Hydrogen sulfide: Therapeutic or injurious in ischemic stroke?

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been identified as a vasodilatory, neuromodulatory, and anti-inflammatory gasotransmitter with antioxidant properties. Studies focused in cardiac tissue suggest H2S functions as a protective agent; however in the central nervous system (CNS) the effects of H2S during states of stress or injury, such as stroke, remain controversial. Currently, the application of H2S donors and modulators in stroke depends on the type of H2S donor and the timing of the therapy.

Quality of life in persons with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The global increase in the aging population has raised concerns over various age-related conditions like dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their consequences on the affected persons. People with MCI exhibit cognitive deficits more significantly than expected for their age and literacy level. Though the nature of this condition is considered "mild", studies have reported that even more subtle deficits can influence the quality of life (QOL). Objective: The present work aimed at exploring and comparing QOL in older adults with and without MCI through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: After a detailed search of articles till May 2021 in the relevant electronic databases (PubMed Central, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Cochrane) using the keywords "mild cognitive impairment", "quality of life", "old", "old aged", "aged", "older adult", "geriatrics", "healthy controls", "healthy participants", and "normal controls", we included 23 articles in the systematic review and 12 in the meta-analysis. Results: The quality of all the included articles were assessed using the Modified Downs and Black tool. Most of the studies in the systematic review demonstrated differences in QOL scores in older adults with MCI compared to healthy older adults. However, meta-analysis findings suggest that older adults with MCI had statistically non-significant yet lower differences in QOL compared to their healthy counterparts. Conclusion: Future research should focus on developing QOL assessment tools specifically for older adults with MCI and follow-up studies that could provide better knowledge of their changing cognitive profile and life quality.

O aumento global da população idosa tem suscitado preocupações quanto a condições relacionadas à idade, como demência e comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL), e seus impactos nas pessoas afetadas. Indivíduos com CCL apresentam déficits cognitivos superiores ao esperado para sua idade e nível de alfabetização, e embora a condição seja considerada leve estudos demonstram que até déficits mais sutis podem afetar a qualidade de vida (QdV). Objetivo: Este trabalho explora e compara a QdV em idosos com e sem CCL, por meio de revisão sistemática e metanálise. Métodos: Após uma busca detalhada de artigos até maio de 2021 em relevantes bases eletrônicas (PubMed Central, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, ProQuest e Cochrane) usando as palavras-chave "mild cognitive impairment", "quality of life", "old", "old aged", "aged", "older adult", "geriatrics", "healthy controls", "healthy participants", e "normal controls", incluímos 23 artigos na revisão e 12 na metanálise. Resultados: A qualidade dos artigos foi avaliada com a ferramenta Modified Downs and Black. A revisão revelou diferenças nas pontuações de QdV entre idosos com CCL e saudáveis, mas a metanálise revelou diferenças estatisticamente não significativas, sugerindo uma QdV ligeiramente inferior nos primeiros. Conclusão: Futuras pesquisas devem enfocar ferramentas de avaliação de QdV específicas para idosos com CCL e em estudos de acompanhamento para melhor compreensão do perfil cognitivo em evolução e da qualidade de vida desses indivíduos.

Overexpression of Peroxiredoxin 3 in Cartilage Reduces the Severity of Age-Related Osteoarthritis But Not Surgically Induced Osteoarthritis in Mice.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to determine whether overexpression of the mitochondrial antioxidant peroxidase, peroxiredoxin 3 (Prx3), reduces the severity of osteoarthritis (OA) in mice. METHODS: Age-related OA (age 18 and 24 months) and OA induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM at age 6 months) were assessed in male mice that overexpress a human Prdx3 transgene encoding the Prx3 protein. Lox-stop-lox-Prdx3 (iPrdx3) mice were crossed with aggrecan-CreERT2 mice to produce iPrdx3AgCreERT2 or with Col2Cre to produce iPrdx3Col2Cre mice. Germline transgenics (Prdx3Tg) were also evaluated. Prx3 protein level was assessed by immunoblotting and functionally after induction of elevated mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) using menadione. Histological sections of stifle joints were scored for cartilage damage (Articular Cartilage Structure score [ACS]), osteophytes, and synovial hyperplasia and were evaluated by histomorphometry. RESULTS: Overexpression of Prx3 maintained mitochondrial membrane integrity and inhibited p38 phosphorylation in the presence of elevated H2 O2 . ACS scores of 18-month-old iPrdx3AgCreERT2 mice (mean ± SD, 4.88 ± 5.05) were significantly lower than age-matched iPrdx3 controls (11.75 ± 6.34, P = 0.002) and trended lower in the 18-month Prdx3Tg group (P = 0.14), whereas no significant differences between experimental and control groups at 24 months of age or in OA induced by DMM surgery were noted. Osteophyte scores trended lower in the 18-month-old Prdx3Tg group (P = 0.09) and at 24 months in the iPrdx3Col2Cre mice (P = 0.05). There were no significant group differences in synovial hyperplasia or histomorphometric measures. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of the mitochondrial peroxidase Prx3 reduced the severity of age-related OA, but not at advanced ages and not in DMM-induced OA in younger mice.

Metabolic syndrome after laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is common among morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the impact and predictors of bariatric surgery on the resolution of MS. METHODS: Subjects included 286 patients [age 44.0 +/- 11.5, female 78.2%, BMI 48.7 +/- 9.4, waist circumference 139 +/- 20 cm, AST 23.5 +/- 14.9, ALT 30.0 +/- 20.1, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) 30.1% and MS 39.2%] who underwent bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Of the entire cohort, 27.3% underwent malabsorptive surgery, 55.9% underwent restrictive surgery, and 16.8% had combination restrictive-malabsorptive surgery. Mean weight loss was 33.7 +/- 20.1 kg after restrictive surgery (follow up period 298 +/- 271 days), 39.4 +/- 22.9 kg after malabsorptive surgery (follow-up period 306 +/- 290 days), and 28.3 +/- 14.1 kg after combination surgery (follow-up period 281 +/- 239 days). Regardless of the type of bariatric surgery, significant improvements were noted in MS (p values from <0.0001-0.01) as well as its components such as DM (p values from <0.0001-0.0005), waist circumference (p values <0.0001), BMI (p values <0.0001), fasting serum triglycerides (p values <0.0001 to 0.001), and fasting serum glucose (p values <0.0001). Additionally, a significant improvement in AST/ALT ratio (p value = 0.0002) was noted in those undergoing restrictive surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that patients who underwent malabsorptive bariatric procedures experienced a significantly greater percent excess weight loss than patients who underwent restrictive procedures (p value = 0.0451). Percent excess weight loss increased with longer postoperative follow-up (p value <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss after bariatric surgery is associated with a significant improvement in MS and other metabolic factors.