Effect of Babassu Mesocarp As a Food Supplement During Resistance Training.

The population widely uses babassu mesocarp (Attalea speciosa) as food and medicine. This study evaluated the use of babassu mesocarp as a food supplement during resistance training (RT). Male Swiss mice, 60 days old (weight 35-40 g), were divided into four groups (n = 8): control, untreated and untrained; babassu (babassu aqueous extract [BAE]), treated orally with aqueous extract of babassu mesocarp (25 mg/kg), five times a week, for 8 weeks; training (RT), submitted to RT consisting of stair climbing with progressive loads; and resistance training treated with babassu aqueous extract (RTBAE): RT and treatment with BAE. After 8 weeks, we analyzed the biochemistry of serum, the immunological, and histological parameters. The RT group showed maximum strength after the second week. A reduction in body weight, retroperitoneal and interstitial fat deposits, and activated helper T lymphocytes (TCD4+ CD69+) occurred in RT and RTBAE groups. The RTBAE group showed increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and macrophage and helper T lymphocyte count, whereas a reduction occurred in triglyceride levels and the total number of lymphocytes. Supplementation with BAE always reduced cholesterol and the population of activated macrophages but increased activated B lymphocytes and interleukin-6 levels. The combination of supplementation and RT resulted in a decreased production of tumor necrosis factor-α. We propose the use of babassu mesocarp as a food supplement during exercise because of its immunomodulatory effect on lymphocyte and macrophage populations and cytokine production. The additional impact on the control of cholesterol and triglyceride levels suggests its use, particularly for the treatment of dyslipidemias.

Increased Glycated Hemoglobin Levels in Patients With Helicobacter pylori Infection Are Associated With the Grading of Chronic Gastritis.

Background: Recent studies have found an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and prediabetes. Whether H. pylori per se or host factors are involved in the disturbance of glycated hemoglobin needs further investigation. The aim of this study was to determine the association of glycated hemoglobin levels with endoscopic diagnosis and the inflammatory response in H. pylori infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 88 dyspeptic non-diabetic adults who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The diagnosis of H. pylori infection was performed through urease test and histopathological exam. Cases were initially distributed into two groups: control (without H. pylori infection, n = 22) and HP (patients with H. pylori infection, n = 66). HbA1c was measured to determine prediabetes status according to the American Diabetes Association criteria, and then the groups were subdivided into non-prediabetic (n = 14), prediabetic (n = 8), non-prediabetic HP (n = 26) and prediabetic HP (n = 40) groups. Gastric mucosa was histologically evaluated to determine H. pylori density and inflammatory activity according to Sydney System. To investigate the balance of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines we measured interleukin 10 (anti-inflammatory) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-a (pro-inflammatory) in the plasma or in the gastric mucosa. Results: Patients with H. pylori infection had higher mean HbA1c levels than those without H. pylori infection. However, increased HbA1c levels were not associated with H. pylori-related factors but with the bacterial density, the intensity of inflammation and the activity of the chronic gastritis. In addition, H. pylori infection per se did not alter IL-10 and TNF-α neither in the plasma nor in the gastric mucosa, but the bacterial density was negatively correlated with systemic and local IL-10 expression. Although no correlation was found between systemic cytokines and HbA1c levels, local anti-inflammatory cytokine was correlated with HbA1c levels. Conclusion: Long-term H. pylori infection is associated with prediabetes. This association is not related to the presence of H. pylori per se but depends on the extent of bacterial colonization and the degree of both local inflammation and activity of the chronic gastritis.

A natural cell-penetrating nanopeptide combined with pentavalent antimonial as experimental therapy against cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The inadequacy of available treatments for leishmaniasis has presented up to 40% therapeutic failure. This fact suggests an urgency in the discovery of new drugs or alternative approaches for treating this disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antileishmanial activity of combined therapy between crotamine (CTA) from Crotalus durissus terrificus and the pentavalent antimonial Glucantime® (GLU). The assays were in vitro performed measuring the inhibition of Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes, followed by the evaluation of cellular production of cytokines and nitrites. After that, analytical methods were performed in order to characterize the molecules involved in the study by Mass Spectrometry, molecular affinity through an in silico assay and Surface Plasmon Resonance. In vivo experiments with BALB/c mice were performed by analyzing parasitemia, lesion size and immunological mediators. In the in vitro experiments, the pharmacological association improved the inhibition of the amastigotes, modulated the production of cytokines and nitric oxide. The therapy improved the effectiveness of the GLU, demonstrating a decreased parasitemia in the infected tissues. Altogether, the results suggest that the combined approach with CTA and GLU may be a promising alternative for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on hepcidin and on inflammatory and iron marker levels.

Serum hepcidin levels may increase in response to infection and inflammation. The present study investigated the effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on levels of serum hepcidin, inflammatory markers, and iron markers. An interventional study was conducted on 67 patients (age 30-65 years) without other diseases, except for chronic periodontitis (CP). Patients were allocated to either CP or control groups. The CP group received supragingival and subgingival scaling and root planing procedures, whereas the control group received supragingival scaling. Probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing, clinical attachment level (CAL), visible plaque index (VPI), serum hepcidin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), hematological markers, and iron markers were measured at baseline and at 90 days after NSPT. The CP group had statistically significant lower mean values for mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (p ≤ 0.05). The control group had statistically significant reductions in hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and MCH (p ≤ 0.05). Serum hepcidin, IL-6, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels were significantly decreased in both groups after NSPT. Periodontal markers were more markedly reduced in the CP group compared with the control group (p ≤ 0.05). These findings suggest that NSPT may reduce the serum levels of IL-6, hepcidin, and periodontal parameters.

The effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on hepcidin and on inflammatory and iron marker levels

Abstract Serum hepcidin levels may increase in response to infection and inflammation. The present study investigated the effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on levels of serum hepcidin, inflammatory markers, and iron markers. An interventional study was conducted on 67 patients (age 30-65 years) without other diseases, except for chronic periodontitis (CP). Patients were allocated to either CP or control groups. The CP group received supragingival and subgingival scaling and root planing procedures, whereas the control group received supragingival scaling. Probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing, clinical attachment level (CAL), visible plaque index (VPI), serum hepcidin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), hematological markers, and iron markers were measured at baseline and at 90 days after NSPT. The CP group had statistically significant lower mean values for mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (p ≤ 0.05). The control group had statistically significant reductions in hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and MCH (p ≤ 0.05). Serum hepcidin, IL-6, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels were significantly decreased in both groups after NSPT. Periodontal markers were more markedly reduced in the CP group compared with the control group (p ≤ 0.05). These findings suggest that NSPT may reduce the serum levels of IL-6, hepcidin, and periodontal parameters.

Tumor growth activity of duloxetine in Ehrlich carcinoma in mice.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze whether duloxetine influences tumor growth in Ehrlich carcinoma. The mice were administered 5 or 30 mg/kg of duloxetine or saline solution. All animals were inoculated with tumor cells. The tumor progression was evaluated by body weight, abdominal circumference, ascites volume and tumor cell count. The effect of duloxetine on immune response was evaluated by lymphoid cells, nitric oxide (NO) production, arginase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the spleen immunophenotyping. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups regarding weight, abdominal circumference, ascites volume and number of tumor cells. Duloxetine increased the cells of the inguinal lymph node. There was no difference in the number of cells in the bone marrow and spleen. Ascites SOD activity was greater in Duloxetine groups. There were no differences in the levels of NO, nitrite, and arginase. The number of antibody for CD3 (CD3+), CD4+, CD8+ and CD28+ cells was lower in the duloxetine groups. In conclusion, duloxetine has no direct effect on tumor growth and does not alter immunity. The drug increased the SOD that fights free radicals and led the migration of lymphocytes, suggesting that duloxetine could be used in tumor-bearing individuals.