Increased oxidative stress and inflammatory markers contrasting with the activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in patients with metabolic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a disorder that is closely associated with risk factors that increase the chance of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. We demonstrate the presence of inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with MetS through levels of antioxidants and oxidative and inflammatory markers, in order to determine influential variables in therapy. METHODS: In this study, lipid peroxidation, carbonylated protein content and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were evaluated in samples obtained from 30 patients with MetS and 30 control patients. In addition, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, C-reactive protein (CRP) and uric acid (UA) levels were determined to investigate the inflammatory process in patients with MetS. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated an increase in the levels of oxidative markers, such as substances reactive to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and carbonyl protein. In addition, a decrease in the defense of non-enzymatic antioxidants, such as levels of vitamin C and glutathione (GSH) in patients with MetS. As for inflammatory markers, CRP and UA were increased in patients with MetS. Finally, activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway was observed due to decreased AchE activity in patients with MetS. CONCLUSION: The analyzes indicated oxidative stress, together with a reduction in the levels of antioxidant enzymes, corroborating the high consumption of these proteins. In addition, inflammation and activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway was observed by the AChE analysis. Thus, the activation of this pathway can be studied as a possible route to a potential therapy. In addition, the markers AChE, CRP and UA may be used as a focus for the treatment of MetS.

Physical activity and academic performance in high school students / Atividade física e desempenho acadêmico em estudantes de ensino médio

There are still doubts about the real benefits of physical activity on the academic performance of adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine whether the physical activity (PA) interferes in the academic performance of high school students. The study included 348 adolescents from one federal public school. For information regarding PA, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ short-version) was used. For PAL classification the adolecents who had 300 minutes/week or more of physical activity were considered as active. The information related to the participation in sports schools was obtained through a question inserted in IPAQ. For the academic performance, the average grades of the first semester of 2015 were used, within the three major Knowledge Areas, as defined by the National Curriculum Standards. There was no significant correlation between academic performance and PA (r= 0.06; p= 0.28). Higher minimum scores were found among active high school students and higher average school for areas 1 ­ Languages, Codes and its Technologies (7.2±0.8) and 2 ­ Natural Sciences, Mathematics and its Technologies (6.6±1.3) among participants in sports schools, with statistical significance (p= 0.017; p= 0.014). In conclusion, PAL did not relate to the academic performance of pupils in this study and participants of sports schools achieved better academic performance demonstrating that sports activities can cause beneficial effects in their cognitive performances.

Ainda existem dúvidas sobre os reais benefícios da atividade física no desempenho acadêmico de adolescentes. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se a atividade física (AF) se relaciona ao desempenho acadêmico de alunos do ensino médio. O estudo incluiu 348 adolescentes de uma escola pública federal. Para obter informações sobre AF, utilizou-se o Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física (versão curta IPAQ). Para a classificação do NAF os estudantes com mais de 300 minutos/semana de atividade física e insuficientemente ativos, os estudantes com menos de 300 minutos/semana de atividade física. A informação relacionada à participação em escolas esportivas foi obtida através de uma pergunta inserida no IPAQ. Para o desempenho acadêmico foi utilizada a média das notas do primeiro semestre de 2015, dentro das três grandes Áreas de Conhecimento, definidas pelos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais. Não houve correlação significativa entre o desempenho acadêmico e AF (r= 0.06; p= 0.28). Notas mínimas superiores foram encontrados entre os escolares ativos e maiores médias para as áreas 1 ­ Linguagens, Códigos e suas Tecnologias (7.2±0.8) e 2 ­ Ciências Naturais, Matemática e suas Tecnologias (6.6±1.3) entre participantes em escolas esportivas, com significância estatística (p= 0.017; p= 0.014). Em conclusão, o NAF não se associou negativamente no desempenho acadêmico dos escolares desse estudo e os participantes de escolas esportivas alcançaram melhor desempenho acadêmico, demonstrando que a prática esportiva pode ocasionar efeitos benéficos no desempenho cognitivo.

Citizen science applied to building healthier community environments: advancing the field through shared construct and measurement development.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity across the lifespan remains a public health issue for many developed countries. Inactivity has contributed considerably to the pervasiveness of lifestyle diseases. Government, national and local agencies and organizations have been unable to systematically, and in a coordinated way, translate behavioral research into practice that makes a difference at a population level. One approach for mobilizing multi-level efforts to improve the environment for physical activity is to engage in a process of citizen science. Citizen Science here is defined as a participatory research approach involving members of the public working closely with research investigators to initiate and advance scientific research projects. However, there are no common measures or protocols to guide citizen science research at the local community setting. OBJECTIVES: We describe overarching categories of constructs that can be considered when designing citizen science projects expected to yield multi-level interventions, and provide an example of the citizen science approach to promoting PA. We also recommend potential measures across different levels of impact. DISCUSSION: Encouraging some consistency in measurement across studies will potentially accelerate the efficiency with which citizen science participatory research provides new insights into and solutions to the behaviorally-based public health issues that drive most of morbidity and mortality. The measures described in this paper abide by four fundamental principles specifically selected for inclusion in citizen science projects: feasibility, accuracy, propriety, and utility. The choice of measures will take into account the potential resources available for outcome and process evaluation. Our intent is to emphasize the importance for all citizen science participatory projects to follow an evidence-based approach and ensure that they incorporate an appropriate assessment protocol. CONCLUSIONS: We provided the rationale for and a list of contextual factors along with specific examples of measures to encourage consistency among studies that plan to use a citizen science participatory approach. The potential of this approach to promote health and wellbeing in communities is high and we hope that we have provided the tools needed to optimally promote synergistic gains in knowledge across a range of Citizen Science participatory projects.

Response of oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers to a 12-week aerobic exercise training in women with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Evidences have been highlighted the relationship among metabolic syndrome, chronic low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress and several diseases. In this sense, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise training on oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters on women with metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: Twenty-three untrained women (51.86 ± 6.58 years old, BMI 30.8 ± 4.3 kg/m2) completed a 12-week treadmill exercise training, without modifications on dietary pattern. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), total thiol content (T-SH) and nitrite and nitrate (NOx) levels were assessed in plasma while the levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were evaluated in the serum. The RNA expression (mRNA) of IL-1ß, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were performed inperipheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of a subset with eight women with MS using real real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS: The intervention resulted in decreased serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, AOPP and TBARS, besides increased levels of IL-10 and T-SH (P < 0.001). NOx concentrations were unchanged, similarly to mRNA expressions quantified in PBMC. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve weeks of AT improved systemic oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in women with MS, although PBMC mRNA expression for inflammatory pathways appeared to be unchanged. This may indicate that AT induced beneficial effects not only in physical fitness but also on health promotion through decreased oxidative damage and proinflammatory status.

An active lifestyle induces positive antioxidant enzyme modulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of overweight/obese postmenopausal women.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an active lifestyle on mitochondrial functioning, viability, bioenergetics, and redox status markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of overweight/ obese postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study with postmenopausal women aged 45­64 years and body mass index N 25 kg/m2, divided into physically active (n = 23) and sedentary (n = 12) groups. Mitochondria functioning and viability, bioenergetics and redox status parameters were assessed in PBMC with spectrophotometric and fluorometric assays. KEY FINDINGS: No differences were found in the enzyme activity of complexes I and II of the electron transport chain (ETC), mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity, methyl-tetrazolium reduction levels and reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione levels between the groups. However, the physically active group presented higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P= 0.04) and increased catalase (CAT) (P= 0.029), total (P= 0.011) and cytosolic SOD (CuZnSOD) (P= 0.009) activities. SIGNIFICANCE: An active lifestyle that includes aerobic exercise for at least 30 min, three times per week may improve antioxidant enzyme activities in PBMC in overweight/obese postmenopausal women, without changes in the activity of the ETC enzymes. However, this low intensity physical activity is not able to induce relevant mitochondrial adaptations.

Clustering of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in Brazilian adolescents: prevalence and correlates.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the prevalence and correlates of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases among Brazilian adolescents. We evaluated the clustering of risk factors and their associations with sociodemographic variables. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional study carried out in 2011 comprising 1132 students aged 14-19 years from Santa Maria, Brazil. The cluster index was created as the sum of the risk factors. For the correlates analysis, a multinomial logistic regression was used. Furthermore, the observed/expected ratio was calculated. RESULTS: Prevalence of individual risk factors studied was as follows: 85.8% unhealthy diets, 53.5% physical inactivity, 31.3% elevated blood pressure, 23.9% overweight, 22.3% excessive drinking alcohol, and 8.6% smoking. Only 2.8% of the adolescents did not present any risk factor, while 21.7%, 40.9%, 23.1%, and 11.5% presented 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more risk factors, respectively. The most prevalent combination was between unhealthy diets and physical inactivity (observed/expected ratio =1.32; 95% CI: 1.16-1.49). Clustering of risk factors was directly associated with age and inversely associated with socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Clustering of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases is high in Brazilian adolescents. Preventive strategies are more likely to be successful if focusing on multiple risk factors, instead of a single one.