Effect of Exercise on Acute Senescent Lymphocyte Counts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Highly differentiated, senescent lymphocytes are pro-inflammatory and contribute to age-related systemic inflammation, called inflammageing. There are several reports of acute changes in senescent lymphocyte counts post exercise, which potentially have consequences for systemic inflammation. However, there is little consensus since the studies differ with respect to participants, exercise protocols, cellular markers assessed, and the time point of assessment post exercise. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the impact of exercise on senescent lymphocyte counts in blood immediately, 1 h and 2 h post exercise. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The search was performed in PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane, on January 11, 2021. The 13 studies selected tested aerobic exercise effects, mainly in young men. They assessed the counts of lymphocytes (CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, and NK cells), with the following immune cell marker combinations: KLRG1+, CD57+ (only NK cells), EMRA T cells (CD45RA+CCR7−CD28−CD27−), CD28−CD27−, KLRG1+CD28−, and CD28−. Independent extraction of articles was done by 2 researchers. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval between baseline and post exercise showed significant increase (SMD &#x3e;0.9, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.003) in all types of senescent lymphocytes counts immediately post exercise. At 1 h post exercise, senescent CD4 T cells returned to baseline values (<i>p</i> = 0.74), CD8 T cells were reduced (−0.26 [−0.41; −0.11], <i>p</i> = 0.001), and senescent NK cells were raised (0.62 [0.14; 1.10], <i>p</i> = 0.01) above baseline. By 2 h post exercise, senescent CD4 T cells were reduced (−0.94 [−1.40; −0.48], <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), CD8 T cells remained below baseline (−0.53 [−1.04; −0.009], <i>p</i> = 0.04), and NK cells had returned to baseline values (−0.29 [−0.64; 0.07], <i>p</i> = 0.11). The main determinants of heterogeneity between studies were cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus and the characteristics of exercise protocols. CMV+ individuals had a higher immediate lymphocytosis and 1 h post lymphopenia than CMV− individuals. Exercise performed at higher intensities and shorter durations led to higher magnitude of change in senescent lymphocyte counts at all time-points. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The differing effects of exercise on senescent NK cells and CD4 and CD8 T cells suggest differing susceptibility to factors modulating lymphocyte extravasation such as adrenaline and exercise intensity.

Efficacy of Nutūl-i-Ḥār (Hot Irrigation), a Polyherbal Unani Formulation, in the Treatment of Shaqīqa-i-Muzmin (Chronic Migraine): An Open Single-Arm Exploratory Clinical Trial

Shaqīqa-i-Muzmin (chronic migraine) is a type of migraine that is usually caused by cold humours (bārid akhlāṭ), specifically by phlegm (balgham) and to lesser extent by black bile (sauda). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Nutul-i-Ḥār (hot irrigation) in the treatment of chronic migraine. Nutul (irrigation) therapy is widely and successfully used in diseases of head as described in Unānī system of medicine. This open, single-arm, exploratory clinical study was conducted in 30 patients of chronic migraine selected by convenient sampling method. One litre decoction prepared with 12 g each of Astragalus hamosus L. (Iklilul malik), Matricaria chamomilla L. (Babuna), Artemisia absinthium L. (Afsanteen), Origanum vulgare L. (Marznjosh) and Trigonella foenum graecum L. (Hulba) was poured over painful side of head for 45 minutes on every alternate day for a period of 30 days (15 sittings). The patients, thereafter, were followed untill 90th day of the study for various outcome measures comprising headache intensity, headache frequency, Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), and rescue medication. The reduction in headache frequency, MIDAS score and use of rescue medication was significant (p < 0.001) after the treatment. Reduction in headache intensity at 30th day, 60th day and 90th day was significant as compared with baseline values (p < 0.001) but not statistically significant at 90th day with respect to 60th day (p > 0.05). Statistical analysis was done using parametric (paired t-test) and non-parametric tests (Wilcoxan sign ranked test, Freidman with Dunn’s multiple comparison tests). Hot irrigation with medicated decoction was found effective in the treatment of chronic migraine.

Effects of auriculopalpebral nerve block on ocular parameters in dogs

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two local anesthetics used on auriculopalpebral block on eyelid akinesia, tear production, intraocular pressure (IOP) and tear break-up time (TBUT) in conscious dogs. A blind, randomized, prospective study was conducted to determine the effects of auriculopalpebral block using ropivacaine 0.75% and bupivacaine 0.5% in 12 healthy non-brachycephalic dogs (24 eyes). Threat response and eyelid reflex tests, Schirmer tear test (STT), IOP and tear break-up time were conducted before blockage and at 30, 60, 120, 240 and 360 minutes after application. A difference was observed between the values found at 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes compared to baseline for threat response and eyelid reflex tests in the two groups evaluated, proving eyelid akinesia after blockages. No difference was found for STT, IOP and TBUT between baseline values and post-anesthesia times or between groups. It was possible to conclude that ropivacaine and bupivacaine on auriculopalpebral block in conscious dogs promoted eyelid akinesia for at least 240 minutes, not altering ocular physiological parameters of tear production, intraocular pressure, and tear break-up time after blockages.

Dynamics of Parasympathetic Activity in Violent Incarcerated Offenders Before, During, and in Recovery From An Emotional Inhibition Task

Dynamics of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are hypothesized to play a role in the emergence of interpersonal violence. In the present study, we examined continuous activities of the inhibitory parasympathetic pathway of the ANS through the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD) in 22 male offenders who committed interpersonal violence and 24 matched controls from the general population across three successive phases: resting baseline, while performing an emotional Go/No-Go task, and post-task recovery. Results showed that across the three phases, the offender group presented lower RMSSD at baseline (pFDR = .003; Cohen’s d = -1.11), but similar levels during the task, attributed to a significant increase in their RMSSD level (pFDR = .027, Cohen’s d = -1.26). During recovery, no distinction between the two groups was found, but although both groups showed signs of recovering toward baseline values. These findings suggest that violent incarcerated offenders can flexibly engage parasympathetic resources to meet environmental challenges. This underscores the necessity of considering parasympathetic dynamics and its respective mobilization/flexibility to better understand ANS profiles underlying interpersonal violence and designed more tailored intervention.

The Dynamic Effects of Anchoring on Portfolio Return Volatility; Are there any economic issues in the developing world?

This study aims to see the anchoring effect on portfolio return volatility in the case of KSE-30. Business anomalies such as overreaction and under-reaction are affected by a variety of psychological causes. The use of anchors or baseline values known as the anchoring effect causes market under-reaction and overreaction. This research used nearness to 52-week high and nearness to historical high as proxies for under and over-reaction, respectively, to analyze the psychological causes for under and over-reaction. On the KSE-30, the findings revealed that proximity to the 52-week peak positively predicts future returns, whereas proximity to the historical high negatively predicts future returns. KSE-30 was used for rigorous testing. Similarly, the three macroeconomic variables used as control variables are the exchange rate, inflation rate, and interest rate to provide a more robust model of strong prediction capacity. The findings revealed that proximity to the 52-week maximum and proximity to the historical high and other macroeconomic factors had a forecast capacity of around 62 percent. Similarly, focused on volatility clusters, the GARCH (1, 1) model was used to measure the association between potential and past returns. The results show that there is a first order autoregressive function in the GARCH (1, 1) model. The findings also show that their predictive capacity decreases when the study's individual variables are moved from every day to annual Periods.

Serum Creatinine and Creatine Kinase as an Indicator for Gingival Wound Healing in Rabbits by Supplementation of Pomegranate Seed Extract

Background: Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is an edible fruit that has been described as a medical and therapeutic functional food in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Objective: To investigate the use of serum creatinine (Cr) level and creatine kinase (CK) activity as indicators for gingival wound healing process rate in rabbits, supplemented on pomegranate seed extract (PSE). Patients and Methods: A total of 45 rabbit males were used. They were divided into 3 groups; 5 rabbits as a baseline group that left without a buccal gingival wound. 20 rabbits (5 rabbits per each time interval) as a study group with buccal gingival wound with PSE supplementation, and another 20 rabbits (5 rabbits per each time interval) as a control group with gingival wound without PSE supplementation. A buccal gingival wound was created on the lower right central incisor, and the suture was removed after (7) days. Blood samples were collected for the baseline group and at time intervals; 3 hour, 1, 3, 7 days after creating the wound for both control and study groups to determine serum Cr and serum CK. Results: Serum Cr and CK significantly increased in all time intervals after gingival wounds, in the control group compared with baseline values. Whereas the levels significantly increased in rabbits receiving PSE at intervals of 3 hours, 1 and 3 days after gingival wound, they returned to the baseline values, seven days after gingival wound incision. Conclusion: Serum Cr and CK increase in the buccal gingival wound, while oral supplementation of PSE can decline them to the baseline value after a period of time, therefore these parameters can be used as indicators for gingival wound healing rate. Keywords: Punicagranatum seed extract, gingival wound healing, creatinine, creatine kinase.

Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Egbetua Stream Sediments, South-Western Nigeria

The study area is located in Egbetua area in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, southwestern Nigeria. the aim of the study is to assess the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in sediments from the study area. Ten samples collected from various locations in Egbetua stream were subjected to standard geochemical analysis using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometer model “Minipal 4”. The average concentrations of six elements are V (26.89 ppm), Cr (32.33 ppm), Co (6.13 ppm), Ni (16.10 ppm), Au (21.13 ppm), and Zr (1,285.20 ppm) and they were compared to those of upper continental crust baseline values. V, Cr, Co, and Ni have extremely low concentrations, while Au and Zr have very high concentrations. Moreover, V, Cr, Co, and Ni have average enrichment ratios of 0.28, 0.35, 0.35 and 0.34, respectively, which are < 1 implying their depletion in relation to their average crustal baseline concentrations. On the other hand, Au and Zr are highly enriched in the study area. Au has average geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values of 4.40 indicative of strongly to extremely polluted, while Cr, Co, Ni and Zr have average Igeo values of 10.95, 6.14, 9.98 and 17.34, respectively, indicative of sediments that are extremely polluted. The potentially toxic elements pose very serious environmental geochemical pollution threat in the study area. It is recommended that urgent action should be taken to mitigate and clean the study area of these potentially toxic elements.

Direct comparison of the effects of liraglutide and dulaglutide on the dynamics of scales and markers of hepatic fibrosis

Objective. Comparison of the effects of liraglutide and dulaglutide on the dynamics of scales and markers of hepatic fibrosis.Materials and methods. 35 patients with NAFLD were included in the study and received liraglutide 1.8 mg or dulaglutide 1.5 mg once daily for 6 months.Results. Body weight and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) decreased significantly and comparable after 6 months of treatment in both groups. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels decreased only in the dulaglutide group. The decrease in the AST level in the dulaglutide group was from 31.9 ± 26.8 to 30.8 ± 10.6 U / L (p = 0.04). The dynamics of the risk of fibrosis reached statistical significance only when assessed on the FIB-4 scale in the liraglutide group when comparing the baseline values and values after 6 months of treatment — 1.18 ± 0.51 and 0.97 ± 0.40, respectively (p = 0.022). In the dulaglutide group, there was also an insignificant positive dynamics of 1.31 ± 0.53 and 1.11 ± 0.23 (p = 0.865), which can be explained by the minimal severity of changes at baseline.Conclusions. The study demonstrated comparable effects of liraglutide and dulaglutide on metabolic parameters and, at the same time, the advantage of liraglutide in influencing the dynamics of the risk of fibrosis, assessed on the FIB-4 scale. To unequivocally confirm the benefits of liraglutide in the treatment of patients with NAFLD, randomized prospective comparative studies of various aGPP1 on large samples of patients with different stages of NAFLD are needed.

Fast quantification of extracellular vesicles levels in early breast cancer patients by Single Molecule Detection Array (SiMoA)

Purpose Preliminary reports suggest that extracellular vesicles (EVs) might be a promising biomarker for breast cancer (BC). However, the quantification of plasmatic levels of EVs is a complex task. To overcome these limitations, we developed a new, fast, and easy to use assay for the quantification of EVs directly in plasma based on the use of Single-Molecule Array (SiMoA). Methods By using SiMoA to identify CD9+/CD63+ EVs, we analyzed plasma samples of 181 subjects (95 BC and 86 healthy controls, HC). A calibration curve, made of a serial dilution of lyophilized standards from human plasma, was used in each run to ensure the obtainment of quantitative results from the assay. In a subgroup of patients, EVs concentrations were estimated in plasma before and after 30 days from cancer surgery. Additional information on the size of EVs were also acquired using a Nanosight system to obtain a clearer understanding of the mechanism underlying the releases of EVs associated with the presence of cancer. Results The measured levels of EVs resulted significantly higher in BC patients (median values 1179.1 ng/µl vs 613.0 ng/µl, p < 0.0001). ROC curve was used to define the optimal cut-off level of the test at 1034.5 ng/µl with an AUC of 0.75 [95% CI 0.68–0.82]. EVs plasmatic concentrations significantly decreased after cancer surgery compared to baseline values (p = 0.014). No correlation was found between EVs concentration and clinical features of BC. Conclusion SiMoA assay allows plasmatic EVs levels detection directly without any prior processing. EVs levels are significantly higher in BC patients and significantly decreases after cancer surgery.

Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on pulmonary functions in healthy adults: a randomized controlled pilot study

Objectives The fact that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various pulmonary diseases is supported by the beneficial effect of antioxidants. It is also well known that an altered oxidant-antioxidant balance after the age of 35 years increases the susceptibility to develop obstructive lung diseases later in life. Given this, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of antioxidant supplementation on lung functions in healthy adults after the age of 35 years. Methods Persons of age ≥35 years (n=45) were randomized into three arms (each comprising 15 participants) to receive either no intervention (NI arm), ascorbic acid 250 mg daily (AA250 arm), or ascorbic acid 500 mg daily (AA500 arm) for 6 weeks. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured at baseline and 6 weeks. Persons of age group (20–30 years) were also enrolled in the study to compare their lung functions and cardiovascular parameters at baseline with those ≥35 years of age. All the adverse events experienced by participants were recorded. Results Baseline pulmonary functions were found to be comparable among the three study arms and compared to ≥35 years age group, these parameters were found to be better in the younger age group (20–30 years). Most of the pulmonary functions were comparable among the three study arms at 6 weeks. A significant improvement in PEF and % predicted PEF was noted in AA250 arm when compared to baseline values (p=0.049 and 0.026, respectively) and in participants with normal pulmonary functions when compared to those with reduced functions at baseline (p=0.059 and p=0.037). Conclusions Although ascorbic acid did not affect most of the pulmonary functions in healthy adults, it improved PEF and % predicted PEF at a daily dose of 250 mg. In this regard, it was found effective in individuals with normal pulmonary indices at baseline.