Cytoprotection by Achyrocline satureioides (Lam) D.C. and some of its main flavonoids against oxidative stress

Epidemiological studies indicate that dietary antioxidants can influence the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. Among them flavonoids have been proposed to be effective cytoprotectors. Consequently, herbs with a high concentration of these compounds such as Achyrocline satureioides, Ginkgo biloba and Epilobium parviflorum are of special interest. In this context a comparative study of the cytoprotective capacity of infusions from the three plants against an oxidative insult was performed. Hence, the cytoprotective activity of each infusion against H2O2 injury to PC12 cells was tested and the antioxidant capacity was assessed by the ABTS*+ radical bleaching assay. Free and glycosylated flavonoids contained in the infusions were identified by HPLC and the cytoprotective effect of some of these individual flavonoids was tested. The analysis of the flavonoid content of the infusions revealed different profiles. Epilobium parviflorum infusion showed the highest antioxidant capacity but only Achyrocline satureioides infusion proved to be cytoprotective. Moreover, the free flavonoids quercetin and luteolin contained in this infusion were also cytoprotective. In conclusion, the free radical scavenger capacity did not correlate with the cytoprotective profile of the infusions. The special mixture of unglycosylated Achyrocline satureioides flavonoids could be a clue to explain the unique effect of this plant.     

Likelihood ratios of clinical,laboratory and image data of pancreatic cancer: Bayesian approach

Purpose The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (PC) is most frequently established in advanced stages. The aim of this study is to estimate the likelihood ratios (LRs) of diagnostic data with regards to PC that could be used to approach an earlier diagnosis. Methods A case–control study of 300 patients – 150 histological diagnosed cases of PC and 150 age‐matched controls hospitalized for study of jaundice, abdominal pain, weight loss and/or chronic pancreatitis – was conducted. Bayesian probabilities in the form of LRs were estimated for PC predictions. Results Probability of PC was associated with jaundice [odds ratio (OR) 2.89; confidence interval (CI) 1.71–4.85], glycemic disturbance (OR 5.64; CI 2.36–13.46), tobacco index >20 (OR 2.11; CI 1.08–4.09) and tumour marker CA 19‐9 (OR 9.33; CI 1.36–63.95). Computed tomography showed the highest test performance with regards to PC when comparing with other diagnostic tests. LRs for variables relevant to PC were estimated, among the most relevant: jaundice LR + 1.92, CA 19‐9 LR + 5.36 and computed tomography LR + 4.15. The prediction model with an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography at a tertiary referral hospital determined a 67% probability of detecting PC. Conclusions Through a Bayesian approach we can combine clinical, laboratory and imaging data to approximate to an earlier diagnosis of PC.     

Everything that is not given is lost

A small health center is located in Velingara,Senegal.It is approximately 7 o'clock in the morning.In the old,dusty room that constitutes the operating room,a s...     

Differential role of natural killer group 2D in recognition and cytotoxicity of hepatocyte‐like cells derived from embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells

Stem cell–based approaches have the potential to address the organ shortage in transplantation. Whereas both embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells have been utilized as cellular sources for differentiation and lineage specification, their relative ability to be recognized by immune effector cells is unclear. We determined the expression of immune recognition molecules on hepatocyte‐like cells (HLC) generated from murine embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, compared to adult hepatocytes, and we evaluated the impact on recognition by natural killer (NK) cells. We report that HLC lack MHC class I expression, and that embryonic stem cell–derived HLC have higher expression of the NK cell activating ligands Rae1, H60, and Mult1 than induced pluripotent stem cell–derived HLC and adult hepatocytes. Moreover, the lack of MHC class I renders embryonic stem cell–derived HLC, and induced pluripotent stem cell–derived HLC, susceptible to killing by syngeneic and allogeneic NK cells. Both embryonic stem cell–derived HLC, and induced pluripotent stem cell–derived HLC, are killed by NK cells at higher levels than adult hepatocytes. Finally, we demonstrate that the NK cell activation receptor, NKG2D, plays a key role in NK cell cytotoxicity of embryonic stem cell–derived HLC, but not induced pluripotent stem cell–derived HLC.