Life-Basel最新文献

Background: This 24-week randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the impact of multistrain probiotic supplementation on telomere length in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The study also assessed secondary outcomes including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).

Methods: A total of 124 participants with T2DM were randomly assigned to either a probiotic group (n = 62) or a placebo group (n = 62). Participants in the probiotic group consumed a supplement containing fourteen live microbial strains, including Lactobacillus plantarum, L. fermentum, L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. reuteri, L. salivarius, L. paracasei, L. gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. lactis, B. breve, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Saccharomyces boulardii, with each strain providing 2.148 billion CFUs per capsule, totaling 30 billion CFUs. The placebo group received vitamin B12 capsules without probiotics. The primary outcome was telomere length, and secondary outcomes included hs-CRP and HbA1c levels. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) methods.

Results: The probiotic group exhibited a statistically significant decrease in telomere shortening compared to the placebo group (p < 0.001). The hs-CRP levels decreased more significantly in the probiotic group (p < 0.001), suggesting potential anti-inflammatory effects. The HbA1c levels improved in the probiotic group, with a reduction of 0.44% (p = 0.004). An age-stratified analysis revealed more substantial improvements in the 30-49 years cohort, which showed greater reductions in telomere shortening, inflammatory markers, and metabolic indicators compared to the 50-69 years group.

Conclusions: Multistrain probiotic supplementation shows potential benefits in reducing telomere shortening and improving glycemic control. However, further long-term studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic implications of probiotics in T2DM.

Trial registration: This trial was registered at the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2023/07/055647).

Supraorbital hollowness and pretarsal fullness, commonly known as the sunken eyelid and charming roll, respectively, are significant anatomical features that impact the aesthetic appearance of the periorbital region. Supraorbital hollowness is characterized by a recessed appearance of the upper eyelid, often attributed to genetic factors, aging, or surgical alterations, such as excessive fat removal during blepharoplasty. This condition is particularly prevalent among East Asians due to anatomical differences, such as weaker levator muscles and unique fat distribution patterns. Pretarsal fullness, also known as aegyo-sal, enhances the youthful and expressive appearance of the lower eyelid, forming a roll above the lash line that is considered aesthetically desirable in East Asian culture. Anatomical-based filler injection techniques are critical for correcting these features, involving precise placement within the correct tissue planes to avoid complications and achieve natural-looking results. This approach not only improves the aesthetic appeal of the eyelid but also enhances the overall facial harmony, emphasizing the importance of tailored procedures based on individual anatomy and cultural preferences.

Odontogenic cysts, commonly detected during routine examinations involving head and neck imaging such as orthopantomograms and computed tomography (CT), are classified into two groups: developmental and inflammatory. Radicular cysts, which belong to the inflammatory group, originate from odontogenic epithelium, while dentigerous cysts of developmental origin are observed as a result of peri-coronal expansion of fluid in the dental follicle. The diagnosis and identification of odontogenic cysts rely on clinical, radiographic, and histological evaluations. This study aimed to demonstrate the expression of Dlx-5 and HLX proteins in radicular and dentigerous cysts. A total of 40 radicular and 40 dentigerous cysts were obtained from patients who visited private oral and dental health clinics in Bingöl and Diyarbakır provinces. After undergoing routine histological procedures, the cysts were stained using Masson's Trichrome and immunohistochemistry techniques. As a result, the epithelium of radicular cysts was found to be keratinized stratified squamous, with hyaline (Rushton) bodies located within the epithelium. Dentigerous cysts, on the other hand, consisted of non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, rete ridges with hyperplastic areas, and inflammatory cell infiltrations. The immunoreactivity induced by Dlx-5 in epithelial and connective tissue cells of radicular and dentigerous cysts was found to be stronger than that of HLX. The positive expression of Dlx-5 and HLX proteins in radicular and dentigerous cysts suggests that these proteins may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of these cysts. Furthermore, it was considered that the expression of Dlx-5 and HLX might help reveal the behavioral differences between odontogenic cysts.

Among the Pilates-based exercises, the modified side-arm (MSA) and modified high-five (MHF) are commonly used for shoulder strengthening and rehabilitation. This study examined shoulder girdle muscle activity and ratios across different spring intensities. Twenty-two healthy males performed the MSA and MHF using yellow (low), blue (medium), and red (high) springs. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure serratus anterior (SA), lower trapezius (LT), levator scapulae (LS), upper trapezius (UT), and middle deltoid (MD) muscle activity, along with LS/SA, LS/LT, and UT/LT ratios during concentric, isometric, and eccentric phases. Muscle activities were generally higher in the MHF than in the MSA with the same spring. Both exercises demonstrated a proportional increase in activity with spring intensity, though the activity of the SA and LT in the MHF plateaued. MHF ratios were significantly higher with the red spring. These findings indicate that the MHF stimulates shoulder girdle muscles more than the MSA, and that the MSA can further stimulate shoulder girdle muscles by increasing spring intensity. Additionally, optimal spring intensity exists in the MHF for targeting shoulder stabilization muscles. However, excessive spring intensity during the MHF may lead to abnormal compensation, emphasizing the need for careful spring intensity progression.

Background: Effective pain management is essential to early extubation and recovery in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has emerged as a potential strategy to address postoperative pain while reducing opioid consumption. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the TAP block in facilitating early extubation in the OR and examined its impact on re-intubation rates, postoperative fentanyl requirements, and pain intensity upon ICU admission to determine its role in perioperative pain management. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adult patients who underwent LDLT for hepatocellular carcinoma within the Milan criteria. Propensity score matching was performed to compare outcomes between patients who received the subcostal TAP block and those who did not. The primary outcome was the rate of successful extubation in the operating room (OR). Secondary outcomes included re-intubation rates, postoperative fentanyl requirements, and peak numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores upon ICU admission. Results: The subcostal TAP block was associated with a significantly higher rate of successful OR extubation compared with no TAP block. Multivariable analysis revealed that the TAP block independently increased the likelihood of successful extubation. Patients receiving the TAP block required less fentanyl for pain management and demonstrated lower peak NRS pain scores upon ICU admission. No complications related to the TAP block were observed, underscoring its safety in this high-risk population. Conclusions: The subcostal TAP block facilitates early OR extubation by effectively managing postoperative pain and reducing opioid requirements, promoting smoother recovery without increasing adverse events. These findings support its inclusion in multimodal analgesia protocols for optimizing perioperative outcomes in LDLT patients.

Semen preparation and sperm selection techniques exploit the morphological and physiological characteristics of sperm function, including motility, morphology, density, and maturity, as reflected by their cell-surface charge and the expression of hyaluronan receptors. The various methods employed have a common purpose of mimicing sperm selection within the female reproductive tract and, thereby, increasing the likelihood that oocytes will be fertilised by spermatozoa with intact nuclear DNA and a normal genome. Indeed, the paternal genome is relevant to embryonic genome activation and blastocyst development, and has a fundamental impact upon successful implantation, ongoing pregnancy and live birth. The clinical use of both well-established and some more recently developed techniques is discussed in this comparative clinical review of sperm separation from seminal plasma and selection for insemination.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of 6-week inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on pain, pulmonary functions, respiratory muscle strength, lower extremity functionality, exercise capacity and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with chronic venous disease (CVD). Individuals were randomly assigned to training (TG) (n = 15, 45.53 ± 8.64 years) and control (CG) (n = 15, 47 ± 9.30 years) groups. While individuals in the TG performed IMT (30 min/everyday), individuals in the CG performed thoracic expansion exercises (TEEs) (10 respiratory cycles/set, four sets/day). Pain, pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength tests, lower body strength and functional mobility, submaximal exercise capacity and QoL were assessed in all individuals. After 6 weeks, FEV₁/FVC, PEF, FEF_25-75% and MIP significantly increased in the TG compared to the CG (p < 0.05). Within the TG, FEV₁, PEF, FEF_25-75%, MIP, sit-to-stand number and 6-MWT distance significantly increased while resting pain, activity pain and QoL scores significantly decreased after 6 weeks (p < 0.05). Within the CG, FVC and sit-to-stand number significantly increased while activity pain and QoL scores decreased after 6 weeks (p < 0.05). Inspiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions improved following IMT compared to TEE in individuals with CVD. As pulmonary functions, pain, lower extremity functionality and QoL may improve via IMT or TEE in individuals with CVD, submaximal capacity may improve following IMT.

Copper contamination in coastal water environments poses a significant health risk, and traditional treatments for copper intoxication include gastric lavage, chelation, and hemodialysis. Recent research suggests that probiotics may help mitigate heavy metal toxicity by promoting biosorption in the intestinal tract. To explore this potential, we investigated the protective effects of Heyndrickxia coagulans (H. coagulans) against copper-induced toxicity in rats. After eight weeks of exposure, rats receiving both copper and H. coagulans exhibited significant improvements in renal function, lipid profiles, antioxidant enzyme activity, and histological markers compared to the copper-only group. However, liver function remained largely unchanged, suggesting a more pronounced protective effect on renal health. These findings highlight the potential of H. coagulans as a supportive intervention for mitigating the adverse effects of copper intoxication.

Solar photovoltaic technology has consistently been regarded as a crucial direction for the development of clean energy systems in the future. Bio-photovoltaics (BPV), an emerging solar energy utilization technology, is mainly based on the photosynthesis process of photoautotrophic organisms to convert solar energy into electrical energy and output a photocurrent via extracellular electron transfer. As the fundamental unit of the bio-photovoltaic system, the stability of photosynthetic microorganisms under fluctuating and stressful light and heat conditions is likely to have a significant influence on the efficiency of bio-photovoltaic devices. However, this aspect has often been overlooked in previous bio-photovoltaics research. This study took an important cyanobacteria chassis strain, Synechococ elongatus PCC 7942, as the model organism and explored the impact of physiological robustness optimization on its performance as a bio-photovoltaic functional unit. In this work, two types of BPV systems, namely the suspension mode and the biofilm attachment mode, were assembled to evaluate the electricity-generating activity of Synechococcus cells. Overall, the latter demonstrated a remarkable photoelectric output performance. When its light and temperature tolerance was enhanced through FoF1-ATP synthase engineering, the optimized Synechococcus strain exhibited stronger photosynthetic physiology and photoelectric output activity. Under the condition of a light intensity of 2400 μmol photons/m²/s, the maximum photocurrent output of the Synechococcus-based BPV device was increased significantly by 41% over the system based on the wild-type control strain. The results of this study provided a new perspective for the future development and optimization of bio-photovoltaics.

Background: Alport syndrome (AS) is one of the most common monogenic kidney disorders. Recent studies have highlighted the modifier effect of variants involving podocyte and non-collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in AS.

Methods: We report a case series of eight patients with genetically proven AS and simultaneous variants involving podocyte and non-collagenous ECM proteins. Our aim is to describe the influence of such variants on the phenotype of patients with AS.

Results: We identified 10 different type IV collagen variants. Patients were diagnosed with autosomal dominant (3/8), autosomal recessive (2/8), digenic (2/8) and X-linked AS (1/8). There were eight different variants involving podocyte and non-collagenous ECM proteins. The genes involved were CRB2, LAMA5, LAMB2, NUP107, MYO1E and PLCE1. Four patients (LAMB2, LAMA5 and PLCE1 variants) presented with nephrotic syndrome or nephrotic range proteinuria. Two patients had hearing loss. Most patients (7/8) had a family history of kidney disease. Two patients (LAMB2 and LAMA5 variants) were diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Two patients developed end-stage kidney disease (LAMA5, MYO1E and NUP107 variants).

Conclusions: Although mutations of podocyte and ECM proteins do not have phenotypic expression in monoallelic form, the presence of such variants could explain the phenotypic variability of AS.