TiO2 nanotubes as an antibacterial nanotextured surface for dental implants: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Nanotechnology is constantly advancing in dental science, progressing several features aimed at improving dental implants. An alternative for surface treatment of dental implants is electrochemical anodization, which may generate a nanotubular surface (TiO2 nanotubes) with antibacterial potential and osteoinductive features. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to elucidate the possible antibacterial properties of the surface in question compared to the untreated titanium surface. SOURCES: For that purpose, was performed a systematic search on the bases PubMed, Lilacs, Embase, Web Of Science, Cinahl, and Cochrane Central, as well as, manual searches and gray literature. STUDY SELECTION: The searches resulted in 742 articles, of which 156 followed for full-text reading. Then, 37 were included in the systematic review and 8 were included in meta-analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen studies revealed significant antibacterial protection using TiO2 nanotube surfaces, while 15 studies found no statistical difference between control and nanotextured surfaces. Meta-analysis of in vitro studies demonstrated relevant bacterial reduction only for studies investigating Staphylococcus aureus in a period of 6 h. Meta-analysis of in vivo studies revealed three times lower bacterial adhesion and proliferation on TiO2 nanotube surfaces. CONCLUSIONS: TiO2 nanotube topography as a surface for dental implants in preclinical research has demonstrated a positive relationship with antibacterial properties, nevertheless, factors such as anodization protocols, bacteria strains, and mono-culture methods should be taken into consideration, consequently, further studies are necessary to promote clinical translatability.

Development and validation of an interview guide for examining the effects of sports careers on the quality of life of retired Portuguese football players.

Introduction: Considering the importance of assessing the impacts resulting from a sport career, this study aimed at developing and validating a semi-structure interview guide suitable for quantifying the sociodemographic and epidemiological profile of former professional football players. Methods: Based on the theoretical frameworks and several methodological procedures, an interview guide was developed, consisting of 3 areas of conceptual organization (A1. Biographical data; A2. Professional Career; and A3. Post-Career Transition) and 8 data collection categories (C1. Personal data; C2. Professional data; C3. Sociodemographic background; C4. Epidemiological pathway; C5. Moment of career retirement (career transition); C6. Post-career sociodemographic pathway; C7. Post-career epidemiological pathway; and C8. Perceptions of post-career planning). Thus, in procedural terms, four stages were considered for the construction and validation of the interview guide, namely the Ad hoc construction of the interview guide (i), the review of the in-terview guide by a panel of experts (ii), definition of procedures and protocol for the application of the interview (iii), and the application of the pilot study for the face validation of the interview guide (iv). The sample consisted of two former Portuguese professional players. Results and discussion: To analyze and discuss the data, a content analysis was carried out on all the answers given to each question in the script by the interviewees. From them, matrices were created with the response references to each subcategory. In this way, it was possible to analyse the type of answers given by the interviewees and relate them to the theoretical perspectives of the topic being investigated. The results showed that the interview guide for the study of the impacts of the sports careers on the quality of life of Portuguese former football players shows reliability for the collection of qualitative and quantitative information from the respective content analysis. The use of the interview guide characterizes the path of former player, providing information and knowledge on the sociodemographic and epidemiological impact factors resulting from their post-career.

Long-term clinical performance of short 6-mm implants supporting single crowns in the posterior region: A 10-year cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Long-term clinical success of non-splinted, posterior, and short implants still is unclear. This prospective cohort study reports the 10-year follow-up of 6-mm implants supporting single crowns in the posterior region, and patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: Baseline sample comprised 20 patients treated with 46 screw-retained crowns supported by 6-mm implants with moderately rough implant surface. Participants were recalled for a 10-year clinical follow-up to assess survival rates, biologic and mechanic conditions, quality of life (OHIP-14), and treatment satisfaction. Data were collected with clinical-radiographic exams and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Fourteen patients with 35 implant-crown units were examined after 127.6 ± 11.8 months. For the entire cohort period, 7/46 implants were lost (survival estimate: 77.7% at 133 months), and mechanic complications occurred in 14/46 units (survival estimate: 66.4% at 116 months). In the Cox models, "maximum occlusal force" had a significant effect for implant loss (p = 0.038) and for prosthetic screw loosening (p = 0.038); "arch" and "bruxism" were not significant. Peri-implant bone loss was 0.4 ± 0.6 mm at 10 years. For peri-implant bone level, "crown-to-implant ratio" (p < 0.001) and "time" (p = 0.001) were significant. Bone levels differed from baseline to 12, 48, and 120 months. Satisfaction VAS was 94.0 ± 7.9 mm and OHIP-14 was 2.3 ± 2.2. CONCLUSION: Single screw-retained crowns supported by 6-mm implants have an acceptable long-term clinical performance, with stable peri-implant bone levels after 10 years of function.

Association of Internet Addiction and Mental Disorders in Medical Students: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is associated with psychological, physical, and social problems, including impaired academic performance. The objective of this review was to investigate the relationship between IAD and psychiatric disorders in medical students.Data Sources: A search of PubMed, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Science Direct was performed using the following keywords: internet addiction disorder OR problematic internet use OR pathological internet use OR internet overuse OR heavy internet use AND medical students AND internet addiction OR problematic internet use OR pathological internet use OR internet overuse OR heavy internet use AND physicians.Study Selection: Articles were selected and extracted from the online databases. Articles were included if they were available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese; addressed IAD and psychiatric disorders; contained original data; and provided sufficient data for the calculation of effect sizes. Included articles were published between March 2012 and March 2022.Data Extraction: The correlations between internet addiction and depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders were estimated using R software and the dmetar package with meta-analytic procedures.Results: A total of 2,226 studies were identified, including 23 studies (21,582) that were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. All articles were about medical students. There was a small positive correlation between IAD and sleep disorders (P = .0515). There was a moderate correlation between anxiety (P = .022), depression (P = .0002), and stress (P = .0322) and IAD.Conclusions: IAD is comorbid with psychiatric diseases, and this correlation was observed in this review. We suggest early identification and management of IAD, as it results in unfavorable mental health outcomes and impacts the work performance of medical students and physicians.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2023;25(3):22r03384. Author affiliations are listed at the end of this article.

Nano-scaled surfaces and sustainable-antibiotic-release from polymeric coating for application on intra-osseous implants and trans-mucosal abutments.

Multifunctional surfaces may display the potential to accelerate and promote the healing process around dental implants. However, the initial cellular biocompatibility, molecular activity, and the release of functionalized molecules from these novel surfaces require extensive investigation for clinical use. Aiming to develop and compare innovative surfaces for application in dental implants, the present study utilized titanium disks, which were treated and divided into four groups: machined (Macro); acid-etched (Micro); anodized-hydrophilic surface (TNTs); and anodized surface coated with a rifampicin-loaded polymeric layer (poly(lactide-co-glycolide), PLGA) (TNTsRIMP). The samples were characterized regarding their physicochemical properties and the cumulative release of rifampicin (RIMP), investigated at different pH values. Additionally, differentiated osteoblasts from mesenchymal cells were used for cell viability and qRT-PCR analysis. Antibacterial properties of each surface treatment were investigated against Staphylococcus epidermidis. TNTsRIMP demonstrated controlled drug release for up to 7 days in neutral pH environments. Osteogenic cell cultures indicated that all the evaluated surfaces showed biocompatibility. The TNTs group revealed up-regulated values for bone-related gene quantification in 7 days, followed by the TNTsRIMP group. Furthermore, the antibiotic-functionalized surface revealed effectiveness to inhibit S. epidermidis and stimulate promising conditions for osteogenic cell behavior. Characteristics such as nanomorphology and hydrophilicity were determinants for the up-regulated quantification of osteogenic biomarkers related to early bone maturation, encouraging application in intra-osseous implant surfaces; in addition, antibiotic-functionalized surfaces demonstrated significant higher antibacterial properties compared to the other groups. Our findings suggest that polymeric-antibiotic-loaded coating might be applied for the prevention of early infections, favoring its application in multifunctional surfaces for intra- and/or trans-mucosal components of dental implants, while, hydrophilic nanotextured surfaces promoted optimistic properties to stimulate early bone-related cell responses, favoring its application in bone-anchored surfaces.

On a continuous Gale-Berlekamp switching game.

We propose a continuous version of the classical Gale-Berlekamp switching game. The main results of this paper concern growth estimates for the corresponding optimization problems.

Biomechanical variables affect peri-implant bone loss in implant-supported fixed complete dentures: A methodological and prospective study.

PURPOSE: Implant-supported fixed complete dentures (IFCD) experience failures and complications related to biological and technical risk factors. This study investigated the effect of biomechanical variables of IFCD on 1-year peri-implant bone loss at the buccal, palatal/lingual, mesial, and distal implant sides. A new method was used to measure the geometric biomechanical variables of IFCD using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: The study sample consisted of 246 external hexagon implants supporting 48 hybrid IFCD in 44 patients. CBCT images obtained immediately (T0) and 1 year (T1) after prosthesis installation were used to measure the support polygon area, clinical crown/implant (C/I) ratio (vertical lever), anteroposterior power and resistance arms, anterior and posterior cantilevers (horizontal levers), and peri-implant bone remodeling (T1-T0). Data were analyzed using multilevel multivariable models. RESULTS: The average total bone loss in the mandible and maxilla were 0.88 mm, with a loss of 0.62 mm in the mandible and 1.08 mm in the maxilla. The C/I ratio had a significant effect on bone loss on the mesial, distal, and palatal/lingual sides (P <.05). The anterior cantilever had a protective effect on the lingual side of the anterior implant. No effect on bone loss was found for the support polygon area, posterior cantilever, resistance arm, or power arm (P >.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the C/I ratio and anterior cantilever in IFCD affect peri-implant bone loss according to the implant side and position in the arch.

The Hyrax appliance with tooth anchorage variations in surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion: a finite element analysis.

PURPOSE: It is known that a correct transverse maxillary dimension is a key factor for a stable occlusion, which brings functional and esthetic benefits for the patient. In patients presenting maxillary atresia and the completion of bone growth, a highly recommended option for correction is the surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) associated with the Hyrax appliance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of tooth anchorage variations of the Hyrax appliance in SARME through finite element analysis, evaluating which anchorage option might be associated with more effective orthopedic results with less undesired side effects. METHODS: Five different dental anchoring conditions for the Hyrax appliance were simulated through FE analysis applying premolars and molars as anchorage, having the same force applied by the activation of the Hyrax screw (0.5 mm) in all groups. The maxillary displacement results (axes X, Y, and Z) and generated stresses for both teeth and maxillary bone were calculated and represented using a color scale. RESULTS: All groups presented significant bone displacement and stress concentration on anchoring teeth, with the group presenting anchorage in the 1st and 2nd molars showing the greatest maxillary horizontal displacement (axis X) and suggesting the lowest tendency of dental vestibular inclination. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in dental anchorage might substantially affect the maxillary bone and teeth displacement outcome. The protocol for the Hyrax apparatus in SARME applying the 1st and 2nd molars as anchorage might generate less tilting and inclination of the anchoring teeth.

Tubos cerâmicos impressos em 3D: controle rotacional do primeiro molar superior / 3D printed ceramic tubes: rotational control of maxillary first molar

No final da década de 70, ocorreu a introdução da tecnologia de desenho assistido por computador e fabricação assistida por computador (CAD/CAM) na Odontologia. As principais proposições dessa tecnologia seriam automatização do processo manual minimizando as variações ou falhas humanas. Dentre os benefícios do produto citado, destacam-se a possibilidade de individualização dos acessórios de acordo com as necessidades biomecânicas do paciente, personalizando a sua prescrição e o formato da sua base para melhor adaptação ao dente, dando ao ortodontista a possibilidade de alcançar finalizações de tratamentos muito mais precisas. A posição do primeiro molar superior tem grande importância para a clínica ortodôntica. As rotações dos primeiros molares superiores estão presentes na maioria das más oclusões, principalmente na má oclusão de Classe II de Angle Divisão 1, que aumenta o espaço ocupado pelos dentes na arcada dentária. O presente estudo avaliou in vitro o desempenho dos tubos no controle rotacional dos molares superiores. Nesta pesquisa, os tubos foram colados em primeiros molares superiores esquerdos artificiais de resina, aleatoriamente, divididos em quatro grupos, de acordo com o tipo de tubo utilizado e posicionamento de colagem. Os seguintes grupos foram testados: Grupo 1: Tubo cerâmico prototipado, colado na posição central; Grupo 2: Tubo cerâmico prototipado, colado na posição distal; Grupo 3: Tubo simples metálico colado na posição central e Grupo 4:Tubo simples metálico colado na posição distal. Para a execução dos testes, hemiarcadas superiores esquerdas contendo desde o dentes incisivo central superior ao segundo molar superior esquerdo foram obtidas por arquivo STL (Standard Triangle Language) através do software americano Autodesk Meshmixer. Os tubos ortodônticos foram fixados por colagem indireta com cianoacrilato na face vestibular dos dentes. Para a avaliação da eficiência dos tubos ortodônticos na correção da rotação do primeiro molar superior foi necessária a utilização de um simulador eletrônico, com o objetivo de padronizar os testes para todas as amostras pesquisadas. Testes T de student e Mann-Whitney foram aplicados para avaliar diferença estatística entre os resultados obtidos nos grupos. Na posição Central, a média dos pulsos de correção dos tubos cerâmicos prototipados (39.41 pulsos) foi superior à média dos tubos metálicos (27.37 pulsos) (teste T de Student p<0.05). Na posição distal, a média dos pulsos de correção dos tubos cerâmicos prototipados (38.38 pulsos) foi superior à média dos tubos metálicos (18.07 pulsos) (teste de Mann-Whitney, p<0.05). Tubos cerâmicos prototipados obtiveram uma maior intensidade da correção da rotação do molar superior que os tubos metálicos, através da metodologia adotada na presente pesquisa, nas duas situações avaliadas. (AU)

At the end of the 1970s, computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology was introduced into dentistry. The main propositions of this technology would be the automation of the manual process, minimizing human variations or errors. Among the benefits of the product, the possibility of individualizing the accessories according to the patient's biomechanical needs stands out, customizing their prescription and the shape of their base for better adaptation to the tooth, giving the orthodontist the possibility of achieving complete much more accurate treatments. The position of the upper first molar is of great importance for the orthodontic clinic. Rotations of the upper first molars are present in most malocclusions, especially in Angle Class II Division 1 malocclusion, which increases the space occupied by the teeth in the dental arch. The present study evaluated in vitro the performance of the tubes in the rotational control of upper molars. In this research, the tubes were bonding to artificial resin upper left first molars, randomly, divided into four groups, according to the type of tube used and gluing positioning. The following groups were tested: Group 1: Prototyped ceramic tube, bonded in the central position; Group 2: Prototyped ceramic tube, bonded in the distal position; Group 3: Simple metallic tube bonded in the central position and Group 4: Simple metallic tube bonded in the distal position. For the execution of the tests, upper left hemiarchs containing from central incisor teeth superior to the upper left second molar were obtained using an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file using the American software Autodesk Meshmixer. The orthodontic tubes were fixed by indirect bonding with cyanoacrylate on the buccal surface of the teeth. To evaluate the efficiency of orthodontic tubes in correcting the rotation of the upper first molar, it was necessary to use an electronic simulator, with the aim of standardizing the tests for all samples researched. Student's T and Mann-Whitney tests were applied to evaluate statistical differences between the results obtained in the groups. In the Central position, the average correction pulses for the prototyped ceramic tubes (39.41 pulses) were higher than the average for the metallic tubes (27.37 pulses) (Student's T test p<0.05). In the distal position, the average correction pulses for the prototyped ceramic tubes (38.38 pulses) were higher than the average for the metallic tubes (18.07 pulses) (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.05). Prototyped ceramic tubes obtained a greater intensity of correction of upper molar rotation than metallic tubes, through the methodology adopted in the present research, in the two situations evaluated. (AU)

Portable Digital Monitoring System for Sarcopenia Screening and Diagnosis.

Sarcopenia is a well-known highly prevalent muscle disease that severely impairs overall physical performance in elders, inducing a massive health-related economic burden. The widespread screening, diagnosis and treatment of sarcopenia are pivotal to restrain the disease progression and constrain its societal impact. Simple-to-use, portable, and reliable methods to evaluate sarcopenia are scarce, and sarcopenia-related assessments are typically done in several time-consuming stages. This study presents a portable digital system that enables a simple and intuitive method to evaluate sarcopenia-based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) algorithm-including the four Find-Assess-Confirm-Severity (FACS) steps. The system comprises a mobile application (app); two wireless devices: a dynamometer (Gripwise) and a skinfold caliper (Lipowise); and a back-end website. To find cases, the SARC-F questionnaire is applied. To assess sarcopenia, the handgrip strength and the sit-to-stand tests are performed with the Gripwise and an application-embedded stopwatch, respectively. To confirm cases, anthropometric measures are performed, and muscle quantity is estimated with Lipowise. Finally, to assess severity, the app stopwatch grants the gait speed test application, evaluating physical performance. This step-by-step sarcopenia assessment results in a final grading according to the cut-off points of the EWGSOP2 criteria. All data is automatically encrypted and exported into a GDPR-compliant cloud platform, in which healthcare professionals can access and monitor their patients through the internet.

Sedentary Behaviour Impairs Skeletal Muscle Repair Modulating the Inflammatory Response.

This study investigated whether sedentary behaviour modulates skeletal-muscle repair and tissue inflammatory response after cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced injury. Singly caged rats spent 8 weeks either as a sedentary group (SED, n = 15) or as a control group (EX, n = 15)­caged with running wheels for voluntary running. All rats had each tibial anterior muscle infused either with CTX (CTX; right muscle) or saline solution (Sham; left muscle) and were sacrificed (n = 5 per group) on the 1st, 7th, and 15th day post-injection (dpi). Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were used to calculate myotube percentage and fibrosis accretion, and quantify the number of neutrophils and M1 and M2 macrophage subtypes. The SED group showed an increased number of both neutrophils and M1 macrophages (7th and 15th dpi) compared to the EX group (p < 0.01). The EX group showed an increased number of M2 macrophages on the 1st dpi. On the 7th dpi, the SED group showed a lower myotube percentage compared to the EX group (p < 0.01) and on the 15th dpi showed only 54% of normal undamaged fibres compared to 90% from the EX group (p < 0.01). The SED group showed increased fibrosis on both the 7th and 15th dpi. Our results show that sedentary behaviour affects the inflammatory response, enhancing and prolonging the Th1 phase, and delays and impairs the SMR process.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and work instability of nursing professionals.

Introduction: Characteristics of nursing work in hospital units expose professionals to risk factors that may favor instability at work and the development of work-related osteomuscular disorders, which may cause them to become ill and consequently different levels of incapacity to work. Objectives: to analyze the association between work instability of nursing professionals and the occurrence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with quantitative approach of the data, performed in a hospital in the city of Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo. We used the Nurse-Work Instability Scale and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, with nursing professionals workers of an adult and pediatric intensive care center and of internment units of orthopedic, neurosurgery and head/neck surgery. Results: 111 nursing professionals participated in the study, 25.2% presented low risk of instability, 44.1% medium risk and 30.6% high risk. Statistical associations were found between instability and the variables sectors of work (p = 0.004) and work-related osteomuscular disorders in the regions: neck (p = 0.001), shoulders (p = 0.000), upper back (p = 0.007), elbow (p = 0.005), wrist (p = 0.002), lower back (p = 0.046), hip/thighs (p = 0.006), knees (p = 0.021), ankles and feet (p = 0.011). Conclusions: There is an association between instability at work and the presence of osteomuscular disorders related to the work of nursing professionals. Interventions are needed for instability precedes disability and is intrinsically related to absenteeism and early retirement.

Literature Review on Ship Localization, Classification, and Detection Methods Based on Optical Sensors and Neural Networks.

Object detection is a common application within the computer vision area. Its tasks include the classic challenges of object localization and classification. As a consequence, object detection is a challenging task. Furthermore, this technique is crucial for maritime applications since situational awareness can bring various benefits to surveillance systems. The literature presents various models to improve automatic target recognition and tracking capabilities that can be applied to and leverage maritime surveillance systems. Therefore, this paper reviews the available models focused on localization, classification, and detection. Moreover, it analyzes several works that apply the discussed models to the maritime surveillance scenario. Finally, it highlights the main opportunities and challenges, encouraging new research in this area.

Superhydrophilic Nanotextured Surfaces for Dental Implants: Influence of Early Saliva Contamination and Wet Storage.

Hydrophilic and nanotextured surfaces for dental implants have been reported as relevant properties for early osseointegration. However, these surface characteristics are quite sensitive to oral interactions. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to investigate the superficial alterations caused on hydrophilic nanotubular surfaces after early human saliva interaction. Titanium disks were treated using an anodization protocol followed by reactive plasma application in order to achieve nanotopography and hydrophilicity, additionally; surfaces were stored in normal atmospheric oxygen or wet conditioning. Following, samples were interacted with saliva for 10 min and analyzed regarding physical-chemical properties and cellular viability. Saliva interaction did not show any significant influence on morphological characteristics, roughness measurements and chemical composition; however, hydrophilicity was statistically altered compromising this feature when the samples were stored in common air. Cellular viability tested with pre-osteoblasts cell line (MC3T3-E1) reduced significantly at 48 h on the samples without wet storage after saliva contamination. The applied wet-storage methodology appears to be effective in maintaining properties such as hydrophilicity during saliva interaction. In conclusion, saliva contamination might impair important properties of hydrophilic nanotubular surfaces when not stored in wet conditions, suggesting the need of saliva-controlled sites for oral application of hydrophilic surfaces and/or the use of modified-package methods associated with their wet storage.

Smart Strawberry Farming Using Edge Computing and IoT.

Strawberries are sensitive fruits that are afflicted by various pests and diseases. Therefore, there is an intense use of agrochemicals and pesticides during production. Due to their sensitivity, temperatures or humidity at extreme levels can cause various damages to the plantation and to the quality of the fruit. To mitigate the problem, this study developed an edge technology capable of handling the collection, analysis, prediction, and detection of heterogeneous data in strawberry farming. The proposed IoT platform integrates various monitoring services into one common platform for digital farming. The system connects and manages Internet of Things (IoT) devices to analyze environmental and crop information. In addition, a computer vision model using Yolo v5 architecture searches for seven of the most common strawberry diseases in real time. This model supports efficient disease detection with 92% accuracy. Moreover, the system supports LoRa communication for transmitting data between the nodes at long distances. In addition, the IoT platform integrates machine learning capabilities for capturing outliers in collected data, ensuring reliable information for the user. All these technologies are unified to mitigate the disease problem and the environmental damage on the plantation. The proposed system is verified through implementation and tested on a strawberry farm, where the capabilities were analyzed and assessed.

Influence of saliva interaction on surface properties manufactured for rapid osseointegration in dental implants.

Surface treatments are designed to promote modified implant surfaces with positive interactions with the surrounding living tissues. However, the inadvertent early contact of these surfaces with oral fluids during surgery may lead to undesired conditions affecting osseointegration. This study aimed to investigate the possible alterations in the physico-chemical properties of modified-surfaces caused by early saliva exposure. Titanium (Ti) surfaces were exposed to three different samples of human saliva and later analyzed for protein adhesion, physico-chemical surface alterations, and osteogenic cell-viability. The results indicated that surface roughness was the most significant factor influencing saliva protein adsorption; moreover, hydrophilic surfaces had critically lost their characteristics after contact with saliva. Decreased cell viability was observed in cultures after contact with saliva. Early contact with saliva might negatively influence modified surface properties and local cell viability. Careful surgical insertion of implants with hydrophilic surfaces is recommended, particularly in sites where saliva interaction is prone to occur.

Skeletal Muscle-Adipose Tissue-Tumor Axis: Molecular Mechanisms Linking Exercise Training in Prostate Cancer.

Increased visceral adiposity may influence the development of prostate cancer (PCa) aggressive tumors and cancer mortality. White adipose tissue (WAT), usually referred to as periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT), surrounds the prostatic gland and has emerged as a potential mediator of the tumor microenvironment. Exercise training (ET) induces several adaptations in both skeletal muscle and WAT. Some of these effects are mediated by ET-induced synthesis and secretion of several proteins, known as myo- and adipokines. Together, myokines and adipokines may act in an endocrine-like manner to favor communication between skeletal muscle and WAT, as they may work together to improve whole-body metabolic health. This crosstalk may constitute a potential mechanism by which ET exerts its beneficial role in the prevention and treatment of PCa-related disorders; however, this has not yet been explored. Therefore, we reviewed the current evidence on the effects of skeletal muscle-WAT-tumor crosstalk in PCa, and the potential mediators of this process to provide a better understanding of underlying ET-related mechanisms in cancer.

Wearable Devices for Physical Activity and Healthcare Monitoring in Elderly People: A Critical Review.

The availability of wearable devices (WDs) to collect biometric information and their use during activities of daily living is significantly increasing in the general population. These small electronic devices, which record fitness and health-related outcomes, have been broadly utilized in industries such as medicine, healthcare, and fitness. Since they are simple to use and progressively cheaper, they have also been used for numerous research purposes. However, despite their increasing popularity, most of these WDs do not accurately measure the proclaimed outcomes. In fact, research is equivocal about whether they are valid and reliable methods to specifically evaluate physical activity and health-related outcomes in older adults, since they are mostly designed and produced considering younger subjects' physical and mental characteristics. Additionally, their constant evolution through continuous upgrades and redesigned versions, suggests the need for constant up-to-date reviews and research. Accordingly, this article aims to scrutinize the state-of-the-art scientific evidence about the usefulness of WDs, specifically on older adults, to monitor physical activity and health-related outcomes. This critical review not only aims to inform older consumers but also aid researchers in study design when selecting physical activity and healthcare monitoring devices for elderly people.

Effect of hyaluronic acid on paracrine signaling of osteoblasts from mesenchymal stromal cells: potential impact on bone regeneration.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated hyaluronic acids (HA) with different molecular weights as potential matrices for tissue-engineered bone grafting and their possible influence on the paracrine mechanisms of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Murine adipose mesenchymal stromal cells (mASCs) on the fourth passage were seeded in 96-well plates, osteoinduced for 27 days and exposed for 3 days to low (HA-LW) and high/low molecular weight (HA-HLW) at previously defined concentrations. Cytokines IGF-1, VEGF, FGF-2, and BMP-2 were evaluated by quantification in the supernatant. RESULTS: Greater expression of growth factors was observed in groups with HA-HLW compared to HA-LW. Results indicated that differentiated cells secreted fewer cytokines, namely VEGF, FGF, and BMP-2 than undifferentiated mASCs (p < 0.05). IGF-1 showed its greatest expression in the mASC HA-LW group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The application of HA-HLW as cell matrix in tissue engineering did not compromise mASC paracrine effect. Also, the association of HA-HLW matrix and mASCs resulted in greater expression of osteogenic growth factors. Longer periods of cell differentiation seemed to negatively affect their capacity for local paracrine stimulation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of HA-HLW as matrix for undifferentiated ASCs can be positive for bone regeneration, favoring its application as cell matrix in bone grafting procedures.