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  • research article; ; ; ;
    Radzevičiūtė-Valčiukė, Eivina
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    Balevičiūtė, Austėja
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    Želvys, Augustinas
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    Zinkevičienė, Auksė
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    Veterinary Sciences
    Bovine colostrum (COL), the first milk secreted by lactating cows postpartum, is a rich source of bioactive compounds that exert a significant role in the survival, growth, and immune development of neonatal calves. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of COL on cytokine production in vitro using a Caco-2/THP-1 macrophage co-culture model stimulated with Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). COL pretreatment significantly reduced IL-6 (241.3 pg/mL) production induced by PMA (p < 0.05), while increasing IL-10 production (45.3 pg/mL), in comparison to PMA control (441.1 and 12.5 pg/mL, respectively). Further investigations revealed that the IL-6 suppressive effect of colostrum was heat-sensitive and associated with components of higher molecular mass (100 kDa). Moreover, colostrum primarily influenced THP-1 macrophages rather than Caco-2 epithelial cells. The effects of colostrum on IL-6 production were associated with reduced NF-κB activation in THP-1 macrophages. In calf-FMT transplanted C57BL/6 murine model, colostrum decreased intestinal permeability, reduced immune cell infiltration and intestinal score, and suppressed IL-6 (142.0 pg/mL) production during S. typhimurium infection, in comparison to control animals (215.2 pg/mL). These results suggest the immunomodulatory activity of bovine colostrum and its potential applications in inflammatory disorders. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and validate the findings in bovine models.
  • research article; ;
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    The roots and rhizomes of Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae), which is widely growing in Northern Europe, North America, and Siberia, have been used since ancient times to alleviate stress, fatigue, and mental and physical disorders. Phenolic compounds: phenylpropanoids rosavin, rosarin, and rosin, tyrosol glucoside salidroside, and tyrosol, are responsible for the biological action of R. rosea, exerting antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-aging, anti-fatigue activities. R. rosea extract formulations are used as alternative remedies to enhance mental and cognitive functions and protect the central nervous system and heart during stress. Recent studies indicate that R. rosea may be used to treat diabetes, cancer, and a variety of cardiovascular and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. This paper reviews the beneficial effects of the extract of R. rosea, its key active components, and their possible use in the treatment of chronic diseases. R. rosea represents an excellent natural remedy to address situations involving decreased performance, such as fatigue and a sense of weakness, particularly in the context of chronic diseases. Given the significance of mitochondria in cellular energy metabolism and their vulnerability to reactive oxygen species, future research should prioritize investigating the potential effects of R. rosea main bioactive phenolic compounds on mitochondria, thus targeting cellular energy supply and countering oxidative stress-related effects.
      4WOS© IF 5.6WOS© AIF 6.4Scopus© SNIP 1.263
  • research article
    Link, Jastin
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    Thon, Cosima
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    Malfertheiner, Peter
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    Link, Alexander
    Diagnostics
    Diet is one of the most important factors contributing to the multistep process of carcinogenesis. The clinical relevance of exogenous food-derived xeno-microRNAs (miRNAs) in human diseases is poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential clinical relevance of the xeno-miRNA miR-168 in the gastric mucosa along the preneoplastic conditions and gastric carcinogenesis.
      1WOS© IF 3.6WOS© AIF 6.8Scopus© SNIP 0.982
  • research article;
    Grigaitė, Onutė
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    Molecules
    This study was carried out to analyze the accumulation patterns of anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, chlorogenic acid, and triterpene compounds in fruit samples of L. berries growing in the Čepkeliai State Strict Nature Reserve in Lithuania. Studies were carried out on the phytochemical composition of cranberry fruit samples during the period of 2020-2022. Anthocyanins, flavonols, chlorogenic acid and triterpene compounds were identified and quantified using UPLC-DAD methods, and proanthocyanins were determined using spectrophotometric methods. The content of identified compounds varied, as reflected in the total amounts of anthocyanins (710.3 ± 40 µg/g to 6993.8 ± 119 µg/g), proanthocyanidins (378.4 ± 10 µg EE/g to 3557. 3 ± 75 µg EE/g), flavonols (479.6 ± 9 µg/g to 7291.2 ± 226 µg/g), chlorogenic acid (68.0 ± 1 µg/g to 3858.2 ± 119 µg/g), and triterpenoids (3780.8 ± 98 µg/g to 7226.9 ± 224 µg/g). Cranberry fruit samples harvested from open oligotrophic wetland habitats contained higher levels of anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, flavonol glycosides, and proanthocyanidins. The highest levels of triterpene compounds were found in the cranberry fruits harvested in the spring of the following year after the snowmelt. The use of principal component analysis showed that cranberry plant material harvested in October and November had higher levels of bioactive compounds.
      3WOS© IF 4.6WOS© AIF 6.4Scopus© SNIP 1.167
  • AIMS: The purpose of this first-in-human (FIH) feasibility study was to determine the safety, feasibility, and clinical and hemodynamic performance of the transfemoral Vienna self-expandable (SE) supra-annular aortic valve system, which is intended for use in patients with calcific symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis. The Vienna Aortic Valve SE System is repositionable and retrievable, allowing more optimal prosthesis positioning. The valve comes already pre-mounted on the delivery system, ready to be used, eliminating the need for assembly and crimping of the device prior to valve implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Methods. This is a prospective, non-randomized, single-arm, single-centre, first-stage FIH feasibility study, which will be followed by a second-stage pivotal, multicentre, multinational study in symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis (SAS). The first-stage FIH study evaluated the safety, feasibility, and clinical and hemodynamic performance of the Vienna Aortic Valve SE System in 10 patients with symptomatic SAS based on the recommendations given by the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2) for TAVIs. An ethics committee and competent authority approval were obtained prior to the study’s commencement. Results. The mean patient age was 79 ± 5 years, 60% were male, 6 patients (60%) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II and 4 patients (40%) in class III. The mean NT-pro-BNP levels were 419.3 ± 342.1 ng/l. Four (40%) patients had syncope events within the last 12 months. The mean aortic valve area (AVA) at screening was 0.75 ± 0.18 cm2, indexed AVA 0.4 ± 0.1 cm2/m2 and the mean aortic valve gradient was 48.7 ± 10.8 mmHg. The primary safety endpoint was successful, and all patients were alive at 30-day follow-up. Device and technical success were observed in all patients. One patient (10%) had an acute stroke, and one patient (10%) had a sub-acute stroke. New permanent pacemakers were implanted in 2 patients (20%), of which only 1 was related to device implantation. Only one patient (10%) had moderate or severe paravalvular leakage. At 3-month follow-up, all patients were alive and not only did the mean aortic valve gradient improve significantly, from 48.7 ± 10.8 mmHg to 7.3 ± 3.8 mmHg, but also a decrease in NT-pro-BNP levels from 419.3 ± 342.1 ng/l to 254.5 ± 125.4 ng/l was observed. Consequently, an improvement in 6 minute-walk test from 285 ± 15 meters to 339 ± 50 meters and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy quality-of-life questionnaire scores from 58 ± 15 to 79 ± 14 were observed at 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: This first-in-human feasibility study in a real-world population of patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis at intermediate to high surgical risk demonstrates high procedural feasibility and excellent device implantation success, leading to amelioration of heart failure symptoms and increased quality of life with no risk of mortality at 3-month follow-up.
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