Evaluation of cardiac autonomic function and low-grade inflammation in children with obesity living in the Northeast Brazilian region

Abstract Objective Evaluate autonomic function and low-grade inflammation and characterize the correlation between these variables in schoolchildren with obesity living in the Brazilian northeast region. Methods 84 children with obesity and 41 with normal weight were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometry, body composition, blood pressure (BP), inflammatory biomarkers, and heart rate variability (HRV) indexes were analyzed in children aged 7 to 11 years. Results children with obesity had increased systolic (p= 0.0017) and diastolic (p= 0.0131) BP and heart rate (p= 0.0022). The children with obesity displayed significantly lower SDNN, RMSSD, NN50, HF (ms), HF (nu), SD1, SD2, and higher LF (ms), LF (nu), LF/HF, SD1/SD2, DFA-α1, and DFA-α2, compared to normal weight. A lower and higher capacity for producing IL-10 (p= 0.039) and IL-2 (p= 0.009), respectively, were found in children with obesity compared to children with normal weight. Although IL-2, IL-4 and IL17A did not correlate with HRV parameters, IL-6 was positively correlated with SDNN, LF (ms) and SD2, TNF-α was positively correlated with LF/HF and SD1/SD2 ratio, and IFN-γ was positively correlated with SDNN, RMMSSD, NN50, LF (ms), HF (ms), SD1, and SD2. Conclusions The findings suggest that children with obesity have impaired autonomic function and systemic low-grade inflammation compared to children within the normal weight range, the inflammatory biomarkers were correlated with HRV parameters in schoolchildren living in the northeastern region of Brazil.

Development, characterization and antioxidant activity of polysorbate based O/W emulsion containing polyphenols derived from Hippophae rhamnoides and Cassia fistula

The objective of this study was to develop a pharmaceutical O/W emulsion containing plant-derived polyphenol extracts and evaluate its stability and antioxidant activity. O/W emulsions were prepared using ionic surfactant polysorbate 80 (Tween 80®). The odorwas adjusted with few drops of blue sea fragrance. DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts alone and emulsions containing these extracts. Physical stability was assessed by submitting the emulsions to storage at 8 ºC, 25 ºC, 40 ºC and 40 ºC + 70% RH (relative humidity) for two months. Various physical characteristics of emulsions monitored, include color, creaming, liquefaction, centrifugation and pH. Brookfield rotational rheometer was used to determined viscosities and rheological behavior of emulsions. Different types of emulsion were determined microscopically, while pH values of emulsions were measured by a pH meter. Electrical conductivity data confirmed that the outer phase was water. Samples presented an acceptable pH value for an external topical use. Shear thinning behaviour was observed for all emulsions. The polyphenol-rich-plant-derived extracts alone and the extract containing emulsions showed good antioxidant activities. This research confirmed that the method used was suitable for preparing emulsions with Hippophae rhamnoids and Cassia fistula extracts, suggesting that those emulsions are suitable for topical use.

O presente estudo objetivou o desenvolvimento de uma emulsão farmacêutica óleo-água contendo extratos de plantas ricos em polifenóis, a comparação à sua formulação-controle e a avaliação de sua estabilidade, assim como de sua capacidade antioxidante. Extrato concentrado de Hippophae rhamnoids e Cassia fistula foi encapsulado no interior da fase oleosa da emulsão O/W. As emulsões foram preparadas usando o tensoativo iônico monooleato sorbital de polioxietileno (Tween 80®). O odor foi ajustado pela adição de algumas gotas de fragrância azul do mar. O ensaio do DPPH (1,1-difenil-2-picrilidrazil) foi utilizado para avaliar a atividade antioxidante dos extratos de plantas sozinhos e nas emulsões contendo os extratos. A estabilidade física foi avaliada submetendo os cremes a diferentes temperaturas de estocagem, como a 8 ºC, 25 ºC e 40 ºC e a 40% + 70% de umidade relativa por um período de 2 meses. As características físicas das emulsões foram monitoradas por 2 meses incluindo cor, cremosidade, liquefação, centrifugação e pH. O reômetro rotacional de Brookfield foi utilizado para determinar a viscosidade e o comportamento reológico das emulsões. O programa Rheocalc Brookfield foi utilizado para análise dos dados. As características organolépticas também foram avaliadas. O tipo de emulsão foi determinado microscopicamente, enquanto o pH das emulsões foi avaliado por meio de um pHmetro. A estabilidade farmacêutica esperada das emulsões foi alcançada dentro dos dois meses de estudo. Os resultados da condutividade elétrica confirmaram que a fase externa da emulsão era composta de água. O pH das amostras estava dentro da normalidade para uso tópico. A emulsão apresentou boa fragrância e pode ser retirada da pele com água após a aplicação, características desejáveis em emulsões O/W. Os extratos vegetais ricos em polifenóis isolados ou nas emulsões apresentaram boa atividade antioxidante. Nossos estudos confirmaram que o método utilizado foi adequado para preparar a emulsão semi-sólida contendo extratos de Hippophae rhamnoids e Cassia fistula. Nossos achados sugerem que emulsões contendo extratos de Hippophae rhamnoids e Cassia fistula são adequados para o uso tópico.