Polyphenol-Rich Beverage Consumption Affecting Parameters of the Lipid Metabolism in Healthy Subjects

Polyphenols are a diverse and widely distributed class of secondary metabolites, which possess numerous beneficial properties including a modulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. This placebo-controlled human intervention study was performed to explore effects of polyphenol-rich beverage (PRB) uptake on lipid metabolism, as well as DNA integrity. In this case, 36 healthy men were randomly divided to consume either 750 mL of a PRB (containing 51% chokeberry, cranberry, and pomegranate) or a placebo drink daily for eight weeks. Only PRB consumption was found to decrease fat and protein intakes significantly compared to the preceding one-week washout period. During the intervention with PRB an increased fat-free mass was shown after four weeks, whereas a significant elevation in body weight and leptin was observed in placebo group. Blood lipids were not significantly altered after PRB consumption, while triglyceride levels increased after placebo drink intake. In platelets, a significant inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity was observed, more pronounced in test group. Consuming the PRB decreased total DNA strand breaks in whole blood as well as H₂O₂-induced breaks in isolated lymphocytes. Overall, our study suggested beneficial effects on lipid metabolism by reduced energy intake, modulation of biomarkers such as PDE activity and improved DNA integrity associated with PRB consumption.

Search for Dark Matter Axions with CAST-CAPP

The CAST-CAPP axion haloscope, operating at CERN inside the CAST dipole magnet, has searched for axions in the 19.74 μeV to 22.47 μeV mass range. The detection concept follows the Sikivie haloscope principle, where Dark Matter axions convert into photons within a resonator immersed in a magnetic field. The CAST-CAPP resonator is an array of four individual rectangular cavities inserted in a strong dipole magnet, phase-matched to maximize the detection sensitivity. Here we report on the data acquired for 4124 h from 2019 to 2021. Each cavity is equipped with a fast frequency tuning mechanism of 10 MHz/ min between 4.774 GHz and 5.434 GHz. In the present work, we exclude axion-photon couplings for virialized galactic axions down to g_aγγ = 8 × 10⁻¹⁴ GeV⁻¹ at the 90% confidence level. The here implemented phase-matching technique also allows for future large-scale upgrades.

Haloscopes aim at detecting axions by converting them into photons using high-quality resonant cavities, where the cavity resonance should be tuned with the unknown axion mass. Here, the authors improve exclusion limits using four phase-matched resonant cavities and a fast frequency scanning technique.

Absorption of Anthocyanin Rutinosides after Consumption of a Blackcurrant ( Ribes nigrum L.) Extract

The dominant anthocyanins in blackcurrant are delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside. Data on their absorption and distribution in the human body are limited. Therefore, we performed a human pilot study on five healthy male volunteers consuming a blackcurrant ( Ribes nigrum L.) extract. The rutinosides and their degradation products gallic acid and protocatechuic acid were determined in plasma and urine. The rutinosides' concentrations peaked in both plasma and urine samples within 2 h of extract ingestion. The recoveries of delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside from urine samples were 0.040 ± 0.011% and 0.048 ± 0.016%, respectively, over a 48 h period. Protocatechuic acid concentration increased significantly after ingestion of the blackcurrant extract. Our results show that after ingestion of a blackcurrant extract containing delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, significant quantities of biologically active compounds circulated in the plasma and were excreted via urine. Furthermore, these results contribute to the understanding of anthocyanin metabolism in humans.

Biomarker monitoring of controlled dietary acrylamide exposure indicates consistent human endogenous background

The aim of the present study was to explore the relation of controlled dietary acrylamide (AA) intake with the excretion of AA-related urinary mercapturic acids (MA), N-acetyl-S-(carbamoylethyl)-l-cysteine (AAMA) and N-acetyl-S-(1-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-l-cysteine (GAMA). Excretion kinetics of these short-term exposure biomarkers were monitored under strictly controlled conditions within a duplicate diet human intervention study. One study arm (group A, n = 6) ingested AA via coffee (0.15–0.17 µg/kg bw) on day 6 and in a meal containing an upper exposure level of AA (14.1–15.9 μg/kg bw) on day 10. The other arm (group B) was on AA minimized diet (washout, 0.05–0.06 µg/kg bw) throughout the whole 13-day study period. On day 6, these volunteers ingested ¹³C₃D₃-AA (1 μg/kg bw). In both arms, urinary MA excretion was continuously monitored and blood samples were taken to determine hemoglobin adducts. Ingestion of four cups of coffee resulted in a slightly enhanced short-term biomarker response within the background range of group B. At the end of the 13-day washout period, group B excreted an AAMA baseline level of 0.14 ± 0.10 µmol/d although AA intake was only about 0.06 µmol/d. This sustained over-proportional AAMA background suggested an endogenous AA baseline exposure level of 0.3–0.4 µg/kg bw/d. The excretion of ¹³C₃D₃-AA was practically complete within 72–96 h which rules out delayed release of AA (or any other MA precursor) from deep body compartments. The results provide compelling support for the hypothesis of a sustained endogenous AA formation in the human body.

Abstract LB-249: Coffee drinking decreases background DNA strand breaks in humans: A randomized controlled trial

Effects of coffee consumption on the level of spontaneous DNA strand breaks in peripheral white blood cells have not been reported yet. In this human intervention study the impact of consuming a dark roast coffee blend on the level of spontaneous DNA strand breaks was investigated.

Healthy men (n=84) were randomized to consume daily for 4 weeks either 750 ml of fresh coffee brew or 750 ml of water, subsequent to a run in washout phase of 4 weeks. The study coffee was a blend providing substantial amounts of both, caffeoylquinic acids and the roast product N-methylpyridinium. Before and after the coffee/water phases, spontaneous strand breaks were determined by Comet assay.

Both groups exhibited a similar level of spontaneous DNA strand breaks at baseline.In the intervention phase spontaneous ( background) DNA strand breaks slightly increased in the water only group, whereas they significantly decreased in the coffee group,leading to a 27 percent difference between both arms (p=0.0002).

Food frequency questionnaires indicated no differences in the overall diet between groups, mean body weight during the intervention phases remaining stable. Consumption of the study coffee was found associated with a markedly lower level of pontaneous DNA strand breaks in white blood cells.

Conclusion: Regular coffee consumption contributes to DNA integrity.

Citation Format: Gerhard Eisenbrand, Tamara Bakuradze, Roman Lang, Thomas Hofmann, Dorothea Schipp, Jens Galan, Elke Richling. Coffee drinking decreases background DNA strand breaks in humans: A randomized controlled trial. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-249. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-249

Impact of the number of changes of therapeutic strategy on improvement in depressed patients. dria study

Introduction

The STAR*D is a pragmatic clinical trial that showed lower remission rate and higher relapse rate when more strategies were used.[1]

Objectives and aims

Assess clinical improvement in symptoms related to depression, anxiety and sleep, based on the number of strategies used.

Methods

Descriptive, non-interventional, prospective study including outpatients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with sub-optimal response to standard antidepressants. In those patients a change on the therapeutic strategy (switch of antidepressant, combination of antidepressants, augmentation or a combination of previous strategies) had to be considered necessary. Follow-up period was 22–26 weeks.

Results

364 patients were included by 58 psychiatrists, 336 were analyzed (92.3%) and 315 (86.5%) completed the follow-up.

p < 0.0001 in all measures

Conclusions

The more changes on strategies used the less improvement on clinical symptoms and remission rates.

This study has been sponsored by AstraZeneca Farmaceutica Spain, SA.

Evolution of subjective well-being in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. 4D study

Introduction

The subjective well-being has been associated with dropouts of treatment and relapses.

Objectives

Determine baseline variables associated with a positive evolution in subjective well-being (increase of 20% and ≥10 points in subjective SWN-K). Assess the relationship between SWN-K and compliance of treatment.

Methods

Non-interventional, prospective (6 moths) study of a cohort of patients with schizophrenia of schizoaffective disorders who have had a clinical relapse that required a change in therapeutic strategy.

Results

305 patients were included, 288 (94.4%) was the population analyzed and 272 (89.1%) completed the follow-up. 226 (78.5%) of patients have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the rest were diagnosed of schizoaffective disorder.

Mean total scores in SWN-K were statistically significant in every visit vs. baseline (69.5, 75.5, 77.8 and 80.0). All subscales (social, physical, emotional, mental and self-control) showed a parallel evolution. This progress was associated with compliance according to the evaluations by the psychiatrist, family and patient.

Baseline variables associated to positive response in SWN-K in logistic regression were: gender (female) and depressive symptoms (CDSS).

Conclusions

Progress in SWN-K score was related to compliance. Depressive symptoms and gender are the only variables at baseline associated with positive response in SWN-K.

Effect of pH on the Wettability and Fluoride Release of an Ion-releasing Resin Composite

The effect of pH on the wettability and fluoride release of Ariston pHc was examined. It was determined that this material might interfere with plaque adhesion in the oral environment.

MAP4/OP18 mRNA expression predicts progression in patients treated with vinorelbine plus carbolpatin in advanced lung cancer patients in a Multicenter trial

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Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis show marginal response to chemotherapy in terms of tumor shrinkage, time to progression and median survival. MAP4 and stahmin have been previously reported as potential markers of resistance to treatment based on microtubule-destabilizing agents. Methods: In this multicenter study, we have used quantitative PCR to analyse expression of MAP4, stathmin, beta-tubulin III, BRCA1 and ERCC1 in mRNA isolated from peripheral blood samples of 51 non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with vinorelbine/carboplatin. Results: In a preliminary set, 29 patients with stage IIIB and IV were analyzed. Lower levels of MAP4/OP18 mRNA expression are statistically related with response to vinorelbine-based treatment (p=0,029). This significant relationship is maintained in a second analysis after third cycle of treatment (p=0,032). Higher levels of MAP4/op18 were associated with a lower TTP (p=0,05). Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest that the ratio MAP4/OP18 may be a good predictor of response for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with vinorelbine-based chemotherapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Protein flexibility and conformational state: a comparison of collective vibrational modes of wild-type and D96N bacteriorhodopsin

Far infrared (FIR) spectral measurements of wild-type (WT) and D96N mutant bacteriorhodopsin thin films have been carried out using terahertz time domain spectroscopy as a function of hydration, temperature, and conformational state. The results are compared to calculated spectra generated via normal mode analyses using CHARMM. We find that the FIR absorbance is slowly increasing with frequency and without strong narrow features over the range of 2-60 cm(-1) and up to a resolution of 0.17 cm(-1). The broad absorption shifts in frequency with decreasing temperature as expected with a strongly anharmonic potential and in agreement with neutron inelastic scattering results. Decreasing hydration shifts the absorption to higher frequencies, possibly resulting from decreased coupling mediated by the interior water molecules. Ground-state FIR absorbances have nearly identical frequency dependence, with the mutant having less optical density than the WT. In the M state, the FIR absorbance of the WT increases whereas there is no change for D96N. These results represent the first measurement of FIR absorbance change as a function of conformational state.

Macrolide resistance in Peptostreptococcus spp. mediated by ermTR: possible source of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes

Eighty percent (21 of 26) of macrolide-resistant Peptostreptococcus strains studied harbored the ermTR gene. This methyltransferase gene is also the most frequently found gene among macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes strains. Transfer of the ermTR gene from Peptostreptococcus magnus to macrolide-susceptible S. pyogenes strains indicates that this resistance determinant may circulate among gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic species of the oropharyngeal bacterial flora.

Marginal microleakage in cemented complete crowns

An in vivo study was developed to observe the penetration of 131INa around the margins of complete crown castings cemented with zinc phosphate cement with and without the application of different protective agents, with the following results. 1. Complete crowns cemented with zinc phosphate cement showed 131INa marginal leakage differences depending on the protective material used prior to cementation. 2. The best protective agent against marginal leakage according to this study was two layers of cavity varnish applied to the margins. 3. The amount of marginal leakage can be influenced by crown adaptation and the film thickness of the cement. 4. There were no differences between test periods of 1 hour or 21 days after cementation.

Marginal leakage of two composite restorative systems

The ability of sealants to seal margins of composite resins is demonstrated in this in vitro study which uses two composite resins and respective sealants under and over Class V restorations.