Bioactivity Potential of Prunus spinosa L. Flower Extracts: Phytochemical Profiling, Cellular Safety, Pro-inflammatory Enzymes Inhibition and Protective Effects Against Oxidative Stress In Vitro.

Flower extracts of Prunus spinosa L. (blackthorn)-a traditional medicinal plant of Central and Eastern Europe indicated for the treatment of urinary tract disorders, inflammation, and adjunctive therapy of cardiovascular diseases-were evaluated in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant activity, potential anti-inflammatory effects, and cellular safety in function of fractionated extraction. The UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS3 fingerprinting led to full or partial identification of 57 marker constituents (36 new for the flowers), mostly flavonoids, A-type proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids, and provided the basis for authentication and standardization of the flower extracts. With the contents up to 584.07 mg/g dry weight (dw), 490.63, 109.43, and 66.77 mg/g dw of total phenolics (TPC), flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids, respectively, the extracts were proven to be rich sources of polyphenols. In chemical in vitro tests of antioxidant (DPPH, FRAP, TBARS) and enzyme (lipoxygenase and hyaluronidase) inhibitory activity, the extracts effects were profound, dose-, phenolic-, and extraction solvent-dependent. Moreover, at in vivo-relevant levels (1-5 µg/mL) the extracts effectively protected the human plasma components against peroxynitrite-induced damage (reduced the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers: 3-nitrotyrosine, lipid hydroperoxides, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) and enhanced the total antioxidant status of plasma. The effects observed in biological models were in general dose- and TPC-dependent; only for protein nitration the relationships were not significant. Furthermore, in cytotoxicity tests, the extracts did not affect the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and might be regarded as safe. Among extracts, the defatted methanol-water (7:3, v/v) extract and its diethyl ether and ethyl acetate fractions appear to be the most advantageous for biological applications. As compared to the positive controls, activity of the extracts was favorable, which might be attributed to some synergic effects of their constituents. In conclusion, this research proves that the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory capacity of phenolic fractions should be counted as one of the mechanisms behind the activity of the flowers reported by traditional medicine and demonstrates the potential of the extracts as alternative ingredients for functional products supporting the treatment of oxidative stress-related pathologies cross-linked with inflammatory changes, especially in cardiovascular protection.

Do Psychological Factors Help to Reduce Body Mass in Obesity or is it Vice Versa? Selected Psychological Aspects and Effectiveness of the Weight-Loss Program in the Obese Patients.

The aim of this study was to assess the strength and direction of the correlation between cognitive appraisal, emotional state, social functioning and the effectiveness of a weight-loss program undertaken by obese subjects. The out-patient weight-loss program encompassed 150 obese women. Assessments were carried out at four time points: at the start of the weight-loss program and then after a 5%, 10% and a 15% reduction of the initial body mass. The research tools used were: a survey, the Situation Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ), the Emotional State Questionnaire (ESQ), and the Q-Sort Social Functioning Questionnaire. The cognitive appraisal, emotional state and social functioning of the study group changed significantly (P<0.001). Significantly more individuals with a 15% body mass reduction, as compared with individuals with no body mass reduction, had an early obesity onset, i.e. at the age of <10 years old (P<0.001). Significantly more individuals with no body mass reduction, compared with individuals with a 15% reduction, had a later obesity onset, i.e. between the ages of 20 and 30 (P<0.001) and between 50 and 60 (P<0.001). Significantly more individuals with a 15% body mass reduction, compared with individuals with no mass reduction, had previously experienced the jojo effect (P<0.001) and had successfully lost weight (P<0.001). Significantly more individuals with no body mass reduction, compared with individuals with a15% reduction, had a history of unsuccessful attempts at reducing body mass (P<0.001). We conclude that the attitude of obese patients towards a weight-loss program is not a deciding factor for its effectiveness. As body mass reduces, the attitude improves.

[Evaluation of anxiety and depression in the perioperative period in patients subjected to myocardial revascularization]. / Ocena leku i depresji w okresie okolooperacyjnym u pacjentów poddawanych rewaskularyzacji miesnia sercowego.

AIM: The aim of the paper is to define a relationship between the anxiety level and depression intensification, as well as to define the impact of: age, sex, education level and family situation on the anxiety level and depression intensification in the pre- and postoperative period in patients subjected to myocardial revascularisation (CABG). METHOD: Prospective studies were carried out in a group of 100 patients qualified for the surgical myocardial revascularisation in the planned course. The Polish version of the STAI questionnaire was applied to study anxiety as a state and as a trait. Depression intensification was evaluated with the Beck depression scale. RESULTS: 1. The intensity of depression significantly correlates with anxiety as a state and anxiety as a trait before and after CABG surgery. 2. When assessing anxiety as a state, its negative correlation with male patients and with age before CABG were found. A negative correlation of anxiety as a state with a patient's age was identified after CABG. 3. When assessing anxiety as a trait, its negative correlation with male patients before CABG was found. 4. The intensity of depression correlates significantly and negatively with the educational background of the patient before and after CABG surgery. 5. There is no statistically significant correlation between anxiety, depression and family situation in the perioperative period.

Quality of life in young, professionally active men undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting--short-term follow-up results.

BACKGROUND: The impact of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on the quality of life (QoL) is one of the important measures of the efficacy of the procedure. This issue in young, professionally active male patients has not been extensively studied. AIM: To assess QoL before and after on-pump CABG, and before and after cardiac rehabilitation in young men with low operative risk. METHODS: The study group comprised 50 men aged 54.4 +/- 5.6 years who were professionally active before the surgery. The QoL was assessed on the basis of the MacNew questionnaire (in points). We analysed QoL changes and effects of basic demographic and peri-operative data on QoL during a short-term follow-up. RESULTS: All components of QoL deteriorated shortly after CABG: emotional - from 4.97 +/- 0.96 to 4.66 +/- 1.0 (p = 0.03); physical - from 4.49 +/- 1.1 to 4.2 +/- 1.2 (p = 0.02); and social - from 4.68 +/- 1.0 to 4.47 +/- 1.1 (p = 0.1). Pre-operative physical and social QoL positively correlated with age (r = 0.45 and r = 0.37, respectively) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = 0.49 and r = 0.48, respectively). However, there was a negative impact of history of myocardial infarction on physical QoL (p < 0.05). A negative influence of cardiopulmonary bypass time (r = -0.45) and cross-aortic clamp time (r = -0.36) on physical QoL was also noted. The QoL values were also influenced by class of angina symptoms (R = -0.33 / -0.42), total drainage (r = -0.11 / -0.34) and quantity of grafts (R = -0.35 / -0.42). During rehabilitation, QoL significantly improved: emotional - from 5.29 +/- 0.92 to 5.96 +/- 0.9 (p = 0.01); physical - from 4.66 +/- 1.1 to 5.42 +/- 1.2 (p < 0.01); and social - from 4.69 +/- 1.2 to 5.65 +/- 1.1 (p < 0.01). The QoL during rehabilitation was correlated with baseline peri-operative risk (for logistic EuroSCORE algorithm r = -0.21 / -0.31 and for EuroSCORE R = -0.47 / -0.89). Significant determinants of some components of QoL were also LVEF (r= 0.26 / 0.47), morphological blood parameters (r = 0.37 / 0.43), baseline CCS class (R = 0.31 / 0.58), age (r = -0.41 / -0.83), and extent of surgery defined by cardiopulmonary bypass time, cross-aortic clamp duration and total drainage. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life in young, professionally active men significantly deteriorates a few days after on-pump CABG but systematically improves during the next weeks, particularly after rehabilitation. Pre-operative QoL correlates positively with age and LVEF, and negatively with a history of myocardial infarction. Age, pre-operative risk, angina symptoms and the extent of surgery have negative effects on physical QoL after CABG during short-term observation.