Phytochemicals in Skeletal Muscle Health: Effects of Curcumin (from Curcuma longa Linn) and Sulforaphane (from Brassicaceae) on Muscle Function, Recovery and Therapy of Muscle Atrophy.

The mobility of the human body depends on, among other things, muscle health, which can be affected by several situations, such as aging, increased oxidative stress, malnutrition, cancer, and the lack or excess of physical exercise, among others. Genetic, metabolic, hormonal, and nutritional factors are intricately involved in maintaining the balance that allows proper muscle function and fiber recovery; therefore, the breakdown of the balance among these elements can trigger muscle atrophy. The study from the nutrigenomic perspective of nutritional factors has drawn wide attention recently; one of these is the use of certain compounds derived from foods and plants known as phytochemicals, to which various biological activities have been described and attributed in terms of benefiting health in many respects. This work addresses the effect that the phytochemicals curcumin from Curcuma longa Linn and sulforaphane from Brassicaceae species have shown to exert on muscle function, recovery, and the prevention of muscle atrophy, and describes the impact on muscle health in general. In the same manner, there are future perspectives in research on novel compounds as potential agents in the prevention or treatment of medical conditions that affect muscle health.

Prognostic impact of the preoperatory neutrophil/lymphocyte index on early surgical complications of patients with colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is found among those with greatest frequency and exponential increase worldwide, with high mortality rates, which are observed as increasing due to the postsurgical complications that come to present. Systemic inflammation participates in the development and progression of cancer; therefore, inflammatory and/or immunological response markers such as the neutrophil/lymphocyte index (NLI) can aid us in predicting the poor results of our interventions. The purpose of our study was to determine the impact of an NLI of ≥2.6 as a predictor of early postsurgical complications. By means of a prospective cohort, we analyzed 158 patients with CRC who were submitted to elective surgery with a later 30-day follow-up. We found that the preoperatory NLI of ≥2.6 obtained an odds ratio (OR) = 2.24 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-4.36) as a prognostic factor of early postsurgical complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification scale, which represents a low prognostic impact due to its predictive yield with low accuracy, which is the opposite of what other reports have previously published. The use of chemotherapy before the surgical procedure was also determined to be a risk factor for post-surgical complications.

Preeclampsia as predisposing factor for hypertensive retinopathy: Participation by the RAAS and angiogenic factors.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive complication of pregnancy. Its cause is still unknown and it could be a risk factor for future ophthalmic problems. Retinal vascular bed alterations have been described as a consequence of PE, suggesting a retinopathy. Factors related to angiogenesis and vascular permeability, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) or components of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), prorrenin/renin receptor ((P)RR) and angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) have been located in the retina, participating in other retinopathies, but it is unknown if they could participate in PE. Our aim was to elucidate whether VEGF, PEDF, (P)RR and AT1R could be modified during PE and during hypertension induced in rats with a history of PE. We used female Wistar rats and subrrenal aortic coarctation to induce PE, and after delivery, we induced a second hit by Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) administration. We measured blood pressure, proteinuria and pups development. In both models, eye fundal exploration and immunoblot for VEGF, PEDF, (P)RR and AT1R were performed. We found that the development of hypertension occurred faster in previously PE rats than in normal animals. VEGF, PEDF, (P)RR and AT1R were increased in PE, but in L-NAME-induced hypertension only (P)RR and AT1R were altered. Eye fundal data indicated that PE induced a level I retinopathy, but L-NAME induced a faster and more severe retinopathy in previously PE animals compared to previously normal pregnancy rats. These results indicate that PE predisposes to development of a faster and more severe retinopathy after a second hit. They also suggest that VEGF and PEDF seem to participate only in PE retinopathy, but in both models, RAAS components seem to have a more critical participation.

Analysis of Antioxidant Consumption, Body Mass Index and the Waist-Hip Ratio in Early Postmenopause.

Oxidative stress is present in early postmenopause. Antioxidants, present in food, avoid or limit the damage caused by free radicals. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the consumption of vitamin A, vitamin C, and Selenium was adequate in postmenopausal women and its relationship with levels of malondialdehyde. A descriptive, cross-sectional prospective clinical study was carried out with 132 women (45⁻55 years old) in postmenopause. The body mass index (BMI) and the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. The participants were surveyed about their food consumption for seven days. The plasmatic concentration of malondialdehyde was quantified by the methyl-phenyl-indole method. The women were grouped according to their BMI. All groups showed similar consumption of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, which exceeded the daily recommended level. According to the WHR, 87% had android fat distribution. Selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin A intake were below the daily recommended/suggested levels. The greater the BMI, the higher the plasmatic concentration of malondialdehyde in the patients. It was observed an elevated caloric intake, android fat distribution, and a greater BMI was accompanied by a lower consumption of antioxidants and an increased level of malondialdehyde.