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Article
Publication date: 7 September 2012

Rebecca Sims, Amy Gerrish and Julie Williams

This paper aims to give further insights into Alzheimer's disease (AD), a devastating neurodegenerative disorder which accounts for 60‐80 per cent of late‐onset dementia. AD is…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to give further insights into Alzheimer's disease (AD), a devastating neurodegenerative disorder which accounts for 60‐80 per cent of late‐onset dementia. AD is genetically complex where three genes are known to cause the early‐onset familial form of disease and ten genes have been identified to contribute to the risk of developing late‐onset sporadic AD.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the recently identified AD susceptibility loci and outlines the various hypotheses of how these loci and the pathways in which they function may elucidate the aetiology and pathogenesis of sporadic late‐onset AD.

Findings

The loci identified to increase susceptibility to sporadic AD are not random, but instead point to defects in specific biological processes and pathways that contribute to the development of the disease. These include impairments in: innate/adaptive immunity, specifically inflammation and the complement system; endocytosis/intracellualar trafficking, which includes the internalisation of material from the cell surface and the mechanisms by which molecules are transported; and lipid processing. High levels of lipids such as cholesterol have been associated with development of AD in later life.

Originality/value

The paper highlights that determining the function of the known susceptibility loci, and establishing how they increase risk for AD will aid in the development of new treatments.

Details

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-7794

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2001

O. Fraser, S. Sumar, M. Jones and N. Sumar

Human diet consists of an enormous variety of both plants and animal proteins, many of which are potentially immunogenic. Industrial processing of foods and digestion in the…

Abstract

Human diet consists of an enormous variety of both plants and animal proteins, many of which are potentially immunogenic. Industrial processing of foods and digestion in the gastrointestinal tract causes changes and breakdown of proteins into peptides, which are also potential immunogens. Foods commonly known to cause allergic reactions are fish, milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and meat. Once sensitised to a particular antigen, subsequent exposure may result in a marked and immediate reaction characterised by vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, itching and swelling of the mouth and skin, dizziness and occasionally systemic anaphylaxis. Allergic reactions involve complex processes and interactions between the allergen and immunological components in the digestive tract such as antigen absorption, processing and presentation, T cell and B cell activation, development of oral tolerance or allergic sensitivity, antigen‐specific IgE antibody synthesis. Allergen binding to allergen‐specific mast cell membrane‐bound IgE antibodies triggers mast cell degranulation. This results in the release of histamine and other chemotactic mediators responsible for clinical symptoms.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science, vol. 31 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 April 2020

Jennifer Creamer Thompson, Timothy Kirby and Robert A. DiSilvestro

Dietary fiber is not traditionally considered to have anti-inflammatory actions in skeletal muscle. This study aims to test the hypothesis that oat β-glucans fiber intake can…

Abstract

Purpose

Dietary fiber is not traditionally considered to have anti-inflammatory actions in skeletal muscle. This study aims to test the hypothesis that oat β-glucans fiber intake can inhibit exercise-induced inflammation.

Design/methodology/approach

Young adult males (age 18-30 years) consumed either oat bran β-glucans (2 × 1.5 g fiber/day) or placebo for 4 weeks (Trial 1: N = 11 for placebo, N = 9 for glucan; Trial 2: N = 7 for placebo, N = 8 for glucan). Muscle inflammatory stress was induced at baseline and post-intervention using a leg extension regimen.

Findings

Ingestion of β-glucans, but not placebo, protected against inflammation based on subjective soreness scores (two trials), as well as on plasma myeloperoxidase readings (one trial). Scores were subject ratings from 0 (no soreness) to 10 (injury that impairs movement). Mean soreness score was lower at 48 h after exercise stress: post-glucan treatment vs pre-treatment: Trial 1: 1.9 + 2.4 vs 3.3 + 2.2 (p = 0.05); Trial 2: 1.2 + 0.7 vs 3.9 + 2.7 (p < 0.05). Myeloperoxidase just after exercise stress increased for both groups pre-treatment, but only for the placebo group post-treatment: 62 + 12 vs 81 + 15 (p < 0.05).

Originality/value

This pilot study found that at least one type of dietary fiber can exert anti-inflammatory effects in skeletal muscle.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 51 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 May 2017

Cassiana Ganem Achtschin and Aytan Miranda Sipahi

Titanium is a naturally occurring mineral in the form of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and is one of the most widely used food additives. The purpose of this review article is to show…

Abstract

Purpose

Titanium is a naturally occurring mineral in the form of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and is one of the most widely used food additives. The purpose of this review article is to show the importance of the accumulation of this mineral in the gut and its relation with inflammatory processes.

Methodology

This is a literature review study from 2002 to 2016, focusing on studies with TiO2 and its relation with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Findings

Articles describe that TiO2 is resistant to gastrointestinal degradation, as it has high stability, and that its particles, ingested daily, may bind to biomolecules in the lumen or be absorbed by the intestinal mucosa, accumulating in the macrophages of lymphoid tissue in the gut, thus causing or aggravating the inflammatory response in the inflamed bowel.

Limitations/implications

There is a limited number of studies on the long-term impact of dietary microparticles in animal models, in healthy subjects and in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Practical implications

It is necessary to regulate the amount of TiO2 used in industrialized products.

Social implications

The high consumption of processed foods, as opposed to a healthy diet based on the balanced consumption of nutrients, is relevant, as it may lead to or exacerbate intestinal inflammation.

Originality/value

This review indicates that titanium particles may mediate toxicological processes leading to an abnormal increase in intestinal permeability, which may be particularly aggravating in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science, vol. 47 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 March 2013

Fernanda D.B. Abadio Finco, Sabrina Böser and Lutz Graeve

The aim of this work is to assess antiproliferative effects of phenolic extracts from Bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba) and Jenipapo (Genipa americana) fruits through a comparison of…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this work is to assess antiproliferative effects of phenolic extracts from Bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba) and Jenipapo (Genipa americana) fruits through a comparison of assays.

Design/methodology/approach

Bacaba and Jenipapo phenolic extracts in a concentration range from 0 to 1400 μg/mL were tested by four different assays (MTT, MUH, methylene blue, trypan blue) to assess the antiproliferative potential of the phenolic compounds of these fruits.

Findings

MTT test can be applied with confidence to assess antiproliferative activity to the fruits extracts here studied. The extract of Bacaba showed higher antiproliferative activity than the one of Jenipapo.

Originality/value

Getting to know biofunctional properties of locally consumed fruits such as Bacaba and Jenipapo could enhance commercial properties to these fruits. This study is the first to one to assess the antiproliferative activity of the Brazilian fruits Bacaba and Jenipapo.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science, vol. 43 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 February 2024

Fatemeh Mollaamin and Majid Monajjemi

Bisphosphonate (BP) medications can be applied to prohibit the damage of bone density and the remedy of bone illnesses such as osteoporosis. As the metal chelating of phosphonate…

Abstract

Purpose

Bisphosphonate (BP) medications can be applied to prohibit the damage of bone density and the remedy of bone illnesses such as osteoporosis. As the metal chelating of phosphonate groups are nearby large with six O atoms possessing the high negative charge, these compounds are active toward producing the chelated complexes through drug design method. BP agents have attracted much attention for the clinical treatment of some skeletal diseases depicted by enhancing of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, it has been accomplished the CAM-B3LYP/6–311+G(d, p)/LANL2DZ to estimate the susceptibility of SWCNT for adsorbing alendronate, ibandronate, neridronate and pamidronate chelated to two metal cations of 2Mg2+, 2Ca2+, 2Sr2+ through nuclear magnetic resonance and thermodynamic parameters. Therefore, the data has explained that the feasibility of using SWCNT and BP agents becomes the norm in metal chelating of drug delivery system which has been selected through alendronate → 2X, ibandronate → 2X, neridronate → 2X and pamidronate → 2X (X = Mg2+/Ca2+/Sr2+) complexes.

Findings

The thermodynamic results have exhibited that the substitution of 2Ca2+ cation by 2Sr2+ cation in the structure of bioactive glasses can be efficient for treating vertebral complex fractures. However, it has been observed the most fluctuation in the Gibbs free energy for BPs → 2Sr2+ at 300 K. Furthermore, Monte Carlo simulation has resulted by increasing the dielectric constant in the aqueous medium can enhance the stability and efficiency of BP drugs for preventing the loss of bone density and treating the osteoporosis.

Originality/value

According to this research, by incorporation of chelated 2Mg2+, 2Ca2+ and 2Sr2+ cations to BP drugs adsorbed onto (5, 5) armchair SWCNT, the network compaction would increase owing to the larger atomic radius of Sr2+ cation rather than Ca2+ and Mg2+, respectively.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 44 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 March 2024

Fateme Asadi Touranlou, Ahmad Raeesi and Mitra Rezaei

This study aims to systematically review the health risk assessment of the concentration of heavy metals in Pistacia species globally.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to systematically review the health risk assessment of the concentration of heavy metals in Pistacia species globally.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors systematically searched PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar to identify all articles published between 1 January 2002 and 20 August 2022. A total of 33 studies met the authors’ inclusion criteria, and their data were extracted. Additionally, the potential risk to human health was assessed by calculating the target hazard quotient and hazard index for both child and adult consumers.

Findings

The estimated daily intake for heavy metals in the included studies ranged from 9.72 × 10–9 to 7.35 (mg/day) in the following order: zinc (Zn) > mercury (Hg) > iron (Fe) > lead (Pb) > copper (Cu) > aluminum (Al) > nickel (Ni) > chromium (Cr) > manganese (Mn) > cadmium (Cd) > arsenic (As) > selenium (Se) > cobalt (Co). Among the studies that investigated heavy metals in Pistacia species around the world, the non-carcinogenic risk for all species of Pistacia was determined to be less than 1, except for Pb and Hg in Pistacia lentiscus.

Originality/value

The soil near the industrial area contained excessive amounts of heavy metals, which led to the transfer of heavy metals to plants. Owing to the insufficiency of the number of studies that examined heavy metals in Pistacia species, further monitoring and investigations were recommended.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 54 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 October 2010

Michael Galagudza, Dmitry Korolev, Dmitry Sonin, Viktor Postnov, Garry Papayan, Ivan Uskov, Anastasia Belozertseva and Eugene Shlyakhto

Clinical outcome in patients with ischemic heart disease can be significantly improved with the implementation of targeted drug delivery into the ischemic myocardium. The purpose…

Abstract

Purpose

Clinical outcome in patients with ischemic heart disease can be significantly improved with the implementation of targeted drug delivery into the ischemic myocardium. The purpose of this paper is to review the data of recent literature and present original findings relevant to the problem of therapeutic heart targeting with use of nanoparticles.

Design/methodology/approach

For literature review, a public‐domain database (Medline) was searched using a web‐based search engine (PubMed) and the following key words: “nanoparticles”, “nanocarriers”, and “targeted drug delivery”. Experimental approaches included fabrication of carbon and silica nanoparticles, their characterization and surface modification. The acute hemodynamic effects of nanoparticle formulation as well as nanoparticle biodistribution were studied on male Wistar rats.

Findings

Carbon and silica nanoparticles are biocompatible materials that can be used as carriers for heart‐targeted drug delivery. Concepts of passive and active targeting can be applied to the development of targeted drug delivery to the ischemic myocardial cells.

Originality/value

The present paper is believed to be the first on ligand‐directed targeted drug delivery into the damaged myocardium.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 21 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-038X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 August 2021

Gangadhar Ch, Thirumal S., Ramesh R., Damaraju Sri Sai Satyanarayana, Asadi Srinivasulu and Kranthi Kumar K.

The present digital world’s challenging issue is COVID-19. This paper is related to the process of the COVID-19 treatment based on age, gender, symptoms and previous health…

Abstract

Purpose

The present digital world’s challenging issue is COVID-19. This paper is related to the process of the COVID-19 treatment based on age, gender, symptoms and previous health issues. This paper gives the deep discussion about the prevention, symptoms, tests and treatment process. In this research work, the discussion is about vaccine invention and the side effects of the consumed medication.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper gives a clear explanation of the types of vaccine, which are lopinavir, ritonavir, remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine and plasma therapy. Thereafter, the discussion is prolonged to Indian vaccine for COVID-19.

Findings

This paper examines some of the COVID-19 treatment processes and difficulties, and finally, this paper aims to summarize and give an overview of the present preclinical research and clinical trials of potential candidates for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.

Originality/value

The required information has been taken from online databases such as PubMed, Science, Nature, PNAS and Cell. Papers included were published between December 2019 and July 2020. The current results indicate the most promising outcomes for dexamethasone as a treatment and vaccine. Further research is needed to identify safe and effective treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. 19 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 November 2021

Jaber Jafarzadeh, Laleh Payahoo, Mohammad Yousefi and Ali Barzegar

This paper aims to depict the mechanistic role of vitamin D on dementia prevention, relief of the severity and the complication of the disease. All papers indexed in scientific…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to depict the mechanistic role of vitamin D on dementia prevention, relief of the severity and the complication of the disease. All papers indexed in scientific databases, including Scopus, Elsevier, PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar between 2000 and 2021 were extracted and discussed. To present the mechanistic role of vitamin D in declining the severity of dementia, keywords including dementia, vitamin D, oxidative stress, inflammation, amyloid beta-Peptides were used.

Design/methodology/approach

Dementia is a prevalent cognitive disorder worldwide, especially in elderly people, which is accompanied by serious disabilities. Besides genetic, biological and lifestyle factors are involved in the incidence of dementia. An unhealthy diet along with micronutrient deficiencies are among modifiable factors. Vitamin D is one of the important micronutrients in brain health. Besides the involvement in gene expression, bone mineralization, apoptosis, inflammation, skeletal maturation, neurotropic action and hemostasis of phosphate and calcium, vitamin D also exerts neuroprotective effects via genomic and non-genomic pathways.

Findings

Vitamin D up-regulates the expression of various genes involved in dementia incidence via various mechanisms. Decreasing oxidative stress and the neuro-inflammatory cytokines levels, regulation of the expression of alternated Proteins including Tau and Amyloid-ß, calcium homeostasis in the central nervous system and also vascular are considered main mechanisms.

Originality/value

Considering the importance of diet in preventing dementia, adherence to a healthy diet that provides essential nutrients to brain function seems to be urgent. Controlling serum levels of vitamin D periodically and providing vitamin D by related sources or supplements, if there is a deficiency, is recommended. Future studies are needed to clarify other related mechanisms.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 52 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

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