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Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Bertoni, a no-calorie natural sweetener, contains a plethora of polyphenols that exert antioxidant properties with potential medicinal significance. Due to the variety... (Review)
Review
Bertoni, a no-calorie natural sweetener, contains a plethora of polyphenols that exert antioxidant properties with potential medicinal significance. Due to the variety of functional groups, polyphenols exhibit varying solubility depending on the nature of the extraction solvents (water, organic, or their mixtures, defined further on as hydroalcoholic extracts). In the present study, we performed a systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines, and meta-analysis, synthesizing all available data from 45 articles encompassing 250 different studies. Our results showed that the total phenolic content (TPC) of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts presents higher values (64.77 and 63.73 mg GAE/g) compared to organic extracts (33.39). Total flavonoid content (TFC) was also higher in aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts; meta-regression analysis revealed that outcomes in different measuring units (mg QE/g, mg CE/g, and mg RUE/g) do not present statistically significant differences and can be synthesized in meta-analysis. Using meta-regression analysis, we showed that outcomes from the chemical-based ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC antioxidant assays for the same extract type can be combined in meta-analysis because they do not differ statistically significantly. Meta-analysis of ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC assays outcomes revealed that the antioxidant activity profile of various extract types follows that of their phenolic and flavonoid content. Using regression meta-analysis, we also presented that outcomes from SOD, CAT, and POX enzymatic antioxidant assays are independent of the assay type (-value = 0.905) and can be combined. Our study constitutes the first effort to quantitatively and statistically synthesize the research results of individual studies using all methods measuring the antioxidant activity of stevia leaf extracts. Our results, in light of evidence-based practice, uncover the need for a broadly accepted, unified, methodological strategy to perform antioxidant tests, and offer documentation that the use of ethanol:water 1:1 mixtures or pure water can more efficiently extract stevia antioxidant compounds.
PubMed: 38929131
DOI: 10.3390/antiox13060692 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024A central role for neuroinflammation in epileptogenesis has recently been suggested by several investigations. This systematic review explores the role of inflammatory... (Review)
Review
A central role for neuroinflammation in epileptogenesis has recently been suggested by several investigations. This systematic review explores the role of inflammatory mediators in epileptogenesis, its association with seizure severity, and its correlation with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). The study analysed articles published in JCR journals from 2019 to 2024. The search strategy comprised the MESH, free terms of "Neuroinflammation", and selective searches for the following single biomarkers that had previously been selected from the relevant literature: "High mobility group box 1/HMGB1", "Toll-Like-Receptor 4/TLR-4", "Interleukin-1/IL-1", "Interleukin-6/IL-6", "Transforming growth factor beta/TGF-β", and "Tumour necrosis factor-alpha/TNF-α". These queries were all combined with the MESH terms "Epileptogenesis" and "Epilepsy". We found 243 articles related to epileptogenesis and neuroinflammation, with 356 articles from selective searches by biomarker type. After eliminating duplicates, 324 articles were evaluated, with 272 excluded and 55 evaluated by the authors. A total of 21 articles were included in the qualitative evaluation, including 18 case-control studies, 2 case series, and 1 prospective study. As conclusion, this systematic review provides acceptable support for five biomarkers, including TNF-α and some of its soluble receptors (sTNFr2), HMGB1, TLR-4, CCL2 and IL-33. Certain receptors, cytokines, and chemokines are examples of neuroinflammation-related biomarkers that may be crucial for the early diagnosis of refractory epilepsy or may be connected to the control of epileptic seizures. Their value will be better defined by future studies.
Topics: Humans; Biomarkers; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; HMGB1 Protein; Epilepsy; Cytokines; Toll-Like Receptor 4; Drug Resistant Epilepsy
PubMed: 38928193
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126488 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Supercritical carbon dioxide (CO) has extremely important applications in the extraction of unconventional oil and gas, especially in fracturing and enhanced oil... (Review)
Review
Supercritical carbon dioxide (CO) has extremely important applications in the extraction of unconventional oil and gas, especially in fracturing and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies. It can not only relieve water resource wastage and environmental pollution caused by traditional mining methods, but also effectively store CO and mitigate the greenhouse effect. However, the low viscosity nature of supercritical CO gives rise to challenges such as viscosity fingering, limited sand-carrying capacity, high filtration loss, low oil and gas recovery efficiency, and potential rock adsorption. To overcome these challenges, low-rock-adsorption thickeners are required to enhance the viscosity of supercritical CO. Through research into the literature, this article reviews the solubility and thickening characteristics of four types of polymer thickeners, namely surfactants, hydrocarbons, fluorinated polymers, and silicone polymers in supercritical CO. The thickening mechanisms of polymer thickeners were also analyzed, including intermolecular interactions, LA-LB interactions, hydrogen bonding, and functionalized polymers, and so on.
PubMed: 38921872
DOI: 10.3390/nano14120996 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, but the response rate remains low. Programmed cell death ligand 1... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Prognostic significance of programmed cell death ligand 1 blood markers in non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, but the response rate remains low. Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in peripheral blood, including soluble form (sPD-L1), expression on circulating tumor cells (CTCs PD-L1) and exosomes (exoPD-L1), are minimally invasive and promising markers for patient selection and management, but their prognostic significance remains inconclusive. Here, we performed a meta-analysis for the prognostic value of PD-L1 blood markers in NSCLC patients treated with ICIs.
METHODS
Eligible studies were obtained by searching PubMed, EMBAS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library prior to November 30, 2023. The associations between pre-treatment, post-treatment and dynamic changes of blood PD-L1 levels and progression-free survival (PFS)/over survival (OS) were analyzed by estimating hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).
RESULTS
A total of 26 studies comprising 1606 patients were included. High pre- or post-treatment sPD-L1 levels were significantly associated with worse PFS (pre-treatment: HR=1.49, 95%CI 1.13-1.95; post-treatment: HR=2.09, 95%CI 1.40-3.12) and OS (pre-treatment: HR=1.83, 95%CI 1.25-2.67; post-treatment: HR=2.60, 95%CI 1.09-6.20, P=0.032). High pre-treatment exoPD-L1 levels predicted a worse PFS (HR=4.24, 95%CI 2.82-6.38, P<0.001). Pre-treatment PD-L1 CTCs tended to be correlated with prolonged PFS (HR=0.63, 95%CI 0.39-1.02) and OS (HR=0.58, 95%CI 0.36-0.93). Patients with up-regulated exoPD-L1 levels, but not sPD-L1, after ICIs treatment had significantly favorable PFS (HR=0.36, 95%CI 0.23-0.55) and OS (HR=0.24, 95%CI 0.08-0.68).
CONCLUSION
PD-L1 blood markers, including sPD-L1, CTCs PD-L1 and exoPD-L1, can effectively predict prognosis, and may be potentially utilized for patient selection and treatment management for NSCLC patients receiving ICIs.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Lung Neoplasms; B7-H1 Antigen; Biomarkers, Tumor; Prognosis
PubMed: 38915398
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1400262 -
Drug Design, Development and Therapy 2024The potential anti-cancer effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers has been widely studied due to their advantages of well-defined structure, clear... (Review)
Review
The potential anti-cancer effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers has been widely studied due to their advantages of well-defined structure, clear therapeutic effects, and easy quality control during the manufacturing process. However, clinical trial information on these monomers is scarce, resulting in a lack of knowledge regarding the research progress, efficacy, and adverse reactions at the clinical stage. Therefore, this study systematically reviewed the clinical trials on the anti-cancer effect of TCM monomers registered in the Clinicaltrials.gov website before 2023.4.30, paying special attention to the trials on tumors, aiming to explore the research results and development prospects in this field. A total of 1982 trials were started using 69 of the 131 TCM monomers. The number of clinical trials performed each year showed an overall upward trend. However, only 26 monomers entered into 519 interventional anti-tumor trials, with vinblastine (194, 37.38%) and camptothecin (146, 28.13%) being the most used. A total of 45 tumors were studied in these 519 trials, with lymphoma (112, 21.58%) being the most frequently studied. Clinical trials are also unevenly distributed across locations and sponsors/collaborators. The location and the sponsor/collaborator with the highest number of performed trials were the United States (651,32.85%) and NIH (77). Therefore, China and its institutions still have large room for progress in promoting TCM monomers in anti-tumor clinical trials. In the next step, priority should be given to the improvement of the research and development ability of domestic enterprises, universities and other institutions, using modern scientific and technological means to solve the problems of poor water solubility and strong toxic and side effects of monomers, so as to promote the clinical research of TCM monomers.
Topics: Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Clinical Trials as Topic; Neoplasms; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Antineoplastic Agents
PubMed: 38855536
DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S454774 -
Medicina Clinica Jun 2024The present systematic review analyses the role of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) as an indirect biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in sepsis or septic...
INTRODUCTION
The present systematic review analyses the role of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) as an indirect biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in sepsis or septic shock from articles published in PubMed between 2010 and March 2022.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic review of studies studying sFLT-1 monitoring in intensive care units in adults with sepsis or septic shock vs. controls for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis has been carried out (PROSPERO CRD42023412929 Registry).
RESULTS
The endothelial dysfunction of sepsis is one of the keys to the development of the disease. VEGF binds to sFLT-1 acting as a competitive inhibitor of VEGF signalling in endothelial cells and thus neutralizes its pro-inflammatory effects. Endothelial dysfunction is reflected in increased sFLT-1 levels. High values of sFLT-1 were used for the differential diagnosis of sepsis versus other inflammatory pathologies, septic shock versus other types of shock, were elevated over time, estimation of disease prognosis, correlation with sepsis severity, organ dysfunction, and mortality prediction.
CONCLUSIONS
It is evident that sepsis is based on endothelial dysfunction. sFLT-1 is one of the main biomarkers of microvascular alteration and is a predictive diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.
PubMed: 38851948
DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2024.03.027 -
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2024Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) is a potential neuroinflammatory biomarker linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and...
OBJECTIVE
Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) is a potential neuroinflammatory biomarker linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Previous studies have produced inconsistent results regarding sTREM2 levels in various clinical stages of AD. This study aims to establish the correlation between sTREM2 levels and AD progression through a meta-analysis of sTREM2 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood.
METHODS
Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify observational studies reporting CSF and blood sTREM2 levels in AD patients, MCI patients, and healthy controls. A random effects meta-analysis was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
Thirty-six observational studies involving 3,016 AD patients, 3,533 MCI patients, and 4,510 healthy controls were included. CSF sTREM2 levels were significantly higher in both the AD [SMD = 0.28, 95% CI (0.15, 0.41)] and MCI groups [SMD = 0.30, 95% CI (0.13, 0.47)] compared to the healthy control group. However, no significant differences in expression were detected between the AD and MCI groups [SMD = 0.09, 95% CI (-0.09, 0.26)]. Furthermore, increased plasma sTREM2 levels were associated with a higher risk of AD [SMD = 0.42, 95% CI (0.01, 0.83)].
CONCLUSION
CSF sTREM2 levels are positively associated with an increased risk of AD and MCI. Plasma sTREM2 levels were notably higher in the AD group than in the control group and may serve as a promising biomarker for diagnosing AD. However, sTREM2 levels are not effective for distinguishing between different disease stages of AD. Further investigations are needed to explore the longitudinal changes in sTREM2 levels, particularly plasma sTREM2 levels, during AD progression.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024514593.
PubMed: 38841103
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1407980 -
Pharmaceutics May 2024Andrographolide (ADG) has poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. This study systematically reviews the use of solid dispersion (SD) techniques to enhance the... (Review)
Review
Andrographolide (ADG) has poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. This study systematically reviews the use of solid dispersion (SD) techniques to enhance the solubility and absorption of ADG, with a focus on the methods and polymers utilized. We searched electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase and ScienceDirect Elsevier up to November 2023 for studies on the solubility or absorption of ADG in SD formulations. Two reviewers independently reviewed the retrieved articles and extracted data using a standardized form and synthesized the data qualitatively. SD significantly improved ADG solubility with up to a 4.7-fold increase and resulted in a decrease in 50% release time (T) to less than 5 min. SD could also improve ADG absorption, as evidenced by higher C and AUC and reduced T. Notably, Soluplus-based SDs showed marked solubility and absorption enhancements. Among the five SD techniques (rotary evaporation, spray drying, hot-melt extrusion, freeze drying and vacuum drying) examined, spray drying emerged as the most effective, enabling a one-step process without the need for post-milling. SD techniques, particularly using Soluplus and spray drying, effectively enhance the solubility and absorption of ADG. This insight is vital for the future development of ADG-SD matrices.
PubMed: 38794350
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050688 -
Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira... 2024The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and the severity of acute pancreatitis and its diagnostic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and the severity of acute pancreatitis and its diagnostic utility.
METHODS
This study was carried out by searching Chinese and English literature from the establishment of the database to July 9, 2023, systematically, and assessing the quality and heterogeneity of the articles included.
RESULTS
Thirteen studies with a total of 986 patients were included. Patients with severe acute pancreatitis showed higher levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 compared with mild acute pancreatitis [weighted mean difference=76.64 pg/mL, 95% confidence interval (95%CI 50.39-102.89, p<0.001)]. Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 predicted pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve were 79%, 74%, and 0.85 for severe acute pancreatitis, with some heterogeneity (I2>50% or p<0.05). In the subgroup analysis, cutoff >150 pg/mL was found to be a heterogeneous factor.
CONCLUSION
Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 is a reliable tool for identifying acute pancreatitis severity, but only as a screening tool.
Topics: Humans; Pancreatitis; Severity of Illness Index; Acute Disease; Biomarkers; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; Sensitivity and Specificity; Predictive Value of Tests
PubMed: 38775515
DOI: 10.1590/1806-9282.20231694 -
World Journal of Diabetes May 2024Type 2 diabetes is a chronic, non-communicable disease with a substantial global impact, affecting a significant number of individuals. Its etiology is closely tied to...
BACKGROUND
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic, non-communicable disease with a substantial global impact, affecting a significant number of individuals. Its etiology is closely tied to imbalanced dietary practices and sedentary lifestyles. Conversely, increasing die-tary fiber (DF) intake has consistently demonstrated health benefits in numerous studies, including improvements in glycemic control and weight management.
AIM
To investigate the efficacy of DF interventions in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
METHODS
A systematic literature review was conducted to explore the association between DF intake and the management of T2DM. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 26 studies were included in this review.
RESULTS
The main strategies implied to increased DF intake were: High DF diet plus acarbose (2 studies); DF supplements (14 studies); and high DF diets (10 studies). Overall, most studies indicated that increased DF intake resulted in im-provements in glycemic control and weight management in T2DM patients.
CONCLUSION
DF represents a valuable strategy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, improving health outcomes. DF intake offers the potential to improve quality of life and reduce complications and mortality associated with diabetes. Likewise, through supplements or enriched foods, DF contributes significantly to the control of several markers such as HbA1c, blood glucose, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and body weight.
PubMed: 38766430
DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v15.i5.1001