.

L. (SE) fruits are used for their immunostimulation, hematopoietic and antiviral potential. Recently, we focused on analyzing the mechanism underlying SE fruit aqueous extract's (FAE) immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory activities, with attention to its endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-reducing potential.

High resolution LC-MS/MS characterization of polyphenolic composition and evaluation of antioxidant activity of Sambucus ebulus fruit tea traditionally used in Bulgaria as a functional food.

The purpose of this study was to perform phytochemical analysis of tea from Sambucus ebulus fruits concerning hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonol glucosides, stilbenes and proanthocyanidin mono-, di- and trimers content. In total, 33 compounds were identified and quantified using UPLC-DAD-ESI/MS/MS system and the results are presented in mg/g dry weight (DW). Among analyzed hydroxycinnamic acids, 5-Caffeoylquinic acid (114.

Vitamin D Status in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure - Is there a Link?

Background: The disturbed pleiotropic functions of vitamin D are related to numerous chronic non-skeletal diseases. The role of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is controversial. Therefore, the aim was to study the vitamin D status in CVD patients and to reveal possible relationships with CVD risk factors.

Statins, vascular calcification, and vitamin K-dependent proteins: Is there a relation?

The present cross-sectional clinical study aimed to examine the connection between statin exposure, coronary artery calcification (CAC), and vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs) in patients with cardiovascular (CV) conditions. Two groups of patients were studied: patients with established CV disease (CVD) and healthy patients at moderate risk for CVD (a control group). The groups were also split into statin users and non-users.

Metabolomic analysis in ophthalmology.

Modern science takes into account phenotype complexity and establishes approaches to track changes on every possible level. Many "omics" studies have been developed over the last decade. Metabolomic analysis enables dynamic measurement of the metabolic response of a living system to a variety of stimuli or genetic modifications.

Adenosine Deaminase as a Useful Biomarker for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial immunologically mediated disorder characterized by repeated cycles of exacerbations and remissions. Diagnosis and monitoring of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) as common types of IBD require the usage of unpleasant invasive methods such as colonoscopy and cross-sectional imaging. Development of a non-invasive biomarker panel including different inflammatory parameters for evaluation of various aspects of gut inflammation and disease course is a priority task.

Circulating uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein in patients with atrial fibrillation or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Context: Circulating uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (ucMGP) is possibly related to coronary arterial calcification (CAC) in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the relationships between circulating ucMGP, CVD pathology and CAC and its interplay with CVD risk factors.

Materials And Methods: ucMGP was measured in 99 CVD-patients.

Diets rich in saturated fat and fructose induce anxiety and depression-like behaviours in the rat: is there a role for lipid peroxidation?

Epidemiological studies reveal associations between obesity/metabolic syndrome and mood disorders. We assessed behavioural changes in rats fed diets enriched in fat and fructose in different proportions and correlated the observed alterations with biochemical changes induced by the diets. Three groups of rats were used as follows: control (C) animals fed regular rat chow, rats fed high-fat diet (HF) and rats fed high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFHF).

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in Bulgarian patients with prostate cancer: a pilot study.

Background: The antiproliferative effect of the active form of vitamin D on cancer cells and its ability to induce cell differentiation and suppression of tumor-induced angiogenesis in the last decade has provoked enormous research for the elucidation of its role in the prevention of different types of cancer and in slowing down the malignancy progression. The aim of the present pilot study was to determine the circulating 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) levels in Bulgarian prostate cancer (PCa) patients and to investigate their relationship with various determinants associated with the severity and progression of the disease.

Methods: A total of 53 male patients (mean age 67.

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Bulgarian patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection.

Aims: The present pilot study aimed to determine vitamin D status in Bulgarian patients with chronic HCV infection in respect to the severity of liver disease and response to interferon-ribavirin therapy.

Methods: The study encompassed 296 patients: 161 males (54.4%) aged 42.

Effect of melatonin on burn-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

We studied the effect of melatonin treatment on gastric mucosal damage induced by experimental burns and its possible relation to changes in gastric lipid peroxidation status. Melatonin was intraperitoneally applied immediately after third-degree burns over 30% of total body skin surface area of rats. Malondialdehyde (MDA), uric acid (UA) and sulphydril (SH) levels were determined in gastric mucosa and blood plasma and used as biomarkers of the oxidative stress.

Melatonin: Quantum-chemical and biochemical investigation of antioxidant activity.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the antioxidant activity of melatonin is carried out. The theoretical approach comprises the evaluation of several appropriate descriptors of scavenging activity with the help of quantum-chemistry methods. The values obtained are compared with available data for substances with established antioxidant properties.

Influence of DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

1 There is an increasing body of evidence supporting the hypothesis that antioxidants are able to reduce gastric mucosal damage induced by stressors of different origin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate (TA) on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats and a possible role for an anti-oxidative mechanism in the response. 2 TA (25, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1)) was applied intraperitoneally as a pretreatment 1 h before the subcutaneous administration of indomethacin (30 mg kg(-1)).

Impaired mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in respiratory chain-deficient cells but efficient compensation of energetic disadvantage by enhanced anaerobic glycolysis due to low ATP steady state levels.

Energy-producing pathways, adenine nucleotide levels, oxidative stress response and Ca(2+) homeostasis were investigated in cybrid cells incorporating two pathogenic mitochondrial DNA point mutations, 3243A>G and 3302A>G in tRNA(Leu(UUR)), as well as Rho(0) cells and compared to their parental 143B osteosarcoma cell line. All cells suffering from a severe respiratory chain deficiency were able to proliferate as fast as controls. The major defect in oxidative phosphorylation was efficiently compensated by a rise in anaerobic glycolysis, so that the total ATP production rate was preserved.

Protective effect of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice pretreatment in a model of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Unlabelled: The main active ingredients of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ) are phenolic substances, mainly flavonoids from the anthocyanin subclass.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of AMFJ applied as pretreatment in a model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Material And Methods: AMFJ was given orally to rats for 2 days at doses of 5, 10 and 20 ml/kg either alone or as pretreatment before the oral application of CCl4 (0.

Correlation between the in vitro antioxidant activity and polyphenol content of aqueous extracts from Bulgarian herbs.

The water phase antioxidant activity of extracts from 23 Bulgarian medicinal plants was studied in relation to their polyphenol content in comparison with mate, black tea, honeybush and rooibos foreign species. Antioxidant activity was measured by the ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) cation radical decolorization assay, and the total polyphenol content was assayed according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Five Bulgarian plant extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity than that of mate, which is 21.

Effect of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal damage and oxidative stress in rats.

Aronia melanocarpa fruits are rich in phenolic substances-mainly flavonoids from the anthocyanin subclass. The anthocyanins are water-soluble plant pigments with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective and other activities. We studied the effect of A.

Hepatoprotective effect of the natural fruit juice from Aronia melanocarpa on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver damage in rats.

The fruits of Aronia melanocarpa are rich in anthocyanins--plant pigments with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. We studied the effect of the natural fruit juice from A. melanocarpa (NFJAM) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver damage in rats.

Protective effect of BP 2-94, a histamine H3-receptor agonist prodrug, in a model of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Unlabelled: BP 2-94 is a prodrug of the H3-receptor agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine [(R)-alpha-MeHA]. BP 2-94 displayed anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and ulcero-protective properties in experimental animals.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of BP 2-94 in a model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.