Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale
https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr
<p>The <strong>Journal of Biological Research – Bollettino della <a href="http://www.sibsperimentale.it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale</a></strong> is one of the oldest journals in Biology. Founded in 1925 the journal is available in <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Boll+Soc+Ital+Biol+Sper%22[jour]" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Medline</a> until 2001 and <a href="http://www.scopus.com/source/sourceInfo.url?sourceId=13745&origin=resultslist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scopus</a> since 2014. The <strong>Journal of Biological Research – Bollettino della <a href="http://www.sibsperimentale.it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale</a></strong> is an online-only peer-reviewed journal which welcomes papers dealing with any aspect of experimental biology. Papers concerning clinical topics can be accepted only if they include experimental laboratory data. Original communications, review articles or short communications may be submitted.</p>PAGEPress Scientific Publications, Pavia, Italyen-USJournal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale1826-8838<p><strong>PAGEPress</strong> has chosen to apply the <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License</strong></a> (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.</p>Cytochrome p450 and innovative nutraceutical products
https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/11721
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Dietary supplements are products that are ingested in addition to the regular diet to provide additional health-promoting nutrients. Dietary supplements are defined and regulated differently in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). A fundamental aspect, besides the one related to the composition of the various products on the market, is linked to their quality, both from a nutritional and a pharmacological point of view. Concerning the knowledge of the metabolic aspects, the analysis of the interference, as an inductive or an inhibitory effect, of the p450 enzyme on individual preparations of supplements, is crucial. In this study, we present the results of the interference analysis of a new nutraceutical product based on 38% Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction BPF<sup>®</sup> (<em>Citrus bergamia</em> Risso et Poit.), Pomegranate (<em>Punica granatum</em>) and Citrus fruits (<em>Citrus aurantium </em>var.<em> dulcis</em>, <em>Citrus maxima</em> Burm. Merr, <em>Citrus paradisi</em> Macfad) extract with cytochrome p450, showing that the product has limited activity on the cytochromes involved in most of human drug metabolism. This nutraceutical product is to be considered safe and potentially useful in the context of multiple treatments, not interfering with the traditional chronic therapies of patients. These findings open the door to modern "pharma-grade" nutraceuticals, expanding the safety and quality profiles of these new products.</p>Francesco FratiGiulio TorelloGiuseppe Di Cara
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2024-03-082024-03-0810.4081/jbr.2024.11721An overview of glioblastoma multiforme <i>in vitro</i> experimental models
https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/11920
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor, characterized by a remarkable inner complexity and inter-tumor variability. Moreover, it is very aggressive and resistant to conventional treatments, so that it rapidly relapse. Therefore, there is an immediate need for experimental strategies to enhance our comprehension of GBM, aiming to mitigate its economic and social impact. Here, we described different <em>in vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em> strategies currently used for the study of GBM. First, we gave a brief and general overview of the classical <em>in vivo </em>models, including xenograft mouse and zebrafish models and canine models, offering a wide range of advantages but also presenting a series of strong limitations. Thus, we described <em>in vitro </em>models, starting from more traditional 2D culture models, comparing different approaches and critically exposing the advantages and disadvantages of using one or the other methods. We also briefly described GBM 2D culture systems that allow recreating multiple cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix contacts but still do not reflect the complexity of <em>in vivo</em> tumors. We finally described the intricacies of the more novel 3D <em>in vitro </em>models, e.g., spheroids and organoids. These sophisticated models have demonstrated exceptional suitability across a wide spectrum of applications in cancer research, ranging from fundamental scientific inquiries to applications in translational research. Their adaptability and three-dimensional architecture render them invaluable tools, offering new insights and paving the way for advancements in both basic and applied research.</p>Alessandra Maria VitaleGiuseppa D’AmicoRadha SantonocitoGioacchino SpinnatoMartina Di MarcoFederica ScaliaClaudia CampanellaGiovanni TringaliIlaria GiustiVincenza DoloFrancesco CappelloCeleste Caruso Bavisotto
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2024-02-152024-02-1510.4081/jbr.2024.11920Preliminary phytochemical screening, <i>in vitro</i> antioxidant activity and insecticidal activity of methanolic leaves extract of <i>Cedrus atlantica</i> from Belezma, Algeria
https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/11668
<p style="font-weight: 400;">This work was conceived in the context of valorisation of the endemic forest species <em>Cedrus atlantica</em> (Pinaceae family), widespread in the mountainous massif of eastern Algeria. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and insecticidal activity of the methanolic extract of the aerial part (leaves) of <em>C. atlantica </em>(CAMeOH). The extraction made it possible to obtain a yield of approximately 7.49% from 350 g of dry powdered plant material. The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids as major components. <em>In vitro</em> antioxidant evaluation was carried out using two different methods. The reducing power assay test result revealed an optical density (DO) value of 1.7±0.02 at a dose of 600 µg/mL of CAMeOH. Concerning the iron chelation activity, the recorded IC50 value was 62.12 μg/mL and R²=0.87. The insecticidal activity against the stored-food insect <em>Tribolium confusum</em> was evaluated using the contact treatment mode and showed a significant dose-dependent effect (P≤0.05) with a mortality rate of 98.32 ± 0.50 % at a dose of 50 mg/mL (after 96 hours of contact). The results of this study confirmed the potential antioxidant and insecticidal activity of the methanolic extract from the leaves of <em>C. atlantica.</em></p>Ouafa DeffaBadis Daikh
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2024-02-152024-02-1510.4081/jbr.2024.11668Regional nutritional profile and antioxidant activity of Gelidium sesquipedale from the Moroccan Atlantic coast
https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/11859
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Gelidium sesquipedale</em> is a red seaweed exploited in Morocco for its agar-agar quality. Samples were examined across the Moroccan Atlantic coast to evaluate their nutritional composition and antioxidant activity. The objective was to find out the regional impact on the biochemical properties of this seaweed. The obtained results have shown that the region factor does not affect the carbohydrate content. However, protein content was higher in the western sites (15.77% in Lahdida and 16.79% in Sidi-Rahal) compared to those from the southern sites (14.08% in Sidi El Ghazi and 14.76% in Amgriou). Regarding the phenolic contents, the results are similar in the west (5.69 and 5.38 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g respectively in Sidi-Rahal and Lahdida) but differ in the south (6.22 mg GAE /g in Amgriou and 4.78 mg GAE /g in Sidi El Ghazi) due to stranding phenomena in Amgriou. Moreover, this seaweed exhibits the highest radical scavenging capacity (DPPH) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) values in the south (90.41 and 114.33 µg/mL in Amgriou; 103.76 and 110.5 µg/mL in Sidi El Ghazi). Hence, the exploitation of <em>Gelidium sesquipedale </em>harvested on the western and southern coasts of Morocco should extend beyond the sole production of agar-agar.</p>Samira El MajnaouiMounia LekratiSaid El BroudiAhmed BelmoudenAbdellah El HouariNadia El Kadmiri
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2024-01-302024-01-3010.4081/jbr.2024.11859Reduced levels of genomic damage in young martial artists
https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/11678
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The impact of physical activity on the levels of genomic damage is still poorly understood. In this work, we aimed to investigate the influence of a constant martial arts training on the levels of DNA damage. Moreover, we explored the possible association between genomic damage and single-gene polymorphisms on metabolic and DNA repair genes. To do this, we compared the frequency of micronuclei and other nuclear aberrations in the buccal mucosa cells of 35 healthy, young martial artists with 35 healthy, young sedentary controls. Additionally, we genotyped all participants for three metabolic and two DNA repair genes to evaluate the impact of the relative single-gene polymorphisms on DNA damage. Genomic damage was significantly lower in athletes than in sedentary controls, as evidenced by a decrease in both micronuclei and total aberrations. Instead, single-gene polymorphisms did not significantly alter the frequencies of aberrations. These findings suggest that training may have a protective effect against genomic damage, supporting the health benefits provided by physical activity. The influence of other factors should be considered, and further studies focusing on disciplines with different training regimes are necessary to evaluate thoroughly their influence on genomic damage.</p>Alessandro NotaMattia LambertiniAlfredo Santovito
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2024-03-072024-03-0710.4081/jbr.2024.11678Exploring dimensions and shapes of edentulous patients consulting the prosthodontics centre at Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat, Morocco: a cross-sectional study
https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/11507
<p style="font-weight: 400;">This cross-sectional study conducted at the Prosthodontics Centre, Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat, Morocco, investigates the dimensions and shapes characterizing maxillary and mandibular edentulous arches in a patient population seeking consultation. The objective is to provide insights crucial for optimizing outcomes in prosthetic therapy, informing decisions on impression trays, occlusion planes, prosthetic teeth, and implant attributes. Sixty-seven edentulous Moroccan patients (40 men, 27 women), aged 31 to 90, were recruited at the Prosthodontics Centre. Maxillary and mandibular casts were meticulously crafted, and precise measurements of anterior and posterior width and length were acquired for both arches. Arch shapes were categorized into O-shape, V-shape, and U-shape. Data were analyzed using Microsoft<sup>®</sup> Excel 2013 and SPSS software (IBM SPSS Statistics 23). Analysis revealed maxillary arch lengths ranging from 40 to 58 mm, maxillary arch widths from 38 to 58 mm, mandibular arch lengths from 33 to 56 mm, and mandibular arch widths from 30 to 60 mm. The predominant arch shape was the ovoid, constituting 34% (n=23) of maxillary cases and 54% (n=36) of mandibular cases. This study provides novel insights into the dimensions and shapes of maxillary and mandibular edentulous arches in patients seeking consultation at Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco. The findings offer valuable guidance for prosthetic therapy decisions, emphasizing the importance of integrating established references and arch classifications for optimal outcomes in the treatment of edentulous patients in Morocco.</p>Mohamed AzhariAbdelkoui AnissaYahya MelaininOussama BentaharFaiza Benfdil
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2024-02-232024-02-2310.4081/jbr.2024.11507Analysis of the effect of brown rice, tuna, cucumber, and pineapple treatment on proteinuria and albuminuria in Wistar Rats strain with chronic kidney disease
https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/11883
<div> <p class="Normale1" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">This study aims to determine how nutrition therapy with brown rice, tuna fish, pineapple, and cucumber affects proteinuria and albuminuria in male Wistar rats with chronic kidney disease </span><span lang="EN-US">(CKD). In this study, 16 male Wistar rats with CKD were divided into four groups. The result states that the third treatment, consisting of 341 g/kg BW (Body Weight)/day brown rice, 15 g/kg BW/day tuna fish, 2 g/kg BW/day pineapple, and 2 g/kg BW/day cucumber could reduce both proteinuria (<em>p </em>< 0.01) and albuminuria (<em>p </em>< 0.01) in rats. However, the first (250 g brown rice, 13 g/kg BW/day tuna fish, 1 g/kg BW/day pineapple, 1 g/kg BW/day cucumber) and second treatment (296 g/kg BW/day brown rice, 14 g/kg BW/day tuna fish, 1.5 g/kg BW/day pineapple, 1.5 g/kg BW/day cucumber) could not reduce the levels of proteinuria and albuminuria in rats. In conclusion, giving a balanced diet containing 341 g/kg BW/day of brown rice, 15 g/kg BW/day of tuna fish, 2 g/kg BW/day of pineapple, and 2 g/kg BW/day of cucumber for CKD can maintain body fluid and increase the re-absorption of proteins and albumin. Therefore, the third nutrition formula can be recommended to people with kidney disease after clinical tests on humans.</span></p> </div>Tasnim TasnimSelpirahmawati Saranani
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2024-03-072024-03-0710.4081/jbr.2024.11883The role of selenium in autoimmune thyroiditis
https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/12050
<div> <p class="MDPI17abstract" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element of fundamental importance for human health. Se is incorporated into selenoproteins (SPs) which are endowed with pleiotropic effects including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and active production of thyroid hormones. It has also been suggested that Se plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various human diseases. The therapeutic effects of supplementation with Se have already been described in various thyroid diseases. However, there are still conflicting results regarding the optimal dose of Se to administer and the duration of treatment, efficacy, and safety. The highly beneficial effects of supplementation with Se have been observed in subjects with thyroid disease in the hyperthyroid phase. In line with these observations, clinical studies have shown that in patients with Basedow's disease (BD) and autoimmune thyroiditis (AT), treatment with a combination of antithyroid drugs and Se restores the euthyroid state faster than administration of antithyroid drugs alone. However, the efficacy of this therapeutic approach remains to be better evaluated. </span></p> </div>Marco GiammancoVincenza M.E. BonfiglioManfredi M. GiammancoFrancesco Carini
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2024-03-212024-03-2110.4081/jbr.2024.12050