We have now prospectively validated the RAI as a functional risk stratification methodology in a heterogeneous group of critically ill patients, providing context to direct measurement of novel urinary biomarkers and improving the prediction of severe persistent AKI.
The mitochondrion is the only organelle in the human cell, besides the nucleus, with its own DNA (mtDNA). Since the mitochondrion is critical to the energy metabolism of the eukaryotic cell, it should be unsurprising, then, that a primary driver of cellular aging and related diseases is mtDNA instability over the life of an individual. The mutation rate of mammalian mtDNA is significantly higher than the mutation rate observed for nuclear DNA, due to the poor fidelity of DNA polymerase and the ROS-saturated environment present within the mitochondrion. In this review, we will discuss the current literature showing that mitochondrial dysfunction can contribute to age-related common diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and other commonly occurring diseases. We will then turn our attention to the likely role that mtDNA mutation plays in aging and senescence. Finally, we will use this context to develop a mathematical formula for estimating for the accumulation of somatic mtDNA mutations with age. This resulting model shows that almost 90% of non-proliferating cells would be expected to have at least 100 mutations per cell by the age of 70, and almost no cells would have fewer than 10 mutations, suggesting that mtDNA mutations may contribute significantly to many adult onset diseases.
Soy isoflavones have been correlated with beneficial health effects. The predominant chemical forms of isoflavones present may affect their biological activities. Choosing the solvent system that can accurately quantify the amounts of individual isoflavones present in these products is paramount. Our objectives were to compare frequently used solvent systems and to evaluate the effects of polarity and acidity on the recovery of isoflavones from soybeans. Isoflavones were extracted from pulverized Manokin soybeans using six solvent systems, which are the combinations of three polarity levels (83% acetonitrile, 80% methanol, and 58% acetonitrile) and two acidity levels (nonacidified and acidified). The pulverized soybean was stirred for 2 h in each solvent system before filtration and concentration using rotary evaporation. The extract was resuspended in 16% acetonitrile and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Recoveries of pure standards were evaluated with all solvent systems. Solvents with a higher polarity extracted a significantly higher amount of total isoflavones. For individual isoflavones, 58% acetonitrile (highest polarity) extracted either the highest amounts or no less than other solvents, while 83% acetonitrile (lowest polarity) extracted either the lowest amounts or no more than other solvents except for the aglycone form. Acidification significantly reduced the recovery of the malonylglucoside form and the total isoflavones. The recovery study revealed that acidification favored the chemical transformations of isoflavones during the extraction. Among the six solvent systems examined, 58% acetonitrile aqueous solution without acid was the best for extraction of isoflavones from soybeans.
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