Topical Intervention of Natural Products Applied in Patients with Pressure Injuries: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: Pressure injuries (PIs) represent a major medical and nursing problem in individuals with decreased or limited mobility. This scoping review aimed to map the controlled clinical trials with topical interventions of natural products applied to patients with PIs and to verify the existence of phytochemical similarities among these products. DATA SOURCES: This scoping review was developed according to the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. Controlled trials were searched in the following electronic databases from their inceptions until February 1, 2022: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, SciELO, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. STUDY SELECTION: Studies involving individuals with PIs, individuals treated with topical natural products compared to a control treatment, and outcomes with wound healing or wound reduction were included in this review. DATA EXTRACTION: The search identified 1,268 records. Only six studies were included in this scoping review. Data were independently extracted using a template instrument from the JBI. DATA SYNTHESIS: The authors summarized the characteristics of the six included articles, synthesized outcomes, and compared similar articles. Honey and Plantago major dressings were the topical interventions that significantly reduced wound size. The literature suggests that the effect on wound healing of these natural products may be related to the presence of phenolic compounds. CONCLUSIONS: The studies included in this review show that natural products can positively impact the healing of PIs. However, there are limited controlled clinical trials addressing natural products and PIs in the literature.

The importance of optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in the glycemic control of older adults with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Data from the study on aging and longevity EELO

INTRODUCTION: Optimal serum levels of vitamin D are of great importance, especially in populations with comorbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM). OBJECTIVE: The study evaluated the relationship between hypovitaminosis D and glycemic control in older adults with type 2 DM. METHODS: Cross-sectional and prospective study, part of the EELO project (Study on Aging and Longevity), conducted in Southern Brazil. Glycated hemoglobin (diabetes ≥6.5%) and serum levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D) were evaluated. Hypovitaminosis D was determined using cutoff points <20 and <30 ng/mL). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk of having uncontrolled DM. RESULTS: Of the 120 older adults included in the study, aged between 60 and 87 years, 74.2% were women, 66.7% used hypoglycemic medications and 75.8% exhibited uncontrolled diabetes. An inverse correlation was observed between the levels of 25(OH) D and glycated hemoglobin (rS=-0.19, p=0.037), suggesting that low levels of vitamin D are associated with poor glycemic control in diabetic individuals. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D when using the cutoff points of <20 and <30 ng/mL were 34.2% and 75.0%, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) analysis showed that individuals with 25(OH)D<20ng/mL have almost 4 times more risk of having uncontrolled DM (OR:3.94; CI95%:1.25-12.46, p=0.02) when compared to the older adults with sufficient levels of vitamin D. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the optimal serum levels currently recommended for 25(OH)D should preferably be 30 ng/mL or higher to contribute to better glycemic control in older adults with type 2 DM.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os níveis séricos ideais de vitamina D são de grande importância, especialmente na população com comorbidades como o Diabetes Mellitus (DM). OBJETIVO: O estudo avaliou a relação entre hipovitaminose D e controle glicêmico em idosos com DM tipo 2. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal e prospectivo, parte do projeto EELO (Estudo sobre Envelhecimento e Longevidade), no Sul do Brasil. A hemoglobina glicada (diabetes ≥6,5%) e os níveis séricos de vitamina D (25(OH)D) foram avaliados. Hipovitaminose D foi determinada usando ponto de corte <20 e <30 ng/mL. Regressão logística multivariada foi utilizada para avaliar o risco de ter DM descompensado. RESULTADOS: Dos 120 idosos incluídos no estudo, idade entre 60 a 87 anos, 74,2% eram mulheres, 66,7% faziam uso de medicamentos hipoglicemiantes e 75,8% apresentavam diabetes descompensada. Uma correlação inversa foi observada entre os níveis de 25(OH)D e hemoglobina glicada (rS=-0,19; p=0.037), sugerindo que baixos níveis de vitamina D está associado a um pior controle glicêmico em diabéticos. A prevalência de hipovitaminose D quando se utiliza ponto de corte <20 e <30 ng/mL foi de 34,2% e 75,0%, respectivamente. A análise Odds ratio (OR) mostrou que indivíduos com 25(OH)D<20 ng/mL tem quase 4 vezes mais risco de ter DM descompensado (OR:3,94; IC95%:1,25­12,46; p=0,02) quando comparado aos idosos com níveis suficientes de vitamina D. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados indicam que os níveis sérios ideais atualmente recomendados para 25(OH)D maior ou igual a 30 ng/ml contribuem para o melhor controle glicêmico na população idosa com DM tipo 2.

Sitagliptin inhibit human lymphocytes proliferation and Th1/Th17 differentiation in vitro.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are a new class of anti-diabetic agents that are widely used in clinical practice to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. DPP-4 is also known as lymphocyte cell surface protein, CD26, and plays an important role in T-cell immunity. Recent studies suggest that DPP-4 inhibitors improve beta-cell function and attenuate autoimmunity in type 1 diabetic mouse models. To investigate the direct effect of DPP4 in immune response, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy volunteers were obtained by Ficoll gradient and cultivated in the absence (control) or presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA), or stimulated with PHA and treated with sitagliptin. The immune modulation mechanisms analyzed were: cell proliferation, by MTT assay; cytokine quantification by ELISA or cytometric bead array (CBA), Th1/Th2/Th17 phenotyping by flow cytometric analysis and CD26 gene expression by real time PCR. The results showed that sitagliptin treatment inhibited the proliferation of PBMC-PHA stimulated cells in a dose dependent manner and decreased CD26 expression by these cells, suggesting that sitagliptin may interfere in CD26 expression, dimerization and cell signaling. Sitagliptin treatment not only inhibited IL-10 (p<0.05) and IFN-gamma (p=0.07) cytokines, but also completely abolish IL-6 expression by PBMCs (p<0.001). On the other hand, IL-4 were secreted in culture supernatants from sitagliptin treated cells. A statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in the ratio of TGF-beta/proliferation index after sitagliptin treatment (2627.97±1351.65), when comparing to untreated cells (646.28±376.94), was also demonstrated, indicating higher TGF-beta1 production by viable cells in cultures. Sitagliptin treatment induced a significantly (p<0.05) decrease in IL-17 and IFN-gamma intracellular expression compared with PHA alone. Also, the percentage of T CD4+IL-17+, T CD4+IFNgamma+ and T CD4+IL-4+ cells were significantly reduced (p<0.05) by sitagliptin. Our data demonstrated an immunosuppressive effect of sitagliptin on Th1, Th17 and Th2 lymphocytes differentiation that leads to the generation of regulatory TGF-beta1 secreting cells with low CD26 gene expression that may influence the state of pancreatic beta-cells and controlling DM1 patients.