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Frontiers in Neurology 2024Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a leading cause of high morbidity and mortality, represents a significant global public health challenge. Currently, no effective treatment...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a leading cause of high morbidity and mortality, represents a significant global public health challenge. Currently, no effective treatment for TBI exists. Curcumin, an active compound extracted from the root of , has demonstrated neuroprotective properties both and . Notably, it has shown potential in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation and enhancing redox balance. This paper conducts a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore curcumin's role in TBI animal models extensively. The findings offer valuable insights for future human clinical trials evaluating curcumin as a therapeutic supplement or nutraceutical in TBI management.
METHODS
Comprehensive literature searches were conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. These searches aimed to identify relevant manuscripts in all languages, utilizing the keywords "curcumin" and "traumatic brain injury."
RESULTS
The final quantitative analysis included 18 eligible articles corresponding to animal studies. The analysis revealed that curcumin significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β ( = 0.000), IL-6 ( = 0.002), and TNF-α ( = 0.000), across various concentrations, time points, and administration routes. Additionally, curcumin markedly enhanced the activity of oxidative stress markers such as SOD ( = 0.000), Sir2 ( = 0.000), GPx ( = 0.000), and Nrf2 ( = 0.000), while reducing MDA ( = 0.000), 4-HNE ( = 0.001), and oxyprotein levels ( = 0.024). Furthermore, curcumin improved cerebral edema ( = 0.000) and upregulated neuroprotective factors like synapsin I ( = 0.019), BDNF ( = 0.000), and CREB ( = 0.000), without reducing mNSS ( = 0.144). About autophagy and apoptosis, curcumin increased the activity of Beclin-1 ( = 0.000) and Bcl-2 ( = 0.000), while decreasing caspase-3 ( = 0.000), the apoptosis index ( = 0.000), and P62 ( = 0.002).
CONCLUSION
Curcumin supplementation positively affects traumatic brain injury (TBI) by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses and promoting neuroprotection. It holds potential as a therapeutic agent for human TBI. However, this conclusion necessitates further substantiation through high-quality literature and additional randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/. The registration number of PROSPERO: CRD42023452685.
PubMed: 38798711
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1380353 -
Journal of Hypertension May 2024Effects of potassium supplementation on blood pressure (BP) may be offset by an increase in plasma aldosterone. The magnitude of potassium-dependent regulation of...
OBJECTIVES
Effects of potassium supplementation on blood pressure (BP) may be offset by an increase in plasma aldosterone. The magnitude of potassium-dependent regulation of aldosterone secretion in humans is not fully characterized; it is not clear whether this is mediated by activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), as a result of a reduction in BP or other mechanisms. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials assessing effects of potassium on plasma aldosterone and renin in adult individuals.
METHODS
This was carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Three databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL. Titles were firstly screened by title and abstract for relevance before full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. The keywords used included "aldosterone", "potassium" and "RAAS".
RESULTS
6395 articles were retrieved and after title/abstract screening, 123 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Thirty-six met the prespecified inclusion/exclusion criteria (of which 18/36 also reported systolic BP). Potassium supplementation caused a significant decrease in systolic BP (mean difference [95% CI] -3.69 mmHg [-4.91, -2.46], P < 0.001) and increase in serum potassium (+0.37 [0.23, 0.52] mmol/l, P < 0.001). There was an increase in plasma aldosterone (standardized difference 0.426 [0.299, 0.553], P < 0.001) but not in plasma renin activity. Meta-regression showed a significant positive correlation between change in plasma aldosterone and change in serum potassium (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Potassium supplementation increases plasma aldosterone concentrations, which correlates with the increase in serum potassium concentration which does not appear to be mediated by an increase in plasma renin activity.
PubMed: 38780173
DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000003764 -
Clinical Medicine Insights.... 2024Diabetes in the 21st century presents one of the greatest burdens of disease on the global population. Digitally mediated interventions have become imperative in... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Diabetes in the 21st century presents one of the greatest burdens of disease on the global population. Digitally mediated interventions have become imperative in alleviating this disease epidemic. We aimed to systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on different health technologies for preventing Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and their efficacy in decreasing diabetes risk-related outcomes in at-risk patients in comparison to standard care.
METHODS
Five electronic databases were searched between October 2021 and December 2022. Studies including digital health technology interventions used for preventing diabetes development by reducing diabetes risk-related outcomes in at-risk adults (⩾18 years) were identified. Data on glycemic levels, incidence of T2DM, weight, and intervention descriptions were extracted, and the risk of bias (ROB) was assessed.
RESULTS
Nine studies met the inclusion criteria and 5 studies (56%) achieved clinically significant outcomes in at least one of the following: decreased weight (22%), glycemic levels (22%), or incidence of T2DM (11%). Two of the 3 (67%) computer-based interventions effectively reduced the HbA1c levels and mean weight of their study population, and 3 of 6 (50%) mobile based interventions (text messages, mobile app, and telehealth) decreased the incidence of T2DM and HbA1c levels. Four studies each had an overall low ROB and one had a high ROB due to attrition.
CONCLUSION
Preliminary evidence identified in our review demonstrated that health technologies for diabetes prevention are effective for improving diabetes risk-related outcomes. Future research into digital technology protocol and studies of longer duration and more diverse populations are needed for clinical feasibility.
PubMed: 38779330
DOI: 10.1177/11795514241246419 -
Anesthesiology May 2024While effects of general anesthesia on neuronal activity in the human neonatal brain are incompletely understood, electroencephalography (EEG) provides some insight and...
While effects of general anesthesia on neuronal activity in the human neonatal brain are incompletely understood, electroencephalography (EEG) provides some insight and may identify age-dependent differences. A systematic search (MEDLINE, Embase, PUBMED, Cochrane Library to November 2023) retrieved English language publications reporting EEG during general anesthesia for cardiac or non-cardiac surgery in term neonates (37 to 44 weeks post-menstrual age). Data were extracted and risk of bias (ROBINS-I Cochrane tool) and quality of evidence (GRADE checklist) assessed. From 1155 abstracts, nine publications (157 neonates; 55.7% male) fulfilled eligibility criteria. Data were limited and study quality was very low. The occurrence of discontinuity, a characteristic pattern of alternating higher and lower amplitude EEG segments, was reported with general anesthesia (94 of 119 neonates, six publications) and with hypothermia (23 of 23 neonates, two publications). Decreased power in the delta (0.5-4Hz) frequency range was also reported with increasing anesthetic dose (39 neonates; three publications). While evidence gaps were identified, both increasing sevoflurane concentration and decreasing temperature are associated with increasing discontinuity.
PubMed: 38775960
DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000005088 -
Chemosphere Aug 2024Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals widely used in consumer products. PFAS can accumulate in animal tissues, resulting in biomagnification... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals widely used in consumer products. PFAS can accumulate in animal tissues, resulting in biomagnification and adverse effects on wildlife, such as reproductive impairment. In bird species, PFAS are transferred from mothers to eggs along with essential nutrients and may affect embryo development. However, the extent of maternal PFAS transfer across different species and compounds remains poorly understood. Here, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify maternal PFAS transfer in wild birds and investigate potential sources of variation. We tested the moderating effects of compounds' physicochemical properties and biological traits of studied birds. The dataset included 505 measurements of PFAS concentration and 371 effect sizes derived from 13 studies on 16 bird species and 25 compounds. Overall, across all studies and species, we found a 41% higher concentration of PFAS in offspring than in mothers. Specifically, contaminants were concentrated in the yolk, longer and heavier compounds showed preferential transfer, larger clutch size was associated with decreased PFAS transfer and a higher transfer rate was shown in species with piscivorous and opportunistic/diverse diets. A validation assessment showed good robustness of the overall meta-analytic result. Given the crucial role of birds in maintaining ecological balance, this research article has relevant implications for modelling the impacts of PFAS on wildlife, ecosystems, and human health.
Topics: Animals; Birds; Fluorocarbons; Female; Environmental Pollutants; Animals, Wild; Maternal Exposure; Environmental Monitoring
PubMed: 38759804
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142346 -
Psychoneuroendocrinology Aug 2024Allopregnanolone (ALLO) is a metabolite of progesterone and a neuroactive steroid hormone. As a positive allosteric modulator of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)...
BACKGROUND
Allopregnanolone (ALLO) is a metabolite of progesterone and a neuroactive steroid hormone. As a positive allosteric modulator of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, ALLO seems to have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, and was therefore approved as a specific medication for the treatment of postpartum depression in 2019. Despite the growing number of publications investigating ALLO levels, results on the biological and psychological correlates in the peripartum period remain inconsistent, possibly due to methodological challenges regarding measurement. To date, however, there is no systematic review examining the correlates, concentrations, and challenges in measuring ALLO in peripartum women.
METHOD
A systematic literature search of PubMed and PsycINFO was conducted in August 2023. Original research articles that measured ALLO concentrations in peripartum women were included. Reports were excluded if they were not original research, included non-human subjects, did not include peripartum women, did not include ALLO measurement as an outcome, included (pharmacological) interventions, constituted method validations, or used the same cohort as another study.
RESULTS
The literature search yielded 234 articles, and two articles were identified from other sources. After full-text screening, 19 articles (N = 1401) met the inclusion criteria, of which seven focused on biological correlates of ALLO and 12 on mood correlates. Of the latter, six found no association between ALLO and mood, four found a negative association, and two found a positive association. Overall, the results show an increase in ALLO levels during pregnancy and a decrease after birth, with levels then remaining low until six months postpartum. ALLO was most commonly measured in blood plasma and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A significant matrix effect was found for blood serum and a significant method effect for radioimmunoassays (RIAs). A significant effect of time of measurement was found.
CONCLUSION
ALLO measurement shows method and matrix effects. ALLO levels are higher when measured in serum compared to in plasma, and when measured using RIA compared to other methods. Time of measurement, study design, and standardization of measurement also influence the reliability of measurement and the interpretation of results.
Topics: Humans; Pregnanolone; Female; Peripartum Period; Pregnancy; Depression, Postpartum; Adult
PubMed: 38759520
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107081 -
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and... Jun 2024Proliferating cancer cells shift their metabolism towards glycolysis, even in the presence of oxygen, to especially generate glycolytic intermediates as substrates for...
BACKGROUND
Proliferating cancer cells shift their metabolism towards glycolysis, even in the presence of oxygen, to especially generate glycolytic intermediates as substrates for anabolic reactions. We hypothesize that a similar metabolic remodelling occurs during skeletal muscle hypertrophy.
METHODS
We used mass spectrometry in hypertrophying C2C12 myotubes in vitro and plantaris mouse muscle in vivo and assessed metabolomic changes and the incorporation of the [U-C]glucose tracer. We performed enzyme inhibition of the key serine synthesis pathway enzyme phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh) for further mechanistic analysis and conducted a systematic review to align any changes in metabolomics during muscle growth with published findings. Finally, the UK Biobank was used to link the findings to population level.
RESULTS
The metabolomics analysis in myotubes revealed insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-induced altered metabolite concentrations in anabolic pathways such as pentose phosphate (ribose-5-phosphate/ribulose-5-phosphate: +40%; P = 0.01) and serine synthesis pathway (serine: -36.8%; P = 0.009). Like the hypertrophy stimulation with IGF-1 in myotubes in vitro, the concentration of the dipeptide l-carnosine was decreased by 26.6% (P = 0.001) during skeletal muscle growth in vivo. However, phosphorylated sugar (glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate or glucose-1-phosphate) decreased by 32.2% (P = 0.004) in the overloaded muscle in vivo while increasing in the IGF-1-stimulated myotubes in vitro. The systematic review revealed that 10 metabolites linked to muscle hypertrophy were directly associated with glycolysis and its interconnected anabolic pathways. We demonstrated that labelled carbon from [U-C]glucose is increasingly incorporated by ~13% (P = 0.001) into the non-essential amino acids in hypertrophying myotubes, which is accompanied by an increased depletion of media serine (P = 0.006). The inhibition of Phgdh suppressed muscle protein synthesis in growing myotubes by 58.1% (P < 0.001), highlighting the importance of the serine synthesis pathway for maintaining muscle size. Utilizing data from the UK Biobank (n = 450 243), we then discerned genetic variations linked to the serine synthesis pathway (PHGDH and PSPH) and to its downstream enzyme (SHMT1), revealing their association with appendicular lean mass in humans (P < 5.0e-8).
CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the mechanisms that regulate skeletal muscle mass will help in developing effective treatments for muscle weakness. Our results provide evidence for the metabolic rewiring of glycolytic intermediates into anabolic pathways during muscle growth, such as in serine synthesis.
Topics: Glucose; Muscle, Skeletal; Animals; Mice; Humans; Hypertrophy; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Metabolomics
PubMed: 38742477
DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13468 -
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy Jun 2024Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) is the final precursor of heme, forming heme when iron is inserted. Individuals with erythropoietic protoporphyrias (EPP) have accumulation of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) is the final precursor of heme, forming heme when iron is inserted. Individuals with erythropoietic protoporphyrias (EPP) have accumulation of PPIX, causing photosensitivity and increased liver disease risk. Many also have iron deficiency and anemia. We investigated outcomes of oral iron supplements in individuals with EPP.
METHODS
A systematic review identified literature on oral iron supplements in EPP patients. Subsequently, we administered iron supplements to EPP patients with iron deficiency. The primary outcome was impact on PPIX level. Secondary outcomes were adverse events and relative differences in hemoglobin and iron parameters.
RESULTS
The systematic review found 13 case reports and one uncontrolled clinical trial with uncertain results. From our department 10 patients with EPP and iron deficiency took daily dosages of 330 mg of ferrous fumarate for two months. Five of our patients had anemia at baseline. After 2 months of supplementation seven patients had increased PPIX level compared to baseline, two had decrease, one remained unchanged. The administration of iron led to a rise in ferritin, and in four of the anemic patients also to an improvement in blood hemoglobin. A small transiently elevation in plasma alanine transaminase concentration was observed during supplementation.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, iron supplementation in EPP patients replenished iron stores and elevated erythrocyte PPIX and plasma alanine transaminase. For anemic patients, there was some degree of normalization of the hemoglobin level. If iron therapy is needed for EPP patients, monitoring of photosensitivity, PPIX, hemoglobin, and plasma liver enzymes is advisable.
Topics: Humans; Protoporphyria, Erythropoietic; Protoporphyrins; Dietary Supplements; Male; Female; Adult; Iron; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38734198
DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2024.104211 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Apr 2024: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection represents a major issue worldwide, since it constitutes the most common viral congenital infection, with a prevalence of 0.58% and... (Review)
Review
: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection represents a major issue worldwide, since it constitutes the most common viral congenital infection, with a prevalence of 0.58% and 1-5% in developed and developing countries, respectively. According to recent studies, prenatal treatment significantly decreases the risk of vertical CMV transmission, and early intervention may even prevent the termination of pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the level of awareness of CMV among pregnant patients through a semi-systematic review. : We included all of the original articles investigating knowledge and awareness about CMV infection among pregnant women. Our research included the PubMed database. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement, the Covidence system automatically guided us to screen the titles and/or abstracts, and then full-texts, followed by data extraction from the eligible studies. : We screened 764 studies altogether, with 13 studies included in this analysis. Knowledge about the existence of CMV infection risk varied between the articles, ranging from 11.4% in a study performed in Ireland to 60% reported in a study on the French population. Studies analyzing the impact of educational interventions on patients' knowledge about preventive measures reported significant improvement compared to their level of awareness before the intervention. : Patients' awareness and knowledge about CMV seemed to be generally low or very low during the last decade before the development of effective secondary prevention methods. Educational interventions seem to be effective, and therefore their wide use could be of potential benefit. In the era of available secondary prevention of vertical transmission, it is crucial to concentrate the efforts of different stakeholders to increase the awareness of cCMV among pregnant women.
PubMed: 38731115
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092586 -
Food Science & Nutrition May 2024Consumption of plum does not yet clearly affect the lipid profile. To ascertain the advantages of plum consumption on adult lipid profiles, we conducted a systematic... (Review)
Review
Consumption of plum does not yet clearly affect the lipid profile. To ascertain the advantages of plum consumption on adult lipid profiles, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. We used pertinent keywords to search the databases of PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science up to November 10th, 2022, in order to find trials that were eligible. According to the analyses, eating plum significantly lowers LDL levels compared to controls (WMD: -12.50 mg/dL, 95% CI: -22.06, -2.94, = .010). Although plum consumption did not result in significant changes in TG (WMD: 0.56 mg/dL, 95% CI: -6.02, 7.15, = .866), TC (WMD: -12.35 mg/dL, 95% CI: -25.05, 0.37, = .057), and HDL concentrations (WMD: -0.39 mg/dL, 95% CI: -4.69, 3.89, = .855) compared to the control group. Intake of plums, particularly the intervention type of dried plums, significantly decreased TC levels in unhealthy subjects, according to subgroup analysis. The consumption of plums had a notably statistically significant effect on LDL levels when the intervention type was dried plum and unhealthy subjects were enrolled. Due to the very low to moderate quality of meta-evidence, to show how eating plum improves lipid profile, further high-quality research are still essential.
PubMed: 38726435
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4000