Effects of green tea extract epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on oral disease-associated microbes: a review

For thousands of years, caries, periodontitis and mucosal diseases, which are closely related to oral microorganisms, have always affected human health and quality of life. These complex microbiota present in different parts of the mouth can cause chronic infections in the oral cavity under certain conditions, some of which can also lead to acute and systemic diseases. With the mutation of related microorganisms and the continuous emergence of drug-resistant strains, in order to prevent and treat related diseases, in addition to the innovation of diagnosis and treatment technology, the development of new antimicrobial drugs is also important. Catechins are polyphenolic compounds in green tea, some of which are reported to provide health benefits for a variety of diseases. Studies have shown that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant and effective active ingredient in green tea catechins, which acts against a variety of gram-positive and negative bacteria, as well as some fungi and viruses. This review aims to summarize the research progress on the activity of EGCG against common oral disease-associated organisms and discuss the mechanisms of these actions, hoping to provide new medication strategies for the prevention and treatment of oral infectious diseases, the future research of EGCG and its translation into clinical practice are also discussed.

Low cost and effective reduction of formaldehyde in gross anatomy: long throw nozzles and formaldehyde destruction using InfuTrace™

Formaldehyde is extraordinarily effective for fixation of human corpses and is routinely used in embalming solutions in anatomical dissection courses all over the world. High concentrations in vapors emitted from corpses embalmed with formaldehyde make it necessary to reduce the emission from cadavers for fulfilling tightening permissible exposure limits (PEL) worldwide. The study provides possible solutions to a problem faced by many anatomy labs. The emission of 50 human corpses was examined using 240 active personal and stationary samples with sampling tubes placed in the breathing area of probands or directly above the corpses. For measuring formaldehyde exposures along the dissection course, air samples were collected during the progress of dissection. Best results were achieved by a combination of post-embalming treatment with InfuTrace™, a formaldehyde binding solution applied to corpses fixed with 3% formaldehyde, and a modified ventilation system consisting of three long throw nozzles mounted vertically at the ceiling above the longitudinal axis of each dissection table. In this scenario, the inhalative exposure for students and teachers did not exceed 0.1 ppm during muscle dissection and 0.041 ppm during organ dissection, which are both dissection steps linked to high emission rates. The data emphasizes the necessity to use a combination of different methods - chemical polymerization of formaldehyde combined with a modified ventilation system - to reduce formaldehyde air loads far below the German PEL (0.3 ppm) and even the Japanese PEL (0.1 ppm) when using a standard 3%-formaldehyde fixation.

Management of clavicle shaft fractures with intramedullary devices: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Displaced and shortened clavicle fractures are frequently treated surgically. Although extramedullary fixation using a plate and screws is most commonly used, intramedullary nailing has become increasingly popular over the last decade. Traditional intramedullary nailing is usually associated with a high risk of hardware migration as well as hardware irritation at its entry point. Newer devices, however, seem to mitigate these problems. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview of clavicle shaft fractures and treatment with intramedullary nails, in particular the newer, locked devices.

AREAS COVERED

In general, this review covers current literature related to clavicle shaft fractures with a specific focus on the treatment of displaced and shortened fractures with intramedullary nails.

EXPERT OPINION

Clavicle shaft fractures can be effectively treated with an intramedullary nail. The risk of hardware migration when employing the newer, improved designs appears to be minimal. The advantages of using intramedullary fixation include smaller incision sizes as well as the avoidance of routine procedures generally associated with the removal of prominent subcutaneous hardware as per extramedullary fixation.

Hypoglycemic Effects of Pyrodextrins with Different Molecular Weights and Digestibilities in Mice with Diet-Induced Obesity

Pyrodextrin shares some properties of resistant starch, which is metabolically beneficial, and has potential applications as a functional food. In this study, we report that the oral administration of pyrodextrin (50 mg/kg/d for 7 weeks) decreased blood glucose (from 9.18 ± 1.47 to 7.67 ± 0.42 mmol/L), serum HbA1c, triglycerides, adipocyte size, and body weight (from 24.4 ± 1.2 to 22.5 ± 1.2 g) in mice with high-fat-diet-induced obesity. Western-blotting analysis suggested that pyrodextrins decreased intestinal SGLT-1 and GLUT-2 expression to ∼70 and ∼60% of the obese control, respectively, which slowed down glucose transportation from the gut into the blood and tentatively improved hepatic metabolism. Moreover, the pyrodextrin with a lower molecular weight of 44 kDa, a more branched structure, and increased nondigestible starch of 46.2 ± 0.3% showed stronger hypoglycemic activity. This work provides important information for developing pyrodextrins as a functional food and dietary supplement for the management of obesity and diabetes.

Short-term weight-centric effects of tea or tea extract in patients with metabolic syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

To evaluate the weight-centric effect of tea or tea extract in participants with metabolic syndrome (MetS), we performed electronic searches in PubMed, EmBase and the Cochrane Library to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing tea or tea extract vs a control group. A direct meta-analysis using random-effects model was conducted to pool the standardized mean difference regarding body mass index (BMI), body weight and waist circumference. Study quality was assessed by using the Jadad scale. Pre-specified subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore potential heterogeneity. A total of five RCTs involving 338 adult individuals were included. Given the high heterogeneity observed in the overall pooled analysis, we separated the included subjects into two subgroups. Ingestion of tea or tea extract significantly reduced BMI (subgroup 1: -1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI), -2.05 to -1.14; subgroup 2: -0.40, 95% CI, -0.69 to -0.12) and body weight (subgroup 1: -4.14, 95% CI, -4.85 to -3.43; subgroup 2: -0.35, 95% CI, -0.68 to -0.02). This meta-analysis suggests that tea or tea extract has favorable weight-centric effects in MetS patients. Additional large RCTs specifically designed to evaluate the effect on anthropometric measurements are needed to further confirm these findings.

New strategies in clinical care of skin wound healing

The prevalence of chronic wounds is closely correlated to the aging population and so-called civilizational diseases. Therefore, they are causing morbidity and mortality of millions of patients worldwide, with an unbroken upward trend. As a consequence, chronic wounds induce enormous and rapidly growing costs for our health care systems and society in general. Thus, medically effective and cost-efficient treatment methods are urgently needed. Methods of 'regenerative medicine' might offer innovative scientific solutions, including the use of stem cells, growth factors and new bioactive materials. These tools are experimentally well described but clinically poorly performed. The main reasons for this are both legislative and economic. This review describes state-of-the-art techniques, up-to-date research projects, innovative preclinical and clinical approaches in wound care, and activities to translate these innovative techniques into clinical routine.

Postprandial hyperaminoacidaemia overcomes insulin resistance of protein anabolism in men with type 2 diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Although protein is usually ignored when considering insulin resistance, we have shown resistance of protein concurrent with glucose metabolism in men with type 2 diabetes during a hyperinsulinaemic clamp at euglycaemia and fasting aminoacidaemia. We hypothesised that this resistance is even worse during conditions that simulate the postprandial state, when anabolism should be maximal.

METHODS

Eight overweight and obese men with type 2 diabetes underwent a hyperinsulinaemic-hyperglycaemic (8 mmol/l) clamp, first with plasma amino acids at postabsorptive (Hyper-2) then at postprandial concentrations (Hyper-3). Whole-body protein kinetics were assessed using L-: [1-(13)C]leucine. Hyper-2 results were compared with those of diabetic men whose plasma glucose was lowered to 5.5 mmol/l and fasting aminoacidaemia maintained during the hyperinsulinaemic clamp (Hyper-1).

RESULTS

In Hyper-2 vs Hyper-1 clamps, leucine flux (2.99 ± 0.16 vs 2.62 ± 0.06 μmol kg [fat-free mass (FFM)](-1) min(-1)), rates of synthesis (2.31 ± 0.15 vs 1.98 ± 0.06) and breakdown (2.38 ± 0.16 vs 2.00 ± 0.07) were higher (p < 0.05), but leucine oxidation and net balance did not differ. In Hyper-3 vs Hyper-2 clamps, leucine flux and synthesis and oxidation rates increased markedly as did net balance (0.84 ± 0.09 vs -0.07 ± 0.04 μmol [kg FFM](-1) min(-1), p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In type 2 diabetic men, insulin resistance of protein metabolism is of the same magnitude at 8 vs 5.5 mmol/l, but turnover rates are higher with hyperglycaemia. Contrary to our hypothesis, sustained postprandial-level hyperaminoacidaemia stimulated positive net protein balance comparable with that previously found in lean non-diabetic men. This was sufficient to overcome the insulin resistance of protein anabolism.

Intrauterine growth restriction alters hippocampal expression and chromatin structure of Cyp19a1 variants

We evaluated the impact of uteroplacental insufficiency (UPI), and subsequent intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), on serum testosterone and hippocampal expression of Cyp19a1 variants and aromatase in rats. Additionally, we determined UPI induced histone modification of the promoter regions of Cyp19a1 variants using chromatin immunoprecipitation. Cyp19a1 is the gene encoding the protein aromatase, that catalyzes the biosynthesis of estrogens from androgens and is necessary for masculinization of the brain. IUGR was induced via bilateral uterine artery. UPI increased serum testosterone in day of life 0 (D(0)) and day of life 21 (D(21)) IUGR males to 224% and 299% of control values, respectively. While there was no significant impact of UPI on testosterone in D(0) females, testosterone in D(21) IUGR females was 187% of controls. Cyp19a1 variant 1.f and variant II are expressed in the rat hippocampus at D(0) and D(21). UPI significantly reduced expression of Cyp19a1 variant 1.f in D(0) males, with no impact in females. Similarly at D(0), UPI reduced expression of aromatase, the protein encoded by Cyp19a1, in males. Dimethylation of H3K4 was increased in the promoter region of variant 1.f (P1.f) and trimethylation of H3K4 was decreased in the promoter region of variant II (PII). At D(21), dimethylation of H3K4 is significantly reduced in PII of IUGR males. We conclude that UPI increases serum testosterone and reduces Cyp19a1 variant 1.f expression in the hippocampus of D(0) IUGR males. Additionally, UPI alters the chromatin structure of CYP19a1 at both D(0) and D(21).