Reduction In Gain Research Articles

Combination of Enamel Matrix Derivatives with Bone Graft vs Bone Graft Alone in the Treatment of Periodontal Intrabony and Furcation Defects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To compare the clinical performance of the combination of enamel matrix derivatives and bone substitutes (EMD+BG) with bone substitutes (BG) alone in the surgical treatment of periodontal intrabony and furcation defects. Electronic databases (Medline, Embase and Web of Science) were searched for randomised controlled trials in humans that investigated the combination of EMD+BG vs BG alone in either intrabony or furcation defects with a minimal follow-up of 6 months. A random-effect meta-analysis was conducted according to the type of defect (intrabony or furcation defects) and the follow-up time (6 or ≥ 12 months). From a total of 1583 entries, 9 randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were retrieved and included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis. All of them were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis detected an additional clinical attachment level (CAL) gain in intrabony defects treated with EMD+BG compared to BG alone in studies with ≥ 12-month follow-up (mean difference = 0.67 mm, 95% CI [0.44 ; 0.90], p 0.00001). No additional benefit was found in furcation defects in terms of CAL gain or probing depth (PD) reduction. The addition of EMD may improve the clinical outcomes of intrabony defects treated with bone substitutes. These findings may support the use of this combined therapy, particularly in large and non-contained defects.

Sympathetic innervation of interscapular brown adipose tissue is not a predominant mediator of Oxytocin (OT)-elicited reductions of body weight gain and adiposity in male diet-induced obese rats

Recent studies indicate that central administration of oxytocin (OT) reduces body weight (BW) in high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) rodents by reducing energy intake and increasing energy expenditure (EE). Previous studies in our lab have shown that administration of OT into the fourth ventricle (4V; hindbrain) elicits weight loss and stimulates interscapular brown adipose tissue temperature (TIBAT) in DIO rats. We hypothesized that OT-elicited stimulation of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation of IBAT contributes to its ability to activate BAT and reduce BW in DIO rats. To test this, we determined the effect of disrupting SNS activation of IBAT on OT-elicited stimulation of TIBAT and reduction of BW in DIO rats. We first confirmed that bilateral surgical SNS denervation to IBAT was successful based on having achieved ≥60% reduction in IBAT norepinephrine (NE) content from DIO rats. NE content was selectively reduced in IBAT by 94.7 ± 2.7, 96.8% ± 1.8% and 85.9% ± 6.1% (p < 0.05) at 1, 6 and 7 week post-denervation, respectively, and was unchanged in liver or inguinal white adipose tissue. We then measured the impact of bilateral surgical SNS denervation to IBAT on the ability of acute 4V OT (1, 5 µg) to stimulate TIBAT in DIO rats. We found that the high dose of 4V OT (5 µg) stimulated TIBAT similarly between sham and denervated rats (P=NS) and that the effects of 4V OT to stimulate TIBAT did not require beta-3 adrenergic receptor signaling. We subsequently measured the effect of bilateral surgical denervation of IBAT on the effect of chronic 4V OT (16 nmol/day) or vehicle infusion to reduce BW, adiposity, and energy intake in DIO rats. Chronic 4V OT reduced BW gain by −7.2 ± 9.6 g and −14.1 ± 8.8 g in sham and denervated rats (p < 0.05 vs. vehicle treatment), respectively, and this effect was similar between groups (P=NS). These effects were associated with reductions in adiposity and energy intake (p < 0.05). Collectively, these findings support the hypothesis that sympathetic innervation of IBAT is not required for central OT to increase BAT thermogenesis and reduce BW gain and adiposity in male DIO rats.

Structural insulation panel system (SIP) as an alternative for cooling energy saving, decarbonization, and energy cost reduction in hot and dry climates. A simulation-based approach

ABSTRACT During the last decades, the growing urban prospects represent a challenging condition to develop climate change adaptation solutions before the urban overheating effects and its challenges to the environment, human health, and building energy consumption, which is critical in hot arid climates with record-breaking heatwaves where society is turning to air conditioning instead of energy-efficient building envelopes. The primary aim of this study was to examine the influence of the Structural Insulation Panel (SIP) system heat transfer in energy-related aspects and contrast it with those of conventional construction systems. Therefore, a comparative study was carried out in low-income dwellings to measure the thermal transmittance of the building envelope and assess the thermal energy simulation allocated in Köppen-Geiger´s hot desert climate, characterized by typical maximum temperatures of 45°C in the summer season. The investigation ascertained the levels of energy consumption, the capacity of the air conditioning system, the associated energy costs, and the potential decrease in carbon footprint. The study shows SIP as a viable construction system alternative, the evidence shows a 20% heat gain reduction, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system capacity was reduced by 38%, and energy cost by 27%. The system also contributes to the decarbonization and carbon footprint by 20%. Likewise, to reduce the heat flow, a crucial element is evident, since transmittance in thermal bridges significantly affects the heat transfer in these low thermal conductivity systems with structural reinforcement elements.

Performance of an LAPPD in magnetic fields

Magnetic fields affect the response of Micro-Channel Plate (MCP)-based detectors, although the effect is smaller than that for conventional photo-multiplier tubes. The main effect of the field is a reduction in gain and efficiency.In this article, we report our studies of the effects of the magnetic field on the Large Area Picosecond PhotoDetectors (LAPPDs), photosensors of large sensitive area based on MCP technology. The LAPPD under study was the most recent, short stack, 10μm pore model, expected to have the best capabilities to withstand magnetic field distortions. The measurements were performed at CERN on the MNP-17 and M113 vertical dipole magnets in magnetic fields up to ∼ 1.5 T. The results show the exponential drop of the LAPPD gain as a function of the magnetic field strength, with a rather mild dependence on the angular distribution. The relative photon detection efficiency in magnetic field is also affected. However, both the gain and the efficiency can be partially recovered by increasing the LAPPD bias voltages. Geometrical effects on the anode charge spot and time resolution were also studied.

Dodecanedioic acid prevents and reverses metabolic-associated liver disease and obesity and ameliorates liver fibrosis in a rodent model of diet-induced obesity.

Dodecanedioic acid (DC12) is a dicarboxylic acid present in protective polymers of fruit and leaves. We explored the effects of DC12 on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and obesity. DC12 supplementation (100 mg/kg/day) was added to a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks in rodents to assess its impact on obesity and MASH prevention. Rats given DC12 experienced significant reductions of weight gain, liver and visceral fat weight, and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Liver histology showed protection against diet-induced MASH, with reduced steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, and fibrosis. For weight-loss and MASH reversion, rats were fed HFD for 14 weeks, followed by 6 weeks with or without DC12. DC12 supplementation (100 mg/kg/day) led to a significant reduction of weight gain and liver weight. DC12 induced white adipose tissue beiging and reduced adiposity with a decrease of visceral fat. It also improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and reduced hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression. Liver histology revealed a significant reduction in steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, and inflammation as well as fibrosis, indicating MASH reversal. DC12 reduced hepatic lipogenesis enzymes as well as de novo lipogenesis measured by deuterated water and increased fatty acid β-oxidation. Plasma lipid profile showed lower triglycerides and phosphatidylcholines in the DC12 group. Notably, DC12 decreased mINDY expression, the cell membrane Na+-coupled citrate transporter, reducing citrate uptake and de-novo lipogenesis, linking its effects to improved lipid metabolism and reduced steatosis. We found that during the hepatic first pass, half of the DC12 ingested with water was taken up by the liver. The concentration of DC12 in the portal vein falls within the range identified invitro as sufficient to inhibit citrate transport in hepatocytes.

Isoliquiritigenin Prevents the Development of Nephropathy by an HFD in Rats Through the Induction of Antioxidant Production and Inhibition of the MD-2/TLR4/NF-κB Pathway

This study tested the ISL against renal damage induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and explored its underlying mechanisms. Adult male rats were assigned to four groups: (1) control on a standard diet (STD), (2) ISL on STD (30 mg/kg), (3) HFD, and (4) HFD + ISL (30 mg/kg). After 12 weeks of dietary intervention, ISL treatment led to significant reductions in body weight gain, visceral fat, and glucose and insulin levels in HFD-fed rats. Notably, ISL decreased serum urea and creatinine, increased serum albumin, and improved urinary profiles by lowering the urinary albumin and the albumin/creatinine ratio. Histological analyses revealed that ISL enhanced the glomerular structure and mitigated tubular damage, as evidenced by reduced urinary excretion of the kidney injury markers NGAL and KIM-1. Additionally, ISL significantly lowered cholesterol, triglycerides, and free fatty acids in both the control and HFD groups while also decreasing oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDLs) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Importantly, ISL enhanced renal antioxidant levels, increasing glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Moreover, ISL downregulated mRNA levels of MD-2, Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), and NF-κB, leading to reduced NF-κB p65 levels in renal tissues. In conclusion, ISL offers substantial protection against HFD-induced renal toxicity through mechanisms that attenuate metabolic stress, enhance antioxidant defenses, and inhibit the MD-2/TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway.

Adjunctive therapy for root coverage with concentrated growth factor versus platelet-rich fibrin membranes: a systematic review and bayesian network meta-analysis.

To assess the differences between adjunctive therapy with Concentrated Growth Factor (CGF), Platelet-rich Fibrin (PRF) membranes, and available control groups in the clinical outcomes of root coverage. Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were identified in Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases to assess the treatments after 6 months using a Bayesian random-effect network meta-analysis (NMA) framework regarding reduction in pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), recession depth (RD), and width (RW), as well as, keratinized tissue width (KTW) and thickness (KTT) gain, and complete (CRC) and mean (MRC) root coverage percentages. Thirty-two RCTs were included, from which 27, 18, 12, eight, one, and one studies investigated PRF, connective tissue graft (CTG), flap alone, CGF, enamel matrix derivative (EMD), and dehydrated amniotic membrane, respectively. Thirty studies comprising CTG and flap-alone arms other than CGF and PRF were added to NMA. No significant difference has been found between CGF and PRF; however, CGF have a higher probability of being a better treatment than PRF in PD, CAL, and RW reduction and KTW gain, and PRF has a higher probability for being better in MRC, CRC, KTT gain, and RD reduction. PRF was significantly superior to flap-alone in terms of KTT gain and RD reduction. CGF had the highest probability of being the best treatment in PD and RW reduction, but in other outcomes, CTG was superior. PRF was significantly superior to flap-alone in terms of KTT gain and RD reduction. Both adjunctive CGF and PRF demonstrated improvements regarding root coverage outcomes. Although there is no significant difference between PRF and CGF, these two membranes might have different impacts on different outcomes. Further studies are required for a more comprehensive conclusion, especially on CGF. CTG is recommended for achieving ideal results in root coverage procedure. Since PRF and CGF both have a higher probability for being superior to flap alone, both could be suggested in cases which less than ideal outcomes are acceptable and minimization of patient discomfort is necessary.

Toxicity assessment of copper oxide nanoparticles: In vivo study

Abstact Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have wide range of application in many fields of industry, agriculture, cosmetics, and health care with probable risk to human health. The present study was conducted to find the chronic toxicity of these nanoparticles in the vital organs. Male healthy Wister Albino rats were subjected on daily bases to 35 intraperitoneal administration of 25 nm CuO NPs (2 mg/kg). All animals were subjected to morphological, histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural examinations. Exposure to CuO NPs induced reduction in body weight gain, urine retention, back arching, and renal calculi formation. The renal tissues demonstrated tubular hydropic degeneration, glomerular hypercellularity, blood vessels congestion and dilatation, renal interstitial oedema, mitochondrial injury, and lysosomal hypertrophy. Conversely, the liver displayed hepatocyte insultation, sinusoidal dilatation, Kupffer cells hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatocytes mitochondrial cristolysis, mitochondrial swelling, lysosomal hyperplasia, and nuclear alterations. Furthermore, the cardiac tissues demonstrated congestion, cardiocytes disarray, and disorganization. In addition, the neural tissue exhibited Purkinje cells degeneration and cerebral cortex spongiosis. The results suggest that CuO nanomaterials engage with the vital organs’ components, potentially leading to alterations that could affect the organs function. Further research is encouraged for better understanding the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis of CuO NPs.

Safety assessment of (S)-Equol: Subchronic toxicity study in Sprague Dawley Rats

(S)-Equol is a chemically synthesized nutraceutical compound and its consumption provides several health benefits for humans. The new nutraceutical, enantiopure (S)-Equol was studied for acute and sub-chronic toxicity in Sprague Dawley Rats. The oral acute toxicity study showed that (S)-Equol is safe > 2000–5000 mg/kg body weight and it classified into GHS category 5/Unclassified. The repeated dose administration of (S)-Equol at dose levels of 20, 60, and 160 mg/kg body weight for 14 days and 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight for 90-consecitve days. The 14 days repeated-dose toxicity study showed no adverse effects in Sprague Dawley rats. The 90-day repeated dose toxicity study showed a reduction in body weight gain than that of control group. No treatment-related contrary effects were perceived on haematology, clinical chemistry, coagulation, urine parameters analysed, organ weights (absolute and relative), neurological and ophthalmological examination. No treatment-related abnormal gross pathological findings were obtained from gross necropsy. However, as a treatment-related effect, a significant decrease in cholesterol levels for 14 and 90 days of repeated dose administration was observed, which is considered as a pharmacological class effect of the (S)-Equol. In comparison to the corresponding vehicle control group, the high dose treatment group for both sexes showed no treatment-related histopathological abnormalities. For female rats, the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) was 250 mg/kg/day and for male rats, the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) was 250 mg/kg/day.

Experimental study of dynamic PCM integration in building walls for enhanced thermal performance in summer conditions

Passively integrating phase change material into the walls to enhance the thermal performance of the building has been a promising solution in recent years. As the PCM has a high latent heat capacity, it leads to damping the high variations of temperature and provides an obvious benefit in energy saving and indoor comfort. However, the traditional passive integration method of the PCM limited the utilization of the PCM. The thermal resistance between the PCM and the indoors restrains the thermal response of the PCM, and it between the PCM and the outdoors reduces the impact of outdoor heating or cooling on the PCM. In this study, a dynamic PCM integration in the building envelope method was proposed and experimentally investigated. A PCM layer and an air layer were combined to be integrated into the wall assembly, which allows the position of the PCM layer and the air layer could be changed to adjust the thermal resistance (air layer) between the PCM and indoors and outdoors. The results showed that this dynamic method can dramatically reduce the indoor temperature and the heat flux across the interior surface of the wall. Compared to the envelope with only static PCM layer configurations, the dynamic PCM provided a reduction of 9.1 % in the indoor average temperature and a reduction of 116.0 % in the peak heat flux during the experiment's three days, as well as the dynamic PCM, exploited more latent heat than the other static configurations. Considering the energy performance, the dynamic integration of PCM showed a 100 % reduction in heat gain through the interior surface compared to the envelope with only a static PCM layer under summer conditions.

Blood circulation effect of fermented citrus bioconversion product (FCBP) in EA.hy926 endothelial cells and high-fat diet-fed mouse model.

The escalating global burden of cardiovascular diseases, largely driven by unhealthy lifestyle choices and dietary patterns, has intensified the search for effective and safe interventions. With current treatments often marred by significant side effects, the exploration of natural compounds such as flavonoids presents a compelling alternative. This study investigated the effects of fermented citrus bioconversion product (FCBP), a fermented citrus bioflavonoid, on various markers of cardiovascular health in the context of a high-fat diet. In vivo, a high-fat diet-induced mouse model was used to assess the effects of FCBP on body weight, serum nitric oxide (NO) levels, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure on red blood cells, and the expression of inflammatory markers Intercellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM)-1 and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule (VCAM)-1 in the thoracic aorta. In vitro, EA.hy926 endothelial cells were used to evaluate the compound's effects on cell viability, NO production, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, and cell adhesion molecule (CAM) levels to further understand the mechanisms behind the in vivo findings. In vivo, FCBP supplementation led to a dose-dependent reduction in weight gain, a significant decrease in serum NO levels at 10 mg/kg, and reduced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions in the thoracic aorta, indicating anti-inflammatory properties. PS exposure on red blood cells was also reduced, suggesting decreased procoagulant activity, while aPTT remained unchanged. In vitro, FCBP was non-cytotoxic to endothelial cells, showed a trend toward increased NO production and eNOS expression, and reduced the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, supporting its potential anti-inflammatory effects. FCBP demonstrates potential as a bioactive compound for managing cardiovascular health by reducing inflammation, mitigating weight gain, and influencing blood circulation-related parameters under high-fat diet conditions. Further studies, including diverse models and human trials, are warranted to elucidate its mechanisms and compare its efficacy with established cardiovascular therapeutics.

Heat gain reduction using solar chimney window driven by pv-powered fan

Heat gain reduction using solar chimney window driven by pv-powered fan

Establishment of a mouse model of ovarian oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide.

Oxidative stress, resulting from environmental changes, significantly affects female fertility. Developing a mouse model to study oxidative stress lays the groundwork for research into human reproductive health and livestock fertility. In this study, we established and evaluated an oxidative stress model by administering hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to mice. ICR mice of similar age (7-8 weeks old) and average body weight (31.58 ± 1.12 g) were randomly assigned to four groups (A, B, C, and D). Group A served as the control and was injected with a saline solution, while groups B, C, and D received saline solutions containing 0.75%, 1.50%, and 3.0% H2O2, respectively, over one week. We measured the body weights of all mice before and after the experimental period. Our findings showed that the average body weight of mice in groups A and B increased, while groups C and D experienced weight loss. Group C showed a significantly lower average weight gain compared to groups A and B, and group D exhibited an even more pronounced reduction in weight gain. Although group D had a high mortality rate, there was no significant difference in mortality rates among groups B, C, and D. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased with higher concentrations of H2O2, with a significant difference noted between groups C and A. Catalase (CAT) activity in group B was significantly higher than in group A, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in group C was notably elevated compared to groups A and B. Conversely, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in group C was significantly lower than in both group A and group B. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining revealed changes in ovarian morphology and follicle dynamics. The percentage of atretic follicles in group C was significantly higher than in the control group, and group D had a significantly lower total number of healthy follicles compared to the untreated group. Increased H2O2 content resulted in a reduction of ovary size and an irregular appearance in group D. Based on our findings, treatment with 1.50% H2O2 effectively established an oxidative stress model in mice within 1 week. This model serves as a valuable reference for future clinical studies on oxidative stress and reproductive disorders in female animals and humans.

Metabolomics and proteomics insights into hepatic responses of weaned piglets to dietary Spirulina inclusion and lysozyme supplementation

BackgroundStudying the effect of dietary Spirulina and lysozyme supplementation on the metabolome and proteome of liver tissue contributes to understanding potential hepatic adaptations of piglets to these novel diets. This study aimed to understand the influence of including 10% Spirulina on the metabolome and proteome of piglet liver tissue. Three groups of 10 post-weaned piglets, housed in pairs, were fed for 28 days with one of three experimental diets: a cereal and soybean meal-based diet (Control), a base diet with 10% Spirulina (SP), and an SP diet supplemented with 0.01% lysozyme (SP + L). At the end of the trial, animals were sacrificed and liver tissue was collected. Metabolomics analysis (n = 10) was performed using NMR data analysed with PCA and PLS-DA. Proteomics analysis (n = 5) was conducted using a filter aided sample preparation (FASP) protocol and Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-based quantitative approach with an Orbitrap mass spectrometer.ResultsGrowth performance showed an average daily gain reduction of 9.5% and a feed conversion ratio increase of 10.6% in groups fed Spirulina compared to the control group. Metabolomic analysis revealed no significant differences among the groups and identified 60 metabolites in the liver tissue. Proteomics analysis identified 2,560 proteins, with 132, 11, and 52 differentially expressed in the Control vs. SP, Control vs. SP + L and SP vs. SP + L comparisons, respectively. This study demonstrated that Spirulina enhances liver energy conversion efficiency, detoxification and cellular secretion. It improves hepatic metabolic efficiency through alterations in fatty acid oxidation (e.g., upregulation of enzymes like fatty acid synthase and increased acetyl-CoA levels), carbohydrate catabolism (e.g., increased glucose and glucose-6-phosphate), pyruvate metabolism (e.g., higher levels of pyruvate and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase), and cellular defence mechanisms (e.g., upregulation of glutathione and metallothionein). Lysozyme supplementation mitigates some adverse effects of Spirulina, bringing physiological responses closer to control levels. This includes fewer differentially expressed proteins and improved dry matter, organic matter and energy digestibility. Lysozyme also enhances coenzyme availability, skeletal myofibril assembly, actin-mediated cell contraction, tissue regeneration and development through mesenchymal migration and nucleic acid synthesis pathways.ConclusionsWhile Spirulina inclusion had some adverse effects on growth performance, it also enhanced hepatic metabolic efficiency by improving fatty acid oxidation, carbohydrate catabolism and cellular defence mechanisms. The addition of lysozyme further improved these benefits by reducing some of the negative impacts on growth and enhancing nutrient digestibility, tissue regeneration, and overall metabolic balance. Together, Spirulina and lysozyme demonstrate potential as functional dietary components, but further optimization is needed to fully realize their benefits without compromising growth performance.

Threshold Gain Reduction in Tandem Semiconductor Nano-Lasers

It is shown that a significant reduction in the threshold gain of electrically pumped semiconductor nano-lasers may be achieved in bridge-connected tandem semiconductor nano-lasers. Optimization of the design is achieved by exploring the impact of bridge length and width on the threshold gain. In addition, a detailed examination is also made of the emission patterns of the structure. It is found that a trade-off emerges between threshold gain and beam quality where multi-lobed far field emission may be associated with the lowest threshold gains.

Improving Mass Transfer by Vacuum Impregnation During Osmotic Dehydration of Ripe Kadamb (Neolamarckia cadamba) Fruit

ABSTRACTKadamb (Neolamarckia cadamba) is an underutilized fruit which has many nutritional and medicinal properties. The literature availability on utilization of kadamb as food is scarce. The present work was carried out to find the effect of vacuum impregnation during osmotic dehydration on the quality of kadamb fruit (Neolamarckia cadamba) candy (KC). The vacuum impregnation at 100 mbar for 15 min, brix value of hypertonic solution at 60°, 65°, 70°, and 75°, and time of osmotic dehydration 24, 36, 48, and 72 h were taken as variables in the process. Mass transfer parameters like water loss, solute gain, and weight reduction for all samples were calculated. The treatment with 75° Brix, 48 h, 100 mbar vacuum for 15 min got best results with more water loss (67.48% ± 1.11%), solute gain (19.63% ± 0.32%), and less weight reduction (40.51% ± 0.39%), respectively. No microbial load was found in the developed candy. Infrared (IR) spectrum, texture profile analysis, and field emission scanning electron microscopy tests revealed the availability of compounds, textural and microstructure of KC, respectively. The candy prepared from 75° Brix, 48 h, 100 mbar vacuum for 15 min has the highest organoleptic scores. The prepared candy cubes were packed into low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) pouches and stored under ambient conditions, and the quality changes during storage were studied.

Effect of ethanol extract from Enterolobium cyclocarpum fruit on Leghorn chickens exposed to Eimeria.

There are concerns about residues of drugs in meat that are used to prevent coccidiosis in chickens. Natural compounds are an alternative to drugs. Two studies investigated the effect of an extract of Enterolobium cyclocarpum fruits (EEC) in the feed of male Leghorn chickens exposed to Eimeria spp. In the first experiment, the administration of EEC after infection with Eimeria spp. was investigated over 16 days. One thousand chickens were randomly housed in 20 pens of 1 m2 each. The pens were randomly assigned to each treatment. Five treatments were administered, containing 150, 300 and 450mg/kg of EEC in the feed, the fourth treatment (C) contained 0.5g/kg of a commercial anticoccidial, and the fifth treatment provided no treatment (WA). The second experiment lasted 18 days. Administration of the EEC began five days before the chickens were infected with Eimeria spp. Four hundred and eighty chickens were randomly allocated to 24 pens of 1 m2. The pens were randomly assigned to each treatment. In the second experiment, the same five treatments were tested and one additional treatment containing 300mg EEC plus 1g of polyethylene glycol (PEG)/kg of feed (E300PEG). In the experiment one chickens in the EEC treatments had lower faecal oocyst excretion (OE) on day 14 post infection with Eimeria spp., than chickens in the WA treatment (P < 0.05). A reduction in live weight gain (LWG) was observed in the EEC treatments (P < 0.05). In the second experiment, the excretion of oocysts in chickens from the EEC and E300PEG treatments on day 13 post-infection with Eimeria spp. was the same as in the C treatment and lower than in the WA treatment (P < 0.05). LWG was lower in the EEC treatments than in the C treatment (P < 0.05). However, the Chickens in the E300PEG and C treatments had similar LWG (P > 0.05) suggesting that PEG inhibits the negative effect of EEC tannins on LWG. In conclusion, the addition of EEC to chicken feed reduced both OE and LWG. Treatment with EEC and PEG (E300PEG) reduced the excretion of oocysts without negative effects on LWG.

Sympathetic innervation of interscapular brown adipose tissue is not a predominant mediator of OT-elicited reductions of body weight gain and adiposity in male diet-induced obese rats.

Recent studies indicate that central administration of oxytocin (OT) reduces body weight (BW) in high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) rodents by reducing energy intake and increasing energy expenditure (EE). Previous studies in our lab have shown that administration of OT into the fourth ventricle (4V; hindbrain) elicits weight loss and stimulates interscapular brown adipose tissue temperature (TIBAT) in DIO rats. We hypothesized that OT-elicited stimulation of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation of IBAT contributes to its ability to activate BAT and reduce BW in DIO rats. To test this, we determined the effect of disrupting SNS activation of IBAT on OT-elicited stimulation of TIBAT and reduction of BW in DIO rats. We first confirmed that bilateral surgical SNS denervation to IBAT was successful based on having achieved ≥ 60% reduction in IBAT norepinephrine (NE) content from DIO rats. NE content was selectively reduced in IBAT by 94.7 ± 2.7, 96.8 ± 1.8 and 85.9 ± 6.1% (P<0.05) at 1, 6 and 7-weeks post-denervation, respectively, and was unchanged in liver or inguinal white adipose tissue. We then measured the impact of bilateral surgical SNS denervation to IBAT on the ability of acute 4V OT (1, 5 μg) to stimulate TIBAT in DIO rats. We found that the high dose of 4V OT (5 μg) stimulated TIBAT similarly between sham and denervated rats (P=NS) and that the effects of 4V OT to stimulate TIBAT did not require beta-3 adrenergic receptor signaling. We subsequently measured the effect of bilateral surgical denervation of IBAT on the effect of chronic 4V OT (16 nmol/day) or vehicle infusion to reduce BW, adiposity, and energy intake in DIO rats. Chronic 4V OT reduced BW gain by -7.2 ± 9.6 g and -14.1 ± 8.8 g in sham and denervated rats (P<0.05 vs vehicle treatment), respectively, and this effect was similar between groups (P=NS). These effects were associated with reductions in adiposity and energy intake (P<0.05). Collectively, these findings support the hypothesis that sympathetic innervation of IBAT is not required for central OT to increase BAT thermogenesis and reduce BW gain and adiposity in male DIO rats.

Dynamic Hydration and Viscosity Control of Konjac Glucomannan Enhance Long-Term Antiobesity Effects by Reducing Food Intake in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the necessity and importance of dynamic hydration rate and ultimate viscosity control of konjac glucomannan (KGM) for long-term antiobesity effects in C57BL/6J mice on high-fat (HF) diets. KGM supplementation effectively attenuated HF-diet-induced increases in body and tissue weights. The hydration rate and viscosity changes of KGM in the digestive tract were found to have marked impacts on antiobesity effects. KGM with medium hydration and viscosity slowed gastric emptying and intestinal transit, leading to prolonged presence in the lower ileum, increased satiety-related hormones (GLP-1 and PYY), and an 18.27% reduction in daily food intake over 10 weeks (p < 0.05). This resulted in the greatest reduction in weight gain among HF-fed mice. In contrast, KGM with faster hydration and higher viscosity provided only short-term satiety due to rapid dilution. Furthermore, KGM improved metabolic health and altered glycolipid metabolism gene transcription while enriching beneficial gut bacteria; however, no significant differences were observed among the KGM groups in these effects. These findings highlight that synchronizing KGM's hydration rate and viscosity with digestive processes is crucial for regulating satiety and achieving long-term weight loss.

Clinical and GCF outcomes of Minimally-invasive non-surgical periodontal therapy in teeth with bone loss to the apex. A prospective study

AimsThe aim of this prospective study was to assess the potential benefits of minimally-invasive non-surgical therapy (MINST) in the healing of intrabony defects reaching the apex. MethodsTwenty systemically healthy patients with stage III-IV periodontitis and with at least one tooth with an intrabony defect reaching the apex were included in the study. Step 1 and 2 periodontal therapy including MINST were provided to all patients and patients were then followed up to 12 months post-treatment. Clinical parameters, standardised periapical radiographs and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected at test and control sites. 31 biomarkers were analysed. ResultsThree cases did not have the 12-months review (2 drop-outs and 1 tooth lost due to fracture). Despite significant improvements in clinical and radiographic parameters, the majority of defects still had PPD>5mm at the 12-months reassessment, therefore needing further treatment, including endodontic treatment in some cases. A pattern of increase in GCF biomarkers associated with a senescent secretory phenotype was detected immediately after treatment in test sites, with a decrease up to 12 months. An increase in IL-1β and MMP-3 in particular seems to be associated with increased risk to need endodontic treatment post-MINST. ConclusionsThe treatment of teeth with unfavourable prognosis and bone loss to the apex with MINST leads to PPD reduction, CAL gain and reduction in radiographic defect depth 12 months after treatment. However, MINST alone may not be sufficient in terms of defects resolution in most of these cases. Clinical significanceThe treatment of teeth with unfavorable prognosis and bone loss to the apex (hopeless) using MINST may lead to consistent PPD reduction, CAL gain and radiographic defect depth reduction after 12 months. However, adjunctive therapies may be necessary to achieve endpoints of therapy in these defects. GCF biomarkers may clarify healing patterns.