Utility of preoperative ultrasound in assessing the adequacy of autograft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using tendon autograft requires imaging to evaluate graft adequacy. Ultrasound (US) offers an efficient adjunct to MRI; however, the utility of US is variable in prior literature and should be investigated. The primary aim of this study is to provide a statistical appraisal of literature assessing correlation of preoperative US measurements with intraoperative size of autografts during ACL reconstruction.

Pummelo fruit extract () reduces oxidative damage in peripheral blood of obese patients.

Objectives: To verify the level of oxidation of biomolecules in the peripheral blood of obese patients before and after incubation with the pummelo pulp extract at 25 mg/mL.

Methods: This investigation included 241 individuals, distributed across the following groups: control (n = 69; 30 men and 39 women); pre-obesity (n = 78; 29 men and 49 women); level I obesity (n = 62; 20 men and 42 women); and level II or III obesity (n = 32; 11 men and 21 women).

Results: TBARS and MN levels were significantly altered by incubation with pummelo extract in both genders and in all the groups according to their obesity level.

Acute kidney injury: a post-COVID-19 complication in children and adolescents.

Objective: To describe cases of acute kidney injury (AKI) in children diagnosed with COVID-19, associated risk factors, clinical aspects and outcome of cases.

Methods: Retrospective study, carried out in a pediatric hospital between March 2020 and September 2021, with patients with COVID-19 who were diagnosed with AKI, studying information present in medical records such as comorbidities, age, gender and use of nephrotoxic medications.

Results: We studied 40 cases, and male individuals were significantly more affected (62.

Inhibition of ATP synthase reverse activity restores energy homeostasis in mitochondrial pathologies.

The maintenance of cellular function relies on the close regulation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis and hydrolysis. ATP hydrolysis by mitochondrial ATP Synthase (CV) is induced by loss of proton motive force and inhibited by the mitochondrial protein ATPase inhibitor (ATPIF1). The extent of CV hydrolytic activity and its impact on cellular energetics remains unknown due to the lack of selective hydrolysis inhibitors of CV.

A mechanism for red coloration in vertebrates.

Red coloration is a salient feature of the natural world. Many vertebrates produce red color by converting dietary yellow carotenoids into red ketocarotenoids via an unknown mechanism. Here, we show that two enzymes, cytochrome P450 2J19 (CYP2J19) and 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase 1-like (BDH1L), are sufficient to catalyze this conversion.

Comparative study of oxidative stress and antioxidative markers in patients infected with Toxoplasma gondii.

Recently, oxidative stress and antioxidative compounds have been described as potential biomarkers. However, there is no consensus on the most appropriate oxidative and antioxidative biomarkers for patients with Toxoplasma gondii. In the present study, we evaluated the levels of lipid, protein, DNA oxidative damage and antioxidants in samples from patients infected with T.

Stimulatory effects of (-)-epicatechin and its enantiomer (+)-epicatechin on mouse frontal cortex neurogenesis markers and short-term memory: proof of concept.

Consumption of (-)-epicatechin (Epi), a cacao flavanol improves cognition. The aim was to compare the effects of (-)-Epi or its stereoisomer (+)-Epi on mouse frontal cortex-dependent short-term working memory and modulators of neurogenesis. Three-month-old male mice (n = 7 per group) were provided by gavage either water (vehicle; Veh), (-)-Epi, at 1 mg kg-1 or (+)-Epi at 0.

Thermal response of two sexually dimorphic (Odonata) over an ambient temperature range.

Organisms may internally or behaviorally regulate their body temperatures or conform to the ambient air temperatures. Previous evidence is mixed on whether wing pigmentation influences thermoregulation in various odonates.We investigated the thermal response of sympatric North American and with a thermal imaging study across a 25°C ambient temperature range.

(-)-Epicatechin induces mitochondrial biogenesis and markers of muscle regeneration in adults with Becker muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: We conducted an open-label study to examine the effects of the flavonoid (-)-epicatechin in seven ambulatory adult patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD).

Methods: Seven participants received (-)-epicatechin 50 mg twice per day for 8 weeks. Pre- and postprocedures included biceps brachii biopsy to assess muscle structure and growth-relevant endpoints by western blotting, mitochondria volume measurement, and cristae abundance by electron microscopy, graded exercise testing, and muscle strength and function tests.

Safety and efficacy of (+)-epicatechin in subjects with Friedreich's ataxia: A phase II, open-label, prospective study.

Background: (+)-Epicatechin (EPI) induces mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant metabolism in muscle fibers and neurons. We aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy of (+)-EPI in pediatric subjects with Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA).

Methods: This was a phase II, open-label, baseline-controlled single-center trial including 10 participants ages 10 to 22 with confirmed FA diagnosis.

A timeline of female stress urinary incontinence: how technology defined theory and advanced treatment.

Background: Prevailing theories and treatments of female stress urinary incontinence are built on 120 years of evolution in understanding the structure and function of the female bladder neck and urethra and of considering why treatments failed. In our management of patients, it is important to understand and appreciate how our management of female stress urinary incontinence has evolved and which treatments have prevailed as we advance our knowledge for future treatments.

Aims: The purpose of this review is to describe how advances in technology impacted and shaped prevailing theories or understanding of the pathophysiology of stress urinary incontinence and influences our treatment approach.

11-β-hydroxysterols as possible endogenous stimulators of mitochondrial biogenesis as inferred from epicatechin molecular mimicry.

Currently, there is great interest in identifying endogenous (i.e. physiological) stimulators of mitochondrial biogenesis (MB), in particular, those that may mediate the effects of exercise.

STRONG-D: Strength training regimen for normal weight diabetics: Rationale and design.

Background: Currently, there is a lack of data on effective lifestyle recommendations for normal-weight diabetics (NWD), who can represent up to 1 in 5 individuals with Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). NWD is especially prevalent in Asian populations and the elderly. Specific exercise treatment recommendations are needed for patients with normal-weight diabetes (NWD), as those in this category face higher mortality rates than overweight and obese diabetics.

Postoperative prophylactic antibiotics for facial fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing surgery for maxillofacial fractures is standard practice. However, the use of postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the effect of postoperative antibiotic therapy on the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients with maxillofacial fractures.

A pilot study on clinical pharmacokinetics and preclinical pharmacodynamics of (+)-epicatechin on cardiometabolic endpoints.

We reported that (-)-epicatechin can stimulate mitochondria biogenesis and improve metabolism. However, preliminary studies indicate that the (+) stereoisomer form may be more potent. We evaluated in a preliminary manner, the pharmacokinetics (PK) and initial safety analysis of (+)-epicatechin ((+)-Epi) in healthy and pre-diabetic subjects.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study on the effects of (-)-epicatechin on the triglyceride/HDLc ratio and cardiometabolic profile of subjects with hypertriglyceridemia: Unique in vitro effects.

Background: Cardiometabolic disruptions such as insulin resistance, obesity, high blood pressure, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemias, are known to increase the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis. Several screening tools for assessing cardiometabolic risk have been developed including the TG/HDLc ratio, which has been, demonstrated to possess a strong association with insulin resistance and coronary disease. Dietary modifications, together with regular moderate exercise have proven to be effective in attenuating cardiometabolic disruptions.

Pharmacokinetic, partial pharmacodynamic and initial safety analysis of (-)-epicatechin in healthy volunteers.

(-)-Epicatechin ((-)-EPI), a naturally occurring flavanol, has emerged as a likely candidate for cocoa-based product reported reductions in cardiometabolic risk. The present study aimed to determine the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of purified (-)-EPI administered to healthy volunteers. In this phase I, open-label, two-part single- and multiple-dose study, subjects received either a single dose (n = 9) of 50, 100 or 200 mg or multiple doses (n = 8) of 50 mg daily (q.

Proteomic biomarkers of recovered heart function.

Aims: Chronic heart failure is a costly epidemic that affects up to 2% of people in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to discover novel blood proteomic biomarker signatures of recovered heart function that could lead to more effective heart failure patient management by both primary care and specialty physicians.

Methods And Results: The discovery cohort included 41 heart transplant patients and 20 healthy individuals.

Uric acid stimulates fructokinase and accelerates fructose metabolism in the development of fatty liver.

Excessive dietary fructose intake may have an important role in the current epidemics of fatty liver, obesity and diabetes as its intake parallels the development of these syndromes and because it can induce features of metabolic syndrome. The effects of fructose to induce fatty liver, hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance, however, vary dramatically among individuals. The first step in fructose metabolism is mediated by fructokinase (KHK), which phosphorylates fructose to fructose-1-phosphate; intracellular uric acid is also generated as a consequence of the transient ATP depletion that occurs during this reaction.

Uric acid induces hepatic steatosis by generation of mitochondrial oxidative stress: potential role in fructose-dependent and -independent fatty liver.

Background: Uric acid is an independent risk factor in fructose-induced fatty liver, but whether it is a marker or a cause remains unknown.

Results: Hepatocytes exposed to uric acid developed mitochondrial dysfunction and increased de novo lipogenesis, and its blockade prevented fructose-induced lipogenesis.

Conclusion: Rather than a consequence, uric acid induces fatty liver

Significance: Hyperuricemic people are more prone to develop fructose-induced fatty liver.

Epicatechin limits renal injury by mitochondrial protection in cisplatin nephropathy.

Cisplatin nephropathy can be regarded as a mitochondrial disease. Intervention to halt such deleterious injury is under investigation. Recently, the flavanol (-)-epicatechin emerges as a novel compound to protect the cardiovascular system, owing in part to mitochondrial protection.

Nicorandil, a K(atp) channel opener, alleviates chronic renal injury by targeting podocytes and macrophages.

Nicorandil exhibits a protective effect in the vascular system, which is thought to be due to vasodilatation from opening ATP-dependent potassium channels and donation of nitric oxide. Recently, nicorandil was shown to be renoprotective in models of acute kidney injury and glomerulonephritis. However, the specific mechanisms of renoprotection are unclear.

Nicorandil as a novel therapy for advanced diabetic nephropathy in the eNOS-deficient mouse.

Nicorandil is an orally available drug that can act as a nitric oxide donor, an antioxidant, and an ATP-dependent K channel activator. We hypothesized that it may have a beneficial role in treating diabetic nephropathy. We administered nicorandil to a model of advanced diabetic nephropathy (the streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice lacking endothelial nitric oxide synthase, eNOSKO); controls included diabetic eNOS KO mice without nicorandil and nondiabetic eNOS KO mice treated with either nicorandil or vehicle.