1.
Evaluation of Lactocare® Synbiotic Administration on the Serum Electrolytes and Trace Elements Levels in Psoriasis Patients: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Study.
Akbarzadeh, A, Taheri, M, Ebrahimi, B, Alirezaei, P, Doosti-Irani, A, Soleimani, M, Nouri, F
Biological trace element research. 2022;200(10):4230-4237
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Plain language summary
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterised by plaques and lesions on the skin. While the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis is not completely understood, various mechanisms have been implicated, including changes in the composition of intestinal microbes, oxidative stress and changes in the levels of certain trace elements. Previous research has shown that fluctuations in trace minerals such as zinc and copper may contribute to the progression and progression of psoriasis. It is known that synbiotics, which are combinations of probiotics and prebiotics, have immune-modulating properties, and they may also enhance the absorption of trace minerals from food when consumed. This double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to randomly assign sixty-four patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis to consume Lactocare, a symbiotic containing seven strains of probiotic bacteria and prebiotic fructooligosaccharide twice daily or a placebo for 12 weeks. Serum trace mineral levels were measured after 12 weeks of treatment, including Fe, K, Ca, Mg, P, Zn, Na, and Cu. A significant improvement in serum levels of zinc and calcium was observed in the symbiotic group after 12 weeks of treatment. Additionally, the symbiotic treatment significantly increased the levels of trace minerals such as Fe, Ca, Mg, P, Zn, and Na within the group compared to the baseline. Fe and Cu levels in the treatment group were affected by sex, with male participants showing significant differences. To evaluate the other benefits of symbiotic preparations in patients with psoriasis, further large-scale studies are required. Healthcare professionals can utilise the research to understand the immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory properties of symbiotic formulations such as Lactocare, as well as to understand how the consumption of Lactocare improves the absorption of trace minerals.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the exact etiopathogenesis of psoriasis remains unknown, the increasing or decreasing of some trace elements and oxidative stress status are considered to play a role. In this study, the effect of Lactocare® synbiotic on the serum levels of trace elements including Zn, Cu, Mg, Na, Fe, P, Ca, and K in the patients with mild to moderate psoriasis was investigated. METHODS Sixty-four patients with mild to moderate psoriasis were included. Patients were randomly divided into treatment (n═32) and control (n═32) groups. The treatment group received Lactocare® and the control group received a placebo (two times daily for 12 weeks). Eight patients from the intervention group and 18 patients from the control group discontinued the study because of the recent COVID-19 condition. For routine trace element analysis, the blood samples were collected from all patients at the baseline as well as week 12 post-treatment. The serum was then isolated and the serum levels of trace elements including Fe, K, Ca, Mg, P, Zn, Na, and Cu were measured using an automatic electrolyte analyzer. For confirmation of the effect of Lactocare® on the alteration of serum levels of trace elements, intra-group analysis was performed at two interval times: baseline and week 12 post-treatment. RESULTS The serum levels of K, P, and Ca in the placebo group were significantly higher than that of the treatment group at baseline. Serum levels of Zn and Ca were significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the placebo group at week 12 post-treatment. Moreover, a significantly lower serum level of K, P, and Ca in the treatment group at the baseline compared to the placebo group was compensated on week 12 post-treatment. Intra-group analysis in the treatment group showed that the serum levels of Fe, Ca, Mg, P, Zn, and Na was significantly increased at week 12 post-treatment compared to baseline levels. Whereas, intra-group analysis in the control group showed only Ca has a significant difference between baseline and week 12 post-treatment. CONCLUSION The serum levels of Fe, Zn, P, Mg, Ca, and Na are increased significantly 12 weeks after oral administration of Lactocare® in psoriatic patients. The serum level of Fe and Cu is affected by sex at pre- and post-treatment. This study supports the concept that Lactocare® exerts beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract to improve mineral absorption in psoriatic patients.
2.
Selective reduction in glutaminase activity of l‑Asparaginase by asparagine 248 to serine mutation: A combined computational and experimental effort in blood cancer treatment.
Aghaeepoor, M, Akbarzadeh, A, Mirzaie, S, Hadian, A, Jamshidi Aval, S, Dehnavi, E
International journal of biological macromolecules. 2018;(Pt B):2448-2457
Abstract
Type II l‑asparaginase (l‑ASNase) is an FDA approved enzyme drug with extensive applications for treatment of certain blood cancers. However, the therapeutic efficiency of this enzyme is hampered by its undesirable glutaminase activity. Given the pivotal role of this enzyme against cancer, designing engineered mutants with diminished glutaminase activity would be of great therapeutic interest. To this end, N248S mutation was selected as the potential mutation with beneficial effects. Various in silico analyses including MD simulation, molecular docking and QMMM studies were performed to assess the effects of N248S mutation on the activity of the enzyme. Thereafter, this mutation along with N248A, N248V and N248T mutations as controls were exerted in l‑ASNase gene. The results from in silico analyses and experimental efforts indicated that N248S mutation is associated with the suitable l‑ASNase activity, while the glutaminase activity is disturbed due to impaired interactions. It has been shown that glutamine turnover was affected much more strongly than asparagine hydrolysis. The approach of exploiting in silico tools to design mutated enzymes lead to staggering time and cost reduction. Following this strategy, we have designed a mutant l‑ASNase with diminished glutaminase activity, which could be of interest for improved biomedical applications.
3.
Disulfide bonds elimination of endoglucanase II from Trichoderma reesei by site-directed mutagenesis to improve enzyme activity and thermal stability: An experimental and theoretical approach.
Akbarzadeh, A, Pourzardosht, N, Dehnavi, E, Ranaei Siadat, SO, Zamani, MR, Motallebi, M, Nikzad Jamnani, F, Aghaeepoor, M, Barshan Tashnizi, M
International journal of biological macromolecules. 2018;(Pt B):1572-1580
Abstract
EndoglucanaseII (Cel5A) of Trichoderma reesei is widely used industrially with the high catalytic efficiency, but it is not stable high temperatures. Structural comparison with the closest thermophilic endoglucanase homolog, Cel5A from Thermoascus aurantiacus, demonstrates disulfide bond differences. Replacement of Cysteine99 with Valine and Cysteine323 with Histidine by site directed mutagenesis caused elimination of two disulfide bonds. Recombinant expression in Pichia pastoris showed the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) increment toward CMC for single mutant enzymes, C99V and C323H, about 1.87 and 1.3 folded respectively. This indicates that the elimination of disulfide bond in substrate binding cleft around the catalytic domain of mutant EndoglucanaseII may be increased the flexibility of protein, to form a suitable E-S complex. In direct contrast with previous studies suggesting the existence of disulfide bonds increase the protein stability, the results showed mutant endoglucanase enzymes with disulfide bond reduction have higher thermal stability. The thermal stability of C99V and C323H in 80 °C were increased 2.4 and 2.34 folded, respectively. In this project, theoretical data had a good agreement with the experimental results. Because of high enzyme activity and thermal stability, both of C99V and C323H mutant have high potential suitable for different industrial applications.
4.
Role of Probiotics in Managing of Helicobacter Pylori Infection: A Review.
Kafshdooz, T, Akbarzadeh, A, Majdi Seghinsara, A, Pourhassan, M, Nasrabadi, HT, Milani, M
Drug research. 2017;(2):88-93
Abstract
Background:Helicobacter pylori is a prevalent pathogen which is considered as an etiological cause for gastroduodenal ulcers, and a substantial risk factor for gastric malignancies. The vital factor to take into account is that roughly half of the world's population is infected with this bacterium. However, most subjects colonized remain asymptomatic and do not require any treatment. Several antimicrobial agents such as amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metronidazole are used to eradicate the infection. However, these drug regiments do not eradicate H. pylori in all patients because of the anti-drug resistance. Aim: In this review we aim to discuss the role and mechanisms of probiotics, as supportive medicines, in management of H. pylori infection. Methods: We have reviewed the published articles in PubMed and Medline databases. Also, abstracts presented in international conferences on the management of H. pylori infections and treatment protocol, have been thoroughly reviewed. Results: The overall trend in the literature indicates the usefulness of probiotics in controlling H. pylori infection. This bacterium is among the most studied human pathogens regarding the efficacy of probiotics for treating its infection. Nevertheless, some studies suggest that probiotics do not efficiently eradicate H. pylori but retain the number of this bacterium at low levels inside the human stomach. Conclusion: The analyzed literature suggest that when probiotics are consumed in conjunction with antibiotics, the eradication rate may be improved through modulating the immune response and decreasing the adverse effects of routine drugs leading to gastroprotection.