Immunomodulatory and antioxidant function of albumin stabilises the endothelium and improves survival in a rodent model of chronic liver failure.

Background & Aims: Liver failure is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, which results in hemodynamic disturbances leading to renal failure. Albumin infusion improves hemodynamics and prevents renal dysfunction in advance liver failure. These effects are only partly explained by the oncotic properties of albumin.

Predicting portal hypertension and variceal bleeding using non-invasive measurements of metabolic variables.

Background & Aim: This study assessed the involvement of metabolic factors (anthropometric indices, insulin resistance (IR) and adipocytokines) in the prediction of portal hypertension, esophageal varices and risk of variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients.

Material And Methods: Two prospective and retrospective cohorts of cirrhotic patients were selected (n = 357). The first prospective cohort (n = 280) enrolled consecutively in three centers, underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, seeking evidence of esophageal varices.

Variations in the promoter region of the glutaminase gene and the development of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis: a cohort study.

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy is a major complication of cirrhosis and is associated with a poor prognosis.

Objective: To identify mutations in the gene sequence for glutaminase in humans that could be responsible for the development of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis.

Design: Cohort study.

Serum metabolic signature of minimal hepatic encephalopathy by (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance.

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) reduces quality of life of cirrhotic patients, predicts overt hepatic encephalopathy, and is associated with poor prognosis. We hypothesized that MHE arises once metabolic alterations derived from the liver reach a particular threshold. Our aim was to assess whether metabolic profiling of serum samples by high-field (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H NMR) and subsequent multivariate analyses would be useful to characterize metabolic perturbations associated with MHE and to identify potential metabolic biomarkers.

Gut ammonia production and its modulation.

Systemic hyperammonemia has been largely found in patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy, and ammonia plays a major role in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. However, controversial points remain: a) the correlation between plasma ammonia levels and neurophysiological impairment. The lack of correlation between ammonia levels and grade of hepatic encephalopathy in some cases has been considered a weakness of the ammonia hypothesis, but new methods for ammonia measurements and the implication of systemic inflammation in the modulation of ammonia neurotoxicity could explain this gap; b) the source of ammonia production.

Nutritional treatment of cancer cachexia in rats. Use of a diet formulated with a crayfish enzymatic extract.

Background: Terminal cancer-associated cachexia, characterized by a marked weight loss, anorexia, asthenia and anemia, is usually associated with a malnutrition status.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate whether a diet formulated with a crayfish enzymatic extract, enriched in essential amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and astaxanthin, would be effective for the treatment of cancer-associated cachexias, by decreasing mortality and morbidity rates in cachectic rats and/or improving survival.

Methods: Two types of diet were used: a standard diet and one formulated with crayfish enzymatic extract.

Lipophilic hydroxytyrosyl esters. Antioxidant activity in lipid matrices and biological systems.

Antioxidant activities of lipophilic hydroxytyrosyl acetate, palmitate, oleate, and linoleate were compared with those of hydroxytyrosol, alpha-tocopherol, and butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) in both glyceridic matrix and biological systems. Aliquots of a glyceridic matrix spiked with various concentrations of antioxidant were subjected to accelerated oxidation in a Rancimat apparatus operated at 90 degrees C. The relationships between induction time (IT) and antioxidant concentration (mmol/kg) presented by hydroxytyrosol and hydroxytyrosyl acetate, palmitate, oleate, and linoleate were similar.

Phosphate-activated glutaminase activity is enhanced in brain, intestine and kidneys of rats following portacaval anastomosis.

Aim: To assess whether portacaval anastomosis (PCA) in rats affects the protein expression and/or activity of glutaminase in kidneys, intestines and in three brain areas of cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum and to explain the neurological alterations found in hepatic encephalopathy (HE).

Methods: Sixteen male Wistar rats weighing 250-350 g were grouped into sham-operation control (n=8) or portacaval shunt (n=8). Twenty-eight days after the procedure, the animals were sacrificed.

Prevention of brain protein and lipid oxidation elicited by a water-soluble oryzanol enzymatic extract derived from rice bran.

Background: The antioxidant capacity of rice bran (RB) (due mainly to its gamma-oryzanol content) is very well known. We have recently developed a water-soluble oryzanol enzymatic extract (WSOEE), which shows a greatly increased functionality.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of our study is the evaluation of the antioxidant potential of WSOEE in an ex vivo model to compare its protective capacity against oxidative damage by active-oxygen substances and free radicals (mainly the peroxyl radical) to biomolecules (such as proteins and lipids) with that of antioxidants, such as Trolox (a water-soluble derivative of vitamin E), melatonin, and folic acid.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA assessment of diversity in western Mediterranean populations of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica.

Posidonia oceanica is an endemic Mediterranean seagrass species that has often been assumed to contain low levels of genetic diversity. Random amplified polymorfic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess genetic diversity among five populations from three geographical regions (north, central, and south) of the western Mediterranean Sea. Stranded germinating seeds from one of the central populations were also included in the analysis.