Acute Administration of Calafate (Berberis microphylla) Extract Induces the Expression of Thermogenic Markers and Modulates Gut Microbiota in Mice Fed a High-Fat Chow Diet.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity, characterized by excess adipose tissue, is a major public health problem worldwide. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and beige adipose tissue participate in thermogenesis through uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Polyphenols including those from Calafate (a native polyphenol-rich Patagonian berry), are considered as potential anti-obesity compounds due to their pro-thermogenic characteristics. However, polyphenols are mainly metabolized by the gut microbiota (GM) that may influence their bioactivity and bioavailability. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of dietary administration with a Calafate polyphenol-rich extract on thermogenic activity of BAT and beige adipose tissue and GM composition. METHODS: Eight-week-old C57BL6 mice (n = 30) were divided into 4 groups to receive for 24 weeks a control diet (C), a high-fat diet alone (HF), or high-fat diet supplemented with Calafate extract (HFC) or the same high-fat diet supplemented with Calafate extract but treated with antibiotics (HFCAB) from week 19-20. Administration with Calafate extract (50 mg/kg per day) was carried out for 3 weeks from week 21-23 in the HFC and HFCAB groups. After euthanasia, gene expression of thermogenic markers was analyzed in BAT and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT). Transmission electron microscopy was performed to assess mitochondrial morphology and cristae density in BAT. GM diversity and composition were characterized by deep sequencing with the MiSeq Illumina platform. RESULTS: Calafate extract administration had no effect on weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet. However, it prevented alterations in mitochondrial cristae induced by HFD and increased Dio2 expression in BAT and iWAT. The intervention also influenced the GM composition, preventing changes in specific bacterial taxa induced by the high-fat diet. However, the antibiotic treatment prevented in part these effects, suggesting the implications of GM. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the acute administration of a Calafate extract modulates the expression of thermogenic markers, prevents alterations in mitochondrial cristae and intestinal microbiota in preclinical models. The study highlights the complex interaction between polyphenols, thermogenesis, and the GM, providing valuable insights into their potential roles in the treatment of obesity-related metabolic diseases.

Análisis bibliométrico: la terapia de espejo como estrategia de intervención desde la terapia ocupacional en el ámbito clínico / Bibliometric Analysis: Mirror Therapy as an Occupational Therapy Intervention Strategy in the Clinical Setting / Análise bibliométrica: a terapia de espelho como estratégia de intervenção desde terapia ocupacional no âmbito clínic

Objetivo: Determinar la evidencia científica, a nivel nacional e internacional, sobre el uso de la terapia de espejo como herramienta de intervención, desde terapia ocupacional, en el área clínica; esto con el propósito de ofrecer soporte teórico para la implementación de esta estrategia en la práctica profesional. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo donde se utilizó como estrategia de búsqueda descriptores de ciencias de la salud (DECS), tales como 'neuronas en espejo', 'terapia ocupacional', 'rehabilitación física' e 'imaginería motora'. Mediante el uso del boleano and se realizaron combinaciones en cinco bases de datos: Embase, Ebsco, OTseeker Science Direct y Medline. Los análisis fueron realizados mediante el establecimiento de frecuencias para variables como revista, país, tipo de estudio y años de publicación. Conclusiones: Dentro del análisis de la evidencia se encontró que la terapia de espejo es una modalidad de intervención, recientemente utilizada por diferentes profesiones de rehabilitación. A partir de 2004 se observa un incremento en la generación de evidencia científica de alto impacto sobre el tema, debido a la efectivde salud secundarias a la enfermedad cerebrovascular (ECV), la amputación de miembros, los síndromes dolorosos crónicos y la rehabilitación posquirúrgica. Durante el periodo analizado, se evidenció un incremento en la producción académica de alto nivel de evidencia. El 35,7 % de las publicaciones analizadas corresponden a ensayos clínicos controlados aleatorizados (ECCA) y el 42,9 % corresponden a revisiones sistemáticas. El uso de la terapia de espejo en terapia ocupacional es una modalidad de intervención que facilita procesos de rehabilitación funcional, promueve la independencia en la ejecución de actividades de la vida diaria y facilita procesos de participación social y adaptación al entorno.

Objective: To determine the national and international scientific evidence regarding the use of mirror therapy, as an occupational therapy intervention tool in the clinical setting, in order to acquire knowledge and implement this strategy in professional practice. Materials and methods: A descriptive study was conducted in which the research strategy was held through medical subject headings (MeSH), such as "mirror neuron", "occupational therapy", "physical rehabilitation" and "motor imagery". Through the use of the bolean and combinations in five different databases were performed: Embase, Ebsco, OTseeker, Science Direct and Medline. The analysis was elaborated by establishing frequencies of different variables such as journal, country, study type and publishing year. Conclusions: In the evidence analysis it was found that mirror therapy is an intervention modality recently used by different rehabilitation professionals. Since 2004, an increase in the generation of high impact scientific evidence about this subject has been recognized, due in part to the reported effectiveness in clinical practices, mainly the treatment of health conditions secondary to stroke, limb amputations, chronic pain syndromes, and post-surgical rehabilitation. During the reviewed period, an increase in high level academic evidence was observed: 35.7 % of the analyzed publications correspond to randomized controlled trials and 42.9 % are systematic reviews. The use of mirror therapy in occupational therapy is an intervention modality that facilitates functional rehabilitation processes, promotes independence in performing activities of daily living (ADL) and allows social participation and environment adaptation processes to happen.

Objetivo: Determinar a evidência científica no nível nacional e internacional sobre o uso da terapia de espelho, como ferramenta de intervenção desde terapia ocupacional na área clínica, com o propósito de oferecer suporte teórico para a implementação desta estratégia na prática profissional. Materiais e métodos: realizou-se um estudo descritivo onde se utilizou como estratégia de busca descritores de ciências da saúde (DeCS) tais como "neurônios em espelho", "terapia ocupacional", "reabilitação física" e "imagética motora". Mediante o uso do booleano and se realizaram combinações em cinco bases de dados: Embase, Ebsco, OT seeker Science Direct y Medline. As análises foram realizadas mediante o estabelecimento de frequências para variáveis como revista, país, tipo de estudo e anos de publicação. Conclusões: dentro da análise da evidência encontrou-se que a terapia de espelho é uma modalidade de intervenção recentemente utilizada por diferentes profissões de reabilitação. A partir do ano 2004 se observa um incremento a geração de evidência científica de alto impacto sobre o tema, devido à efetividade reportada na prática clínica, principalmente no tratamento de condições de saúde secundárias à doença cerebrovascular (ECV), amputação de membros, síndromes dolorosas crónicas, e reabilitação pós-cirúrgica. Durante o período analisado, evidenciou-se um incremento na produção académica de alto nível de evidência. O 35,7% das publicações analisadas correspondem a ensaios clínicos controlados aleatorizados (ECCA) e 42,9% correspondem a revisões sistemáticas. O uso da terapia de espelho em terapia ocupacional, é uma modalidade de intervenção que facilita processos de reabilitação funcional, promove a independência na execução de atividades da vida diária e facilita processos de participação social e adaptação ao entorno.