Factors affecting the intestinal-barrier permeability of newborns, such as body mass index (BMI), nutrition and antibiotics, are assumed to affect intestinal-barrier permeability in the first two years of life. This study assessed 100 healthy, full-term newborns to 24 months old. Faecal zonulin/calprotectin concentrations were measured at 1, 6, 12, 24 months as gut-permeability markers. Zonulin concentrations increased between 1 and 12 months (medians: 114.41, 223.7 ng/mL; respectively), whereas calprotectin concentrations decreased between one and six months (medians: 149. 29, 109.28 µg/mL); both then stabilized (24 months: 256.9 ng/mL zonulin; 59.5 µg/mL calprotectin). In individual children, high levels at one month gave high levels at older ages (correlations: calprotectin: between 1 and 6 or 12 months: correlation coefficient (R) = 0.33, statistical significance (p) = 0.0095; R = 0.28, p = 0.032; zonulin: between 1 and 24 months: R = 0.32; p = 0.022, respectively). Parameters which gave marker increases: antibiotics during pregnancy (calprotectin; six months: by 80%, p = 0.038; 12 months: by 48%, p = 0.028); vaginal birth (calprotectin: 6 months: by 140%, p = 0.005); and > 5.7 pregnancy-BMI increase (zonulin: 12 months: by 74%, p = 0.049). Conclusions: “Closure of the intestines” is spread over time and begins between the sixth and twelfth month of life. Antibiotic therapy, BMI increase > 5.7 during pregnancy and vaginal birth are associated with increased intestinal permeability during the first two years of life. Stool zonulin and calprotectin concentrations were much higher compared with previous measurements at older ages; clinical interpretation and validation are needed (no health associations found).

Background: It can be hypothetically assumed that maternal and perinatal factors influence the intestinal barrier. Methods: The study was conducted with 100 healthy, full-term newborns breastfed in the first week of life, with similar analyses for their mothers. Zonulin and calprotectin levels were used as intestinal permeability markers. Results: The median (range) zonulin concentrations (ng/mL) were in mothers: serum, 21.39 (6.39–57.54); stool, 82.23 (42.52–225.74); and newborns: serum cord blood, 11.14 (5.82–52.34); meconium, 54.15 (1.36–700.65); and stool at age seven days, 114.41 (29.38–593.72). Calprotectin median (range) concentrations (µg/mL) in mothers were: stool, 74.79 (3.89–211.77); and newborns: meconium, 154.76 (6.93–8884.11); and stool at age seven days 139.12 (11.89–627.35). The use of antibiotics during pregnancy resulted in higher zonulin concentrations in umbilical-cord serum and calprotectin concentrations in newborn stool at seven days, while antibiotic therapy during labour resulted in higher zonulin concentrations in the stool of newborns at seven days. Zonulin concentrations in the stool of newborns (at seven days) who were born via caesarean section were higher compared to with vaginal birth. With further analyses, caesarean section was found to have a greater effect on zonulin concentrations than prophylactic administration of antibiotics in the perinatal period. Pregnancy mass gain >18 kg was associated with higher calprotectin concentrations in maternal stool. Body Mass Index (BMI) increase >5.7 during pregnancy was associated with decreased zonulin concentrations in maternal stool and increased calprotectin concentrations in stool of mothers and newborns at seven days. There was also a negative correlation between higher BMI increase in pregnancy and maternal zonulin stool concentrations and a positive correlation between BMI increase in pregnancy and maternal calprotectin stool concentrations. Conclusion: Maternal-foetal factors such as caesarean section, antibiotic therapy during pregnancy, as well as change in mother’s BMI during pregnancy may increase intestinal permeability in newborns. Changes in body mass during pregnancy can also affect intestinal permeability in mothers. However, health consequences associated with increased intestinal permeability during the first days of life are unknown. Additionally, before the zonulin and calprotectin tests can be adopted as universal diagnostic applications to assess increased intestinal permeability, validation of these tests is necessary.

Objectives: Cancer is the second most common cause of death, with breast cancer (BC) as the most frequently diagnosed neoplasm among females. The origin of BC is multifactorial and depends on environmental and genetic factors. The disease presents a significant challenge due to its drug resistance and frequent metastasis. Thus, new effective therapies and metastasis prevention are much needed. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural polyphenol which possesses the ability to inhibit BC cell proliferation and demonstrates cytotoxic properties against those cells. In our study, we examined the effect of RA on the expression of ZEB1, MDM2, ABCB1, PTEN and TWIST1 genes in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Material and methods: MCF-7 cell cultures were treated with 0.2 μM doxorubicin (DOX) and 1.5, 15 or 50 μM of RA. Real-time PCR reaction was performed to analyze gene expression levels. Results: PCR analysis showed a significant increase of the ZEB1 gene expression, which was about 3-fold for DOX 0.2 μM, 9-fold for 0.2 μM DOX + 1.5 μM RA and 0.2 μM DOX + 15 μM RA (p < 0.05), and about 6.5-fold for 0.2 μM DOX + 50 μM RA (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a decrease of the MDM2 gene expression was observed in all of the examined variants and was about 40–75% (p < 0.05). No influence of DOX and RA combined with DOX on the ABCB1, TWIST1 and PTEN genes was found. Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that RA might be used as an adjuvant therapeutic factor in BC treatment. Objectives: Cancer is the second most common cause of death, with breast cancer (BC) as the most frequently diagnosed neoplasm among females. The origin of BC is multifactorial and depends on environmental and genetic factors. The disease presents a significant challenge due to its drug resistance and frequent metastasis. Thus, new effective therapies and metastasis prevention are much needed. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural polyphenol which possesses the ability to inhibit BC cell proliferation and demonstrates cytotoxic properties against those cells. In our study, we examined the effect of RA on the expression of ZEB1, MDM2, ABCB1, PTEN and TWIST1 genes in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Material and methods: MCF-7 cell cultures were treated with 0.2 μM doxorubicin (DOX) and 1.5, 15 or 50 μM of RA. Real-time PCR reaction was performed to analyze gene expression levels. Results: PCR analysis showed a significant increase of the ZEB1 gene expression, which was about 3-fold for DOX 0.2 μM, 9-fold for 0.2 μM DOX + 1.5 μM RA and 0.2 μM DOX + 15 μM RA (p < 0.05), and about 6.5-fold for 0.2 μM DOX + 50 μM RA (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a decrease of the MDM2 gene expression was observed in all of the examined variants and was about 40–75% (p < 0.05). No influence of DOX and RA combined with DOX on the ABCB1, TWIST1 and PTEN genes was found. Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that RA might be used as an adjuvant therapeutic factor in BC treatment.

Summary Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease with important genetic factors. We evaluated the frequency of polymorphism 283G/A of the vitamin D₃ VDR gene receptor. The study included 800 women at the postmenopausal (505) and reproductive (295) age. Statistically significant changes, depending on the genotype, were shown. Introduction Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease of strong genetic origin with population variability determined by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Recognition of different genetic variants underlying development of osteoporosis would make it possible to administer individual symptomatic treatment as well as early prophylactics of osteoporosis. Methods The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of polymorphism 283G/A of the vitamin D₃ VDR gene receptor and assessment of its relations with the clinical parameters of osseous turnover and degree of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The study included 800 women at the postmenopausal (505) and reproductive (295) age throughout the Wielkopolska region in Poland. The postmenopausal group included women with osteoporosis and osteopenia and the healthy ones. Women at the reproductive age were healthy. Frequency of the tested gene polymorphism was evaluated in the group where bone mineral density (BMD) was marked and in the control group. Results The obtained test results pointed to correlation of polymorphism VDR 283G/A with the BMD scores for the lumbar vertebrae in women with osteopenia and osteoporosis, therefore the ones at risk of fractures. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism correlated with reduced BMD values. Conclusions Polymorphism 283G/A of the vitamin D₃ receptor gene has been proved to be the genetic factor of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The polymorphism mentioned above has been proved to be a factor of mineral bone density changes of women.