Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel is a calcium permeable, non-selective cation channel, expressed in the sensory neurons and non-neuronal cells of different tissues. Initially ...studied for its role in pain and inflammation, TRPA1 has now functionally involved in multiple other physiological functions. TRPA1 channel has been extensively studied for modulation by pungent compounds present in the spices and herbs. In the last decade, the role of TRPA1 agonism in body weight reduction, secretion of hunger and satiety hormones, insulin secretion and thermogenesis, has unveiled the potential of the TRPA1 channel to be used as a preventive target to tackle obesity and associated comorbidities including insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. In this review, we summarized the recent findings of TRPA1 based dietary/non-dietary modulation for its role in obesity prevention and therapeutics.
Bioactive dietary constituents activating Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have emerged as promising candidates for the prevention of metabolic disorders.
The present study is an attempt ...to evaluate anti-obesity potential of a dietary TRP-based tri-agonist, combination of sub-effective doses of capsaicin (TRPV1 agonist), menthol (TRPM8 agonist), and cinnamaldehyde (TRPA1 agonist) in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice.
Male C57BL/6 J mice divided into three groups (n = 8), were fed on normal pellet diet (NPD), or high-fat diet (HFD) (60% energy by fat) and HFD + CB (combination of capsaicin 0.4 mg/Kg, menthol 20 mg/Kg, and cinnamaldehyde 2 mg/Kg; p.o) for 12 weeks. Effects on HFD-induced weight gain, biochemical, histological and genomic changes in the WAT, BAT, liver and hypothalamus tissues were studied.
Administration of tri-agonist prevented HFD-induced increase in weight gain, improved altered morphometric parameters, glucose homeostasis, and adipose tissue hypertrophy. Tri-agonist supplementation was found to induce browning of white adipose tissue and promote brown adipose tissue activation. Enhanced glucose utilization and prevention of lipid accumulation and insulin resistance in the liver was observed in mice supplemented with a tri-agonist.
The present work provides evidence that the new approach based on combination of sub-effective doses of TRP channel agonists (TRI-AGONIST) can be employed to develop concept-based functional food for therapeutic and preventive strategies against HFD-associated pathological complications.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age group, but it affects women's health and quality of life across the life course. During different ...stages of life, the PCOS phenotype can change, which requires a personalized diagnostic approach and treatment. With increasing age, the syndrome evolves from a reproductive disease to a more metabolic disorder. Along with various metabolic disturbances like insulin resistance and abnormalities of energy expenditure, PCOS is recognized as a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in later life. The aim of the current review was to conduct a nonsystematic review of published literature and research that has been presented so far regarding menopausal women with PCOS as well as the associated changes in hormone profile, their lipid profile, and various metabolic changes that occur. The current review may also contribute to raise awareness about the risk of hypertension and CVDs in postmenopausal women with PCOS.
Current research demonstrates higher prevalence of mental health related emergency department (ED) presentations in rural areas, despite similar overall prevalence of these conditions in rural and ...metropolitan contexts. This stems from shortages in availability of specialised mental health professionals, greater stigma against mental illness, greater socioeconomic disadvantages, and access to means of self-harm in rural regions. Little is known, however, about the specific characteristics of mental health presentations to rural emergency departments (EDs) in Australia. Additionally, studies have shown that ED staff feel uncomfortable managing mental health presentations to ED due to factors such as lack of confidence and stigma against mental illnesses.
This qualitative study sought to examine ED staff perceptions regarding the management of mental health presentations in a rural Australian ED.
A qualitative study design was used, incorporating semi-structured interviews of current ED staff. Ten interviews were conducted in person or over the phone by two researchers and thematically analysed to draw out key themes from the data.
Staff perceived deficiencies in availability of mental health expertise, de-escalation, and referral pathways as major barriers to effective patient management. These factors contributed to increased retention of mental health patients in ED due to uncertainties regarding their definitive care. Despite acknowledging the value of practical experience with mental health presentations as the best way of increasing clinician confidence, staff expressed a desire for more face-to-face training to better equip them to respond to mental health presentations.
A combination of departmental and hospital-wide issues in conjunction with individual staff attitudes regarding mental health conditions contributes to issues in mental health patient care in this ED. In particular, limited training in mental health and resources available to ED staff affects confidence in managing mental health presentations and contributes to prolonged time to definitive treatment.
To analyze the clinic-pathological profile of patients presenting with mucormycosis infection to a tertiary care center during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. This descriptive ...cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital setting from April 2021 to July 2021 and analysis was carried out to find associations between the stratified data and the extent of the disease involvement based on radiological findings. Statistical tests like percentage, average, chi-square test, etc. were used wherever relevant using software called Minitab13. All the 51 patients had involvement of at least one paranasal sinus. The incidence of previously established risk factors was diabetes (66.67%), history of severe COVID-19 disease (5.88%), raised serum iron levels (1.96%), Acidosis (3.92%), steroid administration (62.75%), oxygen administration (25.49%). Elevated serum urea levels (76.47%), alkalosis in 50.98% and hyperglycemia on multiple occasions (41.17%) were observed. The mean days between start of treatment for COVID-19 and appearance of first symptom suggesting mucormycosis were found to be 27.59 days. Only in 5.88% participants mucormycosis preceded COVID-19 infection detection. The current work finds presence of traditional risk factors and associations in significantly lower frequencies than the reviewed literature. However, blood urea was elevated in three fourths of the participants. Larger scale studies in mucormycosis patients are warranted for finding the role of other risk factors including possible role of elevated blood urea and hyperglycemia in the present era.
The gut barrier – including tight junction proteins (TJPs) and mucus layers, is the first line of defense against physical, chemical or pathogenic incursions. This barrier is compromised in various ...health disorders. Capsaicin, a dietary agonist of Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel, is reported to alleviate the complications of obesity. While it is well known to improve energy expenditure and metabolism, and prevent dysbiosis, the more local effects on the host gut – particularly the gut barrier and mucus system remain elusive. To investigate the effect of capsaicin on the gut barrier and mucus production and to understand the involvement of mucus, bacteria, and TRPV1 in these phenomena, we employed a diet-induced obesity model in C57BL/6 mice, and capsaicin (2 mg/kg/day p.o.) or mucin (1 g/kg/day p.o.) as interventions, for 12 weeks. Parameters like weight gain, glucose homeostasis, TJPs expression, mucus staining, intestinal permeability etc were studied. 16 S rDNA sequencing and in vitro Ca2+ measurement experiments were performed to explore the role of microbiota in the beneficial effects. Mucin feeding reflected several anti-obesity effects produced by capsaicin, suggesting that mucus modulation might play a crucial role in capsaicin-induced anti-obesity effects. 16 S rDNA sequencing and in vitro Ca2+ measurement experiments pointed to TRPV1 modulation by bacteria besides capsaicin. Capsaicin, bacteria and the host mucus system seem to act in a cyclic cascade involving TRPV1, which can be activated by capsaicin and various bacteria. These findings provide new insight into the role of TRPV1 in maintaining a healthy gut environment.
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•Exogenous mucin feeding produced anti-obesity effects similar to capsaicin in mice.•Mucin and capsaicin improved TJP expression, intestinal permeability and gut microbial diversity.•Capsaicin modulated bacterial diversity in vitro, independently of the host.•Probiotic bacteria and butyrate activated TRPV1 in transfected HEK cells. Anti-obesity action of capsaicin is not exclusive to TRPV1 agonism.•Capsaicin’s action as colonic mucus secretagogue plays a crucial part in its anti-obesity benefits.
Introduction: Although there are many desensitizing medications on the market with promising results, their therapeutic advantages are sometimes fleeting or diminished over time since they might be ...gradually destroyed by consistent tooth brushing or ingestion of acidic beverages.
Aim: In this scanning electron microscope study, an initial effort was made to evaluate and compare the dentinal changes that occurred after healthy fluorosed and nonfluorosed teeth were subjected to the application of 1% and 10% nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAP) desensitizing agents.
Materials and Methods: This study included 10 healthy fluorosed teeth and 10 nonfluorosed teeth with ages ranging from 20 to 40 years. Test Group 1 received 1% n-HAP desensitizing agent, whereas test Group 2 received 10% n-HAP formulation. Over 7 days, the dentin samples were brushed twice daily for 2 min. The samples were subsequently exposed to artificial saliva for 1 week. The diameter of the dentinal tubules was measured using ImageJ, and the dentinal tubules were manually counted using Adobe Photoshop CS3.
Results and Discussion: When comparing the quantity and percentage of completely and partially occluded dentinal tubules in teeth treated with 1% and 10% n-HAP desensitizing agents, no statistically significant differences between fluorosed and nonfluorosed teeth were found (P = 0.94). Furthermore, the mean diameter of partially occluded dentinal tubules in fluorosed and nonfluorosed teeth was statistically significant (P = 0.00).
Conclusion: When n-HAP toothpaste was used, dentinal tubules were occluded. Data from this trial and other studies indicate the therapeutic efficacy of the n-HAP dentifrice, suggesting that it could be utilized to reduce dentin hypersensitivity.
Insects adapt to plant protease inhibitors (PIs) present in their diet by differentially regulating multiple digestive proteases. However, mechanisms regulating protease gene expression in insects ...are largely enigmatic. Ingestion of multi-domain recombinant Capsicum annuum protease inhibitor-7 (CanPI-7) arrests growth and development of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Using de novo RNA sequencing and proteomic analysis, we examined the response of H. armigera larvae fed on recombinant CanPI-7 at different time intervals. Here, we present evidence supporting a dynamic transition in H. armigera protease expression on CanPI-7 feeding with general down-regulation of protease genes at early time points (0.5 to 6 h) and significant up-regulation of specific trypsin, chymotrypsin and aminopeptidase genes at later time points (12 to 48 h). Further, coexpression of H. armigera endogenous PIs with several digestive protease genes were apparent. In addition to the differential expression of endogenous H. armigera PIs, we also observed a distinct novel isoform of endogenous PI in CanPI-7 fed H. armigera larvae. Based on present and earlier studies, we propose potential mechanism of protease regulation in H. armigera and subsequent adaptation strategy to cope with anti-nutritional components of plants.
Plasmacytoma of bone is one of the criteria for diagnosing plasma cell myeloma (multiple myeloma). A plasmacytoma involving a frontal bone is unusual, with only few being reported so far. Also, when ...typical clinical presentation is absent, diagnosis is usually not suspected clinicoradiologically. We report a rare case of frontal bone plasmacytoma presenting as a lump over the forehead, the squash cytology of which gave the diagnosis of neoplastic etiology. Thus, squash cytology helped in early and definitive diagnosis in this patient, hastening meticulous diagnostic investigations and appropriate management. With full workup, the final diagnosis of a nonsecretory multiple myeloma was made.
A central feature of human psychology is our pervasive tendency to divide the social world into “us” and “them”. We prefer to associate with those who are similar to us over those who are different, ...preferentially allocate resources to similar others, and hold more positive beliefs about similar others. Here we investigate the developmental origins of these biases, asking if preference for similar others occurs prior to language and extensive exposure to cultural norms. We demonstrate that, like adults, prelinguistic infants prefer those who share even trivial similarities with themselves, and these preferences appear to reflect a cognitive comparison process (“like me”/“not like me”). However, unlike adults, infants do not appear to prefer others with an utterly arbitrary similarity to themselves. Together, these findings suggest that the phenomena of ingroup bias, and enhanced interpersonal attraction toward those who resemble ourselves, may be rooted in an inherent preference for similarity to self, which itself may be enhanced during development by the influence of cultural values.
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