A nutraceutical extract from Inula viscosa leaves: UHPLC-HR-MS/MS based polyphenol profile,and antioxidant and cytotoxic activities

Nowadays, advanced extraction techniques and highly sensitive metabolic profiling methods are effectively employed to get new information on plant chemical constituents. Among them wild medicinal plants or their parts, with large and ancient use in folk medicine, are investigated for their potential functional use and cultivation. In this context, Inula viscosa leaves engaged our attention. A simple experimental design, based on Soxhlet extraction and chromatographic fractionation, allowed us to obtain the investigated polyphenol fraction (IvE). UHPLC-HRMS analyses revealed shikimoyl depsides of caffeic acid and unusual dihydrobenzofuran lignans as main secondary metabolites. These compounds, together with cinchonain-type phenols, and hydroxycinnamoyl flavonol glycosides, are reported for the first time in inula. Overall, forty-three secondary metabolites were identified. The extract exerted a remarkable antiradical activity towards DPPH^• and ABTS^+•. Furthermore, it was able to inhibit cell viability and mitochondrial redox activity of neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma and colon carcinoma cells, whereas it did not affect cell density of HaCaT cells immortalized human keratinocytes. As detected by the oxidant-sensing probe 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, the inhibitory responses seemed to be related to IvE-induced increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). The obtained results highlighted that inula leaves, nowadays even undervalued and unexplored, could be considered a renewable source of nutraceutical compounds.     

Psychological and behavioral correlates of feeling fat in women

Because feeling fat may be an important risk factor in bulimia, two studies were conducted to investigate the psychological and behavioral variables associated with feeling fat and dissatisfied with one's body. In the first study, 46 female undergraduates completed a series of questions measuring a variety of psychological variables related to body image and weight. Regression analysis found five variables that were significantly related to feeling fat: percent overweight, perfectionism, perceived social pressure toward thinness, social comparison regarding weight, and the degree to which failure experiences affect feelings about one's body. Feeling fat was also highly correlated with perceived lack of control over food, repeated dieting efforts, and binge eating. The second study examined the association between feeling fat and self-reported eating behavior. Seventy-two female undergraduates completed the Stunkard and Messick (1985) eating inventory and a measure of body image satisfaction. Feeling fat was significantly related to a tendency to eat in response to external stimuli and emotional distress, and to feeling strong urges to eat. A subscale measuring successful dieting behavior was not found to correlate with feeling fat. Implications for future research are discussed.     

Cotard's Syndrome Triggered by Fear in a Patient with Intellectual Disability: Causal or Casual Link?

Cotard's syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disease characterized by a variety of nihilistic delusions, commonly associated with several psychotic and major affective disorders, and neurological diseases, including stroke, dementia, and mental retardation. A 39-year-old male with mental retardation developed Cotard's syndrome, following an important episode of fear. During admission to our neurological unit, the patient underwent an accurate assessment, including neuroradiological, clinical, and neuropsychological examinations. At the psychiatric evaluation, he presented nihilistic delusions, in which he negated the existence of his body parts and the existence of his family members. The neuropsychological assessment ruled out other possible causes of misidentification, including the post-traumatic stress disorder. Thus, since also organic causes of Cotard's syndrome were excluded, the correlation between fear and the syndrome has been postulated and the patient opportunely treated, using a multidisciplinary approach. Our case suggests that in predisposed individuals negative emotions, including fear, may lead to delusional syndromes.     

MTHFR C677T polymorphism,folate status and colon cancer risk in acromegalic patients

Background

Acromegalic patients have a higher risk of developing colorectal tumours (CRT). The common C677T polymorphism in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is a well-documented CRT risk factor in the general population, but its role in acromegaly has never been examined.

Purpose

We investigated the influence of MTHFR C677T polymorphism, folate status and other lifestyle, nutritional and disease-specific variables on CRT risk in acromegaly.

Methods

Clinical data were collected from 115 acromegalic patients (25 with active disease) who underwent a complete colonoscopy. C677T MTHFR genotype, homocysteine, vitamin B₁₂, insulin growth factor and insulin levels, as well as metabolic variables were evaluated.

Results

Colorectal tumours were identified in 51 patients (3 adenocarcinomas). MTHFR C677T distribution was in the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and similar in patients with or without CRT. There was a correlation between patients with TT genotype and CRT occurrence (Spearman’s test: P = 0.03), with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 1.32 (95 % CI 0.522–3.362, P NS). A folate–MTHFR genotype interaction on CRT risk was found (P = 0.037): in the lower folate subgroup, TT patients showed a 2.4 higher OR for CRT (95 % CI 0.484–11.891; P NS) than C-allele carriers. Smoking (P = 0.007), increased HbA_1c levels (P = 0.021), dyslipidaemia (P = 0.049), acromegaly control (P = 0.057), and folate–MTHFR genotype interaction (P = 0.088) were associated with CRT at multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

In this cohort of acromegalic patients, CRT risk is increased in 677TT MTHFR patients with low plasma folate levels. Smoking, high HbA_1c levels, dyslipidaemia and disease activity were also associated with increased CRT risk.