Rovira i Virgili University

About: Rovira i Virgili University is a education organization based out in Tarragona, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 4247 authors who have published 9141 publications receiving 236256 citations.

Neuromuscular Damage and Repair after Dry Needling in Mice

Abstract: Objective. Some dry needling treatments involve repetitive and rapid needle insertions into myofascial trigger points. This type of treatment causes muscle injury and can also damage nerve fibers. The aim of this study is to determine the injury caused by 15 repetitive punctures in the muscle and the intramuscular nerves in healthy mouse muscle and its ulterior regeneration. Methods. We repeatedly needled the levator auris longus muscle of mice, and then the muscles were processed with immunohistochemistry, methylene blue, and electron microscopy techniques. Results. Three hours after the dry needling procedure, the muscle fibers showed some signs of an inflammatory response, which progressed to greater intensity 24 hours after the procedure. Some inflammatory cells could still be seen when the muscle regeneration was almost complete seven days after the treatment. One day after the treatment, some changes in the distribution of receptors could be observed in the denervated postsynaptic component. Reinnervation was complete by the third day after the dry needling procedure. We also saw very fine axonal branches reinnervating all the postsynaptic components and some residual sprouts the same day. Conclusion. Repeated dry needling punctures in muscle do not perturb the different stages of muscle regeneration and reinnervation.

Vanadium and diabetes. What about vanadium toxicity

Abstract: Recently, Poucheret et al. [1] reviewed some key aspects of vanadium in relation to its insulin-mimetic, antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive effects. It was stated that vanadyl sulfate is effective orally when administered by either single dose or chronic doses, whereas bismaltolato-oxovanadium IV (BMOV) is 2–3 times more potent than vanadyl sulfate and has shown less toxicity. However, throughout the article no specific details on the toxic effects of vanadyl sulfate in STZdiabetic animals are reported. Although the authors reviewed a long list of in vivo beneficial effects of vanadium in STZdiabetes and in other models of diabetes, no toxic effects of vanadium compounds were included. In spite of the lack of information about the potential toxic effects of this element, Poucheret and associates [1] indicated that BMOV did not affect body weight gain in control rats for the first 10 weeks when compared to vanadyl sulfate, which is important regarding some concerns expressed in the literature about vanadium toxicity. On the other hand, when the authors reviewed the clinical studies on vanadium and diabetes, they stated that these investigations have been promising, with diarrhoea being the main side effect observed. We have also reviewed these reports and a summary of side effects is shown in Table 1. While the only common toxic effect was mild gastrointestinal disturbance, the main concern with these studies is the very short period of vanadium administration, with a maximum of 4 weeks [2–5]. With regard to it, the authors of one of the clinical studies [4] remarked that although there is few information relative to the long-term effects of vanadium salts in humans, in previous studies in which 125 mg/day of diammonium oxy-tartrato vanadate were administered for about 5 months to patients with coronary artery disease, it was found that half of these subjects experienced abdominal pain, anorexia and weight loss [6]. An additional concern with long-tern vanadium use is its known tissue accumulation. Although oral administration of vanadyl sulfate (0.5 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks did not affect blood cells, viscosity or biochemical parameters relating to liver and kidney function in weight training athletes [7], the authors of the study emphasized the possibility that vanadium might accumulate in some tissues such as bone and kidney, which would be a cause for concern particularly since weight training athletes tend to use oral vanadyl sulfate repeatedly in cycles of up to 3 months [7]. In a recent review on the biological actions and potential as pharmacological agents of vanadium compounds, Tsiani

Zinc Intake and Status and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract: Zinc could have a protective role against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between dietary, supplementary, and total zinc intake, as well as serum/plasma and whole blood zinc concentration, and risk of T2DM. Observational studies, conducted on cases of incident diabetes or T2DM patients and healthy subjects that reported a measure of association between zinc exposure and T2DM, were selected. Random effects meta-analyses were applied to obtain combined results. Stratified meta-analyses and meta-regressions were executed to assess sources of heterogeneity, as well as the impact of covariates on the findings. From 12,136 publications, 16 studies were selected. The odds ratio (OR) for T2DM comparing the highest versus lowest zinc intake from diet was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.78–0.98). Nevertheless, no association between supplementary or total zinc intake from both diet and supplementation, and T2DM was observed. A direct relationship was found between serum/plasma zinc levels and T2DM (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.25–2.14). A moderately high dietary zinc intake, in relation to the Dietary Reference Intake, could reduce by 13% the risk of T2DM, and up to 41% in rural areas. Conversely, elevated serum/plasma zinc concentration was associated with an increased risk of T2DM by 64%, suggesting disturbances in zinc homeostasis.