Search

Oxidative stress aggravates several long-term complications in diabetes mellitus. We evaluated the effectiveness of the oral administration of antioxidants (vitamins E and C, 40 and 100 mg/kg b.w., respectively) on skin wound healing acceleration in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Mice were wounded 30 days after the induction of diabetes. Antioxidants were effective in preventing oxidative stress, as assessed by TBARS. The enzymes catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were increased in diabetics on the 3rd day post-wounding; catalase and glutathione peroxidase remained still augmented in diabetics after 14th day postwounding, and the treatment with vitamins restored their activities to control. After 3 days, diabetic mice showed lower infiltration of inflammatory cells (including CD11b+ and Ly6G+ cells) and reduced levels of KC, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-12 p40 when compared with control mice. The treatment restored cytokine levels. After 14 days, diabetic mice showed late wound closure, persistent inflammation and delayed reepithelialization, accompanied by an increase in MIG+/CD206− macrophages whereas CD206+/MIG− macrophages were decreased. Cytokines IL-12p40, TNF-α, IL-1β, and KC were increased and normal levels were restored after treatment with antioxidants. These results suggest that oxidative stress plays a major role in diabetic wound healing impairment and the oral administration of antioxidants improves healing by modulating inflammation and the antioxidant system with no effect on glycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of thyroid hormones on exocrine pancreas function is poorly understood, and limited to the postnatal development period. Here, we evaluated the effects of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on the morphology and enzyme content of this tissue. To induce hypothyroidism male Wistar rats were subjected to a thyroidectomy (Tx) or sham operated (SO). After 40 days, some of the Tx and SO rats were treated with T3 for 7 days. Following euthanization, the pancreas was removed and evaluated for morphology, as well as amylase, lipase and trypsin content, using histological and immunoreactive techniques analyses, respectively. Serum amylase levels were also evaluated. The pancreatic acinar cells of Tx rats were smaller, exhibited reduced Haematoxyllin stained areas, and contained lower amylase and lipase levels, indicative of low cell activity. Tx rats also presented higher collagen levels, and high trypsin content in pancreatic extracts. Interestingly, T3 administration reversed the observed acinar cell alterations and restored pancreatic enzyme content, by augmenting amylase and lipase and attenuating trypsin levels, but failed to change collagen content. Increased levels of lipase and decreased trypsin were also observed in T3-treated SO rats. Thyroid hormones play an important role in acinar cell morphology and function. In the hypothyroid state there is a decrease in pancreatic enzyme levels that is restored with T3 treatment. In addition to participating in insulin sensitivity and glycemic control, THs also modulate enzyme expression and activity in the exocrine pancreas, consequently, delivering metabolic substrates to specific organs and tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overweight and obesity are closely linked to gut dysbiosis/dysmetabolism and disrupted De‐Ritis ratio [aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio], which may contribute to chronic noncommunicable diseases onset. Concurrently, extensive research explores nutraceuticals, and health‐enhancing supplements, for disease prevention or treatment. Thus, sedentary overweight volunteers were double‐blind randomized into two groups: Novel Nutraceutical_(S) (without silymarin) and Novel Nutraceutical (with silymarin). Experimental formulations were orally administered twice daily over 180 consecutive days. We evaluated fecal gut microbiota, based on partial 16S rRNA sequences, biochemistry and endocrine markers, steatosis biomarker (AST/ALT ratio), and anthropometric parameters. Post‐supplementation, only the Novel Nutraceutical group reduced Clostridium clostridioforme (Firmicutes), Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B ratio), and De‐Ritis ratio, while elevating Bacteroides caccae and Bacteroides uniformis (Bacteroidetes) in Brazilian sedentary overweight volunteers after 180 days. In summary, the results presented here allow us to suggest the gut microbiota as the action mechanism of the Novel Nutraceutical promoting metabolic hepatic recovery in obesity/overweight non‐drug interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healing time of burn wounds depends on surface area and depth of the burn and associated comorbidities. Diabetes mellitus (DM) causes delays in the healing process by extending the inflammatory phase. Treatment with topical insulin can improve the inflammatory phase, restore metabolic dysregulation, and modulate impaired cellular signaling in burn wounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate markers of the inflammatory and proliferative phases of second-degree burns after topical insulin treatment in diabetic rats. Type I DM was induced with streptozotocin in male Wistar rats. The animals' backs were shaved and subjected to thermal burning. Rats were randomized into two groups: control diabetic (DC) and insulin diabetic (DI). At Days 7 and 14 postburn, rats were euthanized, and wound-tissue sections were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin, Weigert, and Verhöeff staining, immunohistochemistry-paraffin, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A significant increase in reepithelialization was seen on Days 7 and 14 in DI versus DC rats. On Day 7, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, and F4/80 expression were increased in DI versus DC rats. On Day 14, MCP-1 expression was decreased and F4/80 increased in DI versus DC rats. On Days 7 and 14, Ki-67, transforming growth factor-β1, vascular endothelial growth factor expression, and formation of elastic fibers were increased in DI versus DC rats. Topical insulin modulates burn-wound healing in diabetic animals by balancing inflammation and promoting angiogenesis and formation of elastic fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]