Pediatric and Adolescent Traumatic Macular Hole: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: The optimal management of pediatric traumatic macular holes (TMH) is unclear from lack of prospective randomized trials. The literature is divided into early (≤1month post-trauma), delayed (>1 month) pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), and observation. Our aim is to find which group can achieve best-superior spectacle corrected visual acuity (VA), visual gain, and time for hole closure.

Mortality risk in patients with obesity and COVID-19 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Obesity is a risk factor for severe respiratory diseases, including COVID-19 infection. Meta-analyses on mortality risk were inconsistent. We systematically searched 3 databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL) and assessed the quality of studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa tool (CRD42020220140).

Defining Misinformation and Related Terms in Health-Related Literature: Scoping Review.

Background: Misinformation poses a serious challenge to clinical and policy decision-making in the health field. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified interest in misinformation and related terms and witnessed a proliferation of definitions.

Objective: We aim to assess the definitions of misinformation and related terms used in health-related literature.

A Framework for the Development of Living Practice Guidelines in Health Care.

Background: Living practice guidelines are increasingly being used to ensure that recommendations are responsive to rapidly emerging evidence.

Objective: To develop a framework that characterizes the processes of development of living practice guidelines in health care.

Design: First, 3 background reviews were conducted: a scoping review of methods papers, a review of handbooks of guideline-producing organizations, and an analytic review of selected living practice guidelines.

The link between COVID-19 and VItamin D (VIVID): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Disease severity and mortality rates due to COVID-19 infection are greater in the elderly and chronically ill patients, populations at high risk for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D plays an important role in immune function and inflammation. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses the impact of vitamin D status and supplementation on COVID-19 related mortality and health outcomes.

The Appearance of a Leptin Effect on Glucose Absorption in Caco2 Cells Depends on Their Differentiation Level.

Unlabelled: Backdround/Aims: The aim of this work was to study the effect and mechanism of action of leptin added apically, on glucose absorption, using Caco-2 cells as a model.

Methods: Cells were grown on inserts and treated with leptin, at different time points after confluence. Radiolabelled glucose was added to the upper chamber and samples from the lower chamber were collected and assayed for radioactivity.

Leptin inhibits the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase in Caco-2 cells via PKC and p38MAPK.

We demonstrated previously an inhibitory effect of luminal leptin on glucose absorption in differentiated Caco-2 cells. Since this process is dependent on the Na(+) gradient established by the Na(+)/K(+)ATPase this work was undertaken to investigate if the ATPase is one of the hormone's targets. Fully differentiated Caco-2 cells were incubated with 10nM luminal leptin and the activity of the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase was assayed by measuring the amount of inorganic phosphate liberated.

Anti-hyperglycemic effect of the aqueous extract of banana infructescence stalks in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Water extract of banana (Musa sapientum) infructescence stalks has been used in folk medicine in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This work aims at verifying the claimed effect and elucidating its possible mode of action. The extract was given in replacement of drinking water to diabetic rats, and its mechanism of action was studied by investigating its involvement in glucose transport in Caco-2 monolayers, and in rat jejuna using an in situ perfusion technique.

Pine bark extract inhibits glucose transport in enterocytes via mitogen-activated kinase and phosphoinositol 3-kinase.

Objective: Pine bark extract (PBE) has been reported to have hypoglycemic effects but its mode of action is still unclear. This work studied the effect of PBE on glucose uptake by Caco-2 cells in isolation of its effect on insulin, which may appear if ingested by the animal.

Methods: Caco-2 cells were incubated in the presence of PBE and [(14)C] 3-O-methyl-D-glucose as a tracer and the change in radioactivity of the incubation medium was taken as a measurement of glucose uptake.

Signaling pathway underlying the up-regulatory effect of TNF-alpha on the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase in HepG2 cells.

The activity of the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase was shown to be reduced during apoptosis and enhanced during cell proliferation. This work investigated whether TNF-alpha exerts also opposite effects on the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase in HepG2 cells and whether these effects are time-dependent. A time response study demonstrated that the activity and protein expression of the ATPase are decreased at 1h and increased at 4, 6 and 8h.