Gdańsk Medical University

About: Gdańsk Medical University is a education organization based out in Gdańsk, Poland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 4893 authors who have published 11216 publications receiving 260523 citations.

The Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Activities of Infusions of Sambucus nigra L.

Abstract: The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of teas prepared from twenty-four commercially available berries and flowers of Sambucus nigra L. in relation to their phenolic profile, as reflected by the most representative phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, ferulic, gallic and syringic acids); flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin and rutin); and total phenolic (TPC), phenolic acid (TAC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents. The infusions prepared from elderflowers contained more abundant phenolic compounds than the elderberry infusions. The TPC of these infusions ranged from 19.81 to 23.90 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight of sample (GAE/g DW) for elderberries and from 15.23 to 35.57 mg GAE/g DW for elderflowers, whereas the TFC ranged from 2.60 to 4.49 mg of rutin equivalents/g dry weight of sample (RUTE/g DW) in elderberry infusions and from 5.27 to 13.19 mg RUTE/g DW in elderflower infusions. Among the phenolic compounds quantified in this study, quercetin (2.07–9.48 mg/g DW) and myricetin (1.17–9.62 mg/g DW) had the highest concentrations in the teas prepared from berries and flowers, respectively. Moreover, the antioxidant potential of elder infusions assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays revealed that the teas prepared from flowers had higher mean DPPH and FRAP activities than the teas prepared from berries. Therefore, elder beverages could be important dietary sources of natural antioxidants that contribute to the prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress.

The role of low-calorie diets and intermittent fasting in the treatment of obesity and type-2 diabetes.

Abstract: Obesity is a condition associated with an increased risk of metabolic disorders, and in particular of type-2 diabetes (T2D). The treatment and prevention of obesity and associated metabolic disorders present great medical challenges. A major therapeutic goal in T2D is to control blood glucose levels, which can be achieved by pharmacological and nonpharmacological measures. The latter include increased physical activity and reduction of body fat mass by limiting dietary caloric content. Low-calorie diets (LCDs) involve a reduction in daily caloric intake by 25% to 30%. LCDs should be individualized depending on the patient's energy requirements, the severity of the obesity, and any accompanying diseases and treatments. Intermittent fasting (IF) involves caloric restriction for one or several days a week, or every day as the prolongation of the overnight fast. The results of recent clinical trials have shown that LCDs and intermittent fasting in patients with obesity (including those with coexisting T2D) can lead to a reduction in body fat mass and metabolic parameter improvements. These beneficial effects arise not only from the loss of body mass, but also from the activation of metabolic pathways specific to fasting conditions. However, the paucity of large-scale randomized controlled trials makes it difficult to prescribe LCDs or IF as reliable, routine methods for successful and stable weight loss.

TGF-beta (transforming growth factor-beta) in chronic inflammatory conditions - a new diagnostic and prognostic marker?

Abstract: TGF-beta is a cytokine with varied properties and pleiotropic activity. It is released in an inactive form. To exhibit its biological activity, it requires binding to extracellular matrix proteins and, after that, proteolytic elimination of LAP (Latent Associated Protein) and LTBP (Latent TGF-beta Binding Protein). The process involves, among others, tissue transglutaminase, thrombin and plasmin. By stimulation of specific receptors, it influences transcription of some genes and translation of formed mRNA. Locally, it demonstrates proinflammatory properties whereas systemically, it has primarily a potent immunosuppressive effect. TGF-beta, by affecting proliferation, differentiation and migration of cells, as well as stimulation of extracellular matrix protein production, plays an important role in tissue regeneration and remodeling, but also in fibrosis. TGF-beta is also indispensable to maintain immune homeostasis of the organism. Reduced TGF-beta activity is considered to be responsible for development of autoimmune disorders in the course of several pathologic conditions. This cytokine plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory processes taking place, among others, in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and chronic hepatitis B and C. The paper presents a review of literature concerning diagnostic and prognostic value of TGF-beta level determinations in blood and tissue bioptates of patients with chronic non-specific enteritis and chronic hepatitis B and C.

Therapeutic methods of gut microbiota modification in colorectal cancer management – fecal microbiota transplantation, prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics

Abstract: The link between gut microbiota and the development of colorectal cancer has been investigated. An imbalance in the gut microbiota promotes the progress of colorectal carcinogenesis via multiple mechanisms, including inflammation, activation of carcinogens, and tumorigenic pathways as well as damaging host DNA. Several therapeutic methods are available with which to alter the composition and the activity of gut microbiota, such as administration of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics; these can confer various benefits for colorectal cancer patients. Nowadays, fecal microbiota transplantation is the most modern way of modulating the gut microbiota. Even though data regarding fecal microbiota transplantation in colorectal cancer patients are still rather limited, it has been approved as a clinical method of treatment-recurrent Clostridium difficile infection, which may also occur in these patients. The major benefits of fecal microbiota transplantation include modulation of immunotherapy efficacy, amelioration of bile acid metabolism, and restoration of intestinal microbial diversity. Nonetheless, more studies are needed to assess the long-term effects of fecal microbiota transplantation. In this review, the impact of gut microbiota on the efficiency of anti-cancer therapy and colorectal cancer patients' overall survival is also discussed.

Combined Antimicrobial Activity of Photodynamic Inactivation and Antimicrobials-State of the Art.

Abstract: Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) is a promising tool for the eradication of life-threatening pathogens with different profiles of resistance. This study presents the state-of-the-art published studies that have been dedicated to analyzing the bactericidal effects of combining aPDI and routinely applied antibiotics in in vitro (using biofilm and planktonic cultures) and in vivo experiments. Furthermore, the current paper reviews the methodology used to obtain the published data that describes the synergy between these antimicrobial approaches. The authors are convinced that the use of a unified experimental methodology that is in agreement with antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is required to investigate possible synergistic cooperation between aPDI and antimicrobials. Conclusions concerning the possible synergistic activity between the two treatments can be drawn only when appropriate assays are employed.