👤 Mehmet Arif Demirci

Chronic stress is known to impair emotional regulation and adaptive behavioral responses through neuroinflammatory activation, oxidative imbalance, and dysregulation of neuroplasticity-related genes. Kiperin Mind Focus, a nootropic nutraceutical containing L-theanine, citicoline, phosphatidylserine, Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups ( Chronic stress induced anhedonia, anxiety-like behavior, and behavioral despair, accompanied by elevated proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative imbalance, and neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The supplementation significantly improved SPT, OFT, EPM, and FST performance, normalized cytokine and oxidative parameters, and reduced neuronal injury scores. At the molecular level, supplementation attenuated stress-induced upregulation of Kiperin Mind Focus exerted robust neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects under chronic stress, restoring molecular homeostasis and stabilizing stress-related behavioral outcomes. These findings support its role as a stress-buffering and mood-stabilizing supplement, that promotes emotional regulation and adaptive exploratory behavior under prolonged stress conditions. Show less

Depression, a prevalent psychiatric disorder, exerts severe and debilitating impacts on an individual's mental and physical well-being, and it is considered a chronic mental illness. Chronic stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of depression. Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus thermophilus are psychobiotic bacteria and synthesize some neurotransmitters that play a role in the pathogenesis of depression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Bactolac (Lactobacillus plantarum NBIMCC 8767  + Streptococcus thermophilus NBIMCC 8258) on chronic stress-induced depression in rats. Behavioral tests, including the sucrose preference test, elevated plus maze test, forced swim test, and three-chamber sociability test, were employed to assess depressive and anxiety-like behaviors. The expression level of the 5-HT1A, DRD1, ADRA-2A, GABA-A α1, CNR1, NR3C2, NOD1, NLRP3 and MC4R; BDNF levels, glial activity and intestinal permeability were determined in chronic stress-induced depression in rats. In conclusions, chronic stress decreased the expression levels of 5-HT1A, DRD1, ADRA-2A, GABA-A α1, CNR1, NR3C2, NOD1 and BDNF level; increased the expression levels of NLRP3 and MC4R, caused neurodegeneration and glial activity, ultimately led to depressive effects. Bactolac was effective in reducing depressive-like behaviors according to the results of behavioral tests. Bactolac treatment provided high neuronal survival rate increasing BDNF level, prevented the excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by reducing the expression levels of NLRP3 and MC4R, therefore, prevented the excessive activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and accordingly, reduced neurodegeneration and glial cell activation in depressed rats. We can suggest that Bactolac supplementation may be beneficial in coping with stress, alleviate the effects of chronic stress and help to protect mental health. Show less

Subclinical atherosclerosis is a key predictor of cardiovascular events. While inflammation plays a crucial role in atherosclerosis, the involvement of Human Neutrophil Peptides 1-3 (HNP1-3) in its progression remains unclear. The study investigates the association of HNP1-3 and PCSK9 with coronary atherosclerotic burden and explores the potential mediatory role of PCSK9 in HNP1-3's effect on atherogenesis. Patients who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) and had subclinical atherosclerosis (luminal stenosis < 50%) or normal coronary arteries were included in this cross-sectional study. HNP1-3 and PCSK9 levels were measured using ELISA, and coronary plaque burden was quantified using the modified Gensini score. Patients with subclinical atherosclerosis had significantly higher levels of HNP1-3 (p < 0.001), PCSK9 (p < 0.001), and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] (p < 0.001) compared to controls. HNP1-3 was an independent predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis (p < 0.001), and its levels positively correlated with the modified Gensini score (p < 0.001). In multinomial logistic regression, higher levels of HNP1-3, PCSK9, and Lp(a) were independently associated with higher modified Gensini score tertiles. Mediation analysis revealed that PCSK9 mediated 48.7% of the effect of HNP1-3 on the modified Gensini score. After adjusting for hsCRP and cardiovascular risk factors, the direct effect of HNP1-3 became statistically insignificant, while the indirect effect via PCSK9 remained significant, suggesting that PCSK9 fully mediates the pro-atherogenic effects of HNP1-3. In conclusion, HNP1-3 is a novel independent predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis and coronary plaque burden, with its effects being mediated through PCSK9. These findings suggest that targeting PCSK9 could mitigate the inflammatory actions of HNP1-3, offering potential therapeutic insights for atherosclerosis prevention. Show less

Insulin resistance is considered the most important key mechanism in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Some studies have reported that hyperinsulinemia decreases the hepatic secretion of apolipoprotein (Apo) B. Chronic hyperinsulinemia in NAFLD may be responsible for the accumulation of triglycerides in hepatocytes. We aimed to investigate whether apolipoproteins are related to histological findings in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. We also aimed to evaluate the effects of obesity on apolipoproteins and the pathogenesis of NAFLD. In this cross-sectional study, 91 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included. The control group consisted of 39 healthy subjects who had no history of liver disease or alcohol consumption and were matched for age, gender and smoking. Apoliprotein A1 and Apo B were measured via an immunoturbidimetric method with commercially available OSR6142 Apo A1 and OSR6143 Apo B immunoassay kits on an Olympus AU2700 analyzer. Age, gender, and smoking distribution were similar among nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients, simple steatosis patients, and controls. The differences in the mean Apo A1 and Apo B levels and the Apo B/A1 ratio among non-alcoholic steatosis, simple steatosis, and control subjects did not reach statistical significance. In addition, patients with obese NAFLD had higher steatosis scores than patients with nonobese NAFLD (p<0.05). Apo A1 and B levels and the B/A1 ratio were not associated with histopathological findings in patients with NAFLD. Fibrosis and ApoB1/A were found to be independent risk factors for metabolic associated fatty liver disease. In addition, obesity increases the grade of hepatic steatosis but does not cause lobular inflammation, ballooning or fibrosis. Show less