Microglia are the macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS), implying their role in maintaining brain homeostasis. To achieve this, these cells are sensitive to a plethora of endogenous and ...exogenous signals, such as neuronal activity, cellular debris, hormones, and pathological patterns, among many others. More recent research suggests that microglia are highly responsive to nutrients and dietary variations. In this context, numerous studies have demonstrated their significant role in the development of obesity under calorie surfeit. Because many reviews already exist on this topic, we have chosen to present the state of our reflections on various concepts put forth in the literature, bringing a new perspective whenever possible. Our literature review focuses on studies conducted in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, a key structure in the control of food intake. Specifically, we present the recent data available on the modifications of microglial energy metabolism following the consumption of an obesogenic diet and their consequences on hypothalamic neuron activity. We also highlight the studies unraveling the mechanisms underlying obesity-related sexual dimorphism. The review concludes with a list of questions that remain to be addressed in the field to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the role of microglia in the regulation of body energy metabolism.
This article is part of the Special Issue on “Microglia”.
•This review aims to question the advanced concepts regarding the role of microglia in obesity, rather than conducting a comprehensive review of all the results already published in the field.•We challenge the use of the term “inflammation” to characterize the early response of microglia to a high-calorie diet.•We discuss the potential role of the mTOR pathway and of immunometabolic mechanisms in the microglial response to a high-fat diet.•We discuss the evolutionary function of the early response of microglia to a high-fat diet.•We make a list of the remaining questions regarding the role of microglia in response to a caloric overload.
Clinical outcomes of lingual nerve repair Atkins, S.; Kyriakidou, E.
British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery,
January 2021, 2021-01-00, 20210101, Letnik:
59, Številka:
1
Journal Article
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Lingual nerve injury, a well-described complication of third molar removal, may result in permanent lingual sensory deficit leading to symptoms including lost or altered sensation, inadvertent tongue ...biting, and the development of unpleasant neuropathic pain, with consequent impaired quality of life. We analysed outcomes of a prospective case series to determine whether direct anastomosis of the lingual nerve results in improved sensory recovery and reduced neuropathic pain, and whether delayed surgery is worthwhile. In 114 patients who underwent nerve repair at our nerve injury clinic following damage sustained during mandibular third molar removal, sensory deficit was assessed before and after surgery using a questionnaire and visual analogue scales (VAS) to assess pain, tingling, and discomfort. Neurosensory tests were utilised to evaluate light touch, pin-prick, and two-point discrimination thresholds. Subjectively, 94% patients felt their sensation had improved following nerve repair, with significant reductions in the incidence of tongue biting (p<0.0001), impaired speech (p<0.0001), and neuropathic pain (p=0.0017). Quantitative neurosensory data showed highly significant improvements in light touch, pin-prick, and two-point discrimination (all p<0.0001), and VAS scores for pain (p=0.0145), tingling (p<0.0025), and discomfort (p<0.0001) were significantly reduced. Patients with high levels of pain preoperatively (VAS>40) showed highly significant reductions in pain (p<0.0001). No correlation was found between surgical outcome and patient’s age or delay until surgery. Lingual nerve repair results in good sensory outcomes and significant improvements in the incidence and degree of neuropathic pain, even when delayed.
The archaeointensity records from Greece present several gaps in the prehistoric period among which the ones in the third and second millennia BCE (Early and Middle Bronze Age) are not justified by ...the abundance of relevant settlements in the broader Greek area. Their excavations yielded numerous collections of pottery and ceramics, well-studied to a big extent from archaeological and archaeometric point of view. We collected six groups of fragments dated from 2200 BCE to 1500 BCE which were subjected to a classical archaeomagnetic study. The material response to the experiments was mostly satisfactory, and the archaeointensity was calculated both with Thellier-Thellier and multispecimen protocols. These results, complemented by the ones recently published for the period 1500- 900 BCE, and plotted versus the existing secular variation curves for Greece and relevant geomagnetic field models document a slight intensity maximum around 1900 BCE.
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•We present nine new archaeointensity data collected from Northern and Central Greece, Euboea and N. Grete.•The studied collections are dated from 2200 BCE to 1500 BCE (Middle and Late Bronze Age).•The new data are compiled with previously published data providing a better coverage in the SVCs during prehistoric times.
Dermoid cysts in the floor of the mouth are relatively uncommon developmental lesions. They are thought to arise in the midline and along the lines of embryonic fusion of the facial processes ...containing ectodermal tissue.
A 17-year-old female presented with a 3-month history of a growing, progressive swelling in the mouth floor. Clinical examination revealed a rather large symmetrical, soft swelling in the mouth floor, displacing the tongue superiorly. The fast growing nature and size of the lesion raised suspicion of potential compromise to the airway. Surgical excision was therefore performed.
Differential diagnosis of cystic lesions in the floor of the mouth is of paramount importance, as the recommended surgical techniques vary depending on the anatomical position of the lesions. The intraoral approach is preferred for those lesions that do not extend beyond the mylohyoid muscle boundaries; this leads to a satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcome.
Persistent diplopia is a well‐recognised complication following orbital trauma. Other sequelae include limited extraocular movement and enophthalmos. Rarely co‐existing causes may account for these ...symptoms. We report a case where delayed repair of right orbital floor and medial wall fractures did not lead to resolution of the diplopia and the strabismus in the right eye. Further investigations including haematological and biochemistry indices revealed low thiamine levels related to previous excess alcohol misuse. Once treated with thiamine supplement, a remarkable improvement in their eye symptoms was observed.
Background: Highly‐active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to substantial reductions of the morbidity and mortality of HIV infection (Palella et al., 1998). However, the use of HAART has been ...associated with morphological and metabolic complications, placing HIV‐positive patients at greater risk of developing diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome (Carr et al., 1998). Exercise has been proposed as a therapeutic option for the metabolic abnormalities observed in the HIV population (Robinson et al., 2007). The aims of this research were: (i) to determine the prevalence of being overweight and obesity in HIV‐infected adults receiving HAART because, to date, no systematic review has been conducted on that area and (ii) to identify the effects of a structured exercise programme on metabolic and fitness parameters that will contribute further to the existing body of research.
Methods: A systematic review was undertaken to summarise the reported prevalence of being overweight and obesity in adult HIV‐positive HAART‐users. Studies were obtained from computerised searches of electronic bibliographic databases (n = 9) and were included only if they reported the prevalence of being overweight and/or obesity according to the World Health Organization criteria for body mass index (BMI) classification. A retrospective data analysis was performed on 17 HIV‐positive patients who had participated in the ‘Positive Moves’ exercise programme between January 2001 to January 2008. The variables included in the analysis were weight, BMI, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C), high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐C), triglycerides, glucose, resting heart rate, vo2 max, handgrip strength and flexibility. Eligible patients had data at two timepoints. Mean length of the exercise programme was 140 days. Paired‐samples t‐tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare results from baseline to the end of the programme.
Results: The combined prevalence of being overweight and obesity was in the range 30.5–52.9%. The separate prevalences of being overweight and obesity were 25.6–38.6% and 3.2–19% respectively. The results of the retrospective data analysis are shown in Table 1.
1
Characteristics of HIV‐HAART users
Variable
Total n (%)
Mean (SD)
P
Weight
17
(100)
0.64 (5.47)
0.633
BMI
16
(94)
0.09 (1.84)
0.844
Total cholesterol
15
(88)
0.18 (0.91)
0.455
LDL‐C
4
(24)
0.25 (0.38)
0.286
HDL‐C
4
(24)
0.15 (0.18)
0.188
Triglycerides
15
(88)
−0.02 (0.77)
0.916
Glucose
13
(76)
−0.20 (1.22)
0.566
RHR
16
(94)
−1.50 (10.51)
0.576
VO2 max
16
(94)
−5.48 (7.31)
0.009
Handgrip strength
14
(82)
−1.60 (4.07)
0.165
Sit‐reach hip flexion
10
(59)
−2.30 (2.49)
0.017
*Percentages in each category are expressed as percentage of the total number of the final sample.
Discussion: The findings of the systematic review suggest that there is a high prevalence of being overweight and obesity in patients taking HAART. A structured exercise programme did not have a significant impact on metabolic and some fitness parameters; however, the lack of effect may be due to the small sample size.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that effective interventions are needed to manage the morphological and metabolic complications associated with taking HAART. Future studies could focus on the effects of exercise on self‐esteem and confidence because patients may feel better in themselves through improvements in VO2 max and flexibility.
References Carr, A., Samaras, K., Burton, S., law, M., Freund, J., Chisolm, D.J. & Cooper, D.A. (1998) A syndrome of peripheral lipodystrophy, hyperlipidaemia and insulin resistance in patients receiving HIV protease inhibitors. AIDS12, F51–58.
Palella, F.J., Jr. Delaney, K.M., Moorman, A.C., Loveless, M.O., Fuhrer, J., Satten, G.A., Aschman, D.J. & Holmberg, S.D. (1998) Declining morbidity and mortality among patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. HIV Outpatient Study Investigators. N. Engl. J. Med.338, 853–860.
Robinson, F.P., Quinn, L.T. & Rimmer, J.H. (2007) Effects of high‐intensity endurance and resistance exercise on HIV metabolic abnormalities: a pilot study. Biol. Res. Nurs.8, 177–185.
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