Nutrition
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The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a Western diet (WD) and supplementation with Fuzhuan tea on large artery stiffness, as determined by aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV). ⋯ The results of the present study suggest that the increase in arterial stiffness after modest, diet-induced weight gain can be reversed by supplementation with Fuzhuan tea.
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by cartilage degradation in the affected joints. Pomegranate fruit extract (PFE) inhibits cartilage degradation in vitro. The aim of this study was to determine whether oral consumption of PFE inhibits disease progression in rabbits with surgically induced OA. ⋯ The present data highlight the chondroprotective effects of PFE oral consumption in a model of posttraumatic OA and suggest that PFE-derived compounds may have potential value in the management of OA.
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Black tea and Nonileaf are among the dietary compounds that can benefit patients with bone resorption disorders. Their bone regeneration effects and their mechanisms were studied in estrogen-deficient rats. ⋯ The catechin-rich extract favored bone regeneration and suppressed bone resorption. The mechanisms involved enhancing osteoblast generation and survival, inhibiting osteoclast growth and activities, suppressing inflammation, improving bone collagen synthesis and upregulating ESR1 expression to augment phytoestrogenic effects. Estrogen deficiency bone loss and all extracts studied (best effect from Morinda leaf at 300 mg/kg body weight) mitigated the loss, indicating benefits for the aged and menopausal women.
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Nutritional aggression in critical periods may lead to epigenetic changes that affect gene expression. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of neonatal malnutrition on the expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, TLR-4, and NLRP3 receptors, caspase-1 enzyme, and interleukin (IL)-1 β production in macrophages infected with methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) Staphylococcus aureus. ⋯ The neonatal malnutrition model compromised the expression of standard recognition receptors, of the caspase-1 enzyme as well as the production of IL-1 β. However, the S. aureus and neonatal malnutrition combination led to intense transcription of such innate immunity components. Therefore, the deregulation in the expression of TLR and NLRP3 receptors and of the caspase-1 enzyme may induce extensive tissue injury and favor the permanence and spread of these bacteria, especially those that are methicillin resistant.
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Acute inflammation is a normal response of tissue to an injury. During this process, inflammatory mediators are produced and metabolic alterations occur. Adipose tissue is metabolically activated, and upon food consumption, it disrupts the inflammatory response. However, little is known about the acute inflammatory response in joints that results from diet-induced adipose tissue remodeling. The objective of this study was to determine whether alterations in adipose tissue mass arising from food consumption modify the inflammatory response of antigen-induced joint inflammation in mice. ⋯ We demonstrated that attenuation of joint response induced by diet was independent of adipose tissue remodeling but could be associated with metabolic alterations.