Effects of selected bioactive food compounds on human white adipocyte function

Background: Previous studies suggest that intake of specific bioactive compounds may have beneficial clinical effects on adipose tissue partly due to their anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing properties. With the overall aim to contribute to better understanding of the mechanisms of selected bioactive nutrients on fat metabolism, we investigated their role on human white adipocyte function. Methods: The influence of the omega-3-fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the anthocyanin (AC) cyanidin-3-glucoside and its metabolite protocatechuic acid, and the beta-glucan metabolite propionic acid (PI) on adipokine secretion, fatty acid metabolism (lipolysis/lipogenesis) and adipocyte differentiation (lipid accumulation) was studied in human fat cells differentiated in vitro. To investigate possible synergistic, additive or antagonistic effects, DHA was also combined with AC or PI. Results: Each compound, alone or together with DHA, suppressed basal adipocyte lipolysis compared to control treated cells. DHA alone attenuated the secretion of pro-inflammatory adipokines such as chemerin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2), whereas AC suppressed only the latter two. Treatment with PI decreased IL-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and adiponectin secretion. A combination of DHA and AC decreased TNFα secretion and increased insulin-stimulated lipogenesis. No effect was found on adipocyte differentiation. At the selected concentrations, none of the compounds was found to be cytotoxic. Conclusion: The studied bioactive food compounds or their metabolites have beneficial effects in human primary fat cells measured as decreased basal lipolytic activity and secretion of inflammatory markers. A minor effect was also observed on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake albeit only with the combination of DHA and AC. Taken together, our results may link the reported health benefits of the selected bioactives on metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia to effects on white adipocytes

Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of Style 410 Highly Cohesive Silicone Breast Implants

In 2006, a single-center Swedish study demonstrated a low rupture rate and high patient satisfaction with the Style 410 shaped, form-stable gel implant. The current study aimed to validate the accuracy of the previously published results across multiple European sites.Journal ArticleMulticenter StudyResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Transforming Growth Factor-β3 Regulates Adipocyte Number in Subcutaneous White Adipose Tissue.

White adipose tissue (WAT) mass is determined by adipocyte size and number. While adipocytes are continuously turned over, the mechanisms controlling fat cell number in WAT upon weight changes are unclear. Herein, prospective studies of human subcutaneous WAT demonstrate that weight gain increases both adipocyte size and number, but the latter remains unaltered after weight loss. Transcriptome analyses associate changes in adipocyte number with the expression of 79 genes. This gene set is enriched for growth factors, out of which one, transforming growth factor-β3 (TGFβ3), stimulates adipocyte progenitor proliferation, resulting in a higher number of cells undergoing differentiation in vitro. The relevance of these observations was corroborated in vivo where Tgfb3+/- mice, in comparison with wild-type littermates, display lower subcutaneous adipocyte progenitor proliferation, WAT hypertrophy, and glucose intolerance. TGFβ3 is therefore a regulator of subcutaneous adipocyte number and may link WAT morphology to glucose metabolism

Body Shaping and Volume Restoration: The Role of Hyaluronic Acid

Driven by the rising popularity of minimally invasive techniques, the demand for cosmetic procedures is increasing. Cosmetic body-shaping procedures can be categorized into those that remove tissue and those that add volume. This review focuses on the latter of these categories, particularly on the use of resorbable hyaluronic acid gels specifically developed for minimally invasive volume enhancement. Pilot studies of hyaluronic acid involving its injection to contour various body deformities and its recent use in female breast augmentation are discussed. Injectable hyaluronic acid is effective and well tolerated. It represents an attractive treatment option for volume restoration or augmentation by providing predictable long-lasting results after minimally invasive administration. Alternative treatment options for volume enhancement also are summarized including fat transfer, silicone implants, and the use of injectable nonresorbable products such as silicone, polyalkylimide, and polyacrylamide gels. As patients continue to opt for nonsurgical procedures that offer predictable results, the development of minimally invasive products such as hyaluronic acid is increasingly important

Real-time decision support system using visualization of a global decentralized financial system

Decentralized digital currencies are emerging in today’s society. Bitcoin was the first to surface in late 2009, and today there are thousands of digital currencies with various properties. The vast amount of transaction data being generated from decentralized systems can be difficult to comprehend. Information visualization can be used to simplify this apprehension difficulty. It is a tool that allows us to effectively understand complex data by projecting it to a visual medium. This is a research study on multiple stakeholders for a web-based real-time decision support system for visualizing transaction data in a global decentralized financial system and set out to explore the stakeholders requirements in order to provide them support. To achieve this, an exploratory interview was conducted in order to gain knowledge of the requirements for each type of stakeholders. After which, a prototype of the decision support system was made, built upon the requirements and fundamental principles in information visualization. The prototype is web compliant with room for configurations to personalize. It is best suited for an overview. Complementary research could be additional studies on the stakeholders to improve the usability or develop additional supportive features to make it a smart system.Decentraliserade digitala valutor växer fram i dagens samhälle. Bitcoin var den första som skapades i slutet av 2009 och idag finns det tusentals digitala valutor med olika egenskaper. Den stora mängd transaktionsdata som genereras från decentraliserade system kan vara svår att förstå. Informationsvisualisering kan användas för att förenkla denna förståelsen. Det är ett verktyg som gör det möjligt för oss att effektivt förstå komplex data genom att projicera det till ett visuellt medium. Detta är en undersökning på multipla användare för ett webbaserat realtid beslutstödssystem för att visualisera transaktionsdata i ett globalt decentraliserat finansiellt system med mål att utarbeta användarnas krav för att kunna ge dom stöd. För att uppnå detta genomfördes en förberedande intervju för att få kunskap om kraven för varje typ av användare. Därefter gjordes en prototyp av beslutsstödsystemet, byggt på kraven och grundläggande principer för informationsvisualisering. Prototypen är webkompatibel med utrymme för konfigurationer för att personifiera. Den passar bäst för att ge en översikt. Kompletterande forskning kan vara ytterligare studier på intressenterna för att förbättra användbarheten eller utveckla ytterligare stödfunktioner för att göra det till ett smart system

Real-time decision support system using visualization of a global decentralized financial system

Decentralized digital currencies are emerging in today’s society. Bitcoin was the first to surface in late 2009, and today there are thousands of digital currencies with various properties. The vast amount of transaction data being generated from decentralized systems can be difficult to comprehend. Information visualization can be used to simplify this apprehension difficulty. It is a tool that allows us to effectively understand complex data by projecting it to a visual medium. This is a research study on multiple stakeholders for a web-based real-time decision support system for visualizing transaction data in a global decentralized financial system and set out to explore the stakeholders requirements in order to provide them support. To achieve this, an exploratory interview was conducted in order to gain knowledge of the requirements for each type of stakeholders. After which, a prototype of the decision support system was made, built upon the requirements and fundamental principles in information visualization. The prototype is web compliant with room for configurations to personalize. It is best suited for an overview. Complementary research could be additional studies on the stakeholders to improve the usability or develop additional supportive features to make it a smart system.Decentraliserade digitala valutor växer fram i dagens samhälle. Bitcoin var den första som skapades i slutet av 2009 och idag finns det tusentals digitala valutor med olika egenskaper. Den stora mängd transaktionsdata som genereras från decentraliserade system kan vara svår att förstå. Informationsvisualisering kan användas för att förenkla denna förståelsen. Det är ett verktyg som gör det möjligt för oss att effektivt förstå komplex data genom att projicera det till ett visuellt medium. Detta är en undersökning på multipla användare för ett webbaserat realtid beslutstödssystem för att visualisera transaktionsdata i ett globalt decentraliserat finansiellt system med mål att utarbeta användarnas krav för att kunna ge dom stöd. För att uppnå detta genomfördes en förberedande intervju för att få kunskap om kraven för varje typ av användare. Därefter gjordes en prototyp av beslutsstödsystemet, byggt på kraven och grundläggande principer för informationsvisualisering. Prototypen är webkompatibel med utrymme för konfigurationer för att personifiera. Den passar bäst för att ge en översikt. Kompletterande forskning kan vara ytterligare studier på intressenterna för att förbättra användbarheten eller utveckla ytterligare stödfunktioner för att göra det till ett smart system

Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on Postoperative Pain: A Double-Blind Randomized Pilot Study in Breast Augmentation Patients

Abstract Background Postoperative pain may be experienced after breast augmentation surgery despite advances in surgical techniques which minimize trauma. The use of pharmacologic analgesics and narcotics may have undesirable side effects that can add to patient morbidity. This study reports the use of a portable and disposable noninvasive pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) device in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study. This study was undertaken to determine if PEMF could provide pain control after breast augmentation. Methods Forty-two healthy females undergoing breast augmentation for aesthetic reasons entered the study. They were separated into three cohorts, one group (n = 14) received bilateral PEMF treatment, the second group (n = 14) received bilateral sham devices, and in the third group (n = 14) one of the breasts had an active device and the other a sham device. A total of 80 breasts were available for final analysis. Postoperative pain data were obtained using a visual analog scale (VAS) and pain recordings were obtained twice daily through postoperative day (POD) 7. Postoperative analgesic medication use was also followed. Results VAS data showed that pain had decreased in the active cohort by nearly a factor of three times that for the sham cohort by POD 3 (p \ 0.001), and persisted at this level to POD 7. Patient use of postoperative pain medication correspondingly also decreased nearly three times faster in the active versus the sham cohorts by POD 3 (p \ 0.001). Conclusion Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, adjunctive to standard of care, can provide pain control with a noninvasive modality and reduce morbidity due to pain medication after breast augmentation surgery

In search for the 'perfect' breast implant: are textured implants still indicated in today's breast augmentation practice?

The popularity of breast augmentation procedure has driven research and debate as to whether any given implant characteristic offers a functional advantage. One such debate exists about the role of surface texturing. In the aftermath of the recent withdrawal of aggressively textured surfaces we would like to summarize the first author's experience of nearly 1500 primary aesthetic breast augmentations with different surfaces and offer our thoughts on this topic. All consecutive primary breast augmentations operated by the first author from January 2010 to June 2019 were included. All patients had silicone implants inserted inframammary incision. Of all the operated cases, 1029 consecutive female patients had at least 6 months' follow-up (mean 15.1 months). Their mean age was 31.2 years, mean BMI 20.8 kg/m and mean implant volume was 311 cc. 997(96.9%) patients had dual plane and 32(3.1%) had sub-glandular implant placement. In total 113 patients (11.0%) developed a complication. This represented 15.1% of those with round and 10.0% of anatomical shape (or 10.6% of textured and 14.5% of smooth surface implants). As clinicians, we like patients to receive all the advantages of an implant but not be exposed to any risks. However, in reality, such a 'perfect implant' still does not exist. New literature continues to shed light on this trade-off between an implant's perceived utility and its complications profile. We hope that the search for an alternative technology, with more beneficial surface characteristics and less drawbacks, continues

Online and Social Media Footprint of All Swedish Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

BACKGROUND The visual nature of the Internet and its newer technologies makes it naturally aligned to plastic and aesthetic surgery. While many studies have looked at the use of social media ('SoMe'), they have been limited by either low response rate or limited scope. Our aim was to analyse a whole community of aesthetic plastic surgeons and their use of the Internet and social media platforms over a period of many years. METHODS All active members of the Swedish national aesthetic plastic surgery society were identified. Webpages, professional (LinkedIn), social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and video-sharing (YouTube) accounts as well as online patient forum (Plastikoperationsforum) mentions of the surgeons and their clinics were identified, and corresponding platform-specific metrics were analysed. RESULTS Of the 85 active members, 67 (78.9%) had a webpage on one of the 34 different clinic websites. The websites of older established clinics had a significantly better Alexa ranking than newer ones. Surgeons with a profile on Facebook or Instagram were significantly younger than those without an account. Twitter was the least preferred social media platform. Each surgeon had a mean 12.8 threads per year as compared to a mean 34.3 threads per clinic per year. CONCLUSION Most of the new practices established by Swedish aesthetic plastic surgeons in the last 10 years are single-surgeon ones. Instagram and Facebook accounts of their clinics seem to be the most popular SoMe platforms. Younger surgeons were more likely to have a Facebook or Instagram account and to be using two or more social media platforms. These data provide information about all aesthetic plastic surgeons registered with the Swedish national body and their increasing use of SoMe. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266

Two-person screening of mental well-being before primary breast augmentation: Can we do more?

Patients choosing aesthetic surgery are asymptomatic individuals opting for surgery. Psychologists and surgeons have been interested in identifying characteristics of these individuals' preoperative as well as postoperative psychological changes. It was identified that a small number of patients have a primary issue with self-body image, which resulted in altered perceptions and attitudes such that the preoccupation with perceived deficiencies continued even after surgery. The recommended course is to attempt to screen for the patients' mental well-being, as surgery alone does not improve the patients' symptoms. In the first author's practice, each prospective patient is reviewed by two individuals on separate occasions in order to discuss surgery and assure their mental and physical suitability. However, we encountered four patients who exhibited a strong negative reaction to their new shape, to the point that it necessitated explanation in the immediate postoperative phase in two of them. To our knowledge, this situation has not been described in the literature. We discuss the available literature as well as our consent process for breast augmentation. The first author has since introduced BREAST-Q to assess general patient well-being in the pre- and post-operative phases as a result of this experience. We also discuss the results for each of its domains and offer our thoughts about the management of such a situation