Remote ischemic conditioning improves rat brain antioxidant defense in a time-dependent mechanism

ABSTRACT Purpose To clarify the best protocol for performing remote ischemic conditioning and to minimize the consequences of ischemia and reperfusion syndrome in brain, the present study aimed to evaluate different time protocols and the relation of the organs and the antioxidant effects of this technique. Methods The rat's left femoral artery was clamped with a microvascular clamp in times that ranged from 1 to 5 minutes, according to the corresponding group. After the cycles of remote ischemic conditioning and a reperfusion of 20 minutes, the brain and the left gastrocnemius were collected. The samples were used to measure glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase levels. Results In the gastrocnemius, the 4-minute protocol increased the catalase concentration compared to the 1-minute protocol, but the latter increased both glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase compared to the former. On the other hand, the brain demonstrated higher catalase and glutathione peroxidase in 5-minute group, and the 3-minute group reached higher values of glutathione reductase. Conclusions Remote ischemic conditioning increases brain antioxidant capacity in a time-dependent way, while muscle presents higher protection on 1-minute cycles and tends to decrease its defence with longer cycles of intermittent occlusions of the femoral artery.

Ischemic perconditioning on mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate if the perconditioning affects the antioxidant capacity in mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion injury. Methods: Twenty-one Wistar rats were assigned into three groups, as follows: Sham, IR and rPER. The animals were subjected to mesenteric ischemia for 30 min. rPER consisted of three cycles of 5-min hindlimb ischemia followed by 5 min hindlimb perfusion at the same time to mesenteric ischemic period. After 5 minutes, blood and 5 cm of terminal ileum were harvested for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) measurement. Results: rPER technique was able to reduce intestinal tissue TBARS levels (p<0.0001), but no statistic difference was observed in blood levels between groups, although it was verified similar results in rPER and Sham group. rPER technique also enhanced TEAC levels in both blood (p = 0.0314) and intestinal tissue (p = 0.0139), compared to IR group. Conclusions: rPER appears as the most promising technique to avoid IR injury. This technique reduced TBARS levels in blood and intestinal tissue and promoted the maintenance of antioxidant defense in mesenteric acute injury.

Heart at risk: electronic educational game with information on doping in athletes / Coração em jogo: jogo eletrônico educativo na informação do doping em atletas / Corazón en juego: juego electrónico educativo en la información del doping en atletas

ABSTRACT Introduction Games are recognized tools that can be used for teaching, awareness-building and behavioral change. In the world of competitive sports, it is necessary to both educate athletes and make them aware that doping is an unsportsmanlike practice, particularly because this conduct can be life-threatening. A game called "Heart at Risk" was developed in this context for the purpose of teaching athletes which substances are characterized as doping by the World Antidoping Agency, and to raise their awareness of health hazards through entertainment. Objective Present and empirically evaluate the efficacy of the game as a tool for educating athletes on substances characterized as doping. Methods The sample group was formed by 20 players in the under-20 category of Clube do Remo (Rowing Club), aged over 18 years. The athletes underwent a pre-test, played the Heart at Risk game, and took a post-test at the end. Both tests were related to healthy sport practices (positive factors) and to doping substances (negative factors). Results Regarding the knowledge of positive factors, there was an increase of knowledge in relation to low doses of caffeine (∆ = 40%; p-value= 0.0125) and doping assessment (∆ = 55%; p-value = 0.0017). Regarding negative factors, there was an increase of knowledge in relation to diuretics (∆ = 25%; p-value = 0.0455), contaminated thermogenic (∆ = 35%; p-value = 0.0191), growth hormone-GH (∆ = 50%; p-value = 0.0025), contaminated supplements (∆ = 65%; p-value = 0.0007), and testosterone (∆ = 55%; p-value = 0.0017). Conclusion The Heart at Risk game proved to be an effective resource in the process of learning about prohibited substances and positive factors for sports performance. Level of Evidence IV; Case series.

RESUMO Introdução Jogos são reconhecidos instrumentos que podem ser usados para ensino, conscientização e mudança de comportamentos. No competitivo mundo esportivo, educar e conscientizar que doping é uma prática antiesportiva são duas necesidades, principalmente porque essa atitude pode colocar a vida do atleta em risco. Nesse contexto, foi desenvolvido um jogo, chamado Coração em Jogo, com o objetivo de ensinar aos atletas quais substâncias são caracterizadas como doping pela World Anti-Doping Agency, e ludicamente conscientizá-los dos riscos para a saúde. Objetivo Apresentar e avaliar empiricamente a eficácia do Coração em Jogo como ferramenta para educação de atletas sobre substâncias caracterizadas como doping. Métodos A amostra foi formada por 20 jogadores da categoria sub-20 do Clube do Remo, com idade superior a 18 anos. Os atletas realizaram pré-teste e jogaram o Coração em Jogo, e, ao término, foi aplicado um pós-teste. Ambos os testes eram relativos a práticas esportivas saudáveis (fatores positivos) e sobre substâncias dopantes (fatores negativos). Resultados Em relação ao conhecimento de fatores positivos, houve aumento do conhecimento em baixas doses de cafeína (∆ = 40%; valor de p = 0,0125) e avaliação de dopagem (∆ = 55%; valor de p = 0,0017). Em relação aos fatores negativos, ocorreu aumento do conhecimento em diuréticos (∆ = 25%; valor de p = 0,0455), termogênico contaminado (∆ = 35%; valor de p = 0,0191), hormônio do crescimento (∆ = 50%; valor de p=0,0025), suplementos contaminados (∆ = 65%; valor de p = 0,0007) e testosterona (∆ = 55%; valor de p = 0,0017). Conclusão O Coração em Jogo mostrou-se recurso eficaz na aprendizagem das substâncias proibidas e dos fatores positivos para desempenho do esporte. Nível de Evidência IV; Série de casos.

RESUMEN Introducción Los juegos son reconocidos instrumentos que pueden ser usados para enseñanza, concientización y cambio de comportamientos. En el competitivo mundo deportivo, educar y concientizar que doping es una práctica antideportiva son dos necesidades, principalmente porque esa actitud puede poner la vida del atleta en riesgo. En este contexto se desarrolló un juego llamado "Corazón en juego (Coração em Jogo en su nombre en portugués)", con el objetivo de enseñar a los atletas qué sustancias son caracterizadas como doping por la World Antidoping Agency, y lúdicamente concientizarse de los riesgos para su salud. Objetivo Presentar y evaluar empíricamente la eficacia de "Corazón en Juego", como una herramienta para la educación de atletas sobre sustancias que se caracterizan como doping. Métodos La muestra fue formada por 20 jugadores de la categoría sub-20 del Club del Remo, con edad superior a 18 años. Los atletas realizaron test previo y jugaron "Corazón en Juego", y al término se aplicó un test posterior. Ambos tests se referían a prácticas deportivas saludables (factores positivos) y sobre sustancias dopantes (factores negativos). Resultados Con relación al conocimiento de factores positivos, hubo aumento del conocimiento en bajas dosis de cafeína (Δ = 40%, valor de p = 0,0125) y evaluación de dopaje (Δ = 55%; valor de p = 0,0017). Con relación a los factores negativos, ocurrió aumento del conocimiento en diuréticos (Δ = 25%, valor de p = 0,0455), termogénico contaminado (Δ = 35%, valor de p = 0,0191), hormona del crecimiento (Δ = 50%, valor de p = 0,0025), suplementos contaminados (Δ = 65%, valor de p = 0,0007) y testosterona (Δ = 55%, valor de p = 0,0017). Conclusión "Corazón en Juego", se mostró un recurso eficaz en el aprendizaje de las sustancias prohibidas y de los factores positivos para desempeño del deporte. Nivel de evidencia IV; Serie de casos.

Perconditioning associated to hypertonic saline solution on liver function improvement after ischemia/reperfusion injury

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the effects of hypertonic saline solution associated to remote ischemic perconditioning in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Methods: 25 male rats (Wistar) were distributed into five groups: Sham group (S); Ischemia/Reperfusion group (I/R) with 30 minutes of liver ischemia; Remote ischemic perconditioning group (Per) with three cycles of 10 minutes of I/R performed during liver ischemia; Hypertonic saline solution group (HSS) treated with hypertonic saline solution (4ml/kg); Remote ischemic perconditioning + Hypertonic saline solution group (Per+HSS) with both treatments. Results: Per+HSS group showed a lower degree of liver dysfunction in relation to I/R group, whereas the technique of remote ischemic perconditioning isolated or associated with saline solution significantly improved liver function and reduced histological damage. Conclusion: Remote ischemic perconditioning associated or not to saline solution promoted reduction of acute liver injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion.

Efeito do óleo de copaíba associado ao microagulhamento na pele de ratos: um estudo comparativo / Effect of copaiba oil associated with microneedling on the skin of rats: a comparative study

Introdução: O microagulhamento é técnica cuja finalidade é o estímulo do colágeno, bem como de drug delivery. O óleo de copaíba apresenta efeitos cicatrizantes e anti-inflamatórios que já foram demonstrados em vários modelos animais. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do óleo de copaíba associado ao microagulhamento na pele de ratos. Métodos: Foram utilizados 30 ratos distribuídos em seis grupos com cinco animais cada, submetidos a: microagulhamento isolado, microagulhamento associado a óleo mineral e microagulhamento associado a óleo de copaíba. Foram realizadas biópsias em todos os animais 14 dias e 30 dias após. Os parâmetros avaliados foram presença de colágeno, fibroblastos e vasos, classificada em ausente (0), leve (1), moderada (2) ou intensa (3). Resultados: Houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos em relação ao colágeno com 14 (p = 0,0091) e 30 dias (p = 0,0357) e fibroblastos com 30 dias (p = 0,0357). O grupo que utilizou microagulhamento e óleo de copaíba, apresentou, após 30 dias, maior produção de colágeno e de fibroblastos. Conclusões: o óleo de copaíba associado ao microagulhamento foi capaz de estimular maior produção de colágeno e de fibroblastos na pele de ratos.

Introduction: Microneedling is a technique aiming at stimulating the production of collagen as well as serving as drug delivery. Copaiba oil has healing and anti-inflammatory effects that have already been demonstrated in several animal models. Objective: To evaluate the effect of copaiba oil associated with microneedle removal on the skin of rats. Methods: Thirty rats were distributed in six groups of five animals each, subsequently undergoing: isolated microneedling, microneedling associated to mineral oil, and microneedling associated with copaiba oil. Biopsies were carried out in all animals at 14 and 30 days after the procedure. The parameters evaluated were: presence of collagen, fibroblasts and vessels, according to the following ratings: absence (0), mild (1), moderated (2) or intense (3). Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the production of collagen at 14 days (p = 0.0091) and 30 days (p = 0.0357); and fibroblasts at 30 days (p = 0.0357). the group that used microneedling and copaiba oil, presented, after 30 days, a greater production of collagen and fibroblasts. Conclusions: Copaiba oil associated with microneedling was capable of stimulating a greater production of collagen and fibroblasts in the skin of rats.

Effects of hypertonic saline solution associated to remote ischemic perconditioning in kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the effects of hypertonic saline solution associated to remote ischemic perconditioning in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Methods: Twenty five male rats (Wistar) underwent right nephrectomy and were distributed into five groups: Sham group (S); Ischemia/Reperfusion group (I/R) with 30 minutes of renal ischemia; Remote ischemic perconditioning group (Per) with three cycles of 10 minutes of I/R performed during kidney ischemia; Hypertonic saline solution group (HSS) treated with hypertonic saline solution (4ml/kg); remote ischemic perconditioning + Hypertonic saline solution group (Per+HSS) with both treatments. After reperfusion, blood samples were collected for BUN and creatinine serum levels analyzes. TBARS were evaluated in plasma and renal tissue to assess oxidative stress. Kidney histopathological examination were performed. Results: Per+HSS group showed a lower degree of renal dysfunction in relation to I/R group, whereas the technique of remote ischemic perconditioning isolated or associated with saline solution significantly reduced oxidative stress and histological damage. Conclusion: Remote ischemic perconditioning associated or not to saline solution promoted reduction of acute renal injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion.