In vitro evaluation of the neuroprotective potential of Olea dioica against Aβ peptide-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a type of neurodegenerative disease, associated with the hastening of ROS, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and amyloid β peptides plaques in the brain. The limitations and side effects of existing synthetic drugs incline toward natural sources. In the present communication active principles of methanolic extract of Olea dioica Roxb, leaves are explored as an antioxidant, AChE inhibitor, and anti-amyloidogenic. Furthermore, neuroprotection against the amyloid beta-peptide has been studied. The bioactive principles were identified by GC-MS and LC-MS and further subjected to antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP) and neuroprotection (AChE inhibition, ThT binding, and MTT assay, DCFH-DA and lipid peroxidation (LPO) assay using neuroblastoma (SHSY-5Y) cell lines) assays. Methanolic extract of O. dioica Roxb, leaves was found to contain polyphenols and flavonoids. In vitro assays exhibited potential antioxidant and anti-AChE (˃50%) activities. ThT binding assay indicated protection against amyloid-beta aggregation. MTT assay, Aβ1-40 (10 µM) with extract increase the cell viability (˃50%) and showed significant cytotoxicity to SHSY-5Y cells. ROS level (˃25%) significantly decreased in the Aβ1-40 (10 µM) + extract (15 and 20 μM/mL) and LPO assay (˃50%) suggesting prevention of cell damage. Results advocate that O. dioica leaves are a good source of antioxidants, anti-AChE, and anti-amyloidogenic compounds which may be further evaluated as a natural medicine for the treatment of AD.

Consequences of the exposome to gestational diabetes mellitus

The exposome is the cumulative measure of environmental influences and associated biological responses throughout the lifespan, including those from the environment, diet, behaviour, and endogenous processes. The exposome concept and the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the United Nations are the basis for understanding the aetiology and consequences of non-communicable diseases, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Pregnancy may be developed in an environment with adverse factors part of the immediate internal medium for fetus development and the external medium to which the pregnant woman is exposed. The placenta is the interface between maternal and fetal compartments and acts as a protective barrier or easing agent to transfer exposome from mother to fetus. Under and over-nutrition in utero, exposure to adverse environmental pollutants such as heavy metals, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pesticides, drugs, pharmaceuticals, lifestyle, air pollutants, and tobacco smoke plays a determinant role in the development of GDM. This phenomenon is worsened by metabolic stress postnatally, such as obesity which increases the risk of GDM and other diseases. Clinical risk factors for GDM development include its aetiology. It is proposed that knowledge-based interventions to change the potential interdependent ecto-exposome and endo-exposome could avoid the occurrence and consequences of GDM.

Identification of three coagulins as MMP inhibitors from Withania coagulans Dunal fruits

Introduction and Aim: W. coagulans Dunal has been reported to contain an array of bioactive compounds. The present investigation was carried out to investigate MMP inhibitory molecules from W. coagulans Dunal fruit.   Materials and Methods: Isolation of active principle compounds and anti-ChC activity from methanol extract of W. coagulans Dunal fruit were carried out using chromatographic techniques and dot-blot assay on X-ray film. Active principle compounds were identified by ESI MS, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The Bioefficacy of compounds was assessed by in vitro solution assay and gelatin zymography.   Results: Dot blot assay of methanol extract of W. coagulans Dunal fruit exhibited inhibitory activity against ChC (Clostridium histolyticum collagenase). Bioactivity assay guided chromatographic fractionation revealed the presence of five compounds out of which three were tentatively identified as Coagulin-H, Coagulin-L, and Coagulin-O by ESI MS, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. In vitro solution assay revealed Coagulin-H exhibits the highest MMP-2 and MMP-9  inhibitory activity. Coagulin-L and Coagulin-O exhibit 80.57 ± 2.1 % and 70.96 ± 2.8 % inhibitor activities against MMP-2 and 78.94 ± 3.6% and 63.15 ± 3.8% inhibitor activities against MMP-9 at 150 µg/ml respectively. In gel inhibition assay by gelatin zymography revealed that crude extracted residue of fruit exhibits dose-dependent inhibitory potential against MMPs of NIH3T3 fibroblast and HeLa cervical cells.   Conclusion: Our results advocate the anti-MMP potential of purified Coagulin-H, Coagulin-L, and Coagulin-O of W. coagulans Dunal fruits. These bioactive principles could be further investigated in detail for anti-cancer properties.

Viability of ex-vivo myography as a diagnostic tool for rectus abdominis muscle electrical activity collected at Cesarean section within a diamater cohort study

Background

Ex-vivo myography enables the assessment of muscle electrical activity response. This study explored the viability of determining the physiological responses in muscles without tendon, as rectus abdominis muscle (RAM), through ex-vivo myography to assess its potential as a diagnostic tool.

Results

All tested RAM samples (five different samples) show patterns of electrical activity. A positive response was observed in 100% of the programmed stimulation. RAM 3 showed greater weight (0.47 g), length (1.66 cm), and width (0.77 cm) compared to RAM 1, RAM 2, RAM 4 and RAM 5 with more sustained electrical activity over time, a higher percentage of fatigue was analyzed at half the time of the electrical activity. The order of electrical activity (Mn) was RAM 3 > RAM 5 > RAM 1 > RAM 4 > RAM 2. No electrical activity was recorded in the Sham group.

Conclusions

This study shows that it is feasible to assess the physiological responses of striated muscle without tendon as RAM, obtained at C-section, under ex vivo myography. These results could be recorded, properly analyzed, and demonstrated its potential as a diagnostic tool for rectus abdominis muscle electrical activity.

Reversal of diabetic-induced myopathy by swimming exercise in pregnant rats: a translational intervention study

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) plus rectus abdominis muscle (RAM) myopathy predicts long-term urinary incontinence (UI). Atrophic and stiff RAM are characteristics of diabetes-induced myopathy (DiM) in pregnant rats. This study aimed to determine whether swimming exercise (SE) has a therapeutic effect in mild hyperglycemic pregnant rats model. We hypothesized that SE training might help to reverse RAM DiM. Mild hyperglycemic pregnant rats model was obtained by a unique subcutaneous injection of 100 mg/kg streptozotocin (diabetic group) or citrate buffer (non-diabetic group) on the first day of life in Wistar female newborns. At 90 days of life, the rats are mated and randomly allocated to remain sedentary or subjected to a SE protocol. The SE protocol started at gestational day 0 and consisted of 60 min/day for 6 days/week in a period of 20 days in a swim tunnel. On day 21, rats were sacrificed, and RAM was collected and studied by picrosirius red, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. The SE protocol increased the fiber area and diameter, and the slow-twitch and fast-twitch fiber area and diameter in the diabetic exercised group, a finding was also seen in control sedentary animals. There was a decreased type I collagen but not type III collagen area and showed a similar type I/type III ratio compared with the control sedentary group. In conclusion, SE during pregnancy reversed the RAM DiM in pregnant rats. These findings may be a potential protocol to consider in patients with RAM damage caused by GDM.

Impact of gestational diabetes on pelvic floor: A prospective cohort study with three-dimensional ultrasound during two-time points in pregnancy

AIM

To evaluate the pelvic floor (PF) biometry using three-dimensional ultrasound (US) at two-time points of gestational in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

A prospective cohort study conducted at the Perinatal Diabetes Research Center including 44 pregnant women with GDM and 66 pregnant women without GDM at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation. Three-dimensional transperineal US was performed at 24 to 28 and 34 to 38 weeks of gestation in the lithotomy position at rest. The axial plane of the minimal Levator hiatal dimensions was used to determine Levator ani muscle and Hiatal area (HA) biometry at 24 to 28 and 34 to 38 weeks of gestation.

RESULTS

Of the 110 pregnant women, 100 (90.9%) completed the follow-up at 34 to 38 weeks of gestation. The evaluation by US showed a negative biometric change between the two-time points, during pregnancy in women with GDM; in the HA (β coefficient: estimative of effect in biometric progression according to GDM diagnosis, using the non-GDM group as reference = -6.76; P = .020), anteroposterior diameter (β = -5.07; P = .019), and Levator ani thickness (β = -12.34; P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women with GDM had a significantly lower than expected percentage of changes in biometry of Levator ani thickness and HA from 24 to 28 to 34 to 38 weeks of gestation when compared with the group of pregnant women without GDM. GDM alters the morphology of PF structures assessed by three-dimension US. This reported complication may be implicated in adverse birth outcomes and may play a role in the development of PF dysfunction.

Deleterious effects of gestational diabetes mellitus on the characteristics of the rectus abdominis muscle associated with pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence

AIMS

To evaluate the effects of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on the structural characteristics of the rectus abdominis muscle (RAM) and its indirect effects on pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence (PSUI).

METHODS

A total of 92 pregnant women were divided into four groups, according to their clinical conditions: non-GDM continent, non-GDM associated PSUI, GDM continent and GDM associated PSUI. The muscle morphometry (histochemistry and immunohistochemistry) for the fiber types and collagen fiber distribution, the ultrastructural analysis (transmission electron microscopy), the protein expression of fiber types and calcium signaling (Western blotting), and the content of types I and III collagen fiber (ELISA) in RAM collected at delivery were assessed.

RESULTS

The GDM groups presented a significantly increased number of slow fibers and slow-twitch oxidative fiber expression; decreased fiber area, number of fast fibers, and area of collagen; an increase in central nuclei; ultrastructural alterations with focal lesion areas such as myeloid structures, sarcomere disorganization, and mitochondrial alteration. The PSUI groups presented a considerable decrease in types I and III collagen contents and the localization of collagen fiber.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data reveal that GDM causes morphological, biochemical and physiological changes in the RAM, and this might predispose women to PSUI.

Alterations in the structural characteristics of rectus abdominis muscles caused by diabetes and pregnancy: A comparative study of the rat model and women

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

In the present study, we compared the effect of diabetic pregnancy on the rectus abdominis muscle (RAM) in humans and rats. We hypothesized that our animal model could provide valuable information about alterations in the RAM of women with Gestational Diabetes (GDM).

METHOD

Newborns female rats (n = 10/group) were administered streptozotocin (100 mg/kg body weight) subcutaneously and were mated on reaching adulthood, to develop the mild hyperglycemic pregnant (MHP) rat model. At the end of pregnancy, the mothers were sacrificed, and the RAM tissue was collected. Pregnant women without GDM (non-GDM group; n = 10) and those diagnosed with GDM (GDM group; n = 8) and undergoing treatment were recruited, and RAM samples were obtained at C-section. The RAM architecture and the distribution of the fast and slow fibers and collagen were studied by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences in the maternal and fetal characters were observed between the groups in both rats and women. However, significant changes in RAM architecture were observed. Diabetes in pregnancy increased the abundance of slow fibers and decreased fast fiber number and area in both rats and women. A decrease in collagen distribution was observed in GDM women; however, a similar change was not observed in the MHP rats.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that pregnancy- associated diabetes- induced similar structural adaptations in the RAM of women and rats with slight alterations in fiber type number and area. These findings suggest that the MHP rat model can be used for studying the effects of pregnancy-associated diabetes on the fiber structure of RAM.

Study protocol to investigate biomolecular muscle profile as predictors of long-term urinary incontinence in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and rectus abdominis muscles (RAM) of pregnant diabetic rats exhibit atrophy, co-localization of fast and slow fibers and an increased collagen type I/III ratio. However, the role of similar PFM or RAM hyperglycemic-related myopathy in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains poorly investigated. This study aims to assess the frequency of pelvic floor muscle disorders and pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence (PS-UI) 12 months after the Cesarean (C) section in women with GDM. Specifically, differences in PFM/RAM hyperglycemic myopathy will be evaluated.

METHODS

The Diamater is an ongoing cohort study of four groups of 59 pregnant women each from the Perinatal Diabetes Research Centre (PDRC), Botucatu Medical School (FMB)-UNESP (São Paulo State University), Brazil. Diagnosis of GDM and PS-UI will be made at 24-26 weeks, with a follow-up at 34-38 weeks of gestation. Inclusion in the study will occur at the time of C-section, and patients will be followed at 24-48 h, 6 weeks and 6 and 12 months postpartum. Study groups will be classified as (1) GDM plus PS-UI; (2) GDM without PS-UI; (3) Non-GDM plus PS-UI; and (4) Non-GDM without PS-UI. We will analyze relationships between GDM, PS-UI and hyperglycemic myopathy at 12 months after C-section. The mediator variables to be evaluated include digital palpation, vaginal squeeze pressure, 3D pelvic floor ultrasound, and 3D RAM ultrasound. RAM samples obtained during C-section will be analyzed for ex-vivo contractility, morphological, molecular and OMICS profiles to further characterize the hyperglycemic myopathy. Additional variables to be evaluated include maternal age, socioeconomic status, educational level, ethnicity, body mass index, weight gain during pregnancy, quality of glycemic control and insulin therapy.

DISCUSSION

To our knowledge, this will be the first study to provide data on the prevalence of PS-UI and RAM and PFM physical and biomolecular muscle profiles after C-section in mothers with GDM. The longitudinal design allows for the assessment of cause-effect relationships between GDM, PS-UI, and PFMs and RAMs myopathy. The findings may reveal previously undetermined consequences of GDM.