Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-II-receptor antagonists modulate sodium handling based on endogenous lithium clearance.

Background: Numerous studies based on assessment of lithium clearance demonstrated higher sodium reabsorption in renal proximal tubules in individuals with hypertension, overweight, obesity, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes.

Aims: We aimed to assess the influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) or angiotensin-II-receptor antagonists (ARB) treatment on sodium handling.

Methods: In a sample of 351Caucasian subjects without diuretic treatment with prevailing sodium consumption, we studied associations between renal sodium reabsorption in proximal (FPRNa) and distal (FDRNa) tubules assessed by endogenous lithium clearance and daily sodium intake measured by 24-hour excretion of sodium (UNaV), in the context of obesity and long-term treatment with ACE-I or ARB.

Does selenium fortification of kale and kohlrabi sprouts change significantly their biochemical and cytotoxic properties?

Background: The sprouts of Brassica vegetables are known from their nutritional and chemopreventive values. Moreover, sprouts fortification with some trace elements, like selenium, may increase their importance in human diet. Thus, the aim of our study was to examine if selenium enrichment of kale and kohlrabi sprouts may influence their biochemical properties (phenolic acids and L-tryptophan content, antioxidant potential) or cytotoxic activity.

Insulin Resistance and Renal Sodium Handling Influence Arterial Stiffness in Hypertensive Patients with Prevailing Sodium Intake.

Background: Insulin resistance and renal tubular sodium handling influence arterial structure and function and play an essential role in salt-sensitive forms of hypertension.

Methods: In a population with prevailing sodium consumption, we assessed the relationship between cardiovascular phenotypes (peripheral and central blood pressures, elastic properties of large arteries, the left ventricular structure) and sodium handling parameters (daily urinary sodium excretion, fractional urinary lithium excretion in proximal-FELi and distal tubules), as a function of insulin sensitivity-measured by homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), leptin-to-adiponectin (L/A) ratio, and homeostasis model assessment-adiponectin (HOMA-AD).

Results: In patients with FELi below the median value (corresponding to the group with increased proximal sodium reabsorption) and higher insulin resistance as measured by HOMA-IR, pulse wave augmentation indexes were significantly higher-AIxP (99.

Comparative Study of Predominant Phytochemical Compounds and Proapoptotic Potential of Broccoli Sprouts and Florets.

The study compares lyophilized broccoli sprouts and florets in terms of their chemical composition, cytotoxic and proapoptotic potential against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2, colorectal cancer SW480, and skin fibroblast BJ cells. Sinapic and isochlorogenic acids were predominant phenolics in the sprouts and florets, respectively. The amount of sulforaphane in the sprouts was significantly higher vs.

Blood pressure, arterial stiffness and endogenous lithium clearance in relation to AGTR1 A1166C and AGTR2 G1675A gene polymorphisms.

Introduction: Although recently a matter of epidemiologic controversy, sodium overload and its interaction with genetic factors predispose to hypertension and related target organ complications.

Methods: In 131 (66 male) treated hypertensives, we measured peripheral and central arterial pressures and pulse wave augmentation indexes (AIx(P), AIx(C1), AIx(C2)), pulse wave velocity (PWV), daily urinary sodium excretion and did genetic studies of AGTR1 A1166C and AGTR2 G1675A polymorphisms. Proximal (FE(Li)) and distal (FDR(Na)) sodium reabsorption measurements were performed using endogenous lithium clearance.

The relation between ACE D/I and CYP11B2 C-344T polymorphisms and parameters of arterial stiffness in the context of renal sodium handling.

Background: Sodium overload is related to the development of primary hypertension and its complications.

Methods: In 131 (65 female) treated hypertensives (average blood pressure 144/82 mmHg and duration of hypertension 11.7 years), we measured peripheral and central arterial pressures, peripheral (AIx(P)) and central (AIx(C1), AIx(C2)) augmentation indices, pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and daily urinary sodium excretion, and conducted genetic studies of ACE D/I and CYP11B2 C-344T polymorphisms.

Aronia melanocarpa treatment and antioxidant status in selected tissues in Wistar rats.

Aronia juice is considered to be a source of compounds with high antioxidative potential. We conducted a study on the impact of compounds in the Aronia juice on oxidative stress in plasma and brain tissues. The influence of Aronia juice on oxidative stress parameters was tested with the use of a model with a high content of fructose and nonsaturated fats.

Antioxidant agents and physiological responses in adult epileptic patients treated with lamotrigine.

Background: The aim of our research was to evaluate some biochemical changes in blood during lamotrigine (LTG) monotherapy of adult patients with epilepsy, and to check possible associations between typical selenium status parameters and the frequency of seizures.

Methods: The study was performed by examining aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT), creatinine, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), serum uric acid (UA), uric-acid-independent FRAP (UAiFRAP), plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPX3), selenoprotein P (SelP), plasma superoxide dismutase (pSOD), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in serum and urine, serum selenium (sSe) and zinc (sZn), in 22 adult patients with epilepsy and 22 healthy controls. Additionally, the levels of LTG were determined in patients.

Effect of amaranth seeds (Amaranthus cruentus) in the diet on some biochemical parameters and essential trace elements in blood of high fructose-fed rats.

The effect of amaranth seeds on the lipid profile, glucose level, protein metabolism and selected trace element (Na, K, Ca and Mg) levels were determined in high-fructose fed Wistar rats. Fructose addition to rat fodder caused changes mainly in the blood lipid profile, particularly manifesting in an increased triglyceride level within all subsequent pairs of rat groups, and ranged between 85% and 112%. Administration of amaranth seeds to rats did not inhibit the increase of triglyceride induced by fructose.

Valproic acid modulates superoxide dismutase, uric acid-independent FRAP and zinc in blood of adult epileptic patients.

We aimed to evaluate changes in antioxidant status in blood during valproate (VPA) monotherapy of adult patients with epilepsy. Antioxidant enzymes [plasma superoxide dismutase (pSOD), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (eSOD)] and non-enzymatic indices [concentration of trace elements in serum: selenium, copper, zinc (sZn) and uric acid (UA), as well as the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and UA-independent FRAP (UAiFRAP)] were evaluated in 21 adult patients with epilepsy and 21 healthy controls. Significant differences between the study group and controls were found for pSOD (p = 0.

Effect of quinoa seeds (Chenopodium quinoa) in diet on some biochemical parameters and essential elements in blood of high fructose-fed rats.

The effect of Chenopodium quinoa seeds on lipid profile, glucose level, protein metabolism and selected essential elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) level was determined in high-fructose fed male Wistar rats. Fructose decreased significantly LDL [42%, p<0.01] and activity of alkaline phosphatase [20%, p<0.

Advantages of the use of deciduous teeth, hair, and blood analysis for lead and cadmium bio-monitoring in children. A study of 6-year-old children from Krakow (Poland).

The population of about 300 6-year-old preschool children was studied for lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in deciduous teeth, scalp hair, and capillary blood. Zinc (Zn) content in hair was also measured due to its possible interferences with the elements studied. The Pb and Cd contents were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman background correction, and Zn, by flame method.

A "zero sample concentration approach": standardization of methods for the estimation of total antioxidant activity by the use of extrapolation to zero sample concentration. A novel standard. 1. ABTS cation radical scavenging.

The study presents the general method of standardization of estimations of total antioxidant activity (TAA) by extrapolating parameters to zero sample concentration based on a pseudo-first-order kinetics model. To test its suitability, the method was applied to the ABTS cation radical scavenging assay, as the first choice. Two alternative methods of extrapolation were presented, via linear regression and numerical fitting to the dose-response profile.

Effect of diet supplemented with quinoa seeds on oxidative status in plasma and selected tissues of high fructose-fed rats.

Oxidative stress plays an important role as a mediator of damage produced by fructose metabolism. This work was designed to investigate the effect of diet supplemented with quinoa seeds on oxidative stress in plasma, heart, kidney, liver, spleen, lung, testis and pancreas of fructose administered rats. Fructose administration (310 g/kg fodder for 5 weeks) caused oxidative stress that was manifested by the increase in plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.

Evaluation of antioxidant activity of amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) grain and by-products (flour, popping, cereal).

The objective of our study was evaluation antioxidant activity of Amaranthus cruentus grain and by-products (flour, cereals and popping). The evaluation was performed by FRAP, DPPH and ABTS methods. FRAP and ABTS assays gave comparable results, DPPH method gave lower values.

Selenium status indices, laboratory data, and selected biochemical parameters in end-stage renal disease patients.

We investigated the relations between selenium status (SeS) parameters, indexes of nutrition, erythropoiesis, and uremic toxemia, serum electrolytes, and other biochemical markers in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, as no multivariate statistical analysis concerning all of these parameters was performed so far. SeS was evaluated by plasma Se concentration (plSe) and glutathione peroxidase (plGSHPx) activity in 69 uremic patients treated with hemodialysis (HD) and 40 healthy controls. The hierarchical multivariate partial least squares model (PLS2) was employed to establish data structure and correlations between parameters investigated.

The bioactivity of processed garlic (Allium sativum L.) as shown in vitro and in vivo studies on rats.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is widely used as an obligatory part in many cooked dishes loosing during this process a certain part of its bioactivity. Antioxidant capacity measured by the ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) method and by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay was the highest in raw and in a short time processed garlic samples by cooking.

Dose-dependent influence of commercial garlic (Allium sativum) on rats fed cholesterol-containing diet.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the dose-dependent influence of commercial garlic on rats fed cholesterol-containing diets. It was found that commercial garlic contains high concentrations of dietary fibers, microelements, and total polyphenols, and its total antioxidant capacity as determined by two independent assays [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS)] was similar to that of the original garlic samples. Wistar rats (35) were randomly divided into five diet groups, named control, Chol, Garlic500, Garlic750, and Garlic1000.

Some essential phytochemicals and the antioxidant potential in fresh and dried persimmon.

Fresh persimmon contains high quantities of bioactive compounds, but is only available in the autumn and winter months. The aim of this investigation was to compare fresh and dried persimmon in order to determine whether the latter could be a substitute for fresh fruit. It was found that the contents of dietary fibers and trace elements in fresh and equivalent quantities of dried fruits were comparable.

Comparison of the bioactive compounds and antioxidant potentials of fresh and cooked Polish, Ukrainian, and Israeli garlic.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an essential part of Polish, Ukrainian, and Israeli cuisine. The aim of this investigation was to compare the changes in bioactive compounds, proteins, and antioxidant potentials in fresh Polish, Ukrainian, and Israeli garlic samples after subjection to cooking temperature.

[Pilot study of aluminum plasma level in healthy subjects in Poland].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to estimate mean aluminum concentration in the plasma of Polish healthy subjects.

Materials And Methods: The study group consisted of 24 healthy adult volunteers aged 25-65, both genders. The results of the analysis of AI in serum (or plasma) in 128 samples from 107 dialyzed patients assessed during routine checkup, were compared with the group of normal subjects.