Supplementation with Phaseolus vulgaris Leaves Improves Metabolic Alterations Induced by High-Fat/Fructose Diet in Rats Under Time-Restricted Feeding.

Time-restricted feeding and food enriched in polyphenols are strategies to prevent or reduce metabolic disorders. Bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are a recognized source of polyphenolic compounds, whose effects on metabolic pathways are not well studied. We evaluated the combined effects of dietary supplementation with Phaseolus vulgaris leaves (10% w/w) (BL) and a 7-h daytime-restricted feeding protocol (RF) under a hypercaloric diet (high fat + high fructose) (HFFD) on the metabolic parameters related to glucose and lipid handling. Adult male Wistar rats were treated for 8 weeks with standard and HFFD diets with or without BL. The results showed that RF improved metabolic alterations induced by HFFD (e.g., hepatic steatosis, increased triacylglycerols, and serum lipoproteins). Supplementation with BL significantly enhanced this effect and downregulated the mRNA expression of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism genes in the liver. These results indicate that dietary supplementation with BL enhances the benefits elicited by RF.

Efficacy of a repair cream based on Rhealba Oat plantlets extract and active healing compounds in peelings: benefit to patient's downtime and pain.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of dermatological procedures is steadily increasing, accompanying a growing demand from patients. Chemical peels are a method of resurfacing in the treatment of various skin conditions. However, during the early healing process, patients may impose downtime on themselves. The erythema, pain and poor aesthetic appearance of the skin can lead to unwillingness to participate in social or professional activities. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerance and efficacy of a repair cream based on Rhealba Oat plantlets extract and active healing compounds after a peeling procedure. METHODS: Men and women, aged 18-65 years, with Fitzpatrick phototype I-IV, who had previously received a medium-depth chemical peel on the face (TCA 30%) entered with their consent a clinical study evaluating the new test product based on Rhealba Oat and active healing compounds. At the beginning of the study, the selected patients received a TCA 30% medium-depth peel. Afterwards, they were treated during 29 days with the repair cream and evaluated for the benefits to downtime and pain. RESULTS: Significant reductions of pain (P < 0.0114) and erythema (P < 0.0001) were observed in the study. The downtime reduction with the tested cream was 92% - from 9 days after the previous peeling procedure to 0.74 days with application of the tested cream - a difference of 8.39 days. CONCLUSION: In consequence, the tested repair cream based on Rhealba Oat plantlets extract and active healing compounds brings clinical benefit to patients who undergo peeling procedures. By reducing pain and downtime, it allows patients to get back to their daily life activities a week earlier than with previous peels.

Correlation Between Incisional Biopsy Histological Subtype and a Mohs Surgery Specimen for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Histological diagnosis of a clinically suspected nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is recommended before treatment. For NMSC, concordance between the histological subtype of the preoperative biopsy and the excision specimen of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has been reported to range from 10% to 81%. No large study on the concordance between NMSC histology seen in a preoperative biopsy with the following tumour specimen from Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) has been performed in a Latin American population. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the histological subtype of the incisional biopsies reviewed by the dermatopathologist with the histological subtype of the tumour specimen obtained during MMS interpreted by the dermatopathologist and the Mohs surgeon. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 320 NMSC was performed. The interobserver correlation was based on kappa values. RESULTS: The mean weighted kappa value between the preoperative NMSC biopsy and intraoperative histological subtype of the tumour specimen from MMS analysed by the Mohs surgeon and the dermatopathologist was 0.22 and 0.24, respectively. The correlation in the histologic subtype of the intraoperative tumour specimen from MMS that was interpreted by the dermatopathologist and Mohs surgeon was 0.58. CONCLUSIONS: Dermatologists need to be aware of the limited value of incisional biopsies to accurately diagnose the histological subtype of a NMSC. The concordance rate in the histological diagnosis of the tumour specimens that were obtained from MMS between the Mohs surgeon and the dermatopathologist is moderate. However, the correlation is low compared with incisional biopsy subtypes.

Skin manifestations of chronic kidney disease.

Skin manifestations associated with chronic kidney disease are very common. Most of these conditions present in the end stages and may affect the patient's quality of life. Knowledge of these entities can contribute to establishing an accurate diagnosis and prognosis. Severe renal pruritus is associated with increased mortality and a poor prognosis. Nail exploration can provide clues about albumin and urea levels. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a preventable disease associated with gadolinium contrast. Comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus and secondary hyperparathyroidism, can lead to acquired perforating dermatosis and calciphylaxis, respectively. Effective and innovative treatments are available for all of these conditions.

Liver 5'-deiodinase activity is modified in rats under restricted feeding schedules: evidence for post-translational regulation.

Restricted feeding schedules (RFSs) produce a behavioral activation known as anticipatory activity, which is a manifestation of a food-entrained oscillator (FEO). The liver could be playing a role in the physiology of FEO. Here we demonstrate that the activity of liver selenoenzyme deiodinase type 1 (D1), which transforms thyroxine into triiodothyronine (T3), decreases before food access and increases after food presentation in RFSs. These changes in D1 activity were not due to variations in D1 mRNA. In contrast, a 24 h fast promoted a decrease in both D1 activity and mRNA content. The adjustment in hepatic D1 activity was accompanied by a similar modification in T3-dependent malic enzyme, suggesting that the local generation of T3 has physiological implications in the liver. These results support the notion that the physiological state of rats under RFSs is unique and distinct from rats fed freely or fasted for 24 h. Data also suggest a possible role of hepatic D1 enzyme in coordinating the homeorhetic state of the liver when this organ participates in FEO expression.

Functional expression of recombinant type 1 ryanodine receptor in insect cells.

We have investigated the biochemical properties of the rabbit ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1) from skeletal muscle functionally expressed in insect sf 21 cells infected with recombinant baculovirus. Equilibrium [3H]ryanodine binding assays applied to total membrane fractions from sf 21 cells expressing recombinant RyR1 showed a non-hyperbolic saturation curve (Hill coefficient = 2.1). The [3H]ryanodine binding was enhanced by 1 mM AMP-PCP and 10 mM caffeine, whereas 10 mM Mg(2+) and 5 microM ruthenium red reduced the specific binding. The dependence of [3H]ryanodine binding on ionic strength showed positive cooperativity (Hill coefficient = 2.2) with a plateau at 1 M KCl. The recombinant RyR1 showed a bell-shaped [3H]ryanodine binding curve when free [Ca(2+)] was increased, with an optimal concentration around 100 microM.Confocal microscopy studies using the Ca(2+) ATPase selective inhibitor, thapsigargin coupled to fluorescein and ryanodine coupled to Texas red demonstrated that the recombinant RyR1 and the Ca(2+) ATPase co-localize to the same intracellular membrane. No significant RyR1 fluorescence was observed at the plasma membrane.Fluo-4-loaded sf 21 cells expressing recombinant RyR1 responded to activating-low ryanodine concentrations (100 nM) or caffeine (10 mM) with a sharp rise in intracellular Ca2 followed by a sustained phase, in contrast, sf 21 cells expressing the human bradykinin type 2 receptor did not respond to ryanodine or caffeine.These results demonstrate the expression of recombinant RyR1 in sf 21 cells with functional properties similar to what has been previously reported for native RyR1 in mammalian tissues, however, some differences were observed in [3H]ryanodine binding assays compared to native rabbit RyR1. Hence, the baculovirus expression system provides a generous source of protein to accomplish structure-function studies and an excellent model to assess functional properties of wild type and mutant RyR1.

Anticipatory changes in liver metabolism and entrainment of insulin, glucagon, and corticosterone in food-restricted rats.

Restricted feeding schedules entrain behavioral and physiological circadian rhythms, which depend on a food-entrainable oscillator (FEO). The mechanism of the FEO might depend on digestive and endocrine processes regulating energy balance. The present study characterizes the dynamics of circulating corticosterone, insulin, and glucagon and regulatory parameters of liver metabolism in rats under restricted feeding schedules. With respect to ad libitum controls, food-restricted rats showed 1) an increase in corticosterone and glucagon and a decrease in insulin before food access, indicating a predominant catabolic state; and 2) a reduction in lactate-to-pyruvate and beta-hydroxybutyrate-to-acetoacetate ratios, indicating an oxidized cytoplasmic and mitochondrial redox state in the liver metabolism. All these changes were reversed after feeding. Moreover, liver energy charge in food-restricted rats did not show a significant modification before feeding, despite an increase in adenine nucleotides, but showed an important decrease after food intake. Variations detected in the liver of food-restricted rats are different from those prevailing under 24-h fasting. These observations suggest "anticipatory activity" of the liver metabolism to optimize the processing of nutrients to daily feeding. Data also suggest a possible relationship of the liver and endocrine signals with the FEO.

Gastric mucosal cell proliferation in ethanol-induced chronic mucosal injury is related to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in rats.

The oxygen free radicals-induced lipid peroxidation (LP) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions. However, the role of LP in the generation of chronic gastric mucosal injury is unknown. We have developed a model of chronic mucosal injury induced by continuous ethanol ingestion for 5 days and characterized by marked alterations in plasma membranes from gastric mucosa. Therefore, LP was evaluated in this experimental model. Indicators of peroxidative activity, mucosal glutathione content, thymidine kinase activity (an index of cell proliferation), and histamine H2-receptor (H2R) binding constants were quantified in animals undergoing gastric mucosal damage. The effect of famotidine, a H2R antagonist that readily ameliorates the chronic mucosal injury, was also tested. Increased free radicals and LP levels were detected during gastritis; however, a second, higher peak of LP was noted in mucosal plasma membranes after ethanol withdrawal (recovery period). This further increase of LP coincided with active cell proliferation, decreased mucosal glutathione levels, and diminished specific cimetidine binding by H2R. Administration of famotidine accelerated the mucosal proliferative process, inducing the second lipoperoxidative episode sooner, and preserved the content of glutathione. In addition, LP correlated directly with cell proliferation and inversely with mucosal membrane cimetidine binding. In conclusion, LP seems to be involved in chronic ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury. However, a further enhancement of plasma membrane LP occurred, associated with increased DNA synthesis and diminished cimetidine binding by membrane H2R. Therefore, increased LP could also participate in the compensatory mucosal proliferation initiated after ethanol withdrawal.