Tatjana Ćebović

Endocan is useful biomarker of survival and severity in sepsis.

INTRODUCTION Coagulation abnormalities which occur as a consequence of endothelial changes are recognized as diagnostic criteria for sepsis, but significance of these changes in the outcome prognosis and prediction of the course of sepsis is still not accurately defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS 60 patients who fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of sepsis were included in our study. Patients were categorized in two groups according to sepsis severity and organ failure and MODS development was assessed in the first 48 h from ICU admission. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and endothelial cell specific molecule-1(endocan) levels, as well as procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined within the first 24h of the onset of the disease. Predictive APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) and SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) scores were calculated on the day of ICU admission. Data were used to determine an association between day 1 biomarker levels, organ dysfunction score values and the development of organ failure, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and mortality during 28 days. These connections were determined by plotting of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Differences between groups were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. RESULTS Concentration of endocan was significantly higher in the group of patients with sepsis induced organ failure, MODS development and in the group of non- survivors in contrast to group with less severe form of the disease, without multiorgan failure, and in contrast to group of survivors (p<0.05). Values of areas under the ROC curves showed that endocan levels had good discriminative power for more severe course of sepsis, MODS development and possible discriminative power for mortality prediction (AUC: 0.81, 0.67, 0.71 retrospectively), better than PCT for fatality (AUC:053) and better than APACHE II (AUC:0.55) and SOFA (AUC: 0.57) scores for organ failure. CONCLUSIONS Results of our study show that endocan can be used as strong and significant predictor of sepsis severity and outcome, perhaps even better than SOFA and APACHE II scores.

Antiradical, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of commercial beetroot pomace

The by-product of food processing is often utilized as feed, and for the preparation of dietary fiber and biofuel. However, these products are also promising sources of bioactive antioxidants and color giving compounds, which could be used as additives in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical profile, and the antiradical, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of industrial beetroot pomace extract (BPE). The content of phenolics (45.68 mg gallic acid equivalents g(-1)), flavonoids (25.89 mg rutin equivalents g(-1)) and betalains (4.09 mg betanin g(-1); 7.32 mg vulgaxanthin I g(-1)) were determined spectrophotometrically. The antiradical activity on DPPH (EC(50)(DPPH·) = 0.0797 mg ml(-1)), hydroxyl (EC(50)(·OH) = 0.0655 mg ml(-1)) and superoxide anion (EC(50)(O2·-) = 1.0625 mg ml(-1)) radicals were measured by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar-well diffusion method. Gram(-) bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Citrobacter freundii) and Gram(+) bacteria, (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus sciuri, Bacillus cereus) showed high susceptibility, while yeasts and moulds were resistant. BPE exhibits cytotoxic properties against Ehrlich carcinoma (EAC) cells in vivo due to induction of oxidative stress. The largest decreases in EAC cell numbers were observed in the pre-treated male (approximately 53%) and female (approximately 47%) mice, and also the EAC cell viability was decreased after administration of BPE. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes, xanthine oxidase (XOD) and peroxidase (Px), were significantly different between the untreated EAC control group and all other groups that were treated with BPE. The XOD and Px activities were very low in untreated malignant cells, but increased significantly after administration of BPE. Our results show that BPE holds promise in the food industry as a source of bioactive compounds.

Antioxidant activity of yellow dock (Rumex crispus L., Polygonaceae) fruit extract

The methanol extract of ripe Rumex crispus L. fruits was evaluated for its antioxidant potential by assays for ferric‐reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), DPPH‐free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) and the influence on lipid peroxidation in liposomes (LP). Considerable activity was observed in all test systems (FRAP: 9.9 mmol Fe2+/g; DPPH IC50: 3.7 μg/mL; LP IC50: 4.9 μg/mL), comparable to that of BHT (FRAP: 8.0 μg/mL; DPPH IC50: 19.4 μg/mL; LP IC50: 3.5 μg/mL), but lower than the activity of ascorbic acid, rutin and quercetin, used as positive control substances. The in vivo effects were evaluated in several hepatic antioxidant systems (activities of LPx, GSH‐Px, Px, CAT and XOD, as well as GSH content), after treatment with the studied yellow dock extract in different doses, or in combination with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Pretreatment with the R. crispus extract inhibited CCl4‐induced oxidative stress by decreasing LPx and increasing GSH content in a dose dependent manner, bringing the levels of antioxidant enzymes to near control values. Copyright

In vivo and in vitro antioxidant effects of three Veronica species

The aim of the present study was to examine the antioxidant activity of three Veronica species (Plantaginaceae). The antioxidant potential of various extracts obtained from aerial flowering parts was evaluated by DPPH-free (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-free) radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. Considerable antioxidant activity was observed in the plant samples (FRAP values ranged from 0.97 to 4.85 mmol Fe2+/g, and DPPH IC50 values from 12.58 to 66.34 µg/ml); however, these levels were lower than the activity of the control compound butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (FRAP: 10.58 mmol Fe2+/g; DPPH IC50: 9.57 µg/ml). Also, the in vivo antioxidant effects were evaluated in several hepatic antioxidant systems in rats (activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, peroxidase, catalase, xanthine oxidase, glutathione content and level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) after treatment with different Veronica extracts, or in combination with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Pretreatment with 100 mg/kg b.w. of Veronica extracts inhibited CCl4-induced liver injury by decreasing TBA-RS level, increasing GSH content, and bringing the activities of CAT and Px to control levels. The present study suggests that the extracts analyzed could protect the liver cells from CCl4-induced liver damage by their antioxidative effect on hepatocytes.

Hepatoprotective effect of Filipendula hexapetala Gilib. (Rosaceae) in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The influence of methanol extract produced from the flowers of Filipendula hexapetala Gilib. (Rosaceae) on some liver biochemical parameters in rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride (CTC) was evaluated in this study. The results Obtained revealed that pretreatment with the extract investigated inhibited CTC‐induced liver injury by decreasing lipid peroxidation and increasing the content of reduced glutathione in a dosage dependent manner, bringing the levels of all antioxidant enzymes close to control values. The administration of CTC diminished hepatic antioxidant defense mechanisms by significant reduction of peroxidase and catalase activities. The catalase activity was significantly recovered in groups treated with the extract investigated and intoxicated with a single CTC dose. A similar impact on hepatic peroxidase activity has also been observed, indicating a partial detoxication of hydrogen peroxide by both catalase and peroxidase. Copyright

Thrombomodulin is a Strong Predictor of Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome in Patients With Sepsis

Background: Biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction are not recommended for routine laboratory investigation of the outcome prognosis and prediction of the course of sepsis. Methods: A total of 60 patients who fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of sepsis were included in our study. Development of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in the first 48 hours was assessed. Differences between groups of patients with sepsis were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test and by Kruskal-Wallis test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to test the joint effect of different predictors. Results: Level of thrombomodulin was significantly higher in group of patients with MODS than without MODS (P = .015). Levels of antithrombin (P = .026) and protein C (P = .035) were significantly lower in patients with MODS. Level of thrombomodulin was the strongest predictor in MODS development in first 48 hours (P = .028). Conclusion: The level of thrombomodulin not only was able to distinguish the severity of sepsis but also was a significant predictor of MODS development.