Botulinum Toxin in Facial Aesthetics Affects the Emotion Process: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Ana Carolina de Figueiredo Costa(Ana Carolina de Figueiredo Costa ),Everton Cavalcante da Silva(Everton Cavalcante da Silva ),Delane Viana Gondim(Delane Viana Gondim ) 대한정신약물학회 2022 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.20 No.4

This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effects of the btulinum toxin-A (BT-A) in patiets with mood disorders. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and LILACS were searched without restrictions up to July 2022. The PICOS strategy was used for the selection of studies and risk-of-bias assessment was performed using Cochrane’s tool for RCTs. RCTs were included if they compared BT-A treatment on facial muscles in patients with mood disorders to placebo. After assessment of the full texts, seven studies were selected. Five studies had low risk of bias for the generation of random sequence and blinding of participants and professional domains. A total of four studies showed a low risk of bias for the allocation concealment and blinding of the evaluation of the domain results. The domain of selective reports showed a low risk of bias in all included studies. However, four studies presented a high risk of bias for the domain of other biases. The meta-analysis was based on the mean difference or standardized mean difference between the BT-A and placebo groups for each selected trial and revealed that the BT-A group showed a significant improvement in the symptoms of depression when compared to placebo. This study revealed that the BT-A application into mimic muscles of the upper third of the face improves the mood disorders, but it was not possible to guarantee whether the aesthetic benefits can contribute to reducing the severity of the depressive state.

Effects of Opuntia ficus-indica lectin on feeding, survival, and gut enzymes of maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais

Carolina de Santana Souza,Thamara Figueiredo Procopio,Bernardo do Rego Belmonte,Patrıcia Maria Guedes Paiva,Lidiane Pereira de Albuquerque,Emmanuel Viana Pontual,Thiago Henrique Napoleao 한국응용생명화학회 2018 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.61 No.3

In this study, the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica lectin (OfiL) on the survival and nutritional parameters of Sitophilus zeamais (maize weevil) adults were evaluated. OfiL was incorporated into the artificial diets at concentrations of 15, 60, and 95 mg/g (mg of lectin per g of wheat flour). Mortality was evaluated after 7 and 15 days, and the amount of food ingested and the weight of the insects were determined on the 7th day. In addition, the in vitro effects of OfiL on the gut enzymes of the insect were investigated. The ingestion of OfiL did not show any significant difference in the mortality rates compared to control. The relative consumption rate was also similar to that of the control, and no deterrent effect was detected. However, the values of the relative biomass variation and the efficiency of ingested food conversion were negative in the treatments at 60 and 95 mg/g, showing that lectin ingestion resulted in weight loss. OfiL exhibited a stimulatory effect on the protease activity from S. zeamais gut extract, which may cause uncontrolled hydrolysis of proteins in the digestive tract. This lectin did not promote significant alteration in the amylase activity. In conclusion, OfiL was able to exert anti-nutritional effects without causing a deterrent effect.

Metabolic Effects of Sulforaphane Oral Treatment in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats

Carolina Guerini de Souza,José Augusto Sattler,Adriano Martimbianco de Assis,Anderson Rech,Marcos Luiz Santos Perry 한국식품영양과학회 2012 Journal of medicinal food Vol.15 No.9

Diabetes has reached epidemic levels in the whole world, and the use of bioactive compounds that may have the capacity to prevent and treat diabetes is of great interest. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a compound which is found in cruciferous vegetables and that acts as both a potent antioxidant and regulator of gene expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of SFN in diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Male Wistar rats were gavaged with water or 0.1, 0.25, or 0.5 mg/kg of SFN before an injection of STZ (80 mg/kg). Animals treated with SFN showed fasting glycemia, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic glycogen concentrations, similar to the control group (nondiabetic), and different from the diabetic group. Diabetic animals also presented elevated levels of serum triacylglycerols (TAG), urea, and creatinine, and all SFN doses were able to reverse these alterations. However, the same doses of SFN accentuated alterations in total cholesterol, alanine, and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and had no effect on hepatic TAG, HDL cholesterol, and uptake of 2-deoxy glucose in adipose tissue and soleum muscle. Based on the effects inferred by the present data, SFN presented some positive effects against diabetes induction, although the impairment of hepatic function and cholesterol levels were aggravated after treatment with the compound.

An old Soviet response and a revolutionary context: Dealing with the national question in the committees of the USSR Congress of People’s Deputies (1989–1991)

Carolina de Stefano 한양대학교 아태지역연구센터 2020 Journal of Eurasian Studies Vol.11 No.1

The article deals with the parliamentary representation of ethnic/national interests and demands in the crisis years between 1989 and 1991, culminating in the collapse of the Soviet Union. It focuses primarily on the proliferation of committees dealing with ethnonational questions after the creation of the USSR Congress of People’s Deputies, a parliamentary body that existed from 1989 until 1991. The article shows that the new parliamentary architecture was not only the inevitable consequence of social and national mobilization but also an expression of the Union center’s response to the ongoing national crisis. Building mostly upon unpublished archival material, the article focuses on debates in 1989–1991 within the Committee of Nationalities Affairs and Interethnic Issues of the USSR Supreme Soviet. In so doing, it identifies some of the dilemmas the committee faced and some of the changes in its functioning brought about glasnost and perestroika. The article makes two key contributions. First, it helps to shed much-needed light on Soviet nationalities policy during perestroika. Second, the analysis of debates internal to parliamentary committees in those critical years contributes to the existing literature on Soviet and Russian parliamentarism and institutional transformation during the transition from the USSR to the Russian Federation.

Yacon-Based Product in the Modulation of Intestinal Constipation

Moˆnica de Souza Lima Sant’Anna,Vivian Carolina Rodrigues,Tatiane Ferreira Arau´jo,Taˆnia Toledo de Oliveira,Maria do Carmo Gouveia Peluzio,Ce´lia Lu´cia de Luces Fortes Ferreira 한국식품영양과학회 2015 Journal of medicinal food Vol.18 No.9

This study aimed to assess the effects of a yacon-based product (YBP) on constipation in adults, including the elderly. Forty-eight individuals were recruited and divided into equal intervention groups named the test and control groups. The YBP (test) and the control (maltodextrin) were dissolved in commercial orange juice. The volunteers for the YBP/test group consumed, on a daily basis, orange juice containing 10 g fructooligosaccharide (FOS)/inulin per day. The control group consumed, on a daily basis, orange juice containing 25 g of maltodextrin. The study had a span of 30 days. We evaluated the participants’ frequency of evacuation, consistency of the feces, constipation score, abdominal symptoms (flatulence, pain, and abdominal strain), and effects upon the microbiota, pH, lactate, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) of the feces. The study showed an increased number of evacuations after the consumption of the YBP as well as an improvement in the consistency of the feces and a reduction in the constipation score. After 30 days of intervention, the group that consumed the YBP showed higher counts of Bifidobacterium, lower Clostridium and enterobacteria counts, and lower fecal pH. In relation to SCFAs, no significant change was found after the intervention. However, the lactate concentration was higher in the test group when compared to the post-treatment control group. The YBP was effective in improving constipation symptoms; not only was its functional characteristic in reducing constipation symptoms evident but it also demonstrated usefulness as a potential therapy.

Effects of Opuntia ficus-indica lectin on feeding, survival, and gut enzymes of maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais

Souza, Carolina de Santana,Procopio, Thamara Figueiredo,Belmonte, Bernardo do Rego,Paiva, Patricia Maria Guedes,de Albuquerque, Lidiane Pereira,Pontual, Emmanuel Viana,Napoleao, Thiago Henrique The Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistr 2018 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.61 No.3

In this study, the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica lectin (OfiL) on the survival and nutritional parameters of Sitophilus zeamais (maize weevil) adults were evaluated. OfiL was incorporated into the artificial diets at concentrations of 15, 60, and 95 mg/g (mg of lectin per g of wheat flour). Mortality was evaluated after 7 and 15 days, and the amount of food ingested and the weight of the insects were determined on the 7th day. In addition, the in vitro effects of OfiL on the gut enzymes of the insect were investigated. The ingestion of OfiL did not show any significant difference in the mortality rates compared to control. The relative consumption rate was also similar to that of the control, and no deterrent effect was detected. However, the values of the relative biomass variation and the efficiency of ingested food conversion were negative in the treatments at 60 and 95 mg/g, showing that lectin ingestion resulted in weight loss. OfiL exhibited a stimulatory effect on the protease activity from S. zeamais gut extract, which may cause uncontrolled hydrolysis of proteins in the digestive tract. This lectin did not promote significant alteration in the amylase activity. In conclusion, OfiL was able to exert anti-nutritional effects without causing a deterrent effect.

Perioperative Analgesic Efficacy of Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture for Canine Mastectomy Combined with Ovariohysterectomy: a Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Bacarin Carolina de Carvalho,Nicácio Gabriel Montoro,Cerazo Letícia Maria de Lima,Peruchi Luíza Guimarães,Cassu Renata Navarro 사단법인약침학회 2022 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.15 No.2

Background: Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) is a therapy based on the stimulation of points on the scalp and applied to treat different states of pain. Objectives: To investigate the analgesic efficacy of YNSA for dogs undergoing radical unilateral mastectomy with ovariohysterectomy. Methods: Twenty-four dogs were randomly distributed into two treatments (n = 12, per group): bilateral stimulation of basic B, D, and E points (YNSA group) and no application of acupuncture (control group). All dogs were sedated with morphine; anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. Fentanyl was intraoperatively administered to control cardiovascular responses to surgical stimulation. Postoperative pain was assessed using an interactive visual analog scale (IVAS) and the short-form of the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale (CMPS-SF). Morphine was administered as rescue analgesia. Data were analyzed using t-tests, Fisher’s exact test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Friedman test (p < 0.05). Results: Intraoperatively, the number of dogs requiring supplemental analgesic and the number of doses of fentanyl were lower in the YNSA group than in the control group (p = 0.027-0.034). The IVAS pain scores recorded from 0.5 h to 1 h post-extubation in the YNSA group were lower than those in the control group (p = 0.021-0.023). Postoperative rescue analgesia and CMPS-SF pain scores did not differ between the groups. Conclusion: YNSA decreases intraoperative fentanyl requirements and provides minimal postoperative analgesic benefits to dogs undergoing unilateral mastectomy with ovariohysterectomy.

Effects of the Intake of Sesame Seeds (Sesamum indicum L.) and Derivatives on Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review

Luciana de Almeida Vittori Gouveia,Carolina Alves Cardoso,Glaucia Maria Moraes de Oliveira,Glorimar Rosa,Annie Seixas Bello Moreira 한국식품영양과학회 2016 Journal of medicinal food Vol.19 No.4

This study is aimed at assessing the scientific evidence on the effect of the intake of sesame seeds and derivatives on oxidative stress of individuals with systemic hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. A systematic review was conducted in seven databases (Lilacs, PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Trip Database, and Scielo) from September 2013 to January 2014. Clinical trials on the intake of sesame seeds and derivatives assessing the outcomes related to oxidative stress were retrieved. The risk of bias in the results of the studies selected was assessed according to the criteria of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. This review included seven clinical trials showing that the intake of sesame resulted in the increase in enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants, as well as in a reduction in oxidative stress markers. This was mainly observed with the use of sesame oil for hypertensive individuals during 2 months and black sesame meal capsules for prehypertensive individuals during four weeks. Most studies involved a small number of participants, sample size being considered a limiting factor for this review. In addition, a significant heterogeneity was observed in the type of population studied and the type of sesame and derivatives used, as well as their amount. The follow-up time was considered a limiting factor, because it varied in the different studies. The high risk of randomization and blinding biases found in the studies assessed determines lower scientific evidence of the results. Despite the limitations and biases identified in this systematic review, sesame showed relevant effects on oxidative stress, suggesting it could increase the antioxidant capacity.

The Effects of Supplementing Hancornia speciosa (Mangaba) on Bowel Motility and Inflammatory Profile of Wistar Rats

Vitoria Helena de Oliveira Teixeira Reis,Cynthia Monteiro Santee,Paulo Se´rgio Loubet Filho,Thayna´ Gil Santos,Carolina Amianti,Wander Fernando de Oliveira Filiu,Bruna Paola Murino Rafacho,Luciane Can 한국식품영양과학회 2019 Journal of medicinal food Vol.22 No.12

The prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders, such as constipation, has been increasing. Genetic factors and lifestyle are some of the etiologies of this issue, affecting the health of the population. Natural products have properties that contribute to health maintenance and health promotion, including reduction of the inflammatory process. Hancornia speciosa, popularly known as mangaba, is an abundant and native fruit in the Brazilian Cerrado, commercialized for culinary purposes and used because of its pharmacological properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate if the supplementation of different concentrations of mangaba pulp can improve intestinal motility and bowel health in Wistar rats. Forty male rats were divided into five groups. The experiment lasted 14 days and the groups were tested with water, industrialized laxative jelly made from tamarind as medication, or mangaba at 5, 10, and 15 mL/kg of body weight. Food intake, weight gain, ion balance, intestinal motility, and histopathological analysis of the small intestine, large intestine, and liver were evaluated. Supplementation of mangaba pulp at its highest concentration (15 mL/kg body weight) caused a 15% increase in the distance traveled by the charcoal meal, and a decrease in serum magnesium levels and white cells in both the small and large intestines. The results suggest that mangaba pulp presents laxative, anti-inflammatory properties and that its consumption is beneficial and should be encouraged.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation of PC5 and PC6 Acupoints Increases Sympathovagal Balance but Not Oxidative Stress in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Fernando Gomes de Jesus,Alice Pereira Duque,Carole Santana Massolar,Giselle Pinto de Faria Lopes,Ana Carolina de Azevedo Carvalho,Mauro Felippe Felix Mediano,Luiz Fernando Rodrigues Junior 사단법인약침학회 2021 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.14 No.5

Background: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) improves autonomic balance and reduces oxidative stress in subjects with chronic diseases, that decreases the risk of low-grade chronic inflammatory diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. However, these beneficial effects have never been demonstrated in healthy subjects. Objectives: To evaluate the acute effects of TEAS on autonomic balance and oxidative stress of healthy subjects. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with male healthy subjects (18-30 years old), randomly allocated to control (no intervention; n = 14), placebo (placebo intervention; n = 14) and TEAS group (at PC5 and PC6 acupoints; n = 13). The protocol consisted of accommodation (20 min), intervention (40 min), and recovery (30 min) periods. The acute effects of TEAS on hemodynamics were studied through measurements of heart rate, blood pressure and double product; on the autonomic nervous system by assessing heart rate variability; and on oxidative stress by quantifying reactive oxygen species in saliva samples, collected at the end of each period. Results: TEAS increased heart rate and double-product compared to control and placebo groups (p < 0.01). Moreover, TEAS increased sympathetic and reduced parasympathetic tonus, increasing the sympathovagal balance compared to the control and placebo groups. However, TEAS exerted no effect on oxidative stress in saliva samples. Conclusion: In healthy subjects, TEAS at PC5 and PC6 acupoints acutely improved autonomic balance, increasing sympathetic and reducing parasympathetic tonus, reflecting little improvement on hemodynamic responses. Whether it could be used as a cardioprotective strategy remains uncertain since it exerted no effect on oxidative stress.