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Food & Function Jul 2024Obesity is often accompanied by low-grade chronic inflammation and metabolic syndrome. It has been established that microbiota influences many physiological processes,...
Obesity is often accompanied by low-grade chronic inflammation and metabolic syndrome. It has been established that microbiota influences many physiological processes, including the development of obesity, and dysbiosis has been observed in obese individuals. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of a new probiotic formulation, containing two probiotic strains and the bioactive compound octacosanol, on body weight, metabolic parameters, and concentrations of certain adipocytokines and appetite-regulating hormones in obese women. This double blind placebo-controlled supplementary intervention study included twenty-five women in the intervention group and twenty-three in the placebo group, and it lasted 12 weeks. Daily oral supplementation included 7 × 10 CFU of 299v (DSM9843), 5 × 10 CFU of var. (DBVPG6763), and 40 mg of octacosanol or placebo. Body weight, metabolic parameters, adipocytokines, and appetite-regulating hormones were assessed before (T0) and after the intervention (T1). After the intervention, significantly lower median concentrations of CRP ( = 0.005) and IL-6 ( = 0.012) were measured in the intervention group than the baseline, while the median concentrations of ghrelin ( = 0.026) and HDL-cholesterol ( = 0.03) were significantly increased. The intervention group had lower CRP levels ( = 0.023) and higher ghrelin levels ( = 0.006) than the placebo group. Significant changes in BMI between groups were not observed. In summary, although the new probiotic formulation showed beneficial effects on IL-6, CRP, HDL, and ghrelin levels, its potential effects on regulating triglyceride, insulin, and glucose levels require further studies before the novel dietary intervention could be considered a useful adjuvant therapy and an effective strategy for the management of obesity and obesity-associated comorbidities.
PubMed: 38953736
DOI: 10.1039/d4fo01269k -
Pediatric Pulmonology Jul 2024Several techniques can be used to assess bronchodilator response (BDR) in preschool-aged children, including spirometry, respiratory oscillometry, the interrupter... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Several techniques can be used to assess bronchodilator response (BDR) in preschool-aged children, including spirometry, respiratory oscillometry, the interrupter technique, and specific airway resistance. However, there has not been a systematic comparison of BDR thresholds across studies yet.
METHODS
A systematic review was performed on all studies up to May 2023 measuring a bronchodilator effect in children 2-6 years old using one of these techniques (PROSPERO CRD42021264659). Studies were identified using MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL via EBSCO, Web of Science databases, and reference lists of relevant manuscripts.
RESULTS
Of 1224 screened studies, 43 were included. Over 85% were from predominantly European ancestry populations, and only 22 studies (51.2%) calculated a BDR cutoff based on a healthy control group. Five studies included triplicate testing with a placebo to account for the within-subject intrasession repeatability. A relative BDR was most consistently reported by the included studies (95%) but varied widely across all techniques. Various statistical methods were used to define a BDR, with six studies using receiver operating characteristic analyses to measure the discriminative power to distinguish healthy from wheezy and asthmatic children.
CONCLUSION
A BDR in 2- to 6-year-olds cannot be universally defined based on the reviewed literature due to inconsistent methodology and cutoff calculations. Further studies incorporating robust methods using either distribution-based or clinical anchor-based approaches to define BDR are required.
PubMed: 38953717
DOI: 10.1002/ppul.27112 -
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy Jul 2024During menopause the majority of women experience vasomotor symptoms which may lead to several untoward effects and negatively impact quality of life. Fezolinetant, a,... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
During menopause the majority of women experience vasomotor symptoms which may lead to several untoward effects and negatively impact quality of life. Fezolinetant, a, novel agent directly targeting the underlying pathophysiology of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms offers an alternative to hormonal therapies for which many patients have a contraindication or unwillingness to take due to safety concerns.
AREAS COVERED
This review summarizes key pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic parameters of fezolinetant along with efficacy and safety data derived from clinical trials. A literature search of peer-reviewed publications evaluating the efficacy and safety of fezolinetant was conducted using PubMed and EMBASE databases. A review of registered trials in clinicaltrials.gov was evaluated to identify ongoing studies.
EXPERT OPINION
Placebo-controlled studies demonstrated that fezolinetant led to a statistically significant reduction in vasomotor symptom frequency and severity among patients with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms. The most common adverse event is headache (5-10%) and no serious safety signals have been noted. Direct head-to-head comparison with hormonal therapies and nonhormonal therapies for VMS, assessment of sleep outcomes, and evaluation of efficacy and safety beyond one year are key areas where additional data is still needed.
PubMed: 38953697
DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2024.2375039 -
Journal of the International Society of... Dec 2024Beetroot juice (BRJ) intake has been considered a practical nutritional strategy among well-trained athletes. This study aimed to assess the effects of BRJ intake on... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of acute beetroot juice intake on performance, maximal oxygen uptake, and ventilatory efficiency in well-trained master rowers: a randomized, double-blinded crossover study.
BACKGROUND
Beetroot juice (BRJ) intake has been considered a practical nutritional strategy among well-trained athletes. This study aimed to assess the effects of BRJ intake on performance, cardiorespiratory and metabolic variables during a simulated 2000-meter rowing ergometer test in well-trained master rowers.
METHOD
Ten well-trained male master rowers (30-48 years) participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design for 3 weeks. In the first week, a researcher explained all the experimental procedures to the participants. In the next two weeks, the participants were tested in 2 rowing ergometer sessions, separated from each other by a 7-day washout period. In both strictly identical sessions, the participants randomly drank BRJ or placebo (PL) 3 hours before the start of the tests. Subsequently, the participants carried out the 2000-meter rowing ergometer tests. Oxygen saturation and blood lactate measurements were performed before starting (pretest) and at the end of the test (posttest). Performance parameters and cardiorespiratory variables were recorded during the rowing ergometer test.
RESULTS
An improvement in time trial performance was observed, with a mean difference of 4 seconds (90% confidence limits ± 3.10; ≤ 0.05) compared to PL. Relative and absolute increased (mean difference of 2.10 mL·kg·min, 90% confidence limits ± 1.80; mean difference of 0.16 L·min 90% confidence limits ± 0.11, respectively; ≤ 0.05) compared to PL. No ergogenic effect was observed on ventilatory efficiency and blood lactate concentrations after BRJ intake.
CONCLUSION
Acute BRJ intake may improve time trial performance as well as in well-trained master rowers. However, BRJ does not appear to improve ventilatory efficiency.
Topics: Humans; Double-Blind Method; Cross-Over Studies; Male; Beta vulgaris; Adult; Athletic Performance; Fruit and Vegetable Juices; Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Oxygen Consumption; Water Sports; Middle Aged; Lactic Acid; Exercise Test
PubMed: 38953606
DOI: 10.1080/15502783.2024.2373170 -
Acta Oto-laryngologica Jul 2024The most important problem in tonsillectomy is pain in the early postoperative period.
BACKGROUND
The most important problem in tonsillectomy is pain in the early postoperative period.
OBJECTIVE
We purposed to compare the effects of lidocaine, tetracaine, and articaine application to the peritonsillar bed on post-tonsillectomy pain in children.
METHODS
The prospective, placebo-controlled study included 80 patients, ages 3-14, who were scheduled for elective tonsillectomy. Patients were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 received 0.9% NaCl; group 2 received 2% lidocaine; group 3 received 2% tetracaine; and group 4 received 4% articaine to the tonsillary bed for 5 min just after the operation. All patients were evaluated in terms of pain and pain-related adverse events in the postoperative 24 h.
RESULTS
All groups that used local anesthetics had significantly lower pain levels than the control group in the first eight hours ( < .001). Furthermore, the articaine group had a lower pain score than the tetracaine group at the eighth hour ( < .05). The articaine group had a lower pain score at the 16th hour than both the control and tetracaine groups ( < .05). There was no significant difference between the groups at the 24th hour ( > .05).
CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE
We recommend the immediate application of topical articaine to the tonsillar bed following the procedure to enhance postoperative pain management.
PubMed: 38953579
DOI: 10.1080/00016489.2024.2372298 -
Human Fertility (Cambridge, England) Dec 2024
Statement of Retraction: Probiotic supplementation and the effects on weight loss, glycaemia and lipid profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
PubMed: 38953512
DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2024.2373595 -
The Chinese Journal of Dental Research Jun 2024To evaluate the effect of entrapment of curcumin within liposomal formulation and the sustained release attitude of the formulated liposomal gel on periodontal defects... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of entrapment of curcumin within liposomal formulation and the sustained release attitude of the formulated liposomal gel on periodontal defects in diabetic patients in clinical and biochemical terms.
METHODS
Thirty diabetic patients with periodontitis were randomly assigned to three equal groups and ten healthy participants were assigned as the control group. Group I was subjected to scaling and root planing (SRP) with application of sustained release liposomal curcumin gel. Group II was subjected to scaling and root planning with application of curcumin gel. Group III was subjected to scaling and root planning with application of placebo gel. Group IV (control group), no intervention was done. The following parameters were evaluated before treatment and after 6 and 12 weeks: plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC).
RESULTS
All study groups showed improvement in clinical and biochemical parameters that are statistically significant. Upon comparing the results of treatment modalities, the highest improvement was achieved in group I followed by group II then group III.
CONCLUSION
Sustained release liposomal curcumin gel enhanced the antioxidant capacity, decreased the inflammatory mediators and showed more improvement in clinical outcome for treatment of periodontitis in diabetic patients.
Topics: Humans; Curcumin; Liposomes; Delayed-Action Preparations; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Adult; Dental Scaling; Periodontitis; Root Planing; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Antioxidants; Periodontal Index
PubMed: 38953482
DOI: 10.3290/j.cjdr.b5459607 -
American Journal of Hematology Jul 2024Central nervous system (CNS) injury is common in sickle cell disease (SCD) and occurs early in life. Hydroxyurea is safe and efficacious for treatment of SCD, but...
Central nervous system (CNS) injury is common in sickle cell disease (SCD) and occurs early in life. Hydroxyurea is safe and efficacious for treatment of SCD, but high-quality evidence from randomized trials to estimate its neuroprotective effect is scant. HU Prevent was a randomized (1:1), double-blind, phase II feasibility/pilot trial of dose-escalated hydroxyurea vs. placebo for the primary prevention of CNS injury in children with HbSS or HbS-β-thalassemia subtypes of SCD age 12-48 months with normal neurological examination, MRI of the brain, and cerebral blood flow velocity. We hypothesized that hydroxyurea would reduce by 50% the incidence of CNS injury. Two outcomes were compared: primary-a composite of silent cerebral infarction, elevated cerebral blood flow velocity, transient ischemic attack, or stroke; secondary-a weighted score estimating the risk of suffering the consequences of stroke (the Stroke Consequences Risk Score-SCRS), based on the same outcome events. Six participants were randomized to each group. One participant in the hydroxyurea group had a primary outcome vs. four in the placebo group (incidence rate ratio [90% CI] 0.216 [0.009, 1.66], p = .2914) (~80% reduction in the hydroxyurea group). The mean SCRS score was 0.078 (SD 0.174) in the hydroxyurea group, 0.312 (SD 0.174) in the placebo group, p = .072, below the p-value of .10 often used to justify subsequent phase III investigations. Serious adverse events related to study procedures occurred in 3/41 MRIs performed, all related to sedation. These results suggest that hydroxyurea may have profound neuroprotective effect in children with SCD and support a definitive phase III study to encourage the early use of hydroxyurea in all infants with SCD.
PubMed: 38953438
DOI: 10.1002/ajh.27423 -
Magnesium Research Jun 2024To evaluate the analgesic effects of intravenous magnesium in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) were systematically identified from... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
To evaluate the analgesic effects of intravenous magnesium in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) were systematically identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library from inception to May 1st, 2023. The primary outcome was the effect of intravenous magnesium on the severity of postoperative pain at 24 hours following surgery, while the secondary outcomes included association between intravenous magnesium and pain severity at other time points, morphine consumption, and haemodynamic changes. Meta-analysis of seven RCTs published between 2007 and 2019, involving 549 adults, showed no correlation between magnesium and pain scores at 1-4 (standardized mean difference [SMD]=-0.06; p=0.58), 8-12 (SMD=-0.09; p=0.58), 24 (SMD=-0.16; p=0.42), and 48 (SMD=-0.27; p=0.09) hours post-surgery. Perioperative magnesium resulted in lower equivalent morphine consumption at 24 hours post-surgery (mean difference [MD]=-25.22 mg; p=0.04) and no effect at 48 hours (MD=-4.46 mg; p=0.19). Magnesium decreased heart rate (MD = -5.31 beats/min; p=0.0002) after tracheal intubation or after surgery, but had no effect on postoperative blood pressure (MD=-6.25 mmHg; p=0.11). There was a significantly higher concentration of magnesium in the magnesium group compared with that in the placebo group (MD = 0.91 mg/dL; p<0.00001). This meta-analysis provides evidence supporting perioperative magnesium as an analgesic adjuvant at 24 hours following thoracic surgery, but no opioid-sparing effect at 48 hours post-surgery. The severity of postoperative pain did not significantly differ between any of the postoperative time points, irrespective of magnesium. Further research on perioperative magnesium in various surgical settings is needed.
Topics: Humans; Pain, Postoperative; Magnesium; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Thoracic Surgical Procedures; Analgesia
PubMed: 38953415
DOI: 10.1684/mrh.2024.0522 -
Clinical Cardiology Jul 2024Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have shown encouraging results regarding cardiovascular outcomes mainly in patients with diabetes. In the present... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have shown encouraging results regarding cardiovascular outcomes mainly in patients with diabetes. In the present study, we compared the efficacy of GLP-1 RAs in cardiovascular events between patients with and without diabetes.
METHODS
After finding eligible studies assessing the impact of GLP-1 RAs on cardiovascular events in patients with and without diabetes using a systematic search, we performed a meta-analysis on randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) comparing cardiovascular outcomes between patients taking GLP-1 RAs and placebo stratified by the presence or absence of diabetes. Relative risk (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were set as the reporting effect size using the random-effects model.
RESULTS
A total of 24 RCTs (50 033 with GLP-1 RAs and 44 514 with placebo) were included. Patients on GLP-1 RAs had lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.82-0.93), cardiovascular death (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82-0.94), myocardial infarction (MI) (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77-0.97), stroke (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.80-0.92), and hospitalization for heart failure (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83-0.98). Both subgroups were shown to be effective in terms of MACE and mortality. Nondiabetic patients had decreased risk of hospitalization for heart failure and MI, whereas the diabetic subgroup had marginally nonsignificant efficacy.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this meta-analysis indicated that patients who are overweight/obese but do not have diabetes have a comparable reduction in the risk of adverse cardiovascular events as those with diabetes. These results need to be confirmed further by large-scale randomized trials in the future.
Topics: Humans; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Cardiovascular Diseases; Hypoglycemic Agents; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Risk Factors; Risk Assessment; Treatment Outcome; Incretins; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists
PubMed: 38953365
DOI: 10.1002/clc.24314