Significant Increase In Weight Research Articles

Weight Changes after Ankle Fracture Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Recovery from open reduction internal fixation of the ankle frequently involves a decrease in activity level and some limitations in weightbearing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate weight changes during the postoperative period following ankle fracture surgery. Methods: Hospital billing records were retrospectively reviewed to identify all patients who underwent open reduction internal fixation of bimalleolar and trimalleolar ankle fractures at our hospital system between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2021. Weight data from outpatient encounters coinciding with the 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year postoperative time points were recorded and analyzed. Results: 56 patients had complete weight data. The mean age at surgery was 44.6±16.2 years. There were 27 women and 29 men. At time of surgery, the mean weight was 197.2.3±53.9 lbs and BMI was 30.3±7.1 kg/m2. At 1 year postoperative, the mean weight was 219.2±51.6 lbs and BMI was 33.8±7.0 kg/m2, representing statistically significant increases of 22.0 lbs and 3.4 BMI points compared to preoperative (p=0.0491 and 0.0330, respectively). On subgroup analysis of different preoperative BMI groups (<25, 25-29, 30-34, and ≥35), only those patients with a pre-operative BMI of <25 experienced statistically significant increases in weight and BMI, 27.9 lbs and 4.8 kg/m2 respectively (p=0.029 and p=0.001). Conclusion: This is the first study to evaluate weight changes following ankle fracture. This study showed that at 1 year patients recovering from ankle open reduction internal fixation gain an average of 22 lbs and 3.4 BMI points. Patients with a pre-operative BMI of <25 are subject to statistically significant increases in weight. We recommend monitoring patients’ weight and counseling them on the risks of weight gain. Further research is necessary to better characterize the risk of weight gain following orthopedic surgery. Level of Evidence: 4 (retrospective cohort)

Effects of pethoxamid treatment on the disposition of thyroxine in rats

Pethoxamid (PXA) is a chloroacetamide herbicide that works by inhibiting the germination of target weeds in crops. PXA is not a genotoxic agent, however, in a two-year chronic toxicity study, incidence of thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia was observed in male rats treated at a high dose. Many non-mutagenic chemicals, including agrochemicals are known to produce thyroid hyperplasia in rodents through a hepatic metabolizing enzyme induction mode of action (MoA). In this study, the effects of oral gavage PXA treatment at 300 mg/kg for 7 days on the disposition of intravenously (iv) administered radio-labeled thyroxine ([125I]-T4) was assessed in bile-duct cannulated (BDC) rats. Another group of animals were treated with phenobarbital (PB, 100 mg/kg), a known enzyme inducer, serving as a positive control. The results showed significant increase (p < 0.01) in the mean liver weights in the PB and PXA-treated groups relative to the control group. The serum total T4 radioactivity Cmax and AUC0–4 values for PB and PXA-treated groups were lower than for the control group, suggesting increased clearance from serum. The mean percentages of administered radioactivity excreted in bile were 7.96 ± 0.38%, 16.13 ± 5.46%, and 11.99 ± 2.80% for the control, PB and PXA groups, respectively, indicating increased clearance via the bile in the treated animals. These data indicate that PXA can perturb the thyroid hormone homeostasis in rats by increasing T4 elimination in bile, possibly through enzyme induction mechanism similar to PB. In contrast to humans, the lack of high affinity thyroid binding globulin (TBG) in rats perhaps results in enhanced metabolism of T4 by uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase (UGT). Since this liver enzyme induction MoA for thyroid hyperplasia by PB is known to be rodent specific, PXA effects on thyroid can also be considered not relevant to humans. The data from this study also suggest that incorporating a BDC rat model to determine thyroid hormone disposition using [125I]-T4 is valuable in a thyroid mode of action analysis.

Impact of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes on the thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of guar gum hydrogel

AbstractThis research investigates the transformative impact of incorporating unmodified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (um‐MWCNTs) on properties of guar gum (GG)‐based hydrogel. The study focuses on the enhancement of thermal stability, mechanical strength, and electrical properties of hydrogel composite. Thermal analysis reveals a significant increase in residual weight remaining at 430°C from 3% to 10% with the addition of 0.2 wt% um‐MWCNTs to GG hydrogel. Viscoelastic properties of hydrogel composite investigated by rheology analysis observed that enhancements in storage modulus from 0.2 to 2.2 MPa indicative of enhanced structural integrity. Moreover, electrical conductivity exhibits a substantial increase with the addition of nanotubes, indicating the potential applicability of the composite in electronic and sensing applications. This research showcases the potential of GG/um‐MWCNT composites for diverse applications in biomedicine, sensors, and advanced materials.Highlights Distribution of um‐MWCNTs into guar‐gum matrix to obtain maximum benefits. Inclusion of um‐MWCNTs improves the rheological properties of GG/um‐MWCNTs composites. Rheological properties can be tuned with um‐MWCNT content. MWCNTs improved thermal stability of the GG hydrogel. MWCNTs improved electrical conductivity of the GG hydrogel.

The Consumption Effect of Indigenous Probiotic Powder Lactobacillus plantarum Dad-13 on Gut Microbiota Population and Short Chain Fatty Acids in Students of SMPN 1 Pangururan, Samosir

The human intestine is a diverse ecosystem populated by microbiota affected by several factors, including age. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of the probiotic powder Lactobacillus plantarum Dad-13 on the numbers of gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and fecal characteristics in healthy adolescents. This research was conducted at SMPN 1 Pangururan, Samosir, with a randomized, double-blind, parallel placebo-controlled trial. 54 healthy adolescents aged 13 to 14 were divided into two groups, one consumed a gram of skimmed milk powder (placebo group) and the other ingested powder containing L. plantarum Dad-13 with 1.18 × 109 CFU/gram (probiotic group). After 33 days of intervention, the height of placebo group (149.42 ± 5.03 cm) and probiotic group (154.37 ± 4.67 cm) increased significantly. Significant increases in body weight (44.35 kg ± 4.61 to 45.20 kg ± 4.78) and BMI (and 18.77 ± 2.12 to 18.99 ± 2.11) were observed in the probiotic group. In the probiotic group, the numbers of gut microbiota were not significantly affected (p &gt; 0.05). The amount of SCFA and fecal characteristics of both groups showed no significant differences. Thus, the consumption of L. plantarum Dad-13 increased weight, height, and BMI but could not influence the numbers of gut microbiota, SCFA, and the fecal characteristics of healthy adolescents.

Hepatic toxicity induced by dietary treatment of rats with hexaconazole: insights from a cytotoxic and genotoxic study

ABSTRACT Hexaconazole (HEX), a widely used triazole fungicide in agriculture, was investigated for its hepatotoxic effects on albino Wistar rats. Compared to the control rats, the treated rats showed a significant increase in absolute and relative liver weight over both 3 months (p < 0.05) and 6 months (p < 0.001). Oxidative biomarkers indicated a notable rise in malondialdehyde (MDA) by 137% (p < 0.001), increased reduced glutathione (GSH) by 32% (p < 0.01), and significant reductions in antioxidant enzymes, including a 63% decrease in catalase (CAT, p < 0.001) and a 15% decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD, p < 0.01). Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) levels also decreased significantly after 3 and 6 months (p < 0.05). The micronucleus test in liver cells indicated an elevation in the appearance of micronuclei in rats treated with HEX for 6 months (p < 0.01). This study demonstrates, for the first time, that HEX can induce genotoxicity in the liver.

Positive impacts of Nannochloropsis oculata supplementation on gene expression of immune and antioxidant markers and metabolic profile of Barki sheep in the transition period and lipogenic effects on progeny.

Nannochloropsis species should be given priority when it comes to microalgae that should be added to feed since they are suitable for intense culture and have a high concentration of PUFAs (especially EPA), antioxidants, and certain vitamins. This study investigated the possible immune and antioxidant impacts of Nannochloropsis supplementation on Barki ewes during transition period and their newly born lambs. Three weeks prior to the expected time of lambing, the researched ewes were divided into two equal groups of thirty ewes each. The second group, on the other hand, was fed the same base diet as the first group plus 10g of commercially available Nannochloropsis powder per kg of concentrate, given daily to each ewe's concentrate. Findings revealed that supplementation of ewes with Nannochloropsis significantly up-regulated the expression pattern of immune (NFKB, RANTES, HMGB1, TNF-α, IRF4, TLR7, CLA-DRB3.2, IL1B, IL6, CXCL8, S-LZ, and Cathelicidin), and antioxidant (SOD1, CAT, GPX1, GST, ATOX1, Nrf2 and AhpC/TSA) markers in ewes post-lambing and their newly born lambs. Additionally, mRNA levels of lipogenic (ACACA, FASN SCD, LPL, and BTN1A) markers were significantly up-regulated in lambs from supplemented ewes than control ones. There was a significant increase in the WBCs, Hb, RBc count, serum level of glucose, total protein, triacylglycerol and total cholesterol, GPx, catalase, IL1α and IL6 with significantly decreased serum level of TNF-α and MDA in supplemented ewes after lambing as compared with control ones. There was also a significant increase in WBCs, Hb, RBc count, birth weight and body temperature with significantly decreased in the serum levels of TNF-α and stillbirth of newly born lambs from supplemented ewes as compared to other lambs from control ones.

Abstract PO3-25-02: Circadian Rhythm Disruption Accelerates Aggressive Mammary Tumorigenesis by Altering Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract \Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, leading to over 650,000 deaths worldwide. The circadian rhythm is a 24-hour biological rhythm that controls most cellular, hormonal, and behavioral processes in living organisms, which is why perturbation of these rhythms is linked to several devastating diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In the mammary gland, circadian clocks regulate the rhythmic expression of numerous genes. Circadian rhythm disruption (CRD), which has been termed a "carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research in Cancer, is caused by different factors, one of them being shift work. Several epidemiological studies have revealed that women who work night shifts are predisposed to breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of circadian rhythm disruption on aggressive mammary tumorigenesis. To do this, we used genetically engineered mouse models of mammary tumors (HER2-tumor and triple-negative breast tumor, or TNBC). Chronic jetlag, which mimics shift work in mice and is known to cause CRD, was introduced in one group of mice by perturbing the normal light and dark cycles with an 8-hour advance every three days. Wheel-running, which is represented by an actogram, was used to confirm the circadian disruption in the CRD mice. CRD was found to accelerate tumor initiation with a significant increase in weight in the CRD group of mice. CRD enhanced tumor burden significantly compared to LD mice. Our results also showed high metastatic foci in the lungs of CRD mice compared to LD mice. A flow cytometry study showed a higher cancer stem cell population in CRD tumors. Mammosphere assays with tumor-derived cells showed that CRD increased the number and size of the mammospheres compared to the control tumors. The tumor cells were analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing, which showed that CRD alters the tumor microenvironment by developing more immunosuppressive and "cold" tumors. The tumor-derived organoids (tumoroid) showed resistance to chemotherapeutics. Finally, bioinformatics analysis using single-cell RNA seq data from human breast tumors (TNBC, ER/PR, and HER2) showed that the malignant cells in TNBC tumors had a significantly higher circadian rhythm disrupted score (CRD score) compared to ER/PR tumors. Taken together, our data showed how circadian rhythm disruption affects TNBC tumorigenesis and drug response by altering the tumor microenvironment. Citation Format: Olajumoke Ogunlusi, Mrinmoy Sarkar, Tristan Nguyen, Devon Boland, James Cai, Arhit Chakrabarti, Bani Mallick, Alex Keene, Tapasree Roy Sarkar. Circadian Rhythm Disruption Accelerates Aggressive Mammary Tumorigenesis by Altering Tumor Microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-25-02.

Topological optimization of ballistic protective structures through genetic algorithms in a vulnerability-driven environment

Reducing the vulnerability of a platform, i.e., the risk of being affected by hostile objects, is of paramount importance in the design process of vehicles, especially aircraft. A simple and effective way to decrease vulnerability is to introduce protective structures to intercept and possibly stop threats. However, this type of solution can lead to a significant increase in weight, affecting the performance of the aircraft. For this reason, it is crucial to study possible solutions that allow reducing the vulnerability of the aircraft while containing the increase in structural weight. One possible strategy is to optimize the topology of protective solutions to find the optimal balance between vulnerability and the weight of the added structures. Among the many optimization techniques available in the literature for this purpose, multi-objective genetic algorithms stand out as promising tools. In this context, this work proposes the use of a in-house software for vulnerability calculation to guide the process of topology optimization through multi-objective genetic algorithms, aiming to simultaneously minimize the weight of protective structures and vulnerability. In addition to the use of the in-house software, which itself represents a novelty in the field of topology optimization of structures, the method incorporates a custom mutation function within the genetic algorithm, specifically developed using a graph-based approach to ensure the continuity of the generated structures. The tool developed for this work is capable of generating protections with optimized layouts considering two different types of impacting objects, namely bullets and fragments from detonating objects. The software outputs a set of non-dominated solutions describing different topologies that the user can choose from.

Prevention of diabetes from prediabetes in real world setting in South India

AimThe aim was to explore the effect of lifestyle modification in a real world situation to prevent the progression to diabetes in India. MethodsParticipants who underwent OGTT from August 2017–2022 and were diagnosed as having Prediabetes (n = 200) were assigned into control (group1, n = 100) received standard care and intervention (group2, n = 100) received intensive counseling on physical activity (PA) and diet. PA included walking for 150 min/week and personalized advice based on the profession. OGTTs were repeated once every 6 months for 5 years and primary outcome was development of DM. ResultsThe conversion rate was significantly higher in the control group than the intervention group (44.6 vs.7.9 %, p < 0.0001). Individuals who reverted back to normal was significantly higher in Group2 compared to Group1 (34.9 vs.6.2 %; p < 0.001). A significant increase in weight, BMI and waist circumference in group1 and significant reduction in glucose and HbA1c was noted in group2. Mean (95%CI) survival time for Group1 was 25.4 (20.8–29.9) and Group2 was 36.4months (32.6–40.1; p < 0.001). The factors which influenced the conversion of prediabetes to DM were averaged BMI, fasting and 2hr glucose levels of all follow up visit measurements. ConclusionWe can prevent diabetes in individuals with prediabetes using real world strategies in India.

The Impact of a Nutritional Intervention on Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Type 2 Diabetes.

Nutritional management plays a crucial role in treating patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), working to prevent and control the progression of chronic non-communicable diseases. To evaluate the effects of individualized nutritional interventions on weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR)} over 12 months and subsequently at follow-up (15 months). This longitudinal experimental study (without randomization and blinding) enrolled 84 sedentary participants with T2D (both sexes, aged 18-80 years). They were divided into a control group of 40 participants who received only medical consultations, and an intervention group of 44 participants who received the same medical care along with a nutritional assessment. Consultations occurred quarterly from August 2020 to November 2022 (first-twelfth month), with six to nine patients per session. Subsequently, a follow-up was conducted from December 2022 to November 2023, during which the intervention group had only medical care (during the 12th-15th months). Personalized dietary planning was inspired by the Mediterranean/DASH diets adapted to Brazilian foods and socioeconomic cultures. Normal variables were compared between groups for each time point and also within each group across different time points using a two-way ANOVA (repeated measures for intragroup) followed by the Šídák post hoc test. Non-normal variables were compared between groups for each time point using Kruskal-Wallis followed by the Dunn post hoc test, and within each group across different time points using Friedman followed by the Dunn post hoc test. Data with a Gaussian distribution were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and data with a non-Gaussian distribution were presented as median ± interquartile range (IQR). For all cases, α < 0.05 and p < 0.05 were adopted. In the intervention group, significant reductions were observed between the first and twelfth month for all parameters (p < 0.05), (except for TC), along with an increase in HDL-C (p = 0.0105). Conversely, in the control group, there was a significant increase in HbA1c, weight, BMI, FBG, and WHR (p < 0.05) between the first and twelfth months. Regarding the comparison between groups, there was a significant difference for all analyzed parameters (p < 0.05) from the first to the twelfth month. In the follow-up, differences were also observed (p < 0.05), except for BMI (p > 0.05). The individualized nutritional intervention improved eating habits, anthropometric, biochemical, and cardiovascular markers in T2D over 12 months, with sustained results during follow-up. The dietary plan inspired by the Mediterranean and DASH diets demonstrated good adaptation to the Brazilian food culture and the patients' socioeconomic contexts. Consistent monitoring and personalized nutritional management are essential for optimizing long-term outcomes. However, more clinical trials are necessary in order to optimize the level of evidence for longitudinal interventions.

Evaluating the Role of LOXL2 in Post-menopausal Arterial Stiffening

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death for both men and women. Even though pre-menopausal women are relatively protected from CVD, a disproportionate increase in CVD risk and incidence occurs after menopause. Aortic stiffening, as occurs in aging, is predictive of major adverse cardiovascular events, independent from the traditional CVD risk factors. Epidemiological studies have shown that older, post-menopausal women exhibit an accelerated pace of aortic stiffening, eventually surpassing age-matched men, with exacerbated isolated systolic hypertension, diastolic dysfunction, and left ventricular remodeling. The hormonal shift, particularly loss of estrogen, present in post-menopausal women has also been widely studied; however, it is increasingly clear that estrogen loss alone is not responsible for the elevated CVD risk. More recently, a shift to androgen signaling has emerged as a key facet in post-menopausal women's health. Thus, mechanistic differences and manifestations of arterial stiffness in men and women require further investigation to help identify and develop novel risk assessment tools and therapeutic targets. Here we propose LOXL2, a key matrix remodeling enzyme, as a potential therapeutic target. In this study, we determined if post-menopausal females present accelerated arterial stiffening, and an abrupt and larger increase in LOXL2. We also studied the effect of sex hormones in LOXL2 activation. Methods and results: Male and female C57Bl/6J mice were used. Female mice underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgery at 10 weeks old. Three groups were compared: 1) OVX, 2) sham control females, and 3) age-matched males. Body weight, pulse wave velocity (PWV, the gold-standard index of in vivo arterial stiffening), and blood pressure (BP) were measured non-invasively from 12 to 53 weeks old. Results showed a significant increase in both body weight and PWV in the OVX females compared to sham females and males. BP remained similar for all groups, with a slight increase in OVX females. Mice were dissected, and aorta and heart were extracted and prepared for Western blotting measurements. OVX mice showed a low heart to body weight ratio. Western blotting (pilot data) revealed an increasing trend in LOXL2, ERα, and ERβ in the aorta and heart of OVX females. To test LOXL2 activation by sex hormones in vitro, human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) and human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) were exposed to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (E2) concentrations that mimic the hormonal levels of menstruating women, post-menopausal women, and men (post-puberty) for 16h. Western blotting showed highest levels of LOXL2 when mimicking the post-menopausal women hormonal levels in HASMCs but not in HAECs. Conclusion: Vascular stiffness is exacerbated in OVX females compared to sham females and males. OVX mice present a higher LOXL2 protein abundance in the aorta and heart, as well as increased ERα and ERβ. LOXL2 is modulated by sex hormones, showing significant increase when mimicking post-menopausal women’ hormonal levels. Future studies will continue to: 1) determine the molecular mechanisms underlaying increased arterial stiffness in females after menopause, 2) identify and test novel targets to stop and/or reverse this increase in vascular stiffening, and 3) study the role of hormonal shift in old females in arterial aging. NHLBI grant R01HL148112 01 (L.S.). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

EFFICACY OF A PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC GROUP ON PATIENTS WITH OBESITY AND HYPERTENSION

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of (brief obesity group therapy) BOG as a psychological treatment compared to a control group (CG) in reducing weight, BMI and blood pressure and metabolic profile in patients with obesity and heart disease. To evaluate the effectiveness of the BOG on improving repertoires for coping with stressful situations related to obesity. Verify changes in behaviors that cause emotional suffering and relief from suffering based on the perception of participating patients. Design and method: Controlled clinical trial with patients with obesity and cardiovascular (CV) disease (hypertension, coronary artery disease and/or heart failure). Method: Clinical data (weight, BMI, blood pressure (BP), blood glucose, cholesterol levels, triglycerides) were collected from the electronic medical records before and after the intervention in BOG e CG. Quantitative variables (clinical data and coping strategies) expressed by means and standard deviations were compared by the T-Student test. Qualitative variables (behaviors causing emotional suffering, emotional reactions) were analyzed by thematic content analysis and Wilcoxon test Results: Thirty-eight patients with obesity and CV disease were studied, 19 for each group. After the BOG group therapy, there was a significant (p&lt;0.05) reduction in BMI, weight, and systolic BP of the patients (Before: 39±6 kg/m2, 102±22 kg, 149±24 mmHg vs. after 34±7 kg/m2, 91±24 kg, 132±13 mmHg). In CG, there was a significant (p&lt;0.05) increase in BMI, weight and systolic BP (Before: 35±5 kg/m2, 91±27 kg, 161±28 mmHg vs. after 36±5 kg/m2, 93±21 kg, 171±31 mmHg). We did not observe significant differences in laboratory variables in both groups. It was observed an improvement in the use of active coping, positive reinterpretation and self-distraction and a reduction in the use of maladaptive copings of self-blame, denial and behavioral disinvestment. A reduction in negative feelings, an increase in positive feelings and an attenuation of the desire to eat were identified. Conclusions: BOG was effective and brought clinical benefits in patients with obesity and CV disease, with significant reductions in weight, BMI and systolic BP, in addition to improvements in psychological aspects. It should be considered as a psychological treatment.

A Novel Coated Suture Displays Antimicrobial Activity Without Compromising Structural Properties

BackgroundTreated or coated sutures promise to prevent contamination of wounds. PurposePurpose of the study was to coat surgical sutures with a new quaternary ammonium silane (QAS) antimicrobial compound at two different application temperatures and then to evaluate resulting structural, physical, mechanical, and biological properties. Study Design, Setting and SampleIn-vitro and in-vivo studies were conducted using male albino Wistar rats approved by Joint Ethical Committee of IMU and Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. Only suture samples, coated uniformly with verified presence of the compound and of adequate length were used. Samples which were not coated uniformly and with inadequate length or damaged were excluded. Predictor VariablesPredictor variables were sutures with and without QAS coatings and different temperatures. Sutures were coated with QAS at 0.5% and 1.0% wt/vol using dip coating technique and sutures with and without QAS coating were tested at 25oC and 40oC temperatures. Main Outcome VariableOutcome variables of structural and physico-mechanical, properties of QAS coated and non-coated sutures were measured using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) (for structural changes), confocal laser and scanning electron (for diameter changes), and tensile strength/modulus (for mechanical testing). Biologic outcome variables were tested (bacterial viability); macrophage cultures from Wistar rats were tested (M1/M2 polarization detecting IL-6 and IL-10). Macrophage cells were analyzed with CD80+ (M1) and CD163+ (M2). Chemotaxis Index was calculated as a ratio of quantitative fluorescence of cells. CovariatesNot applicable. AnalysisOrdinal data among groups were compared using Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney U test along with comparison of histological analysis using Wilcoxon Sign-rank test (p < 0.05). ResultsFTIR peak at 1490 cm-1 confirmed presence of QAS on suture’s surfaces with significant increase (p<0.05) in diameter (0.99±0.5-mm) and weight (0.77±0.02-mg) observed for 1% QAS-groups treated at 40°C. Non-coated samples heated at 25°C had significantly (p<0.05) less diameters (0.22±0.03-mm) and weights (0.26±0.06-mg). Highest tensile strength/modulus was observed for 0.5% QAS-coated samples which also had significantly high antibacterial characteristics than other sutures (p<0.05). QAS-coated sutures significantly increased M1 and M2 markers. Conclusions and RelevanceQAS coating conferred antibacterial action properties without compromising physical and mechanical properties of the suture.

Arterial Stiffness is an early vascular complication in menopause associated with high levels of asprosin

Background: Menopause is a biological phenomenon experienced by women on average at 51 years of age. The negative impact of menopause on the health of women left without treatment is now recognized but still remains understudied. Menopause is characterized by a decline in ovarian function and estrogen levels that is associated with weight gain and an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Because cardiovascular disease clinically presents 7-10 years following menopause, research on the early onset of cardiovascular events in menopause is urgently needed. Asprosin has been recently identified as an adipokine secreted by white adipose tissue and its levels are increased in obesity. Whether asprosin production is increased in menopause remains unknown. We hypothesize that arterial stiffness is an early vascular complication and is associated with high levels of asprosin in menopause. Methods: 8-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were randomized into two experimental groups: Control Group (n=9) and Ovariectomized (OVX) Group (n=8). The OVX group received surgical ovariectomies and the Control Group underwent surgery without ovary removal. The experimental protocol spanned 22 weeks. Carotid-femoral and intracarotid pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements, the gold standard to measure arterial stiffness, were obtained. At terminal experiments, thoracic aortas were isolated and mounted on a wire myograph for vascular reactivity studies. Acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside concentration-response curves were used to assess endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent relaxation, respectively. Gonadal white adipose tissue (gWAT) was collected for further asprosin measurements. Results: The OVX Group exhibited a significant reduction in uterus weight (59.87 ± 19.62 mg vs. 162.8 ± 16.37 mg controls, p&lt;0.05), validating our menopause model. At week 16, the OVX group exhibited a significant increase in carotid-femoral PWV (3.03 ± 0.09 m/s vs. 2.7 ± 0.11 m/s controls, p&lt;0.05) as well as intracarotid PWV (5.09 ± 0.35 m/s vs 2.5 ± 0.23 m/s controls, p&lt;0.05), confirming arterial stiffness. No differences in endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent relaxation were observed between the experimental groups, indicating that the menopausal mice had not developed endothelial dysfunction at week 22. As expected, the OVX group showed a significant increase in body weight (24.7 ± 0.26 g vs. 22.2 ± 0.42 g controls, p&lt;0.05) and BMI (0.27 ± 0.002 kg/m2 vs. 0.24 ± 0.005 kg/m2 controls, p&lt;0.05), confirming obesity. The increased weight of gWAT in the OVX group (0.69 ± 0.15 g vs. 0.26 ± 0.02 g controls, p&lt;0.05) was accompanied by elevated asprosin expression (1.14-fold increase, p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: nt of endothelial dysfunction in menopause. Increased asprosin is novel and represents a potential link between adiposity and arterial stiffness in menopause. Future directions will investigate the relationship between arterial stiffness and hypertension in menopause. NIH. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Menopause: An Early Obesogenic Condition Associated with Vascular Smooth Muscle Dysfunction

Background: For several years menopause was considered a natural event faced by women entering their 40’s. Evidence has now recognized that menopause causes a series of metabolic and vascular complications that negatively affect women later in life. Approximately, 65% of American menopausal women become overweight or obese which increases their risk of developing vascular events, such as hypertension. However, the mechanisms by which menopause leads to weight gain and vascular complications remain understudied. By using a preclinical model of menopause, our preliminary data shows that menopausal mice exhibit early weight gain and development of metabolic disorders. Therefore, we hypothesize that menopause causes an early onset of obesity and metabolic disorders that may precede the development of vascular complications. Methods: To address our hypothesis, eight-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were randomized into two experimental groups: Control/Sham Group (n=9) and Ovariectomized (OVX) group (n=8). The OVX group had their ovaries surgically removed and the Sham Group underwent surgery, but the ovaries were not removed. Metabolic parameters, including glucose metabolism and metabolic cages, and body weight were analyzed along the 20 weeks of the experimental protocol. At the terminal experiments, thoracic aortas were isolated and mounted in a wire myograph for vascular reactivity studies. Phenylephrine (PE) concentration response curves were utilized to assess vascular smooth muscle functionality. Results: After one week following the surgery, the OVX group showed a significant increase in body weight (19.4 ± 0.37g vs. 18.2 ± 0.40g controls, p&lt;0.05), however, obesity was only confirmed in week 16 with the BMI (0.26 ± 0.003 vs. 0.24 ± 0.003 controls, p&lt;0.05) and abdominal circumference (8.4 ± 0.14cm vs. 8.05 ± 0.06cm controls, p&lt;0.05). Intriguingly, OVX group exhibited reduced food consumption (2.26 ± 0.11g vs. 3.36 ± 0.21g controls, p&lt;0.05) water intake (3.11 ± 0.54 mL vs. 4.48 ± 0.18mL controls, p&lt;0.05), fecal output (1.14 ± 0.07g vs. 2.10 ± 0.21g controls, p&lt;0.05) and water intake (3.11 ± 0.54mL vs. 4.48 ± 0.18mL controls, p&lt;0.05). Regarding glucose metabolism, the OVX group exhibited increased fasting glucose (125.4 ± 8.03mg/dL vs. 86.7 ± 2.67mg/dL controls, p&lt;0.05), glucose intolerance (AUC: 39086.88 ± 2201.01 vs. 22939.56 ± 3187.55 controls, p&lt;0.05), and increased triglycerides (116.0 ± 26.11mg/dL vs. 37.3 ± 4.23mg/dL controls, p&lt;0.05). Vascular studies revealed a significant vascular smooth muscle dysfunction in the OVX group as evidenced by reduced aortic contractility to phenylephrine (EMax: 8.15 ± 1.1mN vs.12.3 ± 1.53mN controls, p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Our results reveals that menopause causes an early onset of weight gain that is not related to increased consumption of food but instead to an decreased metabolism. Menopausal mice developed central obesity, high fasting glucose, and high triglycerides, which taken together characterize metabolic syndrome that was accompanied by vascular smooth muscle dysfunction. NIH. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Paradise by the far-red light: Far-red and red:blue ratios independently affect yield, pigments, and carbohydrate production in lettuce, Lactuca sativa.

In controlled environment agriculture, customized light treatments using light-emitting diodes are crucial to improving crop yield and quality. Red (R; 600-700 nm) and blue light (B; 400-500 nm) are two major parts of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), often preferred in crop production. Far-red radiation (FR; 700-800 nm), although not part of PAR, can also affect photosynthesis and can have profound effects on a range of morphological and physiological processes. However, interactions between different red and blue light ratios (R:B) and FR on promoting yield and nutritionally relevant compounds in crops remain unknown. Here, lettuce was grown at 200 µmol m-2 s-1 PAR under three different R:B ratios: R:B87.5:12.5 (12.5% blue), R:B75:25 (25% blue), and R:B60:40 (40% blue) without FR. Each treatment was also performed with supplementary FR (50 µmol m-2 s-1; R:B87.5:12.5+FR, R:B75:25+FR, and R:B60:40+FR). White light with and without FR (W and W+FR) were used as control treatments comprising of 72.5% red, 19% green, and 8.5% blue light. Increasing the R:B ratio from R:B87.5:12.5 to R:B60:40, there was a decrease in fresh weight (20%) and carbohydrate concentration (48% reduction in both sugars and starch), whereas pigment concentrations (anthocyanins, chlorophyll, and carotenoids), phenolic compounds, and various minerals all increased. These results contrasted the effects of FR supplementation in the growth spectra; when supplementing FR to different R:B backgrounds, we found a significant increase in plant fresh weight, dry weight, total soluble sugars, and starch. Additionally, FR decreased concentrations of anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, and various minerals. Although blue light and FR effects appear to directly contrast, blue and FR light did not have interactive effects together when considering plant growth, morphology, and nutritional content. Therefore, the individual benefits of increased blue light fraction and supplementary FR radiation can be combined and used cooperatively to produce crops of desired quality: adding FR increases growth and carbohydrate concentration while increasing the blue fraction increases nutritional value.

The Effect of Thiazolidinediones in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine condition affecting women of reproductive age. It is characterised by insulin resistance and is a risk for type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to review the literature on the effect of pioglitazone and rosiglitazone in women with PCOS. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library and the Web of Science in April 2020 and updated in March 2023. Studies were deemed eligible if they were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the effect of pioglitazone and rosiglitazone in PCOS. The study follows the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Out of 814 initially retrieved citations, 24 randomised clinical trials (RCTs) involving 976 participants were deemed eligible. Among women with PCOS, treatment with rosiglitazone compared to metformin resulted in a significant increase in the mean body weight (mean difference (MD) 1.95kg; 95%CI 0.03-3.87, p = 0.05). Metformin treatment was associated with a reduction in mean body mass index (BMI) compared to pioglitazone (MD 0.85kg/m2; 95%CI 0.13-1.57, p = 0.02). Both pioglitazone compared to placebo (MD 2.56kg/m2; 95%CI 1.77-3.34, p < 0.00001) and rosiglitazone compared to metformin (MD 0.74kg/m2; 95%CI 0.07-1.41, p = 0.03) were associated with a significant increase in BMI. Treatment with pioglitazone compared to placebo showed a significant reduction in triglycerides (MD - 0.20mmol/L; 95%CI - 0.38 to - 0.03, p = 0.02) and fasting insulin levels (MD - 11.47mmol/L; 95%CI - 20.20, - 2.27, p = 0.01). Rosiglitazone compared to metformin was marginally significantly associated with a reduction in the luteinising hormone (LH) (MD - 0.62; 95%CI - 1.25-0.00, p = 0.05). Both pioglitazone and rosiglitazone were associated with significant increases in body weight and BMI when compared with metformin or placebo. Pioglitazone significantly reduced triglycerides and fasting insulin when compared with placebo while rosiglitazone showed a modest reduction of LH when compared with metformin. CRD42020178783.

Investigating Majhool date (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption effects on fasting blood glucose in animals and humans.

Majhool date (Phoenix dactylifera), renowned for its premium taste and texture, is extensively consumed in the Islamic world, particularly during Ramadan. Despite its popularity, concerns persist regarding its potential to induce diabetes in non-patients. This study aims to explore the diabetogenic effects of prolonged Majhool date (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption, the widely used fruit in the Islamic world, through animal experiments and human clinical data. Medjool dates were processed into an ethanolic extract for the animal experiment. Then, 21 Balb/c mice received varying doses of the extract for one month. The fasting blood glucose levels were analyzed at the beginning and after one month of consumption of the Majhool date extract. For the clinical study, 387 healthy participants wererecruited, with fasting blood glucose levels assessed before and after Ramadan, a period of heightened Majhool date consumption. all groups of the experimental animals exhibited a significant (p<0.05) weight increase after Majhool date consumption, while no significant (p>0.05) alteration in fasting blood glucose levels among groups. In addition, it wasfound that fasting blood glucose levels remained statistically unchanged (p>0.05) after heightened Majhool date consumption among humans. The study challenges the belief that Majhool date induces diabetes, supported by both animal and humandata. Findings suggest that Majhool date consumption, even at higher doses, does not induce diabetes. Further investigations could explore the impact of other date varieties on the fasting blood glucose levels.

Ginsenoside Rb1 ameliorates lipotoxicity-induced myocardial injury in diabetes mellitus by regulating Mfn2

PurposeDiabetic cardiomyopathy is a prevalent cardiovascular complication of diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) on the diabetic myocardium. MethodsLeptin receptor-deficient db/db mice and palmitic acid (PA)-treated cardiomyocyte models were utilized. Cardiac systolic and diastolic function, mitochondrial morphology, and respiratory chain function were determined. The expression of mitochondrial dynamics proteins was measured. Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) overexpression and inhibition were achieved by lentiviral infection and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. ResultsIn comparison to non-diabetic mice, db/db mice exhibited significant increases in body weight, blood glucose, blood lipids, and cardiac free fatty acid levels. This was accompanied by myocardial hypertrophy and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, which were significantly ameliorated by GRb1 intervention. Stimulation with PA increased oxidative stress and apoptosis, and decreased viability in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. PA also reduced sarcomere contractility and relaxation in adult mice ventricular myocytes. PA-induced cellular and mitochondrial damage were reversed with GRb1 treatment. The cardiac tissue of db/db mice and PA-treated cardiomyocytes exhibited a decrease in Mfn2 expression, which was markedly improved by GRb1. Mfn2 overexpression reversed PA-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and functional damage in cardiomyocytes, while inhibition of Mfn2 expression by siRNA transfection blocked the protective effects of GRb1. ConclusionGRb1 alleviated myocardial lipid accumulation and mitochondrial injury, and attenuated ventricular diastolic dysfunction in diabetic mice. The regulation of Mfn2 was involved in the protective effects of GRb1 against lipotoxic myocardial injury.

Long-term effect of exposure to triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) on male mouse reproduction.

Our study investigated the impact on male mouse fertility and reproduction of long-term (14 weeks) exposure to triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), a co-monomer of resin-based compounds, at doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10ppm. Test and control mice were then paired with sexually mature untreated female mice and their fertility evaluated. Females paired with males exposed to all TEGDMA doses exhibited a significant decline in pregnancy rates, and significant increases in the total embryonic resorption-to-implantation ratio, except for males exposed to 0.01ppm TEGDMA. Males in the highest dose group (10ppm) showed significant increases in seminal vesicle and preputial gland weights. They also had significantly higher serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) than the controls, and the 0.01ppm dosage group for FSH levels. TEGDMA exposure resulted in notable histopathological alterations in the testis, with detachment of germ cells and shedding of germinal epithelium into the tubule lumen. These results strongly indicate that TEGDMA exposure has detrimental consequences on the reproductive abilities and functions in male mice through disruption of the standard hormonal regulation of the reproductive system, leading to changes in spermatogenesis and ultimately leading to decreased fertility.