Epigenetic Modifier Based Enhancement of Piperine Production in Endophytic Diaporthe sp. PF20

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Biodiversity and metabolite richness of endophytic fungi are highly fascinating. Some of them have even been...     

How does obesity affect fertility in men – and what are the treatment options?

Adiposity is associated with reduced fertility in men. The aetiology is multifactorial, with obese men at greater risk of suffering from impaired spermatogenesis, reduced circulating testosterone levels, erectile dysfunction and poor libido. The diagnosis and treatment of reduced fertility observed in obese men therefore requires insight into the underlying pathology, which has hormonal, mechanical and psychosocial aspects. This article summarises the current epidemiological, experimental and clinical trial evidence from the perspective of a practicing clinician. The following conclusions and recommendations can be drawn: Obesity is associated with low serum testosterone concentrations, but treatment with exogenous testosterone is likely to adversely impact on fertility. It is important to discuss this with men prior to initiation of testosterone therapy. Obesity adversely affects sperm concentration and may affect sperm quality. However, whether or not weight loss will correct these factors remain to be established. Oestrogen receptor modulators (and aromatase inhibitors) are unlicensed in the treatment for male hypogonadism and/or infertility. These treatments should hence be considered experimental approach until ongoing clinical trials report their outcomes.     

Empagliflozin in women with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease – an analysis of EMPA-REG OUTCOME®

Aims/hypothesis

The global epidemic of type 2 diabetes affects women and men equally; however, the relative impact on the cardiovascular (CV) system appears greater for women than men when compared with peers without diabetes. Furthermore, women are often under-represented in CV outcome trials, resulting in less certainty about the impact of CV prevention therapies across the sexes. The EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial, which included 28.5% women, found that empagliflozin, given in addition to standard of care, reduced the risk of CV death by 38%, heart failure (HF) hospitalisation by 35% and a composite endpoint for incident or worsening nephropathy by 39%. Here we report a secondary analysis of the trial to determine the relative effects of empagliflozin in women vs men.

Methods

The population studied were individuals with type 2 diabetes (HbA_1c 53–86 mmol/mol [7–10%] and eGFR >30 ml min^?1 [1.73 m]^?2), with established atherosclerotic CV disease. Individuals were randomised to receive empagliflozin 10 mg or 25 mg, or placebo once daily in addition to standard of care, and followed. The trial continued until ≥691 individuals had experienced an adjudicated event included in the primary outcome. All CV outcome events, including HF hospitalisations and deaths were prospectively adjudicated by blinded clinical events committees.

Results

At baseline, the demographic profile of the 2004 women (age ± standard deviation 63.6?±?8.8 years) compared with the 5016 men (age 63.0?±?8.6 years) in the trial was largely similar, with the exception that LDL-cholesterol was numerically higher in women (2.5?±?1.0 vs 2.1?±?0.9 mmol/l), consistent with lower rates of lipid-lowering therapies (75.4% vs 83.2%). Women were also less likely to have smoked (31.5% vs 69.9%). The annualised incidence rate for women in the placebo group was numerically lower than in men for CV death (1.58% vs 2.19%), numerically higher for HF hospitalisation (1.75% vs 1.33%) and similar for renal events (7.22% vs 7.75%). We did not detect any effect modification by sex within the statistical power restrictions of the analysis for CV death, HF hospitalisation and incident or worsening nephropathy (interaction p values 0.32, 0.20 and 0.85, respectively). Compared with placebo, empagliflozin increased the rates of genital infections in both women (2.5% vs 10.0%) and men (1.5% vs 2.6%).

Conclusions/interpretation

CV death, HF hospitalisation and incident or worsening nephropathy rate reductions induced by empagliflozin were not different between women and men.

     

Protective effect of (+)–catechin against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells through downregulation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK

Inflammopharmacology - Catechin, a flavonol belonging to the flavonoid group of polyphenols is present in many plant foods. The present study was done to evaluate the effect of catechin on various...     

Biofilm Changes of Clinically Isolated Coagulase Negative Staphylococci

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are remarkable for the heterogeneity in the chemical composition and...     

Role of Nanocurcumin as a Surface Modifying Agent with Excellent Preventive Effect on Device-Related CoNS Infections

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - The study focused on the analysis of efficiency of curcumin and nanocurcumin (NC) against biofilm-forming...