Nutrition
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Oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in the brain often causes progressive neuronal degeneration and death that are the focal traits of chronic and acute pathologies, including those involving cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to investigate the specific effects of both Euterpe oleracea and Euterpe precatoria açaí fruit pulp on restoring stressor-induced calcium dysregulation, stunted growth of basal dendrites, and autophagy inhibition using embryonic hippocampal and HT22 hippocampal neurons. ⋯ Although the polyphenol profile of Euterpe precatoria showed substantially higher concentrations of major flavonoids han Euterpe oleracea, the relative effects were essentially similar for both species. The study adds to growing evidence that supports the putative health effects of açaí fruit species on brain cells.
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Broad bean (Vicia faba L.), a common vegetable, belongs to the family Fabaceae and is consumed worldwide. Limited studies have been done on allergenicity of broad beans. The aim of this study was to determine if broad bean proteins have the ability to elicit allergic responses due to the presence of clinically relevant allergenic proteins. ⋯ This study inferred that broad bean proteins have the ability to elicit allergic responses due to the presence of clinically relevant allergenic proteins.
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Acute and chronic consumption of alcohol can alter intestinal barrier function thereby increasing portal endotoxin levels subsequently leading to an activation of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-dependent signaling cascades, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and induction of tumor necrosis factor α in the liver. Recent studies suggest that chicoric acid found in Echinacea pupurea, chicory, and other plants, may possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of the present study was to determine if chicoric acid can reduce acute alcohol-induced liver damage. ⋯ These data suggest that chicoric acid may reduce acute alcohol-induced steatosis in mice through interfering with the induction of iNOS and iNOS-dependent signaling cascades in the liver.
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Editorial Comment Letter
Author's response re. "Nutritional supplementation in advanced cancer patients".