Microvascular, Biochemical, and Clinical Impact of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Recalcitrant Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes and are often difficult to treat. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been proposed as an adjunctive treatment to promote healing, but its long-term clinical and biological effects remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of HBOT on systemic biomarkers, local microvasculature, and clinical outcomes in patients with DFUs.

Sustainable Utilization of Coffee Pulp, a By-Product of Coffee Production: Effects on Metabolic Syndrome in Fructose-Fed Rats.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that include insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and abdominal obesity. Coffee production generates large quantities of waste products, which pose a serious threat to the environment. However, coffee by-products, such as coffee pulp (CP), possess an undeniable wealth of bioactive components.

The Counteracting Effect of Chrysin on Dietary Fructose-Induced Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) in Rats with a Focus on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has been exponentially increasing in recent decades. Thus, there is an increasing need for affordable and natural interventions for this disorder. We explored the effect of chrysin, a dietary polyphenol, on hepatic lipid and glycogen accumulation, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) activity score and oxidative stress and on hepatic and adipose tissue metabolism in rats presenting metabolic syndrome-associated conditions.

Is Progesterone Receptor a Neglected Feature in Breast Cancer? A Retrospective Study Analysing the Clinicopathological Characteristics of Breast Cancer Based on Progesterone Receptor Status.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to analyse PR independently and its relationship with demographic and clinicopathological information.

Introduction: Steroid hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, play a crucial role in breast cancer (BC) etiology. Research attention has focused mainly on estrogen while the progesterone impact on breast cancer has yet to be fully uncover.

Distinguishing health-related parameters between metabolically healthy and metabolically unhealthy obesity in women.

Background: Obesity represents a global health crisis, yet a dichotomy is emerging with classification according to the metabolic state into metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). This study aimed to identify distinctive systemic clinical/endocrinological parameters between MHO individuals, employing a comprehensive comparative analysis of 50 biomarkers. Our emphasis was on routine analytes, ensuring cost-effectiveness for widespread use in diagnosing metabolic health.

Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Sarcopenic Obesity Outcomes: A One-Year Prospective Study in Middle-Aged Women.

Introduction: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is characterised by the confluence of muscle deterioration and high adiposity. When non-surgical interventions prove insufficient, bariatric surgery (BS) becomes the primary approach. This study aimed to address BS effects on SO outcomes 1 year post-surgery among middle-aged women, also considering physical exercise's impact.

Exploring Silk Sericin for Diabetic Wounds: An In Situ-Forming Hydrogel to Protect against Oxidative Stress and Improve Tissue Healing and Regeneration.

Chronic wounds are one of the most frequent complications that are associated with diabetes mellitus. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a key factor in the delayed healing of a chronic wound. In the present work, we develop a novel in situ-forming silk sericin-based hydrogel (SSH) that is produced by a simple methodology using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) crosslinking as an advanced dressing for wound healing.

The pro-proliferative effect of interferon-γ in breast cancer cell lines is dependent on stimulation of ASCT2-mediated glutamine cellular uptake.

Aims: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for breast cancer initiation and progression. Glutamine (GLN) is a critical nutrient for cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of T2DM-associated compounds upon GLN uptake by breast cancer cells.

Metformin Reduces Vascular Assembly in High Glucose-Treated Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells in An AMPK-Independent Manner.

Objective: The aim is to examine the effect of metformin in human microvascular endothelial cells exposed to high glucose (HG) concentration and compare them with the effects of other 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) modulators under the same condition.

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) were treated with 15 mM metformin, 1 mM 5-aminoimidazol-4-carboxamideribonucleotide (AICAR) and 10 mM compound C in the presence of 20 mM glucose (hyperglycemic condition). Migration, invasion and proliferation were evaluated as well as the capillary-like structures formation.

Biocompatibility of the Biopolymer Cyanoflan for Applications in Skin Wound Healing.

There is a great demand for the development of novel wound dressings to overcome the time and costs of wound care performed by a vast number of clinicians, especially in the current overburdened healthcare systems. In this study, Cyanoflan, a biopolymer secreted by a marine unicellular cyanobacterium, was evaluated as a potential biomaterial for wound healing. Cyanoflan effects on cell viability, apoptosis, and migration were assessed in vitro, while the effect on tissue regeneration and biosafety was evaluated in healthy Wistar rats.

Effects of chronic moderate alcohol consumption on right ventricle and pulmonary remodelling.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? Does the consumption of a moderate amount of alcohol differentially impact the heart ventricles and pulmonary vasculature. What is the main finding and its importance? Moderate alcohol consumption for a short period of time impaired pulmonary vascular cellular renewal through an apoptosis resistance pattern that ultimately affected the right ventricular function and structure. These findings support the need for a deeper understanding of effects of moderate alcohol consumption on the overall cardiovascular and pulmonary systems.

Does adipose tissue inflammation drive the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obesity?

Obesity, an increasingly common problem in modern societies, is associated with acquired metabolic disturbances. In this perspective, the development of insulin resistance is now recognized to be initiated by inflammation of the adipose tissue, but the events that lead to this inflammation are still vague. Furthermore, visceral adipose tissue plays a significant role in obesity pathophysiology and in its clinical effects, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Perigestational high folic acid: impact on offspring's peripheral metabolic response.

Offspring of dams exposed to excess folic acid during the perigestational period have been shown by us to be predisposed to metabolic dysfunction revealed by hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, increased insulin and decreased adiponectin in late adulthood. This work aims to characterize adipocyte phenotype and expression profile of genes in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism in visceral adipose tissue and in skeletal muscle. From mating until weaning, a recommended dose of folic acid for pregnancy (C, 2 mg of folic acid per kg of diet) or a high folic acid dose (HFA, 40 mg of folic acid per kg of diet) was administered to Sprague-Dawley females.

Effect of chrysin on changes in intestinal environment and microbiome induced by fructose-feeding in rats.

Intake of fructose-containing sugars is epidemiological and experimentally linked to metabolic syndrome (MS). We recently verified that the dietary polyphenol chrysin was able to abolish some of the metabolic changes induced by fructose-feeding in the rat. Because the role of the intestine upon fructose-induced MS is poorly understood, we decided to investigate the influence of fructose, in vivo, on the intestinal environment and the ability of chrysin to interfere with the putative observed changes.

Establishing a Link between Endothelial Cell Metabolism and Vascular Behaviour in a Type 1 Diabetes Mouse Model.

Background/aims: Vascular complications contribute significantly to the extensive morbidity and mortality rates observed in people with diabetes. Despite well known that the diabetic kidney and heart exhibit imbalanced angiogenesis, the mechanisms implicated in this angiogenic paradox remain unknown. In this study, we examined the angiogenic and metabolic gene expression profile (GEP) of endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from a mouse model with type1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Anti-Remodeling Effects of Xanthohumol-Fortified Beer in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Mediated by ERK and AKT Inhibition.

Polyphenols present in some alcoholic beverages have been linked to beneficial effects in preventing cardiovascular diseases. Polyphenols found in beer with anti-proliferative and anti-cancer properties are appealing in the context of the quasi-malignant phenotype of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Our purpose was to evaluate if the chronic ingestion of a xanthohumol-fortified beer (FB) would be able to modulate the pathophysiology of experimental PAH.

Chronic consumption of the dietary polyphenol chrysin attenuates metabolic disease in fructose-fed rats.

Purpose: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a major public health issue worldwide and fructose consumption has been associated with MS development. Recently, we showed that the dietary polyphenol chrysin is an effective inhibitor of fructose uptake by human intestinal epithelial cells. Therefore, our aim was to investigate if chrysin interferes with the development of MS induced by fructose in an animal model.

Xanthohumol and 8-prenylnaringenin reduce type 2 diabetes-associated oxidative stress by downregulating galectin-3.

Background: Galectin-3 (Gal3) expression is associated with accumulation of Advanced Glycation End products (AGE), a common feature in diabetes mellitus (DM). The role of Gal3 in oxidative stress is, however, controversial, being considered in the literature to play either a protective role or exacerbating disease.

Methods: Herein, we examined the interplay between Gal3 and oxidative stress in a high-fat diet -induced type 2 DMC57Bl/6 mice model.

Xanthohumol Restores Hepatic Glucolipid Metabolism Balance in Type 1 Diabetic Wistar Rats.

Diabetes exhibits increased inflammation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, three processes attenuated by xanthohumol (XN). Herein, we evaluate the effect of XN-enriched stout beer consumption in hepatic glucolipid metabolism imbalance seen in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Five groups of Wistar rats were established: streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats drinking water, treated with 5% ethanol, stout beer, and stout beer supplemented with 10 mg of XN/L and healthy rats drinking water.

Xanthohumol and 8-prenylnaringenin ameliorate diabetic-related metabolic dysfunctions in mice.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease characterized by metabolic disturbances in specific tissues. The present work aimed to analyze the effects of xanthohumol (XN) and 8-prenylnaringenin (8PN), two beer-derived polyphenols, in liver and skeletal muscle lipid and glycolytic metabolism in T2DM mice model. Thirty C57Bl/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups: standard diet (control), high-fat diet (DM), high-fat diet plus ethanol (DM-Ethanol), high-fat diet plus 10 mg/L XN (DM-XN) and high-fat diet plus 10 mg/L 8PN (DM-8PN) during 20 weeks.

Exploring the in vitro and in vivo compatibility of PLA, PLA/GNP and PLA/CNT-COOH biodegradable nanocomposites: Prospects for tendon and ligament applications.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgeries are the most frequent orthopedic procedures in the knee. Currently, existing strategies fail in completely restoring tissue functionality and have a high failure rate associated, presenting a compelling argument towards the development of novel materials envisioning ACL reinforcement. Tendons and ligaments, in general, have a strong demand in terms of biomechanical features of developed constructs.

Modulation of VEGF signaling in a mouse model of diabetes by xanthohumol and 8-prenylnaringenin: Unveiling the angiogenic paradox and metabolism interplay.

Scope: Imbalance in kidney and heart neovascularization is common in type2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. Nevertheless, the mechanisms governing this angiogenic paradox have not been elucidated. Xanthohumol (XN) and 8-prenylnaringenin (8PN) beer polyphenols modulate angiogenesis, being thus targets for T2DM-related complications.

Vasculogenesis and Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction: How Relevant Is Glycemic Control?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a complication of diabetes, condition responsible for causing endothelial dysfunction (EDys) and hampering repair mechanisms. However, scarce information is available linking vasculogenesis mediated by Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and diabetes-associated ED. Furthermore, it remains to be elucidated if glycemic control plays a role on EPCs functions, EPCs modulators, and penile vascular health.