Association between Childhood Overweight and Altered Concentrations of Circulating Amino Acids.

(1) Background: Dysregulated serum amino acids (AA) are known to be associated with obesity and risk of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in adults, and recent studies support the same notion in the pubertal age. It is, however, unknown whether childhood overweight may already display alterations of circulating AA. (2) Methods: We used liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-targeted metabolomics to determine plasma concentrations of AA and AA-related molecules in 36 children aged 7-12 years with normal weight or overweight. Clinical and anthropometric parameters were measured. (3) Results: Overweight in children is associated with an altered AA profile, with increased branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and decreased glycine levels, with no clinically manifested metabolic conditions. Moreover, z-BMI was positively and negatively correlated with BCAA and glycine levels, respectively, even after adjustment for age and gender. We also found a correlation between the AA profile and clinical parameters such as lipids profile and glycemia. (4) Conclusions: A pattern of low glycine, and increased BCAA is correlated to z-BMI, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in overweight but otherwise healthy children. Our data suggest that, in childhood overweight, AA disturbances may precede other clinical parameters, thus providing an early indicator for the later development of metabolic disease.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum Strains with Claimed Probiotic Properties Exert Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties and Prevent Cardiometabolic Disorder in Female Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet.

This study assessed the effects of a mixed formulation containing Limosilactobacillus (L.) fermentum 139, L. fermentum 263, and L. fermentum 296 on cardiometabolic parameters, inflammatory markers, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) fecal contents, and oxidative stress in colon, liver, heart, and kidney tissues of female rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Female Wistar rats were allocated into control diet (CTL, n = 6), HFD (n = 6), and HFD receiving L. fermentum formulation (HFD-LF, n = 6). L. fermentum formulation (1 × 109 CFU/mL of each strain) was administered two twice a day for 4 weeks. Administration of L. fermentum increased acetate and succinate fecal contents and reduced hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in rats fed a HFD (p < 0.05). Administration of L. fermentum decreased low-grade inflammation and improved antioxidant capacity along the gut, liver, heart, and kidney tissues in female rats fed a HFD (p < 0.05). Administration of L. fermentum prevented dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in colon, liver, heart, and kidney in female rats fed a HFD.

Clinical parameters related to morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19 on hospital admission in a tertiary hospital / Parâmetros clínicos relacionados à morbimortalidade em pacientes com COVID-19 na admissão hospitalar em um hospital terciário

Objective : to identify the relationship between morbimortality, nutritional status and biochemical markers at hospital admission and stay in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods : retrospective stud whose data were collected from the medical records of patients admitted with a diagnosis of COVID-19, confirmed by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing, who were hospitalized between April and November 2020 at a tertiary hospital in the state of Pernambuco, in Northeast Brazil. Results : 217 medical records were included, of which 71.9% were from older adults. 70% of patients had peripheral oxygen saturation below 95% at admission, and 47.5% were admitted to the intensive care unit. Being an older adult (OR = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.0; 3.5, p=0.035), having diabetes (OR = 2.2; 95%CI: 1.2; 3.8, p=0.007) and combined diabetes and hypertension (OR = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.1; 3.5, p=0.023) were associated with intensive care unit stay, as well as lymphopenia and renal function impairment in the first day of hospital stay. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 21.2% and 20.7%. There was a difference in body mass index between adults and older adults (30.6±6.3 kg/m2 vs. 27.5±4.8 kg/m2, p<0.001). There was 43.8% mortality, which was associated with advanced age, lower peripheral oxygen saturation, body mass index, and albumin values, and increased of urea, creatinine, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, troponin T, and dimer values. Conclusion : older adults were at a higher risk of intensive care unit stay and mortality and had lower body mass index. Patients with lower peripheral oxygen saturation values at admission died. Renal dysfunction, coagulation disorders, and increased inflammatory markers led to a greater risk of intensive care unit stay and mortality

Objetivo : identificar a relação entre morbimortalidade, estado nutricional e marcadores bioquímicos na admissão e permanência hospitalar em pacientes hospitalizados com COVID-19. Métodos : estudo retrospectivo cujos dados foram coletados dos prontuários de pacientes admitidos com diagnóstico de COVID-19, confirmado pelo teste de reação em cadeia da polimerase com transcrição reversa, internados entre abril e novembro de 2020, em um hospital terciário do estado de Pernambuco, no Nordeste do Brasil. Resultados : foram incluídos 217 prontuários, sendo 71,9% de pacientes idosos. Na admissão hospitalar, 70% dos pacientes apresentaram saturação periférica de oxigênio abaixo de 95% e 47,5% foram admitidos na unidade de terapia intensiva. Ser idoso (OR = 1,9; IC95%: 1,0; 3,5, p=0,035), ter diabetes (OR = 2,2; IC95%: 1,2; 3,8, p=0,007) e diabetes e hipertensão combinadas (OR = 1,9; IC95%: 1,1; 3,5, p=0,023) associaram-se à internação em unidade de terapia intensiva, assim como a linfopenia e o comprometimento da função renal no primeiro dia de internação. A prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade foi de 21,2% e 20,7%. Houve diferença no índice de massa corporal entre adultos e idosos (30,6±6,3 kg/m2 vs. 27,5±4,8 kg/m2, p<0,001). Houve mortalidade de 43,8%, que foi associada à idade avançada e menores valores de saturação periférica de oxigênio, índice de massa corporal e de albumina, e aumento nos valores de ureia, creatinina, proteína C reativa, lactato desidrogenase, troponina T e D-dímero. Conclusão: idosos apresentaram maior risco de permanência em unidade de terapia intensiva e mortalidade, além de menor índice de massa corporal. Pacientes com valores de saturação periférica de oxigênio mais baixos na admissão tiveram maior taxa de mortalidade. Disfunção renal, distúrbios de coagulação e aumento de marcadores inflamatórios levaram a um maior risco

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a pediatric patient / Pielonefrite xantogranulomatosa em paciente pediátrico

Abstract Introduction: Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis consists of a chronic infectious and inflammatory process of the renal parenchyma, a variant of chronic obstructive pyelonephritis. It is more prevalent in middle-aged adults, rare in pediatric patients, with less than 300 cases reported in children worldwide. Report: Preschooler, aged 2 years and 11 months, male, with 2 months of abdominal distention, increased temperature and intense pallor, associated with microcytic anemia refractory to the use of ferrous sulfate. 1 week before, he had a bulging in his left flank and a hard palpable mass there. Imaging exams (ultrasound and tomography) revealed an overall enlargement of the left kidney, destruction of the renal parenchyma and intense calyceal dilation, forming the "bear's paw" sign, with a staghorn calculus in the pelvis. He underwent treatment with antibiotic therapy and total nephrectomy, with a specimen sent for pathological examination. Discussion: a disease of uncertain incidence in the pediatric age group, xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is more prevalent in male children and affects mainly the left kidney, being frequently associated with the presence of stones. Clinically, it has nonspecific symptoms, the most common being abdominal distension and asthenia. Laboratory exams shows microcytic, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis and increased inflammation, pyuria, hematuria and proteinuria, in addition to bacterial growth in urine culture. The diagnosis is anatomopathological, but it can be hinted by contrasted CT scan, with the classical sign of the "bear's paw". Treatment may include nephrectomy and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy.

Resumo Introdução: A pielonefrite xantogranulomatosa consiste em um processo infeccioso e inflamatório crônico do parênquima renal, variante da pielonefrite obstrutiva crônica. É mais prevalente em adultos na meia-idade, de ocorrência rara em pacientes pediátricos, com menos de 300 casos relatados em pediatria no mundo. Relato: Pré-escolar de 2 anos e 11 meses, do sexo masculino, com quadro de 2 meses de distensão e aumento da temperatura abdominal e palidez intensa, associado a anemia microcítica refratária ao uso de sulfato ferroso. Apresentava ainda, havia 1 semana da internação, abaulamento em região do flanco esquerdo e massa palpável, de consistência endurecida. Exames de imagem (ultrassonografia e tomografia) revelaram aumento global do rim esquerdo, destruição do parênquima renal e intensa dilatação calicial formando o sinal da "pata de urso", com presença de cálculo coraliforme em pelve. Submetido a tratamento com antibioticoterapia e nefrectomia total, com produto enviado para anatomopatológico. Discussão: Doença de incidência incerta na faixa pediátrica, a pielonefrite xantogranulomatosa é mais prevalente no sexo masculino na infância e acomete principalmente o rim esquerdo, estando frequentemente associada à presença de cálculos. Clinicamente apresenta-se como quadro arrastado de sintomas inespecíficos, sendo os mais comuns distensão abdominal e astenia. Laboratorialmente, apresenta-se com anemia microcítica, leucocitose, trombocitose e aumento de provas inflamatórias, piúria, hematúria e proteinúria, além de crescimento bacteriano em cultura de urina. O diagnóstico é anatomopatológico, porém pode ser sugerido pela tomografia computadorizada com contraste, que tem como sinal clássico a "pata de urso". O tratamento pode incluir nefrectomia e antibioticoterapia de amplo espectro.

Convective drying of mango enriched with phenolic compounds from grape residue flour under different impregnation methods.

This work evaluated the effect of convective drying of mango impregnated with grape residue flour polyphenols under different vacuum impregnation methods with or without performing osmotic treatment and ultrasound on the global quality of dried mango in relation to chemical, microbiological and sensory aspects. Higher retention of carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and ascorbic acid was obtained with shorter drying times and lower oxygen exposure. Impregnated dried samples submitted to ultrasound-assisted vacuum impregnation showed a higher drying rate, greater retention of carotenoids (6.77 µg/g DM), and softer samples. Greater retention of phenolic compounds (1.84 mg GAE/g DM) was obtained for osmotic dehydration-assisted vacuum impregnation dried mango, while osmosonication-assisted impregnation was able to retain the highest ascorbic acid content (7.05 mg/100 g DM). Sensory evaluation showed that the impregnated samples showed good acceptance. The combination of osmotic dehydration and ultrasound could be a suitable way to produce dried mango impregnated with grape residue polyphenols.

Cardiometabolic Effects of Postnatal High-Fat Diet Consumption in Offspring Exposed to Maternal Protein Restriction In Utero.

In recent decades, the high incidence of infectious and parasitic diseases has been replaced by a high prevalence of chronic and degenerative diseases. Concomitantly, there have been profound changes in the behavior and eating habits of families around the world, characterizing a "nutritional transition" phenomenon, which refers to a shift in diet in response to modernization, urbanization, or economic development from undernutrition to the excessive consumption of hypercaloric and ultra-processed foods. Protein malnutrition that was a health problem in the first half of the 20th century has now been replaced by high-fat diets, especially diets high in saturated fat, predisposing consumers to overweight and obesity. This panorama points us to the alarming coexistence of both malnutrition and obesity in the same population. In this way, individuals whose mothers were undernourished early in pregnancy and then exposed to postnatal hyperlipidic nutrition have increased risk factors for developing metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Thus, our major aim was to review the cardiometabolic effects resulting from postnatal hyperlipidic diets in protein-restricted subjects, as well as to examine the epigenetic repercussions occasioned by the nutritional transition.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a pediatric patient.

INTRODUCTION: Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis consists of a chronic infectious and inflammatory process of the renal parenchyma, a variant of chronic obstructive pyelonephritis. It is more prevalent in middle-aged adults, rare in pediatric patients, with less than 300 cases reported in children worldwide. REPORT: Preschooler, aged 2 years and 11 months, male, with 2 months of abdominal distention, increased temperature and intense pallor, associated with microcytic anemia refractory to the use of ferrous sulfate. 1 week before, he had a bulging in his left flank and a hard palpable mass there. Imaging exams (ultrasound and tomography) revealed an overall enlargement of the left kidney, destruction of the renal parenchyma and intense calyceal dilation, forming the "bear's paw" sign, with a staghorn calculus in the pelvis. He underwent treatment with antibiotic therapy and total nephrectomy, with a specimen sent for pathological examination. DISCUSSION: a disease of uncertain incidence in the pediatric age group, xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is more prevalent in male children and affects mainly the left kidney, being frequently associated with the presence of stones. Clinically, it has nonspecific symptoms, the most common being abdominal distension and asthenia. Laboratory exams shows microcytic, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis and increased inflammation, pyuria, hematuria and proteinuria, in addition to bacterial growth in urine culture. The diagnosis is anatomopathological, but it can be hinted by contrasted CT scan, with the classical sign of the "bear's paw". Treatment may include nephrectomy and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy.

Cardiometabolic impacts of saturated fatty acids: are they all comparable?

In last decades, a phenomenon named nutrition transition has been observed in many countries around the world. It has been characterised by increased consumption of fat-rich diets, predisposing to cardiometabolic diseases and high prevalence of the obesity. In the dietary recommendations cited to prevent metabolic diseases, there is a consensus to decrease intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) to less than 10% of total energy intake, as recommended by the Food Safety Authorities. However, fatty acids of different chain lengths may exhibit different cardiometabolic effects. Thus, our major aim was to review the cardiometabolic effects of different classes of SFA according to carbon chain length, i.e. short-, medium- and long-chains. The review emphasises that not all SFA may have harmful cardiometabolic effects since short- and medium-chain SFA can provide beneficial health effects and participate to the prevention of metabolic disorders.

Effect of Ethanol and Ultrasound Pretreatments on Pineapple Convective Drying.

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Drying represents a viable unit operation for the preservation of food. Convective drying is the most used method for plant materials. However, it can result in negative changes in food nutrient composition, and other quality parameters, besides requiring high energy consumption. Pretreatments can represent an alternative to minimise these negative aspects of dried materials. This work aims to evaluate the use of ethanol and ultrasound before pineapple convective drying and its effect on the product´s colour, water activity, ascorbic acid and total carotenoid contents. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: For the pretreatment step, fruit samples were immersed in ethanol solutions of different volume fractions, and experiments were carried out for 10 min with and without using ultrasound (25 kHz). Fruit samples were dried at 60 ºC. A control group (without the pretreatment step) was also dried under the same condition. Semi-theoretical models were used for drying data fitting, and the diffusional model was used to describe the moisture transfer and calculate the effective diffusivity. Water activity, ascorbic acid, total carotenoids and colour analyses were performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The combination of ethanol and ultrasound as a pretreatment reduced the drying time of pineapple. Higher effective moisture diffusivities were obtained when ethanol and ultrasound were applied before drying. The two-term exponential model presented the best fit for drying experimental data. The dried samples had a darker colour than the fresh sample. The pretreatment with ethanol resulted in increased retention of the studied bioactive components. The satisfactory results of this study represent an improvement in the drying process. NOVELTY AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION: Ultrasound and ethanol as a pretreatment to convective drying are promising. However, each food matrix has a typical structure and composition. Therefore, the application of the pretreatment in other products or using other conditions is still necessary to deeply understand and explain their effect on the process and the quality of the dried products.

Effects of maternal low-protein diet and spontaneous physical activity on the transcription of neurotrophic factors in the placenta and the brains of mothers and offspring rats.

Maternal protein restriction and physical activity can affect the interaction mother-placenta-fetus. This study quantified the gene expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurothrophin 4, tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB/NTRK2), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1r) in the different areas of mother's brain (hypothalamus, hippocampus, and cortex), placenta, and fetus' brain of rats. Female Wistar rats (n = 20) were housed in cages containing a running wheel for 4 weeks before gestation. According to the distance spontaneously traveled daily, rats were classified as inactive or active. During gestation, on continued access to the running wheel, active and inactive groups were randomized to receive normoprotein diet (18% protein) or a low-protein (LP) diet (8% protein). At day 20 of gestation, gene expression of neurotrophic factors was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in different brain areas and the placenta. Dams submitted to a LP diet during gestation showed upregulation of IGF-1r and BDNF messenger RNA in the hypothalamus, IGF-1r and NTRK2 in the hippocampus, and BDNF, NTRK2, IGF-1 and IGF-1r in the cortex. In the placenta, there was a downregulation of IGF-1. In the brain of pups from mothers on LP diet, IGF-1r and NTRK2 were downregulated. Voluntary physical activity attenuated the effects of LP diet on IGF-1r in the hypothalamus, IGF-1r and NTRK2 in the hippocampus, IGF-1 in the placenta, and NTRK2 in the fetus' brain. In conclusion, both maternal protein restriction and spontaneous physical activity influence the gene expression of BDNF, NTRK2, IGF-1, and IGF-1r, with spontaneous physical activity being able to normalize in part the defects caused by protein restriction during pregnancy.

Myeloid sarcoma in the breast in a patient withacute myeloid leukemia: a case report

Myeloid sarcoma infiltration into the breast of patients with acute myeloid leukemia is rare. The present study reports the case of a 56-year-old woman diagnosed with AML and an incidental finding of a breast tumor. The nodule biopsy raised the suspicion of invasive lobular carcinoma and poorly differentiated angiosarcoma. Subsequent immunohistochemical study concluded the diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma. The varied image presentations, the lack of knowledge of clinical data and complementary propaedeutics, and the histopathological similarity with certain primary breast lesions make it difficult to discover secondary infiltration by myeloid sarcoma in this unusual site

Effects of maternal protein restriction on central and peripheral renin-angiotensin systems in male rat offspring.

AIMS: We investigated the involvement of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) on the cardiorespiratory control in rats from dams fed with a low-protein diet. MAIN METHODS: Male offspring were obtained from dams fed a normoprotein diet (NP, 17% casein) and low-protein diet (LP, 8% casein) during pregnancy and lactation. Direct measurements of arterial pressure (AP), heart rate (HR) and respiratory frequency (RF) were recorded in awake 90-day-old at resting and after losartan potassium through either intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinjections or intravenous (IV) administration. Cardiovascular variability was evaluated by spectral analysis. Peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity was assessed through the potassium cyanide (KCN; 40 µg/0.1 ml/rat, IV). Gene expression was evaluated by qPCR, and MAPK (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase) expression was evaluated by western blot. KEY FINDINGS: The LP offspring had higher mean AP (MAP) and RF than NP offspring. In the spectral analysis, the LP rats also showed higher low frequency of systolic AP (NP: 2.7 ± 0.3 vs. LP: 5.0 ± 1.0 mmHg). After ICV losartan, MAP and RF in LP rats remained higher than those in NP rats, but without changes in HR. The peripheral chemoreflex was similar between the groups. LP group had lower gene expression of Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) (NP: 1.13 ± 0.06 vs. LP: 0.88 ± 0.08). Peripherally, LP rats had larger delta of MAP after IV losartan (NP: -9.8 ± 2 vs. LP: -23 ± 6 mmHg), without changes in HR and RF. SIGNIFICANCE: In rats, the RAS participates peripherally, but not centrally, in the maintenance of arterial hypertension in male offspring induced by maternal protein restriction.

Effect of ethanol pretreatment on melon convective drying.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of ethanol, ultrasound and/or vacuum as a pretreatment to melon drying. Eight types of pretreatments were performed in which samples were immersed in ethanol solutions with different concentrations (50% and 100%) using four treatment conditions: immersion, immersion with ultrasound (US), with vacuum (VC) and with ultrasound and vacuum (USVC). Drying was performed at 60 °C and five different semi-theoretical drying mathematical models were examined to characterize the drying curves, and quality analyses were carried out. The condition that obtained the lower drying time was using the US pretreatment in 100% ethanol solution. Drying caused a diminution of bioactive compounds and influenced color parameters. However, the samples immersed in 50% ethanol solution and dried obtained minor losses of total phenolics, total carotenoids, and ascorbic acid contents.

Maternal low protein diet induces persistent expression changes in metabolic genes in male rats.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal exposure to a poor nutritional environment predisposes the progeny to the development of metabolic disease at the adult age, both in experimental models and humans. Numerous adaptive responses to maternal protein restriction have been reported in metabolic tissues. However, the expression of glucose/fatty acid metabolism-related genes in adipose tissue and liver needs to be described. AIM: To evaluate the metabolic impact of perinatal malnutrition, we determined malnutrition-associated gene expression alterations in liver and adipose tissue. METHODS: In the present study, we evaluated the alterations in gene expression of glycolytic/Krebs cycle genes (Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 and citrate synthase), adipogenic and lipolytic genes and leptin in the adipose tissue of offspring rats at 30 d and 90 d of age exposed to maternal isocaloric low protein (LP) diet throughout gestation and lactation. We also evaluated, in the livers of the same animals, the same set of genes as well as the gene expression of the transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1, forkhead box protein O1 and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 and of gluconeogenic genes. RESULTS: In the adipose tissue, we observed a transitory (i.e., at 30 d) downregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4, citrate synthase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1b gene expression. Such transcriptional changes did not persist in adult LP rats (90 d), but we observed a tendency towards a decreased gene expression of leptin (P = 0.052). The liver featured some gene expression alterations comparable to the adipose tissue, such as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 downregulation at 30 d and displayed other tissue-specific changes, including citrate synthase and fatty acid synthase upregulation, but pyruvate kinase downregulation at 30 d in the LP group and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1b downregulation at 90 d. These gene alterations, together with previously described changes in gene expression in skeletal muscle, may account for the metabolic adaptations in response to maternal LP diet and highlight the occurrence of persistent transcriptional defects in key metabolic genes that may contribute to the development of metabolic alterations during the adult life as a consequence of perinatal malnutrition. CONCLUSION: We conclude that perinatal malnutrition relays long-lasting transcriptional alterations in metabolically active organs, i.e., liver and adipose tissue.