Sub­chronic administration of lead alters markers of oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase and Na+K+­ATPase activities in rat brain.

This study investigated the effects of sub­chronic administration of lead (Pb) acetate on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA­RS), total sulfhydryl content, protein carbonyl content, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GSH­Px]), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and Na+K+­ATPase in the cerebral structures of rats. Male Wistar rats aged 60 days were treated with saline (control group) or Pb (treatment group), at various doses, by gavage, once a day for 35 days. The animals were sacrificed twelve hours after the last administration, and the cerebellum, hippocampus and cerebral cortex were removed. The results showed that Pb did not alter the evaluated oxidative stress parameters. Furthermore, Pb (64 and/or 128 mg/kg) altered SOD in the cerebellum, cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Pb (128 mg/kg) altered CAT in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex and GSH­Px in the cerebral cortex. Also, Pb (64 mg/kg and 128 mg/kg) altered GSH­Px in the cerebellum. Moreover, Pb (128 mg/kg) increased AChE in the hippocampus and decreased Na+K+­ATPase in the cerebellum and hippocampus. In conclusion, sub­chronic exposure to Pb (occupational and environmental intoxication) altered antioxidant enzymes, AChE, and Na+K+­ATPase, contributing to cerebral dysfunction.

Avaliação das complicações em pacientes com Diabetes Mellitus tipo 1 atendidos em uma clínica particular especializada e ambulatório público de Joinville ­ SC / A screening of type 1 Diabetes' complications in a private clinic and a public health care center in Joinville ­ SC

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o controle metabólico e a prevalência de complicações em pacientes com diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus tipo 1 (DM1) atendidos em uma clínica privada e em um ambulatório público em Joinville ­ SC. Realizou-se um estudo descritivo e retrospectivo, onde foram analisados 64 prontuários de pacientes com diagnóstico de DM1, sendo 25 da rede pública (RP) e 39 da privada (RPV). Observamos que na RP a idade média ao diagnóstico do DM1 foi 16,2 (±7,63) contra 12,8 (±9,80) anos na RPV, que foram realizadas em média 1,9 (±1,2) consultas nos últimos 12 meses na RP e 3,0 (±1,3) na RPV. Em relação à presença de complicações microvasculares, havia informação da presença de retinopatia em 8 de 48 pacientes (16,7%), de nefropatia em 12 de 54 pacientes (22,2%) e neuropatia em 8 de 50 pacientes (16%). Quanto ao controle metabólico, apenas 2 pacientes (8%) de RP e 10 (25%) da RPV apresentavam HbA1c < 7,0%. A maioria dos pacientes, tanto da RP quanto da RPV, atingiu a meta de colesterol total (78,3 e 86,8%), que define bom controle clínico e metabólico do diabetes tipo 1, segundo a Associação Americana de Diabetes (ADA). Os dados mostram a dificuldade de se atingir um bom controle glicêmico, independente do local de atendimento (público ou privado), embora o grupo RPV tenha apresentado um maior percentual de pacientes que atingiram as metas de bom controle clínico e metabólico do diabetes tipo 1 definidas pela ADA, inclusive menor índice de tabagismo e etilismo.

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of complications and metabolic control in patients diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1D) treated in a private clinic and a public outpatient clinic in Joinville - Santa Catarina. A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out, where 64 medical records of patients diagnosed with T1D were analyzed, 25 of which were treated in the public outpatient clinic and 39 in the private clinic. Mean age at diagnosis of T1D in the public institution was 16.2 (± 7.63) years versus 12.8 (± 9.80) years in the private institution, patients had 1.92 (± 1.22) medical appointments in the last 12 months in the public institution and 3 (± 1.32) in the private institution. We assessed the presence of microvascular complications, there was data about retinopathy in 8 of 48 patients (16.7%), nephropathy in 12 of 54 patients (22.2%) and neuropathy in 8 of 50 patients (16%). Most patients did not reach a good glycemic control: only 2 patients (8%) from public institution and 10 (25%) from private institution showed HbA1c < 7.0%. The majority of patients from public and private institution reached the American Diabetes Association (ADA) goals for total cholesterol (78.3 and 86.8%). This data confirms the difficulty of achieving good glycemic control regardless of the institution (public or private), although the private group has shown best results in clinical control with a higher proportion in patients that reached the ADA goals, including the lowest number of smokers and alcohol use.

Effects of two aerobic exercise training protocols on parameters of oxidative stress in the blood and liver of obese rats.

We evaluated the effects of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols on the alterations in oxidative stress parameters caused by a high-fat diet (HFD), in the blood and liver of rats. The HFD enhanced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA-RS) and protein carbonyl content, while reducing total sulfhydryl content and catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in the blood. Both training protocols prevented an increase in TBA-RS and protein carbonyl content, and prevented a reduction in CAT. HIIT protocol enhanced SOD activity. In the liver, HFD didn't alter TBA-RS, total sulfhydryl content or SOD, but increased protein carbonyl content and CAT and decreased GSH-Px. The exercise protocols prevented the increase in protein carbonyl content and the MICT protocol prevented an alteration in CAT. In conclusion, HFD elicits oxidative stress in the blood and liver and both protocols prevented most of the alterations in the oxidative stress parameters.

Hypolipemiant and antioxidant effects of Eugenia brasiliensis in an animal model of coconut oil-induced hypertriglyceridemia.

We investigated the effects of chronic administration of crude hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) and crude acetone extract (CAE) obtained from leaves of Eugenia brasiliensis species on hypertriglyceridemia and oxidative stress caused by the chronic administration of coconut oil. Rats received CHE or CAE (50, 100 or 150mg/kg, orally) for 30days, plus coconut oil (2mL, orally) or saline for 15th. Triglyceride levels, liver cell lipid accumulation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA-RS), total sulfhydryl content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were evaluated in the blood and liver of rats. Results showed that chronic administration of CHE or CAE was able to prevent hypertriglyceridemia and decrease the lipid droplets in liver cells, as well as the increase in TBA-RS, the reduction in total sulfhydryl content and CAT activity in the blood and prevent total or partial the increase in CAT and reduction in SOD and GSH-Px activities in the liver. These findings indicate that both extracts may have hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects.