Cortical stimulation for treatment of neurological disorders of hyperexcitability: a role of homeostatic plasticity

Hyperexcitability of neural network is a key neurophysiological mechanism in several neurological disorders including epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and tinnitus. Although standard paradigm of pharmacological management of them is to suppress this hyperexcitability, such as having been exemplified by the use of certain antiepileptic drugs, their frequent refractoriness to drug treatment suggests likely different pathophysiological mechanism. Because the pathogenesis in these disorders exhibits a transition from an initial activity loss after injury or sensory deprivation to subsequent hyperexcitability and paroxysmal discharges, this process can be regarded as a process of functional compensation similar to homeostatic plasticity regulation, in which a set level of activity in neural network is maintained after injury-induced activity loss through enhanced network excitability. Enhancing brain activity, such as cortical stimulation that is found to be effective in relieving symptoms of these disorders, may reduce such hyperexcitability through homeostatic plasticity mechanism. Here we review current evidence of homeostatic plasticity in the mechanism of acquired epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and tinnitus and the effects and mechanism of cortical stimulation. Establishing a role of homeostatic plasticity in these disorders may provide a theoretical basis on their pathogenesis as well as guide the development and application of therapeutic approaches through electrically or pharmacologically stimulating brain activity for treating these disorders.

Tissue-type plasminogen activator is a homeostatic regulator of synaptic function in the central nervous system

Membrane depolarization induces the release of the serine proteinase tissue-type plasminogen activator（t PA） from the presynaptic terminal of cerebral cortical neurons.Once in the synaptic cleft this t PA promotes the exocytosis and subsequent endocytic retrieval of glutamate-containing synaptic vesicles,and regulates the postsynaptic response to the presynaptic release of glutamate.Indeed,t PA has a bidirectional effect on the composition of the postsynaptic density（PSD） that does not require plasmin generation or the presynaptic release of glutamate,but varies according to the baseline level of neuronal activity.Hence,in inactive neurons t PA induces phosphorylation and accumulation in the PSD of the Ca^（2＋）/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα（pCa MKIIα）,followed by pCa MKIIα-induced phosphorylation and synaptic recruitment of Glu R1-containing α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid（AMPA） receptors.In contrast,in active neurons with increased levels of pCa MKIIα in the PSD t PA induces pCa MKIIα and p Glu R1 dephosphorylation and their subsequent removal from the PSD.These effects require active synaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate（NMDA） receptors and cyclin-dependent kinase 5（Cdk5）-induced phosphorylation of the protein phosphatase 1（PP1） at T320.These data indicate that t PA is a homeostatic regulator of the postsynaptic response of cerebral cortical neurons to the presynaptic release of glutamate via bidirectional regulation of the pCa MKIIα/PP1 switch in the PSD.

Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Secretion Estimated by Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA) in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Progressive insulin resistance (IR) is an important pathophysiologic mechanism of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) is commonly used as a parameter of the severity of insulin resistance. Aims: To determine indices of insulin resistance (IR) and β-cell function in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted from March 2017 to September 2018 at Department of Endocrinology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study was performed with 41 GDM and equal number of pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) diagnosed on basis of WHO criterion-2013 during 24 - 40 weeks of gestation. Serum glucose was measured by glucose oxidase method and fasting serum insulin was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Equations of homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) were used to calculate insulin indices like-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), β-cell function (HOMA-B) and insulin sensitivity (HOMA-%S). Data were analyzed and compared by statistical tests. Results: A total of eighty-two (82) subjects [41 women with GDM (age: 28.29 ± 3.79 years, BMI: 27.16 ± 4.13 kg/m2) and 41 women with NGT (age: 26.22 ± 5.13 years, BMI: 25.27 ± 3.01 kg/m2)] were included in this study. It was observed that GDM women were significantly older (p = 0.041) and had significantly higher BMI (p = 0.020) than pregnant women with NGT. The GDM group had significantly higher IR as indicated by higher fasting insulin value [GDM vs. NGT;10.19 (7.71 - 13.34) vs. 6.88 (5.88 - 8.47) μIU/ml, median (IQR);p = 0.001] and HOMA-IR [GDM vs. NGT;2.31 (1.73 - 3.15) vs. 1.42 (1.15 - 1.76), median (IQR);p < 0.001], poor β-cell secretory capacity [GDM vs. NGT;HOMA-B: 112.63 (83.52 - 143.93) vs. 128.60 (108.77 - 157.58), median (IQR);p = 0.04] and low insulin sensitivity [GDM vs. NGT;HOMA-%S: 43.29 (31.77 - 57.98) vs. 70.42 (56.86 - 86.59), median (IQR);p < 0.001]. Conclusions: GDM is associated with both insulin resistance and inadequate insulin secretion.

Homeostatic regulation of brain functions by endocannabinoid signaling

Humans have been using Cannabis and its extracts for a few thousand years as a medicinal and recreational drug. How- ever, the chemical component in Cannabis sativa, △9-tet- rahydrocannabinol （△9-THC）, an exogenous cannabinoid, remained unknown until it was isolated and identified as the main psychoactive ingredient （Gaoni and Mechoulam, 1964）.

Homeostatic Determinate Systems and Thermodynamics of Selforganization and Evolution of Material World

The paper considers new approaches to system analysis of natural phenomena in physics, chemistry and bi- ology. It lays the foundation of the homeostatic determinate systems theory that allows revealing the mecha- nism by which the basic principle of natural science, determinism, is being realized. Evolution of the mate- rial world is represented as inevitable and continuous growth of orderliness (negentropy) based on transition from one type of determinate systems to another. Increasing negentropy is shown to be closely associated with continuous accumulation of information, which determines the natural diversity in physics, chemistry and biology.

Dendritic spine density changes and homeostatic synaptic scaling:a meta-analysis of animal studies

Mechanisms of homeostatic plasticity promote compensatory changes of cellular excitability in response to chronic changes in the network activity.This type of plasticity is essential for the maintenance of brain circuits and is involved in the regulation of neural regeneration and the progress of neurodegenerative disorders.One of the most studied homeostatic processes is synaptic scaling,where global synaptic adjustments take place to restore the neuronal firing rate to a physiological range by the modulation of synaptic receptors,neurotransmitters,and morphology.However,despite the comprehensive literature on the electrophysiological properties of homeostatic scaling,less is known about the structural adjustments that occur in the synapses and dendritic tree.In this study,we performed a meta-analysis of articles investigating the effects of chronic network excitation(synaptic downscaling)or inhibition(synaptic upscaling)on the dendritic spine density of neurons.Our results indicate that spine density is consistently reduced after protocols that induce synaptic scaling,independent of the intervention type.Then,we discuss the implication of our findings to the current knowledge on the morphological changes induced by homeostatic plasticity.

Homeostatic cell cycle and the origin of autophagosomal vesicles

The autophagosomes were identified in the viable cycloheximide (CHX)-treated cells which had an incapacitated translational process and thus disabled synthesis of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-derived vesicular transporters. They were found devoid of the proteins transported from ER to cell organelles, were unable to fuse with ER, Golgi or mitochondria, and displayed affinity with lysosomes. The analysis of autophagosomes, derived from the CHX cell organelles, revealed that their lipid composition resemble that of the maternal organelle. Thus, the ER-derived autophagosomes were marked with the presence of phosphatidylinositol (PI), Golgi-derived vesicles contained sphingomyelin (SM) and glycosphingolipids (GLL), and the mitochondria-derived autophagosomes contained phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipin (CL). The incubation of the vesicles with intact lysosomes afforded their and the lysosome membrane lipids degradation. The analysis of the products derived from incubation of lysosomes and autophagosomes with radiolabeled SM, in the presence and the absence of TritonX100, allowed us to conclude that during autophagosome degradation the lysosomal enzymes are not released to cytosol, and that only lysosomes contain the enzymes degrading membrane lipids. In summary, our findings allowed us to authenticate the vesicles generated in the CHX-treated cells as organelle-specific autophagosomes and to determine that complete cycle of cell restitution and debridement includes intralysosomal degradation of the lysosomal membrane engulfing the autophagosomes vesicles.

The Wu Xing Theory and Homeostatic Interaction of Organs

In this paper the making of homeostatic models of the bioenergetic informational acupunctural human’s system of the “Pentacube” and the “Hexagon” according to the Wu Xing rules and energy shifts dynamics is considering. The making of the meridional homeostatic model of the bioenergetic informational acupunctural human’s system based on the existing knowledges about the human body meridians is considering. Preference to choice of the homeostatic functional models of the human body organs energies interaction is substantiated. The meridional control submodel of homeostatic system is defined and constructed. The description of control submodel, perspectives of application and development are represented.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Positive Correlation with Homeostatic Evolution of Human Being:Based on Medical Perspective

Adaptation is an eternal theme of biological evolution. The paper aims at exploring the conception of positive correlation between traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and human homeostatic evolution based on medical perspective. Discussions mainly involve TCM conforming to natural laws and natural evolution of life, spontaneous harmonization of yin and yang and operating system of human self-healing, modern human immunology and human endogenous immune function in TCM, self-homeostasis of human micro-ecological state and balance mechanism on regulating base in TCM, as well as adaptation--eternal theme of biological evolution and safeguarding adaptability--value of TCM. In perspective of medicine, theory and practice of TCM are in positive correlation with human homeostatic evolution, and what TCM tries to maintain is human intrinsic adaptive capability to disease and nature. Therefore, it is the core value of TCM, which is to be further studied, explored, realized and known to the world.

A Delayed HIV Infection Model with the Homeostatic Proliferation of CD4^(+)T Cells

In this paper,we investigate a delayed HIV infection model that considers the homeostatic prolif-eration of CD4^(+)T cells.The existence and stability of uninfected equilibrium and infected equilibria(smaller and larger ones)are studied by analyzing the characteristic equation of the system.The intracellular delay does not affect the stability of uninfected equilibrium,but it can change the stability of larger positive equilibrium and Hopf bifurcation appears inducing stable limit cycles.Furthermore,direction and stability of Hopf bifur-cation are well investigated by using the central manifold theorem and the normal form theory.The numerical simulation results show that the stability region of larger positive equilibrium becomes smaller as the increase of time delay.Moreover,when the maximum homeostatic growth rate is very small,the larger positive equilibrium is always stable.On the contrary,when the rate of supply of T cells is very small,the larger positive equilibrium is always unstable.

Clinical characteristics of acute non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the effect of endoscopic hemostasis

BACKGROUND Acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(ANVUGIB)constitutes a prevalent emergency within Gastroenterology,encompassing 80%-90%of all gastrointestinal hemorrhage incidents.This condition is distinguished by its abrupt onset,swift progression,and notably elevated mortality rate.AIM To gather clinical data from patients with ANVUGIB at our hospital in order to elucidate the clinical characteristics specific to our institution and analyze the therapeutic effectiveness of endoscopic hemostasis.METHODS We retrospectively retrieved the records of 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB by endoscopy at our hospital between March 2021 and March 2023,utilizing our medical record system.Data pertaining to general patient information,etiological factors,disease outcomes,and other relevant variables were meticulously collected and analyzed.RESULTS Among the 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB,the male-to-female ratio was 2.91:1,with a higher prevalence among males.Notably,43.6%of patients presented with black stool as their primary complaint,while 27.4%had hematemesis as their initial symptom.Upon admission,17%of patients exhibited both hematemesis and black stool,while most ANVUGIB patients primarily complained of overt gastrointestinal bleeding.Urgent routine blood examinations at admission revealed that 75.8%of patients had anemia,with 63.4%experiencing moderate to severe anemia,and 1.5%having extremely severe anemia(hemoglobin<30 g/L).With regard to etiology,53.2%of patients experienced bleeding without a definitive trigger,24.2%had a history of using gastric mucosa-irritating medications,24.2%developed bleeding after alcohol consumption,2.8%attributed it to improper diet,1.7%to emotional excitement,and 2.3%to fatigue preceding the bleeding episode.Drug-induced ANVUGIB was more prevalent in the elderly than middle-aged and young individuals,while bleeding due to alcohol consumption showed the opposite trend.Additionally,diet-related bleeding was more common among the young age group compared to the middle-aged group.Gastrointestinal endoscopy identified peptic ulcers as the most frequent cause of ANVUGIB(73.3%),followed by gastrointestinal malignancies(10.9%),acute gastric mucous lesions(9.8%),and androgenic upper gastrointestinal bleeding(1.5%)among inpatients with ANVUGIB.Of the 532 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding,68 underwent endoscopic hemostasis,resulting in an endoscopic treatment rate of 12.8%,with a high immediate hemostasis success rate of 94.1%.

PD-1^(+)and TIM-3^(+)T cells widely express commonγ-chain cytokine receptors in multiple myeloma patients,and IL-2,IL-7,IL-15 stimulation up-regulates PD-1 and TIM-3 on T cells

Background:Immune checkpoint ligand-receptor interactions appear to be associated with multiple myeloma(MM)progression.Simultaneously,previous studies showed the possibility of PD-1 and TIM-3 expression on T cells upon stimulation with commonγ-chain family cytokines in vitro and during homeostatic proliferation.The aim of the present work was to study the impact of homeostatic proliferation on the expansion of certain T cell subsets upregulating PD-1 and TIM-3 checkpoint molecules.Methods:The expression of CD25,CD122,CD127 commonγ-chain cytokine receptors,phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-5(pSTAT5)and eomesodermin(EOMES)was comparatively assessed with flow cytometry in PD-1-and TIM-3-negative and positive T cells before the conditioning and during the first post-transplant month in peripheral blood samples of MM patients.Results:Substantial proportions of PD-1-and TIM-3-positive T lymphocytes expressed commonγ-chain cytokine receptors and pSTAT5.Frequencies of cytokine receptor expressing cells were significantly higher within TIM-3+T cells compared to PD-1+TIM-3−subsets.Considerable proportions of both PD-1-/TIM-3-negative and positive CD8+T cells express EOMES,while only moderate frequencies of CD4+PD-1+/TIM-3+T cells up-regulate this transcription factor.Besides,the surface presence of CD25 and intranuclear expression of EOMES in CD4+T cells were mutually exclusive regardless of PD-1 and TIM-3 expression.The stimulation with commonγ-chain cytokines up-regulates PD-1 and TIM-3 during the proliferation of initially PD-1/TIM-3-negative T cells but fails to expand initially PD-1+and TIM-3+T cell subsets in vitro.Conclusions:Both PD-1 and TIM-3 expressing T cells appear to be able to respond to homeostatic cytokine stimulation.Differences in commonγ-chain cytokine receptor expression between PD-1+and TIM-3+T cells may reflect functional dissimilarity of these cell subsets.Checkpoint blockade appears to alleviate lymphopenia-induced proliferation of PD-1+T cells but may raise the possibility of immune-mediated adverse events.

Silymarin in non alcoholic fatty liver disease

AIM: This study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatic effects of silybum marianum on non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: In 72 patients affected by NAFLD, main metabolic, hepatic and anti-inflammatory parameters were assayed after 3 mo of a restricted diet and before silymarin treatment (twice a day orally). The brightness of liver echography texture (hepatorenal ratio brightness) was also defined at same time. These evaluations were repeated after 6 mo of treatment. RESULTS: Serum levels of some metabolic and anti-inflammatory data nonsignificantly lowered after 6 mo of silymarin. On the contrary, Steato test, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced. Instead, the AST/ALT ratio unchanged. Finally, the hepatorenal brightness ratio, as an index of hepatic steatosis, significantly (P < 0.05) dropped. CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicate that silymarin appears to be effective to reduce the biochemical, inflammatory and ultrasonic indices of hepatic steatosis. Some parameters indicative of early stage of atherosclerosis were also lowered.

Role of visfatin in obesity-induced insulin resistance

The growing worldwide burden of insulin resistance(IR) emphasizes the importance of early identification for improved management.Obesity,particularly visceral obesity,has been a key contributing factor in the development of IR.The obesity-associated chronic inflammatory state contributes to the development of obesity-related comorbidities,including IR.Adipocytokines,which are released by adipose tissue,have been investigated as possible indicators of IR.Visfatin was one of the adipocytokines that attracted attention due to its insulinmimetic activity.It is released from a variety of sources,including visceral fat and macrophages,and it influences glucose metabolism and increases inflammation.The relationship between visfatin and IR in obesity is debatable.As a result,the purpose of this review was to better understand the role of visfatin in glucose homeostasis and to review the literature on the association between visfatin levels and IR,cardiovascular diseases,and renal diseases in obesity.

Root stoichiometric dynamics and homeostasis of invasive species Phyllostachys edulis and native species Cunninghamia lanceolata in a subtropical forest in China

The community species abundance and diversity declined with bamboo invasion had been widely reported worldwide.However,the physiological strategies used during root competition between native species and invasive bamboo are poorly understood.To clarify the mechanisms underlying such strategies,the stoichiometric dynamics and homeostasis of nitrogen,phosphorus,organic carbon in root orders of Phyllostachys edulis(I du[=Ⅰ-Pe,years 1 and 2];Ⅱdu[=Ⅱ-Pe,years 3 and 4]),Cunninghamia lanceolata in transition and pure forests were analyzed.With increasing intensity of bamboo invasion,N,P,and C content of C.lanceolata root orders declined,N and P content in P.edulis rhizome orders declined,while C increased,the stoichiometric ratios in mixed forest interface mainly increased,and the stoichiometric differences within native and invasive species root orders narrowed.Meanwhile,the stoichiometric homeostasis index(H)of elements in the same root order and even the same elements in different root orders were not consistent.H of most root orders(except some HP)was greater than 4,the H ranked order wasⅠ-Pe>Cl>Ⅱ-Pe in mixed interfaces,and the N:P ratio of most species root orders was greater than 16,despite being affected by invasion.Our research concluded that the bamboo invasion narrows stoichiometric differences within root orders,and the juvenile bamboo rhizome has a stronger capacity for homeostatic regulation than in adult bamboo and C.lanceolata,which is a key determinant of bamboo invasion success.

Salivary resistin level and its association with insulin resistance in obese individuals

The escalating global burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus necessitates the implementation of strategies that are both more reliable and faster in order to improve the early identification of insulin resistance(IR)in high-risk groups,including overweight and obese individuals.The use of salivary biomarkers offers a promising alternative to serum collection because it is safer,more comfortable,and less painful to obtain saliva samples.As obesity is the foremost contributory factor in IR development,the adipocytokines such as leptin,adiponectin,resistin,and visfatin secreted from the adipose tissue have been studied as potential reliable biomarkers for IR.Measurement of salivary adipokines as predictors for IR has attracted widespread attention because of the strong correlation between their blood and salivary concentrations.One of the adipokines that is closely related to IR is resistin.However,there are conflicting findings on resistin’s potential role as an etiological link between obesity and IR and the reliability of measuring salivary resistin as a biomarker for IR.Hence this study reviewed the available evidence on the potential use of salivary resistin as a biomarker for IR in order to attempt to gain a better understanding of the role of resistin in the development of IR in obese individuals.

The Association of Visceral Adiposity Index with Insulin Resistance in Adults with Prediabetes

Visceral adiposity mediates insulin resistance, but their association among adults with prediabetes is scarce in the literature. This study is aimed to determine the association of visceral adiposity index (VAI) with insulin resistance in adults with prediabetes. This cross-sectional study was done among 117 adults with newly detected prediabetes [m/f;23/94;mean ± SD: Age 36.30 ± 9.99 years, BMI 28.89 ± 4.35 kg/m2] based on American Diabetes Association 2018 criteria and 141 matched healthy controls [m/f: 28/113;mean ± SD: 35.30 ± 6.88 years, BMI 25.03 ± 4.58]. Waist circumference, body mass index, fasting triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and insulin were measured in each group to calculate VAI and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). People with prediabetes had significantly higher median value of VAI {3.08 (2.26) vs. 1.86 (2.31);p < 0.001} with higher frequency of high VAI (>1) (98.3% vs. 85.8%;p < 0.001) than the control population. HOMA-IR level was significantly higher in prediabetes with high VAI (cut-off of 2.64) than control with normal VAI [2.78 (2.22, 4.15) vs. 2.20 (1.53, 3.36);p = 0.002]. VAI was positively correlated with HOMA-IR in females with prediabetes (r = 0.299, p = 0.003). VAI had predictive association with prediabetes [OR (95% CI: 9.504 (2.173, 41.576);p = 0.03] and high insulin resistance (HOMA-IR ≥ 2.6) in females with prediabetes [OR (95% CI) = 3.50 (1.476, 8.297);p = 0.004] only. It could satisfactorily discriminate prediabetes in both sexes (male: AUC = 0.767, p = 0.001;female: AUC = 0.641, p < 0.001) and high insulin resistance in females with prediabetes (AUC = 0.641;p = 0.019) only. So, VAI was associated with prediabetes and insulin resistance only in females with prediabetes.

Implication of lipoprotein lipase-deficient impaired learning and memory: focus on aging and testosterone deficiency

OBJECTIVE Normal male aging is associated with declines in levels of the sex steroid hormone testosterone. A large body of evidence supports a neurotrophic role for testosterone in central nervous system. Lipoprotein lipase(LPL) is also expressed in the brain with highest levels found in the pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, we previous reported LPL-deficient mice exhibited memory disfunction. Testosterone is known to be largely converted to estradiol following aromatization within the hippocampus. Although testosterone has been implicated in lipid metabolism, it remains elusive whether testosterone can regulate brain LPL through DNA methylation mechanism. In order to clarify DNA methylation control exerted by testosterone over LPL gene in central nervous system, and its effect on lipid metabolism, we examined the adult male rat hippocampus to determine whether castration induced testosterone deficiency can affect lipid profile and LPL gene expression through its altered methylation pattern. METHODS Model of aging with declines in levels of the sex steroid hormone testosterone was performed as our previous description. RESULTS(1) Serum testosterone and brain testosterone levels were significantly decreased, which were restored to the control level after testosterone replacement,respectively(P<0.01);(2) Androgen deficiency was not found in Morris water maze and motor performance, however, androgen deficiency increases neurological and cognitive impairment in aged rats.(3)Decreased expression of olfactory marker protein(OMP) in olfactory bulb of SD rats treated with androgen deficiency.(4) The expression of Fox O3 and OMP in the olfactory bulb of androgen deficient rats was down-regulated, accompanied by dysfunction of the olfactory limbic system.(5) Decreased LPL m RNA level and inversely increased LPL promoter methylation level were observed following androgen deficiency and reserved by testosterone replacement.(6) In contrast, androgen deficiency slightly increased estrogen receptor beta(ERβ) m RNA levels and significantly decreased its promoter methylation levels within the hippocampus, and reserved as well by testosterone replacement. CONCLUSION(1) LPL in synaptic plasticity and contributes to a better understanding of the LPL function in the brain, where altered LPL levels are related to learning and memory impairment.(2) Androgen and Fox O3 play an important role in the olfactory cognitive process of the nervous system.(3) LPL expression in hippocampus is actively maintained by sex steroid hormones and that DNA methylation modification may contribute to this homeostatic regulation.

Hypoglycemic effects of naturally processed Polygonum multiflorum extract in KK CgAy/J mice and its mechanism of action

In 2021,there are approximately 537 million adults ageing 20-79 years affected by diabetes worldwide and the number is rising rapidly,hence it is important to manage and control diabetes mellitus and its associated complications.Food is one of the key factors in preventing and combating diseases such as diabetes.Both as a food and an herbal medicine,Polygonum multiflorum(PM)has been used as an anti-aging tonic,for hair darkening in traditional Chinese medicine for several centuries.The recent research effort of PM has been focused on antioxidant,anti-ageing and anti-tumor properties.In the present study,we utilized the traditional processing of harvested raw PM,and identified several stilbene components and then evaluated the potential anti-diabetic effects of the processed PM extract(PME).PME(0.075%)was given to diabetic mice(KK CgAy/J)in drinking water and after 7 weeks,PME-treated mice had significantly lower glucose levels than mice in the diabetic control group(P<0.01).The mechanism was explored with ELISA and Western blotting and results suggested that the effect was through maintainingβ-cell function.

Effects of intragastric balloon placement in metabolic dysfunctionassociated fatty liver disease: A systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease corresponds to a clinical entity that affects liver function triggered by the accumulation of fat in the liver and is linked with metabolic dysregulation.AIM To evaluate the effects of the intragastric balloon(IGB)in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease through the assessment of liver enzymes,imaging and several metabolic markers.METHODS A comprehensive search was done of multiple electronic databases(MEDLINE,EMBASE,LILACS,Cochrane and Google Scholar)and grey literature from their inception until February 2021.Inclusion criteria involved patients with a body mass index>25 kg/m2 with evidence or previous diagnosis of hepatic steatosis.Outcomes analyzed before and after 6 mo of IGB removal were alanine aminotransferase(IU/L),gamma-glutamyltransferase(IU/L),glycated hemoglobin(%),triglycerides(mg/dL),systolic blood pressure(mmHg),homeostatic model assessment,abdominal circumference(cm),body mass index(kg/m2)and liver volume(cm3).RESULTS Ten retrospective cohort studies evaluating a total of 508 patients were included.After 6 mo of IGB placement,this significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase[mean difference(MD):10.2,95%confidence interval(CI):8.12-12.3],gammaglutamyltransferase(MD:9.41,95%CI:6.94-11.88),glycated hemoglobin(MD:0.17%,95%CI:0.03-0.31),triglycerides(MD:38.58,95%CI:26.65-50.51),systolic pressure(MD:7.27,95%CI:4.79-9.76),homeostatic model assessment(MD:2.23%,95%CI:1.41-3.04),abdominal circumference(MD:12.12,95%CI:9.82-14.41)and body mass index(MD:5.07,95%CI:4.21-5.94).CONCLUSION IGB placement showed significant efficacy in improving alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase levels in patients with metabolic dysfunctionassociated fatty liver disease as well as improving metabolic markers related to disease progression.