Medicina
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The worldwide prevalence of obesity is increasing along with its comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). From a pathophysiological perspective, T2DM arises as a consequence of insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, which together induce chronic hyperglycemia. The pharmacological treatment of T2DM specifically focuses on its management, rather than remission, with a lack of pharmacological agents to prevent the onset of the disease. ⋯ The cladodes' high fiber content may be implicated in improving glycemic control, by affecting glucose absorption and effectively slowing its release into the blood circulation. Given these potential hypoglycemic effects, prickly pear cladodes may represent a potential functional food ingredient to improve glycemic control and counter the negative metabolic effects of the modern Western diet. Nonetheless, in consideration of the lack of evidence on the chronic effects of the prickly pear cladode, future research aimed at evaluating its long-term effects on glycemic control is warranted.
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Background and Objectives: Joint immobilization after shoulder surgery can cause an imbalance in the periscapular muscles and affect the kinetic chain throughout the body. There is a difference in core muscle stability because of the asymmetry of the lower extremity muscles. However, the difference due to the asymmetry of the upper-extremity muscles has not been studied extensively. ⋯ CMA was low during the intensive postoperative rehabilitation period. However, sex-related differences were greater in males than in females. Conclusions: The clinical results suggest that core muscle training is necessary to reduce CMA during rehabilitation after the immobilization period has elapsed.
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Atherosclerosis is responsible for large cardiovascular mortality in many countries globally. It has been shown over the last decades that the reduction of atherosclerotic progression is a critical factor for preventing future cardiovascular events. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) have been successfully targeted, and their reduction is one of the key preventing measures in patients with atherosclerotic disease. ⋯ In addition, a typical finding of increased small, dense LDL particles was confirmed in different categories of patients with elevated cardiovascular risk. Small, dense LDL is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which emphasizes the clinical importance of both the quality and the quantity of LDL. An effective management of atherosclerotic disease should take into account the presence of small, dense LDL in order to prevent cardiovascular complications.
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Background and Objectives: Rotator cuff disease (RCD) is a prominent musculoskeletal pain condition that spans a variety of pathologies. The etiology and precise diagnostic criteria of this condition remain unclear. The current practice of investigating the biochemical status of RCD is by conducting biopsy studies but their invasiveness is a major limitation. ⋯ Conclusions: This is the first systematic review to summarize current serological studies in patients with RCD. Results of the studies reflect several systemic physiological changes in patients with RCD, which may prove helpful to better understand the complex pathology of RCD. In addition, the results also indicate the possibility of using serological tests in order to evaluate RCD; however, further longitudinal studies are required.
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Background and Objectives: Nowadays colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most common causes of death in patients with malignant neoplasms worldwide. Our work aimed to determine the possible involvement of glutathione peroxidases 4 and 8 (GPx4 and GPx8) in this specific tumor process. Materials and Methods: The expression of GPx4 and GPx8 in 58 specimens of human colorectal cancer tissues and normal tissues was detected by the indirect immunohistochemical method under a light microscope. ⋯ Any significant difference between the presence of GPx and the age, the gender of the patient, tumor grade, histotype of cancer and the lesion of regional lymph nodes has not been detected. Conclusions: Our foundation could mean, that GPx4 and GPx8 have no important role in CRC pathogenesis, but the loss of these enzymes probably indicates a serious pathological process ongoing in the large intestine. To our knowledge, this is the first paper describing GPx8 presence in human colorectal carcinoma.