Saccharomyces boulardii modulates oxidative stress and renin angiotensin system attenuating diabetes-induced liver injury in mice.

Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia due to a deficiency in endogenous insulin production, resulting from pancreatic beta cell death. Persistent hyperglycemia leads to enhanced oxidative stress and liver injury. Several studies have evaluated the anti-diabetic and protective effects of probiotic strains in animal models. In the present study, we investigated, through histopathological and biochemical analyses, the effects of eight weeks of administration of Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) yeast on the liver of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic C57BL/6 mice. Our results demonstrated that S. boulardii attenuates hepatocytes hydropic degeneration and hepatic vessels congestion in STZ-induced diabetic mice. The treatment attenuated the oxidative stress in diabetic mice leading to a reduction of carbonylated protein concentration and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, compared to untreated diabetic animals. The results also show the beneficial influence of S. boulardii in regulating the hepatic concentration of renin angiotensin system (RAS) peptides. Therefore, our results demonstrated that S. boulardii administration to STZ-induced diabetic mice reduces oxidative stress and normalizes the concentration of RAS peptides, supporting the hypothesis that this yeast may have a role as a potential adjunctive therapy to attenuate diabetes-induced liver injury.

Evaluation of the masticatory muscle function, physiological sleep variables, and salivary parameters after electromechanical therapeutic approaches in adult patients with Down syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: There are many comorbidities associated with Down syndrome (DS), including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and masticatory muscle alteration. Muscular hypotonia, in particular, of the masticatory and oropharyngeal muscles is one of the main characteristics of individuals with DS, resulting in impairments of speech, swallowing, and mastication in these individuals. In addition, total or partial obstruction of the airways during sleep can occur due to pharyngeal hypotonia, leading to snoring and to OSA. This progressive respiratory disorder is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality in individuals with DS. The aim of this research is to assess the therapeutic effects of surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), the mastication apparatus (MA), and a mandibular advancement oral appliance (OAm) with an embedded thermosensitive microchip on the functions of masticatory muscles (bilateral masseter and temporal muscles), physiological sleep variables, and salivary parameters in adult patients with DS. METHODS: The patients with DS will be randomly selected and divided into three groups (DS-NMES, DS-MA, and DS-OAm) with a minimum of 10 patients in each group. A thermosensitive microchip will be embedded in the OAm to record its compliance. The therapeutic effects on masticatory muscle function will be investigated through electromyography, a caliper, and a force-transducer device; the sleep variables, in turn, will be evaluated by means of polysomnography. The physicochemical and microbiological properties of the saliva will also be analyzed, including the salivary flow, viscosity, buffer capacity, cortisol levels (susceptibility to psychological and/or physical stress), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa levels (risk of aspiration pneumonia) in these patients. The methods determined for this study will be carried out prior to and after 2 months of the recommended therapies. DISCUSSION: The primary outcomes would be the improvement and/or reestablishment of the function of masticatory muscles and the physiological sleep variables in this target public since individuals with DS commonly present generalized muscular hypotonia and dysfunction of the oropharyngeal musculature. As a secondary outcome indicator, the impact of the applied therapies (NMES, MA, and OAm) on the salivary microbiological and physicochemical properties in DS individuals will also be assessed. Furthermore, the compliance of OAm usage will be measured through a thermosensitive microchip. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos, RBR-3qp5np . Registered on 20 February 2018.

Infrared laser photobiomodulation (lambda 830 nm) on bone tissue around dental implants: a Raman spectroscopy and scanning electronic microscopy study in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess, through Raman spectroscopy, the incorporation of calcium hydroxyapatite (CHA; approximately 960 cm(1)), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the bone quality on the healing bone around dental implants after laser photobiomodulation (lambda830 nm). BACKGROUND DATA: Laser photobiomodulation has been successfully used to improve bone quality around dental implants, allowing early wearing of prostheses. METHODS: Fourteen rabbits received a titanium implant on the tibia; eight of them were irradiated with lambda830 nm laser (seven sessions at 48-h intervals, 21.5 J/cm(2) per point, 10 mW, phi approximately 0.0028 cm(2), 86 J per session), and six acted as control. The animals were sacrificed 15, 30, and 45 days after surgery. Specimens were routinely prepared for Raman spectroscopy and SEM. Eight readings were taken on the bone around the implant. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences on the concentration of CHA on irradiated and control specimens at both 30 and 45 days after surgery (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that infrared laser photobiomodulation does improve bone healing, and this may be safely assessed by Raman spectroscopy or SEM.