Objective: Hyperlipemia represents an independent risk factor in the development of atherosclerosis
in patients undergoing type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Moreover, the pharmacological treatment
of dyslipemia in patients undergoing type 2 DM (e.g. by means of statins), is accompanied by
relevant side effects and oral supplementation with natural antioxidants, such as Citrus polyphenols,
has recently been suggested to improve cardioprotection in such patients. However, due to the poor
gastrointestinal absorption of polyphenols, novel formulations have recently been developed for getting
a better bioavailability of polyphenolic rich fractions of citrus species extract rich in polyphenols.
Methods:
Here, we investigated the effect of standard bergamot polyphenolic fraction (BPF®) as well
as of its phytosomal formulation (BPF Phyto), in patients with type 2 DM and hyperlipemia. A randomized,
double blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out in 60 patients suffering from type 2
DM and mixed hyperlipemia.
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Patients were divided into three groups: one receiving placebo, the second receiving standard BPF and
the third BPF Phyto.
Results:
In the groups receiving BPF and BPF Phyto, a significant reduction of fasting plasma glucose,
serum LDL cholesterol and triglycerides accompanied by increased HDL cholesterol was observed.
This effect was associated with significant reduction of small dense atherogenic LDL particles, as detected
by means of proton NMR Spectroscopy, thus confirming the hypolipemic and hypoglycemic
effect of bergamot extract both when using standard formulation as well as BPF Phyto. No differences
were seen in the therapeutic response among groups receiving BPF and BPF Phyto, thus suggesting a
substantial bioequivalence in their hypoglycemic and hypolipemic profile. However, when comparing
the pharmacokinetic profile of naringin (the major component of BPF) and its metabolites, in patients
treated with BPF Phyto, an at least 2,5 fold increase in its absorption was found, confirming in human
studies the better profile of BPF Phyto compared to standard BPF.
Conclusion:
These data suggest that better absorption and tissue distribution of BPF Phyto formulation
represents an innovative approach in supplementation treatments of cardiometabolic disorders.
The illicit manufacture of heroin results in the formation of trace level acidic and neutral impurities. These impurities are detectable in illicit heroin and provide valuable information about the manufacturing process used. The isolation, derivatization, and semiquantitative analysis of neutral and acidic heroin manufacturing impurities by programmed temperature vaporizing injector-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PTV-GC-MS) is described. Trace acidic and neutral heroin impurities were isolated from basic fractions using liquid-liquid extraction. Extracted impurities were treated with N-Methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide followed by PTV-GC-MS analyses. Semiquantitative data were obtained using full scan mass spectrometry utilizing unique ions or ion combinations for 36 trace impurities found in crude and/or highly refined heroin samples. Minimum detection limits for acidic and neutral impurities were estimated to be at the 10(-7) level relative to total morphine. Over 500 authentic heroin samples from South America, Mexico, Southwest Asia, and Southeast Asia were analyzed. Classification of illicit heroin based on the presence or absence and relative amounts of acidic and neutral impurities is presented.
Secretome of primary cultures is an accessible source of biological markers compared to more complex and less decipherable mixtures such as serum or plasma. The protonation state (PS) of secretome reflects the metabolism of cells and can be used for cancer early detection. Here, we demonstrate a superhydrophobic organic electrochemical device that measures PS in a drop of secretome derived from liquid biopsies. Using data from the sensor and principal component analysis (PCA), we developed algorithms able to efficiently discriminate tumour patients from non-tumour patients. We then validated the results using mass spectrometry and biochemical analysis of samples. For the 36 patients across three independent cohorts, the method identified tumour patients with high sensitivity and identification as high as 100% (no false positives) with declared subjects at-risk, for sporadic cancer onset, by intermediate values of PS. This assay could impact on cancer risk management, individual’s diagnosis and/or help clarify risk in healthy populations.
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