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Revista Espanola de Salud Publica May 2020Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to generate an apparently favorable lipid profile. Paradoxically, these patients present an increase in...
BACKGROUND
Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to generate an apparently favorable lipid profile. Paradoxically, these patients present an increase in concomitant cardiovascular events. The objectives of the present review were to analyze and synthesize studies that inquired into the changes produced by hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the lipid metabolism of patients with chronic infection, and about whether these modifications can be associated with subsequent episodes of cardiovascular diseases.
METHODS
A bibliographic search was carried out in the Medline and Scopus databases of the articles published from January 2008 to February 2019. A total of 901 publications were identified, of which 10 studies that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were reviewed.
RESULTS
It was found that the levels of total cholesterol and its lipid fractions were decreased in patients with chronic HCV infection. There was no clear association with triglyceride levels. In addition, there seemed to be an association between chronic HCV infection and an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
CONCLUSIONS
Chronic HCV infection has a lipid-lowering effect and increases cardiovascular risk. Prospective studies are needed to analyze the effect of new therapies with direct-acting antivirals on lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk.
Topics: Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Lipid Metabolism Disorders; Risk Factors
PubMed: 32419698
DOI: No ID Found -
Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and... Apr 2020To evaluate the in vitro effects of corticosteroid injections (CSIs) on rotator cuff tendon (RCT). (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To evaluate the in vitro effects of corticosteroid injections (CSIs) on rotator cuff tendon (RCT).
METHODS
A systematic review of the MEDLINE database was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for all studies reporting on adverse biochemical and biomechanical effects of CSIs on RCT.
RESULTS
Sixteen studies were identified that had been published in the last 15 years on the effects of corticosteroids on RCTs. Eight of these studies were on human RCTs, 6 were on rat tendons, 1 considered both human and rat tendons, and 1 was on dog tendon. Five studies analyzed the effects of corticosteroids on the biomechanical properties of RCT or rotator cuff repair, whereas the remaining observed the cellular and molecular effects of CSIs on RCT. Corticosteroids suppress an inflammatory response, induce apoptosis, and have negative effects on collagen and tendon cell viability in RCTs. The mechanical properties, including load to failure of RCTs and rotator cuff repair anchor pull-out strength, also are decreased by CSIs. These in vitro effects appear to be transient as well as frequency and dose dependent.
CONCLUSIONS
On a molecular level, CSIs decrease cellular proliferation, alter collagen and extracellular matrix composition, impede inflammatory pathways, decrease cellular viability, increase adipocyte differentiation, and increase apoptosis. These changes can be seen as early as 24 hours after corticosteroid exposure, last as long as 2 to 3 weeks, and are exacerbated by increased doses and decreased latency between doses. Biomechanical studies demonstrate that these changes result in decreased maximal load to failure, tendon stiffness, and suture anchor pull-out strength in rat shoulders up to 2 weeks but not at 3 and 4 weeks, post-CSI.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Shoulder subacromial steroid injection is common, and practitioners should be aware of results both positive and deleterious.
PubMed: 32368753
DOI: 10.1016/j.asmr.2020.01.002 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jul 2020This study provides a critical overview of experimental studies in vitro, in humans, and in animals that evaluated the efficacy of Berberine and its effect on management...
This study provides a critical overview of experimental studies in vitro, in humans, and in animals that evaluated the efficacy of Berberine and its effect on management of obesity and the related metabolic consequences. As a result of this review, we summarized the effects of Berberine in different models and the related mechanism of actions. In preclinical models, Berberine demonstrates that it affects gut microbiota by reducing diversity of microbes starting at a dosage of 100 mg/kg/day. Moreover, in animal models, Berberine explicates an action on glucose through the inhibition of α-glycosidase at a dose of 200 mh/kg/day. Berberine is also known to be effective against differentiation of adipocytes through a decrease in LXRs, PPARs, and SREBPs expression at 150 mg/kg/day. Other mechanism ascribed to Berberine are related to its inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis through the Phospheoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), Glucose-6-phosphate (G6Pase) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Furthermore, Berberine (associated to Red Yeast Rice) is effective in decreasing lipid levels in rats, which consequently lowers the change of weight gain at dosage of 40 mg/kg to 380 mg/kg/day. All the above preclinical data are confirmed in human studies where Berberine can modulate the diversity of gut microbes at the dose of 500 mg/day. In addition, Berberine is found to have a beneficial impact on gene regulation for the absorption of cholesterol at a daily dose of 300 mg in humans, an amelioration on glucose accumulation at 1.0 g daily dose was also observed. For all these reasons, this review gives an important good account of the impact of Berberine in obesity treatment and prevention.
Topics: Adipocytes; Berberine; Blood Glucose; Cholesterol; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gluconeogenesis; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Obesity; Weight Loss
PubMed: 32353823
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110137 -
Disease Markers 2019In this study, we evaluated the relationship between circulating betatrophin levels and obesity. Obesity is a common public health problem that is increasing globally.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
In this study, we evaluated the relationship between circulating betatrophin levels and obesity. Obesity is a common public health problem that is increasing globally. Betatrophin, a newly identified protein, is predominantly expressed in white and brown fat tissues and in the liver. Growing evidence suggests that betatrophin plays a pivotal role in metabolism, including the synthesis and degradation of lipids in cells, and adipocyte differentiation. Previous studies have assessed the association between circulating betatrophin levels and obesity; however, this relationship remains unclear. Therefore, our study is aimed at examining the impact of betatrophin on obesity using a meta-analysis of the current evidence. We performed a meta-analysis to quantify the relationship between betatrophin levels and obesity. A literature search was conducted through the EMBASE, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases. Retrieved studies were screened, without any language restrictions to identify relevant literature published up to December 2018. Observational studies, in which the association between circulating concentrations of betatrophin and obesity was evaluated, were considered suitable for the systematic review. Of the 65 manuscripts retrieved, 9 datasets from 6 studies, involving 681 participants, detected an association between circulating betatrophin and obesity. Circulating betatrophin levels of obese subjects were higher than those of nonobese subjects (random - effects weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.250 g/mL, 95% CI: 0.048-0.451, = 94.8%, = 0.015), yet with significant between-study heterogeneity. This heterogeneity appeared to be modified by glycemic status but not by age, the ELISA kits used, sample source, or body mass index. The high circulating betatrophin concentration may directly increase the risk of obesity in adults. Betatrophin may serve as a therapeutic target for obesity in adults.
Topics: Angiopoietin-Like Protein 8; Angiopoietin-like Proteins; Humans; Obesity; Peptide Hormones
PubMed: 31772689
DOI: 10.1155/2019/5096860 -
World Journal of Stem Cells Nov 2019Mesenchymal stem cells are pluripotent cells that have the ability to generate cells from a cell line or in other cell types from different tissues but from the same...
BACKGROUND
Mesenchymal stem cells are pluripotent cells that have the ability to generate cells from a cell line or in other cell types from different tissues but from the same origin. Although those cells have more limited differentiation capacity than embryonic stem cells, they are easily obtained from somatic tissue and can be grown in large quantities. This characteristic of undifferentiated stem cells differentiating into different cell lines arouses strategies in regenerative medicine for the treatment of different diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases.
AIM
To evaluate the cell differentiation capacity of human breastmilk stem cells for the three germ layers by a systematic review.
METHODS
The searched databases were PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, and COCHRANE LIBRARY, published between 2007 and 2018 in the English language. All were studies for analysis of the "cell differentiation potential" in the literature using the keywords "human breastmilk," "stem cells," and keywords combined with the Boolean operator "NOT" were used to exclude those articles that had the word "CANCER" and their respective synonyms, which were previously consulted according to medical subject heading terms. PRISMA 2009 guidelines were followed in this study.
RESULTS
A total of 315 titles and abstracts of articles were examined. From these, 21 were in common with more than one database, leaving 294 articles for analysis. Of that total, five publications met the inclusion criteria. When analyzing the publications, it was demonstrated that human breastmilk stem cells have a high cellular plasticity, exhibiting the ability to generate cells of all three germ layers, endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm, demonstrating their stemness. Those cells expressed the genes, TRA-1-60/81, octamer-binding transcription factor 4, and NANOG, of which NANOG, a critical regulator for self-renewal and maintenance, was the most highly expressed. Those cells have the ability to differentiate into adipocytes, chondrocytes, osteocytes, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and neurons as well hepatocytes, β-pancreatic cells, and cardiomyocytes.
CONCLUSION
Although the literature has been scarce, the pluripotentiality of these cells represents great potential for tissue engineering and cellular therapy. Further studies for safe clinical translation are needed.
PubMed: 31768226
DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v11.i11.1005 -
Endocrine Regulations Oct 2019The bones form the framework of our body. We know that bones protect our vital organs, regulate calcium and phosphorous homeostasis, and function as a site of...
The bones form the framework of our body. We know that bones protect our vital organs, regulate calcium and phosphorous homeostasis, and function as a site of erythropoiesis. More recently, however, the identification of bone hormones has allowed us to envision bones as endocrine organs too. Within the last few years, the bone hormones osteocalcin and lipocalin 2 have been implicated with glucose and energy metabolism. We systematically reviewed articles surrounding this subject and found a clear relationship between the osteocalcin levels and glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. We also found that many journals have shown the detrimental effects of an absences of lipocalin 2 from adipocytes. As osteocalcin administration to mice showed decreased blood glucose levels and promoted glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Future studies could perhaps explore the use of osteocalcin as a supplement for type 2 diabetes.
Topics: Animals; Bone Remodeling; Bone and Bones; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Energy Metabolism; Glucose; Homeostasis; Hormones; Humans
PubMed: 31734651
DOI: 10.2478/enr-2019-0027 -
World Journal of Clinical Cases Aug 2019Pancreatic lipomas are thought to be very rare. Lipomas are usually easy to identify on imaging, particularly computed tomography (CT). But sometimes it's quite...
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic lipomas are thought to be very rare. Lipomas are usually easy to identify on imaging, particularly computed tomography (CT). But sometimes it's quite difficult to distinguish a lipoma from a well-liposarcoma without histologic result.
CASE SUMMARY
Here, we present a case of pancreatic lipoma in a 59-year-old female. She was asymptomatic and had no medical history of note. CT and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass like well-differentiated liposarcoma in the pancreatic head, positron emission tomography/CT showed a low fluorodeoxyglucose uptake and laboratory tests revealed elevated transaminase and carbohydrate antigen-199 levels. Finally, the patient underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Histologically, mature adipocytes were noted in the bulk of the tumor. Accordingly, the pathologic diagnosis of the pancreatic neoplasm was lipoma. To our knowledge, this case is the first example of a suspected well-differentiated liposarcoma that was actually a pancreatic lipoma. We also highlight the radiological features distinguishing a pancreatic lipoma from a pancreatic liposarcoma and briefly review the literature.
CONCLUSION
Pancreatic lipomas show no obvious gender bias and most commonly occur in the head of the pancreas, of which the maximum diameters are often less than 5 cm, and small, asymptomatic non-compressed lipomas require follow-up only. Surgical excision should be considered when the tumor has compressed important tissues or is difficult to distinguish from a liposarcoma, the choice of surgery depends on the intraoperative presentation.
PubMed: 31531331
DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i16.2352 -
Stem Cell Research & Therapy Jun 2019Exosomes are bilayer membrane vesicles with cargos that contain a variety of surface proteins, markers, lipids, nucleic acids, and noncoding RNAs. Exosomes from... (Review)
Review
Exosomes are bilayer membrane vesicles with cargos that contain a variety of surface proteins, markers, lipids, nucleic acids, and noncoding RNAs. Exosomes from different cardiac cells participate in the processes of cell migration, proliferation, apoptosis, hypertrophy, and regeneration, as well as angiogenesis and enhanced cardiac function, which accelerate cardiac repair. In this article, we mainly focused on the exosomes from six main types of cardiac cells, i.e., fibroblasts, cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, cardiac progenitor cells, adipocytes, and cardiac telocytes. This may be the first article to describe the commonalities and differences in regard to the function and underlying mechanisms of exosomes among six cardiac cell types in cardiovascular disease.
Topics: Animals; Cardiovascular Diseases; Exosomes; Fibroblasts; Humans; MicroRNAs; Myocytes, Cardiac
PubMed: 31248454
DOI: 10.1186/s13287-019-1297-7 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Nov 2018Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune disorder that constitutes a major clinical and therapeutic challenge. Current treatment options for moderate-to-severe TED...
BACKGROUND
Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune disorder that constitutes a major clinical and therapeutic challenge. Current treatment options for moderate-to-severe TED include immunotherapy, orbital radiotherapy and decompression surgery. Limited drugs of proven efficacy are available for the treatment of people with TED. Given the role in the pathogenesis of TED of interleukin (IL)-6 expression in adipocytes, fibroblasts and macrophages, the proposed theory is that inhibition of IL-6 by tocilizumab may be an effective treatment in TED by directly reducing the inflammatory response. In addition, there is an unmet need for a new treatment that can modify the natural course of the disease and reduce the incidence of late complications that can occur as a result of fibrosis following inflammation.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the efficacy and harms of tocilizumab for the treatment of people with TED.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register) (2018, Issue 6); MEDLINE Ovid; Embase Ovid; LILACS BIREME; OpenGrey; the ISRCTN registry; ClinicalTrials.gov; the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) and the EU Clinical Trials Register. The date of the search was 31 July 2018.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We searched for trials of tocilizumab administered by intravenous infusion using any dosage regimen, compared with placebo or intravenous glucocorticoid therapy for people with TED.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We planned to use standard methods recommended by Cochrane. The primary outcome was change in TED score (as defined by investigators). Secondary outcomes included measurement of the following parameters: change in proptosis, change in extraocular motility, change in palpebral aperture measurements, number of relapses, development of optic neuropathy and change in quality of life score. We planned to measure these outcomes at three months (range two to six months) and 12 months (range six to 18 months) post-treatment. Adverse outcomes included any adverse effects identified in the trials at any time point.
MAIN RESULTS
No studies met the inclusion criteria of this review. We found one randomised, placebo-controlled, double masked study (NCT01297699). This study plans to evaluate the efficacy and harms of tocilizumab administration in people with moderate-to-severe or sight-threatening graves' ophthalmopathy (GO), that had not responded adequately to treatment with intravenous corticosteroid pulses. It was completed in December 2015 and will be assessed for inclusion in the review when data become available.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is currently no evidence from randomised controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and harms of tocilizumab for the treatment of people with TED.
Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Graves Ophthalmopathy; Humans; Interleukin-6
PubMed: 30480323
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012984.pub2 -
Nutrients Sep 2017In developed countries which are at the epicenter of the obesity pandemic, pulse crop consumption is well below recommended levels. In a recent systematic review and... (Review)
Review
In developed countries which are at the epicenter of the obesity pandemic, pulse crop consumption is well below recommended levels. In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled clinical trials, pulse consumption was associated with improved weight control and reduced adiposity, although the underlying mechanisms were a matter of speculation. Common bean ( L.) is the most widely consumed pulse crop and was the focus of this investigation. Using outbred genetic models of dietary induced obesity resistance and of dietary induced obesity sensitivity in the rat, the impact of bean consumption was investigated on the efficiency with which consumed food was converted to body mass (food efficiency ratio), body fat accumulation, adipocyte morphometrics, and patterns of protein expression associated with lipid metabolism. Cooked whole bean as well as a commercially prepared cooked bean powders were evaluated. While bean consumption did not affect food efficiency ratio, bean reduced visceral adiposity and adipocyte size in both obesity sensitive and resistant rats. In liver, bean consumption increased carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1, which is the rate limiting step in long chain fatty acid oxidation and also resulted in lower levels of circulating triglycerides. Collectively, our results are consistent with the clinical finding that pulse consumption is anti-obesogenic and indicate that one mechanism by which cooked bean exerts its bioactivity is oxidation of long chain fatty acids.
Topics: Adipocytes; Adiposity; Animals; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase; Cholesterol; Diet; Disease Models, Animal; Fabaceae; Fatty Acids; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Obesity; Oxidation-Reduction; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Triglycerides
PubMed: 28891931
DOI: 10.3390/nu9090998