Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (eSWT) in Spinal Cord Injury-A Narrative Review.

Background: Injury of the spinal cord causes motor and sensory dysfunction as well as pathological reflexes, leading to paraplegia or tetraplegia. The sequelae of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) are a significant burden and impact on healthcare systems. Despite constant progress in medicine, traumatic SCI still remains irreversible.

Assessment of Mycotoxin Exposure and Associated Risk in Pregnant Dutch Women: The Human Biomonitoring Approach.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by various fungi that can contaminate food crops, which, in turn, may lead to human exposure. Chronic exposure to mycotoxins can cause adverse health effects including reproductive and developmental toxicity. Pregnant women and their foetuses present a vulnerable group for exposure to mycotoxins that can cross the placenta.

Is Shock Wave Application Effective on Various Chronic Wounds in the Geriatric Population? Preliminary Clinical Study.

Purpose: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a beneficial adjunct modality for chronic wounds. Limited research has been conducted on pressure ulcers (PUs), while the majority of studies have focused on diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs). This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of radial ESWT in older adults with chronic wounds.

Can Shockwave Treatment Elicit a Molecular Response to Enhance Clinical Outcomes in Pressure Ulcers? The SHOck Waves in wouNds Project.

Wound healing requires the coordinated interaction of dermis cells, the proper deposition of extracellular matrix, re-epithelialization, and angiogenesis. Extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) is a promising therapeutic modality for chronic wounds. This study determined the biological mechanisms activated under ESW, facilitating the healing of pressure ulcers (PUs).

Introduction to This Special Issue of : Reduction and Control of Mycotoxins along Entire Food and Feed Chain.

Contamination of food and feed by mycotoxins is considered a significant issue in food and feed safety worldwide [...

The Immediate Clinical Effects Following a Single Radial Shock Wave Therapy in Pressure Ulcers: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial of The SHOWN Project.

Recent preliminary reports indicate that extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) might be useful for chronic wounds, especially venous leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers. However, there is limited evidence for the utility and safety of ESWT in pressure ulcers (PUs). Therefore, this randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to assess immediate planimetric and clinical effects following a single radial ESWT session in PUs.

Development and Validation of an LC-MS/MS Based Method for the Determination of Deoxynivalenol and Its Modified Forms in Maize.

The Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common contaminant of cereals and is often co-occurring with its modified forms DON-3-glucoside (D3G), 3-acetyl-DON (3ADON) or 15-acetyl-DON (15ADON). A stable-isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based method for their determination in cereals was developed and validated for maize. Therefore, C-labelled D3G was enzymatically produced using C-DON and [CGlc]-sucrose and used as an internal standard (IS) for D3G, while uniformly C labelled IS was used for the other mycotoxins.

Effect of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Pain Intensity, Functional Efficiency, and Postural Control Parameters in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide, placing a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) is useful in the rehabilitation of orthopedic diseases; however, there is still limited evidence for patients with LBP. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rESWT on pain level, functional efficiency, and parameters of postural control in patients with LBP.

Shock Waves as a Treatment Modality for Spasticity Reduction and Recovery Improvement in Post-Stroke Adults - Current Evidence and Qualitative Systematic Review.

Purpose: This systematic review examines intervention studies using extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) application in post-stroke muscle spasticity with particular emphasis on the comparison of two different types of radial (rESWT) and focused shock waves (fESWT).

Methods: PubMed, PEDro, Scopus, and EBSCOhost databases were systematically searched. Studies published between the years 2000 and 2019 in the impact factor journals and available in the English full-text version were eligible for inclusion.

The Effectiveness Of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy In Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Single-Blinded Pilot Study.

Purpose: This prospective, randomized and single-blinded study assesses the influence of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) in patients with low back pain (LBP).

Methods: A total of 52 patients with LBP were enrolled in the study, out of which a homogeneous group of 40 patients with mean age of 53.45±4.

Effect of laser treatment on postural control parameters in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

The management of nonspecific lumbar pain (NSLP) using laser irradiation remains controversial. A systematic review of recently published studies indicates that the effects of laser therapy are commonly assessed using only imperfect methods in terms of measurement error. The main objective of this study was to assess static postural stability using an objective tool in patients with chronic NSLP after laser irradiation at different doses and wavelengths.

Photobiomodulation using high- or low-level laser irradiations in patients with lumbar disc degenerative changes: disappointing outcomes and remarks.

Background: Laser therapy seems to be a beneficial physical agent for chronic low back pain (LBP), and it is commonly used in the clinical rehabilitation practice. However, there are still no indisputable and clearly defined protocols and practical guidelines, and further, the methodology of the previous reports leaves many unsatisfied and raises some reservations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) in patients with lumbar disc degenerative changes based on the analysis of the short- and long-term results and in comparison with the placebo effect.

Effect of laser therapy on expression of angio- and fibrogenic factors, and cytokine concentrations during the healing process of human pressure ulcers.

To evaluate the effect of laser irradiation at different wavelengths on the expression of selected growth factors and inflammatory mediators at particular stages of the wound healing process. Sixty-seven patients were recruited, treated, and analyzed (group A - 940 nm: 17 patients; group B - 808 nm: 18 patients; group C - 658 nm: 16 patients; group D - sham therapy: 17 patients). Patients received a basic treatment, including repositioning and mobilization, air pressure mattress and bed support surfaces, wound cleansing and drug therapy.

Mechanoregulation of Wound Healing and Skin Homeostasis.

Basic and clinical studies on mechanobiology of cells and tissues point to the importance of mechanical forces in the process of skin regeneration and wound healing. These studies result in the development of new therapies that use mechanical force which supports effective healing. A better understanding of mechanobiology will make it possible to develop biomaterials with appropriate physical and chemical properties used to treat poorly healing wounds.

Disruption of collagen homeostasis can reverse established age-related myocardial fibrosis.

Heart failure, the leading cause of hospitalization of elderly patients, is correlated with myocardial fibrosis (ie, deposition of excess extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen). A key regulator of collagen homeostasis is lysyl oxidase (LOX), an enzyme responsible for cross-linking collagen fibers. Our objective was to ameliorate age-related myocardial fibrosis by disrupting collagen cross-linking through inhibition of LOX.

Antibody therapy can enhance AngiotensinII-induced myocardial fibrosis.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis is a pathological process that is characterized by disrupted regulation of extracellular matrix proteins resulting in permanent scarring of the heart tissue and eventual diastolic heart failure. Pro-fibrotic molecules including transforming growth factor-β and connective tissue growth factor are expressed early in the AngiotensinII (AngII)-induced and other models of myocardial fibrosis. As such, antibody-based therapies against these and other targets are currently under development.

Nuclear location of tumor suppressor protein maspin inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells without affecting proliferation of normal epithelial cells.

Background: Maspin, which is classified as a tumor suppressor protein, is downregulated in many types of cancer. Several studies have suggested potential anti-proliferative activity of maspin as well as sensitizing activity of maspin for therapeutic cytotoxic agents in breast cancer tissue culture and animal models. All of the experimental data gathered so far have been based on studies with maspin localized cytoplasmically, while maspin in breast cancer tumor cells may be located in the cytoplasm, nucleus or both.

Early fibroblast progenitor cell migration to the AngII-exposed myocardium is not CXCL12 or CCL2 dependent as previously thought.

Fibroblast progenitor cells (fibrocytes) are important to the development of myocardial fibrosis and are suggested to migrate to the heart via CXCL12 and chemokine ligand (CCL) 2. We hypothesized that if these chemokines are recruiting fibrocytes, disrupting their signaling will reduce early (3-day) fibrocyte infiltration and, consequently, fibrosis in the myocardium. C57/Bl6 and CCR2(-/-) mice were infused with saline or angiotensin (Ang) II, with or without CXC receptor 4 blockade (AMD3100).

Regulation and role of connective tissue growth factor in AngII-induced myocardial fibrosis.

Exposure of rodents to angiotensin II (AngII) is a common model of fibrosis. We have previously shown that cellular infiltration of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells (fibrocytes) occurs before deposition of extracellular matrix and is associated with the production of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). In the present study, we characterized the role of CTGF in promoting fibrocyte accumulation and regulation after AngII exposure.

Treatment with activated protein C (aPC) is protective during the development of myocardial fibrosis: an angiotensin II infusion model in mice.

Aims: Myocardial fibrosis contributes to the development of heart failure. Activated Protein C (aPC) is a circulating anticoagulant with anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties. Using a model of myocardial fibrosis second to Angiotensin II (AngII) infusion, we investigated the novel therapeutic function aPC in the development of fibrosis.

Myocardial migration by fibroblast progenitor cells is blood pressure dependent in a model of angII myocardial fibrosis.

Activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is thought to promote myocardial fibrosis. However, it is unclear whether this physiological fibrotic response results from chronic hemodynamic stress or from direct cellular signaling. Male C57B/6 mice were randomly assigned to receive angiotensin II (AngII) (2.

Fibroblast progenitor cells are recruited into the myocardium prior to the development of myocardial fibrosis.

Using an established model of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis after angiotensin II (AngII) infusion, our aim was to characterize the early cellular element involved in the development of myocardial fibrosis in detail. Male Lewis rats were infused with saline or AngII (0.7 mg/kg per day) for up to seven days.

Highly purified human peripheral blood monocytes produce IL-6 but not TNFalpha in response to angiotensin II.

Hypothesis: Monocytes produce pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to Angiotensin II (AngII).

Introduction: AngII has been suggested by many to be pro-inflammatory and likely to contribute to the migration of leukocytes in patients with cardiovascular conditions.

Materials And Methods: Monocytes were purified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by negative selection using antibodies conjugated to magnetic beads.

Embryonic and adult isoforms of XLAP2 form microdomains associated with chromatin and the nuclear envelope.

Laminin-associated polypeptide 2 (LAP2) proteins are alternatively spliced products of a single gene; they belong to the LEM domain family and, in mammals, locate to the nuclear envelope (NE) and nuclear lamina. Isoforms lacking the transmembrane domain also locate to the nucleoplasm. We used new specific antibodies against the N-terminal domain of Xenopus LAP2 to perform immunoprecipitation, identification and localization studies during Xenopus development.

Nuclear maspin expression as a good prognostic factor in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Maspin, a protein belonging to the serpin superfamily, seems to exert tumour-suppressive activity. Its significance in ovarian cancer prognosis is currently under investigation. In the present work, immunocytochemical maspin expression in 132 invasive epithelial ovarian carcinomas was assessed independently in the nucleus and cytoplasm, in correlation with histopathological and clinical data.