Purpose

Metalloproteinases are a key component of the pathogenesis of abdominal hernias. Obesity is considered a risk factor in herniogenesis and hernia recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum concentrations of metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, MMP-13, and adiponectin in morbidly obese and nonoverweight controls.

Materials and methods

The participants were recruited from among patients undergoing bariatric and non-bariatric surgery and divided into two groups: I (body mass index (BMI)≥35 kg/m², n=40) and II (BMI<25 kg/m², n=30). Serum concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-13, and adiponectin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

A statistically significant difference between groups was observed for MMP-2 concentration. The median MMP-9 concentration was higher in the obese group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Median MMP-13 concentrations did not differ between groups. Serum adiponectin concentration was insignificantly higher in the non-obese group.

Conclusions

The elevated serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations in obese individuals may be related to the higher incidence of incisional hernias in this population.

Objective

The present study aims at determining the stability of a popular type 2 diabetes rat model induced by a high-fat diet combined with a low-dose streptozotocin injection.

Methods

Wistar rats were fed with a high-fat diet for 8 weeks followed by a one-time injection of 25 or 35 mg/kg streptozotocin to induce type 2 diabetes. Then the diabetic rats were fed with regular diet/high-fat diet for 4 weeks. Changes in biochemical parameters were monitored during the 4 weeks.

Results

All the rats developed more severe dyslipidemia and hepatic dysfunction after streptozotocin injection. The features of 35 mg/kg streptozotocin rats more resembled type 1 diabetes with decreased body weight and blood insulin. Rats with 25 mg/kg streptozotocin followed by normal diet feeding showed normalized blood glucose level and pancreatic structure, indicating that normal diet might help recovery from certain symptoms of type 2 diabetes. In comparison, diabetic rats fed with high-fat diet presented decreased but relatively stable blood glucose level, and this was significantly higher than that of the control group (P&gt;0.05).

Conclusions

This model easily recovers with normal diet feeding. A high-fat diet is suggested as the background diet in future pharmacological studies using this model.

Objectives

The aim of the study is to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing effects of hydrolysate of polygalasaponin (HPS) on senescence accelerate mouse P8 (SAMP8) mice, an effective Alzheimer’s disease (AD) model, and to research the relevant mechanisms.

Methods

The cognitive-enhancing effects of HPS on SAMP8 mice were assessed using Morris water maze (MWM) and step-through passive avoidance tests. Then N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit expression for both the cortex and hippocampus of mice was observed using Western blotting.

Results

HPS (25 and 50 mg/kg) improved the escape rate and decreased the escape latency and time spent in the target quadrant for the SAMP8 mice in the MWM after oral administration of HPS for 10 d. Moreover, it decreased error times in the passive avoidance tests. Western blotting showed that HPS was able to reverse the levels of NMDAR1 and NMDAR2B expression in the cortex or hippocampus of model mice.

Conclusions

The present study suggested that HPS can improve cognitive deficits in SAMP8 mice, and this mechanism might be associated with NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-related pathways.

Background

Tumor-derived exosomes were considered to be potential candidates for tumor vaccines because they are abundant in immune-regulating proteins, whereas tumor exosomal miRNAs may induce immune tolerance, thereby having an opposite immune function.

Objective

This study was designed to separate exosomal protein and depleted exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs), increasing the immune activity of exosomes for activating dendritic cell/cytokine-induced killer cells (DC/CIKs) against pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods

PC-derived exosomes (PEs) were extracted from cultured PANC-1 cell supernatants and then ruptured; this was followed by ultrafiltered exosome lysates (UELs). DCs were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), PE, and UEL, followed by co-culture with CIKs. The anti-tumor effects of DC/CIKs against PC were evaluated by proliferation and killing rates, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and perforin secretion. Exosomal miRNAs were depleted after lysis and ultrafiltration, while 128 proteins were retained, including several immune-activating proteins.

Results

UEL-stimulated DC/CIKs showed a higher killing rate than LPS- and PE-stimulated DC/CIKs.

Conclusions

miRNA-depleted exosome proteins may be promising agonists for specifically activating DC/CIKs against PC.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of Ureaplasma urealyticum-derived lipidassociated membrane proteins (LAMPs) in the host innate immune system, specifically their effect on Toll-like receptors (TLRs).

Methods

LAMPs were derived from U. urealyticum strains, and human amniotic epithelial cells (HAECs) were isolated from healthy full-term placentas. Cytokine concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and TLR2 mRNA by real-time PCR. Expression of TLR2 was confirmed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Results

LAMPs induced HAECs to produce inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Cytokine production was reduced after blocking TLR2 using TLR2 inhibitor (anti-hTLR2-IgA).

Conclusions

LAMPs isolated from U. urealyticum induced TLR2-dependent up-regulation of inflammatory genes and cytokines in HAECs.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the association of dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) polymorphism and alleviation of obesity in children and adolescents after 8-year follow-up.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included obese children and adolescents with a follow-up period of 8 years. Baseline clinical characteristics and DRD2 polymorphisms (including rs1076562, rs2075654, and rs4586205) were extracted from medical records. A follow-up visit was performed in May 2017 to collect related data including height, weight, diet compliance, and exercise compliance.

Results

One hundred and nine obese children and adolescents were included in the current study. Among three DRD2 single nucleotide polymorphisms, only rs2075654 had a statistically significant association with alleviation of obesity, as the alleviation rate for minor allele carriers (68.6% for TC+TT) was higher compared to the major allele homozygote (43.3% for CC). After adjusting for all related factors, the hazard ratio of rs2075654 minor allele carriers for the alleviation of obesity was 3.34 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30?8.58).

Conclusions

The rs2075654 polymorphism of DRD2 is related to long-term obesity alleviation in obese Chinese children and adolescents.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the degree of homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in patients with morbid obesity exposed to a three-week low-calorie diet and balneotherapy.

Methods

The study included 33 patients (25 females and 8 males; mean age 46 years) with body mass index (BMI) values of >40 kg/m². Evaluations of CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, lipid profile, HOMA-IR, and fasting glucose were carried out before (baseline data) and three weeks after the treatment. The control group consisted of 20 healthy volunteers (15 females and 5 males) with a mean age of 39 years and BMI values of ≤24.9 kg/m².

Results

In the blood of patients with morbid obesity we found significantly elevated levels of CRP, TNF-α, triglycerides, HOMA-IR and fasting glucose, but a decreased level of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, compared with the healthy individuals. The treatment resulted in about a 9.4% reduction in body weight from 122.5 to 111.0 kg and a significant decrease in the concentration of CRP, but no change in TNF-α or IL-6. HOMA-IR was significantly reduced.

Conclusion

The decrease in CRP level without changes in TNF-α or IL-6 concentrations after the low-calorie diet and balneological treatment, suggests that an essential amount of adipose tissue must be removed before proper adipocyte function is restored. The decrease in HOMA-IR indicates an improvement in insulin sensitivity, which is beneficial in obese patients.

Objective

To investigate the effects of body mass index (BMI) on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Chinese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods

In the retrospective cohort study, a total of 1074 patients with PCOS undergoing IVF between April 2010 and May 2017 in two reproductive medicine centers, respectively in eastern China (Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province) and in southern China (Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Liuzhou, Guangxi Province), were included. The patients were divided into four groups according to the recommended Chinese BMI cut-off points: underweight (BMI< 18.5 kg/m²), normal weight (18.5 kg/m²≤BMI<24.0 kg/m²), overweight (24.0 kg/m²≤BMI<28.0 kg/m²), and obese (BMI≥ 28.0 kg/m²). The basic characteristics of the PCOS patients, the details of IVF treatment, and the pregnancy outcomes were collected.

Main results

There were no significant differences among the normal weight, overweight, and obese PCOS patients undergoing IVF on the biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate, or term delivery rate (P>0.05), although the overweight and obese PCOS patients required more gonadotropin (Gn) (P<0.001) as well as longer stimulation period (P<0.001), and got less retrieved oocytes (P<0.05) and fertilized oocytes (P<0.05). The underweight PCOS patients required less Gn (P<0.05) and achieved higher live birth rate and term delivery rate (P<0.05), compared with the normal weight PCOS patients.

Conclusions

High BMI had no negative effects on the outcomes of IVF in Chinese patients with PCOS; however, the conclusion may seem a little limited due to the retrospective design and the potential bias.

Objective

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet (UV) photofunctionalization of dental titanium implants with exposure to the oral cavity on osseointegration in an animal model.

Methods

Forty-eight titanium implants (Camlog® Conelog® 4.3 mmx9.0 mm) were placed epicrestally into the edentulous jaws of three minipigs and implant stability was assessed by measuring the implant stability quotient (ISQ). Prior to implantation half of the implants were photofunctionalized with intense UV-light. After three months, the implants were exposed and ISQ was measured again. After six months of implant exposure, the minipigs were sacrificed and the harvested specimens were analyzed using histomorphometric, light, and fluorescence microscopy.

Main results

Forty-two of 48 implants osseointegrated. The overall mean bone-implant contact area (BIC) was (64±22)%. No significant differences were found in BIC or ISQ value (multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), P&gt;0.05) between implants with and without exposure to UV photofunctionalization.

Conclusions

No significant effects were observed on osseointegration of dental titanium implants nine months after exposure of UV photofunctionalization.