Blond and blood juice supplementation in high fat diet fed mice: effect on antioxidant status and DDAH/ADMA pathway.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease spread throughout the world. The most frequent causes of death in NAFLD patients are due both to liver and cardiovascular damage. Several pathways, including the dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH)/asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) pathway, are involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. It has been reported that ADMA plasmatic levels are increased in patients with hepatic dysfunction such as NAFLD. Although many studies demonstrated that some foods are effective in the treatment of NAFLD, few studies have evaluated their effects with respect to the prevention of the disease. It has been reported that sweet orange juice (OJ) consumption may be associated with potential health benefits. However, some varieties of sweet orange are more effective than others. The aim of the present paper was to investigate the effect of blond and blood sweet orange juice in prevention of NAFLD by evaluating its ability to improve liver steatosis in mice with diet-induced obesity, reducing oxidative stress and affecting the DDAH/ADMA pathway. Results obtained in our experimental conditions evidenced that blood orange juice rather than blond orange juice was more effective. Blood orange juice or blond orange juice enriched in anthocyanins may represent a promising dietary option for the prevention of fatty liver disease.

[Castleman's disease with isolated renal location: clinical case]. / Malattia di Castleman con localizzazione renale isolata: caso clinico.

In a review of the literature the authors delineate the present nosographic and descriptive characteristics of Castleman's disease. They then report the case of an adult woman who came to their attention because of persistent, low-grade fever, sweating, malaise and polyarthralgia. Laboratory data evidenced increased acute-phase reactants, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, and anemia due to "chronic disease". Diagnostic imaging documented a right renal mass. A nephrectomy was performed. Histopathological studies confirmed hyaline-vascular type Castleman's disease with monoclonal B-cell lymphoproliferation. The clinical and laboratory anomalies regressed after surgery and continue to be absent after 1 year of follow-up. The authors conclude their presentation by pointing out the peculiarities of this case that do not correspond with the traditional distinctive features of the disease.