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MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF CRANBERRY-DERIVED PHYTOCHEMICALS IN PREVENTING URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN DIABETIC PATIENTS

MATEI DANIELA MARIANA

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The constant increase of bacterial resistance to antibiotics over time is an issue that requires finding therapeutic alternatives for the prevention and treatment of infections. Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the predisposition to urinary tract infections (UTIs) through induced alterations in the urothelium secondary to high glucose concentrations and by affecting the immune response. Pharmacological formulas containing cranberry-derived compounds could represent a choice for the prophylaxis of UTIs in diabetics, but this possibility needs to be further analysed. Certain constituents of cranberry, especially polyphenols, have been shown to decrease bacterial adhesion to the urothelium, stimulate the secretion of Tamm-Horsfall protein, improve the integrity of the urothelium barrier and exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial actions. The aim of this work is to evaluate potential pathogenetic mechanisms that could be interfered with by cranberry-derived compounds to prevent UTIs in diabetics.