ABSTRACT
@#The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of enteroparasitic infections in students and their hormonal and immunological repercussions on physical development. Students of basic education of both sexes were evaluated. Parasitological stool tests were performed using the Hoffman and Kato-Katz methods. The students were divided into two groups: a control group (negative parasitological examination, N=25) and an infected group (positive parasitological test, N=25). Anthropometric variables (height, weight, and BMI), concentrations of hormones (melatonin and cortisol), cytokine/chemokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17 and TNF-α) and physical performance (aerobic capacity, upper- and lower-limb muscle strength and abdominal performance) were evaluated. The prevalence of parasitic infection among the students was 7.98%. No anthropometric differences were observed among the groups. IL-2 and TNF-α levels were higher and IL-8 levels were lower in serum from students who were positive for parasitic infection. Serum from students who were positive for parasitic infection showed higher levels of melatonin than that from parasitenegative students. No differences were observed in cortisol levels. Students who were positive for parasitic infection presented greater lower-limb strength and lower abdominal performance than parasite-negative students. In the parasitic infection group, IL-12 was positively correlated with melatonin. In the parasitic infection group, IL-8 showed a positive correlation with aerobic capacity, while IL-17 and TNF-α showed a positive correlation with abdominal performance. These data suggest that parasitic infections determine the profile of inflammatory cytokines and that melatonin may be involved in the control of this process to minimize tissue damage. Additionally, students’ difficulty in practising physical exercises can be an indication of enteroparasitic infection.
ABSTRACT
O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade funcional de macrófagos de ratos diabéticos, através da liberação do ânion superóxido, na presença do composto "mais vida". Os animais foram divididos em dois grupos, controle (N=20) e diabético (N=20). Avaliou-se a glicemia, massa corpórea e a liberação de superóxido pelos macrófagos de baço de ratos. O composto "mais vida" foi obtido através da mistura de extratos de sete plantas, sendo Orbignia martiana Rodr., Tabebuia avellanedae L.G., Arctium lappa L., Rosa centifolia L., Maytenus ilicifolia Mart., Vernonia condensata Baker e Thuja occidentalis L. Observou-se que glicemia foi maior no grupo diabético. A liberação espontânea do ânion superóxido pelos macrófagos foi menor no grupo diabético. O composto "mais vida", independente dos níveis glicêmicos, aumentou a liberação de superóxido dos macrófagos. Quando as células foram estimuladas pelos extratos vegetais isolados, também houve aumento na liberação do ânion superóxido pelos macrófagos em ambos os grupos. As maiores liberações de superóxido ocorreram quando os macrófagos foram estimulados pela Thuja occidentalis L., Rosa centifolia L., Tabebuia avellanedae L.G. e Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. Estes dados sugerem que a ativação de macrófagos pelo composto "mais vida" pode representar um mecanismo alternativo de defesa para infecções em indivíduos diabéticos.
This study investigated the effects of "mais vida", a commercial natural mix, on macrophages functional activity as evaluated by the superoxide release in diabetic rats. The animals were divided into two groups, control (N = 20) and diabetic (N = 20). This was achieved by determining blood glucose weight and the superoxide released by spleen macrophages. The "mais vida" mix was obtained by the combination of extracts from seven medicinal species, which were: Orbignia martiana Rodr., Tabebuia avellanedae L.G., Arctium lappa L., Rosa centifolia L., Maytenus ilicifolia Mart., Vernonia condensata Baker and Thuja occidentalis L. Blood glucose levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the diabetic group, as compared to blood glucose levels in the control group. Superoxide levels in macrophages isolated from normoglycemic rats were higher than those obtained from diabetic animals. The "mais vida" mix, independently of glycemic status, increased significantly the superoxide release in the macrophages. Each extract by itself also increased the superoxide release by phagocytes in the macrophages in both groups. The largest superoxide release occurred when the phagocytes were stimulated by Thuja occidentalis L., Rosa centifolia L., Tabebuia avellanedae L.G. and Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. In addition, the activation of macrophages by the "mais vida" mix may represent an additional protection mechanism for diabetic individuals against infections.