Hesperidin supplementation modulates inflammatory responses following myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: A growing number of studies have suggested a crucial role for a variety of inflammatory mediators in myocardial infarction. Recently, several flavonoids have been shown to have cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hesperidin-a common constituent of citrus fruits-on the serum levels of inflammatory markers and adipocytocines in patients with myocardial infarction. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with myocardial infarction were participated in this randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial and were assigned to 2 intervention and control groups. Subjects consumed 600 mg/d pure hesperidin supplement and placebo in the intervention and control groups, respectively, for 4 weeks. Serum concentrations of inflammatory markers and adipocytocines were measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention. RESULTS: Consumption of 600 mg/day hesperidin significantly decreased the serum levels of E-selectin and increased adiponectin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations in patients with myocardial infarction. The improvement in other inflammatory markers, such as interleukin (IL)-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin, and other lipid profile was also observed at the end of the intervention, compared to the baseline values, but the difference between the hesperidin and placebo groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hesperidin supplementation could compensate for decreased levels of adiponectin and HDL-C and increased levels of E-selectin in patients with myocardial infarction. These results support the concept that certain flavonoids in the diet can be associated with significant health benefits, including heart health.

Preventing Unnecessary Invasive Cancer-Diagnostic Tests: Changing the Cut-off Points.

BACKGROUND: To determine a cut-off point of tPSA and PSAD to prevent unnecessary invasive cancer-diagnosing tests in the community. METHODS: This study was performed on 688 consecutive patients referred to our center due to prostatism, suspicious lesions on digital rectal examination and/or elevated serum PSA levels. All patients underwent transrectal ultrasound guided biopsies and obtained PSAD. Serum levels of tPSA and fPSA were measured by chemiluminescence. Comparisons were done using tests of accuracy (AUC-ROC). RESULTS: Prostate cancer was detected in 334 patients, whereas the other 354 patients were suffering from benign prostate diseases. The mean tPSA in case and control groups were 28.32±63.62 ng/ml and 7.14±10.04 ng/ml; the mean f/tPSA ratios were 0.13± 0.21 and 0.26±0.24 in PCa and benign prostate disease groups; the mean PSAD rates were 0.69±2.24, 0.12±0.11, respectively. Statistically significant differences were found (P <0.05). Using ROC curve analysis, it was revealed that AUC was 0.78 for tPSA and 0.80 for f/tPSA. Sensitivity was 71% for the cut-off value of 7.85ng/ml. For f/tPSA ratio, the optimal cut-off value was 0.13 which produced the sensitivity of 81.4% and for PSAD, it was15%. CONCLUSIONS: As this trial is different from the European and American values, we should be more cautious in dealing with the prostate cancer upon the obtained sensitivity and specificity for PCa diagnosis (7.85ng/mL for tPSA, 15% for PSAD and 0.13 for f/tPSA ratio).

Inhibitory Effects of Tart Cherry (Prunus cerasus) Juice on Xanthine Oxidoreductase Activity and its Hypouricemic and Antioxidant Effects on Rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tart cherry juice on serum uric acid levels, hepatic xanthine oxidoreductase activity and two non-invasive biomarkers of oxidative stress (total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde concentration), in normal and hyperuricemic rats. Tart cherry juice (5 ml/kg) was given by oral gavage to rats for 2 weeks. Allopurinol (5 mg/kg) was used as a positive control and was also given by oral gavage. Data showed that tart cherry juice treatment did not cause any significant reduction in the serum uric acid levels in normal rats, but significantly reduced (P<0.05) the serum uric acid levels of hyperuricemic rats in a time-dependent manner. Tart cherry juice treatment also inhibited hepatic xanthine oxidase/dehydrogenase activity. Moreover, a significant increase (P<0.05) in serum total antioxidant capacity was observed in tart cherry juice treated-rats in both normal and hyperuricemic groups. The oral administration of tart cherry juice also led to a significant reduction (P<0.05) in MDA concentration in the hyperuricemic rats. Although the hypouricemic effect of allopurinol, as a putative inhibitor of xanthine oxidoreductase, was much higher than that of tart cherry, it could not significantly change anti-oxidative parameters. These features of tart cherry make it an attractive candidate for the prophylactic treatment of hyperuricaemia, particularly if it is to be taken on a long-term basis. Further investigations to define its clinical efficacy would be highly desirable.