ß-Carotene Supplementation Improves Pancreas Function during Moderate Ethanol Consumption: Initial Characterization from a Morphological Overview.

Alcohol is believed to harm acinar cells, pancreatic ductal epithelium, and pancreatic stellate cells. After giving ethanol and/or ß-carotene to C57BL/6 mice, our goal was to evaluate their biochemistry, histology, and morpho-quantitative features. There were six groups of C57BL/6 mice: 1. Group C (control), 2. Group LA (low-dose alcohol), 3. Group MA (moderate-dose alcohol), 4. Group B (ß-carotene), 5. Group LA + B (low-dose alcohol combined with ß-carotene), and 6. Group MA + B (moderate-dose alcohol combined with ß-carotene). After the animals were euthanized on day 28, each specimen's pancreatic tissue was taken. Lipase, uric acid, and amylase were assessed using biochemical assessment. Furthermore, the examination of the pancreatic structure was conducted using Ammann's fibrosis scoring system. Finally, the morpho-quantitative characteristics of the pancreatic islets and acinar cells were determined. In the serum of the MA + B group, there were higher amounts of total amylase (825.953 ± 193.412 U/L) and lower amounts of lipase (47.139 ± 6.099 U/L) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Ammann's fibrosis punctuation in the pancreas revealed significant variations between the groups (p < 0.001). Finally, the stereological analysis of pancreatic islets showed that the groups were different (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that antioxidant treatments might help decrease the negative effects of ethanol exposure in animal models.

Healing Effect of a Nano-Functionalized Medical-Grade Honey for the Treatment of Infected Wounds.

Based on the qualities of Ulmo honey (Eucryphia cordifolia), a medical-grade honey (Ulmoplus®) has been developed. Relevant to this, the use of copper represents an emerging therapy for the treatment of wounds. Therefore, the aim of this study was to see how this medical-grade honey with copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) helped to heal infected or non-infected wounds. Twenty-four guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) were divided into four groups for phase 1 (without and with infection, U + F1 and U + F2), and two groups for phase 2 (selected formulation, without and with infection, U + F2NI and U + F2I). Bacteriological and histopathological studies, collagen fibers content evaluation, and stereological analysis were performed. The selected formulation displayed the same antibacterial potency as Ulmoplus®, indicating that this medical-grade honey by itself can be used as an antibacterial agent. However, the evaluation of collagen content demonstrated a significant increase in fibroblast and type III collagen fibers for infected and uninfected groups, which correlated with the histopathological study. Therefore, it is correct to affirm that adding CuNPs to Ulmoplus® improved the maturation of collagen fibers. Finally, polymorphonuclear cells presented similar values between experimental groups, which would indicate that the formulation under study was able to regulate the inflammatory process despite their infectious condition.

Vitamin Supplements as a Nutritional Strategy against Chronic Alcohol Consumption? An Updated Review.

Several studies have shown that blood vitamin levels are low in alcoholic patients. In effect, alcohol use abuse is considered a chronic disease that promotes the pathogenesis of many fatal diseases, such as cancer and liver cirrhosis. The alcohol effects in the liver can be prevented by antioxidant mechanisms, which induces enzymatic as well as other nonenzymatic pathways. The effectiveness of several antioxidants has been evaluated. However, these studies have been accompanied by uncertainty as mixed results were reported. Thus, the aim of the present review article was to examine the current knowledge on vitamin deficiency and its role in chronic liver disease. Our review found that deficiencies in nutritional vitamins could develop rapidly during chronic liver disease due to diminished hepatic storage and that inadequate vitamins intake and alcohol consumption may interact to deplete vitamin levels. Numerous studies have described that vitamin supplementation could reduce hepatotoxicity. However, further studies with reference to the changes in vitamin status and the nutritional management of chronic liver disease are in demand.

Intermittent fasting, nutritional supplementation, and resistance training as strategy for body weight loss: an update / Ayuno intermitente, suplementación nutricional y entrenamiento de resistencia como estrategia para la pérdida de peso corporal: una actualización

SUMMARY: Obesity is a multifactorial disease, affecting, along with overweight, over a third of the adult population worldwide. Although weight control is beneficial, the problem of poor compliance in weight loss programs is well known. Therefore, different strategies have been described against overweight. Among them, strategies such as intermittent fasting, time-restricted feeding and Ramadan fasting have been identified. In recent years, other strategies such as nutritional supplementation have gained significance on weight loss, mainly due to focusing on body composition is even more important than overall weight. In this sense, consumption of nutritional supplements in athletes and sedentary people have shown beneficial effects. Also, supplement intake such, protein, creatine and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate; combined with resistance training resulted in an increased body weight and fat-free mass. So, although resistance training increases muscle mass and resting metabolic rate, it does not result in weight loss without caloric restriction. Despite this, it seems even without caloric restriction, has favorable effect on body composition because it decreases fat mass, including abdominal fat. According to the evidence, our review suggests that a strategy for improving body composition might be to use a mixed protocol that includes intermittent fasting, nutritional supplementation intake, and resistance training.

RESUMEN: La obesidad es una enfermedad multifactorial, afectando junto al sobrepeso, un tercio de la población mundial adulta. Aunque el control del peso es beneficioso, el problema del mal cumplimiento en los programas de pérdida de peso es bien conocido. Por lo que, distintas estrategias han sido descritas para combatirlo. Entre ellas, se han identificado estrategias como el ayuno intermitente, la alimentación con restricción de tiempo y el ayuno de Ramadán. En los últimos años, otras estrategias como la suplementación nutricional han ganado importancia en la pérdida de peso, principalmente debido a que centrarse en la composición corporal es incluso más importante que la pérdida de peso general. En este sentido, el consumo de suplementos nutricionales, como proteínas, creatina y beta-hidroxi-beta-metilbutirato; en atletas y personas sedentarias ha mostrado efectos beneficiosos.Asimismo, la ingesta de suplementos combinada con el ejercicio de resistencia resulta en un aumento del peso corporal y masa libre de grasa. Por lo que, aunque el ejercicio de resistencia produce un aumento en la masa muscular y la tasa metabólica en reposo, este no provoca pérdida de peso sin restricción calórica. Pese a ello, tiene un efecto favorable sobre la composición corporal porque disminuye la masa grasa, incluida la grasa abdominal. Nuestra revisión sugiere que una estrategia para mejorar la composición corporal podría ser la utilización de un protocolo mixto que incluya el ayuno intermitente, el consumo de suplementos nutricionales y el entrenamiento de resistencia.

Morphoquantitative effects of oral ß-carotene supplementation on liver of C57BL/6 mice exposed to ethanol consumption.

Alcohol is harmful to the body, causing hepatic steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. The effects of alcohol on the liver can be offset using natural antioxidants. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the administration of oral ß-carotene on the morphoquantitative characteristics of mice livers exposed to ethanol consumption. Forty-eight male mice were used, divided into six groups: Control (C), Low-dose alcohol (LA), Moderate-dose alcohol (MA), ß-carotene (B), Low-dose alcohol+ß-carotene (LA+B) and Moderate-dose alcohol+ß-carotene (MA+B). On day 28 the animals were euthanized and the organs were harvested. The morphoquantitative analysis, evaluation of the collagen fiber content and transmission electron microscopy were performed. A one-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. There were no differences between NVhep, VVhep, SVhep, VVbin, TVhep and TMhep in groups C and the MA+B (P < 0.001). The analysis of type I collagen fibers revealed that the MA+B group presented differences with groups C (P < 0.001), LA (P = 0.046) and LA+B (P = 0.009). The ultrastructural analysis for NAm, NVm, NTm, VVm, Vm, SVm and TSm did not reflect any significant differences between the groups. Our results suggest that the degree of hepatic steatosis produced by different doses of alcohol can be prevented. However, the following factors should be considered: amount of alcohol consumed, exposure time, regulatory mechanisms of alcoholic liver disease and signaling pathways involved in the ingestion of both ethanol and antioxidants.

Morphometric evaluation of wound healing in burns treated with Ulmo (Eucryphia cordifolia) honey alone and supplemented with ascorbic acid in guinea pig (Cavia porcellus).

BACKGROUND: In the context of the search for cost-efficient treatments, Ulmo (Eurcyphia cordifolia) honey is an excellent alternative for treating burn wounds and could have a profound medical, social, and economic impact. Ascorbic acid is an enzymatic co-factor necessary for the synthesis of collagen and the proliferation of fibroblasts and has been proposed as a coadjuvant to strengthen the healing effects of honey. The aim of this work was to evaluate by morphometric studies the healing wounds caused by burns treated with Ulmo honey alone and supplemented with ascorbic acid in guinea pig (Cavia porcellus). METHODS: Fifteen guinea pigs were used and divided randomly into three groups: positive control (C+), experimental with unsupplemented honey (H), and experimental with supplemented honey (SH). A uniform deep burn covering 1 cm2 of the back skin was performed. The following indices were calculated for the morphometric study: superficial contraction index of the wound, deep contraction index of the wound, wound severity index, global healing index, global contraction index, and dermal proliferation area. RESULTS: The superficial contraction index of the wound, global healing index, global contraction, and dermal proliferation area values of the experimental with supplemented honey group were higher than the other groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to these results, the combination of honey with an antioxidant (ascorbic acid) promotes an appropriate action to support the healing effect. This study showed that by supplementing the Ulmo honey with ascorbic acid, the healing and contraction effects can be strengthened in burn wounds compared to unsupplemented honey. These results were proof of the synergy between honey and ascorbic acid in healing burn wounds.